Progressives will deliver their own response to President Joe Biden's speech to Congress

[George II]

April 22, 2021, 4:30 AM EDT By Alex Seitz-Wald

WASHINGTON — Unlike in previous years, a progressive group has decided to deliver a formal response to President Joe Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress next week.

It's traditional for the opposition party to give a response when the president delivers a State of the Union or other address to Congress. But it's much less common for a member of the president's party to deliver a rebuttal.

Next week, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., speaking on behalf of the left-wing Working Families Party, will respond after Biden gives his first address to a joint session of Congress.

Bowman, a freshman lawmaker who defeated a 16-term Democratic incumbent in a primary in a New York City district last year, said the response is intended not to be critical of Biden but rather to credit him as appropriate and cue him for what the left wants to see next.

(more....)

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1264880?__twitter_impression=true

[WarGamer]

1. not helpful... but motivation might be necessary? We'll see

I still see rich people with overflowing pockets.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I still see 80% of new jersey home owners

Being charged property tax twice - once to their municipality, and once to Fed Gov. We were hardest hit by the SALT Cap.

I need to see the 'Progressives' get fully on board with lifting it. If they don't address it - then I'm at odds with them.

The problem solvers, including my Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-7) are making the lift of the SALT Cap mandatory for a yes vote on Infrastructure. He's also not in a 'safe' district - we (the Democratic Party rank and file Committee Members) worked hard to flip it from an almost 40 year GOP held seat in 2018, maintained in 2020.

He's one of four who has to produce for BOTH sides of the aisle to maintain his seat.

D, R, or I voter in NJ-7th? He loses if that bill goes through without a SALT Cap lift.

I've seen some of the far left progressives who don't have to lift a finger to win in their extremely blue districts put up blocks on this . . .

If they use this speech to call the folks over the Bridge 'Rich People with Overflowing Pockets) - then they lose any and all support from me.

The 'middle class' family of four here starts at 6 figures.

[brer cat]

7. +++ nt

[Celerity]

20. Mondaire Jones and Jamaal Bowman support the SALT Cap repeal

New York Lawmakers Push for SALT Cap Repeal

http://www.realestateindepth.com/news/new-york-lawmakers-push-for-salt-cap-repeal/

WHITE PLAINS—New York federal representatives and Westchester County Executive George Latimer staged a press conference on March 25th at the home of a White Plains resident to push for the repeal of the controversial SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap.

U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones (NY-17), U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), and Westchester County Executive George Latimer called for the repeal of SALT Cap ($10,000) to be included in the next package to come out of Washington, DC. The elected officials held a joint press conference outside the home of Ayeshah and Brian Parker who are negatively impacted by the SALT cap.

“Since the previous President capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 in 2017, hundreds of thousands of people in my district, where we pay the highest property taxes in the entire nation, have been forced to pay thousands of dollars more in taxes each year—a crushing burden for middle-class families, and a key contributor to the affordability crisis here in our district,” said Rep. Jones. “That is why U.S. Rep. Suozzi and I, with U.S. Rep. Bowman as a cosponsor, introduced the SALT Deductibility Act. Our bill would fully restore the SALT deduction and put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of hundreds of thousands of working people here in Westchester—money that can be spent on housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and so much more.”

snip

“The SALT deduction cap passed during the Trump administration has caused financial distress for so many of my constituents,” U.S. Rep. Bowman said. “We are dealing with the worst pandemic in 100 years, which has devastated our communities, and must do everything we can to put money back into the hands of New Yorkers and make people whole. I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation which would do just that by eliminating the cap on SALT deductions.”

[JustAnotherGen]

26. They better target the GOP with that

And not President Biden. Or the Democratic Party and leadership.

And they absolutely should NOT vote for the Infrastructure bill unless it is in there.

They need to join with Malinowski and Gottheimer on this - who both re-won previously bright red seats because of their position on this and the ACA.

Any shots at the Democrats should have them removed from their seats on Committees.

They don't win statewide and national seats. They can only win districts.

[Celerity]

28. I do not follow what you are saying

you said

They better target the GOP with that And not President Biden. Or the Democratic Party and leadership.

The Rethugs will not vote for Infrastructure bill, and they are the ones who put the cap in, they are not going to support its removal

if any Dem opposes the removal of the cap then those are the ones you have to worry about


you then said

And they absolutely should NOT vote for the Infrastructure bill unless it is in there.

so, IF the cap repeal is not in the bill, then you are telling Dems to sabotage their own party's bill?


you then said

Any shots at the Democrats should have them removed from their seats on Committees.

Manchin has been taking shots left and right at other Dems

should he be removed?


finally, in regards to 'shots'

from the OP's own article (and which they left out a key part of)

Bowman, a freshman lawmaker who defeated a 16-term Democratic incumbent in a primary in a New York City district last year, said the response is intended not to be critical of Biden but rather to credit him as appropriate and cue him for what the left wants to see next.

"It's a balancing act. He's already done a lot that I love. And he's going to say a lot of things that I like, as well," Bowman said in an interview. "But if we relent, it doesn't mean that what's been going on so far is going to continue. It's important for us as progressives to continue to push and continue to organize."

and (not from the article and dealing with another prog)

from another poster here (post 27)


"AOC says Biden exceeded progressives' expectations"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/24/aoc-joe-biden-exceeded-progressive-expectations

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saluted the Biden administration on Friday, saying the new president had exceeded progressives’ expectations in his first 100 days in the White House.

“The Biden administration and President Biden have definitely exceeded expectations that progressives had,” the New York congresswoman, a star on the left of the Democratic party, told a virtual town hall meeting. “I think a lot of us expected a much more conservative administration.”

[dem4decades]

3. Great so Biden will have to fight on 2 fronts to get his agenda.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Not if we ignore them

They have to learn to understand -

They are in bright blue districts where the only real fight is during the primaries.

For those of in flipped red to blue since 2018 - and held . . .

We don't have time for their nonsense.

[awesomerwb1]

5. Of course they will

[Budi]

6. Well, the Repubs are already saying they won't bother to attend Biden's speech .

Not to worry, there are others, I see.

[betsuni]

8. "cue him for what the left wants to see next."

"It's traditional for the opposition party to give a response ... ." They are another opposition party.

Why? Why do they think Democrats are the opposition?

[Vinca]

9. Gee, that really projects party unity.

[Autumn]

10. Nice! I look forward to our newer members stepping up and giving us their ideas on what

direction they want and need our party to go. These are our future leaders.

[BGBD]

11. Imagine the

Outrage here if Joe Manchin were going to deliver a response to the speech.

[George II]

12. Manchin wouldn't even think of doing so.

[BGBD]

13. No he wouldn't

But there would be 100 threads about how big a PoS he was in the first 10 minutes of the news breaking. Funny that the same crowd will probably be quoting and cheering this one.

[CrackityJones75]

15. Agreed.

[George II]

22. Indeed.

[Celerity]

24. He does it every week, he doesn't need to give a speech, and his damage likely could or will be

far more systemic and massive in impact. Same for Sinema.

I do not necessarily agree that this additional commentary address the progs will deliver (it will obviously not be a hostile, across the board rebuttal) is the greatest of ideas, but I do not see them blocking things atm either, certain not to a Manchin/Sinema level.

If Manchin and Sinema do not cave in and support vital filibuster modifications, they have the potential to bring the entire party down to a significant degree in 2022 and kneecap President Biden (plus the Party as a whole) going into 2024. If they do relent, othig much will get paused (voting rights legislation being monstrously key here) and if Manchin and/or Sinema really go off the rails, even things in a reconciliation bill are in serious trouble, barring a renegade Rethug, which is highly unlikely.

I am going to chose to be hopeful and take Bowman at his word (from your article)

Bowman, a freshman lawmaker who defeated a 16-term Democratic incumbent in a primary in a New York City district last year, said the response is intended not to be critical of Biden but rather to credit him as appropriate and cue him for what the left wants to see next.

"It's a balancing act. He's already done a lot that I love. And he's going to say a lot of things that I like, as well," Bowman said in an interview. "But if we relent, it doesn't mean that what's been going on so far is going to continue. It's important for us as progressives to continue to push and continue to organize."

[jcgoldie]

14. Good

The best way to strengthen support for Biden's agenda is to cast it as the center of the political conversation and not ultra leftist policy in the way that the conservative response will try to do. A progressive response done right shouldn't weaken Biden's position but rather provide balance to strengthen it.

[CrackityJones75]

16. Interesting. I hadn't thought of it that way.

That is an interesting perspective. I am not sure how much more support it garners for his policies. However, I think it might create more criticism from progressives than it does cement support from moderates or support from conservatives.

[jcgoldie]

19. I think there's an element of negotiation in all of these debates that get played out in the media

$2 trillion doesn't seem like such an huge number when significant voices in reliably blue areas are making arguments for 3... same with minimum wage or whatever else... what some see as attacks from the left I think can often be seen as starting the negotiations in such a way that you can give some and still end up getting most of what you want.

I raise and sell registered dairy goats. If I think a doe is worth $250 I list her for $300 or $350... everyone is then delighted to get her for $250.

[CrackityJones75]

21. Ok

But in this instance you have some buyers telling your other buyers that your goats aren’t all that great and that you the seller are not raising quality goats.

I am mot sure that is the type of pressure you need to grow and attract buyers. All you can do is either tell your buyers that you are raising quality goats (however the accusation is already out there) or commit to raising better goats (again the accusation is there and you have to hope your potential buyers believe you). I the end it sucks to have that in the open when really a private call to you to discuss any concerns over your goats would have been better for you the seller since you know that you don’t raise poor quality animals. Right?

[jcgoldie]

23. Lol the goat analogy

For the political aspect the republicans were very effective at dragging the conversation far to the right during Obama's first term with their tea party bullshit. If you want to make it easier for Joe Manchin to sell liberal policies in West Virginia you have to have AOC talking about Medicare for all and the Green New Deal in New York. It allows him in many instances to follow the party line and still project that he's standing up to the big city socialists.

[CrackityJones75]

25. Well that begs the question...Is Manchin worth saving?

I am not sure he is. In the same vein does keeping him sated cause us to not gain elsewhere?

[BGBD]

17. Progressives

Aren't that tactical.

[StarfishSaver]

18. Ridiculous

[bullwinkle428]

27. "AOC says Biden exceeded progressives' expectations"

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saluted the Biden administration on Friday, saying the new president had exceeded progressives’ expectations in his first 100 days in the White House.

“The Biden administration and President Biden have definitely exceeded expectations that progressives had,” the New York congresswoman, a star on the left of the Democratic party, told a virtual town hall meeting. “I think a lot of us expected a much more conservative administration.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/24/aoc-joe-biden-exceeded-progressive-expectations