Spare Me!

I didn't intend to write anything for Steady today. I was looking forward to a Friday evening of the baseball postseason. And we have content coming to you over the weekend. But then I saw Mitch McConnell's "letter" to Biden about Senator Schumer's speech last night, in the wake of the passing of a short-term delay to the debt ceiling showdown. 

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur

McConnell writes a new letter telling Biden that “in light of Senator Schumer’s hysterics” in his speech last night, “I will not be a party to any future effort to mitigate the consequences of Democratic mismanagement”—says they mustn’t “ask for my help” again on debt limit.

There is so much to say about this. I will leave it to others to explain all the policy and political implications. But I agree with Ben Rhodes that this is "designed for only one audience: DC political media." I'll let him invoke a bit more “colorful” language. 

Ben Rhodes @brhodes

Performative hurt feelings over Senate floor speeches from a party that covers for a violent insurrection that literally killed people in the Capitol is bullshit designed for only one audience: DC political media.

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur

McConnell writes a new letter telling Biden that “in light of Senator Schumer’s hysterics” in his speech last night, “I will not be a party to any future effort to mitigate the consequences of Democratic mismanagement”—says they mustn’t “ask for my help” again on debt limit. https://t.co/VFgufZkkJY

The sheer audacity of feigned outrage is enough to have me, well, outraged. I am not surprised by the brazen hypocrisy of a man who has done more to sow discord and division in America's body politic than almost anyone in this nation's history. But we cannot let this kabuki dance of the absurd seep into the false equivalence lens that defines so much of our political coverage.

So I say Spare Me!

You know who else I think probably says “Spare Me” (if not something a bit more potent)?

Merrick Garland...
And those who think we shouldn't play chicken with the full faith and credit of the United States…
And the Capitol Police officers who defended Senator McConnell and others against a violent insurrectionist mob...
And those who believe in the dangers of climate change...
And those who believe in free and fair elections...
And those who believe in the peaceful transfer of power...
And those who believe corruption in the White House should not be excused...
And those who believe that the purpose of government is to solve problems...
And those who work for the most marginalized amongst us...
And those who want meaningful immigration reform...
And those who believe that if the Founding Fathers wanted supermajorities to carry the day they would have put it in the Constitution...
And those who put country above party...
And those who believe we should staff our government with qualified individuals...
And those who believe our judiciary should represent the needs of the nation...
And those who believe that deeds speak louder than words...

You can, I'm sure, keep the list going in the comments section below. 

I know we're getting closer to the full wrath of winter. But I'm in no mood for these disingenuous "snowflakes." 

Okay. Back to regularly scheduled programming. Giants vs. Dodgers? What a treat. 

- Dan