This Is Not Joe and Nancy's First Rodeo

Oh, Doomsday Twitter. 

After six months of relative tranquility, you've returned with reckless abandon.

But this was to be expected. After all, our Blue Checkmarks absolutely hate political stability. For them, it's boring. It doesn't generate clicks or views or discussion. Talking about how poverty has fallen as a result of government aid, or that student loans were forgiven for 323,000 disabled Americans, or that tens of thousands of LGBT veterans with 'less than honorable' discharges are now eligible for full VA benefits simply doesn't make for a riveting enough headline. Sure, these are policies directly impacting our most vulnerable communities while simultaneously undoing the damage of the previous administration, but it simply doesn't sizzle. There's no pizzaz. To be frank, it's simply not sexy. These types of feel-good stories based on thorough research and sound policy may make a difference in the lives of everyday Americans, but they don't make for must-see viewing on social media.

Instead, what we are seeing out there from an army of armchair warriors are the exact same emotions that led Republicans to elect Donald Trump: fear, anxiety, and anger. Unlike Trump supporters, Doomsday Twitter is not driven by racism or sexism for the most part but rather an unfounded fear that a lack of public action by the Democratic Party means that no action can or will be taken at all. It is defeatism, but it is more than that. It is defeatism while intentionally ignoring the complexities and intricacies of government. It's a knee-jerk response to each and every move made by Republicans while demanding an equally authoritative move from Democrats. Tit-for-tat is what they're expecting. Yet those of us in the know understand that 99% of governing goes on behind the scenes. We realize that public posturing is done as a way to save face with one's constituents and/or donors. We understand that there are calculations as to when politicians speak out and when they stay silent. And we are certain that the adults in charge know all this and know exactly how it will all play out.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and Nancy Patricia D'alesandro Pelosi have been in government for a few years. And by a few years, I mean a total of 8+ decades. At a time when many folks advocate for term limits, Biden and Pelosi show us time and time again how much political experience truly matters when it comes to the highest levels of government. To fully understand the American political system, you have to have seen it all. Full Democratic control of government. Full Republican control of government. Mixed government. A newly-elected president in his honeymoon period. A lame-duck president in his final days. A raving lunatic with access to the nuclear codes and the intent of installing himself as a lifelong dictator. Between Biden's experience in the Senate and Oval Office and Pelosi's experience in the House, there is very little that collectively they haven't seen or experienced. 

But of course, Doomsday Twitter doesn't care about all this. They are all living in the moment. Joe's Afghanistan withdrawal was an unmitigated disaster! His poll numbers are rapidly decreasing! There's yet another crisis at the border! He's not taking questions, he must be afraid of what the media might ask him! And Nancy Pelosi! Why can't she keep the moderates in line? Why won't she discipline the squad? Why is the House moving so slowly on the bills that the American people care about? What is the purpose of Democrats having the White House, Senate, and House if they aren't passing meaningful legislation each and every day? Don't they understand the midterms are less than 14 months away?!?!

Yes, actually. They do. 

And it's why they're playing the long game, a game that Doomsday Twitter refuses to recognize. Because, let's be honest: there is a lot more online attention that can be generated from fear than from patience. So while Joe and Nancy Smash work deliberately behind the scenes, Doomsday Twitter has no choice but to scream and shout about their perceived "inactivity". Slow, methodical governance doesn't create headlines but inactivity and indifference do. So that's the route Doomsday Twitter takes. The Blue Checkmarks aren't negotiating in good faith because they have no obligation to do so. All they care about is their clickbait headlines about Dems In Disarray and their calls to action have and always will be WHY DON'T DEMOCRATS DO SOMETHING?!?! 

Yet Democrats are doing something. And what they are doing is busting their asses behind the scenes. Currently, both Biden and Pelosi are meeting with leadership to finalize agreements on landmark legislation, including an infrastructure bill, a voting rights bill, a Build Back Better bill, and a second reconciliation bill among others. They are also going toe-to-toe with Mitch McConnell, daring him and the entire Republican Party to refuse to raise the debt ceiling, thereby crashing the American economy. Believe it or not, Joe Biden witnessed not one but two debt-ceiling crises when Barack Obama was president so he has a pretty good idea of what goes on during these negotiations. With Nancy Pelosi already having whipped the entire House Democratic Party caucus to publicly vote to raise the debt ceiling and with every single Republican having voted against doing so, Democrats are already moving the needle on public opinion, showing clearly which party would be blamed should Republicans actually go through on their threat. Biden and Pelosi know there are two fronts: policy and public opinion. If both are sound, then odds are the Republicans end up swallowing their pride and back away before further damage is done. 

So as Doomsday Twitter continues to paint the Democratic Party as useless and ineffective, know this: they could not be more wrong. Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi know what they are doing. Kamala Harris has proven to be a tremendous asset in the VP role. Chuck Schumer can rally his Senate colleagues as needed. Grassroots leaders and activists dominated the California recall and are now moving to hold the governor's mansions in Virginia and New Jersey. While Doomsday Twitter scrolls and trolls social media throughout the day, the real movers and shakers are getting things done from the highest levels of government on down. When you govern, actually govern, you know that progress is a slow, tedious process but it makes it that much sweeter in the end. Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi know this better than anyone. 

And that is why we must continue to trust them completely and ignore Doomsday Twitter.