Frank's Musings

President Biden surprised the political columnists like Eugene Robinson by delivering a combative State of the Union address challenging his Republican opposition to come up with better answers to the country’s economic and personal security issues. Moreover, as a long veteran of Congressional politics, he could easily respond to the shouted objections to his speech from MAGA Republican congressmen in the audience.

Biden also succeeded in highlighting the disagreement between the Republican Speaker and his MAGA party members on fundamental issues like Social Security and MEDICARE. After all, it’s more important to Kevin McCarthy that he keep his Speakership than that he achieve what he may think is best for the country (except that he is the one that leads the House of Representatives).

The biggest aim of Biden’s speech was to solicit McCarthy’s cooperation in adopting much of the President’s program in exchange for maintaining his Speakership. Biden would like McCarthy to collaborate with him, Hakim Jeffries and the remaining moderate Republican Representatives in a coalition to pass a moderate version of the Democratic agenda plus keep his job as Speaker.  

Part of the deal Biden is offering McCarthy would mean Democratic House votes in the inevitable challenge to his election as Speaker from one of his erstwhile MAGA supporters is Jeffries’ willingness to arrange compensating Democratic votes cast on McCarthy's behalf to make up for a MAGA Republican defection.  Question is—will Jeffries play this game?