Originally Posted by
CSTowle
I find the interest/obsession with the Royal Family to be weird, seems like an idea that's long past its expiration date. I hear arguments they're good for tourism, but honestly I think you'd see no real difference without them. Even the papers would find something (like celebrity obsession) to focus on. But ultimately is it any different from the Kardashians or even focus on the more salacious personal details of politicians lives here in the US? Feel like it's a lateral move.
As to the knock on the Biden Administration and why they'll continue to be criticized, I feel it's been summed up nicely by comparing them to the Republicans. Republicans fight, break rules, ignore norms, outright lie to your face and the faces of their supporters, and risk things to get what they want done. They'll actively suppress votes from non-Republican voters, lie about it on one show, then (while knowing they're being recorded) tell the truth about it at a fundraiser. They are better at their jobs.
In fairness, nobody who voted for Biden thought he was a champion of the people or Democratic causes. He's a career politician who's (well, used to be) great with a soundbite when he's not putting his foot in his mouth and great in person. He's as middle of the road as they come. It's a step up from the triangulation move-to-the-right of the Clintons, but a small step. And a gigantic f##king leap up from the fascist/racist/sever or weaken all ties and alliances around the world cluster of f##k we just came out of.
That counts for something and it's the reason he got as many votes as he did. But people still want things to get done. And we lucked into having a tied Senate. And yes, Manchin and a few others (sadly looks like my state's Shaheen and Hassan, might have to factor that in when primaries come up again) are going to drag their feet. But if you have the political will you can force things to get done. "Where there's a will there's a way". If we had half of the fight the other side did we'd have a $15 minimum wage and an Affordable Care Act that hadn't been watered down several times to attain exactly zero Republican votes.
If you're serious about getting things done you can't keep playing by this imaginary rulebook that says you have be nice, and do things properly and in order, and take others feelings into consideration, etc. The other side is not doing that. They haven't been for a long time, and I don't know if you've noticed but they're only getting worse. Probably has something to do with them having been successful at accomplishing their goals. There's always a reason not to do something. "Primaries are coming up." "Oh, Senator so-and-so's in a tough district, can't lose her" "We'll get to that eventually, but we have to take things slow" We've all heard it again and again, some of us for decades. Sure, these fights are tough and some are unwinnable currently. But dang it, I want to see them fighting. Or at least believe they want to. Until then they deserve the criticism.