America is at a nasty precipice, and whether we go over and down, or turn and walk smartly to the nearest bridge-crossing will be known in the next few days, if not sooner. We’re not only caught up in the surge of an actual catastrophic pandemic, but also face an infectious virus oozing through the Republican party, core symptoms include conspirarcy craziness coupled with a violent streak.
Governance is one-way — Democrats do the work, Republicans whine and cry for ‘unity.’

This week the clincher on whether we dash ourselves on the rocks far below, or do what’s needed, and what’s right for the circunstances — we need to get a firm handle on COVID-19 no matter the fiscal cost, or we’ll pay a much-higher physical one. And that ‘unity’ shit is just that, shit.

Although from Upchuck Todd’s people, still accurate:

TODAY: Joe Biden’s presidency is just 13 days old, but he’s already facing his biggest legislative decision yet — Do Democrats go at it alone and pass the White House's Covid relief bill, or aim for a smaller package with GOP support? https://t.co/S86Z1FTnFd

— Meet the Press: First Read (@MTPFirstRead) February 1, 2021

In addessing the pandemic, President Joe Biden’s plan is much needed right now, but Republicans are balking to signing on to it, yet Democrats are forging ahead to pass it:

Democrats in Congress and the White House rejected a Republican pitch to split President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue plan into smaller chunks on Thursday, with lawmakers appearing primed to muscle the sweeping economic and virus aid forward without GOP help.

Despite Biden’s calls for unity, Democrats said the stubbornly high unemployment numbers and battered U.S. economy leave them unwilling to waste time courting Republican support that might not materialize.
They also don’t want to curb the size and scope of a package that they say will provide desperately needed money to distribute the vaccine, reopen schools and send cash to American households and businesses.
…
Success would give Biden a signature accomplishment in his first 100 days in office, unleashing $400 billion to expand vaccinations and to reopen schools, $1,400 direct payments to households, and other priorities, including a gradual increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Failure would be a high-profile setback early in his presidency.

Democrats in the House and Senate are operating as though they know they are borrowed time.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are laying the groundwork to start the go-it-alone approach as soon as next week.

They are drafting a budget reconciliation bill that would start the process to pass the relief package with a simple 51-vote Senate majority — rather than the 60-vote threshold typically needed in the Senate to advance legislation.
The goal would be passage by March, when jobless benefits, housing assistance and other aid is set to expire.

Schumer said he drew from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s advice to “act big” to weather the COVID-19 economic crisis.

“Everywhere you look, alarm bells are ringing,” Schumer said from the Senate floor.

Hence, Republicans came-up with a watered-down version and will present it to Biden amid phony-ass calls for unity — via CBS News this morning:

A group of 10 Republican senators is set to meet with President Biden on Monday to propose an alternative COVID-19 relief package, as the White House and congressional Democrats prepare to move forward with Mr. Biden’s $1.9 trillion plan with or without GOP support.

The GOP group, led by Senator Susan Collins, wrote to Mr. Biden on Sunday requesting a meeting, and the White House quickly extended an invitation.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president is “happy to have a conversation with them.”
…
The offer by Republican senators totals roughly $618 billion, or less than a third of the size of the package Mr. Biden is seeking, according to a summary of the proposal released Monday.
The plan calls for $160 billion dollars for vaccine development and distribution and testing and tracing, $132 billion for expanded unemployment benefits and $220 billion for a new round of direct payments.

Under the proposal, individuals making $40,000 or less would receive stimulus checks of $1,000, and couples making $80,000 or less jointly would receive $2,000, with the amount reduced for incomes up to $50,000 and $100,000, respectively.
An additional $500 would be paid for each dependent child or adult, as well.
Individuals making over $50,000 and couples making more than $100,000 would not be eligible for payments.

Of course, the straight answer is obvious:

Incoming Senate Finance Committee Chair @RonWyden, calls Senate GOPer Covid relief proposal "far too small to provide the relief the American people need." pic.twitter.com/LiO0bi6qmd

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) February 1, 2021

Entire Republican plan is farce. The substance way-inadequate for the COVID circumstances — Paul Krugman at The New York Times this morning:

So 10 Republican senators are proposing an economic package that is supposed to be an alternative to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.
The proposal would reportedly be only a fraction of the size of Biden’s plan and would in important ways cut the heart out of economic relief.

Republicans, however, want Biden to give in to their wishes in the name of bipartisanship.
Should he?

No, no, 1.9 trillion times no.

It’s not just that what we know about the G.O.P. proposal indicates that it’s grotesquely inadequate for a nation still ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Beyond that, by their behavior — not just over the past few months but going back a dozen years — Republicans have forfeited any right to play the bipartisanship card, or even to be afforded any presumption of good faith.
…
Republicans, however, want to rip the guts out of this plan.
They are seeking to reduce extra aid to the unemployed and, more important, cut that aid off in June — long before we can possibly get back to full employment.
They want to eliminate hundreds of billions in aid to state and local governments.
They want to eliminate aid for children. And so on.

This isn’t an offer of compromise; it’s a demand for near-total surrender.
And the consequences would be devastating if Democrats were to give in.

But what about bipartisanship?
As Biden might say, “C’mon, man.”

Democrats, however, have a sordid history of waffling. They’ve done it before and most-likely will do it again. Let’s just hope this is not that time.
End result aould be beyond Krugman’s ‘devastating’ term, into a huge fall off a high rock face into even worse, maybe fatal shit.

Once again, tune of the times:

“Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination...”

(Illustration by illustrator and portrait painter, Tim O’Brien, and can be found here).