Progressives have come to Biden’s rescue with even greater gusto than doubters like this columnist predicted. Congressional Democrats known as progressives have prostrated themselves without a hint of unhappiness and in the process make a mockery of themselves and the people who support them.
Congressional Black Caucus member Cori Bush was
asked if she and other progressives known as “the squad” would be
willing to use their leverage as much as those Democrats who own up to
being conservative. She said this about herself and her colleagues,
“...you vote alone, and you're voting for your districts.” Bush
therefore admitted that there will be no action on behalf of what the
people want. She defeated William Lacy Clay, known as an establishment
Democrat, but like other progressives she is no more willing to buck the
system than the person she replaced.
Bush is following in the footsteps of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who entered Congress with great fanfare, also after defeating an incumbent in a primary. After being beaten down by Biden and the leadership she proclaimed that he “exceeded expectations that progressives had.” Pramila Jayapal joined in the capitulation by pronouncing that she gives Biden an A grade. No minimum wage hike, no public option, no prescription drug cost reduction and nothing else that these members said they wanted is taking place. In fact Ocasio-Cortez demurred from forcing a vote on Medicare for all in favor of using leverage to push for a minimum wage increase. Biden dismissed her fake strategy with a cynical ploy about a parliamentarian and she is left with egg on her face.
There can be no more excuses made for these people. Regardless of
what they may want, they steadfastly refuse to fight for what they know
to be right. None of them are revolutionaries, which is what they would
have to be in order to fight a corrupt system. Biden is in no mood for
compromise and he doesn’t have to when no one will fight back. The
leadership do what their donors want and by definition that means the
people don’t get what they want and need.
-- "Freedom Rider: Progressives Capitulate to Biden," Margaret Kimberley (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).