If one party controls the government and is putting on a "show" why would you think voting matters? wouldn't the entire democratic process also be a "show"?

You seem to have dug yourself in to quite the rhetorical hole here...

that's why biden has a parallel reconciliation bill in progress as well. if they try to pull that stunt again, it's straight back to 2.2 trillion dems-only, and everybody wins. except maybe mitch mcconnell.

JL

But, you are right about who Klaatu is. :)

Just because we have Republicans claiming to be willing to pass bipartisan legislation means nothing until they actually vote for it. McConnell has made it clear that he won’t allow Biden to pass any major piece of legislation… so we will see if Republicans are willing to defy him.

Very insightful comments, as per usual.

I'm told that, on the current trajectory, it's the Republicans all the way in the midterms, though, and the only thing that might stop that? Klaatu, of course.

What say you!?

I would like to hear more about the 'why' of it all. You maintain with utter certainty that, had the Dems used reconciliation to steam-roller the entire $2.2T infrastructure package past the Republicans, the end result would be the same: nice things for the American people across the board.

This double-barreled option accomplishes the same thing with a lot more complexity and moving parts that can break. Since, as you say, the American people won't be asking which tax break or rebuilt road or day care operation came from the 'partisan' bill, and which from the 'bipartisan' bill, what is the point?

Is it to move the pro-filibuster Dems closer to anti-ing the filibuster? Is it to build a bridge to a Republican minority that may go along with other unreconcilable parts of the Dems' program this year (like, for instance, election reform where that cooperative Republican minority was just last week nowhere in sight)? Is it to make President Biden a happy fellow?