Dark Brandon and My Kevin Got the Job Done

This what happens when you have two adults in the room: Boring negotiations that make the trains run on time.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to the press after an "agreement principle" was reached between House Republicans and President Joe Biden's team to avoid a default on the U.S. debt at the U.S. Capitol on May 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. The agreement still needs to pass through both the House and Senate. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

1. In Praise of My Kevin

Last week I laid down a marker on the debt ceiling in the hopes of helping us judge Biden’s performance by standards that didn’t shift.

I’d like for us to put some markers down now. Because last week Conservatism Inc. was freaking out about how, if Biden invoked the 14th Amendment to circumvent a compromise it would be the greatest usurpation of executive power since the suspension of habeas corpus.

Fair enough, I guess?

So what happens if Biden doesn’t go over the top on the 14th Amendment? Does he get credit from Republicans for not being a tool of the progressive left? Or do they keep shouting socialism in a crowded theater?

And what happens if Biden and McCarthy actually get to yes? Does the critique of Biden as a progressive BLM-antifa radical go away?

Would people admit that Biden is the centrist we’ve been waiting for?

Because if centrism is defined by both parties getting a little bit of what they want, then it seems like Biden is about as close to the middle as any recent president.

Well, we got our answer: Biden cut a deal with the Republican House majority. No norms were broken. Progressives aren’t thrilled with it. Freedom Caucus types hate it. As an objective matter, the deal seems unobjectionable.

Newsflash: Joe Biden is still good at presidenting. I’m sure voters will give him credit for this, right? 🙄

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Here’s someone else we should give credit to: Kevin McCarthy.