I’ve kept thinking about this argument over the M4A floor vote because while the debate itself doesn’t mean much, it divided people in a useless way. So maybe this’ll help make more sense of it:

Consider the fact that the left basically has no power rn. Right? Ok.

You can’t maneuver your way out of powerlessness. There’s no clever trick that abolitionists could have pulled in 1820 that would’ve ended slavery, even tho there were a few members of Congress against slavery

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t debate tactics and maneuvers. You absolutely should. Some maneuvers are dumb, some are smart. Argue that out. But understand that that’s all you’re talking about. Your opponent in those debates is not your enemy. You might even be wrong.

Here’s @AdyBarkan making a similar point yesterday. It’s great to argue about tactics, but the question of what specific legislative procedure to take that’ll get you there is simply not a fundamental moral or political divide. It’s just a maneuver. https://twitter.com/adybarkan/status/1340116089095606272

It reminds me of a phrase I first heard from @jonathansmucker when he said Bernie had gotten “within the margin of maneuver” — in other words, close enough that the fight can be won or lost with tactics. That’s not where M4A is.