It's amazing how often I log on to find the internet absolutely savaging Dem leadership for ... not getting more out of Republicans. Even supposedly nonpartisan journalists do it! Like, it's Dems' job to deal with sociopaths; it's everyone else's job to judge their performance.

Normies will see headlines: "Pelosi defends $600 checks," and they'll think "terrible, cursed elites!" Somehow it never quite gets conveyed that Dems were fighting & fighting for more & Rs were fighting & fighting for less. That the Rs *could have done otherwise*.

In US politics, Republican sociopathy is treated like a natural feature of the landscape, like a river or something. Only Dems have agency; only Dems are making choices. We all sit around & rate how well they do navigating across the river. "Ha, Nancy, you call that a boat!?!?"

Somehow the media covers the details but manages to muddy the bigger picture, which is that if Dems had their way, they'd be dumping $3 trillion into the economy. Covid aid is going to be pathetic & insufficient BECAUSE OF REPUBLICANS. That's what they wanted & fought for!

That's not to say people can't critique Dem leadership -- of course they can -- but it would be nice if all the insiders and insider-wannabes could occasionally take a break from savvy analysis & make sure the larger context is clear to Americans. The GOP is making choices too!