This morning the NYT's David Leonhardt speaks for me in his write "The Lucy Theory of Politics" concerning Biden's relief bill and why it needs passing NOW:

It's worth a quick look and some of it follows.

(And nobody is better than @DLeonhardt boiling stuff down.)

1/8

In Bill Clinton’s first weeks as president, he pushed for legislation meant to reduce the deficit, bring down interest rates and spark the economy. It received NO VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS in the House or Senate and passed only when VP Al Gore broke a 50-50 Senate tie.

2/8

In Barack Obama’s first weeks as president, he pushed for legislation to halt the financial crisis and revive the economy. It received NO VOTES FROM HOUSE REPUBLICANS and only three from Senate Republicans, one of whom (Arlen Specter) soon switched parties.

3/8

This week, when I first saw the Biden administration’s unenthusiastic reaction to a coronavirus proposal from Senate Republicans, I was confused. Biden views himself as a dealmaker, and a president typically benefits from forging a bipartisan compromise.

4/8

So why isn’t Biden pursuing a two-step strategy — pouring himself into a bipartisan deal and then following up with a Democratic bill that fills in the pieces he thinks were missing? Why is he leaning toward a single bill that would need only Democratic support to pass?

5/8

The answer has a lot to do with history: FOR DECADES CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS HAVE OPPOSED — ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY — ANY TOP PRIORITY OF AN INCOMING DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

6/8

Biden and his aides believe they will be playing Charlie Brown to a Republican Lucy if they imagine this time will be different.

7/8

ME AGAIN:

IT WON'T BE DIFFERENT. Pass the damn bill, Democrats.

If Republicans don't want a piece of it, fine.

Guess what: Many of their voters do, and ALL OF THEM will cash those $1,400 checks.

#EndTheFilibuster

*Footnote

If Democrats proceed with the reconciliation approach, they and Republicans can continue negotiating over the substance of the bill. Bush used reconciliation for his 2001 tax cut and still received 40 votes from congressional Democrats in the end.