This is a Big, Big, Big Deal. By Josh Marshall.

This is a Big, Big, Big Deal. By Josh Marshall.

TPM

January 6, 2021 1:23 a.m.

I probably don’t have to tell you to be excited about the results out of Georgia tonight where it seems highly likely that the the Democrats picked up both Senate seats and thus took control of the Senate. You don’t need me to tell you about the historic nature of Raphael Warnock’s victory. But the consequences of these victories is likely even greater than many realize.

This doesn’t change the legislative calculus. Major progressive legislation seems highly unlikely in the next two years. We’re not going to be able to expand the Court. But it accomplishes two critical things. First, it allows Joe Biden to assemble a government. I think people have been underestimating the likelihood that a Republican senate would simply refuse to confirm major Biden appointees, forcing the President to try to wing stuff together with recess and vacancies act appointments that would themselves become tied up in the courts. It now seems clear that Biden will be able to have his choice of any reasonable appointee for all the big positions. This is especially critical in places like the Justice Department but frankly everywhere else as well.

This is a huge, huge deal. We were looking at a situation in which it was quite likely that, in effect, Biden would need to barter with Mitch McConnell simply to be able to be President.

I hear a lot about Joe Manchin now calling the shots in the Senate. That may be true to a degree – though I think a more accurate balance of power will rest with 6-8 senators from both parties – Manchin, Romney, Collins, Murkowski, perhaps Sinema, et al. But again, this kind of misses the point. Mitch McConnell barely did anything legislatively during his six years at the helm. His mastery and control was simply in controlling the calendar. Republicans could hide from major issues because they were simply never allowed to come up.

Democrats won’t be able to dictate legislation. But they’ll be able to control the questions, the discussion. Want a vote on $2,000 checks? You can have the vote. In that case, I think they’ll get that. But even if it’s a case where you don’t win the vote, you get to have a vote. You get to force everyone on the record about where they stand. If you need to do some technical fix of some aspect of Obamacare because of Court meddling? No problem. You can hold that vote and you’ll probably win it. McConnell’s masterful control of the Senate calendar has allowed Republican senators to hide from taking positions on many of the critical issues of the day. Nothing even gets a vote unless Mitch McConnell decides it advantages the Republican party. Wielding this power McConnell could disable the government and then have members of his caucus run on its failures.

That stranglehold is over.

Quite simply, these victories allow Joe Biden to actually be President, as opposed to spending two years being Merick Garlanded by Mitch McConnell. It changes everything.