Pelosi and Schumer have come to the Oval Office to talk about the future. Biden is happy to see them.
B: Remember when Barack talked about us getting shellacked in 2010? It sure didn’t happen this time. In some ways, we actually won!
P: Yes, although we shouldn’t take that too far. The Republicans actually won more House votes than we did. That’s not a good sign.
B: Still, when you consider what has happened in midterms in the past, this was a good result.
S: Agreed.
B: So what do you think we should do now?
P: The most important thing is for you to use your superpower.
B: Which is?
P: Looking moderate and counterpunching. Letting the Republicans show themselves to be the extremists they are. Just like you did with Trump in 2020.
B: Yeah, we’ll have to wade through a lot of malarkey from the House over the next two years. Fortunately, I’m used to it. It’s the same stuff we had to deal with in 2011, except this time, it’s going to involve my son. That’s going to be hard for me.
S: Unless someone can talk Manchin into supporting reconciliation, we’re looking at a huge debt crisis early next year. It’s going to be important not to give in on anything important in that process. Caving will be bad for the country; it will just demoralize our side and encourage more ransom demands.
B: Got it, but if we can make a deal that’s just symbolic, I would probably do it. What else should we be looking at over the next two years?
P: We should be making Social Security a big issue. Propose making the system more financially stable by raising the income cap on the tax. Force the Republicans to either cave or take a position on it that the public will hate.
B: That makes sense. What else?
S: Be prepared to go to war over the Supreme Court if we get a boatload of reactionary decisions next year. We need to put term limits on the table.
B: I’ll look at that if it happens. Anything else?
P: Not really. We need to get the bipartisan elections and gay marriage bills through the lame duck session. After that, other than Social Security, it’s mostly about playing defense and letting the Republicans rip themselves to shreds.
B: OK. Have a great holiday! (They leave)