May he be up to the challenges of the job. We will now see.

cant wait for the first tax break for billionaires that isnt paid for, and told it is good for the country.. WHere were all this fiscally responsible repugs when diaper donnie was POTUS?

John Stockman, Ronald Reagan's budget director, said that the government was "underleveraged," in 1981 when the deficit was about $900-billion. For the next 40-years, their mantra could have been "Tax and Spend=Bad. Borrow and Spend=Good." The underlying theory was that they could keep taxes low and satisfy the rich, keep needed services funded, and satisfy the middle class and keep it up until they could not borrow anymore. Then they would cut the "Welfare State," to balance the budget. This was called "Starve the Beast."

The deficit is out of control because of tax-cuts and some unwise investments. Building bridges enhance enterprise, which is good for the economy. Building border walls did not solve the immigration crisis and increased our liability to maintain the structures. (If walls worked, we would have built them decades ago).

The biggest problem we have is that people buy simple solutions to complex problems. We can't just "Tax the Rich," or "Cut Wasteful Spending." Complex problems require complex solutions. Democrats need to develop an economic blueprint that reduces spending, intelligently increases revenue and doesn't over-burden any one segment of the people or economy.

I think that the majority of Republicans do not support such partisan activities. A small, but loud, minority see them a "Payback for the Jan. 6 Committee hearings." The majority want movement on issues affecting their daily lives. If the Republicans let our loan default, the economic downturn will make the post-Covid economic turmoil and Russo-Ukranian War oil shortages, look like walks in the park. The extremists think Biden will take the hit. But, the paper trail will lead directly to the GOP members in the House. A compromise with the Dems will probably be necessary to keep this from happening. Gaetz, et al will do everything in their power to make happen. McCarthy has the proverbial "Tiger by the tail."

I would love to share in your optimism, if MAGA formed a third party, and split from the moderates, it could be possible

However, I have interacted, and witnessed over the years, first hand, Trump supporters rendered needy, for the MAGA fix.

It could of been the 24/7 Right Wing conspiracies, social stress, economic status, developmental injury, or any combination that drew them in.

What they appear to share in common, is a strong internal yearning, like small children, for a strongman parental father figure, telling them what to do, how to think, who is your enemy. who is your friend, and who and what to fear.

Trump delivered that phycological high in a way his supporters could comprehend, and MAGA learned how to exploit the process.

MAGA simply picked up Trumps gauntlet, and is running with it

MAGA was the instrument that gave the long suffering "Southern Democrats," and other extremists recruited by Republicans, respect and a voice. The "Social Conservative," faction was forever alienated by the Democratic Party because of its embrace and support of "Equal Rights for All." That is why MAGA rejects immigrants, Women's Rights and BLM. As long as the party caters to them, they will stay fiercely loyal.

The problem for the GOP is that the interests of MAGA do not dovetail with moderate middle class voters in their party. I lived through the 60s and 70s and observed this from the other extreme. As the movement that spawned Bernie Sanders and others got more than a foothold in the Democratic Party, centrists like John Connelly peeled away, along with large numbers of union members and others who felt the party no longer represented them. The pendulum swung to the extreme right. If the Democratic Party presents a friendly refuge for middle-class, middle of the road GOP members, we can pick up their support and better serve the people. This is not the time to be negative.

I agree with you, Dems are the safe harbor, unfortunately, pardon my lack of tact
Lot of gun toting crazies to contend with out there

When the left says he and others need to compromise with the Dems, what they mean is rollover and do as we do.