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Cult of the Lesser Evil: Faustian Fallacy

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/10/white-house-biden-staffers-00134688

the whole point of a deal with the devil is that you get something out of it. On Gaza, Biden the war priest has maximal discretion, far more than he would on an issue that requires cooperation of Congress or the courts. furthermore, withholding aid would be a relatively passive action: he doesn't need to exert pressure so much as refrain from authorizing ever more weaponry, remove his UN veto, withdraw his justice departments assault on BDS. but even these most cheap, eassy, and passive of actions, restraining his government from attacking the very coalitions whose votes they need to win Michigan this November, is beyond the pale. they would rather lose then recognize the needs of such allies. in such a deal, one is not a junior partner to the coalition but a supplicant who with every election proves to the candidates and to themselves their unwillingness to cut their losses. over multiple election cycles the resemblance to capitalist realism is cyclical. the repeated avowal that there is no alternative functions as a self fulfilling prophecy.

just because you're willing to make a deal with the devil doesn't mean the devil will make a deal with you.

spoil with a purpose:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/10/third-parties-2024-disruption-00134106

thinking in terms of one or several election cycles: would we have a better chance electing a politician susceptible to progressive manipulation in 2028 if Biden wins in 2024 (thereby setting up a race between Harris, Buttigieg, and Newsom to be Biden’s heir) or under Trump after Biden and his cronies have been repudiated but Trump has furthered the rollback of voter rights?

i tend to think that Republicans will rollback those rights regardless and that making space for a new coalition which rejects the Democrats and embraces extra-electoral tactics which tend to become more salient when one’s bloc is firmly out of power then under the malaise of the liberal entrenched forces is more viable

the cult of the Lesser Evil, race to the bottom, austerity logic

self harm to ones preferred party as a means of coercion