This is not a Joe Manchin issue. He is being used as a scapegoat. The reality is white America doesn't want people of color to have influence in politics and government. Manchin is a Democrat in a Republican-leaning state. So he can be the scapegoat for all of the other Democrats in Deep Blue states that feel the same way.
If the Democrats wanted action on any policies, they could have removed him from all of his committees, especially the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Democrats could make it a party rule that if you can not be on a Committee that you get donations from the industry that the Committee regulates. Nor can you or your family own stocks or even own a company that the Committee regulates.
If all the Democrats really wanted voting rights except for two, they could force those two hands. Because looking ineffective is worst than having two members leave the party because they were stripped of all power for breaking rank.
It's not a Joe Manchin issue, but he does have the power right now to do something about it. And I have to suggest that you replace "white America" with "rich America". I know, there is a large correlation, but I think it is by far more about money than race. The race thing is exasperated by the rich for distraction purposes.
I would agree with you on most other bills. But suppressing voters' rights is not targeting the poor as much as people of color. No one is trying to suppress the voting rights of poor people in West Virginia or in Maine or in Utah.
Of course they are. Look at Texas, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee…need I continue? Voter suppression is VERY REAL. It’s the ONLY WAY repubs can win! We must pass a strong voting rights bill to protect EVERY SINGLE VOTE.
You are accurate, but I still think "Race" is a proxy war. Regardless of which side you are on, it separates us into "sides", while the real enemy operates under the radar.
"Rothchilds" are often a euphemism for JEWS. So as I take it, Patrick seems to be implying that old anti semitic trope that Jews control everything. Are you, Patrick??
All the focus, from the establishment, on Race and the “Culture Wars” is purposely divisive. The powers that be, including both political parties - they are beholden to and serve the same master - more than anything are desperate to avoid CLASS conciousness and CLASS war. Divide and rule, the oldest tactic in the book. Hence the panic around the striking & resigning workers around the country right now and growing. Although you’d never know if all you watch is the Corporate Media, who are barely mentioning it. Likewise their hostility to “the left” & “progressive policies” in the BBB which are opposed by the very same corporations which sponsor and fund the mainstream media.
Have you ever "heard" the assertion that "they'll hurt the economy and stifle growth, leading to job loss," from those who, for all intent, drive the economy - as a veiled threat? I recall my father's words back during the first "oil crisis:" "If you deregulate gasoline prices, you'll have all the gasoline anyone wants" - and he was a Republican of the '50s. Where does ultimate control of the means of production reside?
Although I think you're being a bit harsh on the Democrats as a whole, I >do< suspect a clever Republican strategy that includes running "shill" candidates as Democrats. Indeed, an Ohio Republican, who just won the seat Stivers abandoned, stated plainly in one of his campaign ad that there's no law that prohibits lying in a campaign ad - as he was attacking his opponent for lying. The connection is this: what's to prevent a candidate from lying about their party affiliation?
A good question - actually. See if this link takes you anywhere useful: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.senate.gov%2FCRSpubs%2F1771db8e-8d9a-4bfd-9148-46df9d10815d.pdf&clen=926448&chunk=true Otherwise, try googling "https://www.senate.gov › CRSpubs › 1771db8e-8d9a-4bfd-9148-46df9d10815d.pdf" and see where it takes you. If no joy there, search the strin g "who appoints committee members in the senate"
Each party assigns, by resolution, its own members to committees, and each committee distributes its members among subcommittees. The Senate places limits on the number and types of panels any one senator may serve on and chair. For more information on how senators are assigned to committees, read about committee membership from the Senate Historical Office.
If the party does their own assigning, the party can unassign. It is the party that decided to reward Manchin and Sinema for being "Shill" candidates.
I'm thinking that's a bit harsh. It might be more the convergence of seniority and not being aware of their inclinations. Never underestimate the power of schnooks!
I don't know. I would assume the House Majority Whip, so Chuck Schumer. But someone decided who gets what position on what committees. I would hope someone reading this would know and share that answer.
I would think that if the Senate Dems punished Manchin by taking his Senate committees, he would immediately flip his party affiliation to GOP, thus flipping the Senate majority to the Republicans, who will gladly reward him with Senate committee positions in return. The Dems have to handle Manchin delicately.
I agree with much of what you say. But if Manchin were “punished” by the party, he could (and probably would) just leave it and join the Republicans, thereby handing the Senate back to McConnell. I haven’t forgotten the Obstructor in Chief and his refusal to let ANY legislation even come up for a vote except judiciary appointments and tax cuts for the rich. I’d sure hate to see him running the Senate again.
I agree with your comment, except for the part about "white America". Recent elections show that a significant majority of white folks will vote for and elect people of color.
I suspect he may, anyway. As I implied earlier, I suspect he's a Republican shill. The only thing that would change is that the deceit would come to an >abrupt< end - with regard to Manchin, anyway.
That would be better than being functionless while in power.
Because now nothing is getting done and Democrats can't even blame the Republicans for being obstructionist. Every Republican will say the Democrats were in power and could not govern. And also Manchin and Sinema can't win a Republican Primary, so let them go. And show that the Democratic party's goal is to get things done.
dems fear rocking the sinking boat but it does boil down to being a manchin issue to my eyes, it may be that he enjoys being a centerpiece and he most certainly votes his wallet. in short, i agree with you but they cannot 'force' the two obstructionists to do anything and cannot put petulant children that are bullies in the corner, unfortunately for America
Agreed; there’s a hell of a lot Biden and the Dem leadership could do to “twist arms and cajole” dissenting members, LBJ style. Not to mention the official levers they could pull, as in the committee assignments you mention. The fact that Biden isn’t pulling out the stops and doing those things tells me he’s not really all that bothered about the issues at hand. He doesn’t care what’s in the bills or how much they do or don’t substantially help people, he just wants “a win”, any win, so he can point to the “great bipartisanship”, which is fetishised to a ridiculous amount in the Capitol.
In the U.K. Parliament if an MP (equivalent to Representatives or Senators in the US) doesn’t vote with their party on a bill they are not allowed any official Govt jobs OR serve on any committees. Manchin & Sinema (& whomever else) should be, as a minimum, kicked off their committees.
They can still vote whichever way they want, they just wouldn’t be given any cushy assignments in which they can affect policy which benefits themselves - such as coal baron Joe Manchin on the Energies Committee.
Sorry, I did not mean to offend. Just saying that Representatives should vote for what their constituents want, which is not necessarily what their party wants.
Unfortunately, you are preaching to the choir. TV hosts in general are not equipped to handle the subjects they are expected to defend. Today, Joe Manchin was interviewed on "Morning Joe". The subject was the Reconciliation bill. In his defense, he threw around all kinds of economic statistics that no one on the panel challenged, because they were not versed in economics. Inflation is soaring. We all would like more. We have to live within our means. Blah, blah, blah. Reminds me of my divorce proceedings. Morning Joe and all the other talk show hosts should be prepared to have a Robert Reich on their program, when they have a blowhard like Manchin spouting republican dogma. In the same vain, when they invite a man like Manchin to pontificate on voting rights, a bill he believed would pass in the Senate, they should be prepared to challenge him. Instead, Manchin comes off as a reasonable guy who is just trying to represent his constituency, which we all know are his benefactors. If Democrats want the public on their side, they need to put their money where their mouth is! The public is uninformed, and giving people like Manchin a platform to convince them that talking out of both sides of your mouth can win on election day, is a disaster for the democratic party.
Yep, his constituency is overwhelmingly in favour of the social policies in the BBB, some as much as 70-80%, so when he says he’s representing them he’s talking bs.
I don't think it is unfortunate that I am preaching to the choir; it has its benefits. The news programs should bring on a savy intelligent opponent to debate Manchin. I think we might be better off trying to attract a Republican senator or two to join the Democrat caucus rather than focusing so much on Manchin and Sinema. Also, it would be prudent to flip some seats in some other states.
I’m SO damn frustrated! If I’m this turned off by all the Democrats squabbling, then no wonder we got a solid ass whipping in the recent elections!! I’m tired of us squandering opportunity after opportunity to do something good. Do you REALLY think Mitch will not kick the filibuster to the curb the second he’s in power?? Remember his Supreme Court hypocrisy?? Get off your butts get ONE thing done! Please.
Stan, I share your frustration. If Biden and Schumer -- and other senate Democrats -- can't get Manchin and Sinema to vote with the rest of the Democrats in the Senate, we'll have squandered the one opportunity we have. I'm amazed at the unity of the Senate Republicans and the disunity of Senate Democrats.
I'm beginning to think that the filibuster, much as I'm opposed to it, is not the real problem. The problem is the donor class which holds veto power over anything Congress tries to do. Until we get rid of dark money and overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, ordinary folks aren't going to share in the tremendous wealth of their own country. Today it's Manchin and Sinema standing in the doorway, tomorrow it could be some other corporate Democrat.
Thank you man!! Thrilled to have your reply. I feel like we should take to the streets by the thousands to demand the sidestep of these two “roadblocks”!!
The NY Times seems to think, along with other major news sources, that the Democratic Party is broken because it has two ostensibly-conservative members of the Senate who are actively blocking President Biden's Build Back Better program. Two equals all, don't you know? Never a word about the GQP voting as a bloc against paid parental leave, expansion of Medicare, voting rights for all, and other parts of Biden's program that help maintain democracy in America and help the vast majority of Americans in their lives.
After all, it would take just two members of the Republican caucus in the Senate to balance out Manchin and Sinema and allow the passage of critical bills. That should be where people's attention is directed by the media, not to the two retrograde Democrats who are gumming up Biden's programs and our future as well.
Where are the front-page headlines that might state "Republicans in Senate Vote as a Bloc Against Parental Leave" or "Senate Republicans Stop the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill." Aren't these "news"?
I suspect I'm still stuck in the days of Walter Cronkite and Peter Jennings, when national news was relatively dependable truth, without obvious bias, and there was no "Breaking News!".
Porter, this infuriates me too. This framing in the media that it's all a Democratic Party problem, that the Democrats are broken, blah, blah, blah. And unfortunately, people who absorb this information don't look beyond it. What happened to responsibility, and accountability for the GQP? There are 50 Senators and 200+ House GQP who refuse to do govern, and many (most? ALL?) who would be all too happy to see our democracy collapse.
Agreed. I think the problems with the media are (1) money, (2) the rush to fit a lot into the television time slot before the next commercial, (3) interesting the viewership by making each report into a feature as opposed to a true news report, and (4) even more money.
As for the Republicans, they're totally worthless.
As you well know, Joe Manchin cynically uses the fact that the Senate is split 50-50 to wield veto power over the President and the will of the people - repeatedly. A Senator from a small state does not deserve such power; in this case he is clearly taking his orders not from the President or the Democratic party, but from the minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell. Democracy means, majority rule, NOT minority rule. Manchin's claim to support voting rights is completely hypocritical, since he knows John Lewis's version of a voting rights bill will never pass until the filibuster is revoked, and he is dead set against revoking the filibuster.
"......might return to the ugly days of Jim Crow and its blatant discrimination." ?
Huh ? When multiple states formally pass various and perpetual restrictions on voting, the "New Jim Crow" has arrived. [but, behind the scenes, it never went anywhere--during the various Trump investigations, we got to see the inner membership of many powerful legislative committees who decide the country's fate: completely old, and lily-white--they secretly preserve the powerful memberships for themselves which is why despite populism, true change can't happen]
But it will only work if the leadership holds its members accountable. The Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate have been so focused on maintaining their big tent, that they are not using the tools at their disposal to get members to toe the line. It makes the dems look weak and the repubs strong, which is ridiculous. If the Democratic party wants to keep winning, it has to demonstrate that they can get results when they hold the power on the most important issues that represent the values of the Party. I am a life-long Democrat, a former chair of my local party and I am not happy.
They have them by the Benjamins. Where do they start? Dems need the seats to keep their bare majorities. If several are bought, it's not like they can kick them out. They could not even pass a greatly watered down bill without the numbers.
.....and my point is that urgency is needed to alert the public--implications that Crow "might return" is minimizing the threat; if anything, it should be referred to as "rising to new levels of suppression." Next fall, millions who voted in previous elections will be "nullified"; that's not something that "might happen"; the apparatus has already been installed--just like 1897.
Yes, Murkowski has been for updating the Voting Rights Act. But she hasn't voted for the Freedom to Vote Act, or any other which would preempt state efforts at voter suppression, sadly.
I’m a 69 year old white woman who clearly remembers the struggles of the 1960s. We must preserve our democracy and the first step is to protect the right to vote. Please Joe. The time is now.
Sinema will never care or come around. The Dems need to end the filibuster by every means imaginable. Those who don’t get that done become accomplices of the Republicons.
Forget refusal to pass a voting rights act, Republicans are refusing to DEBATE, refusing to discuss voting rights and a number of other things. What was once touted as the greatest deliberative body on the planet is now held in thrall by the people who are afraid of debate. That is shameful, even for Republicans.
I happen to agree that the filibuster is important as a tool of last resort, but then restore it to what it was. If you want to filibuster, you stand up and talk and hold the floor and block the Senate, publicly. People who actually believe they are doing right don't have trouble putting their name on things, so history knows who did it.
Congressional Democrats are loath to disable the filibuster because, they say, that would turn loose the coming Republican majority to engage in all sorts of unspeakable legislative horrors. But the Republicans will have a majority in just a few more months, at which time they can disable the filibuster all by themselves and enact horrors as they wish. The Democrats appear to be unaware that our current President is also a Democrat who will be in office for several more years, and he has the power to veto Republican horrors.
So, is Democratic timidity now, well, cowardice ? Or is it an excuse for not enacting legislation that might offend some powerful behind-the-scenes puppet masters?
I understand that concern. But what is there to stop the Republicans from removing the filibuster and enacting unspeakable legislative horrors when they regain majority anytime in the future. Think about this scenario, Trump runs, wins, and gain control over the House and Senate. The last time Presidential norms were ignored. This time they could immediately remove the filibuster and enact horrible changes. They could try to change presidential term limits.
Let's face it, Joe Mancini is a DINO. Contrary to his protestations, he has NOT "negotiated in good faith". He has known from the start that progressive Dems said they would only vote for the infrastructure bill if it is in tandem with the reconciliation package. Now, after so many concessions by House progressives, Mancini acts like the progressives are being recalcitrant, when it is quite obvious that he is the recalcitrant one. Mancini gets more campaign contributions from energy lobbyists than anyone else in Congress. Say no more.
Yes, you are right. Manchin was never negotiating in good faith. Remember Joe Manchin Wanted $4 Trillion in Infrastructure Spending one year ago. Nothing he says is in good faith.
Thanks for your passionate plea to Joe Manchin. I hope he’s listening, because the fate of the Democrats in the next two elections, and the very future of our republic is at stake.
Democrats MUST pass the Voting Rights, Infrastructure and the Reconciliation package with essential help for programs such as childcare, education, and drug prescription cost control. If they do, they have a good future. If they fail, the future of the Democrat Party and moreover even our democracy are in serious jeopardy.
This is not a Joe Manchin issue. He is being used as a scapegoat. The reality is white America doesn't want people of color to have influence in politics and government. Manchin is a Democrat in a Republican-leaning state. So he can be the scapegoat for all of the other Democrats in Deep Blue states that feel the same way.
If the Democrats wanted action on any policies, they could have removed him from all of his committees, especially the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Democrats could make it a party rule that if you can not be on a Committee that you get donations from the industry that the Committee regulates. Nor can you or your family own stocks or even own a company that the Committee regulates.
If all the Democrats really wanted voting rights except for two, they could force those two hands. Because looking ineffective is worst than having two members leave the party because they were stripped of all power for breaking rank.
It's not a Joe Manchin issue, but he does have the power right now to do something about it. And I have to suggest that you replace "white America" with "rich America". I know, there is a large correlation, but I think it is by far more about money than race. The race thing is exasperated by the rich for distraction purposes.
I would agree with you on most other bills. But suppressing voters' rights is not targeting the poor as much as people of color. No one is trying to suppress the voting rights of poor people in West Virginia or in Maine or in Utah.
Of course they are. Look at Texas, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee…need I continue? Voter suppression is VERY REAL. It’s the ONLY WAY repubs can win! We must pass a strong voting rights bill to protect EVERY SINGLE VOTE.
again the white elephant in the room, it never left at the end of the first civil war
You are accurate, but I still think "Race" is a proxy war. Regardless of which side you are on, it separates us into "sides", while the real enemy operates under the radar.
Exactly. The wealthy want us to be distracted by racism to distract from the growing and huge wealth inequality.
Well said! I’ve believed that for years!
i wonder what the rothschilds are doing in all of this, they pretty much own the one percent.
Excuse me? are you being anti semitic, Patrick?
"Rothchilds" are often a euphemism for JEWS. So as I take it, Patrick seems to be implying that old anti semitic trope that Jews control everything. Are you, Patrick??
Ah, the luck of the Irish.
Patrick? What century are you speaking about? I KNOW it’s not this one we are in now! Rothschild my foot 😂what a hoot you are!
All the focus, from the establishment, on Race and the “Culture Wars” is purposely divisive. The powers that be, including both political parties - they are beholden to and serve the same master - more than anything are desperate to avoid CLASS conciousness and CLASS war. Divide and rule, the oldest tactic in the book. Hence the panic around the striking & resigning workers around the country right now and growing. Although you’d never know if all you watch is the Corporate Media, who are barely mentioning it. Likewise their hostility to “the left” & “progressive policies” in the BBB which are opposed by the very same corporations which sponsor and fund the mainstream media.
Have you ever "heard" the assertion that "they'll hurt the economy and stifle growth, leading to job loss," from those who, for all intent, drive the economy - as a veiled threat? I recall my father's words back during the first "oil crisis:" "If you deregulate gasoline prices, you'll have all the gasoline anyone wants" - and he was a Republican of the '50s. Where does ultimate control of the means of production reside?
We agree. The big money and those with ambition to >be< big money is behind the scenes.
i mostly tend to sadly agree with you brad
Good analogy! AGREE!
Although I think you're being a bit harsh on the Democrats as a whole, I >do< suspect a clever Republican strategy that includes running "shill" candidates as Democrats. Indeed, an Ohio Republican, who just won the seat Stivers abandoned, stated plainly in one of his campaign ad that there's no law that prohibits lying in a campaign ad - as he was attacking his opponent for lying. The connection is this: what's to prevent a candidate from lying about their party affiliation?
Exactly, so the Party should not reward these "Shill" candidates with committee seats.
Manchin is on all of these committees:
1. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
2. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (chair) As chair of the full committee, Manchin may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
3. Committee on Armed Services.
4. Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Which suggests the party must become "woke" with regards to the shills, or at least those who are behaving as shills among them.
The term "woke" needs to disappear. It has been grabbed by the Trumpers and they use it incorrectly. Let's not play their game.
Agreed.
Yes
they appear to have been harshly awakened, too late it appears
So who's got the power to remove him?
The same ones who put him on the committees in the first place.
it boils down to the folk that elected him and the money, always the money
A good question - actually. See if this link takes you anywhere useful: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.senate.gov%2FCRSpubs%2F1771db8e-8d9a-4bfd-9148-46df9d10815d.pdf&clen=926448&chunk=true Otherwise, try googling "https://www.senate.gov › CRSpubs › 1771db8e-8d9a-4bfd-9148-46df9d10815d.pdf" and see where it takes you. If no joy there, search the strin g "who appoints committee members in the senate"
okay, according to senate.gov
How are senators assigned to committees?
Each party assigns, by resolution, its own members to committees, and each committee distributes its members among subcommittees. The Senate places limits on the number and types of panels any one senator may serve on and chair. For more information on how senators are assigned to committees, read about committee membership from the Senate Historical Office.
If the party does their own assigning, the party can unassign. It is the party that decided to reward Manchin and Sinema for being "Shill" candidates.
I'm thinking that's a bit harsh. It might be more the convergence of seniority and not being aware of their inclinations. Never underestimate the power of schnooks!
I don't know. I would assume the House Majority Whip, so Chuck Schumer. But someone decided who gets what position on what committees. I would hope someone reading this would know and share that answer.
I would think that if the Senate Dems punished Manchin by taking his Senate committees, he would immediately flip his party affiliation to GOP, thus flipping the Senate majority to the Republicans, who will gladly reward him with Senate committee positions in return. The Dems have to handle Manchin delicately.
I agree with much of what you say. But if Manchin were “punished” by the party, he could (and probably would) just leave it and join the Republicans, thereby handing the Senate back to McConnell. I haven’t forgotten the Obstructor in Chief and his refusal to let ANY legislation even come up for a vote except judiciary appointments and tax cuts for the rich. I’d sure hate to see him running the Senate again.
ME TOO!
Me too.
I agree with your comment, except for the part about "white America". Recent elections show that a significant majority of white folks will vote for and elect people of color.
Thanks, but in a discussion of politics, nothing is truly said in absolutes. So I never meant all white people.
but again, you are correct, there is a white elephant in the room
Excuse me? are you being anti Semitic, Patrick?
It's a dangerous situation. If Senate Dem leaders punish Manchin, he will switch to being a Republican and there goes the Dems' Senate majority. Boom!
I suspect he may, anyway. As I implied earlier, I suspect he's a Republican shill. The only thing that would change is that the deceit would come to an >abrupt< end - with regard to Manchin, anyway.
That would be better than being functionless while in power.
Because now nothing is getting done and Democrats can't even blame the Republicans for being obstructionist. Every Republican will say the Democrats were in power and could not govern. And also Manchin and Sinema can't win a Republican Primary, so let them go. And show that the Democratic party's goal is to get things done.
That would suggest a motive for running shill candidates. Notice how the Q-publicans are purging themselves.
AGREE TOTALLY!
dems fear rocking the sinking boat but it does boil down to being a manchin issue to my eyes, it may be that he enjoys being a centerpiece and he most certainly votes his wallet. in short, i agree with you but they cannot 'force' the two obstructionists to do anything and cannot put petulant children that are bullies in the corner, unfortunately for America
Agreed; there’s a hell of a lot Biden and the Dem leadership could do to “twist arms and cajole” dissenting members, LBJ style. Not to mention the official levers they could pull, as in the committee assignments you mention. The fact that Biden isn’t pulling out the stops and doing those things tells me he’s not really all that bothered about the issues at hand. He doesn’t care what’s in the bills or how much they do or don’t substantially help people, he just wants “a win”, any win, so he can point to the “great bipartisanship”, which is fetishised to a ridiculous amount in the Capitol.
In the U.K. Parliament if an MP (equivalent to Representatives or Senators in the US) doesn’t vote with their party on a bill they are not allowed any official Govt jobs OR serve on any committees. Manchin & Sinema (& whomever else) should be, as a minimum, kicked off their committees.
Would be nice if our Congress followed the same path & adopt such rules!! But that would be too simple for them!
So if everyone should vote as Nancy Pelosi wants, why even have so many in the House. All we would need is her.
They can still vote whichever way they want, they just wouldn’t be given any cushy assignments in which they can affect policy which benefits themselves - such as coal baron Joe Manchin on the Energies Committee.
That is not what I inferred. Thank you
Sorry, I did not mean to offend. Just saying that Representatives should vote for what their constituents want, which is not necessarily what their party wants.
No problem. Just exploring alternative ways to give Congress an ENEMA & move agendas along. Think everyone’s frustrated w/progress they’re making.🙏🖐🙏
You nailed it! Thank you for these words of wisdom.
Well said, Gerry. But "voting rights" is a strawman. You know this. Alas, most don't.
Unfortunately, you are preaching to the choir. TV hosts in general are not equipped to handle the subjects they are expected to defend. Today, Joe Manchin was interviewed on "Morning Joe". The subject was the Reconciliation bill. In his defense, he threw around all kinds of economic statistics that no one on the panel challenged, because they were not versed in economics. Inflation is soaring. We all would like more. We have to live within our means. Blah, blah, blah. Reminds me of my divorce proceedings. Morning Joe and all the other talk show hosts should be prepared to have a Robert Reich on their program, when they have a blowhard like Manchin spouting republican dogma. In the same vain, when they invite a man like Manchin to pontificate on voting rights, a bill he believed would pass in the Senate, they should be prepared to challenge him. Instead, Manchin comes off as a reasonable guy who is just trying to represent his constituency, which we all know are his benefactors. If Democrats want the public on their side, they need to put their money where their mouth is! The public is uninformed, and giving people like Manchin a platform to convince them that talking out of both sides of your mouth can win on election day, is a disaster for the democratic party.
Yep, his constituency is overwhelmingly in favour of the social policies in the BBB, some as much as 70-80%, so when he says he’s representing them he’s talking bs.
I don't think it is unfortunate that I am preaching to the choir; it has its benefits. The news programs should bring on a savy intelligent opponent to debate Manchin. I think we might be better off trying to attract a Republican senator or two to join the Democrat caucus rather than focusing so much on Manchin and Sinema. Also, it would be prudent to flip some seats in some other states.
Agree. That might take the wind out of his sails!
Well said!!
I’m SO damn frustrated! If I’m this turned off by all the Democrats squabbling, then no wonder we got a solid ass whipping in the recent elections!! I’m tired of us squandering opportunity after opportunity to do something good. Do you REALLY think Mitch will not kick the filibuster to the curb the second he’s in power?? Remember his Supreme Court hypocrisy?? Get off your butts get ONE thing done! Please.
Stan, I share your frustration. If Biden and Schumer -- and other senate Democrats -- can't get Manchin and Sinema to vote with the rest of the Democrats in the Senate, we'll have squandered the one opportunity we have. I'm amazed at the unity of the Senate Republicans and the disunity of Senate Democrats.
Why arent Manchin and Sinema removed from their committee positions? what happened to "Lead, follow, or get out of the way"??
I'm beginning to think that the filibuster, much as I'm opposed to it, is not the real problem. The problem is the donor class which holds veto power over anything Congress tries to do. Until we get rid of dark money and overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, ordinary folks aren't going to share in the tremendous wealth of their own country. Today it's Manchin and Sinema standing in the doorway, tomorrow it could be some other corporate Democrat.
Thank you man!! Thrilled to have your reply. I feel like we should take to the streets by the thousands to demand the sidestep of these two “roadblocks”!!
Or take to the streets to demand voting rights.
Are they provoking the end of the filibuster?
We are not donkeys or asses! there are GREEDY people selling us out! Which should be illegal! If it is let's file a lawsuit or something!
The NY Times seems to think, along with other major news sources, that the Democratic Party is broken because it has two ostensibly-conservative members of the Senate who are actively blocking President Biden's Build Back Better program. Two equals all, don't you know? Never a word about the GQP voting as a bloc against paid parental leave, expansion of Medicare, voting rights for all, and other parts of Biden's program that help maintain democracy in America and help the vast majority of Americans in their lives.
After all, it would take just two members of the Republican caucus in the Senate to balance out Manchin and Sinema and allow the passage of critical bills. That should be where people's attention is directed by the media, not to the two retrograde Democrats who are gumming up Biden's programs and our future as well.
Where are the front-page headlines that might state "Republicans in Senate Vote as a Bloc Against Parental Leave" or "Senate Republicans Stop the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill." Aren't these "news"?
I suspect I'm still stuck in the days of Walter Cronkite and Peter Jennings, when national news was relatively dependable truth, without obvious bias, and there was no "Breaking News!".
Porter, this infuriates me too. This framing in the media that it's all a Democratic Party problem, that the Democrats are broken, blah, blah, blah. And unfortunately, people who absorb this information don't look beyond it. What happened to responsibility, and accountability for the GQP? There are 50 Senators and 200+ House GQP who refuse to do govern, and many (most? ALL?) who would be all too happy to see our democracy collapse.
Agreed. I think the problems with the media are (1) money, (2) the rush to fit a lot into the television time slot before the next commercial, (3) interesting the viewership by making each report into a feature as opposed to a true news report, and (4) even more money.
As for the Republicans, they're totally worthless.
As you well know, Joe Manchin cynically uses the fact that the Senate is split 50-50 to wield veto power over the President and the will of the people - repeatedly. A Senator from a small state does not deserve such power; in this case he is clearly taking his orders not from the President or the Democratic party, but from the minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell. Democracy means, majority rule, NOT minority rule. Manchin's claim to support voting rights is completely hypocritical, since he knows John Lewis's version of a voting rights bill will never pass until the filibuster is revoked, and he is dead set against revoking the filibuster.
You are probably correct, but it's worth a try to see if we can get him to make an exception "carve out" on the fillibuster for voting rights bills.
We need the vote! Without free and fair elections there is no pretending! We will be done!
Right on! But I'm afraid Manchin is just another corrupt, self-interested politician.
"......might return to the ugly days of Jim Crow and its blatant discrimination." ?
Huh ? When multiple states formally pass various and perpetual restrictions on voting, the "New Jim Crow" has arrived. [but, behind the scenes, it never went anywhere--during the various Trump investigations, we got to see the inner membership of many powerful legislative committees who decide the country's fate: completely old, and lily-white--they secretly preserve the powerful memberships for themselves which is why despite populism, true change can't happen]
My point is Congress has the power to preempt these regressive state laws.
But it will only work if the leadership holds its members accountable. The Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate have been so focused on maintaining their big tent, that they are not using the tools at their disposal to get members to toe the line. It makes the dems look weak and the repubs strong, which is ridiculous. If the Democratic party wants to keep winning, it has to demonstrate that they can get results when they hold the power on the most important issues that represent the values of the Party. I am a life-long Democrat, a former chair of my local party and I am not happy.
They have them by the Benjamins. Where do they start? Dems need the seats to keep their bare majorities. If several are bought, it's not like they can kick them out. They could not even pass a greatly watered down bill without the numbers.
I wonder if Congress will use that power.
.....and my point is that urgency is needed to alert the public--implications that Crow "might return" is minimizing the threat; if anything, it should be referred to as "rising to new levels of suppression." Next fall, millions who voted in previous elections will be "nullified"; that's not something that "might happen"; the apparatus has already been installed--just like 1897.
Love your insights. I do believe Lisa Murkowski voted in support of the John Lewis bill. Still-only 1 R.
Yes, Murkowski has been for updating the Voting Rights Act. But she hasn't voted for the Freedom to Vote Act, or any other which would preempt state efforts at voter suppression, sadly.
At least one of them has a conscience.
I’m a 69 year old white woman who clearly remembers the struggles of the 1960s. We must preserve our democracy and the first step is to protect the right to vote. Please Joe. The time is now.
"If not us, then who?
If not now, then when?"
-John Lewis
Sinema will never care or come around. The Dems need to end the filibuster by every means imaginable. Those who don’t get that done become accomplices of the Republicons.
and get rid of her and Manchin.
Forget refusal to pass a voting rights act, Republicans are refusing to DEBATE, refusing to discuss voting rights and a number of other things. What was once touted as the greatest deliberative body on the planet is now held in thrall by the people who are afraid of debate. That is shameful, even for Republicans.
I happen to agree that the filibuster is important as a tool of last resort, but then restore it to what it was. If you want to filibuster, you stand up and talk and hold the floor and block the Senate, publicly. People who actually believe they are doing right don't have trouble putting their name on things, so history knows who did it.
Congressional Democrats are loath to disable the filibuster because, they say, that would turn loose the coming Republican majority to engage in all sorts of unspeakable legislative horrors. But the Republicans will have a majority in just a few more months, at which time they can disable the filibuster all by themselves and enact horrors as they wish. The Democrats appear to be unaware that our current President is also a Democrat who will be in office for several more years, and he has the power to veto Republican horrors.
So, is Democratic timidity now, well, cowardice ? Or is it an excuse for not enacting legislation that might offend some powerful behind-the-scenes puppet masters?
I understand that concern. But what is there to stop the Republicans from removing the filibuster and enacting unspeakable legislative horrors when they regain majority anytime in the future. Think about this scenario, Trump runs, wins, and gain control over the House and Senate. The last time Presidential norms were ignored. This time they could immediately remove the filibuster and enact horrible changes. They could try to change presidential term limits.
Joe must be expelled from the Democratic party.
Let's face it, Joe Mancini is a DINO. Contrary to his protestations, he has NOT "negotiated in good faith". He has known from the start that progressive Dems said they would only vote for the infrastructure bill if it is in tandem with the reconciliation package. Now, after so many concessions by House progressives, Mancini acts like the progressives are being recalcitrant, when it is quite obvious that he is the recalcitrant one. Mancini gets more campaign contributions from energy lobbyists than anyone else in Congress. Say no more.
Yes, you are right. Manchin was never negotiating in good faith. Remember Joe Manchin Wanted $4 Trillion in Infrastructure Spending one year ago. Nothing he says is in good faith.
Thanks for your passionate plea to Joe Manchin. I hope he’s listening, because the fate of the Democrats in the next two elections, and the very future of our republic is at stake.
Democrats MUST pass the Voting Rights, Infrastructure and the Reconciliation package with essential help for programs such as childcare, education, and drug prescription cost control. If they do, they have a good future. If they fail, the future of the Democrat Party and moreover even our democracy are in serious jeopardy.