Jul 16, 2022Liked by Robert Reich, Heather Lofthouse
Manchin is an unashamedly corrupt awful man. He won't even let a mild health care bill get through. I suppose he calls himself a Democrat because originally that got him votes in West Virginia. A more heartless deceitful man you may find, but his in effect making himself the obstacle and enjoying it -- for of course he does -- is another sickening spectacle.
His winger friends love him, I'm sure. And they can party on his yacht and enjoy the pain he is inflicting not only on Biden, but on the entire country, including their own people!
Who are his winger friends? I know he makes oodles of money through all sorts of corrupt ways (for lobbyists are professional bribers); that the workers who lives he controls are made far more miserable. His children are corrupt too. Foul wealth.
Ellen Moody ; I guess those Republicans who have been spotted partying with him on his Yacht during Republican fundraisers. They must love him! McConnell too, who loves obstruction and dirty dealing and unfairness too. And GREED!
He's either a buried asset or "useful idiot." Unfortunately, his approval rating has been going up among ReThuglicans and Independents, though it's tanking among Democrats. That means the only way to dump him is to beat him in the Democratic primaries when he next runs (unless he switches parties).. However, replacing him with a more progressive Democratic candidate would probably just mean his replacement would be a ReThuglican.
My list to fit 'winger' are the dark money oil tycoons as #1. #2 are Democrats who hide behind Manchin - the old blue dog democrats now some call conservative democrats - the Biden East Coast set of democrats. Perfect example is the Chris's, Chris Murphy with the lame gun control bill and Chris Coon. The test case to expose the losers in Democratic Party was the minimum wage bill which flushed out the 'Wingers', ie east coast Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, plus the worse two slick dudes Chris Coons and Tom Carper of Delaware
So unfair to chastise Chris Murphy! He’s been fighting for gun reform since Sandy Hook. Miracle he was able to get any concessions at all from the disgusting R senators.
Cliff, before you get into an east coast/west coast rivalry (I lived for a long time on each coast) that is mostly unproductive, let me just say...Feinstein? Pelosi? etc., etc. Not to mention that SF, and most of urban CA has basically become a playground for the wealthy, because very few others can afford to live there. But I take your broader point.
It's not a yacht; it's classified as a houseboat because he and his wife live on it. "Its value is relatively modest for a DC residence. Manchin bought the boat at a fire-sale price of $220,000 but insured it for $700,000, PolitiFact reported. Assuming it’s still insured for around that amount, Manchin’s got one heck of a deal: The median sales price for single-family homes in DC passed $1 million last year."
That 'houseboat' is worth much more than an average working person (maker), could afford. More money left for him to pay for his fancy car, I guess. He would not want workers to feel entitled though, would he?
Well, yeah, but I assume that most Congresspeople have two residences. Nancy has one in California with a $30k refrigerator in it storing lots of gourmet ice cream. But good for her and the rest of her $135 million in personal worth. I can appreciate and abide people making millions, but not billions -- that's a bridge too far. However, no one, as far as I can tell, needs more than a few million. I'm living on $30k/year; and if it weren't for Social Security and a 401K, I wouldn't have that. God bless Medicare, too, while I'm counting my blessings. (I use a lot of religious words for an atheist, due to habit, a low IQ, and a small vocabulary, I presume.)
James Muncy ; I don't think anyone can get anywhere near office if they are broke. But at least Nancy Pelosi is loyal to her party and not blocking the President. She is not perfect, but better than Manchin and Synema.
I like and admire Nancy Pelosi. She literally stood up to him in the White House and pointed an angry finger at the president while impugning him with, "Everything you do leads back to Putin!"
And I'm still agog that she tore up Trump's ridiculous State of the Union speech standing right behind him on national TV. Now that's great TV. For a while she was the only thing getting me through those dismal, depressing four years.
James: With respect, you have no idea what brand of refrigerator Ms. Pelosi has in her home OR what brand of ice cream it may or may not contain.. Honestly, does she look like a woman who consumes ice cream -gorment or whatever? IF she has a 30K refrigerator, and IF it is filled with ice cream it is probably for her grandchildren and THAT is ok.
"Left-wing Dems blame Nancy Pelosi's refrigerator filled with $12-a-pint ice cream in her multi-million dollar home for putting off ordinary Americans voting Democrat. Nancy Pelosi showed off her supply of ice cream on The Late Late Show in April. Pelosi, 80, revealed a $24,000 freezer full of $12-a-pint luxury ice cream."
Apr 21, 2020 — “It's not the ice cream that's in her fridge, it's the fact that she's standing behind giant refrigerators, multiple ones that cost $24,000 each."
These public officials supposedly work for us; we pay their salaries and for all their benefits. Pelosi's worth $135 million. We still have royalty in America; instead of calling them kings and queens, they often have titles like Congresswoman, Senator, Attorney General, or Secretary Treasurer.
Of course, I want such officials to make a decent salary, one they can live on and support their family. It's just that so many citizens are suffering in poverty while top dogs are living the high life, dogs that we put up there and support. Candidate Obama, who was a Congressman at the time, asked, "Why do I have the world's best health insurance, while the ones who paid for it, the American people, have bad insurance or none at all?" Good question still to this day.
I quickly picked up Navyese during my years of glory therein. (Cleaned a lot of bathrooms [heads].) Cursing just releases so much stress, and I know people admire me greatly for so doing: "Man, that old guy has a real potty mouth on him." Stopping that vernacular, due to being around grandkids, has nearly rendered me mute, as Obama said of Rahm Emanuel.
Agreed, Manchin is an awful man, yet a somewhat rational and predictable one. (I posted a long time ago that…) Manchin’s a mole, a double agent, as in those cold war spy stories. He could not survive a GOP primary in WV. He gives his allegiance to McConnell because he owes his survival in office to MConnell not recruiting, supporting or giving $$ to a GOP opponent to Manchin. In exchange, Manchin gives intel on all the Democrats’ plans to the GOP via McConnell or via Collins, Thune, Portman or other of his close GOP Senate friends. The Democrats act as an inept, disunified, anarchistic circular firing squad, and Manchin sees no viable path to reelection if he did not act as a mole. And, he has cover for acting this way because (one-time Green Party candidate!) Sinema realizes she has no future in AZ politics, and shamelessly rakes in bribes from lobbyists, in exchange for voting like Manchin.
Addendum: If Manchin voted anywhere close to how Bernie Sanders & Nancy Pelosi do, he'd be rejected by heavily-GOP WV in a general election. If Manchin ended the filibuster, he'd be purged. If the Dems had a 51+ majority in the Senate (such that his vote wasn't needed), Schumer would still encourage Manchin to vote against most of the Dems' agenda, just to help prevent a GOP from taking Manchin's seat
Mitch, While Manchin’s behavior is entirely consistent with his having a special arrangement with McConnell, I would note a few wrinkles. Admittedly, Manchin likely is the only Democrat who could win statewide elections in West Virginia. Still, since 2016, the State has become increasingly red. At the same time, Manchin increasingly is losing support among Democratic constituents, who, along with Independents and some Republicans in the State, have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. Moreover, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
Hence, as I earlier stated as part of today’s thread, I am confounded by the inaction of 48 Senate Democrats, who had just engaged in serious discussions in an honest effort to arrive at compromises that would have improved life for tens of millions of working people. As a start, Democratic leadership should be engaging everyday people nationwide and asking, “Who do you want here—somebody who doesn’t want to expand the child tax credit or those who do?” Somebody who doesn’t want to provide affordable, quality childcare and universal Pre-K or those who do?” Doesn’t want to make investments in housing, in eldercare, and in climate or those who do?”
My point I make repeatedly is that Democrats have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it.
Barbara, I am confounded by Murkowski, Romney and those GOP Senators like Portman, Burr et al, who are leaving office because they cannot win a primary -- yet still want lucrative consulting gigs when they leave office.
If a single GOP Senator could be pressured to vote with the 49-Democrats on anything, Manchin couldn't say it's a non-bipartisan issue.
I sort of understand Murkowski: I think she likes her male staff-members. But, they couldn't work as closely with her if McConnell moves her office to one of the Senate's ladies bathrooms...
Mitch, As someone who, for the past year, has been a student of Manchin and the State he represents, I regret that you didn’t reply to any of the points I carefully crafted.
Barbara: I don't know WV as well as you, and cannot reply to points about WV. And, yes, Dems have a great narrative which no one hears about. Biden needs a PR team.
Manchin has been given lots of "carrots", so maybe it's time for some "sticks". Someone should identify a progressive candidate in WV who will not only oppose Manchin in his next primary, but threaten to run as an Independent should Manchin win in the primary, simply to be a spoiler that denies Manchin a victory. Start creating name awareness. And, money should be spent to start a Stacey-Abrams-like grassroots voting drive, to show Manchin there area consequences for serving McConnell & his lobbyists, rather than his constituents
Barbara: back to my point about getting a GOP Senator to do give Manchin a 'bipartisan' excuse to act: Go after Portman!
Their alma mater has an Energy Policy Institute funded by a large (family-controlled) Canadian oil company (whose daughter attended). A few months ago, Portman was invited to co-lead a session:
Advancing Bipartisan Energy Policy: A Conversation with Senators Portman and Shaheen [May 3rd, 3:00–3:30 p.m.]
Rob Portman ’78, U.S. Senator (R-OH)
Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator (D-NH)
Join us for this seminal discussion on building collaborations to advance the investments and policies necessary for a sustainable energy future.
Note: CNN's Jake Tapper gave him a puff-piece in their alumni magazine, allowing Portman to whine about what extremists BOTH the GOP & Dems have become:
Mitch ; disagree with the put down of Democrats. The circular firing squad comment hits the rounds of Republican talking points. The filibuster, gerrymandering, Electoral College and all obstruction by repugs and the fake Democrats, like Manchin and Sinema are the real firing squad.
While I adore much of what AOC is trying to achieve, I think it undermined the Democrats when she said she didn't know if she could support Biden if he was the Democrats' candidate in the 2024 November election. The question was not about the 2024 primaries.
There is an overt war between the younger members of the Progressive wing of the party and those who hold power. It's counter-productive.
I live in a district where I can proudly use my Representative's slogan, the only one who voted against the post 9/11 war powers act: Barbara Lee speaks for me! She is a classy veteran politician, and she knows how to steer policy quietly and effectively. AOC and the squad need to be more patient, and follow Lee's example.
If a GOP caucus member went on TV to trash the GOP, that member's office would be relocated to a bathroom or a storage closet.
“Patient” means never, if you look at Dem policy achievements over last half century. The ACA is basically “it”, and it has been gutted. Respectfully disagree. AOC is the kind of leadership needed to galvanize the Party with younger voters. Inequality threatens to (already is, look at NYT reports) swallow what’s left of the middle class, and global warming (yes WARMING, not “climate change” as we’ve allowed rebranding) is already here and wreaking havoc, which will cause political and social upheaval (food scarcity, migration) unlike anything we’ve ever seen. No we cannot wait. If we lose some “moderates” but gain newly enthused (and new) voters in the process, so be it. These
Are not normal times, though some pretend that
it still is. Electoral College, gerrymandering, filibuster all need to go, and we need an ERA to answer the R effort to roll back women’s rights. This is a time for action, not patience!
In fairness, you are a little off. Although I didn't like Lyndon Johnson as a human being, he did shoulder through passage of civil rights, voting rights, Medicare/Medicaid. While both civil rights and voting rights have been emaciated by the Supreme Court (thanks to Republican appointees) The Democrats are the only ones since Eisenhower to advance and enact any legislation for the good of the people. (For those youngsters among us. Eisenhower enacted the trans American highway system) Subsequent Republican Regimes have primarily enacted deregulation and tax breaks for Corporate America.
I love this, Fay. You’re so right: what have Republicans ever done for anyone except their own short-term gratification? In fifty or sixty years they’ve accomplished nothing. Wow. What a stark message that is.
I'd agree completely, Fay Reid, if only that pesky Vietnam war—absent from your summary—would also vanish from LBJ's résumé. (Yes, ugly as the exit was, at least a Democrat did get us out of Afghanistan.)
I agree. Things are very different now. Young people’s very lives are threatened. We had the bomb but that was out of our control. Today’s threats aren’t. We need bold leadership that younger people can relate to. Bernie is one but AOC, Rashida, etc. are also critical.
It wasn't out of control. Had we continued transitioning as Carter started us on, then Reagan set us back, it would've been very smooth, we'd have a much stronger, greener, cleaner, more modern economy, with much less conflict, both domestically & internationally.
James Hansen of NASA warned us in 1987, & then Gore around 20 years ago with his "Inconvenient Truth", & had we acted with appropriate urgency either of those times, we could've still avoided severe climate disruption with not too much economic or societal inconvenience, but now we are already experiencing substantial climate disruption, & any efforts to meet the urgency & mitigate & adapt to climate chaos will inevitably be disruptive to our economy & society, although still not nearly as much as it will be if we continue not to confront it. It is very close to being out of our control by now.
David Parrish ; Yes, all true ; We do not have oodles of time! We need to have a working Democracy NOW, not in 'so many years'. The bull$&it must end. Mother nature and Father time have set limits that nobody can avoid with abuse of the law, or anything else! there are no more 'time outs', children!
I might add...If we fail to make needed democratic reforms, allowing for a government able and willing to pass legislation quickly and on a consistent basis to deal with the rapidly changing global and domestic challenges we face, our fate may go the way of the Weimar Republic and Ancient Rome: autocracy.
I agree, the next "republican" elected will usher in full blown fascism. I'm so glad I'm old and probably won't have to face it, but I pity the rest of you.
But I quibble with your term choice. I am against both terms because they are too mild, not that precise & don't convey the urgency. Instead of "climate change", which is a general term for climate processes over hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years, we should be using for the current phenomenon terms such as "climate disruption", "climate chaos", "climate crisis", "climate emergency", & there's enough nuance among these terms to use them for different situations. Instead of "global warming", which sounds rather pleasant, like getting comfortable sitting next to a fireplace, it should be "global heating" or "global scorching", which describe quite accurately what we're currently undergoing, which is the fastest heating of the planet known since life has existed here.
Well, it’s unclear how apocalyptic one should get. I saw something that said that rhetoric wasn’t working. I would say something like “the end of the world,” but then people just think you’re hysterical. When you are not. Anyway, people need to hear this way more, and I’m also pissed at the press for hardly ever reporting on this real and present danger to EVERYONE. I tried writing a letter to the NYT the other day. It was probably too long, though. This shit should be on the front page, the front front page, every day until people are adequately worried…
You are so right. If we're to convince the deniers of the urgency, we need to convince them it's URGENT giving dates like end of century only makes them think there's plenty of time. Like the trumpster. they are so self centered they do not concern themselves with their children or grandchildren
I agree with every point you put forth. The big challenge with our newest and youngest voter demographic is what it has always been...getting them to actually vote. They are enthusiastic and progressive, but their turnout at the polls on Election Day is abysmal. This voting pattern has been prevalent for generations. How do we change it?
Inspirational candidates with creative ideas to solve our many serious crises, & move us forward to the kind of future most Americans want. Among them should be addressing climate chaos & ecosystem collapse, economic injustice & wealth & power disparity, preserving & recovering our democratic institutions, universal healthcare, comprehensive rapid transit, strengthening unions, a much more progressive tax system & perhaps free education, parental leave, shorter work weeks, a much higher national minimum wage & a universal basic income.
By voting for candidates who will promote and deliver actual policy changed benefiting the majority. By electing those who understand what it’s like to be a “have not”.
I really didn’t mean just young people. Tons of people just don’t know how the system works and think things could be way better overnight. I think we should tell everyone the truth, and the whole truth. I don’t think Bernie does that either. It’s not really “messaging.” It’s just being forthright. I don’t think Biden is actually that far off from this. I think he’s tired and really disappointed. Just a little more honesty, like saying everything Reich just said in this post. And then some energy and enthusiasm.
This is completely wrong. We need to VOTE FOR DEMS in the midterms. We need MORE DEMS. AOC is screwing us by making young people think all that BS you’re mentioning could happen if only a progressive were elected. I’m a fan of hers, but this bullshit has to go or our next six years of power is gone and we won’t have a climate. Or rather, climate won’t have us. Please think more sensibly. I really care about climate and this is not helping. Biden would do a SHITLOAD of what you want if he could. Former administrations sucked but the Dems are far more progressive now and really ALMOST PASSED BBB in its original form but for two senators!!!!!!!!!
Your reasoning has been adopted by the moderates who chose Biden as the nominee.
It has not worked. Granted, anyone was better than Trump. But you can’t simultaneously argue that you like AOC but think her policy proposals are BS. And Biden “almost had BBB??? Remember,
the only reason it was adopted by Biden is because the Progressive wing has grown more powerful in recent years and he wouldn’t have gotten their support otherwise. Let’s face it: Biden won the nomination because he was the “safe” choice (perceived), not the choice which would energize the D base. It’s time the base actually got a candidate who actually BELIEVES in (as Biden does not seem to) the policy needs and desperate times we’re in.
Have you paid ANY attention to the energy generated by Bernie Sanders (and E Warren to a lesser extent) among young people who see their future slipping away???
We’ve been taking your tact for 50 years. Where has it gotten us? If you haven’t read Prof. Reich’s latest Guardian piece, you should. I’ve lived through the last 40+ years and witnessed what he refers to in the article. Democratic leadership has
abandoned the working class. That’s created a whole host of problems.
Couldn't disagree more. This is basically the same argument that was made to Black Americans and women to "wait their turn" in previous battles for equal rights over the past 150 years. Easy to say if its not your ox being gored.
Also, speaking as a climate scientist, we sim[ply don't have time to play nice any longer. Mainstream dems, e.g. going back to the Clintons especially, played republican lite for decades. They have to be pushed hard to do much of anything for the broader public, which is what AOC and the others are doing. I will have their backs as much as I can.
If the dems generally can't handle a little internal criticism, shame on them. They can still get their broader messages out, but they seem incapable of really fighting back as a party...maybe because many of their hands are not so clean? That has zero to do with AOC!
Doug: What I said was NOT that Black Americans and women should [shut up and] wait their turn.
Progressives trashing Biden on national media sabotages anything they'd want to achieve.
Bernie got his chairmanship of important Senate committees and pushed the party agenda statements because he implicitly threatened to sabotage a Democratic nominee by running as a Third party if they did not meet his demands. Also, look at how Bernie's campaign co-chairman Ro Khanna gets things done. It is NOT by going on the media to trash Biden or scream out "truths" to the whole world. They do so via INTERNAL criticism and implicit threats to achieve their goals.
Doug: I have a BA in physics and took some STEM classes in my masters degree. The scientific need is to eliminate or minimize the downside risk of an unacceptable outcome.
@Cliff: Lee made an informed choice that it was essential to minimize the downside risk that the right-wing media would attack a more progressive candidate as being a Socialist, so milquetoast, sleepy Joe Biden had the best chance of beating Trump in 2020 -- with GOP anti-Trump crossover votes (which were clearly the deciding factor in GA's Senate runoff races: had Trump not gone to GA, whiny Ossoff would have lost)
You're weighing legislation that doesn't have the votes to pass against throwing the entire party into a tailspin, losing the election and our democracy at the same time. You may be a climate scientist, but your expertise in political science is non-existent. Where are you people when the fate of our democratic institutions AREN'T being threatened?
Clearly you are entitled to your opinion. But you don't know anything about me (and likely not others who comment). It does not speak well of you to question what others have been doing "when democratic institutions are not being threatened", implying that we have been doing nothing, when you don't know us. I know nothing about you, so should I assume you are a fascist because you don't agree with me? Of course not. Fyi, I have worked on these issues in both the public and advocacy sectors for decades. What have you been doing?
You statement about a tailspin for the party is pure speculation. Show me some solid evidence that the progressives have caused the problems of the party. How about inflation, mishandling of the pandemic, as well as not accomplishing much of their agenda?
If this legislation did not have a chance to pass, Biden should have been using all his executive levers, which could not replace legislation, but could help a lot. Instead he and other moderates have played patty cake with Manchin at least a year longer than they should have. So he is at least that far behind where he might have been. But Biden never showed any real urgency on climate change until he was pushed hard by Sanders, AOC, Sunrise, and all of the millions behind them. So-called moderates have been in charge of the democratic party for decades, sometimes with majorities in congress and the White House. The record speaks for itself.
That's funny. You and I both see her and love her. You seem to love her for what she is thwarted from achieving. I love her potential to achieve great things if she'd modify her approach. You see her as a truth-teller, and I see her as someone LIVING A LIE. She is clearly not satisfied with the Democratic party. If she was truthful, she should join Bernie's Democratic-Socialist party, and caucus with the Democrats, like Bernie does. Oops: if she did this, the Wall Street Dems would spend $$ to keep her out of Congress
Throughout the years, I have witnessed that democrats are most afraid of being called “socialist”, “communist”, “radical left”, etc. These words have become the very effective weapons of republicans (and I think democrats like you). Democrats time and again have been thrown in inaction because of this fear of being called those words. Then, came along trump. To my astonishment, he openly defended a bunch of fascists/Nazis/klans and nobody could touch him. There were a few polite words here and there in criticism and then all was gone. Mcconnel, shamelessly blocked Obamas candidate and sent the worst possible people to life-time appointment to supreme court. Republicans shamelessly, block every motion by democrats that can help middle class and poor. If you call them fascist or any other word like that, they just shrug it off. Now, I am sick and tired of hearing it again and again that “x” is too left, “y” is socialist, etc., and (newly by you - not truth-telling!!), and in doing so, driving every necessary program that needs courage, to “inaction”. That’s enough. Just imagine if instead of trump, Bernie was our president. How much good would have been done instead of all the lasting damages of trump presidency.
Mitch ; If AOC and other young progressive members of the Democrat party are questioning support of Biden for the 2024 , it is because there is not much time left to play politics with
global heating and the trend toward extreme winger criminality. Kids shot dead in school?( and no action to stop it by the R's?). Ads showing a terrorist attack against a political opponent!??? Death threats to fellow members of Congress?!?! There is real fear of inaction by establishment sell outs! Witness tampering by the former guy!! Threats to those who testify against him!?! And the media pundit 'experts' are now saying that it is 'not likely' that tRump will face indictment'!!!???? This is not sustainable!
They can & should challenge Biden in all the state primaries to show their power to steer the 2024 Democratic platform, but saying they won't support the 2024 November nominee sabotages their goals
Mitch ; Questioning support for Biden is free speech. It is not saying they will not support him. Democrats are in such a precarious position with all the Fascist threats that everyone needs to look closely before voting. Asking questions is allowed ; especially by the women.
MItch what you state is what got us here - Biden. NO do not agree. As Bernie position revolution is only fix - the progressive revolution going for direct hit needed for the WE WE bills like Medicare For All, public schools through post graduate, removal of prosecutor discretion for justice for ALL, join World Climate Change policies, removal of all money in political system, paid for WE/ALL programs within the revolution paid for from over 400K and removal of corporation loop holes for profit, and a Wall Street pre Reagan based on dividends - real metric for performance not gambling hall chant, let the market determine.
As to Barbara Lee she is listed as member of Medicare For All Caucus in 2018 and on Bernie campaign. Yet in 2016, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), was the only CBC member who openly supports Sanders. Then in 2020 Lee was not supporter of Sanders but joined the Clyburn black group touting all over media during a Carolina primary that it was the black women who will win for Biden and we must protect Obama legacy ( the false logic being Medicare For All (100% coverage) wipes out ACA (20% coverage as in Universal Health Care) so vote for Biden.
So here Barbara Lee had clear choice between being member of the Special Interest or for All of American people. (knowing obviously the ALL covers ALL black people supported by Congressional Black Caucus. She chose Clyburn's paid for line from dark money wanting to block the labeled 'self proclaimed socialists' Sanders who was going tax these dark money to pay for all his progressive bills. Biden won with same set dark money group dark money campaign funding.
So Mitch, no I do not agree with your 'Lee's Example'. The AOC and her progressive agenda is model if not her agenda is from Bernie's Revolution with its core being We Not Me with purpose to cover all special interest within their WE revolution and avoid the Special Interest methodology/image - Black, Women, Gay, Poor - which leaves out much more of the WE in special interest bills. And thus the Revolution. And thus a ONE Democratic Party
The media does whatever it can to increase viewership-of & rates-for boner pills, cholesterol pills and other BigPharma product commercials. Why else would these annoying ads be so ubiquitous? Creating hysteria for Democratic and independent voters, such that they need to follow each state primary, and listen to every word of their pundits, achieves this
Mitch ; So their money making agenda has nothing to do with Democrats being 'A circular firing squad'. It's easy to repeat Republican winger talking points, just like it's easy for someone like DJT to say He 'does not like losers'.( He does not like himself, I'm sure.). It's like tying a man's hands behind his back and saying he is not a good fighter. Talk is cheap.
Manchin. Want to make him irrelevant? Give him what he wants! Something is better than nothing. Pass the bill!!!
Want to influence him? Speak to his wife. Biden appointed her to the Appalachian commission. In the general election 2 Republican House seats are open in WVa. Support the Democratic challengers. Lacy Watson and Barry Wendell. Flip those seats.
On Manchin, we disagree Biden and the negotiators gave Manchin everything he asked for and he publicly agreed to vote for the watered down BBB - until it came time to vote and he reneged on everything
Fay, you may be right but that's not how I remember it. The Democrats wanted $3.2 trillion, he agreed to $1.8 trillion, in part paid for by tax increases, but Democrat leadership wouldn't budge on GND.
I'm all in favor of GND, while at the same time recognizing that if we just let Manchin have his coal and oil for now, technology is already solving the carbon emission problem, and Manchin and his family will be redundant in 5 years anyway.
The BBB was initially $10 trillion for 10 years ($1 trillion per year), whittled down to $1.5 trillion for Manchin's sake, & he still reneged. Repeatedly! Just stringing along the Democrats, building up our hopes then crashing them. And this is not the only issue he's done that on. He has practically single-handedly sabotaged Democratic chances in upcoming elections.
Sound advice, Daniel, on every count. I simply would add that Dems present whichever budget reconciliation provisions get passed as a downpayment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up 2 Senate seats.
Couldn't agree more. His WVA constituents want coal and higher taxes on the wealthy. Give him his coal (it'll be completely redundant in 5 years) and watch him explain tax cuts on the wealthy to his people. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. What we need right now is tax increases.
Call him D.I.N.O, Republican operative, representing the interests of corporations and the wealthiest few or representing his own financial interests in the coal industry. He continues to employ a tried and proven Republican tactic of faux negotiation that is in actuality a STALL tactic to prevent Dems from passing legislation with the expectation that dems will lose their advantage following the midterms. They used Boehner (seemingly, without his knowledge) to negotiate stall/prevent/limit Dem legislation during the Obama administration. Run out the clock, to limit Democrat's ability to pass legislation, then spin it and blame Dems for not getting anything done.
I mean, he is a CLASSICAL democrat! As in, he is where the democratic party was when it was founded: pro big business, anti-American. Good job, liddle guy that EVERYONE despises!
I learned more about Manchin yesterday -- partly a result of his finally coming out openly to show he has no intention of signing onto any of the BBB agenda, even the slightest improvement in American lives or the future of this society. People here have taught me about his relationships with McConnell and other GOP people. So he is one of the many evil-doing evil-saying people the US congress now has many of. A center is not only the corrupt money system for electing officials but the love of violence, the belief in violence, the refusal to curtail it, and now a new turn the open encouragement of violence not only in the goddawful films playing everywhere but GOP campaigns and rallies. Hatred of women is now openly seen. We are well down the road of fascism. Biden is either unable or unwilling to do anything: his shaking of that Saudi monster's hand in effect is a significant symbol. We had a hope and his name is Bernie Sanders. But powerful people twice thwarted him, the second time with the help of middle class black people. Now what happened to Sanders in North Carolina (or was it South) reminds me of how wealthy and middle class Jews supported Hitler thinking he didn't mean it and yes he was a bulwark against communism (socialism).
Good observation regarding Sanders vs Biden, and the black vote. They voted based on their fears- they felt Biden was a safer bet (even though, in my opinion, Sanders and Warren represent more of what all American ppl need- an emphasis on "the people" vs corporate interests and the wealthiest) because it's better to have 50% of something vs 100% of nothing. Ppl of color were paying a bigger price with Trump in office, and 4 more years was not an option, so they went with the safer bet and supported Biden. It was more specifically the influence/power of Clyburn- the highest ranking African American in the House of Rep., who represents S. Carolina. Didnt hurt that he knew he would have more influence with Biden than he would with Sanders.
I see a parallel between such a black man and those Jews who remained silent & thus supported Hitler. Sad truth about middle class and upper black people is they can be allured by the (older) GOP image of patrician identity. Daily they are reminded how unsafe in the streets and their own homes they are. But people will lard themselves with delusions. Oh they can't possibly do that? can't they? just watch.
For centuries, black people have been at the mercy of the white power structure/majority. This simply means, they have had little influence over the decisions that impact their everyday lives. Along the way, the white power structure has demonstrated (perhaps unintentionally) that those decisions will be made based on what the white power structure wants, without consideration of and/or regardless of what black ppl (and other marginalized groups) want or need (as though black lives/input doesn't matter). Trump poured gas on the flames of white resentment following Obama. Fueling another white backlash at the gains of the traditionally marginalize- people of color, LGBTQ, religious minorities, etc. This resentment created an unholy alliance of white supremacists (with white nationalists openly rallying in the streets) and White Evangelicals supporting Trump's/Republican's attempts to take us back to a time before those black gains again. This is not the first time black ppl have experienced this- the white terrorism of Jim Crow used to erase black gains following Reconstruction; massacres that destroyed successful, self-sustained, black communities, i.e. black Wall Street in Tulsa and similar communities; being denied participation in the creation of the (white) middle class following the Great Depression- intentionally excluded from GI Bills, home ownership programs and newly developed suburbs and relegated to (redlined) into areas deemed unworthy of investment... They, had/have ample reason to take the rare (perhaps, unprecedented) opportunity to try and exercise some influence over their own destiny. This past need to be addressed, acknowledged and understood so we can began to trust each other, allowing us to come together and use our power-in-numbers to overcome our mutual enemy- the wealthiest corporations and individuals, who are stoking/financing division and various voter suppression efforts (rigging the system) to keep themselves in wealth/power and to acquire more wealth/power at our expense. There is a concerted effort to dismiss, avoid and eliminate this history (disingenuously clumped together as CRT) because it keeps us blaming each other instead of coming together and recognizing our common foe.
Yes. All this very worrying. These crazed attitudes just don't go away. It was actually not long after WW2 ended you began to see a resurgence of anti-semitism! Trump goes easy on this but he is anti-semitic where-ever he dares. Hatred of fluid sexuality. And then complete disregard for (when they are at their best) the disabled. Remember how the Trump regime treated disabled people when they tried to protest cuts in their funding
They are afraid of a UNITED- multi-ethnic, multi-oriented, multi-religious & no religion, multi-income level, multi-etc., ELECTORATE because it would grant power to the people (a united majority) over their wealth & power. However, this is only possible if we remain a democracy!
So well put. Thank you. I am so disgusted in Manchin that I can’t verbalize it without a string of cuss words. Thanks again, Ellen, for saying what I would like to.
Manchin is dirty. He is a double dealer and displays everything that is unacceptable in a politician. He needs to either declair the party he really represents or get out.
Which is precisely what he won’t do unless he’s forced to (which I sure wish Biden and Schumer would demand). He has them just where he wants ‘em...Say he’s “for the people”, yet reject anything that’s actually for the people because “his people” are ignorant Republicans.
I think a small group might be fascists. But, I think the rest aren't taking positive action on important things because of some combination of selfishness and cognitive dissonance. The attention given to Manchin at this point might be better invested in encouraging two Republicans to have a heart.
But inaction when their Party leader promotes takeover of the US government MAKES them fascists. How do you think Hitler came to power? Hint: complicity and inaction.
The 51 complicit senators were chosen by their constituents. Those constituents can vote someone in who cares about our planet and people or encourage/pressure them to do something positive about the planet and its people.
I have 2 democratic senators. I don't know how to help put someone better in place of Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham from Virginia. I don't have meaningful money to send to help another state. I haven't made time beyond conversation to help.
Manchin is a distraction at this point as is stating the obvious (republican politicians are this or that, bought, sold, etc.). Our bad politicians enjoy us running around like this. I think the democratic party needs to help the layperson (me) to understand how I can help create positive change in another state (beyond just asking for money).
If Merrick Garland is unwilling to take the ball and run with it, regardless of midterms, he should be removed from office and replaced. If a crime has been committed and evidence is available, it's his responsibility to acquire it, either through request or subpoena, AND DO HIS %@#%ING JOB.
Don’t count Garland out. You know what the Jan. 6 Committee has unveiled. You don’t have a clue about what the Justice Department has done. The Justice Department does not have televised hearings or depositions. Even if Democrats lose control of Congress Garland will still be Attorney General and any trial of anyone would be by a jury - not the House or the Senate.
Manchin is cut from the same cloth as Mitch McConnell. Time for Biden/Democratic leadership to make it clear to him that to the extent any form of benefits to W. VA can be reduced/cut, they will be but then again the Dems always bring a knife to a gun fight.
There is nothing the Democrats can do to Manchin. If they upset him he can just switch parties. Manchin and Sinema are just like the Dixiecrats of old, nominal Democrats. Biden's Democrats never had an actual majority. Dems stand a chance of getting a real majority by defeating some Republicans in the midterms. And no this is not Biden or his Party's fault. This is on us, the citizens, the voters.
If Manchin switched parties he could no longer be the swing vote for the Democrats and he would have much less power (and $s) under Bmitch and the Democrats would no longe be able to blame him for getting little done. Yes, we need more democratic senators that are true democrats, preferably progressives... and a more dynamic and energetic President.
It would be great to capture those seats and they're both very competitive. We have a great chance in Pennsylvania, & a couple of other states are possible. We also should hold Georgia since Warnock is so much better than Walker, & probably Arizona, too, 2 of the Democratic seats initially considered most at risk.
Mark Moses: I wrote an apt piece for you but lost it while going to the dictionary for a word. Here goes again.
Tim Ryan represents Ohio's 13th Dist = Warren, Akron, Youngstown -- the heart of the rust belt. He has seen first hand the hollowing out of middle class America by globalism and neoliberalism. Moreover, he has not been shy about calling out, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Republicans for being obstreperous vis a vis governing. He said in effect "We Democrats need a party we can work with to govern and you're not it," he thundered. Ryan is pro-labor. He's doing well I'm told by those on the ground against the trumper, J.D. Vance (he has stumbled). Ryan knows how to talk to blue collar folks. I'm blue collar Ohio and I THINK I see something in Ryan that's old school Democratic Party.
Val Demings: I like her work history pre-Congress. She has been a work horse, as opposed to a show horse, in the House. She says she is going to go to every nook and cranny in the state of Florida to campaign. Her opponent, Rubio, is against banning assault weapons and he is so bought and paid for, he can't look you in the eye. Before I make a contribution to her campaign, however, I need to be reassured that she too will work to ban guns and work for the so-called middle class if there's any left. She's black and I'd be most surprised if she did not favor MEANINGFUL gun control. She is based in Orlando where a horrendous mass shooting occurred a few years ago. My CQ publication "Congress at Your Fingertips" - Standard Version, tells me that Fla stats break down this way: U.S. House seats: 14 Rep / 13 Dem.; State legislature: Senate 24R / 16D and House 78R / 42D. Rubio will be loaded with $$$ to be sure, but I'm hoping she'll have a better ground game. Also, she comes across as likeable which never hurts. She's articulate as well.
To everybody: You can get your copy of the above mentioned publication that is chockablock with info to make us more informed, better voters by calling 1-877-827-3321 or 1-703-550-9500 or at: publishing.CQ.com/ Single $18 + shipping. I order one after every nat'l election every two years. Couldn't be without a current issue. I'm always amazed at how informative it is. As you may have guessed by now, I prefer contributing to individual candidates rather than to the party in general. We Democrats have a lot to crow about to the voters; we just have to learn how to do it. If possible, we must inform ordinary voters that the economy has its own timeline unrelated to a political one and that there is very little the executive branch can do about inflation which is caused, not by the money spent on the Am Recovery Act, but by shut-down supply lines (China, a source of our supplies thanks to low wage globalism, is experiencing a rampant virus causing a shutdown resulting in its production being way down, apparently). The war in Ukraine is another factor, as is corporate gouging. The later cannot be addressed without help from some Republicans to pass legislation to confront monopolistic conditions that have been decades in the making. And, don't forget Ryan's words: "We need a party to help us govern and you guys ain't it." To our Republican "friends" this: A government that cannot govern is NO GOVERNMENT AT ALL. No governing brings on autocracy, dictatorship, and/or fascism. Here's Justice Louis Brandeis c.1910: "You can have great inequality of wealth and income OR you can have democracy, but you cannot have both."
I have seen Ryan speak, & he is certainly well able to convey righteous anger as well as speak to the working class. He has even used Fox praise of him to reach blue collar workers who may get only right-wing messaging. This of course would lead many on the left to be suspicious of him, but it cannot be credibly argued that he isn't much better than his opponent Vance, & the race does look pretty favorable for Ryan at this time.
I also find Val very likable. It may be an uphill climb, but I think she has a decent chance of pulling it off. Again it would be a major gain for Democrats even if she is more moderate than some would like.
Tim Ryan is nothing more than a career politician-a total piece of shit! He flip-flopped on M4A and SALT. And that is all I can remember. I do remember him saying that SALT is just a tax break for the rich, then voting for it less than 24hrs. later. He is the kind of politician who goes any way the political wind blows. We don't need jerkoffs like that any longer. I doubt Val Demmings will do anything. The so-called squad didn't really do much. When they could have got some concessions from Nancy Pelosi for their vote, they choose not to. They also said Biden is doing a great job. GTFOH! He's done basically nothing. With the array of Executive Orders in front of him, he chooses to do nothing. Criticizing Republicans is easy. Criticizing your own party is what needs to happen. As they are corporate sellouts. So fuck it all to hell with the vote blue no matter who tactic. Where has it gotten us?
Mark, trust me I know your sentiments first hand, (I'm an old pro-labor/pro-union Democrat after all, so think what neoliberalism has done to my political soul), but sometimes you have to go with what you've got and I'll take Ryan over Vance any day of the week. I'm hoping to get a few more Dems elected to the Senate so that we can get some legislation passed to address Global Warming caused by GHG emissions getting trapped in the atmosphere. I have kids and grandkids that I care about. Like you I vent anger from time to time, but more and more I see it as a waste of energy that accomplishes nothing, so I rein it in and keep on going. A person can't be alive and awake today and not experience some anger as the comments in this venue will attest.
The heat wave in Europe this very minute is foreboding, not to mention the drought and fires in California.
I read Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's book CAPTURED and was demoralized for a few days, but resilience is the watchword of this time right here and now.
Take heart, all is not lost just yet, Manchin and Sinema notwithstanding.
I think Dem leadership should make him switch Party affiliation if he won’t vote with the Party. Let leadership fall into hands of R’s. Voters will know going into elections why Dems couldn’t do anything.
I agree with you David. So much of governing today is just performance art, appearances. Manchin became a problem after the Senate became evenly divided and Manchin became the swing vote.. Before that he was just another placeholder. The Democrats in the Senate could greatly help their image before the midterms by publicly facing Manchin down. And especially this: by actually holding votes in the Senate on important legislation like Build Back Better. Let the headlines report that the Republicans Plus One voted it down. Simply not holding a vote and saying that is because they might lose is so . . . cowardly.
That is a great idea. At least that way the public would take note of the vote, putting both Manchin and Sinema facing their voters and making the real culprits known.
HEAR here!!! Finally we see the true root cause. True eduction for ALL witout bias and agendas. A welland truehfully educated citizenry makes prudent choices.
As I’ve stated in the past, West Virginians repeatedly have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. I expect that majorities in other red states have expressed similar priorities. It further is of note that workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
Hence, it is beyond comprehension that Biden and Democratic leadership have failed to go make the argument in West Virginia, and also in the red parts of Mississippi and Alabama, and in other states and say, “This is what we have tried to deliver and these folks have voted against it.” Simply put, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to attain power. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Democrats, receipts in hand, to say to the country, “America, when they didn’t care about you, we did.”
To amplify the efforts of at least 48 Senate Democrats who have engaged in serious discussions in an honest effort to arrive at compromises that would have improved life for tens of millions of working people, it remains all-important that leadership engage everyday people nationwide and ask, “Who do you want here—somebody who doesn’t want to expand the child tax credit or those who do?” “Somebody who doesn’t want to provide affordable, quality childcare and universal Pre-K or those who do?” Doesn’t want to make investments in housing, in elder care, and in climate or those who do?”
The point I repeatedly emphasize is that Democrats, replete with receipts, have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it.
Paula, I appreciate your kind and generous remarks. Admittedly, I am several degrees of separation from Party insiders and so have settled for regularly writing letters to whomever might listen.
Well stated Barbara, all good points here and above, I agree with Paula B.. I think the democratic party is very much in need of a wordsmith capable of coordinating issues and delivering a message that make sense to everyone. I really don't think just throwing out statements that seemingly amount to 'we are not them' is going to work.
Hey remember that time the GOP had the House, Senate, and Presidency but couldn’t achieve anything because of one or two RINOs actually owned by liberal donors? Yeah, neither do I. This is one of the reasons voters are sick of Dems…at the end of the day, either they’re just not very good at this game or they really are bought and sold and designed to serve as a pretend opposition party.
Understand the sentiment, but that is unlikely to be effective. The best course is for Progressives to overtake the Party in a similar fashion (though with better motives and tactics) to what has happened to the Republican Party.
They ARE NOT an opposition party. They may differ from Reps on cultural issues but economically they are too close to call. After, how many decades of voting for the lesser of two evils, where has it gotten us?
He doesn't have a solution; most critics don't. I don't disagree with his basic premise that Democrats are tired of leaders who play the game poorly, but he's tone-deaf to the current situation. Right now anyone who's not circling the wagons doesn't get it.
No, it but it does mean avoiding sensationalizing someone's comment with the most extreme example of the negative results of circling the wagons. If you don't have anything intelligent to contribute, close your mouth before you catch flies.
The most sensational are the most memorable. Why do you think we're also talking more about Manchin than we are about Sinema? Also, I love how you immediately go to the ad hominem with those who disagree with you. But then, at least since the 1920s the Dems have resembled Will Roger''s pithy comment.
We're talking about Manchin more than Sinema because Manchin just scuttled Biden's Climate Change legislation- but you really have to follow current events to pick up on stuff like that. As for your claim of an ad hominem attack, I specifically attacked your position of sensationalism, which is not ad hominem. The suggestion to shut your pie hole wasn't part of the argument, it was purely rhetorical.
ad ho·mi·nem
/ˌad ˈhämənəm/
adjective
(of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
Irascible! Can I spell it? Do I have to look it up? I learn so much here! Thank you both, Robert and Heather for another thoughtful coffee klatch! I just yesterday was telling my husband (who doesn't want to look) that Manchin has more power than the President!
I want to take a moment to add that relentless humanitarian Robert Reich is and has been a national treasure and touchstone for so many of us across many increasingly-perilous American decades. Thank you, Robert, for your continued scholarship, your voice and mind of reason, and all the students and people you have taught and inspired for so many years!
Robert has helped make it crystal clear to so many that the accelerating dangers and challenges in our democracy (including nation-harming and life-threatening wealth and income inequality) are due to selfish profiteers and their opportunistic accomplices who are PURPOSELY dividing and conquering us with lies, misinformation and culture wars in order to profit off of the destruction of our societies, our environments, and our democracy and its institutions.
Our U.S. government is supposed to be protecting We the People as a whole, our lives and communities, a livable planet for earthly life, our international friendships and endeavors with other nations, and also doing their fair share to help our fellow people globally from all who are harming us nationally and globally! That is part of the modern-day social contract we well deserve and have every right to expect as American citizens and U.S. residents and interdependent Earth inhabitants.
As Robert said here, we have every reason to be FRIGHTENED at our nation's current high level of government corruption. We must therefore strongly prioritize helping each other to overcome many harmful (and often evil and mindless) profiteers via our accelerating demands and actions for them to be held accountable. Despite our increasing fear and heartbreak and any feelings of despondency or even paralysis due to more system shocks, we must NOT accept continued impunity for government corruption and societal harms which are largely due to the complicit and weak appeasers across our governments who are NOT doing the basic jobs they were entrusted to do which are getting increasingly harder because of their continued failures.
We ALL well deserve and absolutely need much more honest and beneficial U.S. and state governments; anti-corruption laws and steadfast enforcement; strong corporate regulation; and all our shared international human rights in the U.S. and worldwide which were adopted after WWII for very good reason (https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights).
Therefore, please keep demanding accountability and beneficial laws; voting and volunteering against all obstacles; and rising together and refusing to accept corruption and the violation of our human rights and well-being. Mixed economies that have provide for robust and beneficial public enterprise as well as well-regulated private enterprise (such as through more benefit corporations with a triple bottom line of profit with environmental and social goals) are the best option for democracy.
Don't give up on each other nor our spectacular fellow earth beings who evolved to this point in earth history and all need us more than ever right now!
(Glad I could share and vent my feelings and thoughts in this space. We all need outlets after all we are dealing with daily.)
Thank you Janette, for your very thoughtful post. I keep hoping the American populace will change to be kinder, more accepting, and less self interested. In short the way we used to be. Reagan brought out the worst in us, and of many of the ensuing politicians battened on what Ronnie bred.
AAAAAAAAH! I am a seventy-five-year-old woman and I am irritable!!! Just a little story to make a point: During the 2016 election, days before the actual election, James Comey said he carefully measured the advisability of releasing a statement that the FBI had re-opened its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server for her emails, because announcing that the FBI was investigating something was against general policy—the FBI preferred not to talk about active investigations one way or another. Still, he made the announcement. He said FBI was examining a laptop owned by Anthony Weiner, which shortly thereafter turned out to have nothing incriminating on it. But Comey’s last minute bombshell that Hillary’s action was again under investigation certainly colored the contest a mere handful of days before people voted. Comey said he did not want to withhold that information for fear of charges he was being partisan and withholding information people needed before the election. Instead, what he did was seriously impact people’s opinions and choices at the polls for absolutely no good reason. Hardly keeping the FBI OUT of the contest, he instead threw the power of FBI in against Hillary.
NOW, we hear the same measuring and weighing might be going on with Merrick Garland as he considers charges related to Donald Trump as we approach a new election…but this time, he maybe considering NOT bringing charges in order to avoid influencing the election.
AAAAAAAAAAAHHH. The way to run the DOJ without influencing the election is to run the DoJ without regard to the election. Do what needs to be done without regard to whether the optics are dicey. DO WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN IT IS NEEDED.
I know if the DoJ subpoenas Trump or moves toward holding him accountable, that would be good for “my” side. But in the end, that’s not the point — the point is that CONSTANTLY treating powerful people as though they deserve more consideration than the rest of us is what sours people against government. Donald Trump does not deserve for the DoJ worry about what “messages” it is sending. I’m not so naive as to think those thoughts won’t continue to hold sway — OPTICS! — but we here on the street are da- -ed tired of Mr. Trump waltzing away from every bad thing he does, from insurance fraud to tax evasion to the seditious attempt at a coup against our government. We wish people in Washington and New York and everywhere else would do their jobs honestly and with clarity, and stop dancing around the optics. [Maybe Georgia will move according to the facts and not the optics — one can hope]
In addition to managing to banckupt TWO casinos in Atlantic City!! How does a "good" businesman manage to make so many foolish choices/allegations without being held accountable for such???
Mmmmm, our national budgets are ludicrous, but economies aren’t like household or even business budgets, so I wouldn’t conflate them. Still, I’m with you that we do a fairly lousy job of choosing how to spend public money/
Whose side is he on? Such an ass, elections need to have consequences, and one such consequence needs to be a new Democratic Senator from West Virginia. Primary his ass!!! More Democratic Senators are needed to blunt that asshole’s impact.
This is squarely on the shoulders of Schumer and Biden. IMO both of them are (at least publicly) acting as wimpy non-leaders. Both are still living in the past.
I don’t think there’s any requirement that senators vote in lockstep with their party. It wouldn’t be good if there were. But yeah, he needs consequences and they could still come. Just not as soon as we’d like.
This is MUCH worse than “not voting in lockstep.” Dems have been negotiating with him for many months. Each time, like Lucy, takes away the football right before Charlie Brown can kick it. Then he says, “If you remove this part, I can vote for it”. Then Dems remove it and he does the same thing. This is a game he’s playing. He’s widdled the D agenda down to a twig. He needs to pay. R’s seem to be very disciplined on their agenda. Why aren’t we? Unacceptable, and we seem to have such a lame response from Biden and Schumer. But then we KNEW that when we voted for them, right???
No, and I would encourage elected officials to vote in good faith. That being said, Manchin's obstructionism is strategic in nature and opposes the direction of the party in most key votes. He represented himself as a Democrat, yet his voting record isn't anywhere within the parameter of AOC to Clinton- and that's a pretty broad umbrella. His status as a Democrat is effectively operating as a conservative roadblock to not only Biden's agenda, but the progressive agenda writ large.
Blocking BBB to save us from inflation is a farce. They (the two Dem frauds in the Senate) know it. I'm not citing an informed economist, but this logic seems counterintuitive. Taxing the wealthy a bit more and taking a cut of record corporate profits from post COVID gouging, while realistically advancing the critical need for green energy, will not add to inflation in any significant way. Doing nothing, the clear muddy it up Republican plan, is to just blame and block Dems. That certainly isn't working to any good.
Taxing the upper end of the wealth scale, the few who are benefiting from inflation, is a more rational way to address inflation fairly, while we build back better from a post COVID and post Trump world. The president is asking congress to bet on America and its people to make that happen. If that's a bad bet then what's left to hope for in this country?
Yep. It's not really a subtle nuanced position with him. Understandable, Biden and some Dems don't want to be another soulless Mitch McConnell in handling the harsh realities. But we're in an uncivil war for the whole freakin' planet on some of this. 8+ billion souls. No life boats. It is hard to take it in calmly. Thanks for the link!
You are welcome - it is indeed hard to take calmly but hopefully what is going on now, with the failure of Congress to pass meaningful legislation that helps people and with the J6 committee doing a good job, more folks will start to realize how bad the situation really is.
A breif caviat: Assure that NONE of the funding goe to ANY corporate entities. That is the type of corruption that uses cintizens taxes to help subsidise these super profiable enties in order to lull them to do "the right thing" ; It is an old and illused subtrifuge.
Apologize in advance for the sports analogy below:
There is one thing worse than a loser and that is someone who declines to compete because he might lose. And that is how I see the Democratic leadership. Just one example: With literally truckloads of evidence that Trump reportedly broke the laws for decades in his New York read estate dealings, the NY Democratic AG ended the investigation, he said, because he was 'not sure he could win'. His two top investigators who worked on the case for years promptly quit. That AG is worse than a loser.
I competed for years as captain/coach/ strategist, (never mind the sport) and we took plenty of losses, at first. The way I handled a loss was to have an immediate after-action meeting and invite criticism and suggestions from the crew. They went away looking forward to the next chance to win. And we got better and better. I now have a nice display case of trophies. This is why I CANNOT STAND the Democratic leadership ! I was a Democrat since before the Battle of the Conrad Hilton. But no more. I will still vote Democratic, bu I cannot stand to call myself a Democrat anymore.
I wonder if "not sure he could win" was the real reason for ending the investigation. Sometimes the public reason given for an action is just a cover for the hidden, real reason. NY State has a reputation for having plenty of political corruption in government.
Manchin is an unashamedly corrupt awful man. He won't even let a mild health care bill get through. I suppose he calls himself a Democrat because originally that got him votes in West Virginia. A more heartless deceitful man you may find, but his in effect making himself the obstacle and enjoying it -- for of course he does -- is another sickening spectacle.
His winger friends love him, I'm sure. And they can party on his yacht and enjoy the pain he is inflicting not only on Biden, but on the entire country, including their own people!
Who are his winger friends? I know he makes oodles of money through all sorts of corrupt ways (for lobbyists are professional bribers); that the workers who lives he controls are made far more miserable. His children are corrupt too. Foul wealth.
Ellen Moody ; I guess those Republicans who have been spotted partying with him on his Yacht during Republican fundraisers. They must love him! McConnell too, who loves obstruction and dirty dealing and unfairness too. And GREED!
Yep, McConnell just loves Manchin, & Manchin constantly hangs out with Republicans rather than Democrats.
I suspect the GQP placed him in the Democratic Party as a sleeper agent. He belongs in the GQP but is more use to them in the Dems.
The way he refuses to back his president's agenda for working people, it is plain to see what party he supports.
Seems like the Rethugs set him up to be a Trojan horse & has doing his job too well!
He's either a buried asset or "useful idiot." Unfortunately, his approval rating has been going up among ReThuglicans and Independents, though it's tanking among Democrats. That means the only way to dump him is to beat him in the Democratic primaries when he next runs (unless he switches parties).. However, replacing him with a more progressive Democratic candidate would probably just mean his replacement would be a ReThuglican.
My list to fit 'winger' are the dark money oil tycoons as #1. #2 are Democrats who hide behind Manchin - the old blue dog democrats now some call conservative democrats - the Biden East Coast set of democrats. Perfect example is the Chris's, Chris Murphy with the lame gun control bill and Chris Coon. The test case to expose the losers in Democratic Party was the minimum wage bill which flushed out the 'Wingers', ie east coast Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, plus the worse two slick dudes Chris Coons and Tom Carper of Delaware
So unfair to chastise Chris Murphy! He’s been fighting for gun reform since Sandy Hook. Miracle he was able to get any concessions at all from the disgusting R senators.
After what Chris Murphy and the people he represents so passionately have been through, snark like this is unconscionable.
Cliff, before you get into an east coast/west coast rivalry (I lived for a long time on each coast) that is mostly unproductive, let me just say...Feinstein? Pelosi? etc., etc. Not to mention that SF, and most of urban CA has basically become a playground for the wealthy, because very few others can afford to live there. But I take your broader point.
Isn’t that how they all make themselves instant millionaires? Term limits would fix that.
I Googled "Manchin on his yacht" and found this:
It's not a yacht; it's classified as a houseboat because he and his wife live on it. "Its value is relatively modest for a DC residence. Manchin bought the boat at a fire-sale price of $220,000 but insured it for $700,000, PolitiFact reported. Assuming it’s still insured for around that amount, Manchin’s got one heck of a deal: The median sales price for single-family homes in DC passed $1 million last year."
That 'houseboat' is worth much more than an average working person (maker), could afford. More money left for him to pay for his fancy car, I guess. He would not want workers to feel entitled though, would he?
Yo ho ho . . .and chugging a few with Joe . .hope Cancun Guy appreciated the honor . ..
James Muncy; He and his wife must also have a house on dry land too. Most people do not have 2 homes in W VA no doubt.
Well, yeah, but I assume that most Congresspeople have two residences. Nancy has one in California with a $30k refrigerator in it storing lots of gourmet ice cream. But good for her and the rest of her $135 million in personal worth. I can appreciate and abide people making millions, but not billions -- that's a bridge too far. However, no one, as far as I can tell, needs more than a few million. I'm living on $30k/year; and if it weren't for Social Security and a 401K, I wouldn't have that. God bless Medicare, too, while I'm counting my blessings. (I use a lot of religious words for an atheist, due to habit, a low IQ, and a small vocabulary, I presume.)
James Muncy ; I don't think anyone can get anywhere near office if they are broke. But at least Nancy Pelosi is loyal to her party and not blocking the President. She is not perfect, but better than Manchin and Synema.
I like and admire Nancy Pelosi. She literally stood up to him in the White House and pointed an angry finger at the president while impugning him with, "Everything you do leads back to Putin!"
And I'm still agog that she tore up Trump's ridiculous State of the Union speech standing right behind him on national TV. Now that's great TV. For a while she was the only thing getting me through those dismal, depressing four years.
James: With respect, you have no idea what brand of refrigerator Ms. Pelosi has in her home OR what brand of ice cream it may or may not contain.. Honestly, does she look like a woman who consumes ice cream -gorment or whatever? IF she has a 30K refrigerator, and IF it is filled with ice cream it is probably for her grandchildren and THAT is ok.
"Left-wing Dems blame Nancy Pelosi's refrigerator filled with $12-a-pint ice cream in her multi-million dollar home for putting off ordinary Americans voting Democrat. Nancy Pelosi showed off her supply of ice cream on The Late Late Show in April. Pelosi, 80, revealed a $24,000 freezer full of $12-a-pint luxury ice cream."
https://www.dailymail.co.uk › news › article-8939861
https://www.thedailybeast.com › the-view-blows-up-over...
Apr 21, 2020 — “It's not the ice cream that's in her fridge, it's the fact that she's standing behind giant refrigerators, multiple ones that cost $24,000 each."
These public officials supposedly work for us; we pay their salaries and for all their benefits. Pelosi's worth $135 million. We still have royalty in America; instead of calling them kings and queens, they often have titles like Congresswoman, Senator, Attorney General, or Secretary Treasurer.
Of course, I want such officials to make a decent salary, one they can live on and support their family. It's just that so many citizens are suffering in poverty while top dogs are living the high life, dogs that we put up there and support. Candidate Obama, who was a Congressman at the time, asked, "Why do I have the world's best health insurance, while the ones who paid for it, the American people, have bad insurance or none at all?" Good question still to this day.
@ James. You are a funny man! LOL
@James. I have a large vocabulary and I am very truthful. I once had a federal contract to teach the Navy how to curse, for example.
I quickly picked up Navyese during my years of glory therein. (Cleaned a lot of bathrooms [heads].) Cursing just releases so much stress, and I know people admire me greatly for so doing: "Man, that old guy has a real potty mouth on him." Stopping that vernacular, due to being around grandkids, has nearly rendered me mute, as Obama said of Rahm Emanuel.
It's hard to imagine Manchin doesn't have a mansion to go with his Maserati.
"They'd just throw any health care money for drug abuse"
Agreed, Manchin is an awful man, yet a somewhat rational and predictable one. (I posted a long time ago that…) Manchin’s a mole, a double agent, as in those cold war spy stories. He could not survive a GOP primary in WV. He gives his allegiance to McConnell because he owes his survival in office to MConnell not recruiting, supporting or giving $$ to a GOP opponent to Manchin. In exchange, Manchin gives intel on all the Democrats’ plans to the GOP via McConnell or via Collins, Thune, Portman or other of his close GOP Senate friends. The Democrats act as an inept, disunified, anarchistic circular firing squad, and Manchin sees no viable path to reelection if he did not act as a mole. And, he has cover for acting this way because (one-time Green Party candidate!) Sinema realizes she has no future in AZ politics, and shamelessly rakes in bribes from lobbyists, in exchange for voting like Manchin.
Addendum: If Manchin voted anywhere close to how Bernie Sanders & Nancy Pelosi do, he'd be rejected by heavily-GOP WV in a general election. If Manchin ended the filibuster, he'd be purged. If the Dems had a 51+ majority in the Senate (such that his vote wasn't needed), Schumer would still encourage Manchin to vote against most of the Dems' agenda, just to help prevent a GOP from taking Manchin's seat
Mitch, While Manchin’s behavior is entirely consistent with his having a special arrangement with McConnell, I would note a few wrinkles. Admittedly, Manchin likely is the only Democrat who could win statewide elections in West Virginia. Still, since 2016, the State has become increasingly red. At the same time, Manchin increasingly is losing support among Democratic constituents, who, along with Independents and some Republicans in the State, have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. Moreover, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
Hence, as I earlier stated as part of today’s thread, I am confounded by the inaction of 48 Senate Democrats, who had just engaged in serious discussions in an honest effort to arrive at compromises that would have improved life for tens of millions of working people. As a start, Democratic leadership should be engaging everyday people nationwide and asking, “Who do you want here—somebody who doesn’t want to expand the child tax credit or those who do?” Somebody who doesn’t want to provide affordable, quality childcare and universal Pre-K or those who do?” Doesn’t want to make investments in housing, in eldercare, and in climate or those who do?”
My point I make repeatedly is that Democrats have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it.
Absolutely true Barbara .
Barbara, I am confounded by Murkowski, Romney and those GOP Senators like Portman, Burr et al, who are leaving office because they cannot win a primary -- yet still want lucrative consulting gigs when they leave office.
If a single GOP Senator could be pressured to vote with the 49-Democrats on anything, Manchin couldn't say it's a non-bipartisan issue.
I sort of understand Murkowski: I think she likes her male staff-members. But, they couldn't work as closely with her if McConnell moves her office to one of the Senate's ladies bathrooms...
Mitch, As someone who, for the past year, has been a student of Manchin and the State he represents, I regret that you didn’t reply to any of the points I carefully crafted.
Barbara: I don't know WV as well as you, and cannot reply to points about WV. And, yes, Dems have a great narrative which no one hears about. Biden needs a PR team.
Manchin has been given lots of "carrots", so maybe it's time for some "sticks". Someone should identify a progressive candidate in WV who will not only oppose Manchin in his next primary, but threaten to run as an Independent should Manchin win in the primary, simply to be a spoiler that denies Manchin a victory. Start creating name awareness. And, money should be spent to start a Stacey-Abrams-like grassroots voting drive, to show Manchin there area consequences for serving McConnell & his lobbyists, rather than his constituents
Mitch, I write to let you know I will respond to your 2 replies as soon as I can carve out a block of time to respond thoughtfully.
Barbara: back to my point about getting a GOP Senator to do give Manchin a 'bipartisan' excuse to act: Go after Portman!
Their alma mater has an Energy Policy Institute funded by a large (family-controlled) Canadian oil company (whose daughter attended). A few months ago, Portman was invited to co-lead a session:
Advancing Bipartisan Energy Policy: A Conversation with Senators Portman and Shaheen [May 3rd, 3:00–3:30 p.m.]
Rob Portman ’78, U.S. Senator (R-OH)
Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator (D-NH)
Join us for this seminal discussion on building collaborations to advance the investments and policies necessary for a sustainable energy future.
Note: CNN's Jake Tapper gave him a puff-piece in their alumni magazine, allowing Portman to whine about what extremists BOTH the GOP & Dems have become:
https://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/articles/rob-portman-interview-jake-tapper
Mitch ; disagree with the put down of Democrats. The circular firing squad comment hits the rounds of Republican talking points. The filibuster, gerrymandering, Electoral College and all obstruction by repugs and the fake Democrats, like Manchin and Sinema are the real firing squad.
While I adore much of what AOC is trying to achieve, I think it undermined the Democrats when she said she didn't know if she could support Biden if he was the Democrats' candidate in the 2024 November election. The question was not about the 2024 primaries.
There is an overt war between the younger members of the Progressive wing of the party and those who hold power. It's counter-productive.
I live in a district where I can proudly use my Representative's slogan, the only one who voted against the post 9/11 war powers act: Barbara Lee speaks for me! She is a classy veteran politician, and she knows how to steer policy quietly and effectively. AOC and the squad need to be more patient, and follow Lee's example.
If a GOP caucus member went on TV to trash the GOP, that member's office would be relocated to a bathroom or a storage closet.
“Patient” means never, if you look at Dem policy achievements over last half century. The ACA is basically “it”, and it has been gutted. Respectfully disagree. AOC is the kind of leadership needed to galvanize the Party with younger voters. Inequality threatens to (already is, look at NYT reports) swallow what’s left of the middle class, and global warming (yes WARMING, not “climate change” as we’ve allowed rebranding) is already here and wreaking havoc, which will cause political and social upheaval (food scarcity, migration) unlike anything we’ve ever seen. No we cannot wait. If we lose some “moderates” but gain newly enthused (and new) voters in the process, so be it. These
Are not normal times, though some pretend that
it still is. Electoral College, gerrymandering, filibuster all need to go, and we need an ERA to answer the R effort to roll back women’s rights. This is a time for action, not patience!
Right on! ... and one more "rebranding" suggestion: Let's call it what it is -- "global HEATING". "Warming" makes it sound kind of benign.
Global furnace is more like it.
Ah, you caught that, too!
In fairness, you are a little off. Although I didn't like Lyndon Johnson as a human being, he did shoulder through passage of civil rights, voting rights, Medicare/Medicaid. While both civil rights and voting rights have been emaciated by the Supreme Court (thanks to Republican appointees) The Democrats are the only ones since Eisenhower to advance and enact any legislation for the good of the people. (For those youngsters among us. Eisenhower enacted the trans American highway system) Subsequent Republican Regimes have primarily enacted deregulation and tax breaks for Corporate America.
I love this, Fay. You’re so right: what have Republicans ever done for anyone except their own short-term gratification? In fifty or sixty years they’ve accomplished nothing. Wow. What a stark message that is.
I'd agree completely, Fay Reid, if only that pesky Vietnam war—absent from your summary—would also vanish from LBJ's résumé. (Yes, ugly as the exit was, at least a Democrat did get us out of Afghanistan.)
I agree. Things are very different now. Young people’s very lives are threatened. We had the bomb but that was out of our control. Today’s threats aren’t. We need bold leadership that younger people can relate to. Bernie is one but AOC, Rashida, etc. are also critical.
It wasn't out of control. Had we continued transitioning as Carter started us on, then Reagan set us back, it would've been very smooth, we'd have a much stronger, greener, cleaner, more modern economy, with much less conflict, both domestically & internationally.
James Hansen of NASA warned us in 1987, & then Gore around 20 years ago with his "Inconvenient Truth", & had we acted with appropriate urgency either of those times, we could've still avoided severe climate disruption with not too much economic or societal inconvenience, but now we are already experiencing substantial climate disruption, & any efforts to meet the urgency & mitigate & adapt to climate chaos will inevitably be disruptive to our economy & society, although still not nearly as much as it will be if we continue not to confront it. It is very close to being out of our control by now.
David Parrish ; Yes, all true ; We do not have oodles of time! We need to have a working Democracy NOW, not in 'so many years'. The bull$&it must end. Mother nature and Father time have set limits that nobody can avoid with abuse of the law, or anything else! there are no more 'time outs', children!
Exactly!
I might add...If we fail to make needed democratic reforms, allowing for a government able and willing to pass legislation quickly and on a consistent basis to deal with the rapidly changing global and domestic challenges we face, our fate may go the way of the Weimar Republic and Ancient Rome: autocracy.
I agree, the next "republican" elected will usher in full blown fascism. I'm so glad I'm old and probably won't have to face it, but I pity the rest of you.
Great post!
But I quibble with your term choice. I am against both terms because they are too mild, not that precise & don't convey the urgency. Instead of "climate change", which is a general term for climate processes over hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years, we should be using for the current phenomenon terms such as "climate disruption", "climate chaos", "climate crisis", "climate emergency", & there's enough nuance among these terms to use them for different situations. Instead of "global warming", which sounds rather pleasant, like getting comfortable sitting next to a fireplace, it should be "global heating" or "global scorching", which describe quite accurately what we're currently undergoing, which is the fastest heating of the planet known since life has existed here.
Well, it’s unclear how apocalyptic one should get. I saw something that said that rhetoric wasn’t working. I would say something like “the end of the world,” but then people just think you’re hysterical. When you are not. Anyway, people need to hear this way more, and I’m also pissed at the press for hardly ever reporting on this real and present danger to EVERYONE. I tried writing a letter to the NYT the other day. It was probably too long, though. This shit should be on the front page, the front front page, every day until people are adequately worried…
You are so right. If we're to convince the deniers of the urgency, we need to convince them it's URGENT giving dates like end of century only makes them think there's plenty of time. Like the trumpster. they are so self centered they do not concern themselves with their children or grandchildren
I have noticed more of a trend in using the terminology “climate crisis” over the past couple of years.
I agree with every point you put forth. The big challenge with our newest and youngest voter demographic is what it has always been...getting them to actually vote. They are enthusiastic and progressive, but their turnout at the polls on Election Day is abysmal. This voting pattern has been prevalent for generations. How do we change it?
Inspirational candidates with creative ideas to solve our many serious crises, & move us forward to the kind of future most Americans want. Among them should be addressing climate chaos & ecosystem collapse, economic injustice & wealth & power disparity, preserving & recovering our democratic institutions, universal healthcare, comprehensive rapid transit, strengthening unions, a much more progressive tax system & perhaps free education, parental leave, shorter work weeks, a much higher national minimum wage & a universal basic income.
By voting for candidates who will promote and deliver actual policy changed benefiting the majority. By electing those who understand what it’s like to be a “have not”.
I really didn’t mean just young people. Tons of people just don’t know how the system works and think things could be way better overnight. I think we should tell everyone the truth, and the whole truth. I don’t think Bernie does that either. It’s not really “messaging.” It’s just being forthright. I don’t think Biden is actually that far off from this. I think he’s tired and really disappointed. Just a little more honesty, like saying everything Reich just said in this post. And then some energy and enthusiasm.
This is completely wrong. We need to VOTE FOR DEMS in the midterms. We need MORE DEMS. AOC is screwing us by making young people think all that BS you’re mentioning could happen if only a progressive were elected. I’m a fan of hers, but this bullshit has to go or our next six years of power is gone and we won’t have a climate. Or rather, climate won’t have us. Please think more sensibly. I really care about climate and this is not helping. Biden would do a SHITLOAD of what you want if he could. Former administrations sucked but the Dems are far more progressive now and really ALMOST PASSED BBB in its original form but for two senators!!!!!!!!!
Your reasoning has been adopted by the moderates who chose Biden as the nominee.
It has not worked. Granted, anyone was better than Trump. But you can’t simultaneously argue that you like AOC but think her policy proposals are BS. And Biden “almost had BBB??? Remember,
the only reason it was adopted by Biden is because the Progressive wing has grown more powerful in recent years and he wouldn’t have gotten their support otherwise. Let’s face it: Biden won the nomination because he was the “safe” choice (perceived), not the choice which would energize the D base. It’s time the base actually got a candidate who actually BELIEVES in (as Biden does not seem to) the policy needs and desperate times we’re in.
Have you paid ANY attention to the energy generated by Bernie Sanders (and E Warren to a lesser extent) among young people who see their future slipping away???
We’ve been taking your tact for 50 years. Where has it gotten us? If you haven’t read Prof. Reich’s latest Guardian piece, you should. I’ve lived through the last 40+ years and witnessed what he refers to in the article. Democratic leadership has
abandoned the working class. That’s created a whole host of problems.
Agreed
Couldn't disagree more. This is basically the same argument that was made to Black Americans and women to "wait their turn" in previous battles for equal rights over the past 150 years. Easy to say if its not your ox being gored.
Also, speaking as a climate scientist, we sim[ply don't have time to play nice any longer. Mainstream dems, e.g. going back to the Clintons especially, played republican lite for decades. They have to be pushed hard to do much of anything for the broader public, which is what AOC and the others are doing. I will have their backs as much as I can.
If the dems generally can't handle a little internal criticism, shame on them. They can still get their broader messages out, but they seem incapable of really fighting back as a party...maybe because many of their hands are not so clean? That has zero to do with AOC!
I didn't get it. Who do you disagree with?
I was replying to Mitch (forgot "@Mitch.", but my comment was a reply to him
Mitch's comment above about AOC
Doug: What I said was NOT that Black Americans and women should [shut up and] wait their turn.
Progressives trashing Biden on national media sabotages anything they'd want to achieve.
Bernie got his chairmanship of important Senate committees and pushed the party agenda statements because he implicitly threatened to sabotage a Democratic nominee by running as a Third party if they did not meet his demands. Also, look at how Bernie's campaign co-chairman Ro Khanna gets things done. It is NOT by going on the media to trash Biden or scream out "truths" to the whole world. They do so via INTERNAL criticism and implicit threats to achieve their goals.
Doug: I have a BA in physics and took some STEM classes in my masters degree. The scientific need is to eliminate or minimize the downside risk of an unacceptable outcome.
@Cliff: Lee made an informed choice that it was essential to minimize the downside risk that the right-wing media would attack a more progressive candidate as being a Socialist, so milquetoast, sleepy Joe Biden had the best chance of beating Trump in 2020 -- with GOP anti-Trump crossover votes (which were clearly the deciding factor in GA's Senate runoff races: had Trump not gone to GA, whiny Ossoff would have lost)
BRAVO. Truth, knowledge, and critical thought. How unusual!!
You're weighing legislation that doesn't have the votes to pass against throwing the entire party into a tailspin, losing the election and our democracy at the same time. You may be a climate scientist, but your expertise in political science is non-existent. Where are you people when the fate of our democratic institutions AREN'T being threatened?
Clearly you are entitled to your opinion. But you don't know anything about me (and likely not others who comment). It does not speak well of you to question what others have been doing "when democratic institutions are not being threatened", implying that we have been doing nothing, when you don't know us. I know nothing about you, so should I assume you are a fascist because you don't agree with me? Of course not. Fyi, I have worked on these issues in both the public and advocacy sectors for decades. What have you been doing?
You statement about a tailspin for the party is pure speculation. Show me some solid evidence that the progressives have caused the problems of the party. How about inflation, mishandling of the pandemic, as well as not accomplishing much of their agenda?
If this legislation did not have a chance to pass, Biden should have been using all his executive levers, which could not replace legislation, but could help a lot. Instead he and other moderates have played patty cake with Manchin at least a year longer than they should have. So he is at least that far behind where he might have been. But Biden never showed any real urgency on climate change until he was pushed hard by Sanders, AOC, Sunrise, and all of the millions behind them. So-called moderates have been in charge of the democratic party for decades, sometimes with majorities in congress and the White House. The record speaks for itself.
That's exactly what I love about AOC! For once a truth-telling representative. Enough of spineless politicians.
That's funny. You and I both see her and love her. You seem to love her for what she is thwarted from achieving. I love her potential to achieve great things if she'd modify her approach. You see her as a truth-teller, and I see her as someone LIVING A LIE. She is clearly not satisfied with the Democratic party. If she was truthful, she should join Bernie's Democratic-Socialist party, and caucus with the Democrats, like Bernie does. Oops: if she did this, the Wall Street Dems would spend $$ to keep her out of Congress
Throughout the years, I have witnessed that democrats are most afraid of being called “socialist”, “communist”, “radical left”, etc. These words have become the very effective weapons of republicans (and I think democrats like you). Democrats time and again have been thrown in inaction because of this fear of being called those words. Then, came along trump. To my astonishment, he openly defended a bunch of fascists/Nazis/klans and nobody could touch him. There were a few polite words here and there in criticism and then all was gone. Mcconnel, shamelessly blocked Obamas candidate and sent the worst possible people to life-time appointment to supreme court. Republicans shamelessly, block every motion by democrats that can help middle class and poor. If you call them fascist or any other word like that, they just shrug it off. Now, I am sick and tired of hearing it again and again that “x” is too left, “y” is socialist, etc., and (newly by you - not truth-telling!!), and in doing so, driving every necessary program that needs courage, to “inaction”. That’s enough. Just imagine if instead of trump, Bernie was our president. How much good would have been done instead of all the lasting damages of trump presidency.
Mitch ; If AOC and other young progressive members of the Democrat party are questioning support of Biden for the 2024 , it is because there is not much time left to play politics with
global heating and the trend toward extreme winger criminality. Kids shot dead in school?( and no action to stop it by the R's?). Ads showing a terrorist attack against a political opponent!??? Death threats to fellow members of Congress?!?! There is real fear of inaction by establishment sell outs! Witness tampering by the former guy!! Threats to those who testify against him!?! And the media pundit 'experts' are now saying that it is 'not likely' that tRump will face indictment'!!!???? This is not sustainable!
They can & should challenge Biden in all the state primaries to show their power to steer the 2024 Democratic platform, but saying they won't support the 2024 November nominee sabotages their goals
Mitch ; Questioning support for Biden is free speech. It is not saying they will not support him. Democrats are in such a precarious position with all the Fascist threats that everyone needs to look closely before voting. Asking questions is allowed ; especially by the women.
MItch what you state is what got us here - Biden. NO do not agree. As Bernie position revolution is only fix - the progressive revolution going for direct hit needed for the WE WE bills like Medicare For All, public schools through post graduate, removal of prosecutor discretion for justice for ALL, join World Climate Change policies, removal of all money in political system, paid for WE/ALL programs within the revolution paid for from over 400K and removal of corporation loop holes for profit, and a Wall Street pre Reagan based on dividends - real metric for performance not gambling hall chant, let the market determine.
As to Barbara Lee she is listed as member of Medicare For All Caucus in 2018 and on Bernie campaign. Yet in 2016, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), was the only CBC member who openly supports Sanders. Then in 2020 Lee was not supporter of Sanders but joined the Clyburn black group touting all over media during a Carolina primary that it was the black women who will win for Biden and we must protect Obama legacy ( the false logic being Medicare For All (100% coverage) wipes out ACA (20% coverage as in Universal Health Care) so vote for Biden.
So here Barbara Lee had clear choice between being member of the Special Interest or for All of American people. (knowing obviously the ALL covers ALL black people supported by Congressional Black Caucus. She chose Clyburn's paid for line from dark money wanting to block the labeled 'self proclaimed socialists' Sanders who was going tax these dark money to pay for all his progressive bills. Biden won with same set dark money group dark money campaign funding.
So Mitch, no I do not agree with your 'Lee's Example'. The AOC and her progressive agenda is model if not her agenda is from Bernie's Revolution with its core being We Not Me with purpose to cover all special interest within their WE revolution and avoid the Special Interest methodology/image - Black, Women, Gay, Poor - which leaves out much more of the WE in special interest bills. And thus the Revolution. And thus a ONE Democratic Party
Mitch ; No they would be threatened with death along with their children!
Murkowski voted to impeach Trump. She already has threats. So, why can't or won't she stand up for women's reproductive rights?
Mitch ; Ask her!
Mitch; The Corporate and winger media do a lot to discredit Democrats because they are owned by big wealth.
The media does whatever it can to increase viewership-of & rates-for boner pills, cholesterol pills and other BigPharma product commercials. Why else would these annoying ads be so ubiquitous? Creating hysteria for Democratic and independent voters, such that they need to follow each state primary, and listen to every word of their pundits, achieves this
Mitch ; So their money making agenda has nothing to do with Democrats being 'A circular firing squad'. It's easy to repeat Republican winger talking points, just like it's easy for someone like DJT to say He 'does not like losers'.( He does not like himself, I'm sure.). It's like tying a man's hands behind his back and saying he is not a good fighter. Talk is cheap.
On this we are in total agreement
Thank you for telling me this. I didn't know any of it.
This appears to be a very accurate, insightful appraisal of & rationale behind Manchin's duplicitous role in the Senate.
wow so perfect of a specific analysis Mich if only CNN or MSNBC would interview you to get this spot on situation out in open public.
Manchin. Want to make him irrelevant? Give him what he wants! Something is better than nothing. Pass the bill!!!
Want to influence him? Speak to his wife. Biden appointed her to the Appalachian commission. In the general election 2 Republican House seats are open in WVa. Support the Democratic challengers. Lacy Watson and Barry Wendell. Flip those seats.
On Manchin, we disagree Biden and the negotiators gave Manchin everything he asked for and he publicly agreed to vote for the watered down BBB - until it came time to vote and he reneged on everything
Fay, you may be right but that's not how I remember it. The Democrats wanted $3.2 trillion, he agreed to $1.8 trillion, in part paid for by tax increases, but Democrat leadership wouldn't budge on GND.
I'm all in favor of GND, while at the same time recognizing that if we just let Manchin have his coal and oil for now, technology is already solving the carbon emission problem, and Manchin and his family will be redundant in 5 years anyway.
The BBB was initially $10 trillion for 10 years ($1 trillion per year), whittled down to $1.5 trillion for Manchin's sake, & he still reneged. Repeatedly! Just stringing along the Democrats, building up our hopes then crashing them. And this is not the only issue he's done that on. He has practically single-handedly sabotaged Democratic chances in upcoming elections.
I initially said $100 billion per year, which is poor math, & have since corrected it to $1 trillion per year.
Sound advice, Daniel, on every count. I simply would add that Dems present whichever budget reconciliation provisions get passed as a downpayment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up 2 Senate seats.
Couldn't agree more. His WVA constituents want coal and higher taxes on the wealthy. Give him his coal (it'll be completely redundant in 5 years) and watch him explain tax cuts on the wealthy to his people. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. What we need right now is tax increases.
Call him D.I.N.O, Republican operative, representing the interests of corporations and the wealthiest few or representing his own financial interests in the coal industry. He continues to employ a tried and proven Republican tactic of faux negotiation that is in actuality a STALL tactic to prevent Dems from passing legislation with the expectation that dems will lose their advantage following the midterms. They used Boehner (seemingly, without his knowledge) to negotiate stall/prevent/limit Dem legislation during the Obama administration. Run out the clock, to limit Democrat's ability to pass legislation, then spin it and blame Dems for not getting anything done.
fyiurban ; Excellent summary!
Spot on!
I mean, he is a CLASSICAL democrat! As in, he is where the democratic party was when it was founded: pro big business, anti-American. Good job, liddle guy that EVERYONE despises!
I learned more about Manchin yesterday -- partly a result of his finally coming out openly to show he has no intention of signing onto any of the BBB agenda, even the slightest improvement in American lives or the future of this society. People here have taught me about his relationships with McConnell and other GOP people. So he is one of the many evil-doing evil-saying people the US congress now has many of. A center is not only the corrupt money system for electing officials but the love of violence, the belief in violence, the refusal to curtail it, and now a new turn the open encouragement of violence not only in the goddawful films playing everywhere but GOP campaigns and rallies. Hatred of women is now openly seen. We are well down the road of fascism. Biden is either unable or unwilling to do anything: his shaking of that Saudi monster's hand in effect is a significant symbol. We had a hope and his name is Bernie Sanders. But powerful people twice thwarted him, the second time with the help of middle class black people. Now what happened to Sanders in North Carolina (or was it South) reminds me of how wealthy and middle class Jews supported Hitler thinking he didn't mean it and yes he was a bulwark against communism (socialism).
Good observation regarding Sanders vs Biden, and the black vote. They voted based on their fears- they felt Biden was a safer bet (even though, in my opinion, Sanders and Warren represent more of what all American ppl need- an emphasis on "the people" vs corporate interests and the wealthiest) because it's better to have 50% of something vs 100% of nothing. Ppl of color were paying a bigger price with Trump in office, and 4 more years was not an option, so they went with the safer bet and supported Biden. It was more specifically the influence/power of Clyburn- the highest ranking African American in the House of Rep., who represents S. Carolina. Didnt hurt that he knew he would have more influence with Biden than he would with Sanders.
I see a parallel between such a black man and those Jews who remained silent & thus supported Hitler. Sad truth about middle class and upper black people is they can be allured by the (older) GOP image of patrician identity. Daily they are reminded how unsafe in the streets and their own homes they are. But people will lard themselves with delusions. Oh they can't possibly do that? can't they? just watch.
For centuries, black people have been at the mercy of the white power structure/majority. This simply means, they have had little influence over the decisions that impact their everyday lives. Along the way, the white power structure has demonstrated (perhaps unintentionally) that those decisions will be made based on what the white power structure wants, without consideration of and/or regardless of what black ppl (and other marginalized groups) want or need (as though black lives/input doesn't matter). Trump poured gas on the flames of white resentment following Obama. Fueling another white backlash at the gains of the traditionally marginalize- people of color, LGBTQ, religious minorities, etc. This resentment created an unholy alliance of white supremacists (with white nationalists openly rallying in the streets) and White Evangelicals supporting Trump's/Republican's attempts to take us back to a time before those black gains again. This is not the first time black ppl have experienced this- the white terrorism of Jim Crow used to erase black gains following Reconstruction; massacres that destroyed successful, self-sustained, black communities, i.e. black Wall Street in Tulsa and similar communities; being denied participation in the creation of the (white) middle class following the Great Depression- intentionally excluded from GI Bills, home ownership programs and newly developed suburbs and relegated to (redlined) into areas deemed unworthy of investment... They, had/have ample reason to take the rare (perhaps, unprecedented) opportunity to try and exercise some influence over their own destiny. This past need to be addressed, acknowledged and understood so we can began to trust each other, allowing us to come together and use our power-in-numbers to overcome our mutual enemy- the wealthiest corporations and individuals, who are stoking/financing division and various voter suppression efforts (rigging the system) to keep themselves in wealth/power and to acquire more wealth/power at our expense. There is a concerted effort to dismiss, avoid and eliminate this history (disingenuously clumped together as CRT) because it keeps us blaming each other instead of coming together and recognizing our common foe.
Yes. All this very worrying. These crazed attitudes just don't go away. It was actually not long after WW2 ended you began to see a resurgence of anti-semitism! Trump goes easy on this but he is anti-semitic where-ever he dares. Hatred of fluid sexuality. And then complete disregard for (when they are at their best) the disabled. Remember how the Trump regime treated disabled people when they tried to protest cuts in their funding
They are afraid of a UNITED- multi-ethnic, multi-oriented, multi-religious & no religion, multi-income level, multi-etc., ELECTORATE because it would grant power to the people (a united majority) over their wealth & power. However, this is only possible if we remain a democracy!
You've hit the nail on its big fat egomaniacal head!
So well put. Thank you. I am so disgusted in Manchin that I can’t verbalize it without a string of cuss words. Thanks again, Ellen, for saying what I would like to.
such a great analysis Ellen
Manchin is dirty. He is a double dealer and displays everything that is unacceptable in a politician. He needs to either declair the party he really represents or get out.
Which is precisely what he won’t do unless he’s forced to (which I sure wish Biden and Schumer would demand). He has them just where he wants ‘em...Say he’s “for the people”, yet reject anything that’s actually for the people because “his people” are ignorant Republicans.
For the people my ass. It’s for his selfish self and his bank account. I wish he could be forced out.
B9: are you opposed to Ketanji Brown Jackson being on SCOTUS?
And, for a nice pun on your initials, Manchin is like "Benign tumors [which] are those that stay in their primary location"
I can't understand how there aren't at least two Republicans (of 50 human beings) who care about what they leave their children's children.
Because those kind of true (1950’s-2000 Republicans) no longer exist. They were outed by the Trump-MAGA Party. They’re really fascists.
I think a small group might be fascists. But, I think the rest aren't taking positive action on important things because of some combination of selfishness and cognitive dissonance. The attention given to Manchin at this point might be better invested in encouraging two Republicans to have a heart.
Sam. When they don't object to fascism, they are willing idiots.
No we agree!
But inaction when their Party leader promotes takeover of the US government MAKES them fascists. How do you think Hitler came to power? Hint: complicity and inaction.
Most of us are a part of the daily inaction.
The 51 complicit senators were chosen by their constituents. Those constituents can vote someone in who cares about our planet and people or encourage/pressure them to do something positive about the planet and its people.
I have 2 democratic senators. I don't know how to help put someone better in place of Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham from Virginia. I don't have meaningful money to send to help another state. I haven't made time beyond conversation to help.
Manchin is a distraction at this point as is stating the obvious (republican politicians are this or that, bought, sold, etc.). Our bad politicians enjoy us running around like this. I think the democratic party needs to help the layperson (me) to understand how I can help create positive change in another state (beyond just asking for money).
So much for family values.
If Merrick Garland is unwilling to take the ball and run with it, regardless of midterms, he should be removed from office and replaced. If a crime has been committed and evidence is available, it's his responsibility to acquire it, either through request or subpoena, AND DO HIS %@#%ING JOB.
Don’t count Garland out. You know what the Jan. 6 Committee has unveiled. You don’t have a clue about what the Justice Department has done. The Justice Department does not have televised hearings or depositions. Even if Democrats lose control of Congress Garland will still be Attorney General and any trial of anyone would be by a jury - not the House or the Senate.
I haven't counted anyone out yet.
Manchin is cut from the same cloth as Mitch McConnell. Time for Biden/Democratic leadership to make it clear to him that to the extent any form of benefits to W. VA can be reduced/cut, they will be but then again the Dems always bring a knife to a gun fight.
There is nothing the Democrats can do to Manchin. If they upset him he can just switch parties. Manchin and Sinema are just like the Dixiecrats of old, nominal Democrats. Biden's Democrats never had an actual majority. Dems stand a chance of getting a real majority by defeating some Republicans in the midterms. And no this is not Biden or his Party's fault. This is on us, the citizens, the voters.
If Manchin switched parties he could no longer be the swing vote for the Democrats and he would have much less power (and $s) under Bmitch and the Democrats would no longe be able to blame him for getting little done. Yes, we need more democratic senators that are true democrats, preferably progressives... and a more dynamic and energetic President.
I support Tim Ryan of Ohio and Val Deming in Fla. for U.S. Sen, both now in the House.
It would be great to capture those seats and they're both very competitive. We have a great chance in Pennsylvania, & a couple of other states are possible. We also should hold Georgia since Warnock is so much better than Walker, & probably Arizona, too, 2 of the Democratic seats initially considered most at risk.
Why? Both are standard issue Democrats.
Mark Moses: I wrote an apt piece for you but lost it while going to the dictionary for a word. Here goes again.
Tim Ryan represents Ohio's 13th Dist = Warren, Akron, Youngstown -- the heart of the rust belt. He has seen first hand the hollowing out of middle class America by globalism and neoliberalism. Moreover, he has not been shy about calling out, on the floor of the House of Representatives, Republicans for being obstreperous vis a vis governing. He said in effect "We Democrats need a party we can work with to govern and you're not it," he thundered. Ryan is pro-labor. He's doing well I'm told by those on the ground against the trumper, J.D. Vance (he has stumbled). Ryan knows how to talk to blue collar folks. I'm blue collar Ohio and I THINK I see something in Ryan that's old school Democratic Party.
Val Demings: I like her work history pre-Congress. She has been a work horse, as opposed to a show horse, in the House. She says she is going to go to every nook and cranny in the state of Florida to campaign. Her opponent, Rubio, is against banning assault weapons and he is so bought and paid for, he can't look you in the eye. Before I make a contribution to her campaign, however, I need to be reassured that she too will work to ban guns and work for the so-called middle class if there's any left. She's black and I'd be most surprised if she did not favor MEANINGFUL gun control. She is based in Orlando where a horrendous mass shooting occurred a few years ago. My CQ publication "Congress at Your Fingertips" - Standard Version, tells me that Fla stats break down this way: U.S. House seats: 14 Rep / 13 Dem.; State legislature: Senate 24R / 16D and House 78R / 42D. Rubio will be loaded with $$$ to be sure, but I'm hoping she'll have a better ground game. Also, she comes across as likeable which never hurts. She's articulate as well.
To everybody: You can get your copy of the above mentioned publication that is chockablock with info to make us more informed, better voters by calling 1-877-827-3321 or 1-703-550-9500 or at: publishing.CQ.com/ Single $18 + shipping. I order one after every nat'l election every two years. Couldn't be without a current issue. I'm always amazed at how informative it is. As you may have guessed by now, I prefer contributing to individual candidates rather than to the party in general. We Democrats have a lot to crow about to the voters; we just have to learn how to do it. If possible, we must inform ordinary voters that the economy has its own timeline unrelated to a political one and that there is very little the executive branch can do about inflation which is caused, not by the money spent on the Am Recovery Act, but by shut-down supply lines (China, a source of our supplies thanks to low wage globalism, is experiencing a rampant virus causing a shutdown resulting in its production being way down, apparently). The war in Ukraine is another factor, as is corporate gouging. The later cannot be addressed without help from some Republicans to pass legislation to confront monopolistic conditions that have been decades in the making. And, don't forget Ryan's words: "We need a party to help us govern and you guys ain't it." To our Republican "friends" this: A government that cannot govern is NO GOVERNMENT AT ALL. No governing brings on autocracy, dictatorship, and/or fascism. Here's Justice Louis Brandeis c.1910: "You can have great inequality of wealth and income OR you can have democracy, but you cannot have both."
I have seen Ryan speak, & he is certainly well able to convey righteous anger as well as speak to the working class. He has even used Fox praise of him to reach blue collar workers who may get only right-wing messaging. This of course would lead many on the left to be suspicious of him, but it cannot be credibly argued that he isn't much better than his opponent Vance, & the race does look pretty favorable for Ryan at this time.
I also find Val very likable. It may be an uphill climb, but I think she has a decent chance of pulling it off. Again it would be a major gain for Democrats even if she is more moderate than some would like.
Tim Ryan is nothing more than a career politician-a total piece of shit! He flip-flopped on M4A and SALT. And that is all I can remember. I do remember him saying that SALT is just a tax break for the rich, then voting for it less than 24hrs. later. He is the kind of politician who goes any way the political wind blows. We don't need jerkoffs like that any longer. I doubt Val Demmings will do anything. The so-called squad didn't really do much. When they could have got some concessions from Nancy Pelosi for their vote, they choose not to. They also said Biden is doing a great job. GTFOH! He's done basically nothing. With the array of Executive Orders in front of him, he chooses to do nothing. Criticizing Republicans is easy. Criticizing your own party is what needs to happen. As they are corporate sellouts. So fuck it all to hell with the vote blue no matter who tactic. Where has it gotten us?
Mark, trust me I know your sentiments first hand, (I'm an old pro-labor/pro-union Democrat after all, so think what neoliberalism has done to my political soul), but sometimes you have to go with what you've got and I'll take Ryan over Vance any day of the week. I'm hoping to get a few more Dems elected to the Senate so that we can get some legislation passed to address Global Warming caused by GHG emissions getting trapped in the atmosphere. I have kids and grandkids that I care about. Like you I vent anger from time to time, but more and more I see it as a waste of energy that accomplishes nothing, so I rein it in and keep on going. A person can't be alive and awake today and not experience some anger as the comments in this venue will attest.
The heat wave in Europe this very minute is foreboding, not to mention the drought and fires in California.
I read Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's book CAPTURED and was demoralized for a few days, but resilience is the watchword of this time right here and now.
Take heart, all is not lost just yet, Manchin and Sinema notwithstanding.
They are far better than the Republican alternatives, Vance & Rubio, respectively.
I think Dem leadership should make him switch Party affiliation if he won’t vote with the Party. Let leadership fall into hands of R’s. Voters will know going into elections why Dems couldn’t do anything.
I agree with you David. So much of governing today is just performance art, appearances. Manchin became a problem after the Senate became evenly divided and Manchin became the swing vote.. Before that he was just another placeholder. The Democrats in the Senate could greatly help their image before the midterms by publicly facing Manchin down. And especially this: by actually holding votes in the Senate on important legislation like Build Back Better. Let the headlines report that the Republicans Plus One voted it down. Simply not holding a vote and saying that is because they might lose is so . . . cowardly.
That is a great idea. At least that way the public would take note of the vote, putting both Manchin and Sinema facing their voters and making the real culprits known.
HEAR here!!! Finally we see the true root cause. True eduction for ALL witout bias and agendas. A welland truehfully educated citizenry makes prudent choices.
Manchin IS a Dixiecrat, the last of them. Sinema is just, well...an opportunist.
Why don’t the WVa Democrats censure him or throw him out of the party?
nPoet9 ; Maybe because he is a 'mini tRump' in his state?
Let us hope!!!
Help get out the vote -- that's better than hope!
Especially if it is actually counted!
I recently read where they did something like that.
It depends on who is running the scene. Corporate Dems will do nothing. It reveals the ineffectiveness of voting for Dems.
Mark Moses ; Yeah, especially if freedom is not important to the the voter , and fealty to autocrats and greedheads is important.
As I’ve stated in the past, West Virginians repeatedly have prioritized jobs, healthcare, childcare, housing, and tax reform as vital to their well-being. I expect that majorities in other red states have expressed similar priorities. It further is of note that workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
Hence, it is beyond comprehension that Biden and Democratic leadership have failed to go make the argument in West Virginia, and also in the red parts of Mississippi and Alabama, and in other states and say, “This is what we have tried to deliver and these folks have voted against it.” Simply put, Democrats have to be willing to engage in war. The other side has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to attain power. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Democrats, receipts in hand, to say to the country, “America, when they didn’t care about you, we did.”
To amplify the efforts of at least 48 Senate Democrats who have engaged in serious discussions in an honest effort to arrive at compromises that would have improved life for tens of millions of working people, it remains all-important that leadership engage everyday people nationwide and ask, “Who do you want here—somebody who doesn’t want to expand the child tax credit or those who do?” “Somebody who doesn’t want to provide affordable, quality childcare and universal Pre-K or those who do?” Doesn’t want to make investments in housing, in elder care, and in climate or those who do?”
The point I repeatedly emphasize is that Democrats, replete with receipts, have an extraordinary narrative, if only they would deliver it.
The Dems should hire you for messaging, Barbara Jo. Very eloquently stated and potentially very effective if people could hear your statements.
Paula, I appreciate your kind and generous remarks. Admittedly, I am several degrees of separation from Party insiders and so have settled for regularly writing letters to whomever might listen.
Given the skill of your writing I would imagine they’re very effective.
Well stated Barbara, all good points here and above, I agree with Paula B.. I think the democratic party is very much in need of a wordsmith capable of coordinating issues and delivering a message that make sense to everyone. I really don't think just throwing out statements that seemingly amount to 'we are not them' is going to work.
Hey remember that time the GOP had the House, Senate, and Presidency but couldn’t achieve anything because of one or two RINOs actually owned by liberal donors? Yeah, neither do I. This is one of the reasons voters are sick of Dems…at the end of the day, either they’re just not very good at this game or they really are bought and sold and designed to serve as a pretend opposition party.
I wish I could argue with you. I'm afraid you're spot on.
This is why new leadership is needed. There are
Dem leaders willing to play hardball. Their names just aren’t Schumer or Biden. Pelosi has done her job, though admittedly with a better hand.
This is where a new party is needed. To hell with the Dems.
Understand the sentiment, but that is unlikely to be effective. The best course is for Progressives to overtake the Party in a similar fashion (though with better motives and tactics) to what has happened to the Republican Party.
And how has that worked out?
It may take a new Party forming to convince Dems to change leadership and priorities, but a third Party has never worked in our political system.
They ARE NOT an opposition party. They may differ from Reps on cultural issues but economically they are too close to call. After, how many decades of voting for the lesser of two evils, where has it gotten us?
Oh, I dunno. Social Security. The Civil Rights Act. Medicare. Medicaid. ACA. You know. Not much.
So the citizens of our great nation want Rethugs instead? At this point what are the options?
He doesn't have a solution; most critics don't. I don't disagree with his basic premise that Democrats are tired of leaders who play the game poorly, but he's tone-deaf to the current situation. Right now anyone who's not circling the wagons doesn't get it.
And circling the wagons means continuing to encourage and support folks like Cuellar?
No, it but it does mean avoiding sensationalizing someone's comment with the most extreme example of the negative results of circling the wagons. If you don't have anything intelligent to contribute, close your mouth before you catch flies.
The most sensational are the most memorable. Why do you think we're also talking more about Manchin than we are about Sinema? Also, I love how you immediately go to the ad hominem with those who disagree with you. But then, at least since the 1920s the Dems have resembled Will Roger''s pithy comment.
We're talking about Manchin more than Sinema because Manchin just scuttled Biden's Climate Change legislation- but you really have to follow current events to pick up on stuff like that. As for your claim of an ad hominem attack, I specifically attacked your position of sensationalism, which is not ad hominem. The suggestion to shut your pie hole wasn't part of the argument, it was purely rhetorical.
ad ho·mi·nem
/ˌad ˈhämənəm/
adjective
(of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
Irascible! Can I spell it? Do I have to look it up? I learn so much here! Thank you both, Robert and Heather for another thoughtful coffee klatch! I just yesterday was telling my husband (who doesn't want to look) that Manchin has more power than the President!
"You may not want to be involved in politics, but politics will surely get involved with you."
-- Ralph Nader
Heather’s question “ was there anything that, God forbid, made you smile.” Really cracked me up.
I want to take a moment to add that relentless humanitarian Robert Reich is and has been a national treasure and touchstone for so many of us across many increasingly-perilous American decades. Thank you, Robert, for your continued scholarship, your voice and mind of reason, and all the students and people you have taught and inspired for so many years!
Robert has helped make it crystal clear to so many that the accelerating dangers and challenges in our democracy (including nation-harming and life-threatening wealth and income inequality) are due to selfish profiteers and their opportunistic accomplices who are PURPOSELY dividing and conquering us with lies, misinformation and culture wars in order to profit off of the destruction of our societies, our environments, and our democracy and its institutions.
Our U.S. government is supposed to be protecting We the People as a whole, our lives and communities, a livable planet for earthly life, our international friendships and endeavors with other nations, and also doing their fair share to help our fellow people globally from all who are harming us nationally and globally! That is part of the modern-day social contract we well deserve and have every right to expect as American citizens and U.S. residents and interdependent Earth inhabitants.
As Robert said here, we have every reason to be FRIGHTENED at our nation's current high level of government corruption. We must therefore strongly prioritize helping each other to overcome many harmful (and often evil and mindless) profiteers via our accelerating demands and actions for them to be held accountable. Despite our increasing fear and heartbreak and any feelings of despondency or even paralysis due to more system shocks, we must NOT accept continued impunity for government corruption and societal harms which are largely due to the complicit and weak appeasers across our governments who are NOT doing the basic jobs they were entrusted to do which are getting increasingly harder because of their continued failures.
We ALL well deserve and absolutely need much more honest and beneficial U.S. and state governments; anti-corruption laws and steadfast enforcement; strong corporate regulation; and all our shared international human rights in the U.S. and worldwide which were adopted after WWII for very good reason (https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights).
Therefore, please keep demanding accountability and beneficial laws; voting and volunteering against all obstacles; and rising together and refusing to accept corruption and the violation of our human rights and well-being. Mixed economies that have provide for robust and beneficial public enterprise as well as well-regulated private enterprise (such as through more benefit corporations with a triple bottom line of profit with environmental and social goals) are the best option for democracy.
We will also only survive and thrive much better together with proper respect for everyone's necessary protections, opportunities and rights including to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/statements/statement-inger-andersen-un-recognition-right-healthy-environment) as well as much-needed rights of nature (basic info & top organization links at: https://www.invisiblehandfilm.com/what-are-rights-of-nature/).
Don't give up on each other nor our spectacular fellow earth beings who evolved to this point in earth history and all need us more than ever right now!
(Glad I could share and vent my feelings and thoughts in this space. We all need outlets after all we are dealing with daily.)
Thank you Janette, for your very thoughtful post. I keep hoping the American populace will change to be kinder, more accepting, and less self interested. In short the way we used to be. Reagan brought out the worst in us, and of many of the ensuing politicians battened on what Ronnie bred.
Wonderfully balanced and insightful
Well said. The key words are “stick together” and “take action”.
I'd vote for you for whatever political office you might aspire to with that attitude & ethic.
AAAAAAAAH! I am a seventy-five-year-old woman and I am irritable!!! Just a little story to make a point: During the 2016 election, days before the actual election, James Comey said he carefully measured the advisability of releasing a statement that the FBI had re-opened its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server for her emails, because announcing that the FBI was investigating something was against general policy—the FBI preferred not to talk about active investigations one way or another. Still, he made the announcement. He said FBI was examining a laptop owned by Anthony Weiner, which shortly thereafter turned out to have nothing incriminating on it. But Comey’s last minute bombshell that Hillary’s action was again under investigation certainly colored the contest a mere handful of days before people voted. Comey said he did not want to withhold that information for fear of charges he was being partisan and withholding information people needed before the election. Instead, what he did was seriously impact people’s opinions and choices at the polls for absolutely no good reason. Hardly keeping the FBI OUT of the contest, he instead threw the power of FBI in against Hillary.
NOW, we hear the same measuring and weighing might be going on with Merrick Garland as he considers charges related to Donald Trump as we approach a new election…but this time, he maybe considering NOT bringing charges in order to avoid influencing the election.
AAAAAAAAAAAHHH. The way to run the DOJ without influencing the election is to run the DoJ without regard to the election. Do what needs to be done without regard to whether the optics are dicey. DO WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN IT IS NEEDED.
I know if the DoJ subpoenas Trump or moves toward holding him accountable, that would be good for “my” side. But in the end, that’s not the point — the point is that CONSTANTLY treating powerful people as though they deserve more consideration than the rest of us is what sours people against government. Donald Trump does not deserve for the DoJ worry about what “messages” it is sending. I’m not so naive as to think those thoughts won’t continue to hold sway — OPTICS! — but we here on the street are da- -ed tired of Mr. Trump waltzing away from every bad thing he does, from insurance fraud to tax evasion to the seditious attempt at a coup against our government. We wish people in Washington and New York and everywhere else would do their jobs honestly and with clarity, and stop dancing around the optics. [Maybe Georgia will move according to the facts and not the optics — one can hope]
In addition to managing to banckupt TWO casinos in Atlantic City!! How does a "good" businesman manage to make so many foolish choices/allegations without being held accountable for such???
I suppose the same way national political leaders run a nation that spends more than it brings in?
Mmmmm, our national budgets are ludicrous, but economies aren’t like household or even business budgets, so I wouldn’t conflate them. Still, I’m with you that we do a fairly lousy job of choosing how to spend public money/
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Great response!!!!
Very well said! So many great comments here!
Whose side is he on? Such an ass, elections need to have consequences, and one such consequence needs to be a new Democratic Senator from West Virginia. Primary his ass!!! More Democratic Senators are needed to blunt that asshole’s impact.
Can Pelosi and Schumer at least censur Manchin?? There must be some response for his treachery.
This is squarely on the shoulders of Schumer and Biden. IMO both of them are (at least publicly) acting as wimpy non-leaders. Both are still living in the past.
I don’t think there’s any requirement that senators vote in lockstep with their party. It wouldn’t be good if there were. But yeah, he needs consequences and they could still come. Just not as soon as we’d like.
This is MUCH worse than “not voting in lockstep.” Dems have been negotiating with him for many months. Each time, like Lucy, takes away the football right before Charlie Brown can kick it. Then he says, “If you remove this part, I can vote for it”. Then Dems remove it and he does the same thing. This is a game he’s playing. He’s widdled the D agenda down to a twig. He needs to pay. R’s seem to be very disciplined on their agenda. Why aren’t we? Unacceptable, and we seem to have such a lame response from Biden and Schumer. But then we KNEW that when we voted for them, right???
I agree. And unfortunately I also agree with your addendum.
Ultimately this is why Dems will get drummed in November. They have done almost NOTHING their constituents voted for. The loss of Roe is deflating,
but why would you vote for dems again when they did nothing after 2020???
No, and I would encourage elected officials to vote in good faith. That being said, Manchin's obstructionism is strategic in nature and opposes the direction of the party in most key votes. He represented himself as a Democrat, yet his voting record isn't anywhere within the parameter of AOC to Clinton- and that's a pretty broad umbrella. His status as a Democrat is effectively operating as a conservative roadblock to not only Biden's agenda, but the progressive agenda writ large.
Blocking BBB to save us from inflation is a farce. They (the two Dem frauds in the Senate) know it. I'm not citing an informed economist, but this logic seems counterintuitive. Taxing the wealthy a bit more and taking a cut of record corporate profits from post COVID gouging, while realistically advancing the critical need for green energy, will not add to inflation in any significant way. Doing nothing, the clear muddy it up Republican plan, is to just blame and block Dems. That certainly isn't working to any good.
Taxing the upper end of the wealth scale, the few who are benefiting from inflation, is a more rational way to address inflation fairly, while we build back better from a post COVID and post Trump world. The president is asking congress to bet on America and its people to make that happen. If that's a bad bet then what's left to hope for in this country?
Ronald - "Blocking BBB to save us from inflation is a farce.[ ....] ..I'm not citing an informed economist, but this logic seems counterintuitive."
Paul Krugman said as much in an opinion piece in the NY Times after Manchin had blocked BBB.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/opinion/manchin-build-back-better.html
Yep. It's not really a subtle nuanced position with him. Understandable, Biden and some Dems don't want to be another soulless Mitch McConnell in handling the harsh realities. But we're in an uncivil war for the whole freakin' planet on some of this. 8+ billion souls. No life boats. It is hard to take it in calmly. Thanks for the link!
You are welcome - it is indeed hard to take calmly but hopefully what is going on now, with the failure of Congress to pass meaningful legislation that helps people and with the J6 committee doing a good job, more folks will start to realize how bad the situation really is.
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A breif caviat: Assure that NONE of the funding goe to ANY corporate entities. That is the type of corruption that uses cintizens taxes to help subsidise these super profiable enties in order to lull them to do "the right thing" ; It is an old and illused subtrifuge.
Apologize in advance for the sports analogy below:
There is one thing worse than a loser and that is someone who declines to compete because he might lose. And that is how I see the Democratic leadership. Just one example: With literally truckloads of evidence that Trump reportedly broke the laws for decades in his New York read estate dealings, the NY Democratic AG ended the investigation, he said, because he was 'not sure he could win'. His two top investigators who worked on the case for years promptly quit. That AG is worse than a loser.
I competed for years as captain/coach/ strategist, (never mind the sport) and we took plenty of losses, at first. The way I handled a loss was to have an immediate after-action meeting and invite criticism and suggestions from the crew. They went away looking forward to the next chance to win. And we got better and better. I now have a nice display case of trophies. This is why I CANNOT STAND the Democratic leadership ! I was a Democrat since before the Battle of the Conrad Hilton. But no more. I will still vote Democratic, bu I cannot stand to call myself a Democrat anymore.
I wonder if "not sure he could win" was the real reason for ending the investigation. Sometimes the public reason given for an action is just a cover for the hidden, real reason. NY State has a reputation for having plenty of political corruption in government.
Yes, there have been murmurs that he was pressured to give it up. Not sure there was concrete evidence, but I think it was more than just speculation