If you'll allow me one Joe Manchin post...

[In It to Win It]

I largely avoid posting about Joe Manchin... as much as we all like to collectively punch him in the face from time to time.

For the 2020 elections, like so many of us, I donated money and put in time with a goal of getting Democrats to a majority in the Senate, and I just feel like he's pissing that away.

My issue with Joe Manchin is not specifically that he won't budge on a filibuster or that he's against certain legislation (it kinda is). But my biggest issue with him is Manchin won't support certain Democratic initiatives in the name of bipartisanship, but from what I see, he doesn't want to take on the burden of bipartisanship.

If he's against the For the People Act simply because it has no republican support, FINE! Draft a narrower Senate version, find 10 republicans, have them water it down some more, put it on the floor for a vote... or look at the 800-page bill, find the parts that 10 republicans will support and go from there.

Separately, he wants the infrastructure bill to be sweeping, be paid for, be bipartisan but doesn't want to raise taxes that much... all of which is collectively conflicting. And he doesn't really offer a way out of that conflict.

I don't know what goes on in the Senate. I don't know if Manchin is working on a deal behind the scenes. I only know what Manchin shows... and I haven't heard that Joe Manchin is putting together any bipartisan legislation (...and anyone is free to correct me if I'm wrong on that).

[KT2000]

1. he has all the power now

that must mean a lot to him. If he cannot support the For the People Act I cannot see how he can call himself a Democrat. I fear he is setting himself up to be forced into becoming a republican. His explanations for his positions are not intelligent or logical. I wonder what the Rs are promising him.

[calimary]

2. I think we need to get Washington DC declared the 51st state. ASAP!

Sneak the language in a minor bill on something else that a lot of CONS like and will vote for.

That will give us another TWO Senators. Almost a guaranteed couple of Dems.

And then Joe Manchin DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER ANYMORE!!!

[Maraya1969]

8. That would be great if they could do it. I would LOVE IT!

[brooklynite]

3. "I donated money and put in time with a goal of getting Democrats to a majority in the Senate"

...and you got one; but what you (and the Democrats) DIDN'T do is elect an expansive Senate Caucus OR a notably progressive one. The election of progressives in Georgia was driven in part by Trump interfering in the runoff elections and depressing Republican turnout. Our other two victories were moderate candidates (not ready to drop the filibuster) in the purple States of CO and AZ. The OTHER candidates we contributed money to and tried to elect (MT, IA, NC, ME) all lost.

Bottom line is that we got a bare majority because two of our candidates were acceptable to two States that aren't broadly as progressive as the folks here. As such, Joe Manchin who is ALSO acceptable to a State that is as progressive as the folks here has greater influence than we want. That's something we have to accept and deal with.

[In It to Win It]

7. Preaching to the choir - Accepted and dealt with it

That's why I avoid posting about Joe Manchin because 50 + 1 VP is what we have to work it and nothing can be done about that for now.

[Bev54]

4. The Koch's are financing the fight against the voting rights act

Is he under their control?

[Johonny]

5. There is simply no evidence there is bipartisan support for anything Joe claims we need

bipartisan support for. At some point Joe needs to ask himself, does he support his own party's agenda and if not, why the * is he in the party?

More to the point, there doesn't appear the entire GOP is very much interested in governance. They no longer care if we have clean water, roads, health care . . . it's very hard to find common ground when there is no ground under these people's feet.

[MyOwnPeace]

6. The 'good' Senator is not 'working on a deal'.........

he's sitting in his office waiting for a line of people to arrive and kiss his A$$ - and that goes to the highest bidder!