Manchin says 'January 6 changed me' as he calls for bipartisan cooperation

[stlstdg]

27. This is a dance...

He has to play to the demographics of his state. He's touting to his state the power
that he has, and cannot be seen as walking in lock step with Democrats.

I've read a half dozen different articles and heard about a half dozen interviews of his, where
he's said one thing and then another. I have a feeling that this might be part of the long game;
I remember Joe Biden's statement during his press conference that successfully legislating is as
much about timing as anything else.

Joe Manchin didn't get re-elected again and again in a crimson red state by being stupid.

I don't think anyone seriously thinks he's going to vote against the infrastructure bill when
the COVID relief bill is wildly popular in his own state. West Virginia's infrastructure is,
if anything, in more dire need of rehabilitation than is any other states'. I read not too
long ago that he was critical of Republicans' rigidity on not using taxes to pay for the
infrastructure bill.

The eventual passage is HR1 is also in his career interest, and in the interest of any of his
family members who might be mulling a future in politics--and he knows that very well.

Not killing the filibuster is not the same as reforming it, as he has said he's open to.

Someone smarter than me said that the vast majority of strategizing and negotiating (not
necessarily with Republicans but within the caucus) takes place behind closed doors, and
not on cable news.

I'm not particularly worried right now.