Every last DU'er should wake up in the morning and thank Heaven for Joe Manchin...

[WarGamer]

He's the fine BLUE line between Majority Leader Schumer and Majority Leader McConnell.

Think about the prospect of a McConnell Senate for the next 2 years the next time you want to shitpost about Manchin.

[Twoflower]

1. What does that even mean?

[WarGamer]

7. Which part confuses you? I can explain.

[Twoflower]

10. Explain what a fine blue line is please?

[WarGamer]

13. Manchin is the ONLY thing between Leader Schumer and McConnell

It's a 50-50 Senate.

Be thankful.

EDIT: and blue is the DEM color, right? Blue line... ?

[dawg day]

36. Actually, EVERY Dem is the thin blue line.

Manchin just flirts with pretending he might go GOP, so he makes himself more important.

Shrug. Have to deal with him, but don't have to be grateful.

I will never ever understand how a state like WVa, which is so dependent on the money and aid that comes in through liberal policies, can be so defiantly Trumpy. I guess Manchin is the way they can get both-- Trump-juice and massive welfare paid for by blue state taxes.

[StarfishSaver]

83. TRUTH! Thank you

[honest.abe]

92. Manchin is in the reddest blue state in the country.

His vote for Dem majority may be the most difficult for any Dem senator. I’m sure he is contemplating switching parties. That would probably be to his benefit.

[LakeArenal]

2. I don't appreciate his obstruction at all.

I don’t appreciate keeping us all hanging.

I’m confused as to which side he’s on. I don’t appreciate that

I don’t feel like he is doing his constituency’s work.

I don’t appreciate that Democracy is a “fine blue line” because of him.

[WarGamer]

11. His constituents voted for Trump more than 2:1 vs Biden

[LakeArenal]

24. They elected HIM a "Democrat". He is to do democratic work.

If you recall Democrats are to fight Trumpism. So the State may have voted more for trump, Manchin’s constituents voted for a Democrat.

[WarGamer]

31. So WV wants Manchin to vote with Senator Warren all the time?

Want to run a WV poll to see the answer?

[LakeArenal]

40. Why do you speak for all WV?

Run your own poll.

Democrats elected Joe Manchin. There must have been enough voters who want a Democrat doing the work of the party platform.

Humans can be Dinos and Rinos.

[WarGamer]

41. To be accurate, Republicans elected Joe Manchin

The State went more than 2:1 for Trump over Biden.

Manchin got a HUGE portion of the GOP vote BECAUSE he's seen as a conservative DEM.

[LakeArenal]

47. I stand with the majority comments on this thread

I don’t have all day to beat this poor under preforming dead horse.

I have a feeling there is some alert bait here.

[Xoan]

74. Actually, contrary to your original assertion ...

it appears that in WVA he's closer to being GOP than Democrat.

[dawg day]

75. No, but Warren isn't the Senate Majority Leader

And the infrastructure bill isn't some radical socialist agenda or whatever they might pretend Warren stands for.

It's a bill that would send many millions of dollars of very necessary aid to those West Virginians. I suspect somewhere inside the self-destructive Trumpy "skin" is still enough of a self-protective instinct that they elected a Democrat-- so that they could maybe get the benefit of Democratic policies and programs.

If they'd wanted a Republican senator and McConnell in charge still, they would have elected his GOP opponent.

It's a teensy bit heartening, to think that maybe their self-love can be just a little bit stronger than whatever is powering their support of Trump.

[FoxNewsSucks]

95. Here you go

Care to explain why Manchin is NOT doing what his constituents want?

Even allowing for the margin of error, it's not even close

[LakeArenal]

96. You are the bomb. Thanks.

[FoxNewsSucks]

98. My pleasure. Can't wait to see the answer.

[LakeArenal]

99. Do you happen to know how many hidden posts can you get without consequence?

[FoxNewsSucks]

101. I think 4, but I'm not sure.

I thought I read once that 5 gets you 'flagged for review' and you can't post until the outcome of that review.

They also reduce your chances of getting on juries.

[LakeArenal]

102. Good to know.

[FoxNewsSucks]

103. I've never had more than 2 at a time

still seemed to be on a jury every day

[LakeArenal]

104. Same here.

FWIW. I have more on my no jury list than I have on ignore.

[Jose Garcia]

106. WV Democrats had a chance in 2018 to choose between

Manchin and a progressive named Paula Jean Swearengin. WV Democrats chose Manchin by more than a 2-1 margin.

[Demsrule86]

108. WVA Democrat's know that this Swearengin would lose badly in WVA.

[Jose Garcia]

112. They made the mistake of nominating two years later

She lost in a landslide 70% to 27%.

[Demsrule86]

107. It doesn't work that way in a red state...even with Manchin's and Sinema's help the voting rights

bill. It will not get 60 votes...so he can vote against it. and it doesn't matter...probably helps him at home. We want Manchin to keep his seat. Consider that without Manchin. the ACA would be gone. Once Manchin is gone, there will never be another Democratic Senator for decades most likely. Where exactly will our majority come from?

In order to hold a majority, we need moderates and even some conservademocrats. I am a liberal/progressive in terms of ideology. However, in terms of elections and politics, I am a moderate because that is the only way to win, and this will hold true until and unless we change hearts and minds. There are more moderate Democrats in the states we need to win than progressive Democrats. That is just a fact.

[LakeArenal]

117. I think there are more moderate Democrats on every state.

That’s why Biden won and Sanders didn’t.

It’s not an excuse for voting for a Dino

[Demsrule86]

126. You call moderates DINO's so yeah they will vote for moderates but not for progressives.

In order to have the majority, we have to have moderates. And that means we won't get all of our progressive goodies. But with a bigger majority and enough to overturn the filibuster, we will get some things. And we will get some stuff in reconciliation...related to budget, infrastructure ETC.

[Lancero]

129. His constituents wanted him to support the voting act, according to polls.

If you're going for the 'Well he's just doing what the people in his state want!' angle to explain why it's a good thing he voted to kill the most comprehensive voting rights act of our generation then that's a big ol miss.

His vote certainly wasn't at the behest of his voters, assuming the polls are accurate.

[FoxNewsSucks]

16. "I don't appreciate that Democracy is a "fine blue line" because of him. "

Exactly right. We have the majority for two years. We should be getting the policy we want, and it starts with making sure EVERYONE can freely and easily vote for Democrats in every election. There would be no need for a "fine blue line" if S1 is enacted and voting results matched voter intent. The Democratic majority would be substantial.

[NewHendoLib]

3. Sure, I just love democracy being shit on by a DINO.

Fuck. Joe. Manchin. And showboat Sinema too. Enough of this bullshit.

[aeromanKC]

46. Why do you prefer McConnell have the gavel?

I am extremely grateful for any "DINO" we have in the D caucus that resides in a Red state. (I'm looking at you AZ and GA too!! THANKS!!!!!!!) Remember that without DINO's we would not have the ACA. In a perfect world 50 would be enough to get all we want. BUT we do not live in a perfect world.

It is more important now more than ever for us to get D's in the Democratic caucus from Blue states in 2022!! (I'm looking at you WI, PA) D's can reasonably get as many as 54 after 22.

Is it frustrating that some D's don't vote D every time? YES. But our goal should be to get fewer R's in the R caucus not fewer D's in the D caucus while KEEPING the gavel.

[Pinback]

62. Ahem.

Senators Warnock and Ossoff are far from DINOs. For the first time in my life, I'm actually represented by two U.S. Senators who speak for me.

I look forward to the day when we can elect enough Democrats that we don't need to kowtow to the most conservative members.

[aeromanKC]

73. Congrats!!

I did not mean to infer they were DINO's just that they are from a "Red" state and without them we also do not have the gavel. We need more D's from "Red' states. What happened in GA this year was historical and we all owe you and those that voted in the runoff election a huge deal of gratitude. Would love to see GA and AZ become the new VA. (I think they are) Unfortunately for me my state is going the other direction. (MO)

Hopefully in 2022 we begin to pull away from the Kowtow line!! (we will need all we can get because I do not think Manchin will get re-elected in 2024)

[Demsrule86]

109. Without both of them in the Senate, there would be no 'democracy'. McConnell would be

back in charge.

[NewHendoLib]

116. He is

[LanternWaste]

125. And there's the back of the t-shirt.

Cool slogan... I hope the font choice allows it some credibility.

[Demsrule86]

127. No he is not and we have the Covid Bill and judges because he is not in power...you seriously

need to consider what would be happening if the Republicans are in charge.

[NewHendoLib]

130. are you happy with the obstruction? with Manchin and Sinema?

I'm not. This is bullshit.

We just may be different ideologically. I am very left wing, and the moderate approach pisses me off. I am also a fighter and feel way too much time is spent negotiating with terrorists.

[jalan48]

4. We'll see how thankful we are two years from now when we wake up

[Demsrule86]

110. I am hoping we make gains in the Senate. The House though is my biggest worry.

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. As long as Manchin is McConnell's right hand man, it does not matter

If he is "leader" in name. Manchin is giving him the power.

[WarGamer]

8. Manchin will fast track EVERY Biden Federal Judge nominee...

How would Mitch treat Biden nominations if he were Majority Leader?

[LakeArenal]

30. That is all conjecture. The case now is Manchin is obstructing.

That is happening now not in some theoretical universe.

[inthewind21]

105. And here lies the problem

To all those gushing with gratitude thanking Manchin because he's the "thin blue line" preventing Mitch from being Majority leader, News flash, Mitch may as well be the Senate leader, he still has ALL the power. And we can thank Manchin, Sinema and those who are perfectly ok allowing them to tank everything because hey, at least Mitch doesn't have the gavel.

[Demsrule86]

115. That is just not true. He can't stop judicial nominees and we will get infrastucture and tax reform

passed in this Congress...via reconciliation. We may end the filibuster if we get a couple more Senators in 22.

[Evergreen Emerald]

121. There is no evidence that Manchin will do anything differently

His actions show that he is assisting McConnell with his agenda.

[Demsrule86]

123. We will get judges in McConnell was in, we would get nothing. We will get nothing unless we

get it in reconciliation. That is the bottom line. I suspect there are more Democrats than Manchin and Sinema who won't vote for an end to the filibuster. Without Manchin, we have no majority.

[Demsrule86]

111. That is not true.

[dawg]

6. He's like Preparation H.

Pretty much disgusting, but when you need it, you need it.

[FoxNewsSucks]

19. Actually prep H serves a useful purpose and brings about a desired result.

Manchin is more like a bandaid on a compound fracture - might look like something being done, but inadequate and does nothing to cure the real problem.

[dawg]

29. Those $1400 checks were pretty useful to the people that got them.

Being able to appoint judges is pretty nice too.

[FoxNewsSucks]

35. True, that's definitely a good bandaid

But there's an end to republiqon policy in sight, we can see the path to it, and he's one of two Democratic senators are getting in our way.

[FoxNewsSucks]

9. He's also enabling republiqons

to cement permanent rule. Enjoy the next eighteen months, with everything blocked. Followed by a republiqon takeover and non-stop "benghazi" -type investigations.

[Budi]

54. Exactly why 2016 was the most critical election of our time.

2016 wasn't about Manchin.
It was about everyone from Russia to Social & MSMEDIA, Republicans to Populists, Foreign & Dark money.

What was barely a murmur of any urgency, was the warnings drowned out by those who gathered to grab personal wealth & position, while aiding those who designed the biggest coup in American history.

Manchin is nothing compared to those players of 2016


2016 was the election that destroyed American Democracy.
2020 was the election of that stark realization.

[H2O Man]

12. oh

[ChubbyStar]

81. Pithy and Perfect

I think I have heard this song before....

[Budi]

14. What would a 2021 McConnell Sen Majority Leader, have changed as to where we are today?

Just asking for perspective.
2021 Without McConnell majority

2021 With McConnell majority

[WarGamer]

15. Biden Federal Judge nominees...

The C19 relief law earlier this year...

Should I go on?

[SoonerPride]

37. Sure. Go on.

Give me 10 things we can accomplish

You named two.

Give me 8 more

I’ll wait.

[WarGamer]

48. You'll just disagree with them.

I think there's a sweet spot for an Infrastructure Bill, maybe $1.3T

I think modest Gun Control is possible, stronger background checks, close the Gun Show loophole.

I think they can come together on a Bill for Cyber Security

Maybe expanding Green credits for cars, home improvement, etc?

I'm sure there are a few more...

[SoonerPride]

57. I'd be willing to wager against your list.

I think you are deluded if you think those things will pass.

Everything even the infrastructure bill negotiated down to what Rs ask for will be filibustered.

We won’t be able to do a damn thing outside of reconciliation.

[piddyprints]

17. You are correct.

However, it’s scary, frustrating, and a crying shame that we are losing the opportunity to do some really great things. I don’t think it’s wrong to be angry at a senator, Democrat or not, who won’t help make laws to make voting easier and more fair. Or who won’t help the country get a good infrastructure bill passed. It just feels a lot like Lucy repeatedly pulling away that football. No matter how you look at it, with friends like Manchin, it will be a rough 2 years, followed by likely 2 really bad years and then the nightmare of another evil republican idiot president.

I am thrilled to have the majority, but most of the time it just doesn’t feel like we do. I’m even more disappointed that McConnell and Graham, in particular, were re-elected. I have lost faith in the intelligence and decency of at least half of our country’s voters.

[Rustyeye77]

21. +1,000,000

[WarGamer]

22. Yeah it's frustrating

My pet peeve is taxation and wealth inequality.

I'd like to see MAJOR changes in how this nation is funded.

But it's not going to change overnight. It will take time.

GOOD GOVERNANCE will keep getting DEMS elected. Do a good job, just like Obama and Clinton.

[FoxNewsSucks]

38. Good governance alone cannot overcome

republiqon dirty tricks. Obama did a good job, Clinton got more votes but who did we suffer under for the last four years?

[WarGamer]

49. I disagree.

Dirty tricks can't overcome the moderate voters who pull the lever for a DEM.

This is a 1/3 country... 1/3 always vote blue, 1/3 always vote red and 1/3 vote their feelings or life experience.

The GOP can only win when people feel downtrodden.

[FoxNewsSucks]

56. That's one thing I find amazing.

The Right does exploit a downtrodden feeling to their advantage, even though it's they who are responsible for the conditions that lead to that downtrodden feeling.

Look at 2016 for just one example of dirty trickery. Hillary Clinton got 3+million more votes, but the Orange Anus got the office. It may be a legal dirty trick which allowed that, but I still consider it a dirty trick.

Same as the gerrymandering and other dirty tricks that send more republiqons to congress despite the Democratic candidates getting more votes.

[billh58]

91. +100! n/t

[Vinca]

18. So why is McConnell running the show and calling the shots?

Other than Covid relief, which was enormously important, Republicans have been able to put the brakes on everything. Even the 1/6 commission after Democrats gave them everything they wanted they voted "no." Bipartisanship does not exist right now and Manchin needs to wake the hell up and preserve democracy.

[WarGamer]

25. DEMS did NOT give the GOP everything on 1/6. They wanted "Antifa and BLM" included in the matter

[Vinca]

39. I'm sorry, but you can't make Joe Manchin into some kind of blue hero just because he registered as

a Democrat. He could decide tomorrow to change his party affiliation and give Mitch what he wants and I wouldn't be surprised at all. Nor would many other people. Manchin is, at best, a number at this point and a very shaky one at that.

[H2O Man]

42. Yes, but

other than betraying us on virtually every single important issue, we should all love Manchin. Don't you get it?

[dawg day]

76. The good thing is that Manchin is smart enough to know--

that he only has power as "the most conservative Democrat."

He will lose all that power as "the most recent convert to GOP."

He's not going to switch parties. He's just going to threaten.
Stupid games have stupid prizes. I don't know what his prize is-- temporary "power' I guess.

[Demsrule86]

114. We stopped the GOP cold in destroying the ACA and they had the votes to end the filibuster...

Think about that. They had both houses. Biden and Senate will get much-needed judicial nominees through and have already done enormous work on the economy and Covid. Without them, we couldn't do that. And I have no idea why Breyer has not retired. Ginsberg should have retired during the Obama administration. We need Sinema and Manchin period. You all act like we have 60 votes. We don't. We have the smaller of majorities...one defection and we are blocked.

[Vinca]

120. The filibuster doesn't have to be done away with, just amended. That's what happened with federal

judges. You might think when it comes to basic Constitutional rights we could take away the partisan blockade. There's no reason whatsoever for anyone to find voting an impossible chore to contend with and that's what the GOP is doing. My beef with Manchin is he's a guy who seemingly won't change his mind even if he's convinced he's wrong. He's deaf when it comes to McConnell vowing to stop Biden's agenda no matter what it is. There is no chance of working with the other side at this point. Manchin has let this power trip go right to his head. He claims he's doing what West Virginia voters want, but there was a poll yesterday showing his voters strongly in favor of voting rights (among other things). Sure, we need Manchin and Sinema to get to 50, but since we rarely get to 50 with them, Mitch is controlling the Senate.

[Demsrule86]

124. That voting rights bill won't pass as there are not 60 votes.

[Vinca]

132. Which is exactly why the filibuster has to be addressed in some manner.

[onecaliberal]

20. We should be thankful Manchin is helping repukes obstruct what 70% of Americans want.

FUCK THAT!

[WarGamer]

23. How'd they obstruct Joe Biden if Mitch was Leader?

No $1400 checks and expanded UI to start with... torturous nomination hearings for Biden Judicial nominees...

[onecaliberal]

27. There is No difference, period.

We wouldn’t have the rescue plan either if it wasn’t for reconciliation. Get a grip.

[LakeArenal]

34. ✔️

[H2O Man]

43. Best response.

Thank you.

[rso]

58. RSO

True, we would not have it were it not for reconciliation. But if Manchin’n seat was filled by a Republican, we would not have been able to use reconciliation as republicans would be in the majority. So Manchin being there is the only reason we were able to pass the rescue plan.

[billh58]

63. Thank you.

Manchin is in the game for Manchin, and no one else. He brings to mind Joe Lieberman and Zell Miler: closet Republicans.

[onecaliberal]

67. Yup, it's all a game. I fucking despise these people.

[Politicub]

26. As a gay person, I have heard variations of this sentiment my whole adult life.

I regard it as a form of 'splaining.

You may not believe it, but sentiments such as this one make things worse.

[onecaliberal]

28. It is the entire fucking problem.

[billh58]

64. Exactly! n/t

[Treefrog]

100. This.

Thank you.

[Towlie]

32. If West Virginia elected a Democrat then they must have wanted a Democrat.

 
←

Wikipedia: 2018 United States Senate election in West Virginia

On May 8, 2018, the Republican primary voters of the state nominated West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey as the Republican candidate. In the general election, incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Manchin defeated Morrisey and was elected to a second full term, albeit by a margin much narrower than his previous election in 2012.

It wouldn't make sense for Republicans to vote for a Democrat-in-name-only when they could vote for a real Republican instead. Manchin is a hypocrite who stole a seat that should have gone to a real Democrat.

[SoonerPride]

33. I see little difference between the two

Nothing will get done whether McConnell is in the minority or majority.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

44. Manchin is only one of fifty one to be thankful for. You think he is special?

[WarGamer]

50. He's the topic of the Day on DU...

So just reminding everyone that without him, it's Leader McConnell.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

51. He's not special. . . . nt

[onecaliberal]

61. It's leader McConnell now because Manchin is helping him obstruct

Everything we need to save democracy.

[mzmolly]

45. He's helping McConnell

at the moment.

[nevergiveup]

52. Joe Manchin

is the Joe Lieberman of 2021.

[orleans]

53. sinema? nt

[StarfishSaver]

55. Today is probably not the day to say this

[EYESORE 9001]

59. It achieved the desired result

[Tom Rinaldo]

60. As soon as Lisa Murkowsky starts voting for Chuck Schumer for Senate Majority Leader...

...we won't need Joe Manchin. Or until we manage to add to our majority in the Senate Democratic Caucus, hopefully in 2022. Above someone noted that it can be said that we need the vote of every Democrat in the Senate just as much as we need the vote of Joe Manchin. True, but the difference is that every other member of our Caucus comes from a State where it is not inconceivable to believe that they could be replaced by a different Democrat from that State. It is not conceivable at this time to believe that any other Democrat could keep that West Virginia Senate seat out of Republican hands. For that reason he is a gift to our side, flawed as he most certainly is. It's kind of like us getting a gift Democratic Senate Seat from Alabama for two years with Doug Jones when he squeaked in while running against a gonzo pedophile, Two years later and he was swept away and that seat is again solid red.

[Mike Nelson]

65. Well...

...it's a miracle we have him. His margin of victory went way down in 2018 and he would have lost if not for the "libertarian" candidate. He'll likely lose next time, if the Republicans are smart. At least, he's trying in WV. None of this difficulty is a revelation to Biden and co.

[notpolltested]

66. Everyday I wake up ready to make Joe, his apprentice Kyrsten and their corporate lobbyist funders

irrelevant, by electing the following Democrats in 2022 to the US Senate:

Pennsylvania (PA):
https://johnfetterman.com/

Chris Larson (WI):
https://voteforlarson.org/

Cheri Beasley (NC):
https://cheribeasley.com/

Tim Ryan (OH):
https://timforoh.com/

[WarGamer]

68. Four outstanding opportunities.

[kacekwl]

69. Why does it have to be all of nothing here ?

I'm certainly glad we have a majority and wish it was bigger but thanking heaven it's Manchin sorry no. Disagreeing with someone is everyone's right here I thought.

[WarGamer]

70. You can diasgree with him but be thankful that he's a DEM.

A Leader McConnell at this point would hurt President Biden badly... I bet Biden is happy Manchin is a DEM.

[RegularJam]

71. I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

Seems the drive to antagonize received more effort than the actual content.

I’m down with Manchin. I actually think he is better than the best we can do from WV. I appreciate that the people of WV keep voting for him.

I’ll still curse his name whenever I want.

[LanternWaste]

72. Jesus wept.

[Fiendish Thingy]

77. Joe Manchin has enabled Jim Crow 2.0, Biden's agenda is now dead in the water, and judges

And judges’ confirmations are far from certain.

Because of Manchin, Dems will lose their majorities in 2022, Biden will be impeached, and, unless he’s incarcerated or dead, Trump will be installed in the WH in 2024, regardless of the will of the voters.

So what are thanking heaven for again?

Fuck.That.Guy.

Note to jurors:

If this was 1960, would you vote to hide posts that said Fuck That Guy regarding Strom Thurmond and George Wallace, famous Democrats who supported Jim Crow?

[50 Shades Of Blue]

80. +1x1,000,000!

[dalton99a]

88. No shit.

[Demsrule86]

128. One was confirmed today with 66 votes...we will get judges. And I fail to understand why

you thought this would be easy with a bare majority. And there are other Senators I suspect who won't vote to overturn the filibuster.

[Fiendish Thingy]

133. We won't know until each senator is on the record with a floor vote, but many who once opposed

Eliminating the filibuster now (some reluctantly) support killing it, including:

Coons
Klobuchar
Casey
King
DiFi

[dawg day]

78. I don't know about that... CNN Breaking News

Manchin says he'll vote against For the People Act and digs in against eliminating filibuster

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/06/politics/joe-manchin-for-the-people-act-voting-filibuster/index.html

[dawg day]

79. He says he's against "partisan voting legislation"

"I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster,"


He's okay with the GOP state legislatures making it hard for Democrat districts to have accessible voting sites, however.

[wellst0nev0ter]

82. Every DUer should be grateful that Joe Lieberman is on our side

OP in 2009, probably.

[Doc Sportello]

84. Then you also have to give thanks to Bernie Sanders

If he doesn't caucus with the Dems we don't have a majority. If they agree with this premise, and they don't want to be a hypocrite, then they have to get up in the morning and say, "thank you Bernie Sanders".

[FoxNewsSucks]

86. Somehow, I've missed what must be hundreds

or even thousands of posts and threads demanding thanks to Sanders for that, and for all his hard work supporting Democratic policy.

I'm wondering when was the last time that Manchin worked equally hard to support a democratic policy. . . .

[Doc Sportello]

87. I have missed those too

Now I've seen thousands of posts denigrating Sanders. Which is odd considering he has also supported Biden's judicial nominees, as well as his proposed programs, much more to an extent than Manchin has - and yet we're supposed to get on our knees and thank Manchin. How strange.

[miyazaki]

85. The comedy here, it burns. nt

[CatWoman]

89. *backs slowly out this thread with my mouth taped shut*

[ego_nation]

90. Joe Manchin is a perfect example of Democrats

having to settle for the absolute bare minimum when they’re in power. I guess half a loaf is better than no loaf at all. We can only go as fast as our slowest runner. And Joe Manchin? He’s sloooooow.

[Demsrule86]

118. If we had elected Hillary Clinton in 2016, we would not be in this position and it wasn't

moderates like Joe Manchin who ended her chances...it was some Democrats and third party folks who claim to be allies. We need Joe Manchin and those like him for a majority in the Senate and the House. I like AOC but she can't win in WVA nor in Arizona. So until we win hearts and minds we need moderates in our party for a majority without which, we will never be able to get policy through. Now the trade-off is the policy isn't going to be as progressive as we might have wished. But consider the ACA and the good it did in terms of getting Americans to understand that healthcare is a right...the same will hold true for other policies that may not be what the left wants but will open the door to work towards that which we really want later.

[Mr. Ected]

93. I would wake up in the morning and thank Heaven for Joe Manchin

If he realized the gravity of his defection from the ideals of his constituents and his party and acted accordingly.

There are no words of misdirection that could ever sanitize the infection he is allowing to overtake the body politic. The fact that Mitch McConnell will enjoy the fruits of Manchin's negligence rather than acting as the catalyst is utterly inconsequential.

Kiss it all good-bye while you honor Manchin's unlikely heroics in the face of impending fascist rule. I call it cowardice.

[lame54]

94. He may be a goddamn lowlife sob mofo bastard....

But he's our goddamn lowlife sob mofo bastard

[gulliver]

97. It would be great if all Dems just got that.

We would have a lot more power and might not even need Manchin's vote. The people who don't get why we need it now are the same people prone to saying things that weaken us to the point we need it.

[Sympthsical]

113. When I saw we had a 50/50 Senate, I knew he'd do precisely what he is doing

Last edited Tue Jun 8, 2021, 02:46 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't know why people are so surprised. He telegraphed he was a vainglorious jerk from the beginning. The esteem with which he holds himself in his own mind is the stuff of legend. He think's he's this towering 19th Century statesman holding the Union together through compromise.

And we saw how that all went.

He keeps McConnell's agenda off the table. We get judges and Supreme Court picks. We'll eke through some legislation that would otherwise be wrecked.

The major stuff? Not happening. Not with this guy. I don't know why anyone has the expectation. There isn't a Democratic punchbowl he's not willing to squat in.

We invited him for the evening. Why so shocked how the party is turning out?

He just has to be borne. For now. Until he doesn't.

[treestar]

122. I have deja vu, even in 2009

when we had 60 Senators, Lieberman was the one to take advantage of being the most conservative of the caucus (I think he was Independent then). No one remembers that. Even with 60, there were problems.

[Goodheart]

131. Sorry, I won't be doing that.