Joe Manchin's new threat to destroy Biden's agenda is worse than it seems

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
David Rothkopf
@djrothkopf
@ThePlumLineGS analyzes the dire potential implications of Manchin's obstructionism. If it's just a negotiating tactic, fine. Fair enough. But if he blocks the bigger Biden agenda, the costs for the country could be devastating.

Opinion | Joe Manchin’s new threat to destroy Biden’s agenda is worse than it seems
Manchin's demand for a "pause" on the reconciliation bill threatens hidden consequences.
washingtonpost.com
8:21 AM · Sep 3, 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/03/manchin-oped-threat-biden-reconciliation-bill/

*snip*

Most obviously, this could upend the “two track” strategy, under which progressives support the $1 trillion bipartisan “hard” infrastructure bill on the understanding that centrists such as Manchin will back the reconciliation measure. That could implode Biden’s whole agenda.

But this is deeply dangerous in another, less obvious way, one that turns on the reconciliation bill’s provisions to combat climate change. Those are not just critical to Biden’s global warming agenda — which is central to the long-term success of his presidency — but would also propel us into this fall’s global climate conference while showing that the United States is leading by example.

It’s galling that the word “climate” appears nowhere in Manchin’s piece, even as he piously suggests he has a divinely inspired reading of what America truly “needs to spend.” This is doubly absurd, given that he sternly lectures us about how this spending will imperil our ability to meet “future crises.”

Newsflash, senator: The climate crisis is already upon us. As an alarming New York Times piece details, it isn’t just that these extreme weather events are revealing how unprepared we are to handle the short-term consequences (storms, floods, heat waves, wrecked infrastructure, deaths) of global warming.

*snip*

[XanaDUer2]

1. Wouldn't his people want

Infrastructure? I really don't get this

[Merlot]

8. manchin is not working for his people, he's working for his owners.

[Champion Jack]

17. Bingo

[Trueblue1968]

43. i say .... Remove him from the senate. Isn't that possible?

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Funny, I didn't know Manchin ran for the Executive branch of government during the 2020 cycle and

won...

[Dream Girl]

3. How about no "hard infrastructure" I'm all for that.

[hlthe2b]

4. It is not possible to post my true thoughts on either Manchin or Senema.

I'd be very happy to be proven wrong. Thus far, though, no.

The old saying in the South about the matriarchal grandma "smacking her 'talking back' kids about side the ears" on occasion does come to mind, admittedly. The gingerly "time out" approach with these two is obviously going nowhere. Someone somehow needs to up the pressure.

[MyOwnPeace]

23. Love the 'rambling.....'

And, YES, they need a Camp David 'Come to Jesus' Week to get their heads on straight and DO what they were elected to DO!!!

[LenaBaby61]

5. Well ....

That infrastructure Bill was nice while it lasted 😏

[Demsrule86]

37. We need the infrastructure bill even if the larger bill doesn't pass. I warned some here that I was

not convinced it would pass...or we will be destroyed in the midterms... there is good stuff in that bill...it should not be an either-or vote.

[Freethinker65]

6. Make Manchin and WV own it. No money for infrastructure because of them.

That's it.

No reconciliation as agreed to means no infrastructure bill. If Manchin kills it, he kills WV. WV is hurting more than most states and Manchin wants to protect Trump's deficit ballooning tax cut for the wealthy and corporations (tax cuts for everyone else expire in 2025) over helping average Americans.

Try to get Murkowski to sign on with perks for AK. She must be at least slightly upset by her GOP Patriarchy and actually does care about herState and constituents.

[Maraya1969]

14. That might work. Also one of our wealthy supporters could offer the same kind of

financial incentive to a couple GOPers who are not exactly crazy. If the republicans can do it why can't we?

Consider it like a sign on bonus to the Democratic party!

[FBaggins]

18. Good luck with that

He obviously thinks that he'll be fine in WV.

The Democrat in some other state that votes against the "bipartisan" bill and tries to blame it's failure to pass on someone in WV who voted for it... is going to have a tough time with that spin.

Try to get Murkowski to sign on with perks for AK.

It's one thing to try to convince one of their supposed moderates to cross over and vote for a bill. But be the deciding vote that overcomes a Republican filibuster? Doesn't seem possible.

[Demsrule86]

38. That won't hurt WVA, it will hurt Democrat... for heaven's sake think about this put your political

thinking cap on.

[Merlot]

7. Dead eyes manchin.

At this point hard to believe anything other than he's bought and paid for by koch.

[MyOwnPeace]

27. "Koch?" - Hell, he's working for his own family!

https://meaww.com/who-is-heather-bresch-mylan-ceo-daughter-senator-joe-manchin-neera-tanden-no-vote-twitter-reactions



But you've got the right idea - he's certainly not working for the 'citizens' of W.Va - and CERTAINLY not the Democrats!

[Moostache]

9. After he loses i may be free to comment on Manchin

I would just let it at a total lack of surprise.

[Botany]

10. Joe does not work for the people of West Virginia but he works the Koch Brother's ALEC*

The American Legislative Exchange Council is a nasty piece of work that is supported in a large
part by the fossil fuel industries. Expecting Manchin to do the right thing is unrealistic.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legislative_Exchange_Council

https://www.alec.org/about/alumni/

Infrastructure investments would help many people in W.V. but that does not matter to Manchin.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

22. Manchin's daughter

Pharma owning shit was who made epipens cost $800 a piece.

Of course her daddy is owned he has no consience.

[Botany]

28. And after the election last fall she made a shit load of $ by shutting down the Mylan plant ...

.... in Morgantown, WV. The Manchins are out for what is good for the Manchins.

[MoonlitKnight]

11. I will assume it's just negotiation tactics

So the counter is no. Get on board, get out of the way, or get the blame for it failing.

Then focus on making him irrelevant.

Infrastructure used to be one of my primary issues. While the need remains, it is clear that preserving and strengthening our democracy is more important at this time.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

25. I see him exactly the same as Collins

He's concerned... But he'll end up coming around to vote for it, just like Collins always frets away and votes with her party. He'll make a big stink, get a small concession and end up voting for it, just like he has on every bill so far this year.

[Bluepinky]

12. President Biden nominated his wife to her current job,

Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Can’t this be used as leverage to get Joe Manchin to come around? Someone needs to play hardball.

[Nay]

15. Good idea -- let's withdraw that bribe. It's not working. Such things don't work on folks

like Joe Manchin, who's a true believer.

[MoonRiver]

20. True believer of what? His own self interest maybe?

[Nay]

21. "True Believer" in the sense of Eric Hoffer's philosophical treatise. nt

[MoonRiver]

26. I well know that work, but it doesn't fit Manchin, IMO.

[FBaggins]

30. How do you imagine that hardball playing out?

Biden - Joe... I'm afraid that we've decided to move in a different direction on the commission, and probably need to cut some of our support for WV, and probably your committee seats.

Manchin - I'm so sorry to hear that Mr. President. Oh hey... have you met my friend Majority Leader McConnell? He has a different plan for committee chairmanships and wants to talk to you about your remaining judicial nominees.

Biden - Oh #$%@

[Jim G.]

40. Seriously? Your First Post Here Bashing Biden?

[Jim G.]

42. LOL!

Unlike that youngster Trump or the popular Pence.

[Tomconroy]

16. I think a bunch of extra money for West Virginia will help

Work things out.
And don't think everybody isn't going to do that.

[WHITT]

19. Right Back Atcha

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[FBaggins]

31. Not sure that they can do it

It has already passed the Senate. Republicans in the House can probably provide more votes for passage if they really want to cause trouble than progressive Democrats can take away. Would the President veto it?

Manchin can not just impact final passage in the Senate, he may be able to keep the reconciliation bill from even getting out of committee.

[WHITT]

32. Speaker Pelosi

doesn't even HAVE to bring it to the floor.

[FBaggins]

36. She does if 218 members want to vote on it

It's called a discharge petition.

It isn't normally done because it embarrasses the majority party leadership. But if she made a commitment to hold a vote by a date certain and goes back on her word? That could happen. Even Republicans who object to the bill might decide to sign the petition just to mess with Pelosi.

[WHITT]

39. Not If Some Are Acting In Bad Faith

And the progressives certainly aren't about to sign on to a discharge petition for the Corporate Repub bill. What did AOC call it, the "Exxon lobbyist drafted infrastructure bill".

Trust me, Speaker Pelosi has got this.

[Bayard]

24. Republicans have a higher net approval rating of Senator Joe Manchin than Democrats do

"Although nearly four in ten Americans (39%) have yet to form an opinion of Manchin, Republicans like him much more than Democrats do. According to the latest Economist/YouGov poll, more than one-third (37%) of Republicans view Manchin favorably, with 27% viewing him unfavorably.

As for Democrats, unfavorable ratings outnumber favorable ones. Three in 10 Democrats (29%) of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Manchin; 39% have an unfavorable opinion of him."

https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2021/05/10/senator-joe-manchin-favorability

And what does that tell us?

[Sur Zobra]

33. Manchin is the GOP's

h_n_m_i_e_

Fill in the blanks.

[wellst0nev0ter]

34. He wants to play hardball, fine

No infrastructure bill without the reconciliation bill mostly intact.

If everything fails, put it all on his oil-slicked head.