Manchin and Sinema may be scared of President Joe's Bipartisan push on Infrastructure

[Tommymac]

Because if it succeeds in prying lose 2 sane Republican Senators to vote for their constituents' Best Interests and not the party line on the 3.5 T Infrastructure Bill...

They will lose ALL their power and influence and become just 2 more Senators on the losing side.

And there are very possibly 2 rethugs who may be swayed out of the 7 who voted to impeach TFG.

https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates/2021/02/15/967878039/7-gop-senators-voted-to-convict-trump-only-1-faces-voters-next-year

7 GOP Senators Voted To Convict Trump. Only 1 Faces Voters Next Year

Of those seven Republicans, two are retiring and only one — Alaska's Lisa Murkowski — faces her state's voters in the next election cycle, 2022.
...
Senator: Richard Burr, North Carolina
Senator: Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Senator: Susan Collins, Maine
Senator: Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Senator: Mitt Romney, Utah
Senator: Ben Sasse, Nebraska
Senator: Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania

Let those of us who live in their States start putting pressure on them to support the President's push to make America THE modern Economic Powerhouse for the next 20 years.

After all, the Horse may sing.

[FBaggins]

1. Wishful thinking I'm afraid

There could very well be two republicans in the senate who would vote for a particular bill, but there aren't any who will vote to go around a filibuster in order to do it (particularly when there are two Democrats voting the other way).

[Elessar Zappa]

6. The reconciliation

bill doesn’t need to get around the filibuster. Manchin and Sinema will eventually support some version of both bills. It will be trimmed down but something will pass.

[FBaggins]

7. Reconciliation IS "getting around a filibuster"

(And they have to continue within that process in order to get past it). Republicans won't vote for it even if they would otherwise support the legislation (likely more wishful thinking).

And don't forget that in a 50/50 senate, the bill can't even get out of committee without a majority on the floor calling for it.

Manchin and Sinema will eventually support some version of both bills

I hope so, but that would just be another reason why the OP is an incorrect read on the situation. My replies are in the context of a claim that Manchin/Sinema are worried that they will lose their influence because republicans will take their place.

[Demsrule86]

2. The reconciliation bill will not get two Republican votes IMHO.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. Hi, Tommymac! What does "the horse may sing" mean?

Kick.



I have used your post as a spring board. Thanks for the creative idea!

❤ pants

[Tommymac]

5. Apocryphal Fable

Attributed to many, here is one version:

https://everything2.com/title/And+maybe+the+horse+will+learn+how+to+sing

Once upon a time in China, there lived an Emperor who owned a majestic white stallion, the finest beast in all his Kingdom. One night, a thief tried to slip in and steal the horse, but was captured by the palace guards and thrown into the dungeon.

The next morning, he was dragged before the Emperor's court. "How dare you," bellowed the Emperor, "lay hand on my royal steed! Jailor, put this thief to death!"

Immediately, the thief bowed deeply. "Your judgement is peerless and wise, O Emperor," he calmly replied, "but my life is of little value. I should offer you a gift before I depart. Your mount is quite a fine one, but if your eminence would spare my life for just a year and a day, I swear to you I can teach that horse to sing hymns!"

The court burst in to laughter at that, but the Emperor was intrigued. After all, you didn't get to his high position by turning down freely offered gifts, no matter how far-fetched they seem. To the surprise of all, the Emperor quickly accepted the offer.

As they were leaving the chambers, the jailor whispered to the thief, "You are a fool!"

"I am a fool?" replied the thief, smiling broadly. "Much can happen in a year and a day. The King may die. The horse may die. I may die...and maybe the horse will learn how to sing."

[littlemissmartypants]

9. Ha!! Thanks for sharing this.

Here's the hattip post I made. Thanks for the inspiration.

❤pants


https://democraticunderground.com/106910523

[Tommymac]

16. Thank so much!!

I consider 'NC' my home state...I voted for Sen Sam back in the day.

So sad to see what the Racist rethugs are doing to this state now.

In my experience it started with the rise of the Young Republican's Club on campus at UNC/CH in the mid 1970's which morphed into the Koch family buying the University and turning into a shell of what it once was. The liberal influence of Hippy Hill is no longer in operation and the RW nutjobs are having a field day.

Jesse Helms and the Moral Majority ruined the state - it is showing signs of recovery but until Dem politicians learn to keep their married penis in their pants things will not change.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Teabagger Toomey will never do it

which is why he was called a Teabagger - one of those who worshiped a distorted myth of the tea dumping by invoking the teabag.



I only see one possibility and that is Cassidy, considering what just happened to Louisiana after Ida tore it up. The only other possibility might be Murkowski, but I don't know the state of that state at this point.

[2naSalit]

8. I am curious to see what mittens will do.

He's a hard one to peg, I consider him a swing voter one some issues. Sure he's a capitalist asshole and walks like he has a potato chip between his cheeks but he does have the slightest bit of compassion when forced to see a reason for it sometimes. He just might surprise us all.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I don't think he'll go along with this

as a fiscal conservative, and specifically because of his own finances, knowing what would need to happen to pay for it (and he would automatically pull the short straw because of that).

[2naSalit]

11. And that's a good argument for why he wouldn't...

I can't argue against it. Just waiting to see what shakes out of this.

I have to admit, though, that I'm getting anxious about it.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Since that list of Rs was just showing those who voted for conviction

it is actually missing some who voted for the other infrastructure bill who might be on the table as possibilties... I.e., Manchin's colleague - Shelley Capito (R-WV) and Rob Portman (R-OH who is retiring).

[Sneederbunk]

12. Any 2 Rethug senators are not same, but

they may have a lucid moment.

[Blue Owl]

14. Awfully tired of hearing about Joe Manchin's latest flop sweat

[DFW]

15. I am inclined to agree with the OP

The time when all Republican Senators cowered in fear of the Great Orange Menace for fear of their political lives is waning. That two of them might dare to go against the tide is something I find more likely, rather than less. Plus, if even one announces it in public, I think that could be enough for Manchin and Sinema to not want to miss the vote--especially if Capito-Moore goes along. West Virginia could use the help, and Manchin is looking as re-election next year, too.

Indeed the horse COULD sing (it was "the horse might talk" in the version I know, but same principle).

[Tommymac]

17. Yes. This is the kind of pressure to put on Joe & K - make them irrelevant and their egos will sing.

It will probably just take one rethug to switch and the flood gates of reason will open at last.

After all, we are just talking money here, not the 'sacred' filabuster.

[Buckeyeblue]

18. Manchin and Sinema will vote for it

They both want some attention right now. But it's too big of a deal to break from the party to vote against. And I think it's possible that some Republicans will vote for it as well.

But for Sinema and Manchin, I think Biden will agree to something they want in later legislation.

But the country needs this to be passed.

[hedda_foil]

19. Unfortunately, three of them come from oil or coal states.

Without looking at their major funders, these are unlikely to support any real change to the energy status quo.

Senator: Bill Cassidy, Louisiana
Senator: Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
Senator: Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania

[Tommymac]

20. I agree it will be difficult...I think Toomey could be swayed.

I'm in PA and I am working damn hard calling, emailing and snail mailing him, and trying to get others to put the pressure on him too.

I've lived with the dick for many years, and while he is an extremist, I don't think he fully supports the TFG and Qanon, and that he is concerned about his legacy and what history will have to say about him.

We'll see if he sings.

[Blaukraut]

21. Collins owes us one for Kavanaugh n/t

[Tommymac]

22. I'm concerned she will forget that fact.

But we have to put pressure on her regardless.

[Wounded Bear]

23. I hope so...