Mika (of all people & after 5 others had a go) finally got Manchin to let the cat out of the bag

[Celerity]

He says that shortening the timeframes on the programmes is a scam, because he wants the total extended timeframe (well beyond 1, or 5, or 3 years for some) cost for them to be factored out (he mentioned ten years before), and THAT total amortised cost (regardless of the fact that the programmes are not even authorised for that long) needs to be covered.

It is impossible to cover them for that long IF, as he also, at the same time, demands that the topline number ends up at only $1.75 trillion (and he snuck in 1.5 to 1.75 trillion, not just a straight 1.75, so he is already setting this up for the next chop).

Before that, he was spewing RW talking points to a level that would make Moscow McTurtle purr (if turtles could purr).

He wants a BBB pause again, but at least did not say until 2022 (although 2022 is almost here anyway).

He says that Medicare expansion will crash an (his words) already almost (in 4 years) insolvent programme.

Says he supports Paid Family and Medical Leave, but that is HAS to be a bipartisan standalone bill.

He was whingeing on that coal is 'getting the hell beat out of it' in America.

He got angry and was doubling down that he will not bend.

Game player, obstructionist, Biden agenda wrecker.

[Lovie777]

1. I believe the House will pass both bills and send them to the Senate .....

p.s. it will be on him that other republican claiming to be a Democrat and the republican senate. Dem's need to remind the public of BBB and that 48 Senators want to pass it but 50 plus 2 senators do not.

[OLDMDDEM]

2. I agree

The House should send both bills to the Senate to show who Manchin and Sinema really are. I added Sinema though she was in the initial conversation.

[Celerity]

4. Well, Pelosi sure called his bluff by putting Paid Family & Medical Leave back in the House version

He did not sound at all one bit happy about that. You could see his blood pressure shooting up like a Hog Hollow coal plant smoke plume.

and yes, Hog Hollow, WV exists

[Mike 03]

5. Agree. I loved her for that.

Thanks for pulling together what he said.

Every time he throws a tantrum in public, the House should just add back something he stripped out.

[berni_mccoy]

3. I keep saying he's never going to support the bill

He is bought and paid for by Moscow Mitch.

But because Biden and Democratic leadership keep saying they will pass both bills, people tell me I’m wrong.

We will see.

My dad is from WV, I have many family there, and I can feel it in my bones that Manchin is up to absolutely no good here.

[Mike 03]

6. I'm worried about this too.

Especially after that shameful press conference he called early this week.

[CousinIT]

7. Manchin will NEVER support BBB no matter what's in it. He's a saboteur. n/t

[area51]

18. +1 n/t

[Celerity]

24. if you are correct (and you very well may be) we are well fucked in 2022 and 2024

I still hold out a little more hope than that atm.

[CousinIT]

27. I believe we are f*cked. Dem / progressive voters won't vote for nothing

They massively supported BBB - which Joe Biden ran on. And now it's in the crapper. We've got nothing - same way Manchin let Biden go abroad empty-handed and stabbed him in the back while he was there, Manchin will ALSO force Democrats to go into 2022 and 2024 empty-handed and the final knife in our backs will be the absolute END of Democracy.

That IS where we're going.

[Bettie]

9. I'm pretty sure you are right

and I'll add he was probably never going to support it.

[FoxNewsSucks]

8. " he was spewing RW talking points to a level that would make Moscow McTurtle purr"

He obviously took good notes after yesterday's meeting.

[Celerity]

11. Sinema looks like she is in a straightjacket, fresh escaped from the jenkins, eeeeek

[Poiuyt]

13. She always dresses like she's about to clean out the garage.

[Haggard Celine]

14. She looks like she just stepped out of the shower.

She usually looks like shit, though. The men she's standing there with, though they're assholes, are well-dressed. She just looks like she doesn't belong there. Wish she wasn't.

[PoliticAverse]

17. Ok, that was funny. n/t

[inwiththenew]

10. I'm confident Manchin will not blink and will blow this whole thing up if pushed

Maybe Pelosi or Schumer has more information to suggest otherwise but I think he's dug in deep and is not going to budge.

[Poiuyt]

12. I think Schumer would have a better chance convincing one of the moderate Republicans than Manchin

Manchin is getting bribed too much by the coal industry.

[berni_mccoy]

15. Maybe Murkowski. She did vote with Dems on cloture for voting rights.

That would be the ultimate FU to Manchin if the Dems picked up two Rs to vote for the BBB

[Celerity]

25. Sinema is far closer to a yes than Manchin, she even agreed to a prescription drug price component

[PoliticAverse]

16. Manchin has said in the past that he thought reducing the time programs would be in force...

to reduce the cost was a gimmick that he wouldn't support. And the 1.75 number is a number he's had for some time
(although recently he's mentioned 1.50 but I think that was just a negotiating point like his "how about zero" ).

[Baitball Blogger]

19. Maybe he needs an Ambassadorship to Japan?

Or, where else can he blow things up better?

[Celerity]

26. he would piss off the Japanese more than even Rahm Emanuel would, lolol

[Joinfortmill]

20. No words for this dude. Had to mute.

[2naSalit]

21. Democracy killer sounds more appropriate.

That's all I'm going to say.

[lindysalsagal]

22. I just now realized he reps W virginia. Nough said.

This is how people think in WV. They would fight for the right to go below and die in the mines. I'm surprised he's a Dem at all.

[bluewater]

23. K&R

[pecosbob]

28. Now he's parroting right wing talking points about Social Security?

Give me a break.

[Celerity]

29. and Medicare. Economically he far too often defaults to RW framings and memes