Sanders calls out Manchin, Sinema ahead of filibuster showdown

[Donkees]

BY JORDAIN CARNEY - 01/17/22

Excerpt:

Sanders, in a tweet, asked whether all 50 Democrats will support changing the filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most legislation to advance in the Senate, noting that it is the one vote that really matters. To change the rules without GOP support, Democrats will need total unity from their caucus.

"As the voting rights bill finally comes to the floor of the Senate, there is only one vote which will really matter. Will 50 Democrats vote to override the filibuster, protect American democracy and pass the bill, or will Manchin and Sinema vote with the GOP and let the bill die?" Sanders said in the tweet.

Sanders's tweet comes as the Senate is expected to formally start debate on voting legislation on Tuesday, with Democrats taking up legislation that combines the Freedom to Vote Act, which would overhaul federal elections and campaign finance laws, with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would strengthen the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Though Democrats are using a procedural loophole to sidestep the 60 votes typically needed to start debate on a bill, they'll still need GOP help to end debate. That vote, which would require 10 GOP senators to vote with Democrats to advance the legislation, is expected on Wednesday, according to a scheduling update from Senate Democrats.

Republicans, however, are expected to use the filibuster to block the voting rights bill from advancing. Once that happens, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has vowed that he will force a vote on changing the Senate's rules.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/590074-sanders-calls-out-manchin-sinema-ahead-of-filibuster-showdown

[mucifer]

1. If MLK Jr's family can't convince the greedy politicians, Senator Sanders doesn't

have an effing chance.

It can't hurt to speak out, though.

[brooklynite]

2. "in a tweet"

After 4 years of trump's Government by tweeting, I'm unimpressed.

Sanders has their phone numbers and knows where their offices are.

[Earth-shine]

3. I'm unimpressed with this comment.

Obviously, negotiating in private doesn't work, because Manchin and Sinema exemplify the phrase "bad faith."

Sanders is not trying to convince them directly. He's trying to shame them in public, just like so many democratic leaders and pundits I see on TV.

It's an act of desperation, but at times, that is the only move one has.

[brooklynite]

5. Seriously?

Sanders decided that he didn't have the leadership or persuasive skills to convince them, so a tweet to his own supporters might do the trick?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

9. You know lots of people saw that tweet, right?

What should he be doing?

[brooklynite]

11. Lots of people who already agreed with him.....

As for "what should he be doing", what would he have done if he had been elected President?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

12. Well, if he didn't succeed, he'd have been as good as Biden is now.

We were told Biden was the one that was going to get people to work across the aisle, but we have 2 Dems that aren't on our side. So....

[Earth-shine]

16. This is sheer garbage. Bernie bad. Bad Bernie.

[Earth-shine]

13. As if Bernie hasn't tried that already. As if they would even take his call now.

Obviously, you saw Bernie's tweet, so he knew it would go out beyond his supporters.

Manchin said to Bernie -- on camera -- he would agree to $1.7T. And then Manchin took that back too.

No, seriously. Why are you singling out Sanders? Answer that!

I got a TV full of people shaming Manchin and Sinema right now. Bu, bu, bu, Bernie.

You -- who are always concerned about getting Dems elected -- should see that Bernie is trying to do what he can.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Agreed, these discussions need to be made public so voters will see exactly where they stand

[jcgoldie]

6. LOL blaming Bernie Sanders because Manchin and Sinema are sinking Biden's agenda

This logic is as upside down as the republicans at the feed store who told me a few years back it was Democrats fault they voted for Trump. They were forced to it seems because we nominated Hillary Clinton...

[brooklynite]

7. Not "blaming"...

Just not impressed. I don't believe in applauding politicians simply for saying things I like to hear personally.

[Pobeka]

4. I hope he's working on Murkowski and Romney too.

It may seem to be a long shot, but I simply don't care who votes for it, just that the country gets 51 votes and passes something before we fall into old white man facism.

[Emile]

8. Be nice if the rest of the Democratic senators would call them out too!

[Hotler]

10. It's a simple choice, are you for democracy or, fascism? A NO vote says your for fascism. nt

[budkin]

15. I'll save you the drama, they'll let it die

They aren't changing their minds. Period.