Why Joe Manchin Sank Sarah Bloom Raskin's Nomination
On Friday, an energetic Joe Manchin spoke to a room full of oil and gas executives in Houston. The following Monday, after long declining to state his position publicly, he came out against Bidens nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin to become the top banking cop at the Federal Reserve, as vice chair of supervision. Like his Republican colleagues on the Senate Banking Committeewho boycotted a vote on all pending Fed nominations over Raskins professed willingness to incorporate the reality of the climate crisis into banking rulesManchin cited the critical importance of financing an all-of-the-above energy policy to meet our nations critical energy needs. By Tuesday afternoon, Raskin had withdrawn her nomination.
Manchin, the Senates top recipient of coal, oil, and gas donations, didnt mention climate-related financial regulations during his remarks on Friday. His industry donors have been plenty outspoken about it, though. And his address to them indicated a willingness to do what they want. At S&P Globals CERAWeekone of the continents largest energy conferencesManchin seemed to present himself as a representative for the industry in Washington, offering the room pointers on how to deal with politicians.
We havent been good at
you know, I say, we, Manchin said, stumbling a bit, seeming to count himself among the assembled fossil fuel executives. The energythe leadership of energy in our country. We havent told our story. Theres an old story in politics: Tell your story before someone tells one on you. Its hard to play defense. Its much easier to run an offensive play, then make your adjustments.
https://newrepublic.com/article/165746/joe-manchin-sank-sarah-bloom-raskins-nomination
madaboutharry
(40,153 posts)He is a simply an awful person.
riversedge
(69,731 posts)Layzeebeaver
(1,576 posts)other government officials should do the same.
You take money from an industry, you should not be able to vote on stuff that affects that industry.
NJCher
(35,435 posts)campaign finance.
I think of Granny D and all she did. And we still don't have campaign finance reform.
jimfields33
(15,475 posts)I mean this is one position that the president will just nominate another. If we had that rule, Id predict at least one senator would have to sit out every vote.
stopdiggin
(11,095 posts)how 'bout we just elect officials that are not quite so vested in cronyism?
jimfields33
(15,475 posts)Come on West Virginia and Arizona!
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)Regardless... such a standard would be unworkable. What about the representatives who accept money from wind/solar interests?
That's why we have financial (and campaign finance) disclosure rules. As long as the electorate is aware of his interests, there really isn't an issue. Judges are supposed to be impartial in their rulings... senators have no such obligation.
Joinfortmill
(14,247 posts)aeromanKC
(3,307 posts)Nuff said.
AllyCat
(16,039 posts)Did I prop him up enough for having a D after his name?
Shipwack
(2,138 posts)There's an easy fix to this... Biden just needs to appoint Raskin as an "interim" appointee, and bypass the Senate confirmation.
We get our watchdog, and maybe annoy the Republicans enough to get them to help us close this loophole.
Phoenix61
(16,954 posts)PatrickforB
(14,516 posts)does to national policy. Everybody knows certain things - like we need an energy policy that systematically reduces the carbon footprint and slows global warming, but.................wait.................big oil.......................oh, yeah, I CAN'T vote for that!
Everybody knows we need a universal healthcare system, and Americans overwhelmingly support Medicare for all, but................wait......................big pharma and for-profit health insurance companies........................oh, yeah, I CAN'T vote for that!
That is how it works since WAY before Citizens United. Corporations are ruled by one thing: profits. That's it. We have a corporate governance system that very purposely puts profits above workers, consumers and the environment. As long as we have that in place, one of the best 'investments' a corporation can make is to fund the election of a US Senator or Representative. Because though no one will be so bold as to actually say it, this does make them beholden to those special interests.
We all know this.
Why, we must wonder, can't we END IT. We can SO do without this corruption.
PJMcK
(21,922 posts)Because he's an corrupt asshat.
Simply put, Manchin is a DINO.
jaxexpat
(6,703 posts)Many times, actually. From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama........and that's a helluva stretch. But I do not see a time when it will evolve or stretch enough that Joe Manchin's "principles" will be its basis. His patently disingenuous political calculations smell more of (and would be more at home with) Trumpism. I wonder, is the reason he's not officially caucusing with the Republicans that they have higher "standards"? In order to be loyal, even if only to points of character, one must have character. This ivy league hillbilly has become too droll for consumption by all except, maybe, the most jaded.
SallyHemmings
(1,813 posts)BlueJac
(7,838 posts)Botany
(70,293 posts)... and its threat to financial stability. Manchin and the GOP has the fossil fuel industry's c**k in
their mouths.
"On Monday, Sen. Joe Manchin III, a key Democratic vote, said he opposed Raskin because of her
stance on energy in an era of inflation." This has nothing to do w/inflation but trying to stop the
much needed switch to clean and green energy in order to save the planet's ability to support
us and life as we know it. Now, the earth will still be orbiting the sun but things we used to take
for granted will change.
The science behind understanding climate change is not republican v democrat or liberal v conservative
it is what it is.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216486537
Escurumbele
(3,341 posts)"Tell your story before someone tells one on you. Its hard to play defense. Its much easier to run an offensive play, then make your adjustments.
That is exactly what republicans do, "THEY TELL THEIR STORY" whether it is true or not they tell A story, then they have Democrats playing catch up, playing defense. That is why the Democrat's strategy needs to change, they need to attack and have republicans defend themselves, not the other way around.