We're all Joe Manchin's prisoners

[DonViejo]

Opinion by Paul Waldman
Columnist

April 8, 2021 at 12:48 p.m. EDT

Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) is happy to drive you crazy. And he’s going to make sure that at least through 2022 and perhaps beyond, he’ll be the one to decide not only the substance of what legislation gets passed, but the procedures by which the Senate runs. So what does he want?

It’s not always clear; Manchin can be cagey, sometimes almost self-contradictory. He has signaled that he might be open to some reform of the filibuster. But now Manchin has written an op-ed for The Post declaring: “There is no circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster.”

Instead, Manchin says, “The time has come to end these political games, and to usher a new era of bipartisanship where we find common ground on the major policy debates facing our nation.”

Which is kind of like me saying, “The time has come to make me the starting point guard for the Washington Wizards, where I’ll average 35 points and 15 assists per game.” I might like that to happen, but there are some pretty good reasons it won’t.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/08/were-all-joe-manchins-prisoners/

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. If Dems lose their majorities in 22, Manchin must be stripped of all committee assignments.

Put him in the Steve King club- Sinema too.

[FalloutShelter]

8. If Democrats loose majorities in 22, we will have bigger problems

than Manchin and Sinema.
That is not a possibility that I do not even want to contemplate.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. What Manchin fails to calculate is that "bipartisan" to Republicans means

Democrats changing their goals and policies that that of Republicans. No compromise. No meeting of the minds. My way and only my way.

[PortTack]

3. Saw Amy K and Al Franken interviewed, they both think some form of HR1/S1 will pass

Klobuchar was especially positive about it. She didn’t lay out any specifics but she nor Franken are ones to just give lip service.

Yes, what he’s doing right now is very frustrating, but if they seem to think they will pass this legislation then for now, it’s all theater on manchin’s part

[SoCalDavidS]

10. I'll Believe It When I See It

I give more credence to Franken's belief than Amy's. She has to convey optimism, even though there is little reason to feel that way.

[The Wizard]

4. His power is derived

from the threat to switch parties. If McConnell makes him an offer he can't refuse and he becomes Republican, McConnell will roll back the clock, thus cancelling any possibility of wresting power from the bribing class.

[Faux pas]

5. Kickin' with disgust!

[Me.]

6. I Think He's Going To Run For Governor

and all this is his set up to voters of West Virginia

[snowybirdie]

7. He's already

been Governor. Wants to embellish his resume by being the ultimate Washington power broker

[Hoyt]

9. I suppose it's better than being MAJORITY Leader McConnell's prisoner.

[Martin68]

11. I was blocked for "bashing" Manchin so I'll just say I totally agree.

[2naSalit]

12. His Mr. Kumbaya act is pissing people off...

I hope he figures it out and realizes this movement of change is much bigger than he perceives or can control. He will get run over.

[dalton99a]

13. Unfortunately, he knows exactly what he is doing

https://democraticunderground.com/100215318041

[ChazInAz]

14. I'm baffled.

How did this DINO get into such a powerful position, and how can we remove him?

[CaptainTruth]

15. When I was younger & much more naive...

... I believed "a new era of bipartisanship" might be possible. Now I see it's clearly not. Especially not with today's GOP.

If you stand in front of the Panzer tanks & reach out your hand in an effort to find "common ground" they will drive right over you & you'll become part of the ground.

I'm done playing nice while Republicans run us over.