'The Democratic version of John McCain'

[Klaralven]

Here’s a question on everyone’s mind when a critical vote comes up: Where is Joe Manchin?

The West Virginia senator has become the central character in Democrats’ control of Washington, a conservative throwback who speaks his mind and is maddeningly frustrating to liberals. He sided with his party to give them a critical vote toward approving President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus plan, but is already vowing to cut back Democrats’ dreams of a $15 minimum wage and limit who gets direct checks.

“He’s kind of the Democratic version of John McCain,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “I say that partially in jest. But partially it’s true: Joe’s a hard guy to figure out how to lead. You know? He dances to his own music.”

Like McCain, the moonshine-swigging former quarterback isn’t afraid to let his colleagues know where he stands on a given day, either in the hallways of the Capitol or on cable news airwaves. Manchin often publicly discusses how he’s struggling with issues or tough votes. In a nod to his state, he lives on a boat while in D.C. named “Almost Heaven.”

Senators say following Manchin’s appearances on cable news or in papers is just as important as following the remarks of Senate leaders to understand where things are going.

“Joe loves to be in the middle of the action. And if you’re unsure about what he’s thinking in that moment, just turn on any TV set and there he is,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Manchin’s Republican counterpart from West Virginia.

Making known his dissension from Democratic Party orthodoxy is essential to Manchin’s political survival in a state former President Donald Trump won twice, by roughly 40 points. And though he has long sought to be an essential Senate moderate, he has found mostly frustration during his 10 years as a senator, eventually declaring of the hallowed chamber: “This place sucks.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/07/joe-manchin-senate-congress-466132

[lsewpershad]

1. Right now

that's not what we need...sorry.

[whathehell]

2. I agree. n/t.

[True Blue American]

3. I just read this morning that the MSNBC

Headline lied about what Joe said on that station.. He made it clear later that he would like to see a bi partisan bill, but if not he is with Biden!

After reading that I decided to listen more closely and not trust MSNBC. There are too many Republicans on that station. Todd, Mitchell just to name a couple. And the Adminstration.

I find CNN more truthful except for Ali. He let the Senators who are voting against impeachment have it this morning by listing the terrible wounds of the Capitol Police.

[whathehell]

5. Isn't it possible

that MSNBC simply made a mistake rather than intentionally lied?

Whatever the answer, I'm glad you did supply the correct information.

P.S. I find fault with all the Corporate Media, actually, but I don't know that MSNBC is any worse than the others, (excepting Fox & the other blatantly RW ones, of course).

[True Blue American]

11. I may have been too strong

But so many times I have listened to others tell me what I heard after a debate that did not come lose to what was said. MSNBC should have corrected their headline that Manchin was not going along with Democrats when he did not say that. Joe had to correct them.

I then heard story after story that Manchin was not going along. Then he voted on the resolution. Killing the headline. It was discussed that way on the board.
Too many thrive on division. That includes the media.

Sorry if I upset you.

[whathehell]

20. No problem, True Blue

You didn't upset me -- I appreciate your concern.

Yes, MSNBC should have reported the story correctly. I agree that the media frequently tends to thrive on division, and it is irritating at times.

One thing I find annoying as of late, is the preoccupation with Biden's "bipartisanship", especially since I don't recall anything similar similar being being expected from the last administration.

Thanks for sharing your views, True, I think we're in sync.

[True Blue American]

21. Of course they want bi partisanship now

That was not the case when Obama was in office.

Read this, too, Biden and Democrats will not make the same mistake this time. Biden knows they waited too long last time. Lesson learned so ACA! I get this site in email. Good read.

https://theintercept.com/2021/02/03/democrats-covid-stimulus-obama-lessons/

[AmyStrange]

25. +100000000000000000000000000000000 x 2

-

It's better to critically analyze someone's interpretation rather than just assume it's fact.

The biggest problem is recognizing that something is an assumption, and you would not believe (or maybe you would) how many things we assume are true every minute of our lives.

To be honest, I'm guilty of it myself, but I always try to do better.

Anyway, thank you.
========

[True Blue American]

27. We all are guilty

Including myself. I have found watching CSPAN you do not have to listen to a third party to interpret what they heard.

I was really irritated that Joe was being an obstructionist, then to find out he really wasn’t.

[doc03]

4. I agree with Joe Manchin on the minimum wage and don't think people making

$300,000 need any damn stimulus. I am much more in line with Joe Manchin on most things than the Squad. I am glad he is there.

[JI7]

7. Agree on 300k but some people were saying the cut off should be 50k

[doc03]

9. I think $1400 for a single person with $50000 income then gradually

phasing it out would be fine. I assume this would be based on the adjusted gross income of $50000 after
the standard deduction. So it would actually be on at least a minimum of $62000 gross income.

[StarfishSaver]

13. Maybe not $300k. But what may be high income in W. VA is barely getting by in some other places

West Virginia can't be the standard that determines what is appropriate in other parts of the country.

[doc03]

15. Even at $50000 for a single person that would amount to $30 a hour on a full

time 40 hour a week job. That is hardly just getting by.

[StarfishSaver]

16. It depends on where they live

In New York and many other places, that is indeed just getting by.

I'm fascinated by the reverse elitism I keep seeing in these threads - what I believe is an over-emphasis on worrying that someone might get something that someone here thinks they don't deserve because they have "too much." It would be different if we're talking about someone making well into six figures. But the obsession with nitpicking over whether someone making $50,000, as opposed to $30,000 is going to get an extra $2,000 that someone thinks they shouldn't have is just bizarre to me.

[doc03]

19. So give poor little old Bill Gates $1400. There has to be some kind of

limit don't you think. Lets hope in a couple years Trump needs $1400 to get by.

[StarfishSaver]

22. Don't be ridiculous.

[Turin_C3PO]

18. Not true.

There's absolutely places where 50,000 doesn't get you above poverty. Manhattan, San Francisco, Seattle. Rent for a studio is around $1600 monthly. It's punishing blue voters to lower the cutoff for the stimulus. Plus, think of the millions who will be able to say they got $600 under Trump but $0 under Biden. The GOP ads write themselves. Better that some get it who don't need it than someone fall through the cracks.

[Claire Oh Nette]

23. 2080 hrs/yr

$30 x 2080 = $62,000

[dsc]

29. ah no

there are 2000 hours in a year if you are counting 40 hour weeks. So 50k is 25 an hour not 30. BTW a single person making 50k in say Seattle isn't living the life of Riley by any measure.

[doc03]

30. Wrong there is a $12000 standard deduction so if you have an AGI of $50000 you

have to have at least $62000 gross income.

[True Blue American]

28. +++!:)

[JI7]

6. He is just a Democrat who is in a very red conservative State .

McCain could have been much more conservative and been more popular within his party and stayed in office. BUt his appeal or popularity had more to do with his personality and willing to go against the party because it was what he really believed .

[NurseJackie]

8. Well, he's not my LEAST favorite senator who caucuses with the Democrats.

There's always room for improvement for any politician, right? I don't agree with all of his positions or votes, but I can tell you this: I'm damned glad that HE IS OURS!! I love him for that! Without Joe, there would be a Republican in his place, and we wouldn't have a controlling majority, and we'd be 2-votes behind as a result.

It could be worse! Be thankful for what we've got and let's do our best to make the most of an imperfect and difficult situation.

[doc03]

10. +1

[OregonBlue]

26. +another 1

[True Blue American]

12. Manchin is in a red state right now. But Governor Jim Justice came out for the Biden plan.

Said we NEED that now! A former Democrat himself but he knows we need to kick start the economy.

[StarfishSaver]

14. No. Not the same

McCain often went against his political interests and took the harder, less politically expedient vote. Manchin almost always takes the most political favorable vote that will protect his flank in W. Virginia. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. It's just a matter of a choice between doing what his constituents want him to do and doing what he thinks is the right thing to do, even if his constituents are opposed to it.

It's an age-old political dilemma/tension. Is a Senator/Member there as a representative of their constituents and should vote their will, regardless their own personal views? Or are they there to do what they think is best, which sometimes means going against the will of their constituents? Most of the best political leaders find a way to balance both. I think McCain did that, - he usually voted the will of his constituents but occasionally stepped away and did what he thought was right, even when it upset people at home. Manchin, on the other hand, rarely seems willing to go against his constituents.

So, whatever anyone thinks of Manchin - and I'm not a fan but am glad he's there and would rather have him in that spot than ANY Republican - he is not a John McCain.

That said, I hope that in 2022, we can increase the proportion of Democrats in the Senate so that we don't have to be so beholden to a red state senator who's not willing to step too far away from his extremely conservative constituency.

[Hotler]

17. Joe needs to grow a mullet. nt

[BlueNProud]

24. McCain had some principles and some courage. Manchin just has his finger in the wind.

Despite WV being deep red, a large stimulus bill is popular there and not sure what repercussions he's afraid of? Manchin first concern is to always to not appear "liberal". Hard to have respect for this guy as he's always talking out of both sides of his mouth.