Is there a way for Neera to survive

[Joedog]

Last edited Mon Feb 22, 2021, 06:30 PM - Edit history (1)

Anyone see a strategy here that might work

[Jamesyu]

1. No I think she is done

Unless she can get the more crazy Republicans to vote for her.

[SoonerPride]

47. Install her as acting OMB director

[onenote]

57. Can't be done.

Vacancies Act.

And, no, Trump didn't get away with violating the Vacancies Act.

[romana]

2. Ugh

I'm not her biggest fan, but this reeks of a sexist double standard. Manchin isn't saying a word about her qualifications after siding with Trump on every shitty appointment he made.

SMH...

[Boydog]

3. So does Biden or Schumer

have a long talk with him

[Hortensis]

8. Already done. This is actually a useful way for Manchin to "prove"

some conservative creds without doing real harm.

I agreed with Tanden in everything I remember her saying, but she did often speak very harshly about both Republicans and Sanders. Her angry charges were NOTHING compared to the blizzards of despicable lies and smears her targets spouted about Democrats and Democratic candidates, and none of them have any moral right to complain, but her aggressive attacking right back hurt and it's payback time.

And however good Tanden might be in the job, others also would be. I read an article about how Dems have other cards to play, but now that Manchin's taken a public position my best guess is Biden and company will end up professing strong support to the end of this process, then regret and a new name.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. Well said.

In a sense Tanden has become the sacrificial lamb, and as harsh and brutal as it may be, it is in the nature of politics that sometimes sacrificial lambs do in fact get sacrificed. Her outspoken barbed comments in the past fixed a target on her back now, whether one thinks those comments were justified then (or that target is justified now) or not. Manchin probably believes, with some pretty good evidence behind that belief, that his political survival depends on being able to show West Virginians that he is independently minded and not simply a loyal democratic foot soldier. That means in practice that he has to vote against Biden on some high profile votes.

Though I was a Sanders supporter, I feel bad for Tanden now. Biden wouldn't have picked her if he didn't believe she would excel at that job. Somewhere though I am confident Biden can find someone else who can also excel in that post. The odds that a Republican Senator now will save Tanden seem slim.

[PatSeg]

23. Yes, I'm picturing her as a token confirmation reject

Undoubtedly the Biden administration knew that not every nominee would get confirmed and if Tanden is rejected, she will easily be replaced with another qualified candidate. I think it is personality not qualifications or policy that is at play here and Tanden can irritate people on both sides of the aisle.

[bigtree]

16. but Manchin voted for Bill Barr

...so fuck his 'conservative creds.'

[Hortensis]

18. Those're for his conservative constituents, not for you.

He has to get elected or he can't do Democrats any good at all.

Btw, regarding your expression of angry, frustrated rejection, so what? Your opinion just doesn't count. Unless, of course, you're a WV voter.

But if you were, it would be far more useful to take a more intellectual, balanced approach, which tells everyone who does that Manchin is far, far better for the Democratic Party and for the advancement of liberal, progressive goals than the virtually certain Republican replacement would be.

That's why both the GOP AND the anti-Democratic illiberal left are so eager to get rid of Manchin.

For the hostile left, even replacing him with a Republican would be more satisfactory than him. We know that because of how determined they are to upset our applecart in WV. This Democratic seat in a red state is vulnerable, and they're going for the chance.

[bigtree]

20. 'the hostile left'

...even Manchin's republican governor positioned himself to the left of the senator on COVID relief.

Joe's reasoning, arguments, philosophy, political approach, priorities, are not only out of step with his party, they're out of step with his state.

It's not radical in the least to point out how far Manchin is from the majority of his party, in and outside of office. Moreover, his adherence to his conservatism frequently threatens our Democratic agenda.

This bashing of people daring to criticize his politics as 'hostile left' and the like because he's supposedly the best WVa. can do, enables right wing republicans more than it helps advance our Democratic priorities, because it seeks to stifle Democratic voices in favor of appeasing disingenuous republican ones.

This isn't the election, it's not even close, so the election-season politics are worthless to advancing our legislation through Congress. If Manchin is looking to insulate himself for his next election against right-wing neanderthals in his state in every legislative challenge, it's going to be a long siege for our party, an unacceptable, unnecessary, and harmful one.

You should recognize that Neera fought the entire election against progressive voices who believed her support of Joe Biden was a betrayal to their interests.

[Hortensis]

22. No, I'm talking ONLY about the hostile, illiberal, anti-democratic

left. Most are claiming to be socialists or just anti-capitalism in this era. Since almost no one is interested in whatever "revolution" they're espousing, though, democracy doesn't work for them. As LW extremists have done in many other nations, they instead look for other ways to overset majority rule.

THOSE are the ones I'm talking about. They're very real. Their culpability for the dreadful catastrophe of 2016 was very real in a number of ways, including massive disinformation campaigns, embracing Russia's assistance, trying to create a "Dexit" movement, and for some even voting directly for Trump.

The potential danger that they could unite with the hostile right, as has happened in many nations to overset representative governments there, is also very real. Those who did in 2016 were a small but significant part of the RW victories.

No matter how they try to hide from scrutiny among the Democratic mainstream, as in 2016, activities far more focused on defeating Democrats than Republicans identify them.

[bigtree]

24. lol

...as if bird and rabbit should be expected to easily flee the coop through the hole the fox dug to get in.

Manchin isn't up for reelection until 2024, so all this concern about his electorate is just more cover for his lack of political courage. His reasoning for opposing our party's initiatives and appointments is almost always flawed and catering to ignorance on the right, so it doesn't take some radical view to contradict him.

He voted for fricking Bill Barr, ffs! If opposing that is 'hostile left,' that should be our new moniker.

Time to put election-season politics aside and focus on the legislating.

[Hortensis]

27. You really should read about extremists and extremism.

The comforts and security you grew up with and enjoy now exist because the stability created in the 1930s by the New Deal was maintained for another 80 years. America defeated the extremism that took down other nations in the 1920s-1930s. It never disappeared but was kept in check by widespread wellbeing.

It's been on the rise again in this troubled era though. We defeated RW extremism, and its smaller LW manifestations, in 2018 and 2020, but extremism could still prevail and destroy us. Goodness knows they're all still trying.

Btw, everyone should take a lesson from what happened in TX with power down. After just a couple days, people starting realizing they really could freeze to death in their own homes. And food, water, and gasoline started disappearing. Summer's coming, time for people in hot-climate areas to worry that "it" could happen to them. Water, and thus power, is life, and deaths would begin within just a couple days without.

Our lives depend on continued stability of often easily overset systems. First, we have to protect what we have. Extremists must overset if they are to prevail.

[bigtree]

29. that's a long way of excusing harmful politics

...which only serves the right wing at legislating time.

And as I pointed out, Manchin isn't even up until '24, so it's sophistry to claim he's some slave to a right wing agenda which is nothing more than opposing every Democratic initiative, good or bad.

Nattering on about elections is a non-sequitur in this nomination fight. It's pure demagoguery to oppose Neena's nomination on ideological grounds, and Manchin isn't engaged in something real or redeeming. He's linking arms (again) with some of the most conservative elements in the opposition, but we're supposed to believe this is some kind of political genius that keeps WVa.'s Senate seat blue?

This is representation, in this case, of the republican agenda, a fake and destructive one, against our newly elected Democratic administration, against President Biden. (Manchin voted for fricking Bill Barr, ffs!)

But, go on and tell us how this is a good thing.

[Hortensis]

32. This seems to be denial that extremism exists. Even as deaths

from Covid reach 500,000 and continue.

This pandemic would never have gotten loose if not for the extremists among us. Quite a little holocaust they've got going. And Trump and RW extremism almost certainly could not have gotten power without the assistance of LW extremists double-teaming with the right against Democrats.

Most of the same illiberal leftists who encouraged people not to vote Democratic in 2016 are behind the attempt to defeat Manchin. NOT Republican conservatives infinitely worse than him, mind you, a vulnerable Democratic senator in a mostly conservative state.

[bigtree]

35. that has nothing to do with his vote

...it's no excuse.

Not interested in the least in changing the subject to screeds against the 'hostile' or 'illiberal' left, which are indistinguishable from the opportunistic imaginings of the Susan Collinses voting against Neera.

[seaglass]

45. Gotta agree with you. Manchin with his weak excuse for voting no looks weak. I bet anything this

is payback for Kamala going to WV. This was not a principled decision and it makes him look like a jerk.

[OnDoutside]

52. That's an interesting idea.

[Boydog]

56. Why was Harris going to West Virginia a problem

[seaglass]

60. Sorry - she didn't go to WV, she appeared on a local WV TV station to talk about Covid relief

while Manchin was dithering about the amount of relief and it pissed him off (because again, he looked like a jerk). She didn't do anything wrong.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/30/manchin-harris-covid-relief-464011

“I saw [the interview], I couldn’t believe it. No one called me,” Manchin said Friday to WSAZ, the West Virginia station where Harris gave an interview Thursday. “We’re going to try to find a bipartisan pathway forward, I think we need to do. But we need to work together. That’s not a way of working together.”

[Polybius]

33. Has anyone in modern times ever changed their mind after announcing they are voting no?

I don't recall any.

[WarGamer]

38. McCain... kinda

[Polybius]

40. Yes, on the Health Care repeal

And he did it unannounced I believe.

[WarGamer]

37. If Joe doesn't like "the talk"

Leader McConnell will be sworn in within 24 hours.

Gotta' walk softly with Manchin. Don't forget, his state supported TRUMP by like 67%

[Polybius]

41. That is correct

I think only Wyoming was more (Trump got like 70% there).

[Boydog]

49. But why is he picking on Neera Tanden

I understand the sacrificial lamb concept but a week from now I doubt if anyone in WV will remember that he derailed her.

[SoonerPride]

51. She is a woman

He is a sexist

[WarGamer]

61. Joes been singing the Unity tune and I guess he finds her past comments

to be un-unity-ish?

[Fullduplexxx]

4. Not without mr. backstabbing manchin

[DFW]

5. One way and one way only, as far as I can tell

That would be Lisa Murkowski, but I doubt it.

[Boydog]

6. Or Romney

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. I agree. Lisa could possibly do so, if she's leaning toward seeking reelection as an Independent

Her term is up in 2022. A lot of the choices she makes now will impact her chances to win another term. Is she is planning to run as a Republican, I don't see any way she will be the only Republican Senator voting for Neena. If however she wants to score a few points with Alaskan Democrats as a preface to an Independent run, maybe.

[DFW]

31. It depends on how she sees the R trademark developing

If she thinks Trump‘s damage will be lasting, and thinks her name has the least stench to it, she could well run as an Independent, and probably win easier than as a Republican—as things srand now, anyway. That‘s one crystal ball I would not wish to be insuring, however.

[Polybius]

34. It would solidify her losing the Republican Primary again though

She's in a tough position. I don't think she'd win as a write-in candidate again.

[Tom Rinaldo]

36. She was a write in candidate that time because she ran in the Republican primary and lost

Having run as a Republican she was ineligible to qualify for the ballot as an Independent, hence the write in campaign. I agree with you though. She is going to have to pick her strategy in advance and then act accordingly. If she wants to run as a Republican she can't buck the G.O.P. too often. If she decides her best route forward is to become an Independent and skip the primary process completely, then she may want to up her creds with Dem voters.

[Polybius]

39. Yes, that was one historical race too

Don't like Joe Miller at all, but in the debates both pledged to support the winner. Joe outright won the primary, and she not only refused to back him, but she ran as a write-in candidate and won (first one to win since Strom Thurmond in the 40's, and only the second ever).

I think it's too late for her as a Republican no matter what she does now. She's losing that primary if she runs as one, maybe to Palin or Miller again. If she switches to a Democrat, would she win the Democratic primary, or lose to someone more liberal? Her best bet is to switch to an Independent, and caucus with the Democrats. I'm fine with that, and maybe we should all support her then IF she does that (because a liberal Democrat is not winning that seat; they came in third place in her 2010 write-in win). What do you think?

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. I would of course defer to Alaska Democrats, but given the likely alternative...

...I could live with her as an Independent who caucused with Democrats, knowing that she would break with us some times but hopefully more often vote with Democrats. Any other Republican Senator from Alaska would be far far worse. Democrats officially backed an Independent for Senator this last cycle, it could happen again.

[seaglass]

43. In 2022 it is an all party open primary with top 4 candidates running in a ranked choice GE.

I don't keep up with Alaskan politics but this doesn't seem to be a bad thing for her.

[Tom Rinaldo]

44. That does scramble the picture, I wasn't aware of that.

My first impulse is to agree with you that this most likely will help her.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

7. Do we know the Republicans are solid against her?

The previous confirmations have been various levels of bipartisan.

[Autumn]

9. No. Time to move on, Joe can put her elsewhere.

[Boydog]

10. Where for instance

[Autumn]

11. I'm sure he can think of someplace. No point in wasting any more time on it. nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. Little bit ironic she is blocked by a "real Democrat" and supported by the "not real Democrat"

[Autumn]

17. A bit strange isn't it.

[R B Garr]

30. But that's what gave Manchin an out. Imagine if it were

reversed ... Sanders’ picks being denied because of mean tweets.

[lagomorph777]

13. Offer her another job (non-confirmation job).

We have to move along.

[bigtree]

15. WH still backs her

Yamiche Alcindor @Yamiche 46m
The WH is continuing to back OMB nominee Neera Tanden and Pres Biden said last week he didn’t plan to pull her nomination.

Jen Psaki @PressSec · 1h
Neera Tanden=accomplished policy expert, would be 1st Asian American woman to lead OMB, has lived experience having benefitted from a number of federal programs as a kid, looking ahead to the committee votes this week and continuing to work toward her confirmation

[Grins]

19. Get Toomey and/or Burr to come out for her.

They’re not running for re-election and we’re recently shat-upon by their fellow Repukes. Got nothin’ to lose.

[karynnj]

21. I assume that people like Schumer and Durbin, both who have counted votes for years, will tell Biden

what they know.

Early on, there was talk that the Republicans would like to reject at least one Biden nominee. She was mentioned as one of the most vulnerable. The question for Biden might soon be whether she brings something that no one else (or few others) could bring to OMB.

It is interesting that she is not extremely liberal or progressive compared to other nominees. While I think that "mean tweets" are really a pretty argument against her, I wonder whether she might be "too controversial" for a position that people often can not name the incumbent. It is true that none of that was true for Mulvaney.

Unless Tandem is uniquely able to do what Biden wants done, I can not imagine anything the Biden team might "trade off" to get a Republican vote or to get Manchin back. The only thing I could think of might be giving the new "vote" their preferred nomination for some ambassadorship or maybe the federal DA they want. It would not be worth it to trade off an agenda item that has the votes.

I suspect that Biden/Schumer/Durbin will look at the realistic chances of the nomination and either pull it quickly to minimize the damage to Tandem, or move confidently ahead quickly. The committee that has to confirm her is the Senate budget committee which Bernie Sanders heads - so Biden might ask him for how the committee is leaning.

[Demsrule86]

25. No, sadly because I really like her.

[BradAllison]

26. No

Meanwhile, idiots unqualified to run a lemonade stand were swept into positions of power under Trump.

[SoonerPride]

46. Just install her as acting OMB director and say fuck it.

No one can whine about it either.

I'm tired of rules only applying to Dems.

Fuck that noise.

[onenote]

58. Ignoring the Vacancies Act didn't work out so well for Trump.

Why do you think it would work out for Biden? Why do you think he would do something that would blow up in his face?

[jalan48]

48. There are others out there as well qualified as Neera. Time to move on and start working on Biden's

agenda.

[SoonerPride]

50. Why?

Install as acting director.

No one can say a word about it.

[jalan48]

53. Not sure Biden is willing to go this path

especially given the fact that he doesn’t have the support of all the Dems.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

55. Yep, Joe plays by the book, and without 100% Democratic support

I can't see him forcing the issue.

[onenote]

59. Actually the courts would have something to say about it and it wouldn't be pretty.

Case in point:https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/01/federal-judge-cuccinelli-appointment-unlawful-118477

[BlueNProud]

54. If she says something racist and steals some money the GOP vote for her.