I think Manchin needs to be investigated to see who is giving him money.

[Maraya1969]

Just think about it; A Democrat who is opposing a voting rights bill. He has to be getting paid for this. He knows what he is doing.

Russia? the Koch brothers? the Mercers?


How do we find out?

[hlthe2b]

1. It is increasingly difficult not to ask questions...

Something just isn't right.

[LiberalArkie]

2. John Birch Society?

[ShazamIam]

38. That is what Heritage Foiundation is, created to be the front for that group after they disgraced

themselves calling Eisenhower a world communist leader.

Joe Coors (yes the beer Coors) put up the money, the Coors family used to include Bircher ligerature in the pay envelopes of their employees.

A good book on it is named: Citizen Coors, it is by Dan Baum, I recommend it for understanding how the Republican political party moved so far right after Nixon and Watergate.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. The choices of the dinos definitely

Do not pass the smell test.

He and sinema need to be investigated . I have a gut feeling...they might be compromised .

If they are what do we do about them?

[DownriverDem]

19. Hard to understand

but he represents WV.
2020 Presidential Election WV:
Donald Trump Mike Pence 545,382
Joe Biden Kamala Harris 235,984

To WV voters Manchin is not a dino at all.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Rather than investigate him, why not make his life a living hell?

Manchin and Sinema should not be able to go out in public without being confronted and challenged.

No more quiet dinners in expensive restaurants, no more jobs in the park. You want to enable Jim Crow 2.0? You are now on citizen imposed house arrest.

[Maraya1969]

6. I think that is great. And I also want the Lincoln project to do a video on him.

I intend to write to them or contact them somehow. Manchin has not had to be accountable for his horribleness so far. It is time that stopped.

[Maraya1969]

8. I just wrote to them and added a donation too. They have done a lot of great work

[BigmanPigman]

13. I'm all for that!

[monkeyman1]

41. 2018 big pharma ties ! daughter ! look up MYLAN !

[AZ8theist]

47. Which one is giving jobs in the park?

asking for a friend....

[Mr. Ected]

5. Maybe some of the same kompromat that holds the right captive and apparently some on the left?

I think a great deal of our government is heavily compromised, perhaps not with embarrassing or career-threatening information, but threats to family and colleagues. Other than abject fear both from speaking out or acting in conflict with a quiet objective, so much of what has been happening since around 2015 is inexplicable. The fact that other countries around the world have been similarly afflicted speaks to a much more comprehensive agenda than what we currently are suffering through in the States.

[NJCher]

49. New book covers that

Wish I could think of the title. Rachel had him on her show last week. He is a former Obama official. Your last sentence is what much of his book is about. He discovered the authoritarian playbook and writes about how they follow the same trajectory.

[elleng]

7. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), the most prominent Democratic opponent of a $15 federal minimum wage, has a

stake in at least one company that apparently would have to increase pay if such a measure passed, TYT has learned.

The Senate parliamentarian said last week she does not think the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package is eligible for passage by a simple majority if it includes the hourly wage increase. Her guidance shifted the focus of progressive efforts from Manchin to Vice President Kamala Harris, who could reject the parliamentarian’s finding.

But Manchin, along with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), could find himself back in the spotlight if Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) succeeds in forcing a vote this week on the $15 minimum wage, as he has vowed to do. Manchin has said he would accept an $11 hourly minimum wage as part of coronavirus relief, but progressives have said that's not enough.

Last month, a spokesperson for Manchin justified his opposition to the $15 minimum by saying the senator “understands the challenges facing…[West Virginia] small business owners.” But Manchin has not publicly acknowledged that he is one of those small business owners.

The real extent of his business interests is unclear, as Manchin has never fully disclosed them as required on his Senate ethics filings. The right-wing group Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, which does not disclose its donors, filed an ethics complaint in 2018 seeking to force Manchin to disclose the full specifics of his business holdings.

But court filings related to bankruptcy proceedings and a Manchin family dispute that went public have identified some of companies in which Manchin allegedly has a financial stake, including a hotel and a chain of flooring stores. Both companies would apparently have to increase employee pay if Congress passes a $15 minimum wage.

The senator’s office did not respond to TYT’s request for comment, which included specifics about the companies in which he is said to have a stake.

https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/26dKy4vZXZLpETF3rbg6td

AND

Heather Manchin Bresch (née Manchin; born June 27, 1969[3]) is an American business executive. In 2012, she was named as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Netherlands-based pharmaceutical company Mylan, becoming the first woman to run a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company.[4] Bresch retired in 2020, upon the closing of Mylan’s combination with Upjohn. In 2015, she was listed as #22 in Fortune magazine's “Most Powerful Women” list.[5]

Bresch is the daughter of former West Virginia Governor and current U.S. Senator, Joe Manchin. Bresch has been a central figure in two controversies: a 2007 accusation of inflating her resume with an unearned MBA degree, and as the CEO of Mylan during the 2016 controversy over pricing of the company's EpiPen products.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Bresch

[ancianita]

36. Thank you. "Manchin has never fully disclosed them as required on his Senate ethics filings."

Maybe an issue with bargaining leverage, though he seems to brush off issues.
Also, I've read more than one WV poster on his FB page complain about how he votes in ways that help his own daughters.

There's also the issue of WV protestors over the big pipeline. https://itsgoingdown.org/large-replica-of-wood-duck-and-4-protesters-block-mvp-construction-for-nearly-7-hours/

[RockRaven]

9. I think you have included an unnecessary assumption. It is true that

the rich ruling class does not want real democracy, they want a facsimile of democracy which they can control but still pacifies the masses -- or at least pits them against each other while the rich keep getting richer and remain in control.

But it does not follow that someone who acts in the interests of the rich ruling class must be doing so because they are being paid off by them. They also can do it because they ARE them.

Manchin's personal net worth is (depending on the source) between $5M and $10M. Rather modest compared to some in Congress, but way above national or state averages. His daughter is CEO of that pharmacy company which came to many people's attention when they massive raised prices of Epipens several years ago. The Manchins may not be Koch or Mercer rich, but they are plenty fucking rich by any reasonable standard. Certainly rich enough not to want real democracy to make massive social changes.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. Excellent points.

[Beachnutt]

10. First remove him from all committees

he is bought off

[brooklynite]

15. And when Schumer doesn't do that, you'll do what?

[KPN]

21. Here's a better question. Why wouldn't Schuler do that?

[FBaggins]

48. Because he can't?

Just saying

[WhiteTara]

11. in 2014 he gave a full throated exoneration of the Kochs

and said "they pay their taxes." I wonder if he considers bribes to be taxes paid directly to him.

[Midnight Writer]

12. Every time a politician appears, a crawl should be visible on screen showing their top donors.

[Evolve Dammit]

24. Or like NASCAR, all corporate logos tattooed on their skin; OK suits. nt

[JI7]

14. No, he is from West Virginia which explains everything

[Lonestarblue]

16. Schumer should craft a deal with Manchin and Sinema.

He supposedly supports the John Lewis Act. I don’t know where she stands. Put them in charge of securing 10 Republican votes to pass it. If they fail, they agree to get rid of the filibuster all voting rights bills and support S1, expanded to prevent the horrible voter nullification laws.

[Jon King]

17. Well at least we know our dire predicament and 2024 PA, MI, WI is for everything....

We now know Manchin is a lost cause so that means the House is likely gone in 2022 due to redistricting. GA and AZ have statehouses that have made it almost impossible to win there again. TZ has delayed the demographic Dem surge by at least another 10 years. The Senate is more possibly a Dem +1 or +2, so that leaves us the Presidency and Senate in 2022. But gridlock and investigations by the Repug house is likely a definite.

So we are back to square one...the Hillary states and adding the old blue wall of PA, MI, WI like Biden did. At least their Dem Governors can keep the worst of the suppression at bay and give us a fighting chance there.

We must hold the Presidency in 2024. If they get the Presidency back is game over for the USA.

Manchin craves his power but will be irrelevant in 2022, either the Dems will have 2 more seats or the Repugs will have the House. Either way, Manchin's power trip will come to a crashing halt.

[Blue_true]

22. Every time I read the term "virtually impossible", I want to throw up.

Republicans made it difficult for us to win, we can overcome that with smarts and solidly chosen district level and state level candidates.

I don’t ever use the term “virtually impossible”, it smacks of consignment to defeat without a fight.

[Maraya1969]

43. I agree with you. I do not like people making such horrible predictions for us.

Sure, say we have an awful lot of work to do but damn it don't try and take away our hope. Then you have nothing.

Besides, that is what a MAGAT would say to try and bust your spirit.

[Blue_true]

45. Think of where we would be now if people that made significant societal change

had said “things look hopeless” when they saw the forces of the powerful status quo lining up against them?

I never say “never”. When I am down, I just eat a freaking pint of ice cream, get a good night sleep, then put my fighting gloves on the next morning and move forward.

[Blue_true]

20. I believe that he is already a multi-millionaire.

He has his point of view, that doesn’t make him corrupt.

[orangecrush]

26. That's the whole problem

Nearly everyone in congress is a multi millionaire.

[Blue_true]

30. And some of the biggest idiots in Congress are modest means people like Bang-Bang Barbie.

Wealth neither automatically make a person evil nor good, the person’s character does.

[orangecrush]

33. Bang Bang Barbie

Works for Trump, ie multi millionaires.

[ancianita]

23. I've checked. Can't find a thing in Open Secrets except PAC groupings.

His take looks clean on paper. The party needs a cyber detective. Seriously.

[Blue_true]

31. Form what I know of him, he is rich, but made his money legitimately. nt

[ancianita]

37. Yep.

[Blue_true]

40. I believe he made his money in coal before becoming governor.

He sold out to take the job leading his state.

[BGBD]

60. He was never in coal

He ran the family carpet store and was in the state legislature from '82-'96. He lost his first run for Governor and then cam back a couple cycles later and won when Bob Wise didn't run for reelection when he was caught up in an affair.

He's only worth between 5 and 8 million depending on where you look. That's pretty damn rich, but it's not coal baron rich.

[Blue_true]

61. Ok, thanks. nt

[Warpy]

25. He might just be a dullard

who never progressed beyond southern high school US history. There's a lot of that going around, also.

[NJCher]

50. Certainly

His naïveté speaks to that.

He doesn’t seem to be able to learn from other people or even from his own experience.

[NJCher]

57. Mehdi thinks so, too

says Manchin might be "Just Not Very Bright."


https://www.newsweek.com/msnbc-host-mehdi-hasan-questions-joe-manchins-intelligence-just-not-very-bright-1598010

article is worth reading. Mehdi makes the point that the republicans have done their bipartisanship by passing these electoral laws. What would their input be? They've already given it. Now it's time for the Democrats to have their input.

[Catherine Vincent]

27. Prob the same folks that persuaded Kennedy to retire from the USSC

[BadgerMom]

28. Gayle Manchin, his wife, was named to co-chair a board by Biden.

https://apnews.com/article/joe-manchin-wife-joe-biden-appointment-5acad530bb9ff8046ab60e756124010c

I wish if this is patronage of some sort that it had been held over the Senator’s head to get some concessions from him in order for Mrs. Manchin to get this position.

[Auggie]

29. Money AND promises AND protection, perhaps. n/t

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

32. Manchin says he is "acting in the interests of my consituents."

ELI5 how denying your constituents thousands of well-paying infrastructure jobs is acting in their best interests.

ELI5 = Explain Like I'm 5

[orangecrush]

34. Are there watchdog groups

That specialize in these things?

Time to let the dogs out!

[YorkRd]

35. ALEC stooge

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/West_Virginia_ALEC_Politicians

[crickets]

62. Underappreciated post.

Stooge? Don't know. Connection? Well buried, but there. Thanks for the breadcrumb, YorkRd.

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/West_Virginia_ALEC_Politicians#cite_note-1
https://web.archive.org/web/20151117060802/http://www.alec.org:80/initiatives/federal-relations/senate/

[ShazamIam]

39. Sinema and Manchin and a few other Democratic smell like tea.

[jalan48]

42. The fossil fuel industry. No way do the oil, coal and gas barons want climate change legislation.

[WaterSong1951]

44. Just watched Kennedy Center honors and Manchin in audience

Looking like a fish out of water when We Shall Overcome was sung - when the camera swung to him he looked like a lifeless being- no soul-

[NJCher]

51. These are the forces that

Are set in motion. He’d damned well better learn to deal with it.

[AlexSFCA]

46. this is insanity

Manchin’s only role is helping dems retain power on senate committees. Removing him is not the answer; what we need is to elect more dems so we have more votes. I just can’t see how is it better if we had another R senator representing WV instead of Manchin?

[NJCher]

52. No one is saying they want a repub

What people don’t understand is how manchin fails to see that these major programs of Biden’s will benefit his constituents. Greatly.

[AlexSFCA]

55. Manchin's constituents did not vote for Biden's agenda

for the 1000th time. His constituents voted against Biden’s agenda and in favor of trump’s gop. These are the facts.

[NJCher]

56. Wrong

The proposed programs had not even been written at the time of the election.

You can’t use trump voter as your litmus test. If anything, what is needed is a campaign in w va showing how these constituents will benefit from Biden’s proposals.

[NJCher]

59. for the 1000th time?

You've pulled a major boner with this one.

See results of poll shown on Rachel tonight:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215505364

[StarfishSaver]

54. Thank you

[Ferrets are Cool]

53. It is not difficult to believe that even some Democrats have skeletons in the closet

And all Presidents have access to those skeletons, thanks to ex VP Cheney.

[MichMan]

58. Accusing a sitting Dem Senator of accepting bribes?