The fourth paragraph from Manchin's statement makes me think he's getting ready to switch

[Polybius]

The one starting with "My Democratic colleagues."

[JohnSJ]

1. I don't think that statement is a reflection that his switching parties is immenent. Manchin has

more power than he will ever have with republicans, and he knows it.

and if he was going to switch, why wait?

[TheBlackAdder]

14. He went on FOX News to say it's a No.

.

https://www.rawstory.com/joe-manchin-build-back-better/

.

[JohnSJ]

17. I know. I believe my statement still holds. He has more power with the Democrats than he would

ever have as a republican, and he knows it.

Depending on the results of the midterms that dynamic may change, but I doubt that also

Right now the Democrats have the majority in Congress and control the WH, and switching parties would not put HIM in a more powerful position. Sure it would help the republicans, but not him per sey.

[Dorian Gray]

26. He has a lot of power

right now, though loses it if he changes parties or if the democrats win a majority.

I think he can get a LOT for his state right now, and he should utilize that for the people in his state. It appears to me, however, he's just going the way of obstructing. (And losing benefits for the people he serves.) He could do this by playing hard ball with the Republicans too.

It's a real misuse of the power in his hands. It absolutely appears that he's catering to the donors rather than his constituents, and it's a misuse of the power he holds.

[JohnSJ]

28. no doubt about it Dorian.

[atreides1]

2. Possible

But in the Republican party he wouldn't get the spotlight, that he enjoys being in so much!

McConnell runs a tight ship for the most part, and he'll make sure Maserati Joe is on a short leash! He might give him a sub-committee...but not a position like he has now!

[Budi]

7. If Manchin handed the congressional power to McConnel's Repubs, he'd be a fking god

Imagine stopping the Jan 6 committee investigations in their tracks with McConnell calling the powrler shots.

Manchin would be the hero of every criminal on the list.
Consider the lengths they went to keep Biden from power.
They haven't stopped finding another way to save their sorry necks & they won't until they're all safe from outing, & prosecution.

[rso]

20. Manchin

The 1/6 Committee in the House would not be affected if Manchin switched parties in the Senate.

[JohnSJ]

22. Budi, he couldn't stop the HOUSE investigations going on. He is in the Senate. McConnel actually

supports those investigations, and Liz Cheney sure isn't going to back down.

Personally, I think too many people are over-thinking this, not the least is that he could have switched parties long before this.

He has the most leverage he will ever have in his political carreer as a Democrat, and he knows it.

That may change after the midterms, but I even doubt that.

[Budi]

34. Right on the House matters. Agree that he's burned his Dem bridges for good

There is nothing he could ever do to right this monumental wrong. The backstab with a blade with a R engraved on it.

He can go be with his own kind now, until the R's no longer need him, at which point he'll just be a big fat nobody to anybody.

Is ther something in particular in the BBB that he's wanting changed, "or else"?

One particular part he would want changed to cast a yes vote?
Just asking what his one hang up might be, & if its even negotiable without carving up the whole plan the way the R's did with Obamacare.

[Fullduplexxx]

38. There would be no effect on the senate it would continue to block progress as it has

[brush]

3. He's already switched but just hasn't announced it.

He and Sinema have failed us and greatly reduced our chances for keeping a House majority as the benefits of BBB should've have been helping people months ago and thereby increased appreciation of the Dems and the Biden admin.

He actually went to fucking FOX to say NO to Dems. What an a-hole. I say drum his ass out of the party and I don't care if this gets alerted on.

[Doodley]

6. Agreed, and investigate his business that is obviously a conflict of interest.

[LowerManhattanite]

10. And did so with 25 minutes notice to the President.

Didn’t even call himself. Had an aide do it.

Classy AF.

[mvd]

18. That's what I have come to

I am just so angry. He doesn’t care about the Democrats, the President’s agenda, West Virginians, or any of that. He cares about himself. He’s the Scrooge of politics.

I say take the vote anyway. Don’t let his “no” stop a vote.

[brush]

21. Yes. Make him publicly vote "NO" so people can see who he is.

[JohnSJ]

23. Really. So we will lose the ability to fill judicial appointments, including the SC. Why don't we

cut off our nose to spite our face while we are at it.

"drum him out of the party" is the most fool hearty thing we could do.

That reasoning makes no sense at all, and I suspect it is said out of frustration, not logic

[brush]

25. They've already gutted Biden's agenda and what SCOTUS vacancy...

do you see coming up anytime soon? And there certainly aren't going to be two vacancies which is what's needed for 5-4 Dem-appointed majority on the court.

Manchin and Sinema are hurting us more than they're helping us.

[Budi]

4. At that point does the Jan 6 Committee stop? Dem led committees shift to R?

Do we lose our House & Senate Speaker, our Infrastructure, our chance at the blessings of Biden's masterful BBB policy plan, & possibly our President via impeachment? If so the Supreme Court will remain owned by the extremists.

Is it Burned all down enough for ya yet?
Fking fools.
"We're about to find out if "Nothing really IS better than something!"

[unc70]

11. J6 committee is House, not Senate

[Budi]

15. Right. So what would the shift in power to McConnell affect other than the committee?

Nominees & confirmations by Biden.
They would stop any forward momentum for every policy crossing the Senate desk.

3 more years of that bs.

[JohnSJ]

24. It wouldn't have any bearing on the House investigation, and for that matter if the DOJ decided to

indict, it wouldn't affect that either.

What needs to be done is to get as many judges and confirmations through while we have the majority in the Senate, and hope that Bryer will retire so a young replacement can be appointed

Then we have to unify among ourselves, insure we GOTV

[brush]

19. Yep. Manchin and Sinema have really screwed us.

Without the benefits of BBB helping people appreciated Biden and the Democratic Party our chances of keeping a House majority are greatly diminished, and we've in reality already lost the majority in the Senate because of these two turncoats voting as republicans.

Come Jan. 20, 2023 we could very well be looking at a republican-led House impeachment of Joe Biden, and his administration will be effectively dead in the water as nothing of his agenda will pass with a republican Speaker, even if Schumer somehow maintains a nominal hold on the Senate majority leader post...that's also with the two recalcitrant Dem senators continuing their Democratic Party membership facades.

[JohnSJ]

27. If they gain the majority in the House, they could impeach him, for what I have no idea, but

they would never convict in the Senate

If we are able to retain the majority in the Senate though, we have the power to appoint judges, and that is a big deal.

What would happen should have been evident in 2016. That is why we are where we are today.

The only way this will be rectified is getting out the vote at all levels, and if people don't vote because they feel demoralized, then it will be a self-fulfilled prophecy, and it will be a long time before things improve

[brush]

29. With Manchin and Sinema refusing to help Biden's agenda...

we effectively don't have a Senate majority, and without their help with the BBB bill and the benefits it would impart to voters, we stand a great chance of losing the House majority too.

IMO they're turncoats.

[JohnSJ]

32. That is not completely accurate. They have supported Biden's judicial nominations, and they did

vote for the Bipartisan bill, which was part of Biden's agenda, even though it was not all of what we wanted.

You are right, the House is very vulnerable. However, in the first quarter of next year, I believe revelations will come out regarding the January 6th insurrection, that may change the dynamics.

Things can change very rapidly in politics. Comey helped elect trump, one word from Terry Mcauliffe, and Virgina was over.

It is not out of the realm that there will be revelations about January 6, and the politicians who were involved in the effort to overturn the election that can change things.

[brush]

33. I'm keeping my fingers crossed too on the J6 committee.

Revelations from the committee may yet helps us keep a House majority.

[Hortensis]

41. As you say. The Jan 6 investigation is speeding up.

We've yet to see that Manchin won't ultimately vote for a changed "this legislation." But if he doesn't and is truly breaking his word to Biden and his compact with his Democratic colleagues, I am for the first time seriously concerned that he might change parties. He has always told them that if he can support Democratic legislation he will. Right now he's claiming he can't...

[Budi]

35. To me, this is exactly what was intended by the mantra, "Burn it all Down".

Save nothing, disregard the casualties along the way there.

Those words were the directive, the end game.

[LonePirate]

5. His concerns about the debt are bullshit. He voted for an extra $30B in the defense bill.

Plus, the reconciliation bills are deficit-neutral for the most part. So he’s lying when he starts complaining about the debt.

[Diablo del sol]

8. Just B.S. talking points for Rs and a number of Ds

Pure cover. he ain't switching, yet.

[Budi]

12. I seriously hope you're right in your level headed thinking

The alternative is damned near unthinkable.

Thanks.

[Diablo del sol]

16. Oh, I think he will switch

Just not yet, he will switch as soon as he is pushed too hard or if Dems continue following the same level of effort to appease him, he will switch just prior the the 2024 election so he can bash Dems 24x7 throughout the media.

Republicans definitely don't get where were are in regards to Democracy being blown up in the Country. Many Dems are missing the big picture or too afraid to admit what is happening.

[brush]

13. Bs is exactly right. And his concern of inflation is also bs.

Of course prices have went up from last year. Last year was a shutdown year because of covid. Prices fell because of that so of course they're going to go up now.

Manchin and Sinema are both full of shit DINOS.

[Budi]

9. I think he's covering his own ass from the Jan 6 investigations.

They want those investigations stopped rfn.

[radius777]

31. +1. Tax the rich, easy solution to the deficit. /nt

[Budi]

36. For every Legislator who holds the power to write a bill (all of them)

Why haven't they?
Look it's a cool campaign & fundraising meme, but talk is cheap & any legislator who believes this, could have written a bill, beginning the process of 'taxing the rich'.

That meme has about worn out its original value by its sheer commercialization.

[radius777]

37. Because they are doing what big donors want

rather than what is good for the country.

Manchinema's states support BBB - which is just a New Deal 2.0 - and lest I remind you that FDR's policies ruled this country for 50 years. Left wing economics are infinitely more popular than right wing economics, but Raygun tied them to racism/sexism etc - which unfortunately is popular.

[Budi]

39. ALL of Them? ANY LEGISLATOR REPEATING THIS SLOGAN

Can write a bill.

Why haven't any of them shouting "Tax The Rich", done so?
So, those shouting the slogan, Tax the Rich, are ALSO doing what their big donors want?

Every legislator is given the power to write a bill.

[Texaswitchy]

30. He has been paid enough.

I wonder how much cash it was.

[Trueblue1968]

40. I. HATE. HIS. GUTS.