Manchin says 'January 6 changed me' as he calls for bipartisan cooperation

[Polybius]

Source: CNN

(CNN)Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia cited the deadly attack on January 6 at the US Capitol as an event that changed his perspective on a divided Washington, saying, "You can't have this many people split to where they want to go to war with each other," as he calls for Democrats and Republicans to work together on top legislative priorities.

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN, Manchin underscored his commitment to bipartisanship, warning that he won't be willing to go it alone with Democrats until more serious negotiations get underway with Republicans. Manchin's comments once again highlight why the moderate Democrat is the central political figure in Washington as President Joe Biden's agenda depends on his vote in the evenly divided Senate.

"January 6 changed me. I never thought in my life, I never read in history books to where our form of government had been attacked, at our seat of government, which is Washington, DC, at our Capitol, by our own people," Manchin said, adding, "So, something told me, 'Wait a minute. Pause. Hit the pause button.' Something's wrong. You can't have this many people split to where they want to go to war with each other."

He said that "reconciliation was never intended to be our main focus or our main vehicle for legislation" but that there is "a time and a place" for its use and emphasized, "I'm not killing the filibuster."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/08/politics/joe-manchin-bipartisanship-januar-6-cnntv/index.html

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. It changed him so much that he insists on not changing the status quo of partisan gridlock

Fuck. That. Guy.

[ColinC]

19. He is the worst Democrat we have

Last edited Fri Apr 9, 2021, 04:29 PM - Edit history (1)

But an incredibly decent Republican.

[Magoo48]

41. It changed him alright; now he wants to be a Republican.

[joetheman]

69. THAT!

[JohnSJ]

2. where was manchin four years ago? That he fails to recognize that the majority of the

republicans in Congress have no intention to engage in bipartisanship, indicates he is delusional

[CBHagman]

23. Or indeed a dozen (!) years ago.

As Robert Draper and others pointed out, on Inauguration Night 2009, the Republicans figured out that their strategy was simple: Oppose the new President Obama and deny him whatever victories they could. And of course a combination of circumstances (e.g., Ted Kennedy's final illness) and the tendency of crucial blocs of voters to skip the midterms meant the Republicans could pursue their strategy.

We saw how far that strategy went, including Mitch McConnell's announcement that the GOP would hold open a Supreme Court seat for an entire year in order to fill it as they chose.

[TheBlackAdder]

48. He's adopting a new peace policy, soon to be embraced by all countries, Give in to the Terrorists!

[SamsDrink]

3. I Agree...Fuck that Guy

His ego is out of control. He needs to be reigned in.
Schumer has acquiesced and let him take over control of the Democratic Senate majority.

[area51]

54. +1 n/t

[Rebl2]

57. Maybe he

has threatened Schumer with switching parties if he doesn’t get his way. It’s foolish to think any gop members would agree to bipartisanship.

[dflprincess]

4. Appeasement is not the way to go.

I don't know if Manchin just enjoys being the center of attention or if he's getting paid to obstruct. Maybe both.

[GB_RN]

47. Appeasement...

You got it. Manchin is the Democrats’ “Neville Chamberlain”.

[Midnight Writer]

5. We don't want to go to war with each other, Senator. This treason comes from one side.

And if you want unity, look at the polls concerning raising corporate taxes and updating our infrastructure. That is where consensus lies, not with Republican Senators.

[hibbing]

20. +1

[vercetti2021]

6. Changed what exactly?

You think they changed? Stop being a damned fool senator and work with your fucking party

[Justice matters.]

7. History? Someone please teach him about the Civil War...

"I never read in history books to where our form of government had been attacked, at our seat of government, which is Washington, DC, at our Capitol, by our own people," ...

Ignorant much?

[Justice matters.]

11. They failed to take the Capitol but it's not like they didn't try...

Images from the scene show attackers waving the Confederate battle flag in the halls of the Senate. Judith Giesberg, a Civil War historian at Villanova University tells Business Insider’s Aria Bendix that the flag was appropriated in the 20th century, and continues to this day, to perpetuate the system of white supremacy in America. Wednesday was a grim first: During the entire Civil War from 1861 to 1865, the flag never entered the U.S. Capitol. (In fact, Confederate troops never took Washington at all. When Confederate General Jubal A. Early launched an attack on Fort Stevens, Union reinforcements arrived in the nick of time to save D.C. from Confederate invasion.)

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/history-violent-attacks-capitol-180976704/

[Gaugamela]

8. It changed him and he wants to raise a white flag. Changed him from what, exactly?

The only way it changed me was to realize that not only was I right all along, but the republic is hanging by a thread, and what the dems accomplish in the next 3 years will determine the outcome.

[mountain grammy]

9. I don't think he's very smart.

[CaptainTruth]

62. +1

[IngridsLittleAngel]

10. Bipartisanship...

is NOT holding the Democrats hostage and expecting them to give into terrorists.

January 6th changed you? Really? It changed me. It told me to say "Fuck you" to the MF'ing QOP. Because - and I'm going to Hell for quoting Raygun - we do not negotiate with terrorists.

You must've experienced a different January 6th if that day told you to slap around your fellow Democrats.

[ZonkerHarris]

12. "The attack on Fort Sumpter changed me. We need to listen to the Confederacy and accept slavery."

Manchin in 1861

[Coventina]

61. THIS!!!!

[CaptainTruth]

63. THIS!!!x10

[mahina]

72. +1

I’m thankful for his vote on the ACA and I understand he’s in a really shitty place but he hast to know that HR one is our best hope

[AZLD4Candidate]

13. I guess the Bowling Green Massacre was a bridge too far for Mr. Manchin

[TigressDem]

14. Soooo on Jan 6th someone hit him on the head with their QAnon wand and now he's a DINO?

SO JOE... maybe you should look to your namesake, ya' know Prez Biden?


See HE has been around the DC for a LONG, LONG time and it USED to be that if someone felt STRONGLY enough to filibuster, they had to stand up and open their mouth and KEEP talking to keep the filibuster going. They could even TAG TEAM, but if they wanted to DELAY or DERAIL a law, they had to flap their jaws to do it.


See, the Rethugs hate to actually work or think about the laws they object to so they only have a couple of talking points they put out over and over again.... it they had to use those to filibuster, even THEY would get tired of hearing themselves speak and we could get some work done.



Filibuster USED to be a PUT UP OR SHUT UP kind of thing. Now there isn't any work involved beyond whining about something and then throwing the filibuster onto the floor like a hornets nest then running for the hills.

[speak easy]

15. Manchin is getting what he wants; People hanging on his every word.

Especially here. Like Susan Collins, I don't give a rats what he says, only how he votes.

[Phoenix61]

16. Exactly what did the Dems do to cause Jan 6th?

Wasn’t anyone on our side smearing feces on the wall or wanting to hang the vice-president. I don’t get how he sees his actions helpful. There’s not a single repub who is going to do anything other than obstruct.

[TomDaisy]

17. pass the pepto

[JudyM]

18. Nice story, bro.

[FailureToCommunicate]

50. ...

[spudspud]

21. "You can't have this many people split to where they want to go to war with each other,"

This man is a dumbass. His statement implies that progressives also had this level of violence and hate towards the MAGATS/GOP. I can't believe he's a senator...then again Ron Johnson is a senator.

[TomDaisy]

28. Miss South Carolina wants World Peace (TM)

[azureblue]

53. trotting out the false equivalency

to justify his sandbagging

[Blue Owl]

22. Wow Joe that's so fascinating

[agincourt]

67. Most appropriate response!

Yes I find that getting one's workplace overrun by rabid weasel eyed fascists..........just makes one want to "work together" even more with rabid weasel eyed fascists.

[bringthePaine]

25. changed him into a full-fledged refuKKKchicken, 'twould seem...

[pbmus]

26. Negotiate with insurrectionists._NOT

Your proposal to negotiate is dead before it even starts...

[stlstdg]

27. This is a dance...

He has to play to the demographics of his state. He's touting to his state the power
that he has, and cannot be seen as walking in lock step with Democrats.

I've read a half dozen different articles and heard about a half dozen interviews of his, where
he's said one thing and then another. I have a feeling that this might be part of the long game;
I remember Joe Biden's statement during his press conference that successfully legislating is as
much about timing as anything else.

Joe Manchin didn't get re-elected again and again in a crimson red state by being stupid.

I don't think anyone seriously thinks he's going to vote against the infrastructure bill when
the COVID relief bill is wildly popular in his own state. West Virginia's infrastructure is,
if anything, in more dire need of rehabilitation than is any other states'. I read not too
long ago that he was critical of Republicans' rigidity on not using taxes to pay for the
infrastructure bill.

The eventual passage is HR1 is also in his career interest, and in the interest of any of his
family members who might be mulling a future in politics--and he knows that very well.

Not killing the filibuster is not the same as reforming it, as he has said he's open to.

Someone smarter than me said that the vast majority of strategizing and negotiating (not
necessarily with Republicans but within the caucus) takes place behind closed doors, and
not on cable news.

I'm not particularly worried right now.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. "the vast majority of strategizing and negotiating takes place behind closed doors"

My oft-used analogy to that -

[electric_blue68]

34. so frustrated with this guy, but your comments make sense.

[brush]

29. The man's been there too long to be that naive. Or is he gaslighting us?

Because the republicans are never going to do anything to help the public...only themselves and their rich donors.

We see you, Manchin. We know you're there so stop the attention seeking and vote to help the nation and pass the infrastructure bill. Forget the obstructing republicans. We know what they're going to do.

[Manifest Desmond]

30. Shut up, Joe!

[FreepFryer]

31. If he demands GOP participation and they refuse, will he relent or carry their water? (Nt)

[Joinfortmill]

33. What history books was he reading?

[Skittles]

35. LOL

oh, brother

[Deminpenn]

36. Would be interesting to hear what Manchin's GOP counterpart,

Sen Capito-Moore has to say about Jan 6th, too. Maybe Manchin can convince her to be bi-partisan, but I won't hold my breath.

[padah513]

37. It might be me

But I can't remember hearing a word from him during trump's time in office.

[BumRushDaShow]

38. The remark quoted in the OP sounds like something someone considering a run for President

might say...

[Harker]

40. The violent attack on the Capitol and the civil war fantasies

aren't the product of "our own people."

[blueinredohio]

42. I call bullshit.

He's always been a half republican.

[Vinca]

43. What Manchin is doing is so purely political it reeks. He's after voters from both parties.

Democrats need the numbers and Republicans need the assholes so everyone coddles Manchin. I say Schumer puts him in charge of "bi-partisanship" for 6 weeks and let's see how far he gets. No progress. no more kumbayah. And "bi-partisanship" doesn't mean Democrats cave to Republicans all of the time. If he's going to continue to block progress in the name of his magical cause, he needs to produce.

[NCjack]

44. The dumbest thing I have ever heard from his mouth. If he wants to

soften the Republicans in Congress, he should deliver some DEM aid to local people that solves big problems in their daily lives. Water that garden, and watch for new Republican candidates sprout that want to participate in the DEM vision.

[bucolic_frolic]

45. Democrats wanted to go to war??? I missed something.

[Baitball Blogger]

49. This man's perspective is all twisted.

Conservatives have been the ones who have been unrealistic in their expectations. The Democrats are the ones that have taken the brunt of their overreaches. What we needed was someone to bring conservatives down to a reality base that was sustainable. Manchin is just enabling them.

[Lonestarblue]

51. Schumer needs a bargain with Manchin.

Put Manchin in charge of securing the 10 Republican votes needed to pass the voting rights bill without Republican changes that would make it meaningless and toothless. Getting rid of gerrymandering is not negotiable. If he gets the 10 votes, great. If he fails, he backs the vote to get rid of the filibuster. I doubt Manchin would agree, but it puts him in a put up or shut up moment.

[azureblue]

52. then he should put his butt

where his mouth is, and he himself go talk to the Repubs and get them to agree with the Dem proposal. Jan 6 showed him clearly that the GOP is willing to destroy Democracy to hold power, but he refuses to see it. So with that in mind, knowing what they did Jan 6 he should go negotiate with the Repubs.

[Mysterian]

55. Yes, let's try to get along with the fascists

Great idea, idiot.

As a resident of West Virginia, I understand Manchin is the best we can do in this backwards state, which is now under total republican control at the state level. I know Joe and I believe there is some decency at his core. He will try to help us out when he can, which is more than a fascist republican would do.

[turbinetree]

56. "He won't go it alone with Democrats until more serious negotiations get underway with Republicans"

[GB_RN]

58. Joe Manchin Is Today's Neville Chamberlain

Appeasement is now his game, so that’s how I see him. Didn’t work with the fascists then, won’t work with the fascists now.

[Politicub]

59. The interview excerpt came across as, "Only I, the honorable Joe Manchin, Dauphin of

West Virginia, can invoke a bipartisan transformation by invoking sacred, magical words, enchanted by insight bestowed upon my brow by seditionists who attempted to overturn a legitimate election through force and murder.”

Sigh.

[CaptainTruth]

60. "Dec 7, 1941 changed me. We have to cooperate with Imperial Japan."

That's what he sounds like.

Or how about "Germany's invasion of Poland changed me. We have to cooperate with the Nazis."

And he says "he won't be willing to go it alone with Democrats until more serious negotiations get underway with Republicans."

In other words, he won't stand up & defend our country against the insurgents who attacked us.

I'm done with this guy. We need to gain enough seats in the Senate that we don't need him. It's like he wants to be the new Mitch McConnell & obstruct everything.

[sakabatou]

64. Oh, bullshit! If you changed, Manchin, then you wouldn't create gridlock!

[DallasNE]

65. While Manchin Makes Some Good Points

He clearly draws the wrong conclusion when he says "Something's wrong. You can't have this many people split to where they want to go to war with each other". He got the "something's wrong" part right but there is only one side engaging in this "war" and that is the Republicans.

[lagomorph777]

66. He learned exactly the wrong lesson. Completely backwards.

What an idiot.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

68. That's about the stupidest effing excuse for collaborating with fascist racist

insurrectionists that I've ever heard come from a US Democratic elected official. What is this, 1955?

Deranged fascist racist Qpublicans violently attacked the Capitol on false premises, with the intentions of overthrowing democracy in the US, and installing an authoritarian fascist dictator as POTUS.

And Manchin believes they will work with Democrats in any way, shape, or form?


There is a better chance of the fairies of County Clare crossing the Atlantic on unicorns laden with pots of leprechaun gold, and then paying off our national debt, than there is of getting these vicious brainwashed anti-democratic fascist racists to cooperate with Democrats on any and all reasonable legislation that benefits human beings.

[JCMach1]

71. So people who will never compromise I spire you to compromise

Makes no damn sense