Dan Rather: More Than Manchin

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://steady.substack.com/p/more-than-manchin


The political spotlight shines brightly on Joe Manchin, the Democratic senator from West Virginia, and for good reason. To begin with, he clearly relishes the attention, brought on by his ability to have the fate of President Biden’s legislative agenda subject to his whim. The nature of a 50-50 Senate is that any one senator could play the spoiler on any given bill, but for the most part the Democratic caucus seems remarkably united on a wide range of hot button issues. That is, except for Manchin and to a lesser extent his partner in frustration, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

Many have spent hours on cable TV or hundreds of column inches in newspapers speculating on Manchin’s motives, and whether his plea for bipartisanship is sincere. People have tried to analyze his personality, peer into his biography, or read the tea leaves of his many public utterances. Is he playing both sides? What does he really believe? For reporters, the Congressional beat is increasingly the Manchin beat. All this makes sense, but it is also a bit beside the point. Manchin is a story, but he is also a symbol of a much deeper rot in Washington, a distraction from a lot of what is really taking place.

When Manchin talks about good-faith bipartisanship, I understand why it invokes eye rolls and exasperated sighs. Is he that naive, the argument goes. Has he not seen how the Republicans have operated, especially under the cynical, disingenuous, and destructive leadership of Mitch McConnell? Does he not recognize that the United States is facing an existential threat to its democracy around voting rights? Is he not outraged that we are not going to have a commission on the insurrection of January 6? All of these are fair questions. All of these paint a clear picture of what is taking place today in Washington.

At the same time, I also understand the Washington to which Manchin alludes. I remember when Republicans and Democrats worked together on big bills. I was covering the Nixon White House when Republican senators told him it was time to step down. I saw unlikely friendships and alliances around issues. When it worked, it was inspiring. Just as often, however, the Senate was an impediment to progress. The same forces of comity and goodwill, the “Old Boys Club,” could be a place where the rights and needs of the marginalized and forgotten could be suppressed.

*snip*

[brush]

1. Manchin is full of it. His postering for bi-partisanship...

is all an act as he knows McTurtle and the GOP have no interest in it. All they're interested in is stop the Dem agenda so they can regain majorities in the House and Senate in '22, which may very well happen if we can pass the infractrure bill and a voting rights bill.

He won't budge on the filibuster but he could at least side with his own party on infrastructure which could be passed by a simple majority but he won't even do that. And IMO the other recalcitrant Dems will come around if he does. Make one wonder if he's in the pocket of the Kock organization?

[OrlandoDem2]

2. It's time for millions of Americans to take to the streets again.

And we need to stay there until Washington acts in the interest of the people.