Dem Sen. Joe Manchin: Obama has "failed to lead" on spending

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: CBS News

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia took to the Senate floor Tuesday morning to criticize President Obama for a failure of leadership in the effort to deal with the deficit and debt.

Manchin deemed the two budget proposals expected to be considered Tuesday - a Democratic plan containing $6.5 billion in new cuts and a Republican plan to cut about $60 billion - flawed. The former, he said, "doesn't go nearly far enough" to address the nation's fiscal woes, while the latter "blindly hacks the budget with no sense of our priorities or of our values as a country."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is bringing both proposals up for a vote even though neither is expected to pass; he says he wants to get the votes on the record and show that compromise is necessary. Manchin denounced the strategy as "political theater," asking, "why are we voting on partisan proposals that we know will fail, that we know don't balance our nation's priorities with the need to get our fiscal house in order?"

Manchin, who is facing a tough reelection campaign in 2012, then went after the president.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20040584-503544.html

[HillbillyBob]

1. This from Senator Coal lobby.

nt

[hatrack]

2. Why don't you STFU and go do a video of you shooting a book of EPA regs, Sen. Peabody J. Arch?

:puke:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. With Zell Miller Democrats like Joe Manchin

Who needs Republicans? :puke:

So, what's your plan, Joe? Why don't YOU show us the way to the promised land?

[jaxx]

4. Manchin has failed to be a Democrat.

He can go whistle with his bullshit about Obama.

[xxqqqzme]

5. When you're losing in 2012,

don't be looking for Obama is help you, coal industry pimp.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Obama never has been very popular in WV

He got less that 43% of the vote in 2008.

[xxqqqzme]

27. I understand that.

I just marvel at how successful the rethugs have been in WV by using the god, guns & gays' strategy. But then, the state has no electoral power and is owned by big coal. I lived in WV from '72 to '82. The rabid, religious RW were just starting to assert themselves.

[Blacksheep214]

6. Let's get this straight!

It's PRESIDENT Obama, show sone goddamn respect at least for the office.

And, there is no such thing as Obamacare. Nip that shit it every bud you can! Even Bill Maher slipped and called it that. Quick retrack on that.

If we don't demand civility and respect, D-bags like Manchin will keep running their suck!

You Lie!

ENOUGH!

[24601]

14. Heal thyself - it's SENATOR Manchin. And don't get all high &

mighty about the office - the Jan 20 2001 - Jan 20 2009 archives prove that concept is pure bullshit. It's about the politics of who you like - nothing more nd nothing less.

And if it's not Obamacare, then it never was Bush's wars.

[davidinalameda]

7. but is he wrong

is cutting $6.5 billion enough?

[AllyCat]

11. Cutting 6.5B from domestic spending/social programs is TOO MUCH

Cutting 6.5B from defense spending does not go far enough. In fact, $60B from defense spending does not go far enough

[davidinalameda]

12. then how much is enough to cut from domestic spending

[AllyCat]

16. None. Don't cut any. We need to put our money into programs for those in need

and tax the rich. Oh yeah, and end the frickin' wars.

[Kingofalldems]

8. Unrec for anti-Democratic party tone

[hatrack]

10. "Anti-Democratic party tone"? Manchin (D-WV) said it and it's the actual headline

This is LBN, remember?

:eyes:

[earthside]

9. I agree.

President Obama should not have agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest -- different that Manchin's critique, but that revenue is needed to preserve federal programs we need.

I wish Pres. Obama had shown more leadership and boldness on that issue.

[Vinee]

15. Bingo. That was a historic fail. nt

[Lasher]

17. Democratic Sen. Manchin slams Obama's leadership on funding resolution

Source: Washington Post

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) criticized President Obama in a floor speech Tuesday, taking issue with the president's leadership in negotiations on to keep the federal government funded through September.

"The truth of the matter is that this debate, as important as it is, will not be decided by House Republicans and Senate Democrats negotiating with each other -- or past each other," Manchin said. "This debate will be decided when the president leads these tough negotiations. And, right now, that is not happening."

Manchin said he will oppose the funding measures from both Senate Democrats and House Republicans plan when they come up for votes in the Senate later Tuesday or on Wednesday. He said the Senate Democrats' plan does not cut enough and slammed the House Republican plan as an "even more flawed measure" that "blindly hacks the budget."

"Democrats and Republicans are being asked to vote on wildly different proposals for reining in spending," Manchin said. "Republicans will say Democrats don't go far enough ... Democrats will say Republicans go too far. The truth is, both are right, and both proposals will fail. Worse still, everyone in Congress knows they will fail."

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/2chambers/2011/03/manchin_slams_obamas_leadershi.html

---

I am ashamed to say that we in West Virginia might have just elected the worst DINO Senator that any of us has seen so far.

[montanacowboy]

18. Joe Manchin

Big Coal, nothing more needs to be said. He is a total asshole.

[doc03]

19. You didn't know that before? n/t

[Lasher]

26. Yes, I've known about Joe for years.

I thought it was worth pointing out in the OP for those who might not know him as well as you and I.

[tularetom]

20. For once I'll have to defend the president sort of

It seems to me he is taking a very active role in this process.

Although once again he appears to be a facilitator rather than an advocate of any particular policy.

Sen Manchin OTOH seems to be distinguishing himself by his stupidity.

[SkyDaddy7]

22. And none of us know what Obama does...

behind the scenes...Plus, Obama is not one to parade around in front of the cameras saying look at me I am in charge.

I think this Sen Manchin is just trying to look like he has all the answers & no one will listen. Playing politics.

[JI7]

21. he doesn't say what he wants cut , doesn't cut ,why he disagrees

looks like he is just trying to show he opposes Obama to keep support in the state.

[Hubert Flottz]

23. Joe was a "Democrat For Underwood" when he got beat.

I think he will be large in Washington someday...Might even out-do Joe LIEberman.

[RandySF]

24. F.U., Manchin

What kind of "leadership" did you show when you skipped crucial voted on DOMA and other issues back in December so you could be at a Christmas party?

[hollowdweller]

25. This WV Democrat is so proud he has never voted for Manchin

Always just either sat out any race he was running in or voted the Mountain Party.

Really hoping that somebody else wins his seat next time.

He did a FEW good things as governor but mostly he was sort of imperial like Walker in WI

When he came in he issued orders on exactly how state employees should answer the phone, instituted a dress code that even included people who weren't dealing with the public, and mandated that if the gov was there all employees would rise to their feet.

WV state employees do not have collective bargaining. They don't even get regular cost of living raises. I may be wrong but I believe that in the entire time Manchin was governor 6 years, he did not give state employees a raise.

Also you know the story about his daughter and her MBA. The Pittsburg paper had to break that story because the WV papers are too spineless.

[tabasco]

28. Screw you Manchin

All you do is kiss big coal ass.