Though he frustrates progressives, Sen. Joe Manchin makes sense: he wants what is best for West Virginia. The policies being discussed for the reconciliation bill would bring tens of billions of dollars of new federal investment to the state. That's why I believe he'll support it.
We can wish all we want that Manchin was Elizabeth Warren (in which case he would be private citizen Joe Manchin) but in fact we're so lucky to have him. He strikes me as a smart, sensible person who cares about his state and its voters and is at bottom a loyal, if fairly conservative, Democrat. I really think he wants Biden (and the nation!) to succeed.
I would tell liberals to quit yelling at him, but that actually probably is good for him politics-wise.
I live outside WVa in a state with two democratic senators. I saw an article in the Washington Post about Manchin saying the bill was too big, we need to slow it down, blah, blah, blah.
I told them they need to get together with Senate leadership and lobby Manchin. I used this article's talking points. At that point, I told them, if Senator Joe is unmoved there are 3 words to take to heart: Call. His. Bluff.
This was fascinating. I would love to hear more purplish-red state-specific analyses to better understand the mood around the country for environmental-related progress. North Carolina & Wyoming come to mind as interesting beneficiaries of the transition if they were to embrace it.
We can wish all we want that Manchin was Elizabeth Warren (in which case he would be private citizen Joe Manchin) but in fact we're so lucky to have him. He strikes me as a smart, sensible person who cares about his state and its voters and is at bottom a loyal, if fairly conservative, Democrat. I really think he wants Biden (and the nation!) to succeed.
I would tell liberals to quit yelling at him, but that actually probably is good for him politics-wise.
I live outside WVa in a state with two democratic senators. I saw an article in the Washington Post about Manchin saying the bill was too big, we need to slow it down, blah, blah, blah.
I told them they need to get together with Senate leadership and lobby Manchin. I used this article's talking points. At that point, I told them, if Senator Joe is unmoved there are 3 words to take to heart: Call. His. Bluff.
Thanks for writing a great article. Hope the right people read (or listen to) it.
This was fascinating. I would love to hear more purplish-red state-specific analyses to better understand the mood around the country for environmental-related progress. North Carolina & Wyoming come to mind as interesting beneficiaries of the transition if they were to embrace it.
Wow!