As upset as I am with Manchin, we must all remember the 50 Republican Senators who are refusing to negotiate at all on the BBB Act. If even a single Republican Senator would support these priorities Manchin’s opposition would not matter. So yes, be upset with Manchin but reserve your anger also for those 50 Republican Senators.
As upset as I am with Manchin, we must all remember the 50 Republican Senators who are refusing to negotiate at all on the BBB Act. If even a single Republican Senator would support these priorities Manchin’s opposition would not matter. So yes, be upset with Manchin but reserve your anger also for those 50 Republican Senators.
“I wear the chain I forged in life,” states Marley's ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."
There is justice in Marley's punishment, just as there will be justice for Manchin, the coal baron, the climate reparations blocker, whose very existence -- yachts, coffers and all -- depend on monies made off the backs of coal miners who die of lung disease.
Economically foolish indeed! Here's a real-world example of how foolish, and what the underlying economics of solar tells us about the transition from coal-power to sun-power. I run a business that owns a big warehouse with a 30,000 square foot roof. In 2020 my company got financing thanks to a wonderful small biz called Symmetric Energy and with their help, we launched a project to put 265 solar collectors up on that roof. The whole array took up only about a third of the roof; the rest is still available. It was a $250,000 investment, and believe it or not, we've paid it off already. No debt, but a big new asset for our balance sheet, and huge savings for our profit and loss. The system went live in late August, so September was the first bill from our utility that reflected the new source of the electricity. The bill, which had been averaging $2,400 per month, came in at $28.00 and change! That's a 99% reduction in cost! Then came October, and with it five days of cloud, cold, and heavy rain. What would that do to our bill? Answer: October's bill went down to $25.00 and change! November, same thing: $25.00 and change. Where I live there are thousands of big warehouse roofs. Same in West Virginia. My business to business message: convert to solar and watch your cost of doing business go down. Close those expensive polluting coal-fired plants and decarbonize our economy. Joe Manchin, you are invested in the wrong technology.
In Kentucky your theory is false. Kentucky had and continues to have one of the most expansive and fair voting systems in the Country. Unfortunately the good people of Kentucky voted red. There are blue pockets, as in any State, but this is a ruby red State. In my opinion we were sent a very weak, DNC crafted candidate to try and unseat McConnell. McGrath stood no chance. And we even had a historic turnout. Our Democratic Governor Beshear is a godsend though as is my Democratic Mayor.
How can you say that when Kentucky uses ES&S machines with no paper ballots to be audited? People watched their votes change before their very eyes and had to keep selecting their choice to get it to stick. McConnell and Paul had extremely low approval ratings. All elections need to have paper ballots and be auditable.
Maine is a great state. I seem to remember some Mainers turning the tide at Gettysburg. And they have great sunrises. Whales. Ticks. The Bushes on vacation!
My sister lives there and has worked for the state for over 25 years. She’s seen a lot of changes. They have ranked choice voting. That doesn’t sound like 1928 to me. Just like every other state they have good policies and bad policies. Except Florida who doesn’t have a good policy in sight.
I think it was Poppe Bush who referred to the home in Kennebunkport as their "ancestral home"... turns out they were Vikings before they became members of the "Brahmin Caste of New England" only to devolve into the zombie caste of the lone star hate.
fun fact: They had a brush with non-existence back in late October or early November of 1620. They are descendants of John Howland, the man who fell overboard during the Mayflower's journey, and by all rights should have drowned in the frigid north Atlantic, but who managed to grab a halyard that was dragging in the drink, and to be spotted by several sailors, who pulled him back up.
FDR is also a Howland descendants, as are my nephews--sons of my sister.
And what about that beautiful coastline, maybe 100 miles of nooks and crannies for every 10 miles as the crow flies? And the majestic forests and rocks coming right up the the ocean?
Keep the Bushes, who wants them… Daddy Bush was the first Repub that I remember giving Lee Atwater’s evil a place to shine. Not enough space to list the W/Dickie horrors…
I agree with Barbara. Don’t generalize about a state based on whom they elect. Just because Trump was elected doesn’t mean everyone in the USA is dumb. Ditto Kentucky and McConnell. Ditto California and Reagan.
44% of Maine voters went for the former president in 2020. (Nationwide it was about 48%.) I used to write that off as based on temporary shortcomings such as political ignorance or gullibility, but I no longer make that concession to the nation's anti-democratic forces. If not "dumbness," something worse motivates them.
Now, that's powerful. I think of the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol, when the ghost of Christmas present opens his cloak, and inside are two children representing hunger and want. Where can we find that image. I get goose bumps thinking about it.
I will be watching that movie version tonight as part of our traditional Christmas experience. For a teaser, we watched Patrick Stewart's version last week. George C. Scott hits it out of the park with that Scrooge.
That scene with the kids under the robe is powerful.
I think WE have to be the messengers. Media remains divisive. It's hard to make the point in sound bites on social media ~ I certainly didn't follow the previous president twitter.
We are all in our silos.
I try not to overload my social media or conversation, hoping the message gets through.
Constantly post to their Twitter activity to call them out. Find local papers and write in the opinions section. I'm exploring creating short videos with my phone to post.
I completely agree. Last night on Lawrence O’Donnell former senator Bob Kerry spoke of his experience of being vote #50 during Clinton’s Presidency. He was eloquent on the subject of 50 Republicans refusing to help at all.
What we need now is a constant tolling of the names of the 50 Republican Senators and a brief bio of each, info on their state, and what benefits they are refusing their constituents. I see Biden, Schumer, Pelosi and Jayapal standing together in a town hall and speaking only the names of the Republicans, their states, and an example of one family who is being denied a desperately needed benefit. We need to take the focus off Manchin and put it where it belongs! And we need the political theater to dramatize the message!
Ned, I agree. We and the press let Manchin be in the glorious spot light as he played Lucy and the Football with us. And he is skilled at that hand wringing as he reaps all the benefits he denies his constituents
I certainly would like to see Manchin’s hands wringing a ton of sweat from getting harassed by responsible groups. In the meantime, our president, Biden, the progressives, the moderates, and our Speaker remain very focused in moving forward. Bravo!
There is really enough to go around, however Manchin and Sinema are betraying the principles of their party. They're also withholding the votes needed to pass this much needed legislation.
Absolutely! It is particularly amazing because republican senators represent states that could benefit the most from the BBB Act. And, unlike so many spending bills, this one actually puts real dollars into family's bank accounts, i.e. its impact is immediate. But of course it benefits women and children and republicans can't have that!!
Remember Michael Cohen testifying about the back door and blackmail, or threats that Former guy routinely had his henchmen use to force others to do his bidding? The R party members who continue to support him all have families. We will eventually find out who has been paid off, who has suffered from fear.
..."who has suffered from fear" these are the people who send our loved ones to war , if they are such cowards they do not deserve to be in Congress. The courage to stand for truth and for the nation itself is not asking more than we ask of our soldiers.
If this is all it takes then we are already living under an autocracy! Why wouldn’t these Republicans reach out to the FBI for protection. and the DOJ to LOCK THEM UP! If they’d have done their jobs the first impeachment TFG’s thugs would have NO teeth! I know, they were afraid but this is exactly how PUTIN works … it isn’t supposed to work this way in the USA!
But they couldn’t trust the DOJ or FBI because the thugs were placed inside them too. Look what happened when Alexander Vindman came forward. He was strong and put country first. These Republicans can’t see that if they push forward with honest attorneys it would all be out in the open and whatever secret they’re hiding would be inconsequential compared to what they’re allowing to happen out of fear.
Then they have NO BUSINESS taking an oath they refuse to honor or don’t have the kahunas to do the right thing. Liz Cheney isn’t letting fear stop her from speaking up! The honorable Mr. Vindman didn’t either.
Exactly. I got mine, screw you. And besides if you were smart and hard working oyu wouldn't need any help. So, it's really your problem. /snark - sort of
Bruce, it is his actions that have put us in this position. I expect nothing different from this current GOP lineup, I do expect more from Manchin. It shouldn't be this painstaking to get a bill on the table to help Americans.
1993.......Sen John Kerry, reading from a yellow pad
2016.......Sen John McCain, no need to read if you have a thumb
2021 (still).....Joe Manchin on Fox
And yet it is the Republicans Who are opponents of a democracy helping families and children. The media presents the problem as a fight between the two Joes; the problem is the cult Republicans.
Wouldn’t it be great if one Republican Senator actually did the right thing and voted for BBB? Would love to see Joe Manchin become an unnecessary factor in this process and lose his self importance.
I have the same fantasy, Barb. Who are the likely possibilities - Murkowski, Collins, Romney - anyone who is retiring in 2024 and doesn't need Mitch's dark money for a re-election campaign?
I think he was going to vote with it until he was influenced and bought out using Lindsey Graham’s fake CBO. They convinced him with fake costs. He needs to believe he’s bipartisan and has some power to convince others when in fact he was convinced with greed and more money. Somehow complaining that if we help people out of poverty they will become entitled doesn’t make it clear to him that he himself feels entitled to have the power to make decisions about who has the opportunity to thrive. Was he ever a poor guy that had to work his way up or was he born with a silver spoon in his mouth? He goes against everything the church teaches, as do the rest of the Christian claiming Republicans, that we do not judge others and you help others become self-sufficient. Teach them to care for themselves. They will lift themselves out of poverty. I certainly did even if I had to struggle for a few years I took every educational opportunity available.
That old story about taking in a snake, we knew what they were at the git go. I never expected either Trojan horse to go with Dems. Just running out the clock. Talk about traitors…
And make sure that as many as possible of the twenty Republican Senate seats up for election in ten and a half months turn Democratic. Three (Wisconsin, North Carolina and Pennsylvania) are very competitive, and Democratic victories there would give the Democrats a 53-47 majority if they manage to hold on to the fourteen presently Democrat seats which will be contested, no easy task. Then, Senator Manchin can be ignored and we can get on with re-creating the "government for the people" built for us by FDR, Harry Truman and Ike.
Yes, we need to go after all those seats. How did we manage to go from 59 under Obama to a minority? Obama did a lot of good things for this country and I don’t know what the issue was that made the Senate lose so many seats. Then after McConnell became the majority leader and systematically destroyed democracy at every turn somehow the Republicans are still maintaining so many seats.
Answering your question, a lot of people still smoke, refuse vaccinations, don't wear seat belts and do a lot of stuff not in their best interests. They believe lies, equate "government for the people" with socialism and vote Republican!
Yes! This occurred to me as well...everybody is jumping all over Manchin--as is understandable because he essentially has betrayed his party--but the real culprits here continue to be Senate Republicans. What HCR mentioned towards the end of her Letter, about the Goldman Sachs prediction of the failure to pass this measure as slowing growth by as much as 1%, THAT right there, y'all, is the real thing Republicans are hoping for. They want the economy to sputter. They want growth to slow. Anything they can use to pin blame on Biden and the Democrats for anything negative is all they're interested in. To hell with the people. To hell with families with children. To hell with the elderly. None of us matters. The sole thing they're interested in is scoring hits against the opposition. They have offered not one shred of an idea of what they might offer as an alternative. They don't think they need to. It's solely about shooting down any- and everything Democrats stand for. If they return to power, the lion's share of their energies will be devoted to undoing any-and everything Democrats have done thus far, using the American people as pawns. These disgusting trolls masquerading as a political party are what we are left with--no substance. Sound & fury signifying nothing. Manchin has cast his lot with them and he may live to regret it.
Yes, I was reminded of this by you and others on Twitter. I should think the Goldman Sachs information re: the GDP reduction from 3% to 2% would have an affect on the repubs. There's a lot of good in the bill. What did I read that 68% of WV'ians wanted the BBB. If Manchin can't explain the bill, he needs to sit on his yacht and read it.
Yes. I remember when congress could actually accomplish something other than play politics! It's so frustrating to lose programs that would help families, improve education, and help all of us.
I agree to the greater fault being lock-step Republicans. But, when it's you cat shredding the drapes, I'm hard pressed to be concerned with the behavior of the breed at large. Manchin is all about his powerplay. His damage goes beyond merely withdrawing his yes. It puts the agenda and credi ility of the Democratic Party and agenda as risk. "See, told you so. Democrats can't get anything done." Fox News was just the stick it in your eye for this loonie playing out on the fringe of his ego. Our image as the party of All Americans is what his actions do to create hostility to our all talk and no meat palavering image.
As upset as I am with Manchin, we must all remember the 50 Republican Senators who are refusing to negotiate at all on the BBB Act. If even a single Republican Senator would support these priorities Manchin’s opposition would not matter. So yes, be upset with Manchin but reserve your anger also for those 50 Republican Senators.
Right on target. And the democrats should have a messaging program reminding ALL americans what the GOP is doing to them and to America---
I hope Collins and Murkowski hear Marley's chains rattling on Christmas Eve.
“I wear the chain I forged in life,” states Marley's ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."
There is justice in Marley's punishment, just as there will be justice for Manchin, the coal baron, the climate reparations blocker, whose very existence -- yachts, coffers and all -- depend on monies made off the backs of coal miners who die of lung disease.
We need a Republican version of A Christmas Carol! And not only are Republican policies revealed as inhumane, but also economically foolish.
We would need more than three ghosts though to cover all the garbage they pull!!
Economically foolish indeed! Here's a real-world example of how foolish, and what the underlying economics of solar tells us about the transition from coal-power to sun-power. I run a business that owns a big warehouse with a 30,000 square foot roof. In 2020 my company got financing thanks to a wonderful small biz called Symmetric Energy and with their help, we launched a project to put 265 solar collectors up on that roof. The whole array took up only about a third of the roof; the rest is still available. It was a $250,000 investment, and believe it or not, we've paid it off already. No debt, but a big new asset for our balance sheet, and huge savings for our profit and loss. The system went live in late August, so September was the first bill from our utility that reflected the new source of the electricity. The bill, which had been averaging $2,400 per month, came in at $28.00 and change! That's a 99% reduction in cost! Then came October, and with it five days of cloud, cold, and heavy rain. What would that do to our bill? Answer: October's bill went down to $25.00 and change! November, same thing: $25.00 and change. Where I live there are thousands of big warehouse roofs. Same in West Virginia. My business to business message: convert to solar and watch your cost of doing business go down. Close those expensive polluting coal-fired plants and decarbonize our economy. Joe Manchin, you are invested in the wrong technology.
Collins got re-elected last year, since she represents one of the other dumber-than-shit states of this disunion.
I'm thinking Collins and McTurtle got re-elected based on the voting systems corruption in their states. My personal conspiracy theory...
In Kentucky your theory is false. Kentucky had and continues to have one of the most expansive and fair voting systems in the Country. Unfortunately the good people of Kentucky voted red. There are blue pockets, as in any State, but this is a ruby red State. In my opinion we were sent a very weak, DNC crafted candidate to try and unseat McConnell. McGrath stood no chance. And we even had a historic turnout. Our Democratic Governor Beshear is a godsend though as is my Democratic Mayor.
How can you say that when Kentucky uses ES&S machines with no paper ballots to be audited? People watched their votes change before their very eyes and had to keep selecting their choice to get it to stick. McConnell and Paul had extremely low approval ratings. All elections need to have paper ballots and be auditable.
Except for June 2020, when polling places were reduced in the Louisville area… https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/06/kentucky-slashes-polling-places-voting-rights-mcgrath-booker-lebron-james/
Thank you for that clarity, Barbara.
Maine is a great state. I seem to remember some Mainers turning the tide at Gettysburg. And they have great sunrises. Whales. Ticks. The Bushes on vacation!
but they have some of the dumbest politics, which is what I was talking about. They still think it's 1928 up there.
Your generalization is both ignorant and uncalled for here “TCinLA”.
Um — Among other bright lights from Maine, HCR’s is one of the brightest right now. I wouldn’t be so quick to cast aspersions on an entire state.
....What do you mean, it's not 1928?
I agree. It's kind of weird.
My sister lives there and has worked for the state for over 25 years. She’s seen a lot of changes. They have ranked choice voting. That doesn’t sound like 1928 to me. Just like every other state they have good policies and bad policies. Except Florida who doesn’t have a good policy in sight.
I think it was Poppe Bush who referred to the home in Kennebunkport as their "ancestral home"... turns out they were Vikings before they became members of the "Brahmin Caste of New England" only to devolve into the zombie caste of the lone star hate.
fun fact: They had a brush with non-existence back in late October or early November of 1620. They are descendants of John Howland, the man who fell overboard during the Mayflower's journey, and by all rights should have drowned in the frigid north Atlantic, but who managed to grab a halyard that was dragging in the drink, and to be spotted by several sailors, who pulled him back up.
FDR is also a Howland descendants, as are my nephews--sons of my sister.
what about those flies???
And what about that beautiful coastline, maybe 100 miles of nooks and crannies for every 10 miles as the crow flies? And the majestic forests and rocks coming right up the the ocean?
As I recall, they're pretty well gone by September...
Keep the Bushes, who wants them… Daddy Bush was the first Repub that I remember giving Lee Atwater’s evil a place to shine. Not enough space to list the W/Dickie horrors…
I love Maine. Mt. Katahdin, end of the Appalachian Trail. It was cold and stormy when we got there, but another notch.
Great advertisement for vacationing in Maine, David and Kim. How about a template?
And also our most favorite Mainer, HCR!!!!
Can we please stop geography shaming? It only creates further division and accomplishes nothing.
I agree with Barbara. Don’t generalize about a state based on whom they elect. Just because Trump was elected doesn’t mean everyone in the USA is dumb. Ditto Kentucky and McConnell. Ditto California and Reagan.
In 2026, Maine will elect a Senator to replace Collins. I can think of one Maine resident who ought to consider running then.
Unfortunately by 2026 it will be “a day late and a dollar short”, as my Mom would say ‘back in the day’.
44% of Maine voters went for the former president in 2020. (Nationwide it was about 48%.) I used to write that off as based on temporary shortcomings such as political ignorance or gullibility, but I no longer make that concession to the nation's anti-democratic forces. If not "dumbness," something worse motivates them.
Ad hominem insults not helpful
Heather might disagree with this light-weight POV.
Now, that's powerful. I think of the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol, when the ghost of Christmas present opens his cloak, and inside are two children representing hunger and want. Where can we find that image. I get goose bumps thinking about it.
I will be watching that movie version tonight as part of our traditional Christmas experience. For a teaser, we watched Patrick Stewart's version last week. George C. Scott hits it out of the park with that Scrooge.
That scene with the kids under the robe is powerful.
I caught the last 1/2 hour of the 1938 version on TCM, with Reginald Owen as Scrooge and Leo G. Carroll as Marley's ghost. Excellent. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029992/?ref_=fn_al_tt_5
My favorite adaptation, still.
Ask and you shall recieve; https://c8.alamy.com/comp/K38PG0/a-christmas-carol-edward-woodward-as-the-ghost-of-christmas-present-K38PG0.jpg
Wow! I'd forgotten how powerful it was!!
I forgot about that George C. Scott version. Makes me shiver now.
From Carla’s post on West Virginia grassroots activists:
http://www.rattlethewindows.com/
I think WE have to be the messengers. Media remains divisive. It's hard to make the point in sound bites on social media ~ I certainly didn't follow the previous president twitter.
We are all in our silos.
I try not to overload my social media or conversation, hoping the message gets through.
What else can be done?
Constantly post to their Twitter activity to call them out. Find local papers and write in the opinions section. I'm exploring creating short videos with my phone to post.
Check out More Perfect Democracy for their library of memes to post.
Thank you!
Wish I could do that but Twitter has banned me for I guess, some unsavory things I said about TFG. Never once did I curse. Oh well…
Seriously?? Like FB, Twitter is discriminatory regarding who or what to send to jail.
Love it!
But we don’t hate the same people…
Been waiting for 30 years
So true!
I completely agree. Last night on Lawrence O’Donnell former senator Bob Kerry spoke of his experience of being vote #50 during Clinton’s Presidency. He was eloquent on the subject of 50 Republicans refusing to help at all.
What we need now is a constant tolling of the names of the 50 Republican Senators and a brief bio of each, info on their state, and what benefits they are refusing their constituents. I see Biden, Schumer, Pelosi and Jayapal standing together in a town hall and speaking only the names of the Republicans, their states, and an example of one family who is being denied a desperately needed benefit. We need to take the focus off Manchin and put it where it belongs! And we need the political theater to dramatize the message!
Ned, I agree. We and the press let Manchin be in the glorious spot light as he played Lucy and the Football with us. And he is skilled at that hand wringing as he reaps all the benefits he denies his constituents
I certainly would like to see Manchin’s hands wringing a ton of sweat from getting harassed by responsible groups. In the meantime, our president, Biden, the progressives, the moderates, and our Speaker remain very focused in moving forward. Bravo!
Lucy with the football is a wonderful metaphor here.
Yes!!
Having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that there isn't a single senate republican with the moral wherewithal to support the BBB Act.
The New Yorker did a piece on McConnell a while back. It helps to explain why
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-mitch-mcconnell-became-trumps-enabler-in-chief
They've all become the pseudo-conservatives Richard Hofstadter described 66 years ago
There is really enough to go around, however Manchin and Sinema are betraying the principles of their party. They're also withholding the votes needed to pass this much needed legislation.
Absolutely! It is particularly amazing because republican senators represent states that could benefit the most from the BBB Act. And, unlike so many spending bills, this one actually puts real dollars into family's bank accounts, i.e. its impact is immediate. But of course it benefits women and children and republicans can't have that!!
Remember Michael Cohen testifying about the back door and blackmail, or threats that Former guy routinely had his henchmen use to force others to do his bidding? The R party members who continue to support him all have families. We will eventually find out who has been paid off, who has suffered from fear.
..."who has suffered from fear" these are the people who send our loved ones to war , if they are such cowards they do not deserve to be in Congress. The courage to stand for truth and for the nation itself is not asking more than we ask of our soldiers.
If this is all it takes then we are already living under an autocracy! Why wouldn’t these Republicans reach out to the FBI for protection. and the DOJ to LOCK THEM UP! If they’d have done their jobs the first impeachment TFG’s thugs would have NO teeth! I know, they were afraid but this is exactly how PUTIN works … it isn’t supposed to work this way in the USA!
But they couldn’t trust the DOJ or FBI because the thugs were placed inside them too. Look what happened when Alexander Vindman came forward. He was strong and put country first. These Republicans can’t see that if they push forward with honest attorneys it would all be out in the open and whatever secret they’re hiding would be inconsequential compared to what they’re allowing to happen out of fear.
Then they have NO BUSINESS taking an oath they refuse to honor or don’t have the kahunas to do the right thing. Liz Cheney isn’t letting fear stop her from speaking up! The honorable Mr. Vindman didn’t either.
Exactly. I got mine, screw you. And besides if you were smart and hard working oyu wouldn't need any help. So, it's really your problem. /snark - sort of
That is what exasperates me totally. Talk about an easy win with constituents! Of course … the corporations don’t like it.
Bruce, it is his actions that have put us in this position. I expect nothing different from this current GOP lineup, I do expect more from Manchin. It shouldn't be this painstaking to get a bill on the table to help Americans.
The power of one.
1993.......Sen John Kerry, reading from a yellow pad
2016.......Sen John McCain, no need to read if you have a thumb
2021 (still).....Joe Manchin on Fox
And yet it is the Republicans Who are opponents of a democracy helping families and children. The media presents the problem as a fight between the two Joes; the problem is the cult Republicans.
We will find the one. And more will follow.
Senator Manchintzy 🙀
Did you say Senator Manchinski?
No, I wrote "Manchintzy," as in Stingy MoneyBags 💰💰💰 Manchintzy 🎩
Precisely
Wouldn’t it be great if one Republican Senator actually did the right thing and voted for BBB? Would love to see Joe Manchin become an unnecessary factor in this process and lose his self importance.
I have the same fantasy, Barb. Who are the likely possibilities - Murkowski, Collins, Romney - anyone who is retiring in 2024 and doesn't need Mitch's dark money for a re-election campaign?
Amen on that
I never expect Republicans to act as other than the worthless asswipes every single one of them is.
Yes but we knew that they were not part of any negotiations. Manchin just spent 6 months trashing his own party.
Six months stringing us along and lying. Despicable.
I think he was going to vote with it until he was influenced and bought out using Lindsey Graham’s fake CBO. They convinced him with fake costs. He needs to believe he’s bipartisan and has some power to convince others when in fact he was convinced with greed and more money. Somehow complaining that if we help people out of poverty they will become entitled doesn’t make it clear to him that he himself feels entitled to have the power to make decisions about who has the opportunity to thrive. Was he ever a poor guy that had to work his way up or was he born with a silver spoon in his mouth? He goes against everything the church teaches, as do the rest of the Christian claiming Republicans, that we do not judge others and you help others become self-sufficient. Teach them to care for themselves. They will lift themselves out of poverty. I certainly did even if I had to struggle for a few years I took every educational opportunity available.
That old story about taking in a snake, we knew what they were at the git go. I never expected either Trojan horse to go with Dems. Just running out the clock. Talk about traitors…
I do believe Sen Grinch Munchkin is testing the waters and feedback to run for president in 2024. He's a saboteur by night and a populist by day.
Is he headed for MarALogo
Agreed. 100%
And make sure that as many as possible of the twenty Republican Senate seats up for election in ten and a half months turn Democratic. Three (Wisconsin, North Carolina and Pennsylvania) are very competitive, and Democratic victories there would give the Democrats a 53-47 majority if they manage to hold on to the fourteen presently Democrat seats which will be contested, no easy task. Then, Senator Manchin can be ignored and we can get on with re-creating the "government for the people" built for us by FDR, Harry Truman and Ike.
Yes, we need to go after all those seats. How did we manage to go from 59 under Obama to a minority? Obama did a lot of good things for this country and I don’t know what the issue was that made the Senate lose so many seats. Then after McConnell became the majority leader and systematically destroyed democracy at every turn somehow the Republicans are still maintaining so many seats.
Answering your question, a lot of people still smoke, refuse vaccinations, don't wear seat belts and do a lot of stuff not in their best interests. They believe lies, equate "government for the people" with socialism and vote Republican!
Absolutely
Yes! This occurred to me as well...everybody is jumping all over Manchin--as is understandable because he essentially has betrayed his party--but the real culprits here continue to be Senate Republicans. What HCR mentioned towards the end of her Letter, about the Goldman Sachs prediction of the failure to pass this measure as slowing growth by as much as 1%, THAT right there, y'all, is the real thing Republicans are hoping for. They want the economy to sputter. They want growth to slow. Anything they can use to pin blame on Biden and the Democrats for anything negative is all they're interested in. To hell with the people. To hell with families with children. To hell with the elderly. None of us matters. The sole thing they're interested in is scoring hits against the opposition. They have offered not one shred of an idea of what they might offer as an alternative. They don't think they need to. It's solely about shooting down any- and everything Democrats stand for. If they return to power, the lion's share of their energies will be devoted to undoing any-and everything Democrats have done thus far, using the American people as pawns. These disgusting trolls masquerading as a political party are what we are left with--no substance. Sound & fury signifying nothing. Manchin has cast his lot with them and he may live to regret it.
Yes, I was reminded of this by you and others on Twitter. I should think the Goldman Sachs information re: the GDP reduction from 3% to 2% would have an affect on the repubs. There's a lot of good in the bill. What did I read that 68% of WV'ians wanted the BBB. If Manchin can't explain the bill, he needs to sit on his yacht and read it.
the worse the economy the better their chances of winning the next elections on the basis that Biden failed.
Pleases remember that McConnell holds the purse string to the Dark Money campaign contributions that fund each GOP senator’s reelection bids
None of them dare step out of line, otherwise McConnell identifies them as castouts, removes their funding and gives it to a primary challenger
I don’t know what Murkowski’s deal is though
She is being primaried by Trump choice for her seat. She, Lisa, has a strong following.
She must have-she won a race as a write in candidate in 2010. Whether that will hold @ her next election, given TFG's tactics, who knows.
This is why I don’t know what her deal is
I would have thought her strong following would give her some autonomy
Remember, we are talking cult Republicans....sigh.
Yes. I remember when congress could actually accomplish something other than play politics! It's so frustrating to lose programs that would help families, improve education, and help all of us.
Agreed.
I agree to the greater fault being lock-step Republicans. But, when it's you cat shredding the drapes, I'm hard pressed to be concerned with the behavior of the breed at large. Manchin is all about his powerplay. His damage goes beyond merely withdrawing his yes. It puts the agenda and credi ility of the Democratic Party and agenda as risk. "See, told you so. Democrats can't get anything done." Fox News was just the stick it in your eye for this loonie playing out on the fringe of his ego. Our image as the party of All Americans is what his actions do to create hostility to our all talk and no meat palavering image.
If Manchin would have stood by his word it wouldn't have mattered what the Do Nothing GQP did.