First they wouldn’t say what they were for or against. Then he said the price tag for Build Back Better needed to be cut by more than half. Then she held a fundraiser with corporate lobbyists who want her to tank President Biden’s agenda. Then he said all spending in the reconciliation bill would be subject to the Hyde Amendment (no public funds for abortion). Then she called the House Speaker’s actions to delay the vote on the infrastructure bill “inexcusable”.
Now he just said he opposes the core of the President’s climate change program — clean electricity!
Now she just said she opposed any tax increases on corporations or (wealthy) individuals.
And they both continue to be hopelessly in love with the filibuster! It’s maddening. These two are not Democrats, so the President and the Senate Majority leader should threaten to force them out of the Democratic party.
No that would not be like cutting off your nose to spite your face. They simply aren’t behaving like noses (or any other vital organ). They are behaving like flesh-eating bacteria and the party can’t remain alive very much longer with them continuing to claim they are Democrats.
Part of Sinemanchin’s power stems from Schumer’s and Biden’s fear that trying to force them to be normal Democrats might cause them to jump ship and join the Republican party (or become independents who caucus with the Republicans). It’s time to threaten to remove that power from them and threaten to expose their venal selfishness as the full-blown Trumpism that it is.
Notice I am suggesting these discussions be held (at first) behind closed doors (i.e., threats before action). Perhaps they will see their game coming to an end and will negotiate in good faith with the Progressives. But if not, the Democrats should be willing to give control of the Senate over to McConnell for the balance of this term and use Sinemanchin’s betrayal as a rallying cry across the county to elect more Democrats to the House and Senate in 2022.
Sinema and Manchin need to realize that bipartisanship requires give and take with the other side (in this case Progressives), and that their precious infrastructure bill will be cancelled in the House if they don’t negotiate in good faith on Build Back Better.
They think time is on their side, because they suspect the House and Biden will eventually capitulate and abandon taxing the rich and saving the climate just so they can notch a “bipartisan” win on infrastructure. It’s a trash position and their bluff should be called sooner rather than later.
If the 2021-2022 Congress becomes a do-nothing Congress, it’s better to blame that on McConnell than for Democrats to accept blame for being chaotic and feckless (when it’s really just two people who are causing voters to get that impression).
If Schumer and Biden can expose their hunger for power that is harming the Democratic party and the American people, Sinema and Manchin will be goners when their next Senate election comes up. No Democratic voters will ever vote for them again.
The Senate map looks relatively good in 2022 and as long as Democratic candidates can successfully tar all Republicans with the mantle of toxicity they so deserve, the people might just have a chance to actually do something big in 2023.
Time for Biden and Schumer to shift their offence to power politics. They cannot coddle these two wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing caucus members any more. If they really want to be in the Democratic party, they will have to concede at least some of their pet positions. Climate and Taxation would be two good starts!