I really cannot blame Joe Manchin* for his stance. It is all he knows, it consists of every lie, empty promise of good faith, and false assurance that GQPers, far more wily and significantly less naive than him, keep feeding him. He is simply acting out in a way that comes naturally, and which feels as “middle of road” as those unfortunate, besotted Wisconsin teens who accidentally fall asleep on the warm asphalt of rural WI highways, while resting after a hot, ethanol-filled summer night of debauchery and alcohol. Luckily, no vehicles are on the road for the time being.
Joe, you are deaf to reason, you are insulated from logic and rational thought, and you fail to realize just at what important juncture, bravery and strength of character, blessings of which have sadly skipped your gene pool, are critical to the continued health of this country.
* Rumors that OED editors are seriously considering creating a new word,
Manchinite (noun) — An individual who is incredibly deficient in worldly wisdom or informed judgment; A village’s idiot who knoweth not his village has left him out to pasture; A person so dim and unaware, he actually believes the lies of Mitch McConnell and his cronies.
Seriously, I think he is a tool, a fool, and as stubborn as a mule, but honestly, he cannot help himself. He is a product of his data-free environment, and of massive mis-information campaign. “Trust us, Joe, we have bilateral support, just wait!”
Yeah, Joe. Just wait. I do believe Hell has issued frost warnings.
There is another person, or group of people, who are screwing up. Unfortunately, those screwups have their roots elsewhere.
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Let’s go back in time about 12 years. ACA was about to become the law of the land, but in such a weakened, dismal, depressing form, that even many of Obama’s strongest supporters felt betrayed in some way. When the GQP went out and attacked the ACA, the process, the people involved, and created incredible lies and mistruths in the process, Obama portrayed his signature stiff upper lip, and failed to go out and combat the mistruths, and worst of all, he failed, no — he REFUSED to go out and sell his program. He stayed above the fray, a great many people were misled, and worst of all, their lies replaced fact. Of course Fox and many sTalking Heads helped in the process. But in the end, the fact was clear. Obama sat back, did no sales pitches, and watched as his cherished program died a death of 10,000 cuts, until the shell that was left was 1/13 of the bakers dozen that made up the original goal.
Unfortunately, President Biden is following the same footsteps with his Voting Rights, filly-busting, infrastructure bill, and so much more.
The only way to change the minds of two miscreant, seriously mistaken senators, which would then change the equation for the remaining 50 GQPers, is to sell the programs to the public. Aim for the states which have GQP senators at risk, aim for where an infrastructure bill is so critically important for human safety, and much, much more. Aim for those house members whose voters would get jobs at very decent rates.
Aim for the home states of those two senators and excite the people to be in favor of your bills.
SELL THE DAMN LEGISLATION WITH CLEAR, SIMPLE EXAMPLES!
(Picture President Biden standing in front of a heavily corroded bridge that leads to the only nearby medical center)
“Say, members of West Virginia! Thank you for your warm welcome. Look behind me. See this bridge? see these rusting structural elements? See how this bridge has become a death trap for you and your kids?
“My infrastructure bill will rebuilt this bridge. It will provide local jobs at decent wages. It will fix what will soon break, but unlike Minnesota, without the massive, unnecessary loss of life. It will keep your access to medical care available. If you don’t do it, the bill will not pass and this bridge will collapse.
“My friends, call your house member. Call and write your senator. Ask them to do the right thing for you, for your families, for your businesses and for your local economy. Ask them to vote yes on MY infrastructure bill.
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Sadly, Biden won’t go on that road. He won’t sell his programs to the people. He won’t take the time and effort to educate individuals — in front of the collapsing bridges, roads, tunnels, buildings, power lines, and more. A broad, hard hitting campaign is needed. You ran a great campaign to get elected, despite all the false claims of fraud. It is time for an even more important campaign — to save our country.
Why not, Joe? YOU, and only you can sell it. Don’t make the identical mistake Obama made. Don’t hide in what used be called a Rose Garden. Get out there and sell your programs. We need you out there. The country needs you.
Just do it.