rfisher
Let the skating begin
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MSNBC had a poll this morning on the infrastructure bill. It has broad support among voters nearly 80% across the board with 50% of Republicans. The congressional GOP are so out of touch.
The Biden-Harris Administration
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MsZem
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Oh, don't worry. They'll be sure to take credit for whatever $$$ come their district's way.
once_upon
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Democrats need to do more of this.
Oops has the forbidden words try this one
DNC unveils billboard on I-81 near Wilkes-Barre thanking Biden, Casey | Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE — The Democratic National Committee is unveiling a new billboard in the Wilkes-Barre area, thanking President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey for providing direct payments and resources…
www.timesleader.com
Vagabond
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Source?
Here's the first one I found:
Joe Biden wants to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure and jobs. These 4 charts show where the money would go.
The plan includes everything from road repairs and electric vehicle stations, to public school upgrades and training for the clean-energy workforce.www.usatoday.com
Doesn't look like 5% to me! Maybe you have a very specific definition of what infrastructure means?
Five percent $2.251 trillion is $112.55 billion.
The
can bark for himself, but I'm guessing that he is 
-ing someone who has seized on the $115 billion for roads and bridges as if that were all that was earmarked for infrastructure spending.
rfisher
Let the skating begin
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The care economy will save millions of dollars. It is far less expensive to pay caregivers to come to someone's home than it is to pay the $$$$$$ involved in nursing homes. 70% of the medicaid money paid goes straight to profit for the owners and not to care or supplies for the patient. States that finally started waiver services proved this decades ago, but the nursing home industry did not want that to become the norm. I fought this for years with Micah and learned how to maneuver through the system. He lived 20 years longer by my keeping him at home than he would have if I'd put him in a nursing home. I used a pediatric facility for two months on a part time basis and he picked up bug after bug until I pulled him out. When I came one day and there was a puddle of urine under his chair, I went to the director and demanded to know why he wasn't in an adult diaper (which I knew was covered) and she said they didn't make any money if they actually put them on patients. I loaded him up and told her he was discharged effective immediately.
once_upon
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The problem with narrow definition of infrastructure is we will remain way behind our Allies/Enemies in moving towards the future.
But it's not surprising that the GOP does not want to move forward. They want to live in the past. They want to deny science as well.
But it's not surprising that the GOP does not want to move forward. They want to live in the past. They want to deny science as well.
ballettmaus
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The Biden task-force found 5,600 files that may reveal additional kids that were separated from their families. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/im...-finds-5-600-files-may-identify-more-n1263329
I would not be surprised if that turned out to be the case.
I would not be surprised if that turned out to be the case.
once_upon
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I think the problem is much, much larger than even this find is.
canbelto
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Biden sending aid to Palestinians:
www.nytimes.com
Reversing Trump, Biden Restores Aid to Palestinians
The move will once again make the United States a leading donor to the United Nations agency that assists about 5.7 million Palestinians in the Middle East.
Frau Muller
Proud Puerto Rican-Russkaya!
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The Ruling Class of the DC area - whether R or D - only cares about maintaining the status quo Contracting system. For Mitch, his wife, and their ilk, it’s all about $$$ and not rocking the boat on awarding contracts and favors. Feathering their nests. Any outside threat to “the system,” regardless of party, is the enemy. If we want a truly viable 2nd party, it should be led by a true progressive, younger than Bernie but of his mindset. Someone who sees our new immigrants as more than cheap labor and future votes. A massive clean-up of the system is required. It may not happen in our lifetimes but who knows? Miracles can happen.
clairecloutier
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A column by Ezra Klein about why and how Biden has moved to the left as President:
www.nytimes.com
Overall, it's a somewhat heartening piece. I have my issues with what's gone on since the election, but I certainly do appreciate the generally leftward and unapologetic trend of the administration.
On balance with that, though, we had this lovely piece yesterday from Senator Joe Manchin, in which he said he would not support restructuring, weakening, or getting rid of the filibuster and instead supposedly wants bipartisan legislation.
Someone posited on WaPo that Manchin secretly wants to get back to the days of McConnell leading the Senate, because that meant no pressure and no hard choices for him, as bills mostly got killed without ever coming up for a vote. I wouldn't be surprised if that's his whole game.
Opinion | Four Ways of Looking at the Radicalism of Joe Biden
It’s unexpected, but it’s not inexplicable.
Overall, it's a somewhat heartening piece. I have my issues with what's gone on since the election, but I certainly do appreciate the generally leftward and unapologetic trend of the administration.
On balance with that, though, we had this lovely piece yesterday from Senator Joe Manchin, in which he said he would not support restructuring, weakening, or getting rid of the filibuster and instead supposedly wants bipartisan legislation.
Someone posited on WaPo that Manchin secretly wants to get back to the days of McConnell leading the Senate, because that meant no pressure and no hard choices for him, as bills mostly got killed without ever coming up for a vote. I wouldn't be surprised if that's his whole game.
I understand that he wants to be known as an individual.
As an individual, though, I sure wouldn't want to be the name & face that goes down with killing democracy. If voting rights do not get passed soon, he could easily get more of the blame as an individual than any solitary Republican.
(I understand that there is more than one way to pass voting rights, but it's got to be done. And it has to be done before Republicans try to manhandle the results of the midterm elections).
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caseyedwards
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Manchin during the Trump era opposed all of the big initiatives of republicans. Never helping with anything like obamacare repeal or tax cuts or immigration either. But so far he has voted 100% of time with Biden. All he wants is to make bills less liberal. He never wants anything conservatives passed. Just not totally liberal.A column by Ezra Klein about why and how Biden has moved to the left as President:
Opinion | Four Ways of Looking at the Radicalism of Joe Biden
It’s unexpected, but it’s not inexplicable.
Overall, it's a somewhat heartening piece. I have my issues with what's gone on since the election, but I certainly do appreciate the generally leftward and unapologetic trend of the administration.
On balance with that, though, we had this lovely piece yesterday from Senator Joe Manchin, in which he said he would not support restructuring, weakening, or getting rid of the filibuster and instead supposedly wants bipartisan legislation.
Someone posited on WaPo that Manchin secretly wants to get back to the days of McConnell leading the Senate, because that meant no pressure and no hard choices for him, as bills mostly got killed without ever coming up for a vote. I wouldn't be surprised if that's his whole game.
clairecloutier
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You really need to read Joe Manchin's bio. It details numerous areas in which he has supported Republican and/or Trump policies. So yes, he does want things passed that conservatives want passed. As to voting 100% of the time with Biden, LOL. At this point, that more or less equates to a single yes vote on the American Rescue Plan, which was extracted only under duress.
Joe Manchin - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Joe Manchin is a DINO.
ETA: And, in a WaPo editorial today, Jennifer Rubin argues that Manchin likes the filibuster--just as I speculated earlier--because it allows him to avoid hard votes and unpopular positions. When nothing happens and no votes are taken, as Rubin points out, responsibility is diffused. "For a conservative Democrat (or a moderate Republican when his or her party has the majority), the filibuster often allows one to hide from difficult choices." If you look at Manchin's Wiki bio, you'll see there are several controversial bills from years past that he just never voted on because he was "absent."
So, Joe Manchin is also a do-nothing DINO.
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MsZem
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Not really. Manchin is on the conservative edge of the Democratic party, but he's supported and voted for plenty of key Democratic priorities. And I'm sure I don't need to tell you that he's better than the alternative, and has to play it smart to keep winning in West Virginia. Ask @rfisher.
clairecloutier
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You can tell it to me all you want. That doesn't mean I will agree.
At this point I don't see much difference between him and a Republican.
Or, let him prove over the next year that there IS a difference.
MsZem
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Really?
Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump
FiveThirtyEight is tracking which senators and representatives agree and disagree most with Donald Trump.
AFAIK they don't have a tracker for the Biden presidency, but this looks interesting:
Sen. Joe Manchin open to party-line vote on future bills with voting rights legislation now in focus
The Senate's ********* relief bill lowered enhanced federal unemployment benefits to $300 per week and excludes a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
You're not going to get anyone more progressive elected to statewide office in West Virginia in the foreseeable future. It may be possible to replace Sinema with someone more left-leaning, but you'd need a really good candidate.
caseyedwards
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He never supported a trump policy. It was just recent. It just happened. He never voted with trump on an issue ever. Maybe except fracking and coal mining. But that’s all I can remember!You really need to read Joe Manchin's bio. It details numerous areas in which he has supported Republican and/or Trump policies. So yes, he does want things passed that conservatives want passed. As to voting 100% of the time with Biden, LOL. At this point, that more or less equates to a single yes vote on the American Rescue Plan, which was extracted only under duress.
Joe Manchin - Wikipedia
Joe Manchin is a DINO.
ETA: And, in a WaPo editorial today, Jennifer Rubin argues that Manchin likes the filibuster--just as I speculated earlier--because it allows him to avoid hard votes and unpopular positions. When nothing happens and no votes are taken, as Rubin points out, responsibility is diffused. "For a conservative Democrat (or a moderate Republican when his or her party has the majority), the filibuster often allows one to hide from difficult choices." If you look at Manchin's Wiki bio, you'll see there are several controversial bills from years past that he just never voted on because he was "absent."
So, Joe Manchin is also a do-nothing DINO.
BlueRidge
AYS's snark-sponge
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Manchin has already proved his worth. He voted for the ********* relief legislation which passed on a party-line vote. Had a Republican been sitting in that seat it would not have passed--or even come up for a vote because McConnell would have controlled the Senate.
clairecloutier
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AFAIK they don't have a tracker for the Biden presidency, but this looks interesting:
Sen. Joe Manchin open to party-line vote on future bills with voting rights legislation now in focus
The Senate's ********* relief bill lowered enhanced federal unemployment benefits to $300 per week and excludes a plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.www.cnbc.com
You're not going to get anyone more progressive elected to statewide office in West Virginia in the foreseeable future. It may be possible to replace Sinema with someone more left-leaning, but you'd need a really good candidate.
That article is from March 7. Since then, Manchin has thrown shade on the prospect of doing the infrastructure etc. bill through reconciliation. And he's been telling anyone who will listen how he's not going to reform the filibuster and won't do anything without bipartisan action.
Like I said, he can show where he stands on the issues. Until he does, my opinion of him will stay the same. Yeah, he voted for the initial Biden relief bill, but only after extensive arm twisting, and only after personally seeing to the reduction of unemployment benefits for thousands and the elimination of thousands of families from any stimulus benefit.
And that may very well be the last Democratic bill he ever votes for. I would not be surprised if that is the case.
His latest thing, I guess, is suggesting that we shouldn't go too far with voting rights legislation because that might upset the Trump supporters out there.
Joe Manchin: Any Voting Rights Legislation Has To Make Trump Supporters Happy
It will be hard to "restore bipartisan faith" in elections with Trump out to destroy it.
I don't really care if he wins again in WV or not. He can't be counted on. He is not reliable. The Democrats are going to have to figure out how to win more Senate seats elsewhere, it's that simple. The fact that we failed in so many races in 2020 is an indictment of the party's messaging and candidate selection and I just hope someone, somewhere, in the party can figure out how to do better in 2022.
That this thread keeps turning into the Joe Manchin Appreciation Society is laughable. I suppose you all spent time reading the "Joe Manchin is a political genius" articles a couple weeks ago too.
MsZem
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Claire, I'm sorry but this is ridiculous and you know it.
I read rfisher's posts. Personally I think Joe Biden is a political genius. He's getting a lot done without making a production out of it. Experience matters.
Living as I do in Bibiland, trust me - you're better off with the current US political landscape. Including Manchin.
caseyedwards
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Just think it’s interesting to note Clinton had to deal with 20 Manchin’s! Obama close to 10. Biden only has 2. Getting to zero! That’s because try Democratic Party has really reached total ideological purity in every state.
BlueRidge
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I'm more irritated with Sinema than Manchin. I mean granted if he won't support any iteration of the infrastructure bill that is pretty close to being the kind of friend you say of "with friends like this who needs enemies," but we don't yet know if Dems can pull off getting his vote for a meaningful bill.
I think AZ could have a Senator who would vote with Biden. Actually it does, Mark Kelly. I don't get Sinema at all.
I think AZ could have a Senator who would vote with Biden. Actually it does, Mark Kelly. I don't get Sinema at all.
MsZem
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I'd love to know where she gets all her cute outfits, but politically she's just odd.
clairecloutier
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MsZem
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LOL! I hope you sent all those columnists a thumbs-up on their "genius" articles!
I think you need a break. I recommend rewatching Nathan Chen's FS from Worlds.
BlueRidge
AYS's snark-sponge
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No one here likes Joe Manchin's politics. But we think it would be worse to have another Shelley Moore Capito instead (or worse it could be a Marsha Blackburn).
I was quite upset when he hinted he won't support another bill passing through reconciliation. But its one of those things you just can't do anything about. What we can do is work to get more Dems into the Senate from other states in 2022. And if Manchin goes along with Republicans torpedoing Joe Biden's agenda then Dems need to campaign on getting the infrastructure bill passed in 2023 because it is a very popular bill and Republicans can yell "woke" and "cancel culture" all they want, they aren't going to win elections on that.
I wonder if there's anything Biden could give Alaska to get Murkowski on board? Maybe he should look beyond Manchin if he can't get him.
I was quite upset when he hinted he won't support another bill passing through reconciliation. But its one of those things you just can't do anything about. What we can do is work to get more Dems into the Senate from other states in 2022. And if Manchin goes along with Republicans torpedoing Joe Biden's agenda then Dems need to campaign on getting the infrastructure bill passed in 2023 because it is a very popular bill and Republicans can yell "woke" and "cancel culture" all they want, they aren't going to win elections on that.
I wonder if there's anything Biden could give Alaska to get Murkowski on board? Maybe he should look beyond Manchin if he can't get him.
Honestly, if the Biden administration advertises any kind of major infrastructure project for a specific Republican Senator's state . . . how well is that Senator going to do turning it down?
At the moment the press coverage for the plan is very broad. It's difficult for people to see how it will impact them. But I mean . . . there has to be more than one Republican Senator that owes blank construction company or a significant Republican voting constituency that really needs a big local project. I'm not suggesting favoritism. Just more detailed state-specific communication. (I know the administration is working on this, but they could turn up the dial if they needed to; don't you think?) This is what the plan is all about. Infrastructure in places that need it & aren't likely to be prioritized for it without federal help.
I realize that many Republican leaders are currently on their own planet. But when someone proposes a major infrastructure project where I live--when it becomes a real possibility & people know the actual details & can actually anticipate an improvement in their lives--if you kabosh the plan, they hold a grudge foreeeeever. (Hence, the folks that were hoping for a fracking boom are bummed). I think if the administration were to get into the nitty gritty, bring the message home to people in a particular state with specifics about what folks have to gain or lose, state constituents & associated businesses could be pretty convincing.
MacMadame
Staying at home
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Biden is the real genius.
He'll put stuff like that in there. He probably already has. (There are items that seem to me would benefit some states more than others.)
Amy L
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Aren't a lot of Alaskan cities/towns not connected by road? I know the small airline business is big there. There's a lot of pork potential in that state to woo Murkowski.