The Book Of Manchin

Joe Biden will consider a framework for a bipartisan infrastructure deal on Thursday, after a group of lawmakers (five Democrats and five Republicans) managed to agree on the scaffolding for some $559 billion in new spending after days spent negotiating with White House aides. The price tag is, of course, well short of Biden's original plan, but since negotiations with Senator Shelley Moore Capito fell through, the infrastructure push has proceeded along two tracks. Apparently, Chuck Schumer an

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10 thoughts on “The Book Of Manchin

  1. “Defense spending amounted to $714 billion in FY 2020—and is expected to increase to $733 billion in FY 2021.”
    – GAO.gov

    And we can’t manage to figure out how to finance the fix for our crumbling infrastructure??

    Eisenhower was absolutely spot on in his warning about the military industrial complex.

    1. “And we can’t manage to figure out how to finance the fix for our crumbling infrastructure??”

      Sadly that’s not the point. We know how to fix infrastructure. It’s that the R’s can’t figure out how to make money for their donors. They would like everything to be a toll road/bridge/path/school/grid. The military gets money because the suppliers of military equipment are big donors.
      Seems it was said by Mitch or some other ranking R during the previous admin that they don’t even think it’s the government’s job to build roads. Seriousldy?? Notice the complete failure and waste of our interstate highway system. /sarc !!
      Why can’t the richest country in the world have nice roads? It shouldn’t be a head-scratcher.

      It should be painfully obvious that the R’s don’t give a wit about doing a thing for the people of this country unless they get votes and donations. Otherwise, forget it.

  2. Whatever happened to a basic level of healthcare for everyone, as in portable healthcare (coverage stays with you regardless of where you work and even if you don’t work)?
    This probably has a lot of support among all people, even if not among the elected GOPers.

  3. Since our economic system is built upon small rents being collected by a large corporations. It would seem reasonable that corporations should support most of the Democrats propositions, as it is the poor that pay the rents. Therein lies the greatest growth the Democrats can see is if they start convincing and tapping corporate monies.

  4. If we had a three party system we would not be talking about Bi-partisanship . In addition to the fact that Independent minded voters would NOT get the “for me or against me ” treatment from the Political system… Get the money out and Corporations lose some leverage and one man one vote is reality… Does Everyone really want that and that’s another issue that has been debated . Those are the choices that comprise the proverbial third rail !!! Tough issues …ALL.

  5. The most comprehensive term paper I ever wrote for a history course was a history of major scandals from around 1850 until around the time of the Korean War — Teapot Dome, Credit Mobilier, and on and on. The way money runs politics has never changed as far as I can see. All our elected representatives care about is keeping their jobs and the good life those jobs let them live. The power they get is important but only because it leads to more money. Amazing how every Congress person seems to be much richer after they’ve been in office. That means donors and graft and perks,etc. The beat goes on.

  6. Contrary to the commentary here, I think things are going pretty well for progressives. Don’t you think Biden extracted some promises from Sinema and Manchin for this deal? I bet there will be a reconciliation bill on top of what was agreed to today, and won’t be surprised to see a compomise voting rights act passed as well. Sinema and Manchin are playing the middle so they can get re-elected more easily. With 50 seats in the Senate on both sides I am so grateful for Manchin and Sinema being on the Democratic side. If Democrats win a few more seats in both houses maybe they can enact a more progressive agenda, but until that time Biden and the Democrats are on a roll and are playing the hand given expertly. So far so good. And by the way, many still seem to underestimate Biden’s political and policy skills. Is he perfect? No but he is playing the game really well, and the country should be thankful for it- other country’s progressives are watching what Biden does with some admiration. Look at what is going on in UK, France and Germany…where the US was at the bottom of the barrel a year ago, we are doing much better politically than those players right now.

  7. This has all been obviously telegraphed by the way. And yet somehow many are convinced of impending high inflation and a booming economy. The country is on a structural crash course to autocracy, a road paved by dysfunction and incompetence. This is what a couple years of once-in-a-decade control of government looks like. Are you not impressed, ladies and gentlemen? Now they are repeating Obama’s ‘09-‘11 mistakes step by step. Might as well bring back Larry for the reunion tour if they’re going to stick with his policies.

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