LogFAQs > #951305564

HeroDelTiempo17 posted...

But it shouldn't be on progressives to do this! Every person in a leadership role to the left of Manchin should be bullying the shit out of him and riling his constituents up.

You're right, it shouldn't be! But depending on how brittle the relationship between Manchin and Senate Leadership is that could be a dangerous move for them. Like I said, while I don't think the relationship has deteriorated anywhere near such a point, Manchin can single-handedly put them out of power by flipping to the Republicans. Hell, they'd welcome him with open arms. So if such an aggressive action came from his own colleagues it might push him towards that direction whereas if it comes from anywhere else it wouldn't.

Basically my working rule on this is that Manchin ultimately has the leverage and can win any game of chicken with Senate Dems because they need him more than he needs them. That's not true with his actual constituents. If the Senate Dems orchestrate such an effort it becomes part of that game of chicken they can't win. It's stupid af and I'm not saying they should do nothing, but the leadership has cause and reason to be more cautious and reserved in how they go after him. If you look at this bills as the only thing that matters, then yeah, they could go 100% hardball and pull all the stops but they have to worry about the VRA, judiciary confirmations, justice reform, the equality act, and all the other items on their agenda they want to pass.

Even the looming filibuster fight is a bit tricky because losing Manchin would lose them the ability to confirm judges and allow McConnell to go right back to fucking the judiciary even more by stacking it even more.

The situation just sucks all around.

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