"With Democratic Senator Joe Manchin it is never a question of whether he will support Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren’s worst ideas, it is merely a matter of when. Make no mistake, it is Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren who drive the Democratic agenda. President Joe Biden is simply the cheerleader rooting for Democrats to unite.
Starting in 1995, when working in the West Virginia State Legislature, I observed Senator Manchin’s career from the state senate to the governor to U.S. Senate firsthand. His loyalty to the Democratic Party is only surpassed by his obsession with being viewed as the key to legislation passing.
The $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill will prove to be the latest example. Senator Manchin’s loudest objections have been about the total amount. There does not seem to be much concern for the actual ideas and policies the bills fund. He is not alone. Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema and media defined “moderate” House Democrats have also focused their criticism on the total amount, not what is actually in the bills. President Biden, Senator Schumer, and Speaker Pelosi know this. Thus, we are now getting daily reports that differences among Democrats are narrowing the amount of government spending. Once Democrats agree on a lower amount, Americans will be left with policies that jeopardize our personal and economic security."
