Posted on 02/08/2021 5:24:03 AM PST by EyesOfTX
Geez, you mean the Republican version of John McCain wasn’t bad enough? – The reliable leftists at Politico have a story out this morning in which they portray West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin as the “Democrat version of John McCain.”
Hooboy, spare us that fate, please.
The basic thesis of the piece is that Manchin is a “conservative throwback” to a past generation of Democrats, and a guy who regularly “speaks his mind” and votes against his own party.
Here’s an excerpt:
The West Virginia senator has become the central character in Democrats’ control of Washington, a conservative throwback who speaks his mind and is maddeningly frustrating to liberals. He sided with his party to give them a critical vote toward approving President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus plan, but is already vowing to cut back Democrats’ dreams of a $15 minimum wage and limit who gets direct checks.
“He’s kind of the Democratic version of John McCain,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “I say that partially in jest. But partially it’s true: Joe’s a hard guy to figure out how to lead. You know? He dances to his own music.”
Like McCain, the moonshine-swigging former quarterback isn’t afraid to let his colleagues know where he stands on a given day, either in the hallways of the Capitol or on cable news airwaves. Manchin often publicly discusses how he’s struggling with issues or tough votes. In a nod to his state, he lives on a boat while in D.C. named “Almost Heaven.”
[End]
But wait: Is this really true? Oh, Manchin certainly talks a good game, as long as Chuck Schumer isn’t hanging around to bully him. But does he actually follow through with the votes when it comes right down to truly being a McCain-style “maverick”?
Not really, no. Hell, just re-read the first paragraph of that excerpt: “The West Virginia senator has become the central character in Democrats’ control of Washington, a conservative throwback who speaks his mind and is maddeningly frustrating to liberals. He sided with his party to give them a critical vote toward approving President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus plan, but is already vowing to cut back Democrats’ dreams of a $15 minimum wage and limit who gets direct checks.” [emphasis added]
What does that tell you? Manchin talked a good game about the need to control absurd wasteful spending that permeates that bill, but then when it came time to cast a vote, he was bullied by Schumer into supporting it. That’s not anything like McCain, who had no problem siding with the Democrats whenever it fit his personal political agenda, advanced his own personal interests, and got him a 15-minute appearance with Chris Matthews on MSNBC’s “Hardball.”
That’s not to say Manchin isn’t like McCain in some respects. Witness this two-paragraph passage from the story:
“Joe loves to be in the middle of the action. And if you’re unsure about what he’s thinking in that moment, just turn on any TV set and there he is,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Manchin’s Republican counterpart from West Virginia.
Making known his dissension from Democratic Party orthodoxy is essential to Manchin’s political survival in a state former President Donald Trump won twice, by roughly 40 points. And though he has long sought to be an essential Senate moderate, he has found mostly frustration during his 10 years as a senator, eventually declaring of the hallowed chamber: “This place sucks.”
[End]
Yes, truly, the most dangerous place in Washington, DC for the final 20 years of his life was to be standing anywhere between John McCain and a TV camera. Today, that is most definitely true of Manchin, who is not even a little bit shy about standing before reporters and talking about his intentions of opposing the Democrat orthodoxy on an array of key issues. As the Politico writers point out, he knows he has to talk a good game to at least provide the appearance of moderation to the voters back home.
But again, when it comes down to actual vote-casting time, the only votes that he is allowed by Schumer to cast against the interests of the Democrat party are those in which he would not be the deciding vote, and thus do not matter.
So, if you’re one of the likely millions of conservatives who are currently hanging their hats on the prospect of good ol’ Joe Manchin killing Democrat wet dreams like repealing the filibuster rule or packing the Supreme Court, you are most likely going to be in for the letdown of your life when those matters actually come up for votes in the senate. Because the truth about Joe Manchin is that he is like McCain only in the sense that he craves attention and says things against his party’s orthodoxy when they serve his personal political agenda and get him a segment or two on MSNBC or CNN.
But when it comes down to sucking it up and casting the votes that would actually make a huge difference for the country, Manchin has always been and will always be useless.
Don’t get all dressed up waiting for Joe Manchin to be your hero, because he is the proverbial dreamy prom date who doesn’t show up.
That is all.
The date who whispers sweet nothings in your ear all the while dating and advancing the interests of your worst enemy... to YOUR detriment.
throwback who speaks his mind
throw them all back in the swamp. nuke it from orbit. it’s the only way...unless space force cyber has them
[But again, when it comes down to actual vote-casting time, the only votes that he is allowed by Schumer to cast against the interests of the Democrat party are those in which he would not be the deciding vote, and thus do not matter.]
I had his number along time ago. Total phony. Like all the RATS.
Manchin‘s moment of truth will come when the Senate votes to end the filibuster.
When I think of Joe Manchin, I’m reminded of his great campaign ad. Him shooting at a stack of Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Joni Ernst had a campaign ad that inferred that she was going to neuter Washington, D.C. politicians the same way she did to hogs back in Iowa.
Ben Crenshaw also had an impressive campaign ad.
Great campaign ads. Lousy politicians.
Oh wait a minute. Is this a Senator who represents his constituents?
Manchin represents a state that has been an economic disaster for decades. WV has more white people on welfare than any place on the planet outside Great Britain. It’s easy for Senate leaders to lead someone like this around by the nose just by loading up every bill with more money for West Virginia.
A throwback who speaks his mind, but votes his spine (or lack of it). The nanosecond his democrat masters’ shadows enter the room he folds like a cheap chaise lounge and meekly does Schumer’s bidding.
He’s not to be trusted. Ever.
Joe Manchin is a turd that should be flushed.
AGREE 100%
Just like Joe Lieberman was glossed up as “The Conscience of the Senate”. Such BS cover they run.
This is the persona he likes to portray to WV then he votes mostly in lockstep with Schumer. He’ll break ranks only when it doesn’t matter like with Kavanaugh just for show.
That’s a perfect example.
All frauds advancing the Bush Plan for North Mexico (aka USA)
thanks. bongiorno Scallion. luv the screen name. : )
Actually, he speaks the mind of Chuncy (or is Nanuck?).
Just like he’s told to do.
He’s managed to get away with the moniker of “moderate” by the media for as long as he has been in the Senate. I’d like to see an example of where he “crossed the aisle” and voted with the Republicans - and it made any difference . . .
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