With Friends Like These…

[lizkat]

Joe Manchin opposes climate legislation. Meanwhile, residents of his state are having their lives destroyed by climate change. He doesn’t care about the residents of WV. He cares about his investment in a coal company and the money coming into his campaign from fossil fuel interests.

As Manchin Blocks Climate Plan, His State Can’t Hold Back Floods (Published 2021)

As the senator thwarts Democrats’ major push to reduce warming, new data shows West Virginia is more exposed to worsening floods than anywhere else in the country.

www.nytimes.com

Inquiring minds of the 2020 Biden-Harris voters want to know this: How does Mr. Coal Manchin get to dictate the actual legislative climate change mitigation policy of the Democratic Party when the Dems' platform has read more like some kind of glossy brochure from an investment firm looking to convince clients they're really serious about their Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance aspirations?!

 

[Herdfan]

Joe Manchin opposes climate legislation. Meanwhile, residents of his state are having their lives destroyed by climate change. He doesn’t care about the residents of WV. He cares about his investment in a coal company and the money coming into his campaign from fossil fuel interests.

As Manchin Blocks Climate Plan, His State Can’t Hold Back Floods (Published 2021)

As the senator thwarts Democrats’ major push to reduce warming, new data shows West Virginia is more exposed to worsening floods than anywhere else in the country.

www.nytimes.com

We have always had floods. It is what happens when you build towns in a deep valley with a creek or river. Unlike the midwest floods which you can somewhat plan for, these hit quick. One big thunderstorm cell can drop 4" in a small area and then watch out. Hits fast, the only good part is unlike midwest floods, the water recedes almost as fast as it rose.

I don't see this being resolved between Manchin and Sinema. He opposes the Climate aspect, she requires it. Make concessions to get him, you lose her and vice versa. If they want something passed it is going to have to be a pared down bill. That is the reality whether people like it or not.

 

[JayMysteri0]

I've always said "motive is important". You need to know why someone is REALLY doing something,

https://www.twitter.com/i/web/status/1449777214057295875/

Not the bullshit that the program is too big or too expensive. Not that his constituents don't want it, despite polling saying otherwise, and his own constituents going to great lengths to tell him otherwise. Not the never ending new reasons why he can't agree, when any concession made is attempted.

https://www.twitter.com/i/web/status/1449866575964688394/

As I've also said before, there will ALWAYS be something else that Manchin KNOWS isn't acceptable, that he needs a concession on.

All in the hopes that he thinks no will see the truth.

There's always an obvious reason, and being the congress person that gets the most attention from specific sources...

It's the oldest political reason in the book, ...profit.

https://www.twitter.com/i/web/status/1449934341254131712/

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

Manchin Demanded Bank Bailout Before Slamming “Entitlement Mentality”

The West Virginia coal magnate is threatening to kill the reconciliation bill on the anniversary of his pivotal push for a Wall Street bailout

www.dailyposter.com

 

[JayMysteri0]

https://www.twitter.com/i/web/status/1450209725984002051/

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

https://www.twitter.com/i/web/status/1450209725984002051/

Is this being drilled into people's skulls on mainstream media or only by social media "communists!"

 

[JayMysteri0]

Is this being drilled into people's skulls on mainstream media or only by social media "communists!"

It's always been my observation that "apples to apples" type of conversations don't happen much in the supposed "mainstream media". Which is why we often get "apples to oranges" conversations on "msm", because fact checking isn't often a thing and allows for more headlines. Which is why we often get in forums "apples to quails" conversations, as some will go out of their way to avoid facts.

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

It's always been my observation that "apples to apples" type of conversations don't happen much in the supposed "mainstream media". Which is why we often get "apples to oranges" conversations on "msm", because fact checking isn't often a thing and allows for more headlines. Which is why we often get in forums "apples to quails" conversations, as some will go out of their way to avoid facts.

This is why I’ve said they shouldn’t be allowed to report unemployment data without including pay and cost of living data. Not doing so over many decades has let them conveniently make things sound rosy while the middle class disappears and a staggering amount of people live at or below the poverty line. I’d argue we’d be in a far better place if they had to report both.

Similarly they shouldn’t be able to report economic data without reporting how much was spent using credit. That also conveniently masks a concerning pattern.

 

[Alli]

I was hopeful when seeing Sen. Jayapal had met for several hours with Sen. Manchin and that she is feeling positive. Even more so to discover she’s already in talks with crazy Kristen Sinema. I really like Jayapal and hope she is able to make headway with these two.

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

I’m struggling to determine who is going to come out and attack them publicly for just voting to pass the damn thing. Exactly what is the downside for them? As far as non public attacks from their donors, I’ve never heard of any former Congress member retiring to poverty because they couldn’t land a single well paying gig after they left. Are the only available jobs lobbying for near or actual criminal corporate interests? Are there any lobbying groups that aren’t sworn enemies of the American people?

I think a silver lining is grassroots members and candidates are becoming more common who are free to call out corruption with other members. But for now way too many members remain quiet because then their own corruption could be brought into focus as a result of speaking out against the establishment.

 

[Herdfan]

I’m struggling to determine who is going to come out and attack them publicly for just voting to pass the damn thing.

At least in the case of Manchin, he would be voted out. And the seat would almost immediately turn Red.

So which would you rather have? Someone who votes with you 90% of the time or 0% of the time.

Also, little coverage is being given to those Manchin and Sinema are giving cover to. I suspect there are some purple state Dems who are happy the heat isn't on them. They may vote yes, but also may get booted next election.

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

At least in the case of Manchin, he would be voted out. And the seat would almost immediately turn Red.

So which would you rather have? Someone who votes with you 90% of the time or 0% of the time.

Also, little coverage is being given to those Manchin and Sinema are giving cover to. I suspect there are some purple state Dems who are happy the heat isn't on them. They may vote yes, but also may get booted next election.

Honestly, I’d have to see Manchin’s voting record before I could determine if he’s better than a 0% of the time voter. Knowing how our government works there’s actually a chance I disagree with or find little value in the 90% of the time they tow the party line.

I’m sure they are running cover for some Democrats but they are also allowing the entire Republican side to remain silent other than platitudes like “the debt!”, “welfare state!”, and “socialism!”

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

In deep red West Virginia, Biden’s $3.5tn spending proposal is immensely popular

Working-class people – even Trump voters – understand the Build Back Better plan will benefit them

www.theguardian.com

When the nonpartisan nonprofit WorkMoney surveyed more than 50,000 of its 2 million members nationwide, it found 81% of respondents said they supported this plan. That includes 90% of liberals who took the survey, 81% of moderates and 66% of conservatives.

Conservative backing appears even more robust in West Virginia, home of Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is one of the critical holdouts on the budget bill and whose efforts could derail the entire plan – or see large chunks of it scrapped as he balks at the budget’s price tag.

But according to the survey, 80% of more than 800 people surveyed in his home state believe he should vote to pass the bill. That includes 77% of conservatives who responded to the survey.

In conservative media land these kind of numbers are what they call "wildly unpopular".

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

Fun with math.

Roughly 14,000 people in West Virginia work in coal mining

The population of West Virginia is 1.7 million.

With rounding that is 0.83% of the population

I don’t want to be so bold as to call this minority rule, but I don’t know what else to call making 100% of a decision based on 0.83% of the population.

 

[lizkat]

In deep red West Virginia, Biden’s $3.5tn spending proposal is immensely popular

Working-class people – even Trump voters – understand the Build Back Better plan will benefit them

www.theguardian.com

When the nonpartisan nonprofit WorkMoney surveyed more than 50,000 of its 2 million members nationwide, it found 81% of respondents said they supported this plan. That includes 90% of liberals who took the survey, 81% of moderates and 66% of conservatives.

Conservative backing appears even more robust in West Virginia, home of Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is one of the critical holdouts on the budget bill and whose efforts could derail the entire plan – or see large chunks of it scrapped as he balks at the budget’s price tag.

But according to the survey, 80% of more than 800 people surveyed in his home state believe he should vote to pass the bill. That includes 77% of conservatives who responded to the survey.

In conservative media land these kind of numbers are what they call "wildly unpopular".

Yeah, so why are conservative media land fill-in-the-blanks still talking that way? The viewers of even their own stripe seem to get the actual picture. Maybe they don't connect the budget bill that Manchin's trying to gut with the funding of the plans the voters find appealing.

All comes back to hyperpartisan political speech and the fact that Dems somehow still let the far right define the Democratic Party's legislation and platform. Heh, we need a better token Democrat on Fox News?

 

[ronntaylor]

Fun with math.

Roughly 14,000 people in West Virginia work in coal mining

The population of West Virginia is 1.7 million.

With rounding that is 0.83% of the population

I don’t want to be so bold as to call this minority rule, but I don’t know what else to call making 100% of a decision based on 0.83% of the population.

He's making a decision based on an even smaller number: he and his daughter & their financial interests. She's a captain of the Corporate Medical Machine and he's personally invested in the Coal Enterprise Octopus. So fuck 1.7 million if it even just looks like anything will hurt his pockets.

He carried the last election by ~3% and probably won't run for re-election as it may be an uphill battle when he can retire to some cushy lobbyist job directly benefitting his pockets and his corporate owners. Dems should write-off West Virginia and hope they pick up at least a few seats next year. With PA, OH, & NC very good opportunities to pick up seats in 2022, they can overlook the WV race in 2024.

 

[SuperMatt]

In deep red West Virginia, Biden’s $3.5tn spending proposal is immensely popular

Working-class people – even Trump voters – understand the Build Back Better plan will benefit them

www.theguardian.com

When the nonpartisan nonprofit WorkMoney surveyed more than 50,000 of its 2 million members nationwide, it found 81% of respondents said they supported this plan. That includes 90% of liberals who took the survey, 81% of moderates and 66% of conservatives.

Conservative backing appears even more robust in West Virginia, home of Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is one of the critical holdouts on the budget bill and whose efforts could derail the entire plan – or see large chunks of it scrapped as he balks at the budget’s price tag.

But according to the survey, 80% of more than 800 people surveyed in his home state believe he should vote to pass the bill. That includes 77% of conservatives who responded to the survey.

In conservative media land these kind of numbers are what they call "wildly unpopular".

Manchin doesn’t care about his constituents. He cares about his coal investment and the huge donations coming from fossil fuel interests. What a jerk.

 

[Herdfan]

Fun with math.

Roughly 14,000 people in West Virginia work in coal mining

The population of West Virginia is 1.7 million.

With rounding that is 0.83% of the population

I don’t want to be so bold as to call this minority rule, but I don’t know what else to call making 100% of a decision based on 0.83% of the population.

Plus a multiplier of 2.25 for jobs that support mining such as equipment sales, conveyor manufacturers, etc.

The source is a pdf, but if you google WV coal mining job multiplier it will be the first hit.

Now I agree that the numbers aren't large, but in the mining counties, they are.

 

[Herdfan]

In deep red West Virginia, Biden’s $3.5tn spending proposal is immensely popular

Working-class people – even Trump voters – understand the Build Back Better plan will benefit them

www.theguardian.com

When the nonpartisan nonprofit WorkMoney surveyed more than 50,000 of its 2 million members nationwide, it found 81% of respondents said they supported this plan. That includes 90% of liberals who took the survey, 81% of moderates and 66% of conservatives.

Conservative backing appears even more robust in West Virginia, home of Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is one of the critical holdouts on the budget bill and whose efforts could derail the entire plan – or see large chunks of it scrapped as he balks at the budget’s price tag.

But according to the survey, 80% of more than 800 people surveyed in his home state believe he should vote to pass the bill. That includes 77% of conservatives who responded to the survey.

In conservative media land these kind of numbers are what they call "wildly unpopular".

Or maybe the fact that banks will have to provide the IRS total inflows and outflows of your bank account is a deal breaker.

 

[ronntaylor]

Plus a multiplier of 2.25 for jobs that support mining such as equipment sales, conveyor manufacturers, etc.

The source is a pdf, but if you google WV coal mining job multiplier it will be the first hit.

Now I agree that the numbers aren't large, but in the mining counties, they are.

Don't forget the jobs created for other staffing needs: doctors to treat black lung, nursing homes workers, home health aides, etc.