Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are hardly politicians anyone should go out of their way to venerate; Sinema in particular (proudly bi, proudly a quirky dresser, maybe less-proudly a former Green Party anti-war campaigner) does seem like she was created in a lab to discredit a certain breed of Progressive™ activist who later becomes captured by bloodless careerism. Manchin’s political behavior, at least, is explicable: he’s the last gasp of a political prototype which has existed for many decades — the ancestral West Virginia “conservative” Democrat — but would have effectively gone extinct by now if not for the idiosyncratic endurance of Manchin himself. Sinema’s behavior, on the other hand, just comes across as purposefully chaotic and almost nihilistic, adhering to no recognizable prototype — and if it’s not purposeful, suggests no underlying attachment to coherent thought.
I am amazed at the restraint Senator Sinema has shown during the restroom and airplane attacks on her. And make no mistake, they are attacks. Attacks fomented by Biden himself. For far less on the campaign trail, candidate Biden was sticking fingers in peoples chest, calling people fat, dog faced pony soldiers, threatening to beat people up and invoking the memory of corn pop or some other breakfast cereal.
Great piece. We need to make these huge bills with tight deadlines and little press coverage are currently “the way things are done” in D.C. and how bloc voting is such an impediment to change/reform.
"The whole thing looks almost designed to ensure that normal people have little idea of what actually is being done by their representatives, or why so-called “social infrastructure” is now necessarily being paired with traditional physical infrastructure, or why gigantic all-encompassing bills are now the standard mechanism for passing anything into law."
could be that perhaps the DNC doesn't really want this, and are using those two as foils ?
I'm also trying to process why them being obstacles to funding bullshit like "education and training programs for identifying and addressing health risks associated with climate change for pregnant, lactating, and postpartum individuals" shouldn't be heralded by people who aren't bat shit crazy as being a patriotic and good thing ...which ought to be the lede of your story
Wow Michael, I usually love your stuff. This one I’m not so sure. Maybe I love this one too, but frankly I’m not smart enough to know, as you seem to be all over the map. I guess I could read it a couple more times to pick up your points, but nah, I just be happy and dumb.
It would be fun to ask a random group of voters (D, R, Independet, etc.) what they think is in this bill. And if they agree that these are good ideas given what's going on in their local district.
The Machine coming for Manchin and Sinema was obviously coming from a mile away. That The View, CNN, SNL and all the other default dem outlets started to rain down attacks was no surpsise. I was shocked that Breaking Points that usually at least tries to pierce the veil ran a segment on each of them in one day. They tend to like to dunk on the pols, but to miss the bigger picture on it was sad (I don't think they do a good job of going deep on most segments, their skills lies more in balanced curation).
You are of course right on the trend of massive bills with little scrutiny on the particulars, needed "RIGHT NOW", and presented as something that is so obviously good that you're evil for asking questions. This is not how to govern, and is about as bad as the trend of legislating via various executive branches, and emergency powers.
I am amazed at the restraint Senator Sinema has shown during the restroom and airplane attacks on her. And make no mistake, they are attacks. Attacks fomented by Biden himself. For far less on the campaign trail, candidate Biden was sticking fingers in peoples chest, calling people fat, dog faced pony soldiers, threatening to beat people up and invoking the memory of corn pop or some other breakfast cereal.
Great piece. We need to make these huge bills with tight deadlines and little press coverage are currently “the way things are done” in D.C. and how bloc voting is such an impediment to change/reform.
"The whole thing looks almost designed to ensure that normal people have little idea of what actually is being done by their representatives, or why so-called “social infrastructure” is now necessarily being paired with traditional physical infrastructure, or why gigantic all-encompassing bills are now the standard mechanism for passing anything into law."
You call that a bug. I call it a feature!
Worth noting that Sinema and Manchin have no particular demands. Just no. The USG is a moronic circus.
could be that perhaps the DNC doesn't really want this, and are using those two as foils ?
I'm also trying to process why them being obstacles to funding bullshit like "education and training programs for identifying and addressing health risks associated with climate change for pregnant, lactating, and postpartum individuals" shouldn't be heralded by people who aren't bat shit crazy as being a patriotic and good thing ...which ought to be the lede of your story
It's mildly interesting that the loquacious McCain was probably himself bisexual.
Well...I read your analysis' every time you post, but I think you missed something...it's not a fact or anything, it's just my own spidey sense...
I believe (and I already got $ on this) that Sinema's going to be the next president.
Wow Michael, I usually love your stuff. This one I’m not so sure. Maybe I love this one too, but frankly I’m not smart enough to know, as you seem to be all over the map. I guess I could read it a couple more times to pick up your points, but nah, I just be happy and dumb.
Yes, I'm sure they're both really bad, but I have a hard time remembering who they are
It would be fun to ask a random group of voters (D, R, Independet, etc.) what they think is in this bill. And if they agree that these are good ideas given what's going on in their local district.
The Machine coming for Manchin and Sinema was obviously coming from a mile away. That The View, CNN, SNL and all the other default dem outlets started to rain down attacks was no surpsise. I was shocked that Breaking Points that usually at least tries to pierce the veil ran a segment on each of them in one day. They tend to like to dunk on the pols, but to miss the bigger picture on it was sad (I don't think they do a good job of going deep on most segments, their skills lies more in balanced curation).
You are of course right on the trend of massive bills with little scrutiny on the particulars, needed "RIGHT NOW", and presented as something that is so obviously good that you're evil for asking questions. This is not how to govern, and is about as bad as the trend of legislating via various executive branches, and emergency powers.
You write very well, it’s a great pleasure to read.
Worth noting that Sinema and Manchin have no particular demands. Just no. The USG is a moronic circus.
Worth noting that Sinema and Manchin have no particular demands. Just no. The USG is a moronic circus.