All of Washington is marveling at how Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has the Democratic Party twisting itself into pretzels trying to appease his “moderate” sense and sensibilities. To put it charitably, this is playing out like the idiomatic tail wagging the dog.
After all, despite this appeasement, Manchin is pooh-poohing the likelihood he’ll vote even for voting rights bills, including the For the People Act that every other Democrat deems a fundamental, if not existential, priority. Even worse, he’s reveling in the political angst he’s causing – complete with ubiquitous TV appearances to give Republicans fodder for sloganeering.
Most powerful man you’ve never heard of: Meet the boat-dwelling, gun-toting Democrat with the future of America in his hands: Joe Manchin is the most conservative Democrat in the US Senate – and holds the keys to Joe Biden’s massive spending plans
It would be an understatement to say headlines like the above – from the May 1 edition of The Telegraph – is getting to his head. He would have you believe he’s standing his ground to preserve the Senate’s “regular order” – most notably the parliamentary purity of the filibuster. Except, if you believe that, you’re as politically naïve as Manchin is politically conceited.
Apropos of which, it’s no accident that Manchin stands alone among Democrats in opposing DC statehood. Because this self-centered SOB knows that, the minute two senators are sworn in from DC, his vainglorious role as kingmaker of the Democratic agenda will be history. Only this explains him joining Republicans to force Democrats to overcome all kinds of legal and political obstacles to forestall the inevitable for as long as possible.
But it did not have to be this way. For here is what I proposed to prevent this all too foreseeable political farce in “Biden, Don’t Bank on Flipping Two Seats in Georgia. Barter with Sitting Republican Senators.” November 13, 2020:
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He should task his newly appointed chief of staff, Ron Klain, to make secret, back-channel overtures to select Republican senators of states with Democratic governors. The aim is to offer them either a cabinet position or plum ambassadorial assignment that would tempt even the most rabid Trumpster.
Truth be told, though, these senators would probably welcome any offer as a political life raft. This, to jump off the batshit-crazy ship that is the Republican Party sinking into a black hole of President Trump’s devices.
There are at least three of them in three states (Kansas, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina) who fit the bill. No appointment or assignment is too ‘sacred’ to barter for guaranteed control of the Senate.
Once two of those Republicans bite, the Democratic governors of their respective states will then have the authority to appoint Democratic senators to replace them. In which case, no matter what happens down in Georgia, Biden will have a Congress wholly controlled by Democrats to help implement his progressive agenda.
Checkmate! You’ve not only wrested control of the Senate from Republicans but fulfilled your promise to have a government of national unity that “looks like America.” How’s that for killing two birds with one stone…?
So, just do it!
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Except that Biden didn’t do it. He failed to seize this opportunity to appoint a single one.
Granted, even though President-elect Barack Obama appointed three Republicans to his Cabinet, his bid for bipartisanship ultimately proved unrequited. Still, given Biden’s unique circumstances, I presumed he would emulate his former boss by appointing at least one, strategically.
Again, all he had to do was siphon off a Republican senator from a state with a Democratic governor authorized to appoint the replacement. In doing so, he could have rendered moot all of the political sturm und drang everyone knew would characterize a 50/50 Senate even before taking his Oath of Office.
Still, it’s not too late to offer plum deals to a couple Republican senators to end this Manchin madness. For example, he’s fond of talking up his ties to Pennsylvania. Well, Pat Toomey not only voted to impeach Trump, which effectively ended his membership in the Republican Party, but he also announced his intent to retire.
Toomey would be an ideal candidate to pitch to resign now so Democratic Governor Tom Wolf could appoint a Democrat to replace him. Richard Burr of North Carolina also voted to impeach and has announced his intent to retire. So he is similarly situated and might be equally amenable.
In any event, apropos of those voting rights bills, the Republicans are engaged in an open and notorious conspiracy in state legislatures across the country to suppress Black votes and gerrymander Republican districts. This, in a brazen effort to seal the steal in future General Elections.
This is why it would be tantamount to political surrender if Democrats fail to use the federal power they now wield in Congress and the White House to put a check on all that. And, despite this Manchin charade, I am confident they will. This, by enacting both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
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Biden, don’t bank on flipping… filibuster…