"She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps us talking and working together. If she gets rid of that, then this would be the House on steroids," he says
Gabbard and Sinema are people that can be replaced with other democrats, but let’s not fool ourselves into thinking a more progressive person would likely get elected for Manchin’s West Virginia seat.
Manchin may suck, but he caucuses with the dems and puts the dems 2 seats over the majority line. Which means his existence currently allows the Chuck Schumer to replace Mitch McConnell, which means the dems control what comes to the floor in the senate.
On the one hand, this matters because it allows the Senate to actually approve qualified judges to the federal bench, instead of the insane ideologues the GOP puts there.
On the other hand, all the federal judges in the world mean very little when SCOTUS is as thoroughly corrupt and extreme-right as it is, and has no issue overturning whatever cases they want to achieve the decision they’ve already arrived at.
On the other other hand, Manchin got to obstruct otherwise-popular legislation from either passing, or even being brought up for a vote merely by threatening to vote against it.
On the whole we’re definitely better than we were before Biden took office, but I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on Manchin. The successes of the Biden administration are despite Manchin, not because of him.
Gabbard and Sinema are people that can be replaced with other democrats, but let’s not fool ourselves into thinking a more progressive person would likely get elected for Manchin’s West Virginia seat.
Manchin may suck, but he caucuses with the dems and puts the dems 2 seats over the majority line. Which means his existence currently allows the Chuck Schumer to replace Mitch McConnell, which means the dems control what comes to the floor in the senate.
They just can’t pass anything. But yeah, it is still better than what the other side would bring to the floor.
Don’t forget executive appointments. A GOP can block the appointment of normal judges and can fast track weirdos if someone like Trump is in office.
It’s more than passing laws.
On the one hand, this matters because it allows the Senate to actually approve qualified judges to the federal bench, instead of the insane ideologues the GOP puts there.
On the other hand, all the federal judges in the world mean very little when SCOTUS is as thoroughly corrupt and extreme-right as it is, and has no issue overturning whatever cases they want to achieve the decision they’ve already arrived at.
On the other other hand, Manchin got to obstruct otherwise-popular legislation from either passing, or even being brought up for a vote merely by threatening to vote against it.
On the whole we’re definitely better than we were before Biden took office, but I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on Manchin. The successes of the Biden administration are despite Manchin, not because of him.