Rather than asking Manchin/Sinema for the 100th time whether they support dumping the filibuster, maybe reporters should ask them *what they are doing* to win the Republican votes they need in a 60-vote Senate to pass things they say they support.
‘Cause it sure seems like they aren’t doing a damn thing; they’re just A) claiming to support legislation while B) refusing to pass it with only Dem votes but C) waiting for someone else to win over Republicans.
Example: Sinema *says* she supports the For the People Act, though she won’t ditch the filibuster to do it.
OK, @SenatorSinema, what have you done this week to persuade 10 Republican Senators to vote for it? Which of your Republican colleagues have you lobbied? How did that go?
OK, @SenatorSinema, what have you done this week to persuade 10 Republican Senators to vote for it? Which of your Republican colleagues have you lobbied? How did that go?
Joe Manchin *says* he supports voting rights, but only with Republican votes. OK, @Sen_JoeManchin, what have you done this week to win those votes? Which Republican colleagues have you lobbied?
Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are not mere *pundits,* powerless to do anything but speculate. They have agency. If they sincerely support voting rights but want Republican Senators’ votes for it, it’s *on them* to go get those votes. That’s the job. What are they doing?
Manchin/Sinema *could,* if they gave a damn, tell Republicans "we'll pass this without you, and we'll pass a version you REALLY won't like. Or you can vote with us and we'll do a version you like a better."
But they'd rather feign powerlessness. Responsibility terrifies them.
But they'd rather feign powerlessness. Responsibility terrifies them.
Anyway: They want to pretend they're just observers, with no responsibility. If *someone else* wins 10 Republican votes for a bill, they'll vote for it. Fuck that. 10 GOP votes is the strategy *they* want, *they* need to get them. And that's what reporters should press them on.
Does Manchin really stand out for working with Republicans? Guy has introduced 180 bills and 1 of them has become law. Sinema has intro’d 80 bills; 2 have become law.
What, exactly, are they doing to win the GOP support they say is essential for the bills they say they support?
What, exactly, are they doing to win the GOP support they say is essential for the bills they say they support?
Kinda seems like Manchin and Sinema don’t really want to “work with Republicans” — they know that’s basically impossible. They just want to use other Democrats’ failure to win Republican votes as an excuse for not doing things they claim they want to do.
So, again: Maybe reporters should stop asking Manchin/Sinema about the filibuster and start asking which Republicans they’re lobbying, and how.
Or ask Republicans! Has Susan Collins or Pat Toomey heard from Kyrsten Sinema about the For the People Act? Or is this all just BS?
Or ask Republicans! Has Susan Collins or Pat Toomey heard from Kyrsten Sinema about the For the People Act? Or is this all just BS?
Yes, good point, why bother to demonstrate that people who claim to support democracy are in fact hastening its demise. Nothing matters, we’re all going to die, you’re very savvy, congratulations.
https://twitter.com/somanyshrimp/status/1400921416472707073
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