Unfortunately, we have to talk about Joe Manchin. Again. Still.
I wrote this a few months ago – my attempt to unpack Manchin’s core political project of status quo fundamentalism and what animates a man who seems all too willing to let democracy perish. Still relevant, sadly:
I wrote this a few months ago – my attempt to unpack Manchin’s core political project of status quo fundamentalism and what animates a man who seems all too willing to let democracy perish. Still relevant, sadly:
https://twitter.com/tzimmer_history/status/1402264036499202051
I think approaches that focus entirely on a mixture of opportunism and corruption must fall short. These are obviously important pieces of this puzzle. But ideology always circumscribes and defines the realm of opportunity – which makes Manchin *more*, not less of a problem.
“The world should be run by wealthy white (Christian) men” has always been the reactionary credo, shaping the American project from the start. And it has always extended well beyond the American Right, and extends beyond today’s Republican Party. It is also Joe Manchin’s credo.
I think we should take Joe Manchin’s worldview and convictions seriously: I see a man who truly believes in what he does – in his *right* to do as he pleases (very much including the privilege to enjoy all the financial benefits this entails for him personally and his family).
Rather than just opportunism and corruption, I see status quo fundamentalism: A man animated by the idea that America must always remain a place where wealthy white men like him are at the top; an ideological vision that will always revolt against “too much” social democracy.
https://twitter.com/tzimmer_history/status/1402264036499202051
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