If our gridlock politics were not enough, we have Joe Manchin playing the good guy and Mitch McConnell, as usual, playing the “grim reaper.” Both present insights into the state of Washington politics.
If you take Senator Manchin at his word, he is trying to be the grown-up in the room seeking compromise and fair dealing. He has a point about the need for bi-partisanship in passing laws and making policies. If we learned one thing from the Obama years, it is that major legislation passed by one party against the wishes of the other can become toxic at best and destructive at worst. Unfortunately, this lesson is sometimes lost in the heat of politics. One has to wonder what Manchin would say and do if he was not hostage to a Republican majority back home in West Virginia.
As to Senator McConnell, what is there to say that has not been seen before, most dramatically in his infamous trashing of now Attorney-General Merrick Garland as Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court. McConnell’s recent announcement that he would not support a Biden nominee to the Supreme Court if the Republicans regain control of the Senate speaks tomes. It’s business as usual for the Senate minority leader—take no prisoners and work to discredit and defeat your political opponents in all things. It should be no surprise that McConnell will oppose all Biden nominees to the high court even before they are announced and regardless of their credentials.
So much for bi-partisanship!
Good blog–and so true!
“. . . if he was not hostage to a Republican majority back home in West Virginia.” Hostage? What should he be? My guess is he was elected, that is individuals contracted with him (voted), in exchange for his commitment to represent their will. It’s a mistake to see the Congress as a gathering of elites coming together in agreement on how to best manage those folk back home. That would create fertile ground for tension and discord. Don’t you think?
Ah, those damn “elites” again. You do make an interesting point about my “hostage” remark, I will give you that. But what about bi-partisanship and the case of Senator McConnell? There’s more to the story Boo!