Fuck You (Joe to Joe)

Senate Democrats just tied a Reagan Era (a quite different one) record and confirmed the 40th Biden judicial nominee. Democrats returned sanity, integrity, and competence to the White House. They passed a Big V rescue plan. They passed an infrastructure plan (with a few Republicans, so it can be "bipartisan" to those who care; yeah enough to matter).

Biden worked to return children separated from their parents by Trump's disgusting policy.  I want to note this particular with this bullshit sort of thing where the rest is ignored (with a photo of him hanging out with a segregationist senator) because -- for the time being -- they didn't finalize a controversial financial payout.  Not that the gratuitous potshot at Merrick Garland alone doesn't show that guy's opinions are worth very little. 

Returned sanity on climate policy. And more.

But, DEMS IN DISARRAY!!!! The "DEMOCRATS" (so people keep on saying, including on the left side, AOC pissed President Biden didn't get Manchin on his side ... didn't actually say what magic he has to do so) ARE IN TROUBLE. Such is the line. Why? For a big reason, Joe f-ing Manchin. Oh, the fashion queen of Arizona doesn't help, but I doubt without his cover, Sen. Sinema would go all the way.

Now, on FOX (and more!), Sen. Manchin says he can't support the Build Back Budget Plan.  After the latest -- that negotiations would be pushed past the holidays, but President Biden himself put out a statement that "We will – we must – get Build Back Better passed, even in the face of Republican opposition."  That was THURSDAY.

The TPM link then talks about "progressives" responding to "centrist" Manchin.  Since I always let off some screaming, I'll just laugh. What is a "conservative" Democrat?  Also, it is not like EVERY SINGLE Democrat basically (well, other than a handful of the red district caucus in the House) must be pissed off at the guy.  What "non-progressive" is not really?  

This is ... well, I'll continue to speak in caps -- PRESIDENT BIDEN'S signature domestic bill.  I don't want to -- again -- suggest there is nothing else.  There are lots of things that make me happen Democrats control the White House and Congress (yeah, even Joe Manchin).  But, it's as he says at times, a BFD.   If Biden is what a "progressive" means, as compared to DEMOCRAT, well the citation to Rep. Omar and Sanders might mislead.

[I want to emphasize this.  The BBB is not the be all, end all of the Biden Administration or the Democrats control of Congress.

Voting rights alone comes to mind, though "oh we can focus on that now! is silly since without a filibuster opt-out, that too is blocked.  If he actually said I'll trade this with agreeing to a voter opt-out, it would have been a lot less aggravating on my part.

It is a major deal and Joe Manchin is screwing the party -- as in the party of the sane -- here.]

The BBB passed the House.  Even if you toss out == and I would not == Sinema, it has 48 members of the Senate.  That represent more than a majority of the country given two of them come from California.  What the fuck does Joe fucking Manchin, one senator from West Virginia, think he has to warrant overruling the President, the House, and the rest of the Democrats (yeah, he is one), and the American people, who support this regulation?  A big FUCK YOU to the guy.

Even here, I can't toss him on the trash pile, since his vote was necessary for various things to happen.  He is not a Republican.  The Trump, pro-insurrectionist, Party.   And, as the 50th vote, he gets to weaken the BBB (gratuitously in ways that will hurt the country).  That's how it works.  

He, of course, has the raw power to do this.  But, it is a total "screw you" move, especially now.  Anyway, what can you do?  Someone on AOC's thread suggested going after his daughter, who has financial.  As if there is some special magic pressure point that will solve everything. 

You can look that up, but there is just so much you can do there.  And, if people don't think Biden and company has tried various things to pass a basic thing, which doesn't need the end of the filibuster since it is done by an exception, they are likely lying to themselves.  This is quite important to winning the 2022 elections.  

They didn't half-ass this.  Manchin is just an asshole.  He is crying national debt. Again, talk of a "signature 2.2 trillion" bill is misleading at best. It's for TEN YEARS.  So, you know, that is .22 trillion, really.  

And, it isn't likely even to be that  -- if it was passed -- to get all the votes necessary.  Second, even the 10 year number is a third of the full budget for a SINGLE YEAR.  Third, why don't we list what is in it, instead of tossing around a number alone? 

Finally, the military budget greatly overshadows the social spending proposed.  The Senate passed THAT with around eleven people in opposition.  No concern about deficits (and the BBB is PAID FOR, except maybe a small fraction, if a perhaps somewhat optimistic estimate turns out to be wrong ... not that anyone fucking cares)  THERE.  Oh, one other thing Biden did was get our troops out of Afghanistan.

Rude Pundit posted something about being resigned the bad guys will win.  Fuck that too.  I survived this long and damn if I'm not going to assume otherwise for the nation as a whole.  Hell, I'm not totally done hoping something will come from this bill.  Oh, it will be too damn small and lack stuff it should have, but something still can be passed in 2022.

Meanwhile, maybe instead of DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY, talk of "DEMOCRATS" not doing stuff (which is wrong), maybe point to the full picture.  Nearly every Democrat, from the President on down, are on the right side.  Instead of such defeatist talk -- which encourages giving Congress to the Trump Party -- maybe, elect a few more Democrats so there will be room to make Joe much more irrelevant.  

Anyway, fuck you Joe, and duly noted that is what you are basically saying to me too.  But, appreciate the judges and stuff.

ETA:  Various details will come out after this rant of mine, including something I  added via a link after noting he announced this on FOX.  

For instance, now we have an official statement via Jen Psaki.  It's sort of a "fu" via the White House.  I would sign on to it myself. 

A later TPM piece noted "even moderates" are pissed off at the guy.  Of course, we now have more Lucy/football stuff, where he allegedly has a NEW deal to make.  Uh huh.

The most crafty scheduling probably is not only letting us see the new First Puppy (Commander, with big ears), but more teasing about a "female" First Cat due next month.  We shall see.