Joe Manchin is caving
As expected, Joe Manchin is beginning to cave on infrastructure. He’s now up to $1.5 trillion; he’ll go much higher. He also wants the Hyde Amendment, which he knows he won’t get. But the point is that he’ll continue caving on all of this, if you keep putting pressure on him. If you all do is sit back and complain about how Manchin “will never cave no matter what,” then you’re giving him the green light not to cave, because he can see that you won’t actually try to pressure him.
The same goes for Kyrsten Sinema. Yes, they suck. Yes, they have corrupt donors. But like all political opportunists, they know full well that they have to keep their nose just clean enough to have a chance at reelection when the time comes – and if you make it clear enough to them right now that you’re willing to work to oust them, they’re far more likely to cave in your direction on key votes.
There’s a reason why President Biden proposed a whopping $3.5 trillion infrastructure to begin with. You always start higher than you think you’re going to be able to get, so there’s room to negotiate. It’s how everything works, from negotiating an infrastructure deal, to selling a car and so on. Biden and the Democrats are going to get this done – but only if you help them out by placing the appropriate pressure on Manchin and Sinema right now. We can worry about primarying them later.
