(UnitedVoice.com) – For nearly six months, Democrats wasted their time and America’s fortunes pursuing a failed $2.5 trillion semi-socialist and global climate change agenda. In the meantime, inflation spiked, the national debt grew to $30 trillion nearly four years early, crime grew out of control in Democratic-led US cities, and President Biden’s disastrous military pullout from Afghanistan harmed our international reputation. Now, some Democrats want to repeat the miscalculation of 2021 all over again.
What are they thinking? In the second half of 2021, the Left ignored moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). He repeatedly signaled he was not on board with the Left’s agenda. He even wrote op-eds declaring his position and, on one occasion, blasted the Left while stating he wasn’t a liberal and will never be one. Where did it get the Left? In December, Manchin killed Build Back Better. Now, Democrats are still pushing, and Manchin isn’t changing. If anything, he’s gone even more right on climate change since December.
It’s Dead, but Democrats Can’t Move On
Heading into 2021, the Democrats held the majority in both chambers of Congress and the White House. Still, they didn’t have a mandate from voters to transform America’s economy, society, or government in a radical way. Polls increasingly show Americans disapprove of Democrats and their proposals, and they appear poised to vote Republican and flip the party advantage ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. If that doesn’t wake Democrats up, what will?
On Tuesday, February 1, the media asked Manchin about reviving Build Back Better. Manchin replied, “What’s Better? It’s dead.” So, what more does Manchin need to say on the matter? Democrats couldn’t persuade one moderate from a deep red state to swing to their side. The majority won on the issue.
For months, the West Virginia Senator expressed deep concerns about the inflation, the government’s role in creating it through the partisan $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act, and its impact on West Virginians. Manchin stated he’d talk to anyone, but the bill is dead, period.
Democrats in Disarray
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is doing all he can to hold his party together, but divisions among Democrats are widening. Again, he and Democratic leaders are creating a wider schism within the party. It’s unnecessary for Democrats, but it’s good for the GOP. Plus, it has the net effect of wasting Democrats’ time in the majority until the Republican cavalry shows up in November and puts an end to the Democratic nightmare inflicted upon America.
Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says any talk of relieving the $10,000 deduction on state and local taxes is dead. Sanders says it’s a vote for the wealthy, and he won’t support it. That’s another serious sticking point for Democrats that will be nearly impossible to overcome.
Other battles could loom over the Left’s agenda as well. Manchin now says he wants fossil fuel technologies to be a part of a climate solution, going against the holy grail of the Left, which wants to eradicate fossil fuels in favor of non-sustainable renewable energies.
The Bottom Line
What’s the bottom line? Manchin’s not blinking, and he’s not backing down. The Left’s agenda is dead heading into the primary election season. It’s exactly what Manchin wanted all along. In September, the Senator said if the Left doesn’t like how he votes, they need to vote in more progressives to counter him and make his vote not count. They have their chance.
So, does the Left have an uphill climb?
Fifteen Republicans and 13 Democrats are up for re-election this year. An additional six Senators are not running for re-election. Here’s what they are up against according to the Cook Political Report (Keep in mind these numbers could change throughout 2022 as economic, political, or world events change the political environment):
- 10 Democratic seats are Solid D. One seat is classified a Lean D, and three are toss-ups.
- 15 Republican seats are Solid R. Two seats are Lean R, and three are toss-ups – but only one is actually seated as two Republicans announced they are not running for re-election in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
So, it’s going to be an interesting election year. It will all hinge on the quality of the opposition candidates and whether Democratic voters choose to go farther left in primary elections. Either way, whoever is in the majority will likely face numbers not all that different than things are right now.
Manchin’s vote will probably still matter.
Don Purdum, Independent Political Analyst
Copyright 2022, UnitedVoice.com
