I’m struggling with where to come down on this. What AOC did was tell all the progressives out there that they are being heard. That’s really important because Congress and legislation tend to move at a glacial pace. Meanwhile, Pelosi, Schumer and the other old school types can keep working behind the scenes even as they point out to Manchin and Sinema that they’re hanging out in the breeze and that there are other POV that need to be addressed in addition to theirs. I believe AOC is playing an important role and because of her youth, she can say some things that Pelosi and Schumer can’t.
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Yeah Nancy’s response is pretty damn hopeful.
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Personally I detest all this interpersonal chess-playing and mostly don’t do it, beyond trying to be tactful (don’t laugh). I’ve tried to always do things other people mostly can’t do, and get a) paid and b) left mostly alone. I don’t like trying to maneuver people into doing what’s in their own interest—I find it intensely frustrating. So I’m not coming on as any expert in how to handle Manchin. I just think she’s a little full of herself and it’s not helping, well, anyone really. All those people have egos. Nobody’s the shy, insecure type. But they manage it somehow.
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Well, it’s not in her nature to say, “That’s it. I give up. We’re fucked.” 
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To me, losing the Franchise is an existential event. Where Manchin fits in here will probably rest on activities away from the Headlines.
Those engaging in those activities are at least as aware of the nature of what threatens us.
But, as I alluded to above, sometimes there is a usefulness of a groundswell of feeling among us commoners.
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I can appreciate AOC wanting to move the country forward and in a more progressive direction, but, in general, that has to be done by speaking to and convincing the grassroots of the need for change and asking them to speak with their representative. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts -only the long game -and browbeating politicians at least nominally on our side will get us nowhere.
And, ironically, she’s at her best speaking to average citizens on the issues of the day.
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True. No one wants to see the sausage being made. However, isn’t that what so many are howling about? Transparency! Openness! Wonder where thoughtfulness comes in. So many act without thinking. Want instant results without careful deliberations or investigations. We should know everything! We have a right to see all the information! Used to work for a guy who always reacted and acted out before he heard the whole story. Lot of eating crow and apologizing went on. (At least he was smart enough and honorable enough to apologize.) When will we ever learn the art of the long game?
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I think it’s great that AOC is talking about the Koch connection. If Manchin can’t be moved by what’s right, maybe exposing him is the way to go, and only someone from our side can do it – and that means only someone like AOC. The party regulars can’t be this incendiary. So here we have the game today: Pelosi good cop. AOC bad cop.
I kinda like it but Manchin is so hard to call.
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I think it’s important to remind these folks that have been in Washington for a long time what all this mutual back scratching looks like to the folks back home especially when something as fundamental as voting rights is on the line. We don’t mind a bit of horse trading, but we do need to have our voting rights protected.
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Agree 100%.
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From the article:
["The White House has since signaled that the Biden administration hasn’t given up hopes of working with Manchin to push voting rights legislation through Congress, despite the centrist senator’s very public opposition to the sweeping ‘For the People Act.’
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Sunday echoed a similar sentiment, telling CNN that she feels optimistic that the West Virginia senator will change his mind on the sweeping voting rights bill, arguing that he ‘left the door open.’ "]
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and @osprey - we still have the John Lewis bill that Manchin says he’ll vote for.
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Then she needs to learn that one of the Koch brothers is now dead (like Francisco Franco) and stop referring to “the Koch brothers.”
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…and Julius Caesar…
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Is that what she did? Hysterical.
Or was she assuming that’s how people will always think of the name Koch, in the plural? Would make sense because that’s how the destruction in their name (and best interests) began, with both of them alive and doing all they could to hoodwink American voters.
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I seriously wonder how much of what their colleagues say even registers with congressional types. I really have no idea, but it seems at least likely that Manchin knows what someone like AOC thinks about this, and is more interested in what he’s having for lunch. I could be entirely off-base – I’m really curious, regardless.
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I do think she is a bright light for the party but this is not the way forward wrt Joe Manchin. HR 1 is in trouble with or without Joe Manchin. I have a sneaking feeling he is not the only Democrat who does not support the bill. The John Lewis voting rights bill should be taken out of HR 1 and voted on separately. Let’s see who is against that one.
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You are likely more correct than not. They all expect grandstanding from each other no doubt.
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OT: Oh, absolutely. Shorter Biden to Netanyahu: How can I miss you if you won’t go away, you MFer?
Netanyahu despicably tries to throw Biden under the bus as he petulantly leaves office. He’s been throwing quite the temper tantrum today.
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Not an unreasonable point, but I still can’t make not-a-goof out of it.
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