Manchin wants Biden to reverse pipeline

Sure, he's in WV. He's not going to hold up the COVID bill because of this.

Probably not, but the Biden admin is playing with fire here. Since his inauguration, Biden and his administration have been pressuring and antagonizing Manchin basically nonstop - but they cannot afford to have a falling out with him.

Biden needs Manchin a lot more than Manchin needs Biden, or the Democratic party. If he becomes a Republican, or just an independent caucusing with the GOP, Biden's presidency would be neutered right away, and Manchin would be guaranteed easy reelection in ruby-red WV until the end of time.

Spot on, since the inauguration Biden in his presidency has been arguably more antagonistic than trump was in his first few months as president.

It was odd when Harris went to WV to campaign or something without informing Manchin

https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1359595931293929480

Lawl.

Yeah, lol.
Also, did they seriously think that Kamala Harris has ANY sway with voters in West Virginia?

This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Feb 10 2021 03:59pm

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/i-will-destroy-you-biden-aide-threatened-a-politico-reporter-pursuing-a-story-on-his-relationship

Looks like a Biden press person(TJ Ducklo) went a little crazy on a reporter for covering his relationship with a journalist from Axios.

Some table setting first. This call was off-the-record. Somebody at Politico leaked the contents of an off-the-record call. Also, Palmeri is a right-wing journalist who works for Politico. I don't say that to excuse anything Ducklo did, but it's necessary context.

Anyway, the guy threatened her career, and made some silly and perhaps sexist comments. After Politico reached out to the White House after it happened, Ducklo apologized to the reporter. Now that the story is out, Ducklo is barred from interacting with journalists from Politico, and suspended one week without pay.

I think in the Before Times, this response would be sufficient. But I want Biden to rise above what was acceptable in Washington pre-Trump. He should fire this guy, not because he would get any credit from people who aren't Democrats, but because it would set a standard for behavior going forward in his administration.

I think his punishment should have been harder, not sure though if firing him outright was necessary in this case. But if Biden had fired the guy, I would definitely give him credit for it.

I just read Ducklo has stage 4 lung cancer. Perhaps that factored into the decision.