Biden Is Losing His Grip on the Democratic Party

Who is afraid of Joe Biden?

Judging by the last few months, the answer is that nobody is. Today is Thursday, and already this week has been a nightmare for the president. Yesterday, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia gave a series of interviews during which he poured cold water all over the White House’s preposterous “Build Back Better” bill — suggesting not only that it is an indulgence that should be delayed pending better economic news, but that much of what was produced in its name by the House of Representatives will have to be “scrubbed.” Last night, Manchin struck again, joining Senator Jon Tester of Montana in voting to reverse President Biden’s flagrantly unconstitutional federal vaccine mandate. And, on Tuesday, Senator Tester teamed up with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado, and the two Democratic senators from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, to tank Biden’s choice for comptroller of the currency, Saule Omarova. “No,” it seems, is the Word of the Week for upper-chamber Democrats.

About the Author

Charles C. W. Cooke

Charles C. W. Cooke is a senior editor at National Review and the host of The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast.

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Who is afraid of Joe Biden?

Judging by the last few months, the answer is that nobody is. Today is Thursday, and already this week has been a nightmare for the president. Yesterday, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia gave a series of interviews during which he poured cold water all over the White House’s preposterous “Build Back Better” bill — suggesting not only that it is an indulgence that should be delayed pending better economic news, but that much of what was produced in its name by the House of Representatives will have to be “scrubbed.” Last night, Manchin struck again, joining Senator Jon Tester of Montana in voting to reverse President Biden’s flagrantly unconstitutional federal vaccine mandate. And, on Tuesday, Senator Tester teamed up with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado, and the two Democratic senators from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, to tank Biden’s choice for comptroller of the currency, Saule Omarova. “No,” it seems, is the Word of the Week for upper-chamber Democrats.