When historians come to write the political history of the year 2021, they will wonder in amazement at how steadfastly the Democratic Party refused to heed Senator Manchin’s plain words. The declination was routine and complete. Manchin made it clear that he would not support scrapping the filibuster; 48 of his colleagues heard “there’s a chance.” Manchin compiled a list of the provisions he wouldn’t vote for; Nancy Pelosi threw them into a bill and forced them through the House. Manchin told Chuck Schumer that he would not consent to a Bernie Sanders–led spendathon; Schumer tried to pass the New Deal. If it wishes to have a better 2022, the party must kick this habit fast.
Asked earlier this week about the future of Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda, Manchin made himself clear yet again. He is prepared to discuss the issue, he said, but, only if negotiations start “from scratch.” His terms? That, before anything substantial is done, the United States gets its “financial house in order,” gets “inflation down,” and gets “Covid out of the way.” “The main thing we need to do is take care of the inflation,” Manchin repeated. Beyond that, he wants to produce “a tax code that works” and to “take care of the pharmaceuticals that are gouging people with high prices.”
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