F*ck Joe Manchin

Here we fucking go again, everyone. I am struggling to understand why there is a "D" beside this guy's name. He fails the Democratic party every single time we need everyone on board for important legislation. It all comes down to Joe. We have to kiss his fucking ring, or he votes (or doesn't vote) with the Republicans. He is going to switch sides anytime legislation comes up that might be deemed progressive. I am tired of Democrats ruining Democrat's chances at a progressive agenda!

He has the nerve to pen this trash. His fucking thesis is plain wrong. Joe writes:

The right to vote is fundamental to our American democracy and protecting that right should not be about party or politics. Least of all, protecting this right, which is a value I share, should never be done in a partisan manner.

That is total shit. If one party is against fucking slavery, and the other isn't, should we hold off? This user on Reddit

He continues,  suggesting that voting rights have become so overtly "become overtly politicized."

Unfortunately, we now are witnessing that the fundamental right to vote has itself become overtly politicized. Today’s debate about how to best protect our right to vote and to hold elections, however, is not about finding common ground, but seeking partisan advantage. Unfortunately, we now are witnessing that the fundamental right to vote has itself become overtly politicized. Today’s debate about how to best protect our right to vote and to hold elections, however, is not about finding common ground, but seeking partisan advantage. Whether it is state laws that seek to needlessly restrict voting or politicians who ignore the need to secure our elections, partisan policymaking won’t instill confidence in our democracy — it will destroy it.

Is he implying that people in his own party don't want secure elections? These are almost verbatim Republican talking points!

Fuck you, Joe! Voting and our right to vote is part of what makes America's political system special, along with the peaceful transfer of power. Just because something is politicized and one party doesn't sign on to it has no bearing on whether something is a good bill or not - so fucking weird to suggest this. Mr. Manchin then lets us know the truth:

...(the) 800-page bill has garnered zero Republican support. Why? Are the very Republican senators who voted to impeach Trump because of actions that led to an attack on our democracy unwilling to support actions to strengthen our democracy? Are these same senators, whom many in my party applauded for their courage, now threats to the very democracy we seek to protect?

Joe knows the answers to these rhetorical questions but still insists we need to work with these folks, and from this, he makes his conclusion:

The truth, I would argue, is that voting and election reform that is done in a partisan manner will all but ensure partisan divisions continue to deepen.

I am aware that my writing is a work in progress, but I don't find this piece to be very persuasive. He posits that things are so fucking bad we need to work with our captors. The party that lied to the American people about the election then backed an insurrection that violated the time-honored tradition of the peaceful transfer of power needs to be part of the solution?  

Seriously, I will repeat it!  Fuck you, Joe!  This guy is a major blockade for Democrats, and I am not convinced he is a player. Either way, he goes to bat for the other team every fucking time we need him.