Over the weekend, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin made a whole bunch of liberals (progressives) really mad. What did he do? He answered, on FOX News no less, that he would oppose the multi-trillion dollar so-called Build Back Better bill. I usually refer to this monstrosity as Biden’s Bad Bill, or Biden’s Bankruptcy Bill, or well, you get the point.
Democrats were quick to jump all over poor Manchin, attacking him like they do Republicans just about every day. Here are a few examples. “He doesn’t have the guts to stand up to powerful special interests…He doesn’t have the courage to do the right thing…” – Bernie Sanders. “The Grinch just stole Christmas…” – Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett. “Senator Manchin has a lot of explaining to do to the children” – Biden’s White House spokesperson Jen Psaki. (After all, everything the Democrats do is supposedly for the children.)
Now before Republicans get too excited, or Democrats get too depressed, or the mainstream press reports, as usual, only what’s on the surface, let me dig a little deeper, and tell you what I think. If you look at what Joe Manchin said, exactly, “I’m a no on this legislation” I would put the emphasis on the THIS legislation, meaning the whole package, with each and every outrageous spending program.
Here’s what I’ve learned in my 25 years in Congress – it’s not over until it’s over, and even then it isn’t over. After much finger-pointing, and wailing and gnashing of teeth, I would expect Manchin, and the Biden administration, and the Democrats in Congress, to go back behind closed doors, and continue to thrash out some sort of deal. Because in the final analysis, Democrats will do what Democrats love to do – spend your money, and usually lots of it. And there’s so much money in Biden‘s Bad Bill, that I don’t think they’re going to want to leave that money on the table – they’re going to want to spend it.
And there are two ways I could see this playing out. Either they break this huge mega- spending bill into smaller pieces, which could be more easily digested, and passed, or they cut out the parts of the overall bill which are most objectionable to Manchin, and pass what’s left. Or, of course, maybe nothing passes. We’ll see.
I hate to see our nation in this predicament – that our fate depends totally on what the Democrats decide. But that’s what happens when one party is in complete control of the House, the Senate, and the White House. But as they say, elections have consequences.
The good thing is, we have an excellent chance of changing things this election cycle – especially in the House (where I am.) All 435 seats are up for reelection. Of course the reality is, only a portion of them are truly “up for grabs.” Mine happens to be one of them.
Republicans only need to pick up a net five seats to take over the House, and remove the Speaker’s gavel from Nancy Pelosi‘s hands. In order to accomplish this, we must do two things – beat Democrats in seats where their incumbents are vulnerable, and hold onto seats where our incumbents are vulnerable.
My seat is in the latter category. Why? Because our district is considered a swing district. Even though it leans slightly Republican, there are a lot of Democrats in our district, especially within the city of Cincinnati. Over the years, I’ve had most of the city of Cincinnati. As a result of the recent redistricting, I’m going to have ALL of the city.
President Trump carried our district in 2016 and 2020 by the narrowest margin of any Republican-held district in Ohio. So we have our work cut out for us. And I need your help if we are going to overcome the millions of dollars that Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies will spend trying to defeat me.
You can help by clicking here, or you can send a check to Chabot for Congress 5750 Given Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45243.
Sorry to bug you again about contributing, especially so close to Christmas, but this quarter ends in about 10 days, December 31, and I have to report how much I’ve raised thus far. Pelosi‘s political operatives will be scouring the numbers to see who’s vulnerable, so I’d really appreciate your help.
Thanks so much for your support in the past, and this quarter if possible. God bless, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!