Of all the things I hate about modern politics, this is at the top of the list. Vote-trading, vote-selling or vote-shifting … whatever name you want to give it. They have to know the final outcome before they can commit. How about voting for the person or the legislation just on their respective merits. But no, they have to weigh the effect on their re-election or whether they are angering their leadership by voting “wrong”. If Manchin were the 50th confirming vote, I would have a lot more respect for him then if he weasels to be no. 53.
Barting your vote is part of politics and always has been.. don’t have to like it, but that’s the reality of it...
In this case its not really a barter of the voter, as much as, serving one master, while pretending to serve another...
80% of WV wants Kavanaugh confirmed.... Manchin knows his state is now a solid red state... but he’s managed to survive as a hold over from when Democrats weren’t completely insane.... But WV has been lost to Dems since 2000..... In fact, you want to know why we had a president Bush... it was ALL about WV.... NO FL...
The Dems threw WV away during the Clinton years... It had been a reliable D state... but the Dems decided we don’t like coal and we don’t need 5 measly EC voters... so its better to sell off those hicks to pander to bigger state liberals....
Had WV stayed blue in 2000, Al Gore is the president regardless of FL....
Since then then WV has moved more and more solidly red.. and Manchin knows it... he knows he’s fighting the tide... But he also knows his state Loves Trump... and MAGA and while he’s voted against some of Trump’s policies (such as the tax cut) he’s also not stupid and doesn’t openly attack Trump. He’s always been one of the 52-55 votes that were going to go Kavanaugh...
The problem is, his second master is Schumer and the DNC.... and they are frankly INSANE... If Manchin votes like his constituents want him to vote, he will face the wrath of the D and their crazy coastal elite whackadoo base... His committee seats will be taken, his power will be lessened, and whatever power he does wield to try to help his state is gone, even if he remains in office.
So he knows, HE NEEDS to vote for Kavanaugh for his political life to continue in WV... but he also knows if his vote puts Kavanaugh over the top, he may not be voted out of office, but his career is effectively over as well.
So, he simply holds out, he’s ALWAYS been a yes... and I’ve tried to tell people this... There are a few more D’s exactly like him... they WILL vote yes, but they won’t if their vote would put him over the top.
This isn’t anything new... not in the least..
The key to Kavanaugh confirmation has always been the GOP getting 50 votes... as long as they had 50 votes whey will get a few more... but if they don’t whip 50 voters in the GOP alone, the Dems won’t cross to put him over.
This is politics my friend, EVERYTHING is always WEIGHED in the larger political framework... always has been... Are you old enough to remember the Democrat openly crying as they voted for Clinton’s tax increases???? They didn’t want to do it, knew their career was over the if she did, Knew it wasn’t the right thing for their state, but also knew their career was just as over if they didn’t!
They cast the vote, the tax increase passed, 50-50 with Al Gore breaking the tie, and they were subsequently voted out of office.
I can’t recall that Senators name... but this sort of thing isn’t new... Its politics...