Joe Manchin has known his power all along. Being a Democratic governor in the reddest state in the nation means he's no fool when it comes to politics and power.
And, yes, I would love to see the filibuster ended but in the first 2 years of the Presidency, eliminating it would leave barely enough time to pass great legislation let alone for the effects to be seen by the voters before 2022 so all those great things wouldn't help Democrats hold the Senate and possibly not the House next year. A lot would become apparent before 2024 and would almost guarantee a two-term Democratic Presidency and possibly Democratic control of Congress at the same time. And Republican politicians would do what they're doing now and always have: take credit for any popular programs Democrats accomplished. Republicans would, again, cut taxes for the rich and big businesses (the hands hat feed them) and defund anything they couldn't take credit for doing. And, sadly, too many deluded voters will believe them. I know some of those people but they're no friends of mine. My brother and a lot of cousins on my father's side, none of whom I have any interest in reconnecting with. I have no room in my life for negativity and that's what those people thrive on.
The fact that so little good would even be seen from big, Democratic-passed policies and programs by 2022 really concerns me. Historically, Congress flips parties in the midterms and having Mitch the "Grim Reaper" in control of Congress again would be a nightmare brought to life.
I fully agree with what you say about the results of meaningful legislation but I also know that eliminating the filibuster (if 50 votes could even be found) would simply give the Republican Party a field day in the 2nd half of Biden's term and there wouldn't be any way for Democrats to stop outrageous legislation.
Most of the current Republican leadership love the view of taking us back to the Gilded Age, where gold is King and everyone else, little more than slave labor. They're well along that path already and have been openly playing the long game for the past 60 years. Hillary was laughed at and mocked when, in 1992-93 said there was a "vast Rightwing conspiracy" but she wasn't wrong, it exists. The names change but the goal remains the same.
I don't think you and I don't have the same dreams for this world and I'll never stop hoping. Or believing that, in the end, everything does work out for the best. I truly believe that but also fear for our future. I don't think attacking the best, maybe last, chance we have to make progress is the way forward.
With enough public pressure, I think the 2 DINO Senators we have will support the two major pieces of legislation coming to the Senate IF a minimum wage increase isn't included. As badly as an increased minimum wage is needed, the AFP Act and the $4 trillion comprehensive infrastructure bill are more urgent and would relieve a lot of pressures that minimum wage workers face now. A minimum wage increase would be easier to pass in prosperous times than it would today.
