Joe Manchin finally named his price, and got out of the way of the infrastructure bill. His personal profit? Approximately one million dollars, plus of course whatever kickbacks he gets (or should I say "gits") from the WV hillbilly fossil fuel industry.
Of course, some things had to be slashed out of the bill to make it look like Noble Joe had successfully fought against all that wasteful gummint spending. There's lotsa new money for the fossil fuel industry, though.
The RepubliQ were stunned and are now in the process of throwing a tantrum. Apparently, they were confident that Manchin was really one of them and the Democrats were really a minority in the Senate. But the machine of politics is, as it always has been, greased with money. Manchin got paid, and paid well.
All this, of course, obscures the fact that the climate and infrastructure bill was desperately needed. The RepubliQ's only desperate need, however, has been to oppose everything Biden tries to do, while simultaneously, and without shame apparently, criticizing him for not doing anything.
Business as usual.
