NYT: She Was A Black Election Official in Georgia. Then Came New GOP Rules.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

22. You may be right.

From CNBC:

Joe Manchin is opposing big parts of Biden’s agenda as the Koch network pressures him

The political advocacy group backed by billionaire Charles Koch (Americans for Prosperity) has been pressuring Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to oppose key parts of the Democratic agenda, including filibuster reform and voting rights legislation.

That lobbying effort appears to be paying off. Manchin, in a recent op-ed, wrote that he opposed eliminating the filibuster and that he would not vote for the For the People Act, which, advocates say, would limit the influence of big donors on elections.
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Americans for Prosperity launched a website titled West Virginia Values, which calls on people to email Manchin “to be The Voice West Virginia Needs In D.C. — Reject Washington’s Partisan Agenda.”

It then lists all of the items Manchin has promised to oppose, including the idea of eliminating the filibuster, the For the People Act and packing the Supreme Court. It then shows everything the group believes Manchin should oppose, including Biden’s infrastructure plan and the union-friendly PRO Act.

Americans for Prosperity leaders took part in one of their video series with their West Virginia state director in May where they praised Manchin for voicing his opposition to abolishing the filibuster. Both Americans for Prosperity and Manchin have said they believe eliminating the filibuster would exacerbate partisanship.

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They only need to keep him under control until the 2022 elections, when the GQP will steal enough Senate seats that he won't be of anymore use to them and they'll kick him to the side of the road. Right now they're playing by Putin's playbook -- have people (Republicans and "grass root W. Virginians" ) praise his wisdom and strength to stand up for "what's right" in the face of enormous pressure. It worked with T***** for four years, so why not Manchin?