Both print and media journalists have spent the past few days obsessing over Joe Manchin and to a lesser extent Kyrstin Sinema's feelings and how to convince them to support Democratic programs without hurting their feelings.
The emerging narrative is Dems not only can't get anything done, but are unwilling to force apostates in the party to own up to their obstructionism. This plays into the Republican plan to obstruct the administration's policies and blame it on Democrats. Delay in confronting these twin problems is likely to de-energize the party's faithful. Lack of enthusiasm will be deadly to Dem prospects in next year's elections.
There are real problems with trying to enact a progressive political program when you have no margin for error and several of your senators are actively or passively against it. Of course, the solution is to elect more progressive Democrats, but without an excited base, the chance of that happening is about as likely as DC becoming a state next year.
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