quoms:

A fact I have only seen acknowledged in one or two places is that Manchin and Sinema, far from alienating the rest of the Dem caucus, are actually heavily ingratiating themselves and building up huge numbers of favors they can cash in later on. It’s Dems from deep-blue states, not West Virginia or Arizona, who are most wedded to things like the SALT deduction - but also have the most to lose from publicly supporting them, since they’re very important to a small number of wealthy donors but unpopular with most of their constituents. Manchin and Sinema aren’t just exerting veto power on behalf of the industries (like coal) to which they’re directly financially connected, they’re laundering vetos for a couple dozen other Senate Dems, who can scratch their backs later on in any number of ways.

Missed in the story about Sinema’s “bipartisan” heel turn in the Arizona state legislature is the simple fact that she is an extraordinarily effective legislative operator. That Manchin is one too should be self-evident. They’re not just selfishly looking toward their own reelection while pissing off everyone in the chamber who can actually help them get stuff done; that’s not how either of them have operated in the past, and it’s not what they’re doing now. The Democratic party as a whole shouldn’t be let off the hook for gutting every popular provision in the reconciliation bill just because they decided to let the same two senators be the ones to cast the “no” votes.