Lost in much of the discussion is that Manchin had signed on too the two track bill framework, and then went back on the deal. When some people engage in these kinds of bad faith acts they are treated as savvy negotiators. You know, The Art of The Deal. Very savvy to stiff your contractors.
You can imagine how the press would treat, I dunno, Elizabeth Warren, if she showed up a week later and said, "nope, $8 trillion or nothing." You can see how the press treats "the progressives," even now.
