Stephen is correct to not even mention "West Virginia coal miners," which are a myth. They are a myth here in Kentucky, too. Coal is a dead industry walking, the buggy whips of the 21st century. There are no jobs, except for lobbyists. The money Manchin is protecting comes from the fossil fuel industry - oil, natural gas, fracking - none of which provide jobs to anyone in West Virginia or provide the slightest support to little joe's precious constituents. It's biggest fucking con on the planet.
Honestly, I thought the WaPo story was overwrought.
It seems clear from his financial disclosures that he has: (1) an ownership interest in his coal company that earns him about $500k in income per year; and (2) a separate blind trust that earns between $5-15k* per year. (At that rate, I would guess that the blind trust is invested in cash or Treasury bonds, since it doesn’t seem to be earning very much.)
Manchin was asked about his conflict of interest and - in a pretty typical act of misdirection from a politician - he said he has “a blind trust.” This is true; it just omits the (pretty significant) fact that he ALSO has an ownership interest in a coal company, which earns him a lot more money than his separate blind trust. The “referring to his family’s coal firm” part was added by WaPo. Legitimate reporting would have pushed back and said “yes, you have a blind trust, but don’t you also have a separate ownership interest in this coal company that is NOT part of this blind trust?” They didn’t do that.
Does Manchin have a conflict of interest between his personal ownership of part of a coal company, and enacting legislation to combat climate change? Absolutely. Is it illegal or violate Senate rules? Apparently not.
I’m not in any way defending Manchin, but he didn’t lie or violate the law, and WaPo wasting a bunch of words doesn’t change that.
ETA: *There seems to be a pretty significant error in the post, as SER claims the blind trust “generated $150,000 in revenue last year.” WaPo said no more than $15k, and the actual financial disclosures list income between $5-15k. After yesterday’s fiasco over Herschel Walker’s son being 32 or 22, I think we need some better proofreading. Facts matter, y’all
More accurate maybe for you to just admit that you didn't know where the goalposts were to begin with.
I mean, do you honestly think the proposal here is that people should do healthcare work - doctors, nurses, EMTs, various medical specialists, medical researchers, the staff that makes hospitals and clinics function - for free? Show up, work, go home, no wages, no income? Is that...is that what you think we're disparaging here?
File him under the "Global heating is real. How can we profit?" crowd. He must draw a lot of funds to the Dem mothership, otherwise there's no reason this dude should be involved with this political party.
....but not by much.
I really want to not despise him, but being the anarchist saboteur that he is, it's very difficult.
Sure as heck isn't Lust.
A perp scoot.
A Zamboni possessed by the devil.
What if your lust is for badgers?
Stephen is correct to not even mention "West Virginia coal miners," which are a myth. They are a myth here in Kentucky, too. Coal is a dead industry walking, the buggy whips of the 21st century. There are no jobs, except for lobbyists. The money Manchin is protecting comes from the fossil fuel industry - oil, natural gas, fracking - none of which provide jobs to anyone in West Virginia or provide the slightest support to little joe's precious constituents. It's biggest fucking con on the planet.
Honestly, I thought the WaPo story was overwrought.
It seems clear from his financial disclosures that he has: (1) an ownership interest in his coal company that earns him about $500k in income per year; and (2) a separate blind trust that earns between $5-15k* per year. (At that rate, I would guess that the blind trust is invested in cash or Treasury bonds, since it doesn’t seem to be earning very much.)
Manchin was asked about his conflict of interest and - in a pretty typical act of misdirection from a politician - he said he has “a blind trust.” This is true; it just omits the (pretty significant) fact that he ALSO has an ownership interest in a coal company, which earns him a lot more money than his separate blind trust. The “referring to his family’s coal firm” part was added by WaPo. Legitimate reporting would have pushed back and said “yes, you have a blind trust, but don’t you also have a separate ownership interest in this coal company that is NOT part of this blind trust?” They didn’t do that.
Does Manchin have a conflict of interest between his personal ownership of part of a coal company, and enacting legislation to combat climate change? Absolutely. Is it illegal or violate Senate rules? Apparently not.
I’m not in any way defending Manchin, but he didn’t lie or violate the law, and WaPo wasting a bunch of words doesn’t change that.
ETA: *There seems to be a pretty significant error in the post, as SER claims the blind trust “generated $150,000 in revenue last year.” WaPo said no more than $15k, and the actual financial disclosures list income between $5-15k. After yesterday’s fiasco over Herschel Walker’s son being 32 or 22, I think we need some better proofreading. Facts matter, y’all
You might get bitten a lot, but probably survive. (Or wait, was that story about otters?)
Yeah, well Trump told them to. That'll be their defense.
Good on you to trying to see it through - I would have noped out well before. 😁
True. Let's not resort to hyperbole. "Sewage-soaked sponge" is about right. "Worse than a Republican" is unfair and uncalled for.
More accurate maybe for you to just admit that you didn't know where the goalposts were to begin with.
I mean, do you honestly think the proposal here is that people should do healthcare work - doctors, nurses, EMTs, various medical specialists, medical researchers, the staff that makes hospitals and clinics function - for free? Show up, work, go home, no wages, no income? Is that...is that what you think we're disparaging here?
File him under the "Global heating is real. How can we profit?" crowd. He must draw a lot of funds to the Dem mothership, otherwise there's no reason this dude should be involved with this political party.
"When did 'conflict of interest' stop being a thing?"Somewhere during Saint Ronnie's regime; maybe when they got away with the Iran-Contra business.
It's actually the name of his OTHER yacht.
Ta. The irony of their last reply just gobsmacked me.