JOE MANCHIN'S WIFE APPOINTMENT MIRRORS MITCH MCCONNELL'S WIFE'S.

ICHEOKU says President Donald John Trump "bribed" Mitch McConnell with the appointment of his wife, Elaine Chao, as Secretary of Transportation, believing that it will help keep The Mitch closer and more loyal to his White House. Joe Biden has taken a page from the Trump's book of nepotism by now also "bribing" Joe Manchin with the appointment of his wife, Gayle Conelly Manchin, as the co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, believing that it will help securely anchor the much coveted West Virginian "vote-maker-in-chief" in the Senate on his White House side. 

President Donald John Trump knew that 'The Mitch' was the then Republican power broker in chief in Washington DC and that without his support, his MAGA and America First agenda will be dead on arrival. So he heavily lobbied the then Republican Senate Majority leader to smoothen the way. Joe Biden is similarly aware that without Joe Manchin's golden vote in the Senate, that the Democratic Party's agenda to remake America will not see the daylight and has begun to seriously lobby him in order to ensure that the agenda will have a smooth sailing. Like Trump, Joe Biden figured out that there is no better way of doing this than by having someone so dear and so close to Manchin's heart, who will be whispering sweet nonsensical into his ear each time they enjoy the comfort of their bedroom, as she reiterates the Democratic Party's agenda and the need for him not to disappoint the expectations. 

But from the experience garnered in the Elaine Chao's effort, it seems that either she did not share the same sleeping space with The Mitch or that he quickly dozes off each time her whisper makes it into his ear drums, because President Trump did not get what he bargained for by her appointment. Mitch did not capitulate as expected and instead, a war ensued which is still raging till today. Hopefully, Joe Manchin will also learn to simply tune off each time his wife wants to turn their bedroom pillows into a pulpit for the Democratic Party's agenda "upturn America down on its head." So far, he has conducted himself very well amidst his newly acquired  awesome vote power in the Senate and will not allow his wife's appointment to ever dilute it.

Joe Manchin is a man of great conviction, he has core and character; and hopefully will not easily compromise his stand. The Joe Biden's White House has just tested his resoluteness by this appointment and time will tell if it effected and influenced his decisions going forward. Mitch McConnell did not sell his conscience as he refused to be unquestionably slavishly loyal to President Donald John Trump and did not agree to every Trump's agenda. He also refused to be dictated to or allow the Senate to be turned into Trump's yes chamber. Hopefully, Joe Manchin will also do the same and not allow himself to be intimidated or for his conscience to be mortgaged by reason of this appointment. The Democratic Party is gun-ho ready to implement their agenda and at whatever cost possible; and only Joe Manchin is standing in their way and they have resolved to desperately lobby for his support.

Although politics is a game of the possibles, the usual quid pro quo deal makings; but such brazen appointments should be avoided and strongly discouraged because it sends a wrong message. It clearly telegraphs the rot in politics as American people knew for a fact that there were underlying reasons behind both appointments, without which they would have never been made. Although both women are qualified for the positions, but American people are not too stupid not to understand that if not for who they were married to, they might never have been appointed to the positions. It was the underlying imperative of securing their husbands vital support for the respective administrations' agendas that ultimately influenced their choices. 

ICHEOKU says the appearance is not good as it reflects cronyism and nepotism; and regardless of whatever the true underlying reason might be, the appearance suggest that it was influence tinged. Both President Trump and Joe Biden wanted something from both men respectively and they decided to use their wives as weapons of choice; lobbying for them from the inside and nagging their husbands into compliance if need be. Such does not bode well for the image which America continuously tries to present as a nation where family ties does not factor in when decisions are made on who occupies what positions of power and authority. Although there is no hard evidence to emphatically substantiate the motivations behind the appointments, but circumstances suggest it as it is the same reason for the maxim that 'justice must not only be done but must  also be seen to be done.

Let's hope that Joe Manchin is a good understudy of Mitch McConnell and that he will come out of it smelling like roses, unblemished and untarnished and keep his stellar reputation in tact. Also, ICHEOKU strongly believes that he will remain consistent in his conviction and will always vote for what is in the best interest of the American people as well as the people of West Virginia who sent him to Washington DC as their Senator. By always voting right, he will be upholding  the ideals and values of the people of Great West Virginia who are largely conservatives and not as woke as the nut job liberal anarchists wing of the Democratic Party. ICHEOKU says the Democratic Party is being too myopic in trying to burn down the house simply because they got the key to the house, forgetting that there is no guaranteed majority in perpetuity in Washington DC. 

It was the same mistake their Harry Reid made when he changed the 60 votes filibuster proof majority required to confirm a Supreme Court Justice when he desperately confirmed Justices Kagen and Sotomayor. But it came to later bite the Democrats when Republicans used the same tactic to confirm Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett.  A case of what goes around that came around full circle and thankfully, Joe Manchin is so far reminding them of this imperative. May the wisdom of King Solomon remain his guidance and may God grant him a clear mind always to know to do what is right for the country. May he never sheepishly follow his Democratic Party into perdition in their quest to drive America into a place which America has never been to before. Thank you Joe for holding America's interest first before the Democratic Party and please remain the voice of reason which destiny has thrust upon you with that special golden vote.