Republicans were livid over Schumer's rebuke after debt ceiling vote. Joe Manchin would've 'done it differently.'

By the time 11 Republican senators finally agreed to thwart Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) filibuster of a two-month debt limit increase on Thursday night, allowing 50 Democrats to pass the legislation, feelings were pretty raw in the Senate chamber.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who reached an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) earlier in the day to allow the short-term break from the threat of fiscal calamity, had spent hours cajoling at least nine more Republicans to seal the deal. And when the 61-38 vote to end the filibuster was official, Schumer lit into his GOP colleagues.
"I thank my Democratic colleagues for showing unity in solving this Republican-manufactured crisis," he said. "Republicans played a dangerous and risky partisan game, and I am glad that their brinkmanship did not work."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Republicans reacted volcanically to Schumer's speech," Politico reports. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) was one of the senators who approached Schumer to voice that displeasure. "His speech was totally out of line," he said. "I mean, he crossed lines and it was inappropriate and tone deaf and I told him that." Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), the 11th GOP yes vote, told CNN it was a "classless speech."
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who voted to filibuster the bill, called Schumer's speech self-defeating."There's a time to be graceful and there's a time to be combative," he said. "That was a time for grace and common ground."
Republicans appear to be frustrated McConnell caved after months of insisting Democrats raise the debt ceiling through the cumbersome budget reconciliation process, but Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who was sitting behind Schumer as he spoke, didn't seem thrilled with Schumer's GOP rebuke, either.
"I'm sure that Chuck's frustration was built up, but that's not the way to take it out," Manchin said afterward. "We just disagree. I'd have done it differently."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Nobody seemed thrilled with Thursday's exercise in catastrophe avoidance. "This whole process is stupidity on steroids," said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). Nevertheless, the Senate will almost certainly do it again in seven weeks.
We did learn something from the vote, though. Before Wednesday, the assumption was that McConnell was insisting Democrats use budget reconciliation as part of some plan to derail their agenda or at least rake up material for 2022 attack ads. But political scientist Sarah Binder said there now seems to be a simpler explanation.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami