Manchin at the Army-Navy game

Yes, “loyalties” is a good word:

In case you’re wondering where Joe Manchin’s loyalties lie:

Look at who is in Trump’s suite at the Army-Navy game yesterday. pic.twitter.com/gvh9ymZFb8

— Protect Kamala Harris ✊ (@DisavowTrump20) December 15, 2024

Who else was there?

Daniel Penny, the former Marine who was charged but acquitted in killing Jordan Neely, a Black homeless man, in a New York City subway, shared the spotlight with President-elect Trump and his entourage at the Army-Navy game in Maryland.

Read more: https://t.co/55BySbr7C4 pic.twitter.com/zNBi9z5jWK

— ABC News (@ABC) December 14, 2024

Not surprising, I have seen speculation that Manchin might be looking for a cabinet or cabinet-level Trump appointment.

Capito and inflation: our very vocal senator suddenly becomes silent

Before the presidential election, Capito blamed the Democrats on a near-daily basis for the same post-covid inflation that plagued most of the developed world. For example:

STRETCHED THIN: GOP Senator Shelley Moore Capito explains how inflation 'hits seniors particularly hard' under Democrats. https://t.co/V6GzcwVGXC pic.twitter.com/FZXYPYvWU4

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) October 30, 2024

And:

Under the Biden-Harris administration, EVERYTHING costs more.

Their economic policies have fueled sky-high inflation costing West Virginians on average $891 more per month. pic.twitter.com/vtfLJ7O5QC

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) October 28, 2024

Not once in any of those inflation messages did Capito describe which Biden policies were causing the inflation or what the Republicans would have done differently. Trump's presidential campaign went even further -- promising again and again to “lower prices”:

Here’s a montage of Trump repeatedly promising to “end inflation” and specifically lower the cost of groceries.

Today, however, Trump told Time magazine that he likely won’t be able to lower prices, saying: “It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up” pic.twitter.com/CmowE01YwS

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) December 12, 2024

And if much of the post-election analysis was correct, the post-covid inflation was a factor, perhaps, the most important one, in Harris’ defeat. But now, as Trump’s backtracking has begun, Senator Capito has made no mention of inflation for over six weeks. Will a WV reporter/stenographer ask her about this? Don’t bet on it. (As regular readers know, I have little sympathy for Joe Manchin. I will acknowledge, however, that reporters have, from time to time, pressed him with difficult questions -- something Capito never gets.)

Senator Capito also appears to be likely to approve Trump’s cabinet positions:

📺 Great to start the day with @TeamCavuto on @FoxNews to discuss some of President-elect @realDonaldTrump's nominees that will help him deliver for the American people. pic.twitter.com/wZxtkq1sAx

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) December 14, 2024

I guess getting a taste of power is intoxicating. Drink-up that Kool-Aid, Senator.