Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) just offered a bipartisan tutorial in pathetic leadership. They demonstrated precisely how not to behave while holding positions of influence and authority.

Manchin made a complete fool of himself over the issue of permit reform, which would have made it easier to gain government approval for oil and gas pipelines and other energy projects. This would have benefited his home state, America’s Coal Central Station.

Manchin spent most of President Joe Biden’s term fighting his massive Build Back Better spending orgy. Manchin correctly argued that BBB’s $3.5 trillion price tag was too high. Also, its Green New Deal elements were anathema to West Virginia, which was built atop a mass grave of dinosaurs. These fossils had the good taste to turn themselves into fuel.