MANCHIN: I identify as an American.

[babylonsister]

Yay for him and


https://politicalwire.com/2023/02/26/exchange-of-the-day-226/

Exchange of the Day
February 26, 2023 at 3:40 pm EST By Taegan Goddard

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) appeared with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News:

BARTIROMO: Do you still identify as a Democrat?

MANCHIN: I will be involved in any way I can to help.

BARTIROMO: Do you still identify as a Democrat?

MANCHIN: I identify as an American.

[winetourdriver01]

1. Really?

He's a ruthless, greedy bastard and doesn't give two shits about his constituents or the Republic.

[Freethinker65]

2. Manchin identifies as a fossil fuel or bust businessman.

He will oppose any policy that decreases, even tangentially, the fossil fuel industry's profits.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. Enjoy your retirement in 2025. Nt

[brooklynite]

5. Enjoy the Republican who will replace him.

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. Dems are at a significant disadvantage to keep control of the senate in 2024

Dems must defend 20 seats, where republicans only have to defend 13.

If Gov. Justice runs in 2024, Manchin is toast. He barely won re-election last time.

Look on the bright side:

In 2025, whether or not Dems retain control of the senate, Manchin and Sinema won’t be there to obstruct, and both AZ and CA will have brand new, progressive senators!

The landscape in 2026 looks much more favourable to Dems.

[brooklynite]

8. Manchin and Sinema are reliable votes for Schumer as Maj Leader and for Biden's judicial picks

I could care less who wins in California because whomever it is will be as reliable a Democratic vote as Feinstein is.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Your definition of "reliable" is different than mine

If they were as reliable as their replacements (at least Sinema’s) will be, we’d have passed BBB as proposed by Biden, killed the filibuster, codified Roe, and expanded SCOTUS.

So let’s see how reliable they continue to be; my sense is, the closer the 2024 elections get, the more likely Manchin and Sinema will show their “independence” by voting against Biden’s agenda and against his nominees.

I am satisfied to have their votes for however much longer it lasts, and I won’t miss them after they’re gone in 2025. The Democratic caucus in the senate will be better off without them.

[brooklynite]

10. Its easy to blame Sinema and/or Manchin...

...they were the public face of opposition to eliminating the filibuster, but there were other Democrats who didn't support the idea but just didn't speak out. And there has NEVER been support in the Democratic caucus OR PRESIDENT BIDEN for expanding the Court. I've met with Ruben Gallego and he says nothing about that as a priority.

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. Only one way to find out

Elect Gallego to the US senate.

[brooklynite]

4. As long as he VOTES Democratic, I don't mind what he calls himself.

[Initech]

7. Fox News is the reason why we can't have nice things.