The "D" next to Manchin's name is very important..

[Stuart G]

........"the "D" next to the names, is how the committee chairs are determined....Also, and this too is important, the "D" next to his name allows the leader of the senate, to set the agenda, as to when the senate votes for this or for that.
..It is not only when the senate votes, but what the senate votes on. For example, should we vote on a supreme court justice or should we vote on a bill to increase taxes on the middle class. Now, consider this for a moment, that jerk McConnell has the power to decide when the senate votes, and what the senate votes on..............................................................................................................................

...So if McConnell was not in charge, and a democrat was in charge, the game would be totally different in every way....McConnell gains his power from being the majority leader. He exercises that power for his own benefit, and the benefit of the rich assholes that support him.

Therefore, having Manchin as a "D" is extremely important...It gets us closer to controlling the senate.. Then, if we have control, we can set the agenda, and decide what gets voted on. Yes, the type of bills, and what is in each bill is determined by the majority party. That's it. We need Manchin to gain control. McConnell has current control of the senate. You want him out, then support Manchin..........

... To be successful in politics you got to eat some awful food. That is life. I want McConnell out as majority leader. So, if Manchin is a "D" then it helps us..If he is a "R" then he hurts us. West Virginia is a rough place to run for office. It ain't easy, and Manchin is in now, and he has a "D" and it helps us. Manchin has been successful enough to get elected in a very difficult state with all kinds of people there. We support the "D"s because we need as many "D"s as we can get..All types of people. Take a look at the diversity of us vs them. Then, we realize how important each "D" in the senate is...We need Manchin to gain control of the senate. If we have control, then we set the time things get voted on, and also what gets voted on. That is ...the content of the legislation that is proposed.......that's all folks................

[Trust Buster]

1. Which "R"s from blue states stood up and spoke against the blackballing of Merrick Garland ?

[Jersey Devil]

2. I believe most here understand this, but right now tempers are high

It is totally understandable that people are more likely to rant about Manchin right now. Give it a little time and I think you will find that they certainly understand your points but need time to vent.

[yardwork]

6. Most of the responses to this thread indicate that people don't understand.

Most Americans don't understand how Congress works. Most Americans don't get it.

[yardwork]

4. That's incorrect.

It's not about how Manchin votes. It's whether the Democrats have more senators than the Republicans. If we have more, we control the committees and the process.

If Democrats control the process, Manchin won't get to vote in bad bills.

[Stuart G]

7. I would disagree for one simple reason...

Yes, if Lieberman watered down the ACA, then that was wrong. Except for one simple truth...The ACA is the law now. And it has saved lives. Many lives. (maybe thousands of lives) People have medical insurance that would not have had it otherwise.. Isn't a watered down ACA better.... than ...no ACA? Politics is a very rough game. Ugly, mean, stupid, revengeful,...and more. You add the adjectives. So, I ask again..........
...................................Is a water down ACA better than NO ACA....................................

.............Has the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, saved lives?.even if it "watered down"?...................

..................... We need Manchin.....................He has a "D" next to his name..


..............One more point..lots of people don't like this fellow named Manchin...So, if you don't like it.........
..................(and it is ok not to like it) ....then, why don't you run for senate in West Virginia? ..Try to
..................raise the funds, get the name recognition, make the appearances, live that life of trying to
..................get elected. If someone thinks that this is easy, then that person needs to try it and see
..................how easy it is.... .................Believe me, it ain't easy................................

[still_one]

12. Manchin is NOT switching parties. He loves the attention of being differeent. It is NOT better he

loses. As for your incorrect statement that it was Lieberman who held the Senate hostage during the ACA, that is simply not true. They didn't have the votes. The BLUE DOG Democrats all stood together on that. Some folks didn't seem to understand that either, and I recall every foul name been hurled at President Obama and the Democrats by some back then calling for the same self-destructive bullshit

We need the f**king majority to stop or at least slow down justice appointments in the Senate

Where were those so-called self-identified progressives who refused to vote for the Democratic nominee in 2016 by either voting third party or not voting, when it was argued many times if for no other reason the SC should be the reason to vote for the Democratic nominee.

While this could all be done AFTER the midterms, some find it so important that it should be done before the midterms

There was similar logic used by some self-identified progressives used during the General Election why not to vote for the Democratic nominee

[still_one]

5. You analysis is exactly right Stuart. We can not be driven by emotion as some would seem to want us

to be this close to the midterms.

How would that serve us this close to the midterms?

We should do things when it is an advantage to us, not to an advantage of the republicans

That there appears to be more than the usually post "demanding" that Manchin be forced to leave the Democratic before the midterm makes me suspect of some people's motivation

Are there that many people who are naïve how our government runs, and it is the majority party that controls the agenda in the respective house?

[47of74]

8. I'm done with the political calculus

Manchin needs to go. He has proven through word and deed that he will betray us every chance he gets. He’s laughing himself suck over how he enabled rapists this morning and stuck it to decent people everywhere. There’s no room for him in the party anymore.

[Squinch]

9. Your anger at Manchin is more important than gaining control of Congress?

I fully agree that we should throw everything we have to get him out in 2024. But to work against him now would be ridiculous.

[melman]

16. 'I fully agree that we should throw everything we have to get him out in 2024'

So you say but saying that is easy now


But what will actually happen in 2024?


Here's what: A familiar chorus from the usual crowd 'oh no. That's what it takes to win there. We can't have anyone too left in WV, anyone who would even think of primarying him doesn't understand the MATH and what it takes in red states...etc etc etc'

[Squinch]

18. Go away, melman.

[still_one]

14. How did you feel about those self-identified progressives who refused to vote for the Democratic

nominee in 2016, in spite of KNOWING that the SC was at stake?


This isn't political calculus, this is political reality, and that some are bringing this up right before for the midterms, just like some brought the same bullshit arguments up against the Democrats and the Democratic nominee right before the general election makes me skeptical of some folks actual intentions

Just the fact that some are spewing off that Manchin has to be thrown out of the party either indicates they are naïve or have other not so honorable intentions right before the midterms.

The Democratic party doesn't decide who should or shouldn't be a Democrat. People decide that for themselves

[oberliner]

10. I think W VA might be a lost cause for the party

But I do agree that it is important to hold on to that Senate seat for as long as possible, even with the problematic nature of Manchin.

[still_one]

17. While I think some of this is just an emotional cathartic experience, I think some of what is going

on right now just before the midterms is not motivated by the best intentions.

What you stated Obe is exactly what Howard Dean's successful 50 state strategy was all about

Some folks are upset by what Manchin said, and that is understandable, but in reality Manchin didn't say a damn thing. He talked out of both sides of his mouth and said he would consider voting for a republican or Democrat in 2020, and while even considering trump in that pool is detestable, he is still saying nothing.

There is a lot that can happen between now and 2020, including the midterms to start throwing away a potential majority in Congress

[GoCubsGo]

11. Unfortunate, but true.

[elocs]

13. The simple fact is that there are states and districts that will never elect a Liberal Democrat.

They might elect a conservative Democrat and that person counts towards the Democrats controlling whatever body they are elected to serve as well as its agenda.
The Democratic Party needs to have a big tent that welcomes all shades of blue without a purity test.
I'd prefer any Senator or House member who votes with us most of the time compared to a Republican who never or rarely votes with the Democrats.

[still_one]

15. and despite these types of conversations going on, coincidently right before the midterms, that is

exactly how it happens.