Absolutely not a fan of Joe Manchin

[LiberalFighter]

He has the gall to say that Speaker Pelosi's approach is wrong with the SOTU.

We have a political meltdown.

Not going to say what I am thinking about the jerk.

[Chickensoup]

1. With a friend like that who needs enemies.

[pnwmom]

16. We need HIM. He was elected as a Democrat in the state that had the highest percentage

for Trump in the country.

And he is in the SENATE, where we still don't have a majority. Every last Democratic vote would count for that, even if we didn't like all his INDIVIDUAL votes.

[octoberlib]

20. Plus West Virginia is one of the Trumpiest of the pro-Trump states.

Manchin's just trying to keep his seat.

[Cousin Dupree]

33. With a friend like that who needs enemas

[The Truth Is Here]

5. I ask myself why vote for the fake Democrat when they can get the real thing?

[Tanuki]

9. Who, exactly, in West Virginia do you have in mind?

[The Truth Is Here]

10. Paula Swearingen.

She was Manchin's primary challenger.

[Tanuki]

15. Yes, but she only got 30% of the votes, to Manchin's 70%. Had she been the candidate

in the general election, that senate seat would now be held by a Republican. I grew up in West Virginia and my mother's family has lived there since before it was even a state, btw.

[SunSeeker]

21. Please give the name of an ELECTABLE West Virginia Democrat.

Swearingen could not even win the WV Democratic primary.

[The Truth Is Here]

23. Because????

Manchin owns WV

[SunSeeker]

24. ...

[SunSeeker]

11. Good question. But you won't get an answer.

Because everyone knows Joe Manchin is the only Dem electable in West Virginia.

[pnwmom]

18. Are you SERIOUS? W VA is the state with a higher percentage for Trump than ANY STATE

in the country.

We are LUCKY the popular former governor ran and was elected. It doesn't matter that he's not always with us on particular issues or votes. He votes with us most of the time, and he brings us one Senate vote closer to having a majority in the Senate.

Because we have so many low population, rural, white states, there is a Constitutionally based imbalance in the Senate. We'll never get a majority again if we scorn Senators like Joe Manchin.

[NurseJackie]

31. You're correct, but in some corners, "purity" is the only thing that matters...

... and that's why they hate him. Sad, really that people don't understand what the words "math" and "majority" mean.

And that's why I LOVE JOE MANCHIN!! Go Joe!!

[montanacowboy]

3. Joe is a fucking asshole

always has been
always will be
Loves the Repukes but plays like he is a Dem
Him and his whole goddamn grifting family

He needs to be primaried in the biggest way with someone like AOC who can talk turkey to those W virginians
and I know them having lived there for 25 years

[demmiblue]

4. He also thinks MF45 should declare a state of emergency. Ugh. n/t

[maxsolomon]

45. Its a way out of the impasse

Finding these bullshit "solutions" is a Senatorial specialty.

Real people are being hurt, and Trump is nothing if not a stubborn asshole.

[Rene]

7. comments all so true. he's a fake Democrat.

[SunSeeker]

22. Manchin is not a "fake Democrat."

But for his vote, we wouldn't have the ACA. His vote for the ACA has literally saved thousands of lives each year. 

The alternative in West Virginia is a Republican, not a more progressive Democrat. And if we keep bashing Manchin, we will lose that seat to the Republicans. 

The Manchin bashing is playing right into the hands of McConnell...and Putin. 

Manchin voted to keep the sanctions on Deripaska's businesses yesterday. Guess what progressive, who was on Capital Hill all day, failed to vote at all? 

[Bradshaw3]

28. All good points and factually true

Some on here don't seem to understand how our elections work and can't face the reality of our electoral processes. Until those change (which likely won't happen for a long time) we need the Manchins, like him or not.

[JCanete]

29. no it is not. That's ridiculous. The Manchin bashing is entirely earned. He has 6 safe years where

he is right now. This isn't him playing it safe, this is him showing you who he fucking is.

[SunSeeker]

34. This is him not taking his constituents for granted.

You think they'll be impressed when he only tries to please them during election years?

He is obviously not your cup of tea, nor is he mine, but I am not his constituent.

[JCanete]

36. That's still nonsense. Either he believes this helps his constituents and he's insane,

or he doesn't and doesn't care, or thinks its more important to appease them than to do his job and represent their actual interests.

[SunSeeker]

37. No, keeping your constituents happy is not "nonsense."

It is how he stays in office and gives us a reliable vote we would not otherwise have, such as on things like the ACA or Russia sanctions. And that most definitely does help his constituents and does indeed "represent their actual interests."


Capiche?

[lark]

8. Mancin is the biggest DINO in the Senate.

Without him, repugs would have another member. It's not that important at this minute, but it easily could be in the future.

[pnwmom]

32. WVA had the greatest percentage of Trump voters among ALL states. We're lucky we have Joe. n/t

[niyad]

12. there is a reason I have im listed in my contacts the way I do.

[Joe941]

13. This thread breaks DU forum rules - as do some replies.

[SunSeeker]

17. Yup. nt

[FiveGoodMen]

25. Like a parent who says "don't criticize my child" until the kid commits murder under the influence

of affluenza.

Good plan.

[SunSeeker]

35. Manchin trying to keep his seat is not akin to "murder."

As Nancy Pelosi says when red state Dems say things meant for their right wing constituents' ears, "Just win, baby!"

[WeekiWater]

27. He is one of the only ones to have stuck up for Franken.

He did so multiple times.

He is a solid WV Dem.

[SunSeeker]

14. He is saying what he needs to for his constituents back home.

Pelosi understands and is not bothered. We should not be either. He is a reliable Dem vote when it really matters.

To all the folks calling him a "fake Democrat" and a "DINO," I would like to remind you that but for his vote, we wouldn't have the ACA. His vote for the ACA has literally saved thousands of lives each year.

The alternative in West Virginia is a Republican, not a more progressive Democrat. And if we keep bashing Manchin, we will lose that seat to the Republicans.

The Manchin bashing is playing right into the hands of McConnell...and Putin.

Manchin voted to keep the sanctions on Deripaska's businesses yesterday. Guess what progressive, who was on Capital Hill all day, failed to vote at all?

[pnwmom]

19. +1000. nt

[LiberalFighter]

42. I understand that.

Maybe instead of going on a national network he should do his bit for the local media. Play directly to his audience.

[SunSeeker]

44. Local media doesn't come to DC. The national media is the local media these days.

Besides, most people watch one of the cable networks, especially in rural areas like West Virginia.

[lilactime]

26. I saw that yesterday and immediately changed the channel.

Really pissed me off!!!

[JI7]

30. who cares. he is from a red state. why not just ignore him

[aikoaiko]

38. He is the Democrat WV voters gave us and for that I am grateful.

I know why people are unhappy with him and perhaps someday a WV will create an effective message to the left of Machin's.

That day is not today.

[lostnfound]

39. Me too. Nt

[UniteFightBack]

40. Regardless Big Joe will vote to CONVICT. Go get em JOE....I ain't mad at nobody tonight baby! nt

[Celerity]

41. He just called for Trump to declare a national emergency

And said Pelosi was helping hold the country hostage.

Sounds like RW talking points to me.

I really wonder if he will vote to convict. People say he is saying these things because he needs to save his seat in the Trumpiest of states. Then they say he will vote to convict. BUT if that is true, then a vote to convict will surely cost him the seat anyway as it is the 'Trumpiest of states', so all his RW pandering was either done in vain or it IS how he really feels. His re-election also isn't for another six years. Not buying what he is selling.