.@Sen_JoeManchin: "I would go up and campaign for Susan Collins...

[demmiblue]

.@Sen_JoeManchin: "I would go up and campaign for Susan Collins…For America to lose somebody like Susan Collins would be an absolute shame…Susan Collins is the right person to be in the Senate."

From #Newsmakers interview Friday at 10pm ET on C-SPAN https://cs.pn/2X5OrZV

Link to tweet

[hatrack]

1. I know we have a vomit emoji . . .

Can the mods add a projectile vomit emoji?

[trueblue2007]

12. He is Vomit personified

[ProudLib72]

2. DINOmite!

[bluestarone]

3. ??????????????????????????????

[JI7]

4. I don't think that would help her

[lagomorph777]

20. Maybe that's what Joe has in mind?

Because if he has in mind what I think he has in mind, DU rules forbid me from commenting on Manchin's intentions.

[Freethinker65]

54. You are probably correct

[Polybius]

94. It would

I work with a Republican that loves him, and calls him the "last good Democrat." I assume other Republicans feel the same way.

[shanny]

5. what a surprise....

NOT

and yes, the vomit emoji doesn't cover it

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

58. But, Machin is STILL held in higher esteem by many here than Bernie!!! Figure that one out!!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[shanny]

69. that's because

he's a Democrat


I agree: it's a mystery.

[Crunchy Frog]

70. He's officially a member of the Democratic party...

Just like Joe Lieberman was.

[dansolo]

90. Which one didn't vote for Russian sanctions?

You figure it out.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Quick, someone find a Republican Senator saying the same thing about a Democrat

[sacto95834]

64. I think the last time I heard a Republican Senator...

sincerely praise a Democrat was Robert "Bob" Dole - when Benson was nominated as VP....that was a lifetime ago. Since then, crickets.

[CharleyDog]

84. well, McCain did tell that tea-bagger lady that Obama was not a terrorist.

He said no lady, don't say that shit here. We need to remember that. It was a good thing.
Sort of like praise, but maybe better.

[SoCalDem]

87. Every time I watch the tape, I still cringe a bit

The lady said "He's an ARAB".. McCain said "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab]."..
He should have said he's NOT an "Arab" or a Muslim, and even if he WERE, he would still be ..... a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign's all about.

He almost got it correct.

[JonLP24]

89. The lady said he was Muslim

My response would have been "So what if he was?". That exchange is why Colin Powell endorsed Obama saying he came back from a grave of a Muslim soldier for the US.

[Demsrule86]

81. In case you haven't noticed the Gop have an easier time getting and keeping a

Senate majority, We simply will have to consider this.

[BeyondGeography]

82. So let's prop them up in swing states?

Not seeing your point.

[dewsgirl]

7. I'm thankful to an extent that he is a Dem., but

how in the hell did he wind up in his position? Did the state suddenly switch all their positions and he is still there?

[vsrazdem]

8. But-but-but, he has a D after his name, so its okay.

[Funtatlaguy]

9. Senator Manchin, Leader Schumer is holding on line one.

[CanonRay]

10. I'd say what I think but I'd just get kicked out again...

[TeamPooka]

11. Fuck him and her.

[theaocp]

13. Thank goodness this POS advocates for Republicans.

I'd hate to think that would be a problem. At least he has the magical D.

[Kurt V.]

14. he has no idea how a Collins opponent would do in the senate. none. no one does.

[Soxfan58]

15. Manchin would be too conservative for southern Maine

Too liberal for the north so. Good idea!

[Yavin4]

16. Is this the "circular fire squad" that Obama was warning about?

Is it?

[Kurt V.]

33. that was young progressives. you know, exactly like manchin

[standingtall]

17. This should be the last straw with this guy

he should leave the party now. He isn't going to do much to help Democrats over the next 6 years the only thing the D next to his name will do is allow him to be used by republicans for propaganda while he himself will spew right wing talking points.

[hedda_foil]

26. Yeah -- but he counts toward reaching a majority which means bye bye McTurtle.

[BlueJac]

18. Is he a nut job?

I will answer myself, total nut job!!!

[bluedigger]

19. Maine can do a lot better than Collins.

And now I'm looking at you, West Virginia.

[melman]

21. Where is the 'all about the MATH' crowd?

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin endorsed GOP Sen. Susan Collins for reelection on Thursday, in a rare rebuff of partisan politics in an increasingly polarized Senate.

The moderate West Virginia senator also offered to campaign for the vulnerable Maine incumbent. It’s a boon for Collins, who Democrats likely need to beat if they hope to take the Senate majority in 2020.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/11/joe-manchin-endorses-susan-collins-1271151

[Demsrule86]

41. Which is meaningless,

[melman]

42. How so?

[Demsrule86]

45. We need him to help us get a majority. We need a majority to confirm judges.

Have any here looked at the Senate map?

[melman]

47. But what he's pledging to do will potentially keep that from happening

Like it says here:


Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin endorsed GOP Sen. Susan Collins for reelection on Thursday, in a rare rebuff of partisan politics in an increasingly polarized Senate.

The moderate West Virginia senator also offered to campaign for the vulnerable Maine incumbent. It’s a boon for Collins, who Democrats likely need to beat if they hope to take the Senate majority in 2020.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/11/joe-manchin-endorses-susan-collins-1271151

[Demsrule86]

76. I would bet he doesn't do it...but even if he did it wouldn't help her.

[melman]

77. "I would bet he doesn't do it"

Based on what? And why wouldn't it help her?

[Demsrule86]

79. Past talk and actions.

We need a majority or we get nothing. There will be more Manchin not less if we ever want a majority in the Senate. Look at the map..

[melman]

80. Past talk and actions indicate the opposite

[Demsrule86]

83. Not true. But we need Manchin and others like him or we will never have a majority

In the Senate and no policy or judges.it is our reality. There are more red states than blue states.

[Bettie]

92. But we also need less Susan Collins

and he's working toward her keeping that seat in the R column.

Is it really too much to ask that even if he votes against us quite frequently, he could just not offer aid to the other side's reelection bids? Apparently, it is and if he does campaign for her, she wins and we are one seat sort of the majority...well, we're supposed to say "Good job Joe!", right?

[Demsrule86]

93. Absolutely. It is the only way to take the Senate but some won't like the impact

on possible policy. But we will get somethings and will be playing on our own turf. These folks will be moderates most likely.

[hatrack]

48. He votes for Barr, he votes for Bernhardt, he supports Susan Fucking Collins

He said he would campaign for her.

The pukes are defending 22 seats, we're defending 12 in 2020, but apparently West Fucking Virginia is the only Senate race in America.

Whatever.

[Demsrule86]

75. He could be the 51st senator. It is that close in 20.

[Bettie]

95. Or he could be the 50th

as we lose Maine due to the "bipartisan support" for Collins.

[Demsrule86]

96. If Manchin were to campaign for Collins

It wouldn't help her in Maine. We need redstate Democratic in order to have a majority,

[treestar]

61. Here. He is still a D and swells the numbers.

He's still better than a Republican. It's still a miracle anyone with a D after their name has been elected to the Senate from West Virginia. Name another West Virginia D that could win there. And don't be so silly as to claim "a real progressive" will win the Senate seat there anytime soon.

[melman]

68. But what good does it do to 'swell the number' in WV

if he is pledging to help a Republican win elsewhere?

[Demsrule86]

78. He we won't help her but he is a Democrat and could help us get a majority,

[treestar]

97. The bigger the Senate representation the better.

51 is better than 50. 50 is better than 49. Even 12 is better than 11. The Senate is going to get worse and worse until 1/3 of the country rules the other 2/3 and that comes sooner if you just let Republicans have the seats that could have gone to Blue Dog Democrats.

[melman]

98. Okay

But the issue here is that he has said he will help a Republican win.


So what good does his plus one do anybody when he helps get a minus one in another state?

[treestar]

99. How much help is he?

How many people put much stock into other states'Senators yapping about who they want for Senator?

It is dumb, I will grant. Someone should tell him not to be for Republicans. Maybe he likes her personally and they could be close on the issues. She is supposedly one of the more liberal Rs (relatively) but that has not played out recently.

[deminks]

22. knock yourself out with "Aunt Lydia", bro.

You have to answer for the time you spend outside of your state.

[Honeycombe8]

23. I'm not so sure it'd be helpful to Collins to have a Democrat endorse her.

He's right in that there are worse people who could be Senator for Maine.

But stating that you are basically endorsing a Republican at this time in history seems to be misreading the country. And isn't helpful. She ensured Kavanaugh would become a S.Ct. Justice. Is that what Manchin supports?

[melman]

28. "She ensured Kavanaugh would become a S.Ct. Justice. Is that what Manchin supports?"

Uh, yeah it is what he supports. That's why he voted to confirm.

[jdu]

24. Really

This guy needs to go
Every road library veterans hospital school was built by the government by democrats He needs to let his constituents know that.

[hedda_foil]

25. West Virginians would do so much better by almost any measure with a real progressive Democrat.

They need so much more than black lung and opioids.

[bearsfootball516]

29. I'm not sure a real progressive can win there.

He was primaried by a true progressive last year. Manchin won by 40 points, 70-30.

There’s a reason the state went for Trump more than any other state in 2016. Even the Democrats are fairly conservative.

[Yavin4]

35. Why not try running a true progressive there and see what happens?

Let's make decisions based on data, not conjecture.

[Demsrule86]

40. Because we need senate seats and we will lose ....seriously look at

The Senate map.

[Yavin4]

50. So then why is Joe Manchin campaigning for a Republican

By doing that, doesn't he negate his win? If the entire purpose of dealing with him was so that we have more members in the Senate, then what's the point of dealing with him?

[Demsrule86]

74. He is trying to look bipartisan to west Virginia. Voters...doubt he will do it,

But he could be the 51st senator. Without a majority we will do nothing in terms of policy and judges.

[bearsfootball516]

53. They did try running a true progressive there.

She lost the primary to Manchin by 40 points, as I stated in my above post.

[Yavin4]

57. That's a true test?

Manchin had the backing of the Dem establishment, and now he's stabbing them in the back.

[bearsfootball516]

59. It's the best bet they'll get. Can't run in the general unless you win the primary.

[Demsrule86]

46. A progressive Democrat had no chance of winning election.

[Crunchy Frog]

71. They like their black lung and opioids.

And think that teeth are a communist plot.

[Bettie]

27. Of course he would

honestly, I won't be surprised if he decides to campaign for a bunch of other right wingers as well.

[Snotcicles]

30. He voted to confirm Barr. nt

[hatrack]

31. He just now voted to confirm Bernhardt, too

.

[Yavin4]

34. When our beloved, dear Democratic Senate leaders tell us why we cannot stop...

right wing justices on the SCOTUS because we lack the votes in the Senate, please recall their stone silence when dealing with Manchin.

[NastyRiffraff]

36. Why is he a Democrat

He's doing the Democratic party little or no good. I know he's from West Virginia so he has to be moderate, but surely WV can do better?

[Demsrule86]

38. Untrue. Without his vote the ACA would be gone.

[Demsrule86]

39. No they can't do better.

[Demsrule86]

37. You think we can do better in West Virginia?

[theaocp]

43. Than someone willing to openly campaign for Republicans?

I sure fucking hope so. Damn.

[Demsrule86]

44. I don't care. He votes with us . I am willing to bet he doesn't. We need warm bodies to take the

Senate and get judges.

[treestar]

62. Who would that be?

[theaocp]

65. Your guess is as good as mine.

Apparently, Manchin holds all the cards and we dance to his tune, even as he slaps us in the face.

[treestar]

66. We need people from W VA to opine on this

Hopefully there are some DUers from that state.

[Demsrule86]

72. Well we can't and it is one more member to bet us a majority and rid ourselves of McConnell.

[loyalsister]

67. As bad as Sen. Byrd was

I doubt he would have given a thought to campaigning for an R. He opposed the Iraq war and was very critical of W. And voted against Clarence Thomas' confirmation, going so far as to offer a statement of support for Anita Hill.
He had ugly baggage, and had evolved into a modern Democrat. Since he saw Homeland Security as executive outreach, he would probably be truly horrified by Trump.

[Demsrule86]

73. And that was back when Democrats won west Virginia.we need all the Senators we can

get in order to get a 51 person majority...or no judges.

[loyalsister]

88. And....

Manchin is offering props to the woman who cast the deciding vote for Kavanaugh.

[doc03]

49. Chances are he will run for Governor in

WV next election. Then the morons will elect someone even worse.

[DFW]

51. Oh, Joe, why don't you go wait for Godot somewhere?

Schumer will call you when there's a vote he needs you for.

[JDC]

52. Because the people of WV love Sue Collins no doubt.

F him on this topic.

[dchill]

55. Right there at the nexus of dip and shit...

It's Clueless Joe.

[TruckFump]

56. OMFG!!!

[Solly Mack]

60. How special.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

63. I've heard that like calls to like!

[bullwinkle428]

85. Okay. So we can't do any better than Manchin in WV. I still believe we can do

a lot better than Susan Collins in Maine.

[TeamPooka]

86. FYI, Manchin's statement, if made here, would be a violation of DU TOS.

[DirtEdonE]

91. If you're supposed to keep your friends close ...

... and your enemies closer - what are you supposed to do with Joe Manchin?