Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced on Tuesday that he plans to stay in the Senate after weighing whether he wanted to run for governor again in his home state.
Once again, Manchin never fails to disappoint.
Manchin may be a pain in the neck to Senate Democrats, but he’s far better there if Democrats can win a majority.
I don’t understand the negativity… I’m no fan of his, but I’m relieved he’s staying in the senate. That’s one less seat to worry about towards the majority.
As I understand, the disappointment is because he may have a “D” behind his name, but he often doesn’t act like it. You really want to have someone on your team that you can count on, but he’s not that someone.
On the other hand, if we can squeak out something that looks like a majority, he may play along more.
Say what you will about him but, we need that seat, we can’t lose it. So, I’m happy he’s not trying to run for Gov.
Manchin is the single most valuable senator the Democrats have, because he’s the most irreplaceable. If he leaves, that seat goes to a hardline GOPer. Any other D senator leaving (I’m counting Doug Jones as among the walking dead, although I hope I’m wrong) and the seat is at least contestable. Whether or not you understand Manchin’s value to progressivism is a binary IQ test for politics.
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While that’s true, I still despise him. I also doubt a Rethugliklan could win that seat, especially given the way coal miners have been screwed.
“And I will speak truth to power when I don’t agree with the path the President has chosen to take–that is what West Virginians elected me to do!”
Suuuuuuure, you will you big ol’ profile in courage, you.
You are correct, but he’s still a pain in the ass.
As ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee he will most likely become Chairman is the Ds take the Senate in 2020.
Coal is not our, or West Virginia’s future, and he better understand that.
I agree, but I wouldn’t put money on him having figured that out (at least publicly).
Unless, of course, he’s decided this would be his last run (he’s 72 now, I believe…) and will have the cojones to do the right thing.
Hey, a girl can dream.
“And I will speak truth to power…”
As one of the last representatives of a Democratic Party gone by, he serves a purpose beyond what most of us want. Yes, I agree he is a pain in the ass by (periodically) not voting for Democratic policies but the FACT of the matter is, once he vacates that seat, it goes to the Rethugs. Dems must, must regain the Senate. he plays a part in that.
Manchin does make some crap votes… but his most important may be his vote for Majority leader.
I would rather not count on that chicken hatching. It’s West Virginia.
While not a RELIABLE Democrat, he is a democrat. The devil you know…and all that.
When the Dems take over the Senate, Schumer better have another choice committee assignment for Manchin, because you can forget about effective climate change legislation if Manchin is running that particular committee…