Sen. Joe Manchin brushes off the idea of switching parties:

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

'I've never considered it from that standpoint'

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has never thought about trading in his Democratic Party affiliation for the GOP, he told Vox in an interview published Tuesday.

"I've never considered it from that standpoint because I know I can change more from where I'm at," said the moderate Democrat, who regularly pushes for bipartisan dealmaking.

The comments come as Manchin has tossed Republicans a lifeline by refusing to give into pressure from progressives within his own party. Manchin has opposed left-wing proposals, such as reforming the filibuster and raising the federal minimum wage to $15. He has instead advocated for Democrats to reach across the aisle to fulfill their agenda.

Manchin defended his politics to Vox, citing his West Virginia roots and saying that he's "just the product of my environment." He said he was taught to help those in need but also learned the value of hard work.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sen-joe-manchin-brushes-off-165852915.html

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Maybe he should reconsider when folks are questioning his affiliation, eh? Do you think he'll 'get'

it? It's funny because he got elected because of his 'democratic' label. I don't understand this. Especially when he saw clearly that the republicans all during trump's years in the WH refused to work w/ democrats.

[jimfields33]

7. I'm sorry but one bill has gone to vote in the senate so far

He voted for it. Yes he’s doing media. But when another bill comes to the floor, we will see how he votes. I never remember him voting no during president Obama’s 8 years at least to notice. All this so far is noise from the media asking him hypotheticals.

[tritsofme]

9. Manchin was elected because of his own personal brand, despite the Democratic "label"

This is a state where Biden got less than 30% of the vote. That is the sort of electorate Manchin faces.

[fishwax]

2. if he switched he'd be primaried and his political career would be over

[tableturner]

5. True...but if he heavily conformed to the Democratic agenda, he's lose the general election.

[FBaggins]

26. Constantly repeated... but almost certainly untrue

I have no doubt that McConnell can and would ensure a lack of a legitimate primary challenger. Or, more likely, an easy path back to the governor's mansion.

Assuming that he even intends to run in 2024 in the first place - which is no sure thing.

[fishwax]

28. I don't think McConnell has that much sway over the politics of West Virginia

West Virginia's republicans have gotten increasingly frantic over the course of the last decade. I really don't think ambitious folks from the trump wing would hold off jumping into a winnable primary for a guaranteed seat just on account of McConnell.

[msongs]

3. what "hard work" has he done lately? nt

[CurtEastPoint]

4. ignoramus: "from where I'm at..." Well, Gomer, where are you at?

[Phoenix61]

6. Moderate Democrat? I don't think so. nt

[Peppertoo]

8. He is the best Democrat we are going to get from WV

[prodigitalson]

10. Manchin's is finished no matter what he does

He can do the right thing and be beaten in his next general. Or do the wrong thing and be defeated in his next primary (either party)

[Polybius]

11. So he has no winning path, whether he does the right or wrong thing?

That's gotta be depressing.

[prodigitalson]

15. Yes and yes

So you might as well do the right thing even if you are a cynical but long thinking person who gives any thought to how history will look upon you.

[former9thward]

24. Nonsense.

Progressives tried to take him out in the last primary and got wiped out.

[FBaggins]

27. The theory is based on the whacky notion that republicans wouldn't accept him

Despite the fact that many of them have been voting for him for decades and he would be saving them from (insert issue here)

[Elessar Zappa]

29. He barely won though in 2018.

Every cycle his margin of victory gets more narrow. I'm not sure he'll survive another cycle as a Democrat. I don't know if he'd win as a Republican either. He may be in a damned if you do damned if you dont situation.

[doc03]

12. He has far more power as a Democrat as a Republican he would

just be another member of the Trump cult.

[-misanthroptimist]

13. Has Manchin *looked* across the aisle lately?

Who tf on that side of the aisle does he think will compromise with Democrats on...anything?

Someone should probably tell Manchin that it's 2021, not 1991.

[Crunchy Frog]

14. If he gets his way, he'll be completely irrelevant in two years.

Everything else will suck, but at least we'll have him out of the spotlight.

Also, I don't think basic voting rights is some kind of wild eyed left-wing policy. It's the bare minimum for believing in America.

[Celerity]

20. Less than 2 years. If we lose the House and/or the Senate in 2022, we're dead in the water in 20

months, and TBH, it's 18 months, as there is zero chance Manchin will have an epiphany in the lame duck session if we get our asses handed to us in November 2022. The House, especially after our losing probably a net 4 to 6 seats due to the post-Census redistricting, is in dire shape for us. If just a net 5 seats flip D to R, the Rethugs are in control again, and the re-districting alone might do that. If we pass no real voter rights/protection bills of impact, our chances are even dimmer.

[Crunchy Frog]

21. We have to go for broke on his ass. Absolutely no holds barred.

We need to retire and replace Breyer on the SC first.

Our leaders need to act as if we were in a war for survival against the Nazis, because we basically are.

[Celerity]

23. Thank you for bringing up Breyer. I have been worried about him since we won the Senate back.

He is on the clock, and needs to retire by the end of the year at the latest. I am terrified that something happens and we lose control of the Senate (even before November 2022) or, if we dodge that bullet, then do not get a chance post 2022 due to the loss of the Senate via conventional election-caused means.

Also, we are owed a RBG replacement, an ultra liberal, and my second nightmare is Manchin and Sinema refusing to confirm one.

I think I can safely say we will never again see a Dem POTUS SCOTUS nominee even get a vote (let alone confirmed) from a Rethug-controlled Senate, even if they have to block it for multiple terms of a Dem POTUS(s).

[Crunchy Frog]

25. I don't see us getting a Dem POTUS elected again EVER

if we sit back and allow the Rs to consolidate power by eliminating democratic elections through the state legislatures.

It may seem like I'm catastrophising, but it will functionally be the end of our republic if this is allowed to go through.

I really hope that our leadership is taking it that seriously.

[Hoyt]

16. Hope so, I'd prefer to keep it MINORITY Leader McConnell.

[UTUSN]

17. "change...from where I'm at" - and there it is: No power if switched to Repuke.

[Blue Owl]

18. He's special....

So fucking special...

[WarGamer]

19. Listen to what he said...

He's MORE powerful as a DEM than he'd ever be in the GOP...

It's about power.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. He'll have as much power as a worm if he lets the Rs get away with rigging the midterms.