What Drives Joe Manchin? Frustrated Democrats Can Look to West Virginia.

[brooklynite]

New York Times

This week he angered Democrats by spelling out in a newspaper column that he would oppose his party’s broad voting rights bill and would never vote to end the legislative filibuster.

It has thrown a dark cloud over Democrats’ hopes for major legislation ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. Frustrated with Mr. Manchin and confused about his motives, many Democrats have asked: Why, in seeking an armistice with Republicans, has he allowed himself to become one of their greatest weapons?

But back home in West Virginia, Mr. Manchin’s stubborn belief in working across the aisle is recognized as the core of his being, not mere posturing for a conservative state where he may seek re-election.

...snip...

“All the people he grew up with were Democrats; they’re not anymore, but in his eyes, they haven’t changed — they’re the same people,” said Jonathan Kott, a former top aide to Mr. Manchin in Washington.

[sprinkleeninow]

1. I must be dense. Not getting this. eom

[NoMoreRepugs]

2. I call BULLSHIT, appears to me ManChin is way more

interested in ManChin than anything else.

[sop]

3. To win again in 2024 Manchin thinks he has to be known as the guy who "sticks it to the libs."

[PortTack]

4. So how...does he square that with the folks back home..when this poll shows that the folks back

Home really want this legislation to pass....

He’s being bought!!

Link to tweet

?s=21

[FBaggins]

5. Easily

There’s a difference between supporting specific legislation, and being willing to blow up the system in order to pass it.

They’re smart enough to know that blowing up the filibuster would get them a higher minimum wage, but that it also means packing the Supreme Court and anything else the left wants.

[Elessar Zappa]

7. He should just do the right thing.

He probably won’t win in 2024 no matter how he votes or even if he switches parties. He barely won in 2018. Come 2024 it’s very possible a right wing nut will win. And if he switches parties, he won’t get past the primaries because he voted twice to impeach Trump.

[FBaggins]

8. It's pretty clear that's what he thinks he's doing

I doubt that re-election entered into it… but he’s more likely to run for governor. And there’s every reason to think that he’ll have a good chance

[BGBD]

11. Because that poll

Is hot garbage. Full of vuage a d leading questions designed to get people to say they support something instead of trying to determine true support. It's actually embarrassing that it keeps getting posted as a fact.

[aocommunalpunch]

6. Whew!

And here I thought being tight with ALEC had some sway with the guy. Glad I can put those concerns to rest. It’s all about sincerely held beliefs! Quite the relief.

[Nexus2]

9. Manchin argued that a partisan rules to change voting is a recipe for disaster to explain his stance

While sitting by and watching the GOP trip all over themselves passing such rules, even knee capping the limited moves that can curtail or mitigate what they're doing. Most of his constituents don't support his stance from polls so it doesn't seem to be going along with them that is driving him or he's doing so very selectively.

He either seems foolish (unlikely), arrogant and stubbornly optimistic about the Republicans attitude getting better or, well, some less savory motivation. :-/

[Johonny]

10. people he grew up with were Democrats; they're not anymore, but in his eyes, they haven't changed

That tells you something more about the kind of people Joe associates with and not in a good way.