'It's bullshit!" - Joe Manchin on switching political parties. Lol.

[JoanofArgh]

Link to tweet

?s=20

[PSPS]

1. If he (or any democrat) did switch, moscow mitch would be back in control.

[Gore1FL]

6. He could abandon the party but still caucus with them.

IT sounds like not even that is happening.

[nebby70]

2. I contend that he already has....

... he's always been a piece of work even back 'in the day'
self inflated and self serving

[Ninga]

3. David Corn is the MoJo reporter that wrote the story.

I trust David Corn’s reporting

[JoanofArgh]

8. Oh, I'm sure Manchin had this all planned. Leak it then deny it. It's a threat.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. So would be: "Gee, let's investigate Manchin's daughter for possible pharma criming"

[hlthe2b]

15. Which R's would have done at the turn of a dime had situation been reversed.

Just sayin...

[TheBlackAdder]

16. Yep. I get the feeling the only thing protecting her is the Manchin name. You or I in prison by now.

[Salviati]

4. Certainly, if it is ego-driven...

If he's acting like this because he wants to be the important figure, then switching would be counterproductive.

[TDale313]

5. I dunno if he's actually thinking of switching...

But do I think he’s using the threat as leverage? Absolutely. It benefits him to have this floating out there.

[Celerity]

7. +1

there are a lot of ifs and unknowns in that article

he is considering leaving the Democratic Party if President Joe Biden and Democrats on Capitol Hill do not agree to his demand to cut the size of the social infrastructure bill from $3.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion, according to people who have heard Manchin discuss this. Manchin has said that if this were to happen, he would declare himself an “American Independent.” And he has devised a detailed exit strategy for his departure.

He told associates that he has a two-step plan for exiting the party. First, he would send a letter to Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, removing himself from the Democratic leadership of the Senate. (He is vice chairman of the Senate Democrats’ policy and communications committee.) Manchin hopes that would send a signal. He would then wait and see if that move had any impact on the negotiations. After about a week, he said, he would change his voter registration from Democrat to independent.

It is unclear whether in this scenario Manchin would end up caucusing with the Democrats, which would allow them to continue to control the Senate, or side with the Republicans and place the Senate in GOP hands. In either event, he would hold great sway over this half of Congress.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

12. From the reporting yesterday, it sounds like Biden's already agreed to cut the size

Not quite to 1.75T, but it's much closer.

[Celerity]

17. It has been going down down down in the press reports

$3.5 trillion to 3 to 2.3 to 2.2 to 2.1 to 2 to 1.9 to $1.75 trillion.

Manchin has not budged an inch. He said $1 trillion was his true wish, but he was going to 'compromise' to $1.5. He has not moved.

ATM, I see the most we will get is $1.75 trillion and many programmes completely or near completely ripped out.

Sinema also presents a huge problem, as HER wants are some of the biggest revenue raisers. The hundreds of billions in savings from the prescription drug price piece will be gone, plus she is fighting for far less tax increases on corporations and the rich.

Coal and Curtsy pincer movement of wreckage.

[C_U_L8R]

9. Look in the mirror, Manchin

That’s what bullshit looks like.

[Johnny2X2X]

10. He's not flipping

Sinema is a bigger risk to do so. And at worst, Manchin would become an independent but still caucus with Dems. Sinema is the wildcard, no idea what makes her tick.

[UTUSN]

13. Such a well spoken, articulate gentleman.

[hlthe2b]

14. "Fer shame, fer shame! Someone has 'a misquoted me! Fer shame! No one woulda eva believed that!"

uhh huh. Gotcha, Joe.

We'll never know, but I have often wondered if RFK had lived and won the WH, if the trajectory for West Virginians (and Appalachian politicos) might have been different.

[Xolodno]

18. Going independent is dangerous.

You lose the war chest of the political party. Unless the Republicans promised to fund him and not aid anyone trying to unseat him. Just like Lieberman.

[keithbvadu2]

19. A loyal' Democrat.

Some people worry that Manchin will become a Republican. In the current balance of parties, that will not happen. He would switch parties only if the Democrats have a large majority or the Republicans have a large majority. He is in a maximum position of power right now and he knows it. The Democrats have to kiss his ass to keep him. If he switches parties he will become just-another-Republican.

At present, he is a 'loyal' Democrat.

[Crataegus]

20. Let the bidding begin

He had this released. It's all about money and power.

[MFM008]

21. The only bullshit

Is his coal sucking career.