If Manchin flips to R we are screwed!

[garybeck]

As much as I detest Manchin and what he's doing, he has inferred that he could switch to R.

If that happens we are totally F'd. TOTALLY.

I think we need to accept what he is - a total asswipe who is being played by big money interests... and our only hope is to pick up some seats next election or perhaps one of the investigations into campaign contributions or something like that turns into something.

[FarPoint]

1. He knows this....

If he switches...he will be a " nobody" in the republican party.....He won't switch.

[garybeck]

3. i don't know about that. he would be a super hero for switching the majority. n/t

[Irish_Dem]

8. Magats have been programed to hate all Dems.

I don't think the Magat base will buy Manchin as a hero.

[Amishman]

15. They absolutely will, look at WV governor Justice

Former Democrat who went Pub in 2017 and won re-election since. As of last month has a 70% approval rating.

Manchin would be loved even more as his defection would be even more painful for us.

nothing matters more to them than 'owning the libs'

[Irish_Dem]

17. Good points. If it humiliates the Dems, they could love him.

But being an R is dangerous for Manchin.

He will see the other side of Turtle who will throw him out a window in a heartbeat if he steps out of line.

[mopinko]

19. agree. also, it would be his last term.

he'll get primaried from the right, and that's all she wrote.

[agingdem]

24. Manchin's already backing away from his

hourly threat to switch parties..loved the way he blamed the Dems...

[GoCubsGo]

2. Manchin will be screwed, and he knows it.

That petulant fuck would lose every bit of power he has now, and he'd never be able to pull the kind of shit he's pulling now. He'd be just another Republican, and one with little to no sway on anything. Which is why he's not going to flip.

[garybeck]

4. i hope you're right but

i don't see the logic. if he flips, i would think he'd be a hero to the republicans and they would reward him

[Irish_Dem]

12. If he becomes an R, he will see a side of Turtle he has never seen before.

Turtle will throw him out a window in a heartbeat.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

22. And then Manchin blocks whatever McConnell wanted

Manchin still has power as an R as long as Harris still has the tie breaking vote. With Manchin switched, GOP has 51 votes. If manchin doesn't go along with McConnell, it's back to 50-50 vote, with Harris breaking the tie against McConnell. He wouldn't hold as much power as he does now, but he wouldn't entirely be powerless if he switched. He would still have a lot of control over what passes the Senate.

[Irish_Dem]

23. Manchin is sadly mistaken if he thinks he can cross Turtle and get away with it.

Once a R, Manchin will not be able to run his mouth and do what he wants.
He either toes the Turtle line or will have some serious consequences.

Right now it has been all fun and games with Turtle as Manchin is giving Turtle what he wants. That all changes once Manchin is an R.

[andym]

5. He voted to convict Trump in the Senate

that would finish him off in the GOP. He's really like the Democrat's version of McCain.

[MFM008]

6. Go ahead

Were screwed anyway.
We are caught between 2 asshole Democrats
And the asshole gop.
What are we getting done now?

[Irish_Dem]

13. I agree. We are screwed anyway you slice it.

Manchin has done a great deal of damage to Biden and to our party.

[maxrandb]

20. Work our asses off to elect enough Dem Senators

to make him irrelevant.

That way we wouldn't have to worry if Manchin is going to jump off a cliff...

We can push him

[regnaD kciN]

7. Why?

His only value is to give us that 50th vote to pass legislation through budget reconciliation. If he won’t do that, he’s useless to us.

And, frankly, if he’s going to refuse to help us, I’d rather he flip parties. Politically, it would be a lot better to be able to blame the stalemate on Republican obstruction, rather than let the narratives grow that “Biden’s agenda is so extreme, he can’t even get the Democrat Party to pass it when they have the majority” and “Biden’s such a weak president, he can’t even get his own party in line.”

[In It to Win It]

26. Judges so not entirely useless

[JT45242]

9. In what way? Seriously -- judges... name anything else he helps with

The argument might be for judicial appointments. But what else is he helping with? Absolutely nothing.

Nothing passes without him and he won't vote for it.

If he jumps sides MAYBE Dem leadership will grow a spine and force votes on everything passed by the House. Make everyone run on their record. Right now Machin can hide behind the fact that leadership is afraid to bring anything to a vote that he might kill:

1. Roe v Wade
2. Voting rights both versions
3. BBB
4. Gun control

Bring them all to the Senate floor and MAKE RETHUGLICANS (either by self appointed R or by how they vote) stand behind their votes in the next election.

No more of this BS -- only bring things up that you know can win -- make people go back to their home states and justify voting no for cheaper insulin, lowering Medicare age, and every other policy that is supported overwhelmingly by voters.

[Emile]

10. Why in hell would he give up his power?

[redstateblues]

11. Trump won WV by 40 points

Manchin is only protecting his job.

[lame54]

25. How noble of him

[qazplm135]

14. Stop

This whole fear of him turning Republican is all he has and unwarranted.

He might go independent but he isn't caucusing with them and if he does at this point not much changes. Outside of reconciliation there's little left we can do.

[sarcasmo]

16. Nothing is getting done, so it would be the same situation.

[doc03]

18. He won't switch unless the Republicans take control of

the Senate.He is the most powerful Senator in either party as Democrat.

[Irish_Dem]

21. Turtle in no way wants Manchin to become an R.

Manchin is much more useful where he is.
Doing maximum damage to the Dems and Biden.

Besides Manchin is a loose cannon and runs his mouth all the time.
Turtle would hate him in his caucus.

[Gore1FL]

27. If Manchin flips he loses his power.

He will flip if the GOP claims the Senate in 2022. Otherwise, he is going to play the politics he is playing.

[W_HAMILTON]

28. If he votes as little with his new party...

...as he does with his current party, we might actually be better off.