Manchin declined to call himself a Democrat on Fox "News" interview.

[onecaliberal]

[EmmaLee E]

1. He is up for re-election

in a notoriously red state.

[onecaliberal]

5. And...

[we can do it]

20. Would you prefer Mitch McConnell as senate majority leader?

[Rhiannon12866]

29. +100

[EmmaLee E]

31. My point exactly!

Manchin is better than any Republican.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Joe Manchin is a fine American statesman

I hope he enjoys his retirement starting in 2025.

[SoCalDavidS]

4. Then Prepare For Possibility Of Democrats Losing Control Of Senate In 2025 As Well

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. 2024 was always going to be difficult for Dems to retain the majority

Just too many seats in red/purple states to defend. Out of 33 seats up in 2024, Dems have to defend 20.

Manchin only won re-election by 3% last time, and WV has only become redder.

Then prepare for the possibility of Democrats losing control of the senate in 2025 as well

You should prepare yourself for the possibility that Manchin will do Sinema one better, and not only declare himself an independent, but stop caucusing with the Democrats.

If Gov. Justice runs as the GOP nominee, Manchin is likely toast, and he knows it. Our best hope is if Justice runs, and Manchin runs as an independent, then the Dem nominee might squeak through (but I think the odds would still favor Justice)

I’m sure Manchin is looking forward to becoming a fossil fuel industry lobbyist, so he can write off the cost of buying a bigger houseboat to host parties for his former colleagues.

Look on the bright side- If thing turn out as expected, not only will the senate be rid of Manchin and Sinema in 2025, we will have two new, excellent, progressive senators from AZ and CA!

And who knows, maybe, just maybe, we will squeak out a 50-50 majority again. In any case, the map looks much better for Dems in 2026, and then it’s Bye Bye, Filibuster!

[Buckeyeblue]

15. All very true. Politics can change in a hurry though.

So it's hard to say how 2024 plays out. Remember, last year we all, and professional pundits, thought that we would lose the House by a big margin and that we would potentially lose the Senate.

[Fiendish Thingy]

19. The 2022 senate control was always going to be close, by just 1-2 seats

And it turns out that prediction was true.

The landscape in 2024 is vastly different for Dems than 2022- defending 20 out of 33 total seats up in the cycle.

You can’t predict the senate in 2024 by looking at 2022. In 2022, Dems only had to defend 14 seats, versus the republicans defending 21.

[Buckeyeblue]

22. All I'm saying is that a lot can happen that would either help us defend/hold those seats

Or make it next to impossible.

[Polybius]

26. If it's a 3 race race, the Dem has zero chance

It will likely be Justice 51%, Manchin 38%, Dem 11%.

[Hotler]

17. We could be under a fascist dictatorship by then and Manchin won't matter.

What if TFG or DeSantis gets elected? What do we have to stop them from declaring a dictatorship, suspending the constitution, calling out the military as soon as they are sworn in on January 20, 2024.

[we can do it]

21. Thank you for thinking.

[PortTack]

9. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[turbinetree]

3. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

[DetlefK]

6. He's trying to become the next Joe Liebermann.

I still remember how Fox News reacted when they heard that democratic Senator Joe Liebermann is getting primaried by Ned Lamont. THEY ABSOLUTELY FREAKED OUT. According to Fox News, Joe Liebermann not being a democratic Senator anymore would threaten the stability of THE ENTIRE WESTERN WORLD.

[CTyankee]

14. Joe used to live in my neighborhood in New Haven, which is strongly Jewish.

I think he's retired to Stamford, last I heard.

Ned Lamont is a great Governor. We have a strongly pro-choice state! I love Connecticut and particularly New Haven.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. I'm proud to be a Democrat.

And I say so and why to repuglian faces all the time.

Surprised to hear a sitting US Senator wouldn’t.

[sanatanadharma]

8. Can we 'flame' him now

If he doesn't claim the mantle of Democratic, is he protected from being bad-mouthed?

[onecaliberal]

10. It's just curious to me considering all the things democrats have done for Americans that a "member"

Of the party would decline to call himself one and instead would align with the party who wants to steal social security and Medicare.

[brooklynite]

11. Where did Manchin "align himself with the party who wants to steal social security"?

[sanatanadharma]

24. Google says; maybe it is AI or a chatty bot or maybe it is true

"Manchin and Romney's legislation, known as the TRUST Act, is explicitly modeled after the infamous Simpson-Bowles Commission that recommended deep cuts to Social Security in 2011."

Common Dreams Jan-2023 link

[brooklynite]

25. I tend to find Common Dreams a bit skewed in their analysis.

[mahina]

13. His vote secured Obama care.

I dont like him but he dod tgat. Lots of other good things too.

God dang i do not appreciate the fossil fuel lobby.

[W_HAMILTON]

16. ??? I don't think he took office until after Obamacare was signed into law.

[Polybius]

27. Correct, Obamacare was signed into law 3-23.2010, and he took office 11-15-2010

My take was that the poster was referring to Manchin voting to uphold it many times.

[ColinC]

18. If he runs for re election he should totally become an indepenent

As it will increase his chances. But he shouldn’t run for re election. He should run for governor.

[liberal N proud]

23. He isn't

[Tomconroy]

28. Maybe a member of the Squad will move to W. Virginia and run.

[brooklynite]

30. So you'd like to raise the possibility of a Republican win to a near certainty?