Breaking News: BLUE DOG Joe Manchin Has SUDDENLY Found His Spine!

[branford]

19. I hope that elitism felt real good.

It's one of the reasons why we lost control of the Senate, even more seats in the House, and Republicans dominate a clear majority of statehouses and governorships. For instance, I'm sure your attitude is appreciated by (previously) loyal, blue collar, union, "mega-truck drivin', gun-totin', bullet sprayin'" Democrats in states like GA, CO, AR, KS and LA.

Take a look at the recent elections in WV, including the Senate win by Republican Capito. WV is very conservative state which relies on coal. Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, or even President Obama, are an endangered species. Simply, Joe Manchin represents the positions of his constituents, similar to those of conservative Democratic Governor Tomblin.

If elected leaders like Manchin and Tomblin advocated all the positions demanded by many here in WV, it would result in the end of their political careers, and mean the election of even more Republicans. Despite your apparent disgust, Manchin is, by a long margin, the lesser of two evils.

Welcome to reality. Senators like Manchin are the only electable Democrats in many states and districts, and just barely. Thankfully, he supports national Democrats on far more issues then he opposes. Other conservative Democrats were decimated in the last election, so we're now more purely liberal, but decidedly in the minority. How exactly does this situation advance any aspect of a more liberal agenda?