So, who is the most conservative Democrat

[JCanete]

20. Not everybody here is fond of the idea of primarying incumbents. In fact, isn't it the threat of

primarying them why we get threads about why we need them so badly? Its not like we have another method of replacement.

If what you are suggesting(not that you are) is that once we get a blue-dog in, we lay low on the challenges to that incumbent's governance-- only offering up a primary alternative or loudly pushing a liberal message in non-incumbency years-- then I'm sure you see why that might undermine the sincerity of the argument. Sure, if Manchin is the best we can get out of the primaries, then yeah, he's the best we can get at that moment, and hopefully the voters vote for him. I don't think anybody has a bone to pick with that. But I see no reason why we shouldn't put forward more liberal challengers to primary him and others. That could have the result of pulling him left just as much as it could have the result of replacing him.