SCOOP: Manchin Tells Associates He's Considering Leaving the Democratic Party and Has an Exit Plan

[demmiblue]

Source: Mother Jones

In recent days, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) has told associates that 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.

Manchin has been in the center of a wild rush of negotiations with his fellow Democrats and the White House over a possible compromise regarding Biden’s ambitious Build Back Better package, and Manchin’s opposition to key provisions—including Medicare and Medicaid expansion, an expanded child tax credit, and measures to address climate change—has been an obstacle that the Democrats have yet to overcome. As these talks have proceeded, Manchin has discussed bolting from the Democratic Party—perhaps to place pressure on Biden and Democrats in these negotiations.

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.
Manchin told associates that he was prepared to initiate his exit plan earlier this week and had mentioned the possibility to Biden.

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.

Read more: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/10/senator-joe-manchin-democratic-party-exit-plan-biden-infrastructure-deal-exclusive/

[deurbano]

1. Thank you, Maine.

[IronLionZion]

5. I have trouble believing the polls were so wrong about Collins

Her re-election was a major upset

[SmittyWerben]

21. Remember this Phrase: Defund the Police.

Killed us all over the country.

[IronLionZion]

26. An often misunderstood concept

that people assumed was abolish, when many wanted to reduce funding for heavy weaponry and increase it for social work and mental health treatment

[oasis]

88. "If you're explaining, you're losing". nt

[IronLionZion]

97. Explain that to our party

but then you'd be losing

The other side has complete nonsense like "Make America Great Again" and "Drain The Swamp" and no one knows or cares what it means.

[reACTIONary]

118. It doesn't have to be explained...

... it says what it means and means what it says in a short, simple phrase. "Defund the police" also says what it means and means what it says in a short simple phrase. It only requires "explanation" in order to attempt to undo the harm that it does.

[reACTIONary]

117. +100 nt ...

... My mantra!

[2Gingersnaps]

127. Sad that is the world we live in

Superman has a gay son and they took out "and the American Way" has more resonance than less funds for military hardware and more for mental health and social workers. The only way that will change is if more January 6 rioters have SWAT teams coming in their front door with military grade equipment.

I'd still love to understand how family issues of a comic book character has a material impact on their lives. Then someone could explain that whole PePe the frog is about owning the libs, and how Pepé Le Pew would not make a great mascot for the Proud Boys, he is an incel that never gets a positive response either. I would certainly think better of them, or at least less awful, that guy is cute.

[cilla4progress]

31. This was another meme laid on Dems by the right

I don't think that was the slogan of any real Dem candidate or congressperson?

They are master propagandists and this was part of it, and successful

[2Gingersnaps]

128. Exactly!

War on Christmas level.

[Fiendish Thingy]

68. Two former GOP senators from Georgia would disagree. Nt

[fwdthinkingdem]

84. It didn't

One day we will stop pretending people fall for stupid slogans. For years we did nothing about gerrymandering and voter suppression. I saw all of this coming

[SmittyWerben]

105. I watched many ads run by rethugs telling folks the dems want to defund the police

In those adds were officers and deputies who were saying defund the police was a dangerous idea while in the background were running video of the protests and violence surrounding continuing police brutality. When we should have picked up seats from trump rethugs we did not. These ads were very effective at continuing the trope that rethugs are about law and order and dems are about anarchy. Defund the police was a gift to the rethugs and they even said that. People do fall for slogans because defund the police fits on a bumper sticker, but the long, detailed, intellectual exposition on what that phrase actually meant did not. We shot ourselves in both feet and lost seats because of it.

[fwdthinkingdem]

122. Thats not why we loss seats...

I'm in GA we voted for 2 D senators with defund the police ads blasting 24/7. Us losing seats because of defund the police is just a way for us to cope with being inept. We have this thing where we think democratic politicians in red or purple districts and states have to act like it. Why don't we ever hear of republicans doing the same? If you're only trying to hold a cut rope eventually something will give.

[2Gingersnaps]

129. Just like this sudden assault on school boards is new.

It is not, that started with the Moral Majority and has been going on 50 years. They started at the school board level and worked up to the State level, then took it national.

[certainot]

101. effective because we let 15000 unchallenged coordinated radio stations repeat it, many other lies

over and over and over

the so-called 'big lie' is one of many big lies Limbaugh and sons sold. they don't get any bigger than "global warming is a hoax"

then there's "guns don't kill people", "COVID is a hoax", "trump is a great man", "corporations are people", "liberal media", "Iraq has weapons of mass destruction", "Hillary wanted to kill the guys at Benghazi", "kneeling athletes are un-American", and so on

[Polybius]

23. So what do you think happened?

Fraud or bad/lazy polling?

[IronLionZion]

28. bad/lazy polling and possibly low turnout from our side

Pollsters undercounted rural conservatives by way too much

[Ace Rothstein]

44. Trump brought in a lot of non-voters who voted Republican down-ticket.

Polling didn't consider these people as likely voters.

[mjvpi]

102. I think you Aced that observation.

In Montana, there were coat tails. A two term, popular governor, who termed out and then ran for the Senate, was beaten by a Trumparian. Total Republican domination in a state that has shown some thoughtful purple spunk in the past. And of course there are voter reform bills pushed by the Rs after they swept the state.. sheesh.

[Ace Rothstein]

104. LOL. I see what you did there.

The voter reform bills are so they keep permanent power.

[Polybius]

130. Then why didn't they vote for him?

He lost Maine by a wide margin.

[NoNobigwick]

90. From the horses mouth:

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) denied to Politico that he’s threatening to leave the Democratic Party if his demands are not met on the budget reconciliation bill.

Said Manchin: “I can’t control rumors and it’s bullshit, bullshit spelled with a B, U, L, L, capital ‘B’”

......SNIP"

We should not be pushing RW nonsense on DU. A loosely sourced tweet, does not news make.

[deurbano]

103. I'm not pushing anything. No matter what, he and his Arizona colleague are holding the will of

the majority of Americans (and an even greater number of members of the party to which they supposedly belong) hostage. A Democratic senator from Maine would certainly have proved helpful at this precarious moment in our democracy's history.

[NoNobigwick]

114. Of course, but

suggesting Manchin is leaving is not helpful. These are RW talking points that are designed to, foolishly, incite the left toward calling for the expulsion of Manchin, something that only helps trump and the Con to regain power in the Senate by talking us into talking him out of our majority. May not be ideal, but, please, keep in mind the alternative (Maj. L. Mitch).

[deurbano]

115. I didn't suggest Manchin is leaving the party. I responded to that suggestion with three words that

stand on their own, no matter what he does or doesn't do. What I did suggest is that the people who voted for Susan Collins f#cked (us all) up. Still true. (Also, don't put too much stock in what Manchin claims, since that is a moving target; David Corn is not some fringe reporter. And, of COURSE, we need Manchin for now, which is why he is being such an insufferable diva.)

[Walleye]

2. Damn! The man is drunk on his own power. Not a good American at all

[rickyhall]

3. We're all weeping.

[IronLionZion]

4. And give control of the Senate to Moscow Mitch

[TheBlackAdder]

29. I'm sure both he and his daughter did some criming. Time to prosecute if there were any of them.

.

Manchin can watch as his daughter goes to prison.

.

[FakeNoose]

83. I don't know, are you referring to the Epipen debacle?

Heather Bresch (Manchin's daughter) is no longer employed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, and the company was sold to Upjohn (Pfizer) that changed its name to Viatris a couple years ago. I believe that ship has already sailed. Enough time and corporate shuffleboard has taken place since the Epipen outrage happened. Bresch got $18 million when the new owners bought out her contract. They didn't want her there, obviously.

[IronLionZion]

99. That's a pretty sweet deal for her

getting paid millions to go away

[Paladin]

6. Evil motherfucker. (nt)

[Botany]

7. And all so he can help to kill off the supportive capacity of the planet w/Fossil Fuels and Joe ...

.... Manchin will make millions.

And to make sure that the people of West Virginia do not get the help, the infrastructure, and
educational benefits that Biden's 2 bills would bring to the state.

[Irish_Dem]

8. He is enjoying all of this immensely.

[qazplm135]

9. So the difference between Dem

And independent is 1.75 v 1.9?

150 billion?

I find that hard to believe.

Either this article is wrong, or this was always the plan in a redder WV that Manchin might think he can no longer win as a D.

Suffice to say I'm going to need to see step one happen first

[PSPS]

79. Remember, this is a 10-year figure. So, it's only $15B (2% of the military budget alone.)

[rpannier]

108. If you look at WV, him changing party would be the end of his political career

Most Republikkans in WV don't like him. He'd never win a Republikkan primary because there are *ahem* "better" Republikkans to choose from.
He does well in the GE because he gets almost all the Dems and a lion's share of the independents, along with some Republikkans
A luxury he'd never get in an R-primary
Dems won't vote for him if he's an independent and neither will R's.
He would be done in politics and he knows it

[packman]

10. Independent No one wants you

Stabbing Dems in the back and the Repukes are not too convinced in his motivation. Joe knows how to protect his ass in West Virginia future elections. "I'm not a Democrat or Republican. I just want to love you'all so vote for me."

[NurseJackie]

58. I want him. He's the BEST we can hope for out of West Virginia. I'll TAKE IT!! TYVM!

We don't need to be "rid of him" ... we need to do the best we can with what we've got for as long as we can. THEN focus on adding a couple of more Democrats by flipping some vulnerable GOP senate seats.

It's difficult for me to understand all the short-sightedness of people cheering at the prospect that he'd leave the Democratic party and caucus with the GOP.

When I hear the shouts of "get outta here! who needs ya anyway?" .... the answer is WE DO! WE NEED HIM!!

Without Manchin caucusing with the Democrats, that would put McConnell in charge. And the GOP would control all the committees and which bills come up for votes.

Is that what people want? Is that what they're willing to sacrifice because of their irrational hatred of Manchin?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

107. This! (nt)

[JohnSJ]

11. Disagreeing with Manchin is fine, but when it results in name-calling, etc. it becomes

counter productive, and doing it through media outlets is NOT a very well thought out strategy

That being said, I suspect it would be unlikely for Manchin to actually switch parties. He has more power than he has ever had, and he would lose that if he switched parties

[CrispyQ]

16. This:

He has more power than he has ever had, and he would lose that if he switched parties.

He's also probably getting more donations then he's ever gotten before. And BIG ones, too. Those GOP donors have deep pockets.

[hlthe2b]

25. Well, I'm gagging on what I'd LIKE to call him, but I won't...

Use your wildest imagination and a 10X multiplier.

[JohnSJ]

39. It isn't what we express that particularly matters, but for those in Congress to face the political

realities of the situation, and realize that negative characterizations of Manchin or Sinema for that matter, are not going to move them to change their position, especially when expressed in the public airwaves and editorials.

What do they think it will accomplish?

Pass what we can pass, and focus on electing more Democrats where we can really change things

[Me.]

12. Why Doesn't He Just Change To REpub & Get It Over With

also, I wonder if he could get re-elected if not a dem as he's had that field all to himself.

[JohnSJ]

19. Because he has more power than he will ever have. This is the highlight of his political

career

I think it is unlikely that he will switch parties, and while disagreeing with his position is one thing, name calling and slurs toward him by some Democrats in Congress appearing on various media outlets, or in OP EDs, I don't think is a wise strategy to influence ones thinking, and it is taking a unecessary risk

We are in less than one year of a Biden presidency

[NurseJackie]

24. Why would you want that? Why encourage that?

That would hand the Senate to McConnell and it would give the Democrats a TWO VOTE disadvantage.

We need to be patient. COUNT OUR BLESSINGS and simply find a way to be THANKFUL that he's there. As imperfect as he is, we can still get things done without throwing up our hands in defeat.

[Me.]

36. It's Not That I Want It

But you can only threaten so much and then sooner or later you are going to pull that trigger. And if he's serious about working with the dems why does he keep changing his demands? I don't trust him an inch, him standing on his yacht talking down to his constituents...



My real hope (farfetched) is that somehow we pick up a couple of senate seats in 2022.

[NurseJackie]

50. The over-the-top "Manchin-hate" is counterproductive.

Obsessing over him accomplishes nothing either. Bullying him, taunting him, stalking him, insulting him, nagging him... it's not going to work. Our efforts and energy would be better spent trying to get something done even if it's not everything we wanted or hoped for. Our efforts would also be better spent in trying to flip some vulnerable GOP senate seats... rather than worrying about crippling/kneecapping or primarying Manchin. Such "revenge" tactics would only weaken him and allow an ACTUAL Republican to take his place.

[Me.]

57. As I Said

my hope is we can add a few senate seats though I don't quite know which are possibilities, 3 additions would be perfect

[NurseJackie]

60. I think encouraging Manchin to "get it over with" is a mistake...

... and a sentiment that should not be encouraged.

[Me.]

61. To Be Clear...Telling Manchin Anything Will Not Have Any Effect

and frankly, I feel he is another LUcy with the football who keeps changing the goalposts.

[NurseJackie]

69. People should be careful what they wish for... even when said in anger and frustration.

People should be careful what they wish for... even when said in anger and frustration. If enough people start echoing those sentiments, it will make it easier for it to become accepted and normalized... and eventually to happen. That's all I'm saying. It serves no good purpose to alienate him.

I feel he is another LUcy with the football who keeps changing the goalposts.

That's a good analogy.

[hvn_nbr_2]

106. If he changes, his political career is over

He would have no chance in a Repub "crazier-than-thou" primary. If he changes party, he's either planning to go to a cushy think tank or he's delusional.

[2Gingersnaps]

131. Because he has to think about how many votes he got from Republicans

on his voting rights bill. None. He is not in this for West Virginia, he is in it for Joe Manchin, and he is at the height of his power. The stars aligned for him, but it is a pretty precarious perch. If we lose our position, he loses with us. If we blow out the midterms and the next election, he's done. Our memory will be so short, and our forgiveness so great, he will be retiring "to spend more time with his yacht."

[HUAJIAO]

13. I'm not so politically astute as many/most here, but I saw this coming weeks ago, at least..

maybe months... The guy is bought and paid for....

[Orrex]

14. I'm surprised to learn that he was ever a Democrat in the first place.

[pwb]

15. I am surprised he didn't call it the Democrat party like the pukes do.

He doesn't belong with us. He fooled Democratic voters as to who he was. He ran as a Democrat to help the failed takeover IMO. The only way to defeat a fake Democrat is to elect a puke so there's that.

[NurseJackie]

22. I hope that doesn't happen. If all other things stayed the same and WV elected a Republican...

... that would hand the senate over to McConnell with a 51 to 49 advantage. We'd be DOWN by TWO VOTES!!! Why would anyone want him to be replaced with a Republican?

I don't want that.

[pwb]

32. How can a Democrat who voted for him vote for him again if

he is against us in almost everything? Independents never seem to do well on their own and a puke will run against him. It sucks that pukes laugh at him and smirk at each other about their Joe. I don't want it either, just saying?

[NurseJackie]

45. I think you know the answer to that. It's West Virginia... a very red state.

[róisín_dubh]

85. With a lot of very pissed off progressives in it that are enraged at the position we're in.

There's just not enough of us and there never will be. So our hands are tied voting for a man who will screw us at every turn. At least Capito lets us know what a snake she is.
I despise him and can barely stomach voting for him.
I can't wait to leave this god forsaken hell hole of a state.

[fwdthinkingdem]

86. That's the excuse we keep saying

It's like a woman that believes she cant do better than her abusive husband.

[JohnSJ]

35. Yes he does. You may want to lose the majority in the Senate, but I suspect most Democrats

would strongly disagree with you. Also, he did not fool any Democratic voters in West Virgina. They know who Joe Manchin is, and his political views.

The problem isn't Manchin, it is getting more Democrats elected in less conservative states than West Virgina, and that chance won't happen until 2022.

So in the meantime, the prudent thing to do, is pass whatever legislation we can pass, which will require both Manchin and Sinema's approval, and work hard to try to gain more than a two seat majority in the Senate

[pwb]

40. I never said any such thing?

You don't know my views from a few sentences that you judged wrong.

[JohnSJ]

43. You said he doesn't belong in the Democratic party. What does that exactly mean?

and there is alleged talk that he is actually considering leaving the Democratic party now

[pwb]

51. Did I say Democrat party?

He is not like us. He does not like us. What is to like? We can't get things done with him and like Unblock says down below we are better off not getting things done in the minority than as the majority failing

[JohnSJ]

56. You probably won't believe it, but that was a typing mistake on my part. I never use

"Democrat" when referring to the party, and I wasn't trying to be sarcastic on your comments either. That was an actual mistake in typing on my part, not freudian either.

You know what my point is though. At this time we need Manchin and Sinema or we lose the majority, and that is more important if for nothing else than for judicial nominations

[pwb]

59. I believe you.

And I hear you. Just Fuck Manchin. Can we agree on the? Pwb Out.

[JohnSJ]

65. Thanks, and yes we do agree on that

[NurseJackie]

17. As an "Independent" will he caucus with the Democrats or the GOP? I wonder which Republican...

As an "Independent" will he caucus with the Democrats or the GOP? I wonder which Republican the voters in West Virginia will choose next to take his place.

I've always advised that although Manchin isn't perfect, we should COUNT OUR BLESSINGS and just be THANKFUL that his presence and his affiliation with the Democrats gives us a 50/50 "majority" in the Senate.

I also advised that the continual harassment and denigration and name-calling and attempts at public humiliation would not have the desired effects and would likely backfire.

Those tactics are frequently the ones that only cause someone (like Manchin) to "dig-in-his-heels" and be less willing to compromise and find common ground.

[dlk]

18. Blackmail is a terrible thing...

[inwiththenew]

20. If true, it means that much of Pres. Biden's agenda is DOA until at least early 2023

And that is only if there are an appreciable gain in the Senate and House. If we don't pick up those seats push that back to early 2025.

[Ace Rothstein]

48. There is no way we win in 2022 if nothing gets done in the next year.

[unblock]

27. as a poker player, sometimes you have to decide if someone is bluffing, or is just really stupid.

if he were to switch, mitch would welcome him with open arms and then quietly get him primaried.

there's just no way republicans would prefer manchin over a real republican.

remember, even though manchin is a real stinker by the standard of democrats, he has voted with democrats far more often than even the most "reasonable" republican has. why would republicans want more of that from one of their own, especially in a deep red state?


so either he's bluffing or he's just really, really stupid.


and of course, maybe he's both.

personally, i'm going with bluffing. i don't think he's very bright when it comes to policy, but he's politically astute enough to have won a very republican state as a democrat. i think he's politically astute enough to know that he can't win as a party-switcher.

[IronLionZion]

37. Likely bluffing

this is all part of his ploy to stay relevant as the deciding vote. He loves it. He would not be nearly as important if he switched to GOP. He might go independent though and then retire. Sanders and King are independents.

[JohnSJ]

46. I suspect you are right, because he will never have more power than he does now, but this early

in the Biden administration, I sure hope we don't call his bluff

[LogicFirst]

30. Good bye and good riddance.

[NurseJackie]

53. Really? Why? If he caucuses with the GOP, will you feel the same way?

Count your blessings! Democratic politics in West Virginia is NOT THE SAME as what you'd find someplace like Vermont. He's never going to change and all the pestering is just going to make things worse. Why continue? Why drive him away?

What good purpose would that serve? Nothing good will come from being rid of Manchin. We need him.

[unblock]

33. i will say this, though: if he's going to prevent biden from passing anything meaningful,

then we're much better off with manchin as a republican.

that way we have an excuse that everyone can understand. can't pass good stuff without a majority in the senate.

if biden's agenda stalls while we supposedly have control of both houses, that's harder to explain why we couldn't get stuff passed.


as i noted above, though, the poker player in me thinks this is a (fairly obvious) bluff.

[C_U_L8R]

34. He'll be a nobody in a party of one

Let's get beyond this jackass.

[cilla4progress]

38. I say take the win at $1.75

Then squeeze his ass and kiss it goodbye - "don't let the screen door hit you asshole" - make it clear that we are cutting our losses and essentially using him to get as much as WE can for our constituencies / the country.

And then go out and work to increase our Cong majorities!

[JohnSJ]

47. No. Until we have at least a two seat majority in the Senate, we don't have that luxury

[cilla4progress]

76. But what are our options?

...

[JohnSJ]

78. The only part of your post I am in disagreement with is kissing him goodbye. We can't do that

until we have at least a two seat majority

[cilla4progress]

82. I see...

yes, delicate negotiations.

[ancianita]

41. Caucusing my ass. He'll join the overseers on the established corporate plantation kleptocracy.

"Democracy? Sure, we can play democracy! Do it our way or leave DC. We got the gun humpers and churches and we don't have to give you your stinkin' money back. Just remember, we know how to criminalize anyone stupid enough to be liberal."

[Grins]

42. Leave the D Party? How will we ever know?

His reason? Conservative governing philosophies? Lack of a voice? To help his constituents?

No. Because he wants to cut a desperately needed infrastructure bill in half. Because of an appropriation bill. Not exactly "Give me liberty or give me death", is it?

[NurseJackie]

55. You will know when McConnell takes control of the Senate. How's that?

How will we ever know?

You will know when McConnell takes control of the Senate. How's that? Hmm?

[bucolic_frolic]

49. How long has Mitch known about this?

Because he was grinning jowl to jowl a few weeks back.

[moniss]

52. There

are several scenarios to consider for Manchin and Sinema to pull their stunt. I have felt this was going to happen all along at some point. One scenario that I thought might happen is that Manchin would do the work of whittling down the BBB package and particularly the child tax credit. Cutting the tax credit to any family over 60k means that those over that amount would lose what they now have and the GOP could blame the Dems for "taking it away" and "giving handouts to those too lazy to work".

Sinema doesn't have the political skill necessary to handle negotiations of any kind and I think her role might well be the GOP fall back position. They let Manchin whittle it down, it comes up for a vote and Sinema votes against anyway and then she announces that she is becoming Independent or GOP and Moscow Mitch gets control. Manchin is then able to stay more or less "clean" and use his preposterous facade of "working for voting rights" to allow him cover to run again as a Dem. I believe the GOP has organized this all and has told Manchin they won't push a strong challenger against him.

There may be several variations of this but I am positive that if the GOP gets control of the Senate then Breyer announces his retirement almost immediately. I also think there is little doubt left that Moscow Mitch will kill the filibuster during their control and then reinstate the filibuster rules just before they know they will lose control. They have done this sort of thing with power moves at the state level with taking away an incoming Democratic governor's powers while they have full control.

Notice how Sinema has more or less been incognito? But nobody should think that Manchin and Sinema have ever been anything other than despicable, self-promoting, opportunistic horse's backsides their entire lives. Look at Manchin's daughter too. The scum doesn't smear far from the pond.

[Dawson Leery]

54. Just rumors, but

It may be a good time to look into epi-pen price gouging.

[hamsterjill]

73. Seriously!

Among some other family dirty laundry. It blows my mind that Dems don't do a better job with the resources available.

[muriel_volestrangler]

62. Biden's "promise to bring people together" is fulfilled in the Build Back Better package

which has majority support in the country. Manchin is bullshitting when he claims that "in his view Biden didn’t win the presidency last year by championing progressive proposals". It's Manchin who is dividing the country, and it's hypocritical of him to try and excuse this by blaming anyone else for what he's doing.

Plus, you know, he'll kill people with his opposition to climate change action. Yeah, that blood on your hands is just a bit divisive, isn't it, Manchin?

[mcar]

63. Manchin denies story

Link to tweet

?s=20

Manchin denies story he’s considering leaving Democratic Party: “It’s bullshit,” he told me. He added: “I have no control of rumors.”

[WhoWoodaKnew]

124. Everyone is gonna ignore you post.

[mcar]

125. I know, sigh.

Doesn't fit the narrative.

[Raven123]

64. I don't get it. What's the point? The plan can't pass without his vote anyway.

There has to be more to the story, assuming it’s true.

[videohead5]

66. He has no chance of winning again

As an Independent or Republican. He voted to convict Trump twice and remove him from office. His career would be over if he switched parties.

[Fiendish Thingy]

67. That's sure a funny way to announce your retirement in 2024.

Fuck.That.Guy.

[Mawspam2]

70. Let him threaten.

When he changes to Independent, strip him of his Chairmanship.

[NurseJackie]

71. Elsewhere online, I'm reading that what triggered this was the Sanders editorial...

Elsewhere online, I'm reading that what triggered this was the Sanders editorial in a major West Virgina paper, and some others have gone out of their way to appear out various new outlets to make disparaging Manchin remarks.

I must say that I'd find it difficult to disagree with those observations and descriptions. I hope it doesn't happen. Manchin is a Democrat (an imperfect one, but he's ours and we should count our blessings and be thankful that he's one of us.) If he leaves, nothing good will come of it, I promise you.

[rpannier]

109. Depends on how you play it

Example: Republicans Party in 2002
Jeffords jumped ship and the Republicans losing control of the senate into their favor.
They blamed Jeffords and the Democrats for not getting their agenda passed in 2001 and 2002.
They picked up both senate and house seats -- very unusual in an off-year election for the president's party to pick up seats and they did in both chambers

[Crowman2009]

72. Hey Manchin defenders, explain to us again why he gives us a majority?

[NurseJackie]

110. He doesn't give us a majority. He gives us an even 50/50 split.

[FBaggins]

121. You need "Manchin defenders" to teach you to count to 50?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

74. If true,

I hope he loses to a D next election.

[JaneQPublic]

75. From "The Hill": "Manchin on party switch: 'It's bull----'"

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/577623-manchin-on-party-switch-its-bull

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Wednesday dismissed a report that he is actively thinking about dropping out of the Democratic Party as "bullshit" and “rumors."

"It's bullshit," Manchin, a centrist, said bluntly after he was asked about a report published in Mother Jones that he has told “associates” he is actively thinking about leaving the Democratic Party.

“I have no control of rumors, guys. No control of rumors,” Manchin insisted after walking out of a lunch meeting with fellow Democratic committee chairmen just off the Senate floor.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/577623-manchin-on-party-switch-its-bull

[BlueIdaho]

93. Me thinks he doth protest too much...

The louder he screams the more it seems like the likely outcome.

[JaneQPublic]

94. I really don't believe much of what he says.

But it's a sure bet if he switches to the GOP, he'd lose the primary to a MAGA who didn't vote twice to impeach TFG.

That said, he'll probably lose re-election as a Dem, too. Not many Dems will be motivated to vote for him and while GOPers now cheer on his antics, they're not likely to Vote Dem over a Trump-loving GOPer.

[BlueIdaho]

98. At this point

He’s only in it for the money - so whatever maximizes his bank account is what he believes in.

[JaneQPublic]

112. Same with Sinema. (nt)

[TeamProg]

77. Too many idiots in government. Too many lies. Too much greed. n/t

[Vinca]

80. Rat bastard. And this is all because of his personal wealth from coal.

[deizo]

81. It's just a threat

t's Manchin's way to get attention and his way to say to Schumer you better give me everything I want! The dems have had control of the senate for 10 months and your telling me that biden has only gotten one judge confirmed? If that's so what's the point in being in control if nothing is going to get done at least if the gop take control the dems can run against it in 2022 and maybe we can get more than 50 dems and get some stuff done!

[BumRushDaShow]

96. Huh?

The dems have had control of the senate for 10 months and your telling me that biden has only gotten one judge confirmed?

Um no.

With public defenders as judges, Biden quietly makes history on the courts


Oct. 18, 2021, 8:10 PM EDT
By Sahil Kapur


WASHINGTON — While President Joe Biden's economic agenda is mired in Democratic infighting, the Senate is quietly making history with his judicial nominees. The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 52-41 Monday to confirm Gustavo Gelpi to be a judge on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Boston, making him the fifth new circuit judge with a background as a public defender on Biden's watch.

(snip)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has put a high priority on judicial nominations, and he has kept the chamber's 50 Democratic-voting members on board to push through Biden's judges, sometimes without any Republican votes. While he has struggled to advance major parts of Biden's agenda that are subject to the filibuster, judicial nominees are exempt from the 60-vote rule.

Overall, Gelpi is Biden's 17th confirmed judge under Article III of the Constitution — six on appeals courts and 11 on district courts. The next nominee, Christine O'Hearn, the selection to be a district judge in New Jersey, is expected to get a final vote Tuesday. Dozens more nominees await votes.

Some conservatives are raising alarms about Biden's impact on the courts. Carrie Severino, the president of the right-leaning Judicial Crisis Network, said liberal groups that spent "millions of dollars to help elect Joe Biden have become quite vocal in demanding judicial nominees who will help promote their liberal policy aims from the bench, and he has shown a willingness to do whatever he can to appease those groups."

(snip)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/new-public-defenders-joe-biden-quietly-makes-history-courts-n1281787

And per the above article's expectation, Judge #18 was confirmed yesterday -

Senate confirms O’Hearn as US District Court judge

By: Gabrielle Saulsbery
October 19, 2021 8:45 pm


The United States Senate confirmed Christine O’Hearn to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on Oct. 19 by a vote of 53-44. President Joe Biden nominated O’Hearn in April to remedy what New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez at the time called a “judicial emergency,” with vacancies in several courts.

O’Hearn boasts 30 years of legal experience at Brown & Connery, where she became a partner in 1992. There, she’s worked as a trial lawyer focusing on labor, employer and complex civil litigation.

At the time of her nomination, Menendez, a Democrat, in a statement called O’Hearn “a highly successful and regarded trial attorney with the intellect, thoughtfulness and temperament needed to be a brilliant federal judge.”

In a prepared statement released after her confirmation, Gov. Phil Murphy said, “I congratulate Judge O’Hearn on this tremendous accomplishment and I know that she will serve the people of New Jersey with honor and distinction.”

https://njbiz.com/senate-confirms-ohearn-as-us-district-court-judge/

[oasis]

87. When, and if that actually happens, I can safely relieve myself

by expressing my true opinion about that “person”.

[LW1977]

89. Why is there two of these threads on the front page?

This isn’t anything different here than the other thread. EarlG?

[sybylla]

91. Been expecting this for a long time.

He and Sinema have been getting far too much money from the GQP funders to stay Dem.

[BlueIdaho]

92. Since he is already scuttling the entire Democratic agenda

So what fucking difference would it really make? Unless he’s planning on retiring he would be crushed in a re-election attempt.

It’s time to work extra hard to remind working class America who is on their side and it’s not Manchin, it’s not Sinema, and it’s not the Republican Party.

[TiberiusB]

113. Less than a year before the GOP retakes one or both houses

Biden has already been caving to Manchin at virtually every turn.

They've cut the child tax credit down to a one year extension. Previously it was set to be made permanent...
Elder care has been cut in half...
Paid family leave down from 12 weeks to 4...
But that's not the knife in the heart of the BBB bill, this is...
Corporate tax increases are now GONE.

That means the best argument for supporting the bill, that it is paid for and therefore won't affect the debt, is history.
To top it off, Manchin STILL won't come out and back the legislation. With a core source of revenue gone, and the climate change provisions still largely intact, who really believes he will see the light? Now he actually can argue that the price is too high, all while shredding the future with his coal stained fingers.

They're saboteurs, Manchin and Sinema. A couple of corporate stooges. Threats of going Independent are empty, assuming they are even real. Manchin barely won his seat in the last election, and he is simply setting the stage for his exit from Congress. His only relevance comes from being able to obstruct Biden. What good is he to Republicans if he jumps parties? Being nice will change nothing. Sinema is sinking fast in the polls. Does it seem like she cares? Obviously she has a strategy, and the payoff is either counting on the Democratic leadership to do nothing, as they have been doing, or to take the money and run to a cushy gig with one of her big donors.

Manchin and Sinema have a job, and that job is to stop anything that will impact the fossil fuel industry or the pharmaceutical industry, whether that be tax reform or shifting to renewable energy.

Is this where we all ignore his and Sinema's obstruction on voting rights, or perhaps more accurately, doing away with the filibuster? I mean, the hilarity of it is, they could abolish the filibuster, and those two would still block anything meaningful from passing. Even if Manchin steps aside, Sinema will never budge, clearly. What's more, without any voting reform, the GOP will almost certainly retake Congress, and then how long will any of the provisions in the withering BBB plan survive?

"while 52 other Senators have grave concerns about this approach"...
Talk about giving away the game...what 52 Senators might he mean?
Democrat my ass.

[BlueIdaho]

119. You hit this one out of the park

Well said!

[DownriverDem]

100. Who do

we believe?


https://politicalwire.com/2021/10/20/manchin-denies-he-threatened-to-leave-democratic-party/

[LudwigPastorius]

111. Hunh...

My money was on Sinema flipping parties.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215926667#post5

But, it makes sense of Manchin too.

They have both made it abundantly clear that they have minimal interest in supporting some of the basic Democratic party ideals and goals.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

116. On the Reidout, Corn is still sticking to his reporting

Link to tweet

[Doremus]

120. I hope all Americans have an exit plan when the fascists take over for good.

All of us should be working on our exit plans. I'd say the odds are 60-40 we're gonna need them.

[Javaman]

123. the repukes will take him for his vote but they will always hate him.

go for it you piece of shit

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

126. I think by now we know this is bullshit

[FBaggins]

132. Not entirely

From today:

Manchin told CNN's Ali Zaslav on Thursday that he never considered switching parties, but he acknowledged that he had given some thought to becoming an independent who caucuses with Democrats a la Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/21/politics/joe-manchin-party-switch-republican-democrat/index.html