A provocative question: is there any danger of Joe Manchin switching parties?

[MerryHolidays]

Our Senate majority is so fragile as it is. I just have no real understanding of who or what is inspiring Joe Manchin right now. For folks who know him better than I do (e.g, WV DUers), is he a solid D?

I vividly remember when Jim Jeffords, an R from Vermont, switched to Independent and started caucusing with the Ds in 2001. That gave us control of the Senate, kinda' out of the blue. Of course, I was overjoyed.

Do we have any reason to worry that Manchin could "pull a Jeffords" in the opposite direction?

[Vinca]

1. It wouldn't surprise me in the least. Then Mitch would be officially in charge.

The bottom line is we'll get nowhere unless we get a supermajority in that bloody Senate.

[MerryHolidays]

2. I mean I seriously don't understand where he is coming from

He claims to be bi-partisan, but McConnell's claim that the "era of bi-partisanship is over" pretty much undercuts that claim.

I really don't understand him at all.

[lagomorph777]

24. This may help you understand:

https://democraticunderground.com/100215513529

[The Magistrate]

3. I Suspect That Is The Pistol In His Pocket, Sir

I confess I find his behavior puzzling. I have felt a man of the mountains must feel his honor abused by the advantage McConnell has taken of him, and sooner or later act to vindicate it.

That's what a man would do, and Manchin knows it.

[MerryHolidays]

5. Spot on.

The McConnell "bi-partisanship is over" idiocy should seal the deal for Manchin. I just don't understand if he is angling to get power as the key decisionmaker in the Senate, is just saying stuff to appeal to the right-wingers in WV but is really a D, or whether he's really an R.

Puzzling is a good way to put it.

[mitch96]

18. " I Suspect That Is The Pistol In His Pocket, Sir". He is like the ball team holding the city ransom

if they don't build them a new stadium.. If not they walk. Manchin can maybe playing this game but what does he want in return? Squid pro quo and all that noise.,..
m

Wow 8 thousand posts...
m

[DFW]

4. Realistically? I'd say little danger

As things stand, Manchin is the center of attention, and in a position to exact many concessions for continuing to vote as a Democrat, which, incidentally, he usually does.

As a new Republican, he would be nothing more than another of McTurtle’s nameless toadies. After all the headline space and attention he is getting, that’s not what he’s looking for. I think he stays right where he is.

[LastDemocratInSC]

6. Good analysis. He would become irrelevant.

[DFW]

10. Precisely

His current behavior indicates that is the last thing he wants.

[MerryHolidays]

7. That is comforting to know

I have no issues with spending the next few years improving what needs to be improved in WV if it gets Manchin on our side!

But Manchin surely sees he can't play the "bi-partisan" card any longer?

Comforting to get your thoughts.

[DFW]

8. He will play it as long as he thinks there is something in it for him

When that is no longer the case, he will stop and reassess. So far, I doubt he sees any reason to do that.

[MerryHolidays]

9. Could this be used for aversion therapy to keep Joe Manchin away from the Rs?

This is from the Turtle's "bipartisanship is dead" speech. That should be sufficient to scare Joe M away from dancing too much with the Republicans!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. Yes

The current Republican West Virginia Governor used to be a Democrat

[brooklynite]

12. It's not a provocative question, it's a stupid one...

Joe Manchin is a Democrat. Always has been. If he wanted to be a Republican, he could have joined them when they took the majority in 2014.

[MerryHolidays]

13. I am really glad you're so confident

That's why he's helping so much to get things done for President Biden, I guess?

[Just_Vote_Dem]

16. Well, up to this point

I believe his voting record was 100% with Biden, that may have changed recently

[Tommy Carcetti]

14. He voted twice for the Former Office Occupant's conviction during impeachment

Knowing the current dynamics of the Republican Party and who it has coalesced around, he’d hardly be welcomed with open arms.

20 years ago is a different story.

[MerryHolidays]

15. That makes a lot of sense

I will await, with great expectations, to hopefully see a new and improved Joe Manchin now that McConnell has taken away the cover of "bipartisanship."

Let's see how much the good Senator from WV does for President Biden and the Ds from here on out on voting rights etc.

[lastlib]

17. If it would give them the power of the majority party, they might overlook that...

[samnsara]

19. i think hes a dixiecrat..not repug but not the modern dem we see these days

[Fiendish Thingy]

20. Manchin will switch only if he plans to retire in 2024. He wouldn't win a GOP primary. Nt

[RegularJam]

21. I don't think so.

He holds down our right flank. If he changed parties we would immediately move on to a new monster holding down our right flank.

[Elessar Zappa]

22. I don't believe so.

He would lose his influence plus, given that he voted twice to impeach Trump, would lose a Republican primary.

[ShazamIam]

23. Joe might be that stupid, he doesn't seem to realize McConnell has turned Manchin into a

laughing sock, a sad sock full of fake utterings that seem to match the kind of talk created in conservative
think tanks. Justifications that are made from untenable sentences and similar to the gobbling and goofiness of a Scalia judicial ruling.

[Xoan]

25. No.

Joe wouldn't be the center of attention anymore if he became a useless Republican.

[MerryHolidays]

26. There is an article posted today on DU where McConnell says no

He doesn't think Manchin will switch. I guess that's worth whatever it's worth.

After the "bi-partisanship is over" by the Turtle, I wonder where Manchin will be on the issues he based his decision on bi-partisanship.

I also find it laughable in the extreme that Manchin is referred to in the media as a "moderate" Democrat.

[CrackityJones75]

27. No. He has no power as a repub.

He would just be one of many as a repub. As a dem he has much more power. There is no need for him to switch parties for him to get what he wants and in fact it would diminish his ability.

[ChrisF1961]

28. No Absolutely none

Manchin voted twice for Trump to be impeached. If he did switch, he would be primaried and lose.