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160
Joe Manchin "seriously" considers leaving Democratic Party (www.axios.com)
submitted 1 year ago by negativenull@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world
39 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Thursday he is "thinking seriously" about dropping his affiliation with the Democratic Party and becoming an independent.

Why it matters: Manchin has made a career out of proclaiming his independence from D.C. Democrats. But his latest comments have added significance, given his public flirtation with a possible third party presidential bid in 2024.

What he's saying: "I'm thinking seriously," Manchin told West Virginia radio host Hoppy Kercheval, adding, "I have to have peace of mind, basically. The brand has become so bad. The D brand and R brand ... You've heard me say a million times, I am not a Washington Democrat."

  • Pressed on how seriously he is approaching the idea, Manchin said he has "been thinking about that for quite some time" and wants to "make sure that my voice is truly an independent voice."
  • Manchin said he hasn't "made any decisions," telling Kercheval, "When I get ready to make a decision, I'll come see you."

The backdrop: Manchin has been dropping hints for months that he may follow the lead of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who announced her switch to independent in December but still caucuses with Democrats.

  • Asked about becoming an independent later that month during a CBS News interview, Manchin said, "I'll let you know later what I decide to do, but right now I have no intention of changing anything."
  • There were rumors as far back as 2021 that Manchin may bolt the party – though he dismissed them then as "bull****."

What we're watching: Manchin faces an uphill reelection battle in a state that voted for former President Trump by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020. The frontrunner in the GOP primary for his seat is popular Gov. Jim Justice.

  • Manchin has spent the last year distancing himself from President Biden and fellow Democrats, repudiating parts of the Inflation Reduction Act and even threatening to oppose Biden's Environmental Protection Agency nominees.
  • He may also decide to go another way. He headlined a New Hampshire town hall last month hosted by No Labels, a centrist group that is laying the groundwork for a potential third party presidential ticket.
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[–] aseriesoftubes@lemmy.world 49 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Framing No Limits as a “centrist group” would be hilarious if they weren’t such a danger to America. No Limits exists to be a spoiler candidate to get Trump elected. After all, Harlan Crow—Clarence Thomas’ billionaire BFF and massive Republican donor—is a major contributor to No Limits.

Also, Joe Manchin can suck an egg.

[–] galaxies_collide@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He can suck something much harder than an egg.

[–] keeb420@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

a fist?

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 48 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Progressives were right about him. Any centrist Democrat who spent any time at all pretending his shit didn't stink: don't you dare start speaking ill about him now. He's exactly the same piece of shit you knowingly defended for years because he was killing progressive legislation for you.

Face, meet leopard. Leopard, face.

[–] Pipoca@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

The last presidential election WV voted blue in was in 1996.

I'm pretty certain he's the only remaining Democrat in statewide office there. The state has been moving really far Republican in recent years. Trump got over 68% of the vote.

The other senator, a Republican, got 62% of the vote in 2014 after Rockefeller retired, and 70% in 2020 against a Sanders-endorsed progressive.

Manchin obviously isn't progressive, and has never been progressive. I'm not sure that he would have survived until now if he were. Is having an independent Manchin worse than the likely alternative of having a Republican replacement? He votes with the Democrats about 87% of the time, while Capito does only 56%.

[–] assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As someone with progressive ideals, fuck Manchin. He's utterly detestable. Provided he doesn't stab us in the back though, I will very unhappily advocate for his reelection however. None of the bills thus far could've passed with McConnell as majority leader, and if Manchin wasn't there, that's what we'd be looking at. The slimeball even authored part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which he's trying to distance himself from.

So long as he keeps voting Democrat, I'll reluctantly consider him an asset -- an asset that'll trash talk Democrats, vote against Democrat goals, and vote for shit heel Republican supreme court justices. Even as a Democrat with the most liability, he's worth it just to keep the Senate. I utterly detest McConnell far more than I dislike Manchin.

Of course all of this goes out the window if he completely betrays us or we find a viable candidate to replace him. Until as we find another Democrat who can win in WV, we're stuck with him, unfortunately.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago

Of course all of this goes out the window if he completely betrays us

"Us?" Maybe he hasn't betrayed you, but he's betrayed everyone to the left of him.

[–] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 30 points 1 year ago

No one has seriously considered Manchin to be a Dem for a while, so, good for him to get with the times

[–] negativenull@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good riddance?

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago (2 children)

As much as I hate the guy and his blantant dishonesty (especially about political affiliation)

The guy happens to be threatening control of the house. Though it sounds like he’s fishing for bribes or something from the pubies.

[–] uphillbothways@kbin.social 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

*control of the senate

small correction. agree wholeheartedly otherwise.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

He's going to lose his seat, and he isn't supporting anything worthwhile on the democratic agenda. Democrats need to defend 23 seats vs 11 for the Republicans, and Manchin is going to be a red seat regardless of whether he wins or loses. If they retain the Senate, it will be because of a massive blue turnout, and those blue voters are not enthusiastic about Manchin.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 25 points 1 year ago

Leave already. Quit taking democratic fundraising money if you aren’t a Dem.

[–] LostMyRedditLogin@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hopefully Synema loses her reelection and all these idiots leaving the Democratic Party learn a real hard lesson.

[–] PrinceWith999Enemies@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don’t think I’ve seen anything that predicts she has a chance in hell. I’m betting she moves on to guest host on Fox.

[–] FReddit@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah, they need a new liar now that fucker Carlson is gone.

[–] Sanity_in_Moderation@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The amount of people that don't understand that Manchin prevented Mitch McConnell from being the speaker of the Senate is disappointing.

[–] Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Actually, I think this is the only reason he hasn't been hung by his testicles by the rest of the Democrat party. It is literally the one and only purpose he serves, as he's been a massive roadblock to virtually all other meaningful legislation.

And what people understand is we still need him for that purpose.

Right now, the Senate is a 51/49 split. If Diane Feinstein kicks the bucket, Manchin and Sinema would literally decide who the Senate Majority leader is. Piss off Manchin and he votes for McConnell, and would you really trust Sinema not to flip votes in exchange for political favors?

Manchin may be almost singlehandedly stopping the Democrat agenda, but it's at least better (Read: slightly less shitty) than stopping the Democrat agenda and installing McConnell as majority leader and sending us backwards.

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 18 points 1 year ago

please leave. we know how you vote already

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, well, fuck him now and later.

[–] jerkjaguar@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

No don't do that!

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He said wants something in return for not leaving.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Knowing his history and knowing Democrats, he'll get it and then leave anyway.

[–] Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Let me know when he seriously considers leaving our planet.

[–] OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bernie Sanders has also "left the Democratic party", he's an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

If that's what Manchin is considering, it probably makes him more electable in WV. If he's voting with Democrats on most things like he is now, that sounds like a good thing.

[–] assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I didn't consider this. Good point.

[–] blazera@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hes makin the joe lieberman circuit. I think Chris Coons is next in line to be the democrats scapegoat for not getting anything done.

[–] MacGuffin94@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Personally I don't like him but I would not be surprised if this was a move more because he views a D next to his name on the ballot as a bigger liability than an I. He's not a good let alone great asset but the reality is that he is head am shoulders better than whatever lunatic WV would elect from the GOP. The most important thing to have our of WV is someone Ds can work with and you know you aren't getting that from a R but you can work with Manchin.

[–] dannoffs@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 1 year ago

He would have to be incredibly stupid to do so. The only reason he has so much influence is because he's the furthest right Democrat. The second he's no longer a dem, he's just another replaceable right-wing shit head.

[–] wwaxwork@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I thought he'd left already, or was that only in spirit?

[–] crusa187@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Why he hasn’t been kicked out for blocking the alleged dem agenda every step of the way is a bit of a puzzle…until you put the pieces together to realize he’s expertly doing his job.

[–] Decimit@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Because he somehow wins in a location that they believe would vote republican otherwise. He is being held onto just for the needed numbers. If we didn’t keep having such close numbers in congress he would have been primaried a long time ago.

*Fixed typos

[–] Hypnos9@artemis.camp 1 points 1 year ago

Because voting republican most of the time is better than all the time, Manchin is the most liberal person West Virginia would elect.

[–] Zoboomafoo@yiffit.net 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Kicked out of what, the Democratic Party?

Yeah, let's kick him out so now we have 49 votes in the Senate and can pass nothing, that'll sure show him!

[–] crusa187@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

If not Manchin, Sinema. If not her, the senate parliamentarian. If not them, repugs will yell at us. If not that, anything they need, to not actually do a damn thing to materially improve the lives of working class people.

[–] EnderWi99in@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago

Yeah well, he represents the voter constituents in a state that is historically right leaning so I'd say I agree with you but I'm fairly sure you didn't mean it that way.

[–] FReddit@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Just go.l, Manchin. Your hatred of all that's good makes you a Republikklan.

[–] Pistcow@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

He won't leave because then he'd have fuckal for power.

[–] profdc9@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago

If he can find a way to raise money as an independent, the more power to him. Any evidence that politics can be played without satiating the money machine is a good step.