West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin switches parties and registers as an Independent

[Jose Garcia]

Source: WTRF-TV

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has switched parties and registered as an Independent

Manchin released the following statement,”

“From my first day in public service in 1982, I have always focused on doing what’s best for my state and my country, without regard to party or politics. Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. It’s who I am. It’s who I will always be. I have never seen America through a partisan lens.”

“However, since becoming a United States Senator in 2010, I have seen both the Democrat and Republican parties leave West Virginia and our country behind for partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy. Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority,” said Manchin

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wtrf.com/west-virginia/west-virginia-u-s-senator-joe-manchin-switches-parties-and-registers-as-an-independent/amp/

[2naSalit]

1. ...

Figured the fucker would do it eventually.

[ZonkerHarris]

25. Most corrupt politician in DC

[hadEnuf]

2. Goodbye, asshole.

You've been nothing but a mole and a traitor anyway.

[BComplex]

3. The asshole couldn't wait until November?

WTF???

[onetexan]

11. Not surprising he'd pull a stunt tlike this

He took a page from Sinema.
Good riddance.

[brush]

27. Manchin and Sinema have both been thorns in our side. She looks like a sure loser though in AZ.

Wish it were the same for Manchin in WV.

[GB_RN]

34. Well, He's Not Running Again...

So it amounts to the same thing.

[brush]

36. He's not? I didn't see that in his statement.

Last edited Fri May 31, 2024, 02:42 PM - Edit history (1)

The rethug opponent to whoever our Dem candidate is will probably be as red as they come, thus Manchin creates yet more headaches for us.

What an everlasting a-hole.

[GB_RN]

38. Yup. Not Running.

He announced his decision last November. Here’s a link to NPR’s article on it.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/09/1211907129/joe-manchin-retire#:~:text=Alex%20Brandon%2FAP-,West%20Virginia%20Democratic%20Sen.,run%20for%20reelection%20in%202024.

Current WV governor Jim Justice (R-Coal), had announced he was going to run for the seat and Manchin’s popularity had faded over the last 6 years.

[onetexan]

43. i get the feeling he's gunning for future POTUS run

[GB_RN]

45. I'm Not Sure About That One.

A snowball in an extremely warm location would have a better chance than he would have being elected president, especially as an independent: He’s burned too many bridges with Democrats and Republicans won’t vote for a pretend Repuke in sheep’s clothing.

[brush]

44. What's the use of changing to an Indy if he's not running again?

As always, Manchin is nothing but problems.

[LudwigPastorius]

59. He's probably running for something.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/03/politics/joe-manchin-independent-not-running/index.html

CNN
—
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday he’s “not running for any office” after registering as an independent over the Memorial Day recess, but he didn’t completely rule out the possibility.

“I’m not running for any office, political office. I’ve been very clear about that,” the senator told CNN’s Manu Raju, insisting that his decision to become an independent had nothing to do with running for Senate or governor ahead of the August 1 filing deadline.

But pressed on whether he was closing the door on a future run, he added, “I have not – I never leave any, you never leave any political opportunity and walk away from that, so you always have options, because life is full of surprises. But I have no intention of running for political office.”

Manchin, whose announcement last year that he wasn’t seeking reelection was a political gift to Republicans hoping to flip the Senate, noted that he had informed President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of his decision to leave the party before he did so.

[harun]

4. Good, DINO Conservative.

[moreland01]

5. So is Chuck Shumer

still the Majority Leader in the Senate?

[Jose Garcia]

6. Yes. Manchin is going to caucus with the Democrats and the other 4 independent Senators

[rurallib]

8. just trying to remember who the other 4 Indys are

Bernie, Sinema, King and who else?

[Jose Garcia]

9. Menendez

[rurallib]

10. never knew he was an indy - well he won't be for long. Thanks

[Jose Garcia]

13. He is running for reelection as an independent

He has no chance, but he can raise campaign money and use it to pay his attornies.

[GreenWave]

40. Where have I seen that before? Raise $ and spend on legal fees?

[Bayard]

7. He's already useless

Now, he just wants some cover when he votes rethuglcan.

[shotten99]

12. Nothing has changed.

The guy is useless, but given the choice between Manchin and “run of the mill” GQP, I’ll take this worthless sack of shit.

[Botany]

14. "Doing what is best for my state." Please!

Please such as running a dirty coal fired power plant in Grant Town, W.V. that uses scrap
coal and is killing and or making sick to the people who live around it.

[CBHagman]

19. A millionaire representing a state with lower life expectancy...

I remember looking up Manchin's personal wealth one time and being astonished that he was a millionaire.

Anyway, the timing is hideous, and it comes off as spitting in President Biden's face and, for that matter, in the face of the republic.

[onenote]

15. Would folks prefer he switched to the repubs and caucused with them?

Meaning Schumer would have to share power with McConnell?

[Katcat]

24. Manchin

Has said that this is it, he’s leaving.

[onenote]

49. He's not leaving immediately. We need him to caucus with the Democrats

[area51]

16. "...both the Democrat and Republican parties ... partisan extremism"

In what alternate universe are the dems partisan extremists?

[CBHagman]

20. Also the use of "the Democrat [Party]"

That's meant to be an insult, like mispronouncing someone's name.

[Polybius]

17. We now have 5 Independent Senators

Is that a modern day record?

[republianmushroom]

18. And I call this BS, Manchin, "my state and my country, without regard to party or politics".

You were a DINO !

[hamsterjill]

21. True colors.

He’s a jerk.

My personal opinion is that no elected official should have the privilege of changing parties. When I vote, party affiliation is ALWAYS important to me and if someone wants to change parties, let them wait until the next election and run on their selected choice. That way, I can vote accordingly.

[KPN]

22. No, "doing what's best" for Manchin.

[Katcat]

23. Why bother

He’s already said he’s leaving

[Ilsa]

26. Democrats are the "extremists"?

Does he know what "extremist" means?

[OrlandoDem2]

28. LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!

[Paladin]

29. Get busy fucking yourself, Manchin. (nt)

[NanaCat]

30. Oh, shut up, ButtManch

Argumentum ad temperantiam (argument to false moderation) is a logical fallacy for a reason. Namely that you're too bloody stupid to comprehend that there is no middle ground between reality and delusional f*ckwittery.

[AnrothElf]

31. Nice, so we can shit on him on DU now, right?!

(Not that we weren't before LOL...)

[onecaliberal]

32. Get the fuck out already. You're not with either party. You are for yourself. You evil greedy lying piece of shit.

[Quanto Magnus]

33. He was never a Dem...

Now at least he's open about it.

[SamKnause]

35. Fuck you.

You should have registered as an asshole.

[GB_RN]

37. What's The Goddamned Point?

I’m not going to bash him, but seriously, what’s the point of this entire exercise? Manchin is retiring at the end of this term. Changing to “independent” doesn’t get him anywhere or anything. And as long as Sinema doesn’t pull the same stunt, he could go caucus with the GOPQ-balls and it wouldn’t really make much difference in the Senate (If Sinema followed Manchin to caucus with the Q-nuts, McConnell would be Majority Leader again. But let’s not contemplate that nightmare).

The only thing I can come up with here is that Manchin hasn’t been able to get his name in the news much recently. And so it follows, knowing he’s an attention hound, that this might be nothing more than a “Hey! Look at me” bit.

Taking a darker look at that, it momentarily gets the spotlight off Cantaloupe Caligula and his conviction. I really don’t want to think Manchin would stoop that far with his motive.

Again, this is NOT a Manchin-bashing post. Just speculation about motivations and my confusion/frustrations over the same.

[Bettie]

47. Maybe it's to try and gain a little credibility when

he decides to become a Republican to run for governor of West Virginia? A bridge affiliation for the moment?

And, he's not a Democrat, so I think we can bash him now....

[LudwigPastorius]

60. W. Virginia general election deadline for independent candidates to file is August 1st.

...while the deadline to file for party-affiliated candidates has already expired.

By declaring independent, Manchin can still run for something (Senate, Governor,...) if he chooses to do so.

https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/West%20Virginia%20Election%20Calendar.pdf

No later than August 1 preceding the General Election, certificates nominating candidates are to be filed with the Secretary of State or County Clerk, depending upon the office being sought.
If nomination certificate is not timely filed and filing fee not timely paid, they may not be accepted by the filing office.
- W. Va. Code §§ 3-5-23, 3-5-24

[no_hypocrisy]

39. Does mean Chuck Schumer can still be

Majority Leader?

[GreenWave]

41. Yes.

[onenote]

51. Only because Manchin still intends to caucus with the Democtats

Although it seems like a number of DUers wouldn’t mind if he didn’t notwithstanding that would mean a sharing arrangement by Schumer and McConnell

[Traurigkeit]

42. "From my first day in public service in 1982, I have always focused on doing what's best for my rich buddies."

Fixed it

[Bettie]

46. Does this mean we no longer have to

say only kind things about him and his behavior?

[onenote]

53. You must read a different version of DU

if you think only kind things have been said about him.

[Oopsie Daisy]

48. Will he still caucus with the Democrats? Has all the Manchin-Hate driven him away to give an advantage to the GOP?

For all of his faults, at least he was a Democrat that gave us the majority we needed in the Senate. If we lose the Senate by one vote... his haters will wish that he was still a Democrat who caucused with us and allowed Schumer to be the majority leader.

Haters should be careful what they wish for... it might come true.

[onenote]

52. You're expecting some folks here to consider this rationally

[Oopsie Daisy]

55. Yes ... Silly me!

You're correct. 👍🥰🤗

[Bristlecone]

50. Fuck you Joe, you self-aggrandizing prick.

You represent you and you alone.

[Oopsie Daisy]

56. One day we will miss him. I promise.

[Bristlecone]

57. He will fall to the dust bin of history.

Like Joe Lieberman. I didn’t miss him one bit.

And I can see the big picture just fine. All the handwringing and being held over a barrel all the time will also not be missed.

I will not miss Kristen Sinema one bit either.

Maybe we can put a democrat back in a Florida seat; and one of these days a Texas seat will also be back in play - shear demographics will take over. There are opportunities elsewhere.

[Oopsie Daisy]

58. True. In time he will be forgotten. But in the short term when we're a seat or two short in the Senate *

* even the WORST behaving and WORST voting Democrat still helps us to retain the majority status and all the privileges AND CONTROL that comes with it. --- Being "held over a barrel" is infinitely more desirable than having NO CONTROL at all. But, haters gonna hate, and I agree he's done a lot to create the resentment that follows him around. It's just that strong emotions often cause people to fail to consider the long-term consequences of what they wish for, even if it brings short-term satisfaction.

[twodogsbarking]

54. The people of WV need help and this is the shit they get. A shame.

[oasis]

61. Master saboteur Manchin made

a mess of things for Democrats. He'll be remembered for his disloyalty.
Good riddance.