Manchin's Double-Dodge

[Lunar]

Not that I think he's going to lose in 2012, just think this is an interesting read

http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/1210/Manchins_double_dodge.html

"For ad makers, the visuals are already dancing in their heads."

[Keystone Phil]

He really couldn't bring himself to even vote against the DREAM Act? Wow.

[Franzl]

Spineless bastard

[You kip if you want to...]

Spineless bastard

It's what happens with fence-sitters "centrists" the world over.

[redcommander]

He so better go down in 2012. Where is Shelley Moore Capito when you need her? If fricken Olympia Snowe who is likely to get the kitchen sink thrown at her from the Tea Party had the guts to show up and vote, Manchin should have.

[Landslide Lyndon]

I think that Evan Bayh is going to leave the leadership of the Wimp Caucus in good hands.

[Keystone Phil]

The best part is the excuse: he was "at a holiday party."

Perfect, Joe.

[Lunar]

The best part is the excuse: he was "at a holiday party."

Perfect, Joe.

Eh, not quite that cheesy:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://blogs.wvgazette.com/squawkbox/2010/12/18/manchin-skips-votes-on-dadt-dream-act/

[Landslide Lyndon]

The best part is the excuse: he was "at a holiday party."

Perfect, Joe.

Well, you know those Italians. They always put family ahead of everything else.

[Keystone Phil]

The best part is the excuse: he was "at a holiday party."

Perfect, Joe.

Well, you know those Italians. They always put family ahead of everything else.

Is Manchin Italian? I guess they shortened the last name.

[Eraserhead]

Wikipedia informs me that he's Italian and Czech ethnically. The really weird thing is that I actually know an Italian-Czech kid who fashions himself a hillbilly IRL.

[Holmes]

Initially, this didn't bother me. But now it pisses me off. I mean, he ran for Senate. And won. And he won't even show up to vote. Douchebag.

[Lunar]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/1210/Manchin_apologizes_.html?showall

"Let me apologize to anybody and everybody within our listening and reading areas. I'm very sorry for missing the two votes,” Manchin said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday.

Manchin says his oldest daughter is divorced and has one child from that first marriage. She and her ex-husband take turns when it comes to custody on the Christmas holiday.

"Last Christmas, we were all together because we had all the kids on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” Manchin said. “This Christmas was the one where they get out of school this week and we won't be with them this weekend."

Manchin says if the same situation were to arise on another holiday, he will be in Washington.

"In the future, I will make any adjustments and all adjustments that need to be made so that it doesn't happen again,” he said.

[tmthforu94]

Politically, I can see why Republicans would try and spin this. But my heart just isn't in that attack, as I think he has a pretty sincere reason.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I think it's pretty obviously he was cowardly trying to dodge the vote. When asked about his vote against cloture on DADT earlier he gave a rather pussy statement, basically he said he voted against it because he hadn't yet consulted his constituents on it, but that he felt the policy should "at some point" be repealed.

[memphis]

Why can't senators vote when they're away from Washington? They should be able to phone/fax/email/text their votes. Hell, why even send them to Washington in the first place?

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Why can't senators vote when they're away from Washington? They should be able to phone/fax/email/text their votes. Hell, why even send them to Washington in the first place?

The people want them to at least pretend that they're doing something.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Given the way Manchin was going to vote, I'm glad he had a "party." In fact, I hope he schedules many, many more parties in the future.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I'm guessing that someone told him to get lost after he voted against repealing DADT.

[Napoleon]

I still think we could have gotten a real Democrat in this seat. I guess the only thing Manchin did worthwhile was scare off Capito. Raese wouldn't have gained over ten points if he were up against someone more like Jay Rockefeller politically.

[tpfkaw]

I still think we could have gotten a real Democrat in this seat. I guess the only thing Manchin did worthwhile was scare off Capito. Raese wouldn't have gained over ten points if he were up against someone more like Jay Rockefeller politically.

Manchin started leading in the polls again after he started shooting at Obamacare.

[Napoleon]

Some times it is better to rally the base. That is how close fought elections are won (or lost).

[tpfkaw]

Some times it is better to rally the base. That is how close fought elections are won (or lost).

The Democratic base in West Virginia are the types of people who like shooting at Obamacare.

[Joe Republic]

Some times it is better to rally the base. That is how close fought elections are won (or lost).

The Democratic base in West Virginia are the types of people who like shooting at Obamacare people like Obama.

Fixed.

[Keystone Phil]

Some times it is better to rally the base. That is how close fought elections are won (or lost).

And "the base" in West Virginia isn't exactly like the liberal base in most other areas. A "real Democrat" would have easily lost this race.