Joe Manchin 2020?

[Beet]

Should he run for president? I think Jim Webb would have done quite well actually, had he stayed in the race. Manchin is similarly good. Liberals may gripe but they would probably support him over Trump, I think.

[Skunk]

If he does run, how would he win the primary? Sure he supports Planned Parenthood but he's still pro-life and that's practically a death sentence nowadays.

[Santander]

Manchin is a corporatist centrist - a pro-life version of Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Jim Webb is a cultural reactionary populist. They are both good in their own ways, but they are very different animals.

[Shadows]

Run as what? A Republican? Independent? Because he has no chances of winning the Democratic primary.

With his record - Voting to defund planned parenthood, pro-life image, only Senator who didn't vote to repeal Don't ask, Don't tell, doesn't support gay marriage, is terrible on the environment - Climate Change denier coal baron, voted for the water & air to be polluted & for Pruitt (forget Carbon taxes, cap n trade or fracking ban). He's center-right in many economic policies, doesn't support any expansion of healthcare or affordable education,is strongly pro-guns & has dis-respected Obama.

It is impossible to run as a Democrat - The Democratic party will probably disintegrate if he is the nominee !

[Beet]

Run as what? A Republican? Independent? Because he has no chances of winning the Democratic primary.

With his record - Voting to defund planned parenthood, pro-life image, only Senator who didn't vote to repeal Don't ask, Don't tell, doesn't support gay marriage, is terrible on the environment - Climate Change denier coal baron, voted for the water & air to be polluted & for Pruitt (forget Carbon taxes, cap n trade or fracking ban). He's center-right in many economic policies, doesn't support any expansion of healthcare or affordable education,is strongly pro-guns & has dis-respected Obama.

It is impossible to run as a Democrat - The Democratic party will probably disintegrate if he is the nominee !

He has said he supports funding Planned Parenthood now. Also, he is considering single payer:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/03/17/manchin-studying-canadian-style-single-payer-health-system-asks-why-sanders-hasnt-introduced-it/

[Person Man]

Basically he would be a modern day Taylor/Fillmore. Basically someone who was ran because Democrats really just wanted a "W" somehow but really wouldn't be a Democrat. Essentially, he would signify that the Democrats were "giving up", even if he won. 

 The thing is that Democrats really need people who have something to offer to moderate conservatives while still offering a substantial alternative to most Republicans.

There's a difference between "me too!" and "OK. You're not comfortable with what we have to offer. Maybe we can start small?"

[Rookie Yinzer]

No.

[McGovernForPrez]

Lol, why are people even discussing this. If JBE barely deserves discussion then Manchin doesn't belong in the conversation.

[Suburbia]

He's probably too moderate to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Too moderate. Just like how Jon Huntsman for the Republicans.

[Lord Admirale]

He wouldn't win because the DNC isn't interested in winning with logical politicians.

[136or142]

Sleazy Joe Manchin is a Republican in all but name.  Which party are you suggesting he should run for?

[136or142]

He wouldn't win because the DNC isn't interested in winning with logical politicians.

He's only logical if the 2016 election were to be held again in 2020, but that's not how politics works. (I'm not actually sure Manchin would have been a logical candidate for the Democrats in 2016, but, I'm agreeing, just for the sake of argument.)

[Tancred]

I don't think Manchin would make it through the Democratic primary. He is hated by much of the liberal base of the party, by both Sanders supporters and Clinton supporters.

I think an interesting scenario would be Manchin running as an independent. I can see two scenarios playing out.

1. Trump loses the Republican primary and runs as an independent with Manchin as his VP.

2. Trump not running in 2020 or getting impeached and Manchin running in 2020 as an independent. I think a lot of Trump Republicans and socially conservative Democrats would vote for Manchin in this scenario.

I don't think a Manchin run is likely in any case, though. It is too bad because I am a fan of Manchin.

[SingingAnalyst]

Yes, Manchin should run.

(1) Manchin can certainly "grow" in his views on abortion (think Jimmy Carter, Dick Gephardt, Al Gore, Teddy Kennedy or Jesse Jackson), planned parenthood, SSM, etc.

(2) Many Dems, along with Americans generally, are tired of the country being divided on wedge issues.

(3) Many Dems, along with Americans generally, are disillusioned (or worse) with Trump.

(4) It would bring a segment of the population that has been isolated and sometimes vilified in urban-dominated Democratic circles, into the conversation.

[136or142]

Yes, Manchin should run.

(1) Manchin can certainly "grow" in his views on abortion (think Jimmy Carter, Dick Gephardt, Al Gore, Teddy Kennedy or Jesse Jackson), planned parenthood, SSM, etc.

(2) Many Dems, along with Americans generally, are tired of the country being divided on wedge issues.

(3) Many Dems, along with Americans generally, are disillusioned (or worse) with Trump.

(4) It would bring a segment of the population that has been isolated and sometimes vilified in urban-dominated Democratic circles, into the conversation.

Sleazy Manchin has been a frequent apologist for Crooked Trump and has frequently voted for his agenda (or the Congressional Republican agenda.)  Hardly any disillusioned Democrat would look to Sleazy Joe to protest Crooked Trump.

[RINO Tom]

Manchin is a corporatist centrist - a pro-life version of Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Jim Webb is a cultural reactionary populist. They are both good in their own ways, but they are very different animals.

Not sure about that...  pretty "liberal" views on affirmative action for Black Americans, for example.

[Kamala]

If a West Virginia democrat runs, I'd prefer it to be Justice.

[Santander]

Manchin is a corporatist centrist - a pro-life version of Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Jim Webb is a cultural reactionary populist. They are both good in their own ways, but they are very different animals.

Not sure about that...  pretty "liberal" views on affirmative action for Black Americans, for example.

Supporting affirmative action for blacks only is the cultural conservative position... give them a shot of adrenaline to catch up with whites through individual endeavor, and over time, it will no longer be necessary. Saying that this should be extended to other minorities by virtue of the fact that they aren't white is the "liberal" view.

[RINO Tom]

Manchin is a corporatist centrist - a pro-life version of Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Jim Webb is a cultural reactionary populist. They are both good in their own ways, but they are very different animals.

Not sure about that...  pretty "liberal" views on affirmative action for Black Americans, for example.

Supporting affirmative action for blacks only is the cultural conservative position... give them a shot of adrenaline to catch up with whites through individual endeavor, and over time, it will no longer be necessary. Saying that this should be extended to other minorities by virtue of the fact that they aren't white is the "liberal" view.

But "conservative" is not the same as "reactionary" when it comes to cultural views.  A reactionary view would be to support going back to when we had no affirmative action, wouldn't it?

[Santander]

Manchin is a corporatist centrist - a pro-life version of Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Jim Webb is a cultural reactionary populist. They are both good in their own ways, but they are very different animals.

Not sure about that...  pretty "liberal" views on affirmative action for Black Americans, for example.

Supporting affirmative action for blacks only is the cultural conservative position... give them a shot of adrenaline to catch up with whites through individual endeavor, and over time, it will no longer be necessary. Saying that this should be extended to other minorities by virtue of the fact that they aren't white is the "liberal" view.

But "conservative" is not the same as "reactionary" when it comes to cultural views.  A reactionary view would be to support going back to when we had no affirmative action, wouldn't it?

Well, now that affirmative action and diversity programs are generally accepted to apply to anyone but straight white men, I think reactionary could apply to those who want to restore it to its original intent which was to make up for the economic and social oppression of blacks under slavery and Jim Crow.

[SingingAnalyst]

Manchin is a corporatist centrist - a pro-life version of Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Jim Webb is a cultural reactionary populist. They are both good in their own ways, but they are very different animals.

Not sure about that...  pretty "liberal" views on affirmative action for Black Americans, for example.

Supporting affirmative action for blacks only is the cultural conservative position... give them a shot of adrenaline to catch up with whites through individual endeavor, and over time, it will no longer be necessary. Saying that this should be extended to other minorities by virtue of the fact that they aren't white is the "liberal" view.

But "conservative" is not the same as "reactionary" when it comes to cultural views.  A reactionary view would be to support going back to when we had no affirmative action, wouldn't it?

Well, now that affirmative action and diversity programs are generally accepted to apply to anyone but straight white men, I think reactionary could apply to those who want to restore it to its original intent which was to make up for the economic and social oppression of blacks under slavery and Jim Crow.

And "radical" might, in a good way, apply to anyone who seeks to end the White vs. Black paradigm among working Americans once and for all. Sadly, this division even infects discussions of those convicted or framed by the police or courts who turn out to be innocent. I have heard people say they have little or no sympathy for white youths who are wrongly imprisoned. While I can certainly understand that Black youth have suffered false imprisonment at a far greater rate than whites, I think such lack of sympathy (and openly expressing it) unwittingly contributes to the division.

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

No. Too conservative to win over 95% of the base, especially the Bernie wing. The Democrats will not take kindly his vote for Pruitt.

[Bidenworth2020]

[Hammy]

No way he'd win because running a Republican Lite would cause an even larger drop in Dem turnout than 2016. Every state Clinton won by less than 4-5 points would likely flip to Trump.

[Horsemask]

I'd consider voting for him in a General Election under certain circumstances, but he would never win the Democratic nomination.