This is a superb history & analysis of Manchin from @awprokop -- a must-read for everyone. It helped me realize, on a deeper, more informed & nuanced level, that I really fucking hate this guy. https://www.vox.com/22339531/manchin-filibuster-bipartisanship-senate-west-virginia">https://www.vox.com/22339531/...

"I truly believe in my heart of hearts, if we get rid of the filibuster, we would lose the purpose of this democracy, of this republic, which is for the people."

I don& #39;t care if he believes this in his heart, his ass, or his elbow, it is demonstrable, indefensible bullshit.

Am I supposed to find this admirable? It& #39;s either unforgiveable naivete or deliberate bullshit. Either way it ought to draw mockery & scorn. But in the beltway, naivete/bullshit about bipartisanship is always, always celebrated.

I swear to GOD if a bunch of you come into this thread and mansplain to me that Manchin would be replaced by a Republican if he were gone, or that he& #39;s the 50th Dem vote in the Senate, or other Politics 101 shit that everyone already knows, I& #39;m going to burn this hellsite down.