Alright. Let's talk about Democrats eating each other.

The Republican Party is the primary driver of the idea that the Democratic Party is a party of socialists. Yes, there are members of the Dem Party who have views/stances that align with socialism but in no way should those views be confused with an actual pursuit of socialism.

I cannot overstate how goddamn tired I am of how undereducated, red meat waving politicians are about actual socialism. The vast majority of these folks cannot speak about countries that have seen the positives and negatives of being socialist nations.

Joe Manchin is a Democrat from another time. He's far more moderate than most moderate Dems & often has a spotlight placed on him due to the portrayal that he's the last standing conservative Democrat. HE REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE STATES IN THE US.

I am not excusing the laundry list of his terrible votes. I will point out that he remains useful when it comes to healthcare.

Control of the US Sen hangs in the balance with the upcoming GA elections. Regardless of the outcome, Manchin isn't like the rest of his colleagues.

You know how much Dems hope Collins or Murkowski will tilt their way? That's what Manchin is to the GOP.

I don't know what you do with this dynamic. He is what he is & unless we're picking up another senate seat elsewhere that gives us less heartburn, what can be done?

There are House & Senate Dems breaking their own necks right now trying to decry socialism & the perceptions around "defund the police" bc they believe those issues almost cost them their seats.

Here's an unpopular thing to say:

The phrase "defund the police" in no way implies what activists meant with such a call. That lack of nuance left the door wide open for conservatives to attack Dems as being unfriendly to public servants.

But I completely understand being past the hand-holding of a predominantly white society that continues to overlook the murders of black people by cops. There has been very little justice for the people who were murdered.

When Dems speak out in ways that appear to be against BLM, a hard line is immediately drawn and fighting within continues. (Again, not making excuses for any of these people.)

The Democratic Party has an internal messaging problem that feeds this ongoing feuding and it also has an external messaging problem that leaves the party appearing fractured and leaderless from the outside.

Think about how many people identify with the Democratic Party without feeling like they're represented by The Squad or the the conservative Dems? So many people exist in the middle and agree on more issues than not. They just don't always agree on the process & path to victory.

I don't know enough about WV politics to say if Dems can elect someone more progressive than Manchin anytime soon. But I've seen the numbers over time. It's not going to happen unless something massive changes in the state within the next decade -- and I'm being generous.