Now that the elections are over I am happy to say the US Senate's best Ben Nelson imitator, Joe Manchin of WV will still caucus with the Democrats AND (drum roll preeeeeez)... he will step down from his leadership position with nefarious bipartisan suck-rakers No Labels.
GOOOOOO Gridlock!!!!
(Yahoo News)Manchin, who co-chaired No Labels along with Republican former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, since late October had been under pressure from Senate Democratic leaders to step away from the group, which pledged resources in support of Republican Cory Gardner’s U.S. Senate bid in Colorado in the weeks before the midterm elections.
Gardner won on Tuesday, defeating incumbent Democrat Mark Udall.
Now the goodest news is that you can bet No Labels endorsement of Gardner had zero effect in getting him elected. They put a $5 bet on a long odds horse and now can say they won. By the way: could I trade Manchin for Huntsman? Joe now becomes the go-to Democrat vote Reds will be courting of every sucka$$ Bill they can push down the pipe... starting with Keystone XL I'm sure.Probably be a better progressive than Joe. Anyway, Joe is now, after the election, listening to all of those Senators who told him to back away from the flames.
No Labels had earlier opened a rift with Democratic leaders, including Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, after it endorsed Gardner in the spring. The group later clarified its endorsement by saying Udall could also win one if he merely pledged to join No Labels, but not before Democrats had begun confronting Manchin about the group's actions.
I'm so glad No Labels puts membership dues ahead of good governance. Heck, if Udall woulda' just put on the f^@#ing lapel pin, dammit! He could have had the endorsement too. Presumably No Labels would have been endorsing both candidates. Nothing says "No Labels" like labeling everybody! But make no mistake, there was unimpeachable logic at play here.
In July, Yahoo News reported on internal documents that revealed No Labels believed it would find “opportunity” in a Republican takeover of the Senate because it would create more gridlock, therefore giving the group more to fight.
YOWZERS!!! These guys are geniuses. Heck with stopping gridlock with good politicians and good policies. No, let's put the party with the patent on Gridlock in charge so we can just watch the government grind to a halt. That'll put a stop to ... errr.... gridlock?
Nah, but it will keep more of these Third Way Millionaires Club in business telling us how to stretch cat fud out a little thinner and make tax breaks a little fatter.