Posted on 12/01/2016 12:44:37 PM PST by SeekAndFind
President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is considering Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for the energy secretary job, according to three sources close to the discussions.
The conservative Democrat “is being considered to show the coal people how serious Trump is about coal,” one source said.
Manchin told POLITICO Thursday afternoon that he and his staff haven’t been contacted by Trump’s transition team and he didn't have any trips to New York City on his calendar. But Manchin, who is up for reelection in 2018 in a state that has become increasingly more Republican over the past decade, also didn’t dismiss the notion of taking DOE’s top job in the Trump administration.
“If I can do anything that would help my state of West Virginia, and my country, I would be happy to talk to anybody,” he told POLITICO. “Other than that, I haven’t heard anything ... I have nothing scheduled.”
Just last month, Manchin was named the vice chair of the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.
Earlier Thursday the Trump transition announced that North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, another Democrat, would be making a trip to Trump Tower Friday.
Except they are Dem Senators in dark red states who got elected in 2012 riding 0 coattails and face a very tough fight to get re-elected in 2018. The upside is not having to look for work in Jan 2018.
He's made a record of supporting coal and opposing the EPA. He's supported Keystone. He's voted against funding for Planned Parenthood. He's established enough of an independent record to win re-election, depending on who his opponent is. That's better than a minor role in a Trump administration.
Brilliant move. Gives the message to the coal industry that their products, shot across the bow of OPEC, opens rat seat for the GOP.
Any democrat nominated for any post should be from an area where the gop is competitive.
Genius!!! Absolute genius Yes, great for a major coal state to have an advocate at DoE, but it also removes one Dem Senator in a state that’s increasingly gone Republican.
I think a Republican win on Dec 10 is almost a done deal.
I found this link very comforting....
Obama had coattails in North Dakota and West Virginia? Who knew? He only lost West Virginia by 27 points and North Dakota by 20.
Didn’t I hear he was going to switch parties? I hope he does. I know he knows coal but what about oil, natural gas and the like?.......:)
Accomplishing yet another Republican Senator.
He has said publicly that he will not switch.
I know he knows coal but what about oil, natural gas and the like
He's pretty pro-energy, voting for Keystone, pro-natural gas, criticized EPA, all positions that would be popular at home.
There is nothing in it for Manchin.
Please, no!! Manchin ran for Senate as a conservative democrat on a pro gun, pro coal platform
As soon as his seat was warm in Washington he started working with Shumer and proposing various gun control measures.
He also got on board with the conservation crowd and backing Obama in his attacks on coal.
Now that Trump has won the White House he is flipping back to the pro coal platform.
Come on WV! We have got to get rid of this two faced politician.
So as a plea to Mr. Trump, do not put this man in any position of power and definitely do not turn your back on him.
LOL.
the lollipop kids?
Trump must be a fan of The Wizard of Oz.
Please. No. Manchin is a tool and cannot be trusted.
100%
Visiting the Mansion :)
No, he would be replaced by a Dem.
The governor of West Virginia is a democrat and would appoint another democrat to replace Manchin. Why are people celebrating this?
Let Manchin twist in the wind. He’s useless.
Says you! Bet Manchin thinks differently.
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