[monkeyshine]

Actually I think are already 2 Independents in the Senate, Sanders being one and the other may also be from Vermont too. They caucus with the Dems making it 50-50. Manchin didn’t really make an offer, he just framed it as an offer to be diplomatic. He is saying “I won’t stand with the party if it continues in this direction” except he’s going the opposite way of the other two Independents who are pushing the party farther left as you’d expect from Sanders (don’t know much about the other).

[z3n]

Ack. I did not realize this. I forgot Sanders was an independent.

I still feel like this is a message by Manchin, not an offer.

Also, sorry for dropping the uncensored f-bomb. I’m not sure why I did that. Normally I censor words like that. :-/

[StAnDeliver]

"Actually I think are already 2 Independents in the Senate, Sanders being one and the other may also be from Vermont too. "

Close! Anus King Jr. (I) is from Maine.

[BillyBoy]

Angus King of Maine claims to be "Independent" and says he wants nothing to do with the national RAT party and that he's his own man, which is odd since he ideologically agrees with the RATs on 95% of the issues.

If Manchin hypothetically "left" the RATs and changed his party affiliation to "Independent" BUT continued to caucus with them anyway, it wouldn't help anyone except Joe Manchin (who would then run for re-election without the baggage of the national RAT party dragging him down) The control of the Senate and it's organization wouldn't change at all, you'd have 47 official RATs, plus 3 leftist faux "Independents" , plus Kamala Harris casting a tie breaking vote, to give their side 51 votes to control the Senate and put Chuck Schumer in charge.