Manchin is here to stay for awhile. Like 2025, right?

It's best to just not think about him if you're a progressive. You'll just drive yourself crazy. All in all, it's good that a Republican does not hold the West Virginia seat. The alternative would be a loony tune Republican that would make your skin crawl. Manchin, by West Virginia standards, is okay by me. Focus on other seats if you value your mental health.

Now, what's interesting about the points you're trying to make in this article is that by the time Manchin actually needs to run again, Biden, whose administration is clearly on a progressive train ride, could actually by that time have made inroads on some of the stuff he's trying to accomplish.

The administration has been saying to anyone who'll listen - "No, we learned our lessons from the Obama years and we are not going to capitulate to Republicans again. We're going big. "

IF they do, and I'll grant that is still a big IF, this will help pave the way for more down ballot progressives, who will be able to ride the coattails of a successful economic revival.

In the meantime, AOC, well, she's a national treasure and we should see to it she is treated like one no matter what she does. I kind of hope she stays put and grows in her power in the House and helps others like her get into the House, but whatever she does is ok by me. I kind of just like watching her yell at old idiot misogynists on the floor of the House, but that's just me I guess.

Part of the problem with progressives is messaging. Most PEW polls show that Americans want what Progressives offer, but they still won't vote for them.

The question, AOC needs to answer if she decides to run for Senate, is why? Will upstate New York vote for her?