I think we can all agree that "socialism" is a charged term and that won't gain traction in places like West Virginia and similar states. That’s simply a reality we must accept. We’ll likely always have conservative Democrats --- if we're lucky. It reminds me of how much Joe Manchin was hated and harassed. Did that improve anything? No. Did his conservative views change? No. Did he leave the party? Yes. And how did that turn out for us?
At least with Manchin, we had someone who contributed to our Senate majority, but so many wanted to primary him to "teach him a lesson" for not being a Vermont-style liberal. Did they seriously believe West Virginia would elect any Democrat who wasn't right-of-center? What did they get instead? Jim Justice --- considered a very right-leaning Republican.
Times have changed. It will be a long time before another Rockefeller or Byrd warms the hearts of West Virginians. That seat Manchin held was crucial for Senate control, influencing hearings and bill decisions. I think a lot of people forget that CONTROL of the senate matters more than how a single senator votes. We need to look at the big picture and think strategically instead of emotionally.
= new reply since forum marked as read