I mean really, he’s a coal baron for crying out loud
this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2023
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Manchin is not moderate by any stretch. He is so blatantly beholden to his special interest money sources that he doesn't seem to have any political direction at all. He's a democrat by title who pretty much hangs out with the Republicans, and also votes with them. That's not moderate.
He's a "moderate centrist" in the sense that he's basically the median senator. Which honestly says more about the Senate than it does about him or his politics.
He votes with Biden about 90% of the time, though. He's obstructed some big parts if the Democratic agenda, but if you'd rather have another Republican like Shelly Capito in his seat then you're nuts. At this point, the chance of replacing him with even a mainstream Democrat is basically nil. That whole state has swung very far right.
When he voted the same as Democrats 70% of the time.
So right wing, got it.
Probably about the same time "centrist" became synonymous with "conservative apologist".
Centrists haven't changed. The Liberal perception of them has changed. Largely because the right has gone so far fascist that it's pretty difficult to defend allowing them into office, even if you don't agree with the left on an issue or two.
So... the right has moved, and thus so has the "center", meaning "centrists" are further right? So... centrist means something different?
The "centrists" that I know stand on the same ground they stood on 20 years ago. If we're talking about the ideologies then I feel that the right has moved further right, and the left further left, which would leave the centrists about smack dab in the same spot. If we're referring to actual political parties then the left has moved further right too. Biden is not a leftist. Any actual leftists get clobbered by the DNC.
Politics uses more buzz words than tech. Liberal, democrat, republican, moderate, progressive, etc. Usually just for headline effect, as they largely are misleading.
Just remember to call his "Left Virginia" and when it's natives get enraged, react with mild confusion. Gaslight the hell out of them lol
