That Dem we saw on his feet at the SOTU, enthusiastically applauding Treasonous Trump, was Manchin.

WV is VERY pro-Trump right now and he's up for re-election this year. Probably shouldn't read too much into it. He's been a reliable "no" vote on Trump/GOP policies so far. His GOP replacement would be an enthusiastic "Yes". Eye on the prize.

if anything, Munchin might be trying to be strategic. And strategy is what has been missing in our party for the longest time. We need to be more pragmatic and focus on winning no matter what. We should always remember, it’s only the voting record that counts, everything else is noise.

I'm sure the Dems aren't going to release their strategy. Why attack our side? Please focus on beating the crap out of the repubs!!!!!!!

Is this another bash the Dems post? Do you think Schumer & Nancy haven't done their best to be strategic when they/the Dems in general, have no power?

I am referring to dems in swing and red states.

Still, seeing him front row, big clapping is not great and didn't he vote for the recent tax bill? So saying he's all bravely standing up is excessive praise.

Feel free to correct me if wrong.

I am wrong on that. He voted with the Cons on the shutdown issue. But if we are honest, for as much as is said about how blue dogs vote more with us than against us, we never know which way they will go...with or against us and it always hold your breath time.

Many folks on the left don't understand how diverse our party is. Each state is different, but some folks think all Dems should be on the far progressive side. Hate to tell ya, but that isn't how it goes. Each rep and senator has to get elected in their own states based on how those voters think and feel. BTW the same goes for independent voters who the Dems need to get elected. If the Dems don't win, what the hell good is that?

I wish west coast/east coast progressives would understand a bit more you can be a democrat and hold more traditional cultural views.

You can strategize to appeal to conservative democrats.

They're not hateful, they just may focus substantially more on economic issues. They may even like hunting and be NRA members. Not my thing, but not a deal breaker.

Yes, it would be great to have the first openly lesbian Jewish president, but do you want to risk handing Trump fascists victories to push certain agendas, or do you want to win to save democracy?

I'd like to see more everyman politicians like Tim Ryan from Ohio. He has a beat on those concerns.

They emphasize recruiting people 35-and-under to run for office, and in their strategic planning spell out about not being politically "pure":

https://medium.com/@runforsomething/strategic-plan-f428a35d9451

(snip)
We will not serve as the “purity police.” It’s tempting to create a litmus test for more specific issues, but when working across the country, you have to take regional differences into account. A progressive in Louisiana, for example, can’t necessarily emphasize the same thing as a progressive in California.

Ultimately, a Democrat in office is someone you can apply political pressure to once they’re there. As we’ve seen, a Republican will never yield.
(snip)

https://www.runforsomething.net/

He has tried hard to work across party lines.

Pence, the sanctimonious Evangelical is as dirty as they come. Indiana was ready to get rid of him.