Understanding Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV)

A reader offers this terse note: Manchin is a f***ing idiot.

Again, I caution against conflating stupidity with the recognition of stupidity in one’s electorate.

Manchin understands what his voters want: evangelical Christianity, racism, cruelty, indifference to education and the environment, and so forth.

He may be evil, but there is no indication that he’s stupid.