This week, even with his Senate career winding down, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin continued to chase the spotlight. The result:

The good

On Monday, the Washington Post published an opinion piece by Manchin:

Op/ed by Sen. Joe Manchin in WAPO:

"I want to congratulate President Biden for the record-breaking energy production we are seeing in America today...We are exporting more fossil fuel energy than we import. Our country has never been more energy-independent than we are today." pic.twitter.com/1Msa4tzVCU

— Susan Bordson (@susanbordson) March 18, 2024

This is a very positive op-ed by Manchin who has seldom praised President Biden.

The bad (and delusional)

Manchin telling us about all those Republicans who have and will work him:

“We need an awful lot more power than just the wind and solar… we’re working on all that, and we’re working with my Republican friends. We’re very close right now,” says @Sen_JoeManchin on his legislation to speed energy project permits. pic.twitter.com/IaZHxnVSI9

— Last Call (@LastCallCNBC) March 18, 2024

“We’re very close right now.” Yeah, right, Senator, because your Republican buddies have supported you so many times previously.

The Ugly

If I were a U.S. senator, I probably would use the following criteria in determining my vote on a court appointment: (1) is the person qualified, and (2) how do my constituents feel about the nominee? “Will any Republican vote for the nominee” strikes me as totally irrelevant to the question at hand. And yet, that is Manchin’s top criteria:

BIDEN’S JUDGE PICKS: Sen. Joe Manchin said he will not support President Biden's judicial picks who don't have any Republican support. MORE: https://t.co/72o8YmYbrn pic.twitter.com/JRnmfxImGj

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 22, 2024

What will Joe do come January? What job can compare with U.S. Senator for getting media attention? How about the presidency of WVU?