Explaining his vote (the only Democratic one) for Jeff Sessions

According to Market Watch:

"It’s more what we know about a person than what people say about a person. . . . I have not seen the things he’s been accused of or people talked about."

Specifically on the matter of Session’s lightning-rod civil-rights record vis-à-vis African-Americans: “If I had any [firsthand] indication that he was bigoted or he was racist, I wouldn’t have voted for him. I didn’t see that.”

It wasn't that well hidden -- I wonder if the senator even bothered to look.

So Trump doesn't even consider Manchin "sort of a Democrat"?

"Morning Energy" at Politico noted a Trump comment about the signing ceremony ending the Stream Protection Rule. (See picture, next post down.)

As has become his custom, Trump invited members to gather around for a picture as he displayed the signed resolution. He motioned for Heitkamp to come closer “even though she’s sort of a Democrat.”

He apparently said nothing to Manchin. I guess in Trump's eyes, Manchin doesn't even reach the "sort of" level.

Some conservative words of praise for the senator

Real Clear Politics, a political site with conservative leanings, published a largely sympathetic political profile of Senator Joe earlier today:

If some Democrats consider Trump heartless, Manchin has aimed to become a sort of party liaison to him, building a relationship in the process.

“He has my cellphone,” Manchin said, “and he might just call and say, ‘Hey Joe, this is Donald.’ And I say, ‘Yes, sir -- what can we do?’”

Meanwhile, the former West Virginia governor insists that he has not received pressure or pushback from Senate Democratic leadership to oppose Trump.

Really?