Joe Manchin is set to play spoiler in 2024

The charlatans behind No Labels took their show to New Hampshire on Monday, where they launched an effort to get their third party (which they insist is not a political party) on the ballot for 2024. Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginian who uses the label “Democrat,” and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican, pretended to be statesmanlike while blathering about “common sense” and refusing to answer why they are threatening the nation with another Trump presidency.

There was a lot of that “common sense” prattle out of their mouths and literally in the backdrop to their talk. That’s because the group, clearly trying to invoke Thomas Paine, has released a policy booklet outlining their nonpositions on the issues of the day. Instead of actual positions, the booklet issues both-sides pablum. On abortion, for example: “In the realm of politics, our elected leaders must find a sustainable and inevitably imperfect compromise that balances the belief of most Americans that women have a right to control their own reproductive health and our society’s responsibility to protect human life.”

Which means absolutely nothing. That’s how No Labels wants it, because taking actual positions would make it harder to grift would-be supporters. And they found the perfect guy to embody that in Manchin. The focus is on him, as usual. It’s always on Manchin because he loves to play the political tease and has never passed up a microphone or camera. He has, however, refused to answer what his intentions are for 2024—other than to “win.”