Yesterday, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced he won’t run for re-election with a video and op-ed giving his reasons. Despite omitting  probably the most decisive factor in his decision — he would likely lose — his column decrying the Senate’s self-defeating partisanship is still worth reading.

Where Manchin goes from here is anyone’s guess. Some expect him to run as an independent for president, which I can’t imagine. If he’s practical enough to see he can’t win re-election to the Senate, why would he believe he could win as a third party candidate for president? It makes no sense. Here’s hoping he follows through on his stated aim to help Americans see we aren’t as divided as some would have us believe. That’s a goal well worth pursuing, and he’s in a better position than most to pull it off. I wish him the best.

Happy Veterans Day