Manchin was careful, July 24 -- WASHINGTON - Joe Manchin spent most of last year warning anyone who would listen that the two-party system had stopped producing legislators and started producing combatants. On Thursday he did something about it. The former West Virginia senator announced the launch of the Independent Leadership Council, an organization designed to identify, fund, and elect independent candidates to Congress - specifically in competitive districts where party primaries have historically been more decisive than general elections.

Americans Together, an organization run by Manchin's daughter Heather, and Independent PAC, led by Adam Brandon, the former president of FreedomWorks.

Two candidates have already been named as ea...