Kyrsten Sinema Switches to Independent (1 Viewer)

[bdb13]

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is changing her party affiliation to independent, delivering a jolt to Democrats’ narrow majority and Washington along with it.

In a 45-minute interview, the first-term senator told POLITICO that she will not caucus with Republicans and suggested that she intends to vote the same way she has for four years in the Senate. “Nothing will change about my values or my behavior,” she said.

Provided that Sinema sticks to that vow, Democrats will still have a workable Senate majority in the next Congress, though it will not exactly be the neat and tidy 51 seats they assumed. They’re expected to also have the votes to control Senate committees. And Sinema’s move means Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — a pivotal swing vote in the 50-50 chamber the past two years — will hold onto some but not all of his outsized influence in the Democratic caucus.

Sinema switches to independent, shaking up the Senate

The Arizona senator won't say whether she's running for reelection but said in an interview she doesn't expect a change in how the Senate operates.

www.politico.com

 

[Saintman2884]

They won their primaries, though.

Thats like winning the starting QB job in training camp among a mediocre group of other candidates, and then one proceed to lead your team to a 6-11, or 7-10 season, even though you have a Pro-Bowl caliber RB, good set of WR's, and a Pro Bowl TE, and a middle-of-the-road defense and in some of those close losses, you threw a couple of key INT's, including the one that ends up costing your team the game. A talented, skilled, more intelligent QB wouldve likely won those close games the other mediocre one blew.

Clearly, that doesn't make you a very good QB, hell, worse then mediocre but since you're better than the current crop of possible backups, they keep you in and back you. But, not because they really believe in you or think you're a winner.

Same logic kind of applies to Kari Lake, in a way.

 

[MT15]

Thats like winning the starting QB job in training camp among a mediocre group of other candidates, and then one proceed to lead your team to a 6-11, or 7-10 season, even though you have a Pro-Bowl caliber RB, good set of WR's, and a Pro Bowl TE, and a middle-of-the-road defense and in some of those close losses, you threw a couple of key INT's, including the one that ends up costing your team the game. A talented, skilled, more intelligent QB wouldve likely won those close games the other mediocre one blew.

Clearly, that doesn't make you a very good QB, hell, worse then mediocre but since you're better than the current crop of possible backups, they keep you in and back you. But, not because they really believe in you or think you're a winner.

Same logic kind of applies to Kari Lake, in a way.

This wasn’t true, really. In several states, PA gov race comes immediately to mind, the R that was defeated in the primary was a much better candidate by any objective measure than the Trumpy candidate that won. So, to use your analogy, it’s like the mediocre QB winning the starting job against a starting caliber player.

The R party faithful elected the worse candidate, over and over. That’s why they all lost.

 

[Saintman2884]

This wasn’t true, really. In several states, PA gov race comes immediately to mind, the R that was defeated in the primary was a much better candidate by any objective measure than the Trumpy candidate that won. So, to use your analogy, it’s like the mediocre QB winning the starting job against a starting caliber player.

The R party faithful elected the worse candidate, over and over. That’s why they all lost.

Maybe, but that still doesn't exp!ain away why leading Republicans like McConnell and even later on, even Trump-nominated clones like Hawley said the overall quality of most GOP midterm elections werent very good and several had articulated or expressed this view as early as last summer. I never got the sincere impression high-ranking GOP leaders were sold on more fringe, far-right candidates like Doug Mastriano, Kari Lake, or Herschel Walker, more recently and their doubts played out succinctly in the fact that Dems had a much better-than-expected electoral showing in the most recent midterm elections.

 

[J-DONK]

Maybe, but that still doesn't exp!ain away why leading Republicans like McConnell and even later on, even Trump-nominated clones like Hawley said the overall quality of most GOP midterm elections werent very good and several had articulated or expressed this view as early as last summer. I never got the sincere impression high-ranking GOP leaders were sold on more fringe, far-right candidates like Doug Mastriano, Kari Lake, or Herschel Walker, more recently and their doubts played out succinctly in the fact that Dems had a much better-than-expected electoral showing in the most recent midterm elections.

This has nothing to do with her point. What you seem to be missing is that the fringe candidates win the primaries. MT15 stated that for a reason. You're entire logic process comes from the standpoint of these nominees are picked.

If they want to lose again, sure go ahead with an idiotic, clueless fringe loudmouth but if Trump holds less sway in 2024 then he does now, which is certainly possible, national RNC won't hedge their bets on a losing proposition.

This is an early quote of yours that I included because it makes no real sense. Do you actually understand how the primary system works?

You can not stop these people from running. If the majority of the base that votes in a primary goes for these candidates. What is the larger party supposed to do?

The DCCC tries to stop challengers to incumbents only. The party can try, and fund/influence for a chosen candidates. That doesn't always work.

You seem to be under some wild delusion that there is a "invisible hand" manipulating the primaries.

The concept is simple. The base votes for a less appealing candidate for the general election. It's why your football analogy falls flat.

P.S. I never thought this thread would have someone defending Sinema.

 

[Saintman2884]

This has nothing to do with her point. What you seem to be missing is that the fringe candidates win the primaries. MT15 stated that for a reason. You're entire logic process comes from the standpoint of these nominees are picked.



This is an early quote of yours that I included because it makes no real sense. Do you actually understand how the primary system works?

You can not stop these people from running. If the majority of the base that votes in a primary goes for these candidates. What is the larger party supposed to do?

The DCCC tries to stop challengers to incumbents only. The party can try, and fund/influence for a chosen candidates. That doesn't always work.

You seem to be under some wild delusion that there is a "invisible hand" manipulating the primaries.

The concept is simple. The base votes for a less appealing candidate for the general election. It's why your football analogy falls flat.

P.S. I never thought this thread would have someone defending Sinema.

My point is pretty simple and it is under no "wild illusion" of some invisible
hand controlling primaries. My argument was, even if Trump "fringe" MAGA candidates win GOP primaries, their going to keep losing Senate, Governor races in both Presidential and midterm races to their Dem counterparts.

Thats not a complicated series of circumstances to forking figure out. Quite a few Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, were saying as recently as this past summer that they were displeased or worried about the "quality" of GOP candidates being chosen and winning the primaries, because they wouldn't be electable once November came along. And if the GOP continue to nominate MAGA candidates with fringe credentials, doesn't mean two shirts if most of them win their primaries, they'll continue to get their arses kicked. Don't infer or suggest my words meant something very different than what I really said originally.

Defend Sinema? Guess what pal, at least she can say she's won election to the Senate in the first place unlike more "nationwide" notable Dems who've lost multiple elections for Governor, Senator, or President. And don't be so naive and oblivious about nasty, vicious and cruel D.C. power politics can turn the best, most ideal, and innocent of politicians. Don't act of all of a sudden people like Schumer, Pelosi, or even the highly moral Ted Kennedy didn't compromise on their own high moral/ethical codes, make promises and then completely disregard them, lie or cover-up potentially damaging scandals that would ruin their careers if they ever emerged.

I'm not defending Sinema, I'm a realist and have heard some pretty scandalous, steamy rumors, stories about "CERTAIN" people in D.C. now or over the past 3-4 decades and if we're going to criticize Sinema for being a cold, political opportunist then frankly, its illogical and immoral to act like she's the only one.

People like Matt Gaetz, Louis Goemert, Kevin McCarthy, MTG, Lauren Boebert, and Nicki Haley make Sinema look like a choir girl, by comparison.

 

[Saintman2884]

BTW, the DCCC/DNC forked up royally by deciding to fund or give money to Trump's initial presidential primary run back in 2016 by assuming that Trump was such a idiotic, polarizing candidate, their was no possible way he d stand a logical chance winning first the GOP nomination in 2016, and then beat Hillary in the 2016 presidential electiona. Their arrogance, unnecessary gamble and terrible miscalculation helped elect a far-right, partisan idealogue who's poisoned this country, its political base, discussion, and overall civility ever since.

They never took into consideration that Trump might actually develop a strong grassroots base/cult of personality, that he would amass an intelligent, well-organized political team that would cover-up, or smooth over enough of his verbal, literal screwups, and controversies or that Trump might turn out to be more charismatic enough to appeal to voters Dem strategists didnt factor in.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

 

[GrandAdmiral]

On another note, Bernie could give two forks if pisses Sinema off...

 

[Saintman2884]

On another note, Bernie could give two forks if pisses Sinema off...

I'm sure the feeling is more then mutual. Then again, Bernie has gotten to the point in his life in his early 80's that he doesn't really care what kind of controversy or negative attention his comments will attract and he's a equal-opportunity critic in that he's criticized moderate Dems, Biden admininistration on forcing potential striking rail workers to go back to work without guaranteed sick pay or time-off, much less congressional or Senate Republicans. I don't believe, in private, too many Dems take Bernie's comments or criticism seriously. He's nothing more then a left-wing talking head who has no realistic chance of ever becoming President nor will his party ever seriously consider someone like him being the face of their party anytime soon. Maybe in 15-20 years but he'll be long gone by then more then likely.

Remember those tweets, emails that emerged from Debbie-Wasserman Shultz, former DNC head and Hillary's campaign manager in 2016, that essentially inferred or mocked Bernie as some old, out-of-touch, left-wing socialist who was more a figure of private ridicule and was viewed as a grouchy curmudgeon who didnt think "billionaires should exist" while he explained that logic to Michael Bloomberg in the 2020 Democrat presidential primary debates.

 

[SaulGoodmanEsq]

Remember those tweets, emails that emerged from Debbie-Wasserman Shultz, former DNC head and Hillary's campaign manager in 2016, that essentially inferred or mocked Bernie as some old, out-of-touch, left-wing socialist who was more a figure of private ridicule and was viewed as a grouchy curmudgeon who didnt think "billionaires should exist" while he explained that logic to Michael Bloomberg in the 2020 Democrat presidential primary debates.

And that's why the Dems lost 2016! Bernie will always be relevant because he is the kinder/gentler/less xenophobic version of Trump. A lot of his rhetoric still appeals to Trump voters.

 

[Optimus Prime]

The most genuine thing Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has done in politics happened last December when she left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent.

By most definitions, an “independent” person is someone not under the control of any governing body or business concern or political party. That isn’t what it means with Sinema.

From the beginning of her political career, the senator has been controlled by a party of one: herself.

The party of Sinema always looks out for the interests of Sinema. It is more than happy to allow itself to be under the seeming control of a governing body or business concern or political party as long as that control supports – you guessed it – the interests of Sinema.

That was the case in 2018 when Sinema was running for the U.S. Senate and needed Democrats.

She doesn’t need them anymore, apparently. She doesn’t even want them, apparently.

An article in Politico quotes Sinema at a gathering of Republican lobbyists in Washington saying she didn’t attend Democratic caucus luncheons because they were “ridiculous.”

Adding, “Old dudes are eating Jell-O, everyone is talking about how great they are. I don’t really need to be there for that. That’s an hour and a half twice a week that I can get back. The Northerners and the Westerners put cool whip on their Jell-O and the Southerners put cottage cheese.”

For some time now, the senator has been on a Burning Bridges Tour.

There was a time, for example, when the party of Sinema appeared to support working-class individuals, whom she needed to get elected. That ended in 2021, when Sinema gave the thumbs down to a minimum-wage increase in President Joe Biden’s pandemic aid bill.

When the party of Sinema sought support from the wealthiest of the wealthy, it found a legislative way to protect big money boys in private equity and hedge funds from higher taxes.

The party of Sinema also figured out how to go from a well-known protector of consumers to what the Kaiser Health News called a “pharma favorite in Congress.”..........

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema takes Jell-O shots at Democrats

For Arizona’s now independent senator, revenge seems to be best served with whipped cream or cottage cheese, with a sour cherry on top

www.azcentral.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinemareported raising just over $2.1 million in her first full fundraising quarter since leaving the Democratic Party, a smaller haul than the $3.7 million raised by Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is hoping to win her seat in 2024.

Sinema, who has not said whether she will seek a second term, still had a formidable $10 million in her bank account at the end of March, including money she’s raised in the four years since her last campaign. Gallego had $2.7 million at the end of the quarter.

The senator’s fundraising is closely watched for clues about her plans and how she might finance a difficult three-way race as an independent. Sinema and her aides insist she is focused on her job as a senator and isn’t thinking about a potential reelection campaign.

The Arizona Senate race is one of a handful that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate in 2024. Democrats currently have a 51-49 edge and face a tough path to maintaining their majority……

Gallego raises more money than Sinema in Arizona Senate race

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema reported raising just over $2 million in her first full fundraising quarter since leaving the Democratic Party. That was a smaller haul than the $3.7 million raised by Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is hoping to win her seat. Sinema has not said whether she will...

apnews.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, announced Tuesday she will retire at the end of her term this year, blaming growing partisanship and mudslinging in Washington for driving her decision to not run for reelection.

“I believe in my approach, but it’s not what America wants right now,” Sinema said, in a video announcing her decision.

Sinema has long been a high-profile and influential figure in the Senate, frequently working to broker compromise between Democrats and Republicans…….

Kyrsten Sinema announces she is retiring from the Senate | CNN Politics

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent, announced Tuesday she will leave the Senate at the end of her term this year, a move that will shake up the battle for control of the chamber in November and remove a key player who has been central to major negotiations in Congress.

www.cnn.com