Kyrsten Sinema's 'Independence' Changes Nothing. Here's What It's Really About.

PJMEDIA ^ | 12/9/2022 | MATT MARGOLIS

[bitt]

On Friday morning, Americans woke up to the news that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) has left the Democratic Party and is now a registered independent.

This defection, revealed in an op-ed in the Arizona Republic, was probably the last thing anyone expected to hear, especially mere days after Democrats officially secured a true majority in the Senate.

According to The Guardian, this “bombshell defection” will have “far-reaching consequences as Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer attempts to plot a course through the upcoming Congress.”

Really? Will it? I can certainly understand why it might seem that way… at first… but upon closer inspection, I think it’s safe to say that Sinema’s leaving the Democratic Party is merely a political stunt.

First starters, this will literally change nothing. While her party identification will change, all indications are that she will continue to caucus with the Democrats. Chad Pergram, the senior congressional correspondent for Fox News, reports via Twitter that “Sinema is expected to maintain her committee assignments through the Democrats, suggesting she will caucus with the Democrats.”

Had Sinema decided to caucus with the Republicans, it would have returned the Senate to a 50/50 split, and the parties would continue a power-sharing agreement in the upper chamber.

In this respect, Sinema is independent in name only. This shouldn’t shock anyone. Despite her reputation as a “moderate” or “independent” voice, she has voted with Joe Biden 93% of the time on legislation and has voted to confirm all of Biden’s judicial nominees to lower courts, even the controversial ones, like including pro-child-sex-offender Ketanji Brown Jackson. So, as grateful as we can be that she stood in the way of Build Back Better, overhauling elections, and eliminating the filibuster, she really doesn’t bear any resemblance to a moderate.

[Republican Wildcat]

I don’t care about who “caucuses” with whom. You’re either a democrat, a Republican or independent.

Well, "feelings" don't matter - who has the largest number of members in their caucus controls the chamber. And that at present is the Democrats.

[Nathan _in_Arkansas]

What will be best for everyone, is Manchin join her as an independent and neither one of them caucus with either party.

A 49-49 Senate with no majority. That would be a good thing, I think.

[jmaroneps37]

The guy that wrote this is a short sighted fool.

Here’s what changes. Traitor Joe Manchin has lost the advantage of being able to vote for every conservative bill he can get his hands on KNOWING that each one will fail. He would have had Chuckie’s permission, now he will have to make real Democrat votes that won’t help him in 2024.
Traitor Joe is quitting the Senate run for governor of West Va. and needs to fool voters into believing he is a conservative in the most Republican state east of the Mississippi.
Before Sinema’s stunt he could vote straight conservative to fool the voters in West Va. Now that’s over. He will be able to do that from time to time with help from Willard Lisa or Susan but don’t bet on that. But basically Joe’s “Hey I did vote for that and I didn’t vote for that,” charade is over.
In the meantime Sinema can meet with people like Hawley and Cruz and vote with them even when they are losing and help her 2024 re-election.
A little thought and some research helps turn out better pieces.

[matthew fuller]

I had grinder pegged for that. black tranny America hater, how can it go wrong?

[xzins]

grinder?

[Jaysin]

I’d go both ways with her......

2 in the pink and one in the stink!