Sinema thinks this will make her powerful, and it probably will

[vlyons]

Dem and GOP lobbyists will beat a path to her door to curry her favor for their pet legislation. Senators from both sides will curry her favor as well. She can compete with Manchin for most important swing vote. This is a power play on her part.

[ebbie15644]

1. If a Dem runs in Arizona

could Sinema actually siphon votes from a republican, especially if they are a MAGA republican?

[Stuckinthebush]

3. That's my thought

It would hurt the GOP more than the Dems in the 2024 race.

[Walleye]

6. By then she will be beloved by Republicans

[ebbie15644]

7. She will never be MAGA enough for them and would never make it running as a repub

our shot would be a three way race with a MAGA republican

[Emile]

18. Yes. The reason for her switching to independent is

the talk in Arizona was she will be primaried by progressive Representative Ruben Gallego, a Harvard-educated Iraq War veteran. The only hope she has is siphoning off republican votes.

[Beachnutt]

2. So she votes with Bernie now ?

I'll take that...

[AZSkiffyGeek]

11. I think she's voted with Biden more than Bernie has

Except on elimintating the filibuster - that's her red line.

[House of Roberts]

12. I'll stick with Bernie's record,

if Sinema is voting more Biden than Bernie.

Senator Sinema, Kyrsten
D-Arizona
Composite Progressive Score: 77.42%

Crucial Progressive Score: 75.48%


Senator Sanders, Bernie
I-Vermont
Composite Progressive Score: 96.31%

Crucial Progressive Score: 94.52%

[AZSkiffyGeek]

13. That doesn't change the fact that she got more accomplished legislatively

Than he did in the past 2 years.

[House of Roberts]

15. Voting to give Republicans what they want

and voting to block what Democrats want, is not my idea of legislative accomplishment. Maybe you should show your work on that claim?

Bernie has been Budget Committee Chairman the last two years. Considering what Biden has proposed through that time, Bernie's been busy trying to get those priorities passed. He's been a team player. Sinema has fought those priorities time and again.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

16. And who was successful at getting those priorities passed?

It wasn't Bernie.

As far as Sinema:
Bipartisan Infrastructure
Inflation Reduction
Respect for Marriage

She got those through cloture.

I want to see filibuster reform, but I think she's correct that we shouldn't get rid of it. It's one reason TFG and Turtle weren't able to accomplish much legislatively during the first two years. If we nuke the filibuster, then there's nothing preventing a Republican trifecta of passing all those horrible things they're threatening.

[House of Roberts]

17. She withheld support for the Inflation Reduction Act

until the elimination of the carried interest loophole was dropped from the bill.

She REDUCED the Infrastructure bill by withholding her support.

Maybe she did help with Respect for Marriage, but that doesn't cost rich fucks any taxes so she was OK with it.


Bernie's vote counts as much as hers, and per my first comment, is much more Progressive than Sinema.

[dflprincess]

4. It's certainly getting her the attention she craves

It wss reported that she said her values have nit changed. Those values being "Me, me, me."

[Walleye]

5. I am tired of people who want power for it's own sake.

The political power should always be a means to an end. And the motivation should always be to benefit the constituents. And by constituents I don’t mean the corporate headquarters in her district

[GoodRaisin]

8. Don't really see how it makes her any more powerful than before, at least from a

legislative point of view. If she supported monied interests before, she’ll continue. If she supported LGBT rights before, she’ll continue, etc.

That’s as long as she continues to caucus with democrats.

[Freethinker65]

9. Keeps her relevant to the GOP and lobbyists, but actually increases Murkowski's power.

And the power of other Republicans running away from MAGA partisan agenda. Pass good legislation.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Yes this is what she hopes, more attention, people bowing down before her.

She will milk the cat and mouse game for all it is worth.

Also she most certainly got paid to pull this stunt.

[Me.]

14. THe People Who Got Her Elected

Have been fed up with her for some time and she was already on her way to being a one term senator