Sinema leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

CNN — Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is leaving the Democratic Party and registering as a political independent, she told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an exclusive TV interview. “I’ve registered as an Arizona independent. I know some people might be a little bit surprised by this, but actually, I think it makes a lot of sense,” Sinema said in a Thursday interview with Tapper in her Senate office.

“I’ve never fit neatly into any party box. I’ve never really tried. I don’t want to,” she added. “Removing myself from the partisan structure – not only is it true to who I am and how I operate, I also think it’ll provide a place of belonging for many folks across the state and the country, who also are tired of the partisanship.” Sinema’s move away from the Democratic Party is unlikely to change the power balance in the next Senate. Democrats will have a narrow 51-49 majority that includes two independents who caucus with them: Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine.

While Sanders and King formally caucus with Democrats, Sinema declined to explicitly say that she would do the same. She did note, however, that she expects to keep her committee assignments – a signal that she doesn’t plan to upend the Senate composition, since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer controls committee rosters for Democrats. “When I come to work each day, it’ll be the same,” Sinema said. “I’m going to still come to work and hopefully serve on the same committees I’ve been serving on and continue to work well with my colleagues at both political parties.”

But Sinema’s decision to become a political independent makes official what’s long been an independent streak for the Arizona senator, who began her political career as a member of the Green Party before being elected as a Democrat to the US House in 2012 and US Senate in 2018. Sinema has prided herself on being a thorn in the side of Democratic leaders, and her new nonpartisan affiliation will further free her to embrace an against-the-grain status in the Senate, though it raises new questions about how she – and Senate Democrats – will approach her reelection in 2024 with liberals already mulling a challenge.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/09/politics/kyrsten-sinema-leaves-democratic-party/index.html

[Walleye]

1. So did she get a big advance on her contract with Fox News or what?

I smell something here

[gab13by13]

33. She does what Big Pharma tells her to do.

[PatSeg]

56. Oh yeah, something really reeks here

I don't know if it is Fox News, but someone is influencing her and it isn't her constituents.

[Walleye]

57. Corruption would be terrible but it might be even worse if it's just some kind of personality flaw

My impression is she just needs the attention. And she found herself out of the headlines with no leverage and a 51-49 Senate

[appmanga]

69. She's an egomaniac...

...on par with the orange fellow, so it is a personality disorder.

[Walleye]

72. Damn there's no logical way to deal with that that I can think of

Corruption can be exposed and prosecuted at least sometimes. But personality disorders seem to be common in politics these days

[Grimelle]

74. She made enough friends, kissed enough *sses

in the 1% echelon to be guaranteed a job in the private sector when she loses in 24.

[PatSeg]

137. I quite of thought that

she wouldn't run again at all, that perhaps she's already lined something up for her post senate career. From the very beginning in the senate she didn't act like she cared about those who voted for her. They were just a means to an end and she so blatantly turned her back on them, I couldn't imagine her trying to run again.

[quakerboy]

143. It's more immediate than that

She was going to be out in 24. She would not survive a primary.

But as a potential independent She can now determine whether is more lucrative to entertain bribes from the right for her to run (to siphon off the few percent needed to elect a republican) or extort the left to get her not to run.

[CrispyQ]

79. Yes, but we've known that for quite awhile.

She may have come to the senate with the intention to represent the people who voted for her but the money was apparently too good & IMO, her only concern now is using her position to set herself up financially as good as she can.

[PatSeg]

138. I don't know

I don't think she ever had good intentions. She did a turnabout much too quickly when she got to DC, like she was saying, "Goodbye suckers" to the voters in Arizona. She's really a piece of work.

[CrispyQ]

139. You're probably right.

There was this thread yesterday.

https://democraticunderground.com/100217449335



And this one from today.

https://democraticunderground.com/100217451907

[PatSeg]

140. Damn

She's been like this for a very long time. It is always interesting to hear from people who actually knew/know her. She sounds like a terribly unstable and obviously untrustworthy person. She certainly hasn't kept her true nature under wraps now that she's in the national spotlight.

I think her political career is in its final chapter.

[aggiesal]

80. Of course there's something funny ...

she was surrounded by (R)'s during the announcement.

Is there a way to recall a Senator in Arizona?
If I were a (D) and helped her win her seat, I do everything I could to recall her from office.

She still has 4 more years to screw things up.

[Walleye]

82. She is a dirty turncoat if ever I saw one

[peppertree]

89. +1

She waits until just after Sen. Warnock wins re-election?

She's obviously being handled, by people *cough* lobbyists *cough* who themselves were waiting for the GA resuls to make their next move.

Ms. Sinema - we've seen this movie before.

[former9thward]

109. No recall for Senators in any state.

[aggiesal]

114. Yea, you think that needs to be fixed? n/t

[former9thward]

116. Impossible.

It would require a Constitutional amendment which would first have to pass thru the Senate before ratification by the states. The Senate would never vote for an amendment which would allow their recall.

[True Dough]

2. This gif immediately comes to mind...

But you expected that, didn't you?

[Dr. Shepper]

3. She's no longer a dem

So not breaking any rules by saying she sucks and I hope she goes down in flames.

She is so addicted to attention it’s pathetic.

[TheBlackAdder]

67. I'm no frontier psychiatrist, but she definitely seems to have a few identifiable disorders.

[ShazzieB]

91. Hard agree!

[Demsrule86]

77. she was always an f'ng Green...she only assumed the Democratic persona so she could run and win.

[Mr. Sparkle]

4. One of the very worst politicians around

She love lobbyists and their money., has no principles.

[TexasTowelie]

5. Congress needs to enact a revolving door legislation to prevent former congressman and senators

from becoming political lobbyists for two years after they leave office. Certainly Sinema realizes that she is unelectable regardless of which flag she claims as her own so she is counting on a job as a lobbyist after she is done. Let her go without a paycheck for a couple years and she will realize the error in her ways.

[Lochloosa]

7. Why not forever? There are plenty of boards she can sit on to earn a living.

Serving in Congress should and was a privilege. It needs to return to that.

[TexasTowelie]

15. I see that there is already a two-year cooling off period for senators so that could be bumped up a

bit more, but a lifetime ban probably wouldn't hold up constitutionally. People do have a right to earn an income, particularly after they are voted out of Congress. Most statewide provisions on lobbyists are in the one to two year range.

The legislation should also apply to the House. Texas may have cost Democrats a congressional seat when Filemon Vela resigned to become a lobbyist at Akin Gump. While Gonzalez filled the seat, the adjacent district which he previously represented flipped to a Republican.

[Botany]

10. No need for her to be a lobbyist she will be put on the board of directors of some big medical, ...

.... pharmaceutical, or health care insurance industries. No real work except going to yearly
meetings in Hawaii or someplace nice and not doing any real work there and don't forget being
put on the board of trustees of places like Pepperdine or Hillsdale College again no work but nice
paychecks. Speaking fees and book deals (ghost written) too.

I guarantee she made at least $5 million for just switching parties. Check Swiss or Caymen Island
bank accounts.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Well...

H.R.3660 - Ethics Reform Act of 1989 forces them to wait at least a year. I know Cicilline has been trying to get a "forever ban".

[Grokenstein]

6. "I can no longer cause as much damage as I like, so byeeeee."

"I'm sure I'll be fine, everyone loves an asshole."

[ancianita]

8. bag man following orders.

Have Democratic committees been screwed? I'd imagine so. But perhaps, since they've already been formed, they'll remain intact?

[Raven123]

9. At least she waited until after the Georgia runoff

And an acknowledgment that Dems won’t re-elect her in Arizona.

[padah513]

22. Yeah she waited to see who won.

[Raven123]

92. Had she declared sooner, I wonder if GOP voters would have turned out in greater numbers

I remember hearing talk that once Nevada was decided, GOP voters in Georgia had less motivation to vote.

[Lunabell]

11. Buhbye

You were never a Democrat anyway.

[Roy Rolling]

12. Dimwit

A rebel without a clue.

[Rebl2]

13. Had a feeling she would

do this.

[childfreebychoice]

14. A shout-out to idiot Ohio, wi voters for vance/johnson, not. Nt

[Mawspam2]

16. After her term is over...

...she can be CEO at Forever 21 or Justice.

[bdamomma]

17. Sneaky

isn't she???? Jerk

[Docreed2003]

18. Sadly, this was predicable and was actually floated as a possibility

When she and McTurtle were buddying up and complementing each other a few months ago. Sinema comes across as a political opportunist and attention seeker. She has not shown herself to be serious in her job, unless it is a situation where she can stand in the political spotlight and soak up the attention she craves.

[patphil]

90. I totally agree with your assessment that she is a political opportunist and attention seeker.

I always thought she was "playing" at being a Senator. Her only loyalty is to herself.
She didn't join the Republicans because they demand complete loyalty to the party, and would require her to vote the party line all the time. Her ego would never allow her to be a "yes Senator McConnell" person.
As an independent, she can shop her vote to the highest bidder, while getting all the attention and publicity she desires.

Of course she knew she would never be reelected, so there was no reason to stay with the Democrats, where she would be relegated to a background role since they had 51 Senators with Warnock's win.
Fortunately, it's still 50-49 if she is a true independent.

[lefthandedskyhook]

19. FOLLOW THE MONEY

She votes like she is bought and paid for.

[NCjack]

29. She is maximizing her money flow before her term ends, as

she knows she is unelectable as a DEM. Probably will try to transition from IND to GOP for reelection to US Senate. But, it that fails, she will still be a multi-millionaire.

[gab13by13]

36. She may run as an Independent,

leaving the door open for Magat, Kari Lake to become a Senator.

[NCjack]

75. Or, she will get a big payday to run and be elected as a Republican. Not much

money in running as an IDP.

[quakerboy]

144. She would lose as a republican

And lose hard.

[Fiendish Thingy]

96. She thinks she can be president running as a mavericky independent

This shift isn’t about money, it’s about ego.

[NCjack]

103. Yeah. I don't know her. Perhaps she is ego driven.

[Prairie_Seagull]

113. Ah greed.

[genxlib]

21. Is it just me...

Or has the Green Party been nothing but trouble for us. I don’t remember ever seeing a decent alliance with them. Instead it just seems like a constant stream of undermining and rat fucking

[BumRushDaShow]

23. It seems like

whoever gets drawn in goes completely bonkers.

I remember before Stein and Sinema, there was Cynthia McKinney. She even ended up on SPL's watch list with her own entry - https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2009/former-democratic-congresswoman-cynthia-mckinney-flirts-holocaust-deniers

[njhoneybadger]

24. Is anyone thinking the same word I am?

[Cetacea]

26. Yes

C-urtsy.

[JT45242]

25. Putin's puppy sinema should be kicked off all committees

A deep dive into her financials might find some interesting information.

She can be a parish in the Senate.

[BumRushDaShow]

27. We need every (D) and (I) vote for judicial confirmations in the Senate

Schumer must pack as many judges in as possible to offset what Turtle spent 4 years doing, non-stop. She has actually gone along with most of those confirmations.

[brooklynite]

28. Before you over-think the meaning of this...

It sounds like simple politics. If she wants to run again in 2024, she knows she won't win the D Primary, so she's re-labeling herself.

[BumRushDaShow]

30. Who is "over-thinking" anything?

There are already 2 (I)s - Bernie Sanders and Angus King - in the Senate. They each have their reasons for it.

[brooklynite]

86. A lot of people seem to imagine she's leaving the Dems for the Republicans.

[BumRushDaShow]

88. At least in this thread

it seems she has been relegated to the Bermuda Triangle of the Senate (not counting towards anything).

[JohnSJ]

31. In addition, she made it clear she will not caucus with the republicans, and plans to keep her

committee assignments.

It should effectively not change a thing, except give an excuse to some to rant about "what a terrible person she is"

The fact is Arizonia is mostly a swing state, and McCain was popular in that state because of his "independence", like you said, her move is purely strategic, in spite of much of the media trying to imply something more

[Deuce]

93. Is she required to caucus with either party???

[JohnSJ]

94. If she doesn't, then there is no chance chance she will get any committee assignment. The Biden

administration just came out and said they understand her decision, and that it would not change the 51 49 Democratic majority, which pretty much indicates she will caucus with the Democrats

[Deuce]

119. Thanks for the information...

[JohnSJ]

120. That is what Bloomberg News reported today

[Demsrule86]

73. Yup, that is exactly it.

[Freethinker65]

32. Meh.

Sinema and Manchin will continue to tag team to try to help corporations that funnel them money. Manchin will continue to fight for expanding his own wealth from the fossil fuel industry.

Being MAGA in many Statewide elections has proven to be toxic, so expect some fractions in the Republican part of the Senate as well. Murkowski is already as "independent" as Sinema.

[SKKY]

34. So, basically what she's saying...

..."I liked being the center of attention, and would very much like to keep doing that."

[Karma13612]

35. Does this mean we lose

The advantage on committees.

Is it now 5050 again?

Ducking hell.

[gab13by13]

38. Why would we lose our 51 majority

if she caucuses with the Dems? Angus King and Bernie are Independents.

[Karma13612]

40. Ok, just wasn't sure of the mechanics.

In other words, as long as she does NOT become a Republican outright, we will now keep that advantage of majority on committees.

That was supposed to be a big deal by reaching 51 to 49.

Phew!

[BumRushDaShow]

41. No. From the OP -

She did note, however, that she expects to keep her committee assignments – a signal that she doesn’t plan to upend the Senate composition

She would garner no favor among the GOP as they have their own loons in AZ like Blake Masters and Kari Lake, and thus she would easily be primaried by the GOP. She also didn't build a relationship with Turtle like Manchin has.

[Vinca]

37. Sinema's biggest problem is she requires the camera to be on her at all times.

Her Senate career might have started nobly, but somewhere along the way she turned into an attention seeker. Policy doesn't matter anymore, constituents don't matter, cameras and microphones matter. And money, too. No doubt she's trolling for a high paying job after she's voted out of office next time around.

[gab13by13]

39. Sinema's big problem is that she is owned by Big Pharma.

[LPBBEAR]

42. The Dems need...

to start playing hardball with this woman by first removing her from any committee position she has. Then make sure no Dem party money is going to her now and in the future. Block every bit of legislation she sponsors unless she completely follows the will of the party. Next look for any and every opportunity to get her removed from office. This woman is completely corrupt and is banking on the Democrat party wimping out and leaving her in a pivotal position. Fuck that. Kick her ass out of office, make it impossible for her to ever run again, bury her in legal scandal and take the chance of another Dem winning in a future election after she is booted from office. She wants to play hardball politics? Fine...give her what she wants...scorched earth politics. The people in Georgia and elsewhere who fought so hard for Warnock deserve nothing less.

[BumRushDaShow]

45. See this post

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3005403

[LPBBEAR]

48. Riiiight

So are you implying the Dems should sit on their hands and not use the power of the 49 other members to derail this woman and instead let her all by herself use the threat of she "might" vote with the Repukes to give her more power than she deserves?

Nah, not in my opinion.

[BumRushDaShow]

51. No one, and certainly not Schumer who is in control of the Senate

will be "sitting on their hands".

The one that needs to be watched is Manchin because he could easily do a Ben Nighthorse Campbell and switch parties and actually get re-elected as a (R) in WV. And I don't say this as any defense of her because she has been a disgrace but it all comes down to numbers and clear control to run the Committees without any "negotiated agreement" like the one that is in place right now that took well over a month of fucking drama in January 2021 to finally allow Democrats to actually get control of the Committee Chairs when Turtle was refusing to concede without hostage-taking moves.

[LPBBEAR]

54. I'll stick

with my original post. Remove her.

[BumRushDaShow]

55. Not happening.

I don't blame you for the desire but we needed a couple more wins like in OH, WI, & NC to toss her and Manchin to the curb. Thankfully we in PA will be giving the Senate John Fetterman to kick ass and he'll be there for a full 6 year term.

[panader0]

43. "I've never really tried. I don't want to." That quote is my take away from Cinema.

As an Arizonan, I used to e mail her often and warned her, about the time she voted no on the
minimum wage that she was losing my vote. She is and has always been a self absorbed sham.
And a shame. How does one run as a member of one party and then change before their term is
over? I know it's been done before, and even in Palin's case, quit before your term is served, but
it seems so slimy and low.

[Marthe48]

44. I didn't respect her before

I don't like it when elected politicians change their party after their elected. We know we got a stinky package when she was elected, so we suspected she was a turd. Guess now we know for sure. Hope she is primaried, and drops off the map forever.

[IronLionZion]

46. "We don't line up to do what we're told.

I’m going to be the same person I’ve always been.”

Refuses to say if she'll caucus with the Dems like Bernie and Angus.

[BumRushDaShow]

47. The OP excerpt actually mentions her expectation/hope to keep her committee assignments

She did note, however, that she expects to keep her committee assignments – a signal that she doesn’t plan to upend the Senate composition

[IronLionZion]

65. Those are 2 different things

if she caucuses with the Dems, then we can keep a majority on committees. If not, then it's 50/50.

[highplainsdem]

49. Disgusting. Again.

[Lonestarblue]

50. Does this mean that committees will once again be evenly split?

With one more person on committees, Democrats had a chance to get nominations out of committee instead of having Republicans obstruct everything. Sinema should be ashamed of herself. It was Democratic voters who put her in the Senate, not Independents. And she knows damn well that if she runs again in 2024 as an Independent, she will not re re-elected. What a traitor.

Could Arizonans recall her because she left the party?

[BumRushDaShow]

52. No based on the excerpt from the article

She did note, however, that she expects to keep her committee assignments – a signal that she doesn’t plan to upend the Senate composition

She would be in the same situation as both Bernie Sanders and Angus King.

[aggiesal]

83. Riiiight, she was surrounded by smiling (R)'s when she made her announcement. ...

[Gore1FL]

53. She and Tulsi Gabbard should form the "I wish I was relevant" party. nt

[dalton99a]

58. Greens are so predictable

[LPBBEAR]

59. Sinema

just oozes political slime in this interview. Anyone buying the BS she is selling?

[LudwigPastorius]

87. Holy shit! I had to stop the vid after a minute and a half.

Last edited Fri Dec 9, 2022, 12:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Her unctuous, self righteous condescension was making me nauseous. (not kidding)

[LPBBEAR]

118. Yep

She makes me want to vomit. Her obvious phoniness is written all over her face and voice. Just give her a southern accent and she would fit right in with the Repukes.

[cstanleytech]

60. The three D's come to mind to describe her. Disloyal. Dishonest. Disgusting.

Last edited Fri Dec 9, 2022, 10:28 AM - Edit history (1)

[Temeret]

61. A narcissist isn't happy in a 51-49 Senate

unfortunately, for her, Democrats still have an advantage because it’s 50-49-1 and 5049 and Kamala has the tiebreaker.

[inwiththenew]

62. Her and Manchin are going to cause a bunch a headaches you watch

I can see it now.

[Wuddles440]

98. Considering their actions to date...

that's an almost, absolute certainty.

[Aviation Pro]

63. Perfect theme song for this one

[underpants]

64. La La La it's all just a game to me. Oh did I mention *ME!*???

Since we’re on the topic of ME…..

I find her to be quite a difficult person.

[TNNurse]

68. Attention seeking, no one was talking about her.

But it is honest, she is no Democrat.

Sure money was involved.

[onetexan]

71. Yup, no doubt tbis was a calculated move given she knows her reelection is now in question

She knows she wont be reelected as a Dem given her forever changing stripes, so the money is the bottom line. She's ensuring her future with lucrative book & media & business deals to be made.
My take on it is i'm glad we know now so AZ Dems can start the process of finding a good candidate.
Matter of fact, i hope Cindy Mccain will switch parties and run as a Dem. Not sure how viable for her that is but she sure w get votes given the Mccains are political royalty there.

[Demsrule86]

78. She has us over a barrel in terms of the election...she runs as an in depended and we have a

Democratic candidate, she is a spoiler.

[onetexan]

81. Then new Dems candidate will need to paint her as a wolf in sheep's clothing

Case in point:Tulsi Gabbard. We know how that ended.

[PortTack]

107. Exactly..no doubt this was part of what she and turtle discussed. The '24 election does not

Favor the Dems holding the senate. She’s helping to ensure a Republican take over of the senate in ‘24. No, it won’t be her, but it will give the gqp candidate a really good chance for a win.

What a piece a work!

[Dan]

145. There are more Republicans Senators on the ballot in 2024

I don't really know Arizona politics, but if the D run a quality candidate...then the question is does she have enough support to strip votes from the Democratic candidate and thus throw the Senate seat to the Republican party? I think if the Democratic party embraces the Democratic candidate - go all out for a quality candidate and paint the Republican candidate as the party of Hate/Trump/Intolerance and other stuff - we could definitely make it competitive.

I personally dislike Senators holding up everything just because of ego - I know that it is wrong, but I would prefer to lose the seat them be held hostage all the time.

[djacq]

70. "A little bit surprised"

It's amazing how someone, like Senator Sinema, can lease a middle finger to her voters for two years and think that it's okay.

I'm a registered Democrat in Virginia. I vote as a Democrat for a Democrat who follows and believes in the progressive issues of the party. If Senators Warner or Kaine did something like what Sinema did, I would be astronomically pissed.

Sinema should resign.

[Demsrule86]

76. It is likely her only chance of reelection...consider she runs as an independent, we likely lose the

seat as she siphons off votes. So does she get to run on the Democratic ticket like Sanders does in Vermont?

[Hortensis]

85. :) That's Earl's analysis too. We'd support her as an Independent

if she caucuses with us until election, likely with some Manchin thrown in.

If that's the case, I don't think she'd want or need to run as a Democrat.

Sanders is a special case. He does that in VT, with connivance from Democratic Party leaders, so he can take out competitors in the Democratic primary. Then he runs as a very strong incumbent Independent against the Republican in the GE, when some moderate Republicans have traditionally voted for him as their way of keeping a Democrat from getting the seat. Then in congress he votes for pretty much whatever his Democratic colleagues produce plus what's required to satisfy his RW VTers, including their gun industry. Quid pro quo. Wash, rinse, repeat. I can't imagine Sinema maintaining that kind of stability to secure reelection until retirement.

[Fiendish Thingy]

99. I will support electing a better to Democrat to her seat in 2024

The 2024 senate map is brutal for Dems, who are projected to lose their majority by 4-6 seats. No chance of maintaining the current slim majority.

Because of this my efforts will focus on electing a better Democrat to represent AZ, or at least ensure Sinema’s senate career ends then.

[Hortensis]

101. Good point. We'll see what the strategic outlook is then,

but I'm on board with these goals anyway. We should repay her betrayals appropriately.

[packman]

84. Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth

May it come to pass

[Fiendish Thingy]

95. Sinema thinks she can be president someday.

The senate map in 2024 is brutal for Dems, who are projected to lose control of the majority by 4-6 seats. Chances of maintaining the current slim majority are almost nil.

Because of this, Dems must take the risk of running a candidate against Independent Sinema, to ensure that her senate career ends in 2024.

Who knows, if someone like Kari Lake runs, we might even have a shot at winning the race.

If I were Schumer, I’d let her play her games until after the 2024 AZ primary. Once Gallego (or whoever the Dems choose) becomes the official nominee, I’d kick her out of the caucus, and if possible, out of the committees.

Just make sure all of Biden’s judges have been confirmed beforehand.

[BumRushDaShow]

102. And

we were going to be blown away by a "Red tsunami", losing upwards of 60 seats in the House and 5 in the Senate (AZ, CO, GA, NH, NV), thanks to a surefire guarantee to be steamrolled due to "history").

Since the political media blew it so badly this year, they are doubling and tripling down for 2024 as if they have any credibility at all. Right now, ALL of their fucking narratives are that Democrats are "toast" in 2024.

Don't believe the hype.

Here are the "Class 1" Senate seats up in 2024 -

Democrats

Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI)
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH)
Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Cardin, Benjamin L. (D-MD)
Carper, Thomas R. (D-DE)
Casey, Robert P., Jr. (D-PA)
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (D-NY)
Heinrich, Martin (D-NM)
Hirono, Mazie K. (D-HI)
Kaine, Tim (D-VA)
Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
Manchin, Joe, III (D-WV)
Menendez, Robert (D-NJ)
Murphy, Christopher (D-CT)
Rosen, Jacky (D-NV)
Sinema, Kyrsten (D-AZ)
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)
Tester, Jon (D-MT)
Warren, Elizabeth (D-MA)
Whitehouse, Sheldon (D-RI)

Republicans

Barrasso, John (R-WY)
Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN)
Braun, Mike (R-IN)
Cramer, Kevin (R-ND)
Cruz, Ted (R-TX)
Fischer, Deb (R-NE)
Hawley, Josh (R-MO)
Romney, Mitt (R-UT)
Scott, Rick (R-FL)
Wicker, Roger F. (R-MS)

Independents
King, Angus S., Jr. (I-ME)
Sanders, Bernard (I-VT)

What (D) seats are going to "flip"????? The one possible is Tester (depending on how people in MT feel) and perhaps AZ with Sinema (depending on what happens with both (D) and (R) candidates).

[PortTack]

110. I sure hope you are right.

I know the senate in ‘24 has been a topic by Dave Wasserman and others that are not just talking heads.

[BumRushDaShow]

112. Wasserman/Cook and Silver/538 were sticking forks in Democrats for 2022

until right up until election day, and then suddenly you had Wasserman's "I've seen enough" quips and total crickets out of 538. They have yet to do any "mea culpas" before launching into their 2024 nonsense.

Look at each one of those Democratic Senate seats and tell me who is going to easily be tossed out.

[Fiendish Thingy]

124. WV, MT, OH are at the most risk in 2024

AZ, WI, NV and PA are also going to be close races. That’s 7 at risk seats. The possibility of Losing 4-6 seats is not “hype”, it’s a reality. It may come down to the quality of GOP candidates and turnout, but the odds of Dems losing their majority in 2024 is much higher than it was this year.

No serious person predicted Dems would lose 5 seats this year, almost everyone predicted a 51-49 senate, with the majority being a toss up.

Because of the high odds of losing their majority in 2024, rather than cater to Sinema’s Independent candidacy, Dems should put forth their strongest TRUE DEMOCRAT and run a scorched earth campaign to ensure Sinema’s career of chaos and obstruction ends in 2024.

[BumRushDaShow]

128. For some reason, OH has left Sherrod Brown alone

He has had that seat since the 2006 election.

I won't count Mandela's near miss because that is a racial problem for WI, but I don't see Tammy Baldwin, who just spearheaded the Senate's "Respect for Marriage Act" that is about to be signed by Joe Biden, to suddenly be thrown out of office.

And although they may be gunning for Bob Casey Jr.'s Senate seat here in PA, he and his family (his father was Governor for 2 terms) are well known in the state and he has a strong upstate NE PA base. He has held his seat since the 2006 election, after absolutely crushing carpet-bagger Frothy by 17 points.

Don't embrace the RW narratives that have already started drowning Democrats in their nonsense designed to demoralize. The "toss up" stuff started up after Labor Day after they spent all spring salivating over a GOP wipeout of Democrats while their echo monkeys repeated the word "inflation" dozens of times an hour - no matter what the topic.

538 had this the day before election day -



"Close" or not, "close" was claimed for John Fetterman who beat Oz by almost 5% and over 260,000 votes. Their "close" was absolute bullshit.



Don't let THEM define what things are going to be like.

[Fiendish Thingy]

129. Again, NOBODY was predicting a GOP gain of 5 senate seats

538 gave 54% odds of the GOP taking control, but only by 1-2 seats, not five.

The Dems’ uphill battle in 2024 is not a “RW narrative”; it’s a fact that Dems will be defending way more seats in 2024 than this year, and several of the seats are in otherwise blood red states.

Because of that, IMO, Dems should not shy away from running their best candidate in AZ in 2024, even if Sinema ends up playing the spoiler.

Her career of chaos and obstruction must end in 2024.

[BumRushDaShow]

130. THAT graphic was literally what they had the day before the election

But well before that, they spent the year pounding how "unpopular" Biden was and droning on about "inflation inflation inflation", even DISMISSING the overturning of Roe v Wade as "no longer being a concern for women".

My point is - the system is BROKEN and was done on purpose to use to make their "predictions" and develop their "narratives". So my advice is don't believe or internalize their bullshit about what is going to "happen". We will need to do our own work behind the scenes in our states.

I know you are actually narrowly focusing on AZ but we need to look beyond that. We have a couple years to strategize how to deal with AZ. Hell, I'd love to see Carnival Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Rick Scott frog-marched. We need to get some Indivisible action going in MO and even IN to maybe get some recruiting out of the urban and suburban areas to find our next set of rising stars.

[Fiendish Thingy]

131. And THAT graphic only shows 2 simulations where GOP gained five seats

As opposed to the multitude of simulations that showed gains of 1-3 seats.

Yes, I am laser focused on eliminating the obstructionist in AZ; there will be plenty of time to support the next set of rising stars- I fully expect Gallego to be one of them.

[BumRushDaShow]

134. Correct

but it was the "vaunted" 538, that like Gallup through to the 2012 election, tended to have their "analysis" given "more weight" by the pundits across all of the political outlets (print and broadcast).

When Gallup blew their 2012 prediction for the Presidential election by having Romney beating Obama, they did an analysis and published a paper of "what went wrong" (their "likely voter" assumptions were completely off) and they eventually bowed out of doing the "Presidential trial heat" daily tracking ever again. Meanwhile 538 has admitted nothing despite the fact that it had been pointed out to them that they were using an unusual number of and higher weighting for GOP-commissioned polls in their models.

I am glad there is someone in the pipeline in AZ.

[Fiendish Thingy]

125. WV, MT, OH are at the most risk in 2024

AZ, WI, NV and PA are also going to be close races. That’s 7 at risk seats. The possibility of Losing 4-6 seats is not “hype”, it’s a reality. It may come down to the quality of GOP candidates and turnout, but the odds of Dems losing their majority in 2024 is much higher than it was this year.

No serious person predicted Dems would lose 5 seats this year, almost everyone predicted a 51-49 senate, with the majority being a toss up.

Because of the high odds of losing their majority in 2024, rather than cater to Sinema’s Independent candidacy, Dems should put forth their strongest TRUE DEMOCRAT and run a scorched earth campaign to ensure Sinema’s career of chaos and obstruction ends in 2024.

[PortTack]

111. +1,000

[Hekate]

97. She what? So this is what EarlG's post is about. KnR -- coffee, dammit.

[BumRushDaShow]

105. I just saw EarlG's post but it wasn't this thread he was talking about

it was most likely this one.

[Hekate]

117. Thank you, BumRush. More caffeine. Or maybe I should switch to popcorn about now.

No, caffeine it is.

[BumRushDaShow]

126. I know I should get some more

but am sipping some water. Debated making a pot of herb tea but a bit late for it now.

[keithbvadu2]

100. Sinema is in it for herself.

[ellie]

104. She's such an

asshole.

[grockri]

106. She is a phony POS

She was the most liberal person in the AZ legislature. Now this she is just an attention needy POS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told her when she voted against the Democratic Bills, she would see no further donations from me. I have kept that promise, and will fully support anyone that challenges her.

[keroro gunsou]

108. Apologies for my bluntness but...

It seems this nice young lady could stand to get a little bit of the Janos Slynt treatment…

Janos Slynt: "I did, and I would again. The man was a traitor. He tried to buy my loyalty."
Tyrion Lannister: "The fool. He had no idea you were already bought.”
JS: “Are you drunk? I will not have my honor questioned by an imp!”
TL: “I am not question your honor, Lord Janos, I’m denying it’s existence.”

Shame there is no Wall to send her to… her self centered, prom Queen act is old.

[republianmushroom]

115. good

[Initech]

121. Democrat Derangement Syndrome is the reason we can't have nice things.

[ffr]

122. So when she ran AS A DEMOCRAT in 2018 she lied?

Because, that's all I'm hearing in her I'M REALLY AND INDEPENDENT gab.

Voters should feel even more betrayed. She's not a democrat. She just ran with that labeling to get elected, line her pockets and betray the people she represents.

[Quanto Magnus]

123. I knew she would pull this after

the election if Dems took the Senate majority (not tie).

[wolfie001]

127. Independent? WTF!!!

She's a corporate stooge. She's perfectly fine with Baldy Bezos paying zero Eederal taxes for years yet downvotes raising the Federal Minimum Wage? Sickening!

[littlemissmartypants]

132. Hey, Kyrsten...

[littlemissmartypants]

133. Hey, Kyrsten...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

135. Gallego, potential Arizona Senate hopeful, hits Sinema after party switch

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Friday slammed newly minted Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) following her decision to leave the Democratic Party, saying she is “putting her own interests” ahead of Arizona voters with the move.

“Last month, the voters of Arizona made their voices heard loud and clear — they want leaders who put the people of Arizona first. We need Senators who will put Arizonans ahead of big drug companies and Wall Street bankers,” Gallego, who is thought to be a 2024 Senate hopeful, said in a statement.

“Whether in the Marine Corps or in Congress, I have never backed down from fighting for Arizonans. And at a time when our nation needs leadership most, Arizona deserves a voice that won’t back down in the face of struggle,” Gallego continued. “Unfortunately Senator Sinema is once again putting her own interests ahead of getting things done for Arizonans.”

Prior to Sinema’s maneuver, Gallego was considered a prime candidate to launch a primary challenge against her in 2024. The House Democrat has been one of the leading critics of Sinema over the past year, including for what he saw as Sinema’s lack of work on behalf of the party in the key state during the 2022 midterms.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gallego-potential-arizona-senate-hopeful-160257617.html

[orangecrush]

136. Et ti, Sinema?

[Mr.Bill]

141. When someone has to explain to everybody

that something they did makes semse, it probably makes no sense at all.

[Chrisdutch]

142. Buh, Bye, Kyrsten, it was great not knowing you

She's such an attention-grabbing airhead. The Dems need to run Gallego for that seat and get rid of her useless ass once and for all. Then she cvan tell other constituents not to touch her.