Her maverick tendencies have caused consternation in the Democratic Party and some flashes of admiration among Republicans. According to Fox News, Senator Sinema has taken her independence streak to the next level.
“Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent.
“Sinema, in a Friday op-ed in the Arizona Republic, cited increasingly partisan interests and radicalization of both political parties as the reason for her departure.”
December 11, 2022
Sinema pointed out in her op-ed that the two-party system, Republican and Democrat, has become, in her view, more slanted to the extremes. Nevertheless, the party bosses expect the rank and file to bend their knees and go along with the chosen orthodoxy, no matter their personal beliefs. Sen. Sinema rejects that “false choice.”
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“Most Arizonans believe this is a false choice, and when I ran for the U.S. House and the Senate, I promised Arizonans something different. I pledged to be independent and work with anyone to achieve lasting results. I committed I would not demonize people I disagreed with, engage in name-calling, or get distracted by political drama.”
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December 11, 2022
Sinema had been subjected to intense criticism from within her party because of her independence, which has helped to stymie President Joe Biden’s agenda. For example, she has refused to go along with abolishing the filibuster, a Senate rule that often makes passing important legislation requires the votes of at least 60 senators.
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The big question that arises is what, if anything, Sinema’s switch will mean to the balance of power in the Senate. Hitherto, the Senate was comprised of 51 Democrats or independents who caucused with the Democrats and 49 Republicans, thanks to the results of the 2022 midterm elections.
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According to Breitbart, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Sinema whether she would continue to caucus with the Democrats as the other two independent senators do. Sinema demurred to answer.
However, Fox News reports that even though Sen/ Sinema will not declare out loud, she will maintain her committee assignments.
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Sinema’s move is not without precedent.
“In 2006, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., changed his affiliation from Democratic to “independent Democrat” – a distinction not formally recognized by the Senate. Lieberman did so after losing his primary but continued to caucus with the Democrats.
“In 2001, late Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., dropped his GOP membership and became an independent when the Senate was split 50-50 and began to caucus with the Democrats, giving them the effective majority.”
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