# Sinema leaves the Democratic party; registers as Independent (she’s not seeking re-election.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 9, 2022, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258 "2022-12-09T11:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/121 "2023-01-23T20:44:02Z")
Everybody has her price, and she’s certainly shown that she can be bought. Of course, if her highest ambition is to be a wealthy dick, then all bets are off. But I’d try offering her some sort of legal bribe, if only to learn what her price is, and if it’s within the President’s ability to offer it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/122 "2023-01-23T20:50:11Z")
I like the idea of making her the ambassador to Rwanda. She actually seems like a legitimately good candidate for the position, she has real expertise in the area. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on Rwanda’s problems. It seems like a win-win; she would have a prestigious position, she must have a true interest in the area for her to focus on it for her dissertation, and she might actually do real good. And she is conveniently out of the way in the Senate. The only people who would potentially lose in that situation might be the Republicans, and that’s another win to me. Of course, we’re talking politics, so this probably will not ever happen. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/123 "2023-01-23T23:20:55Z")
I never said it wouldn’t be worth offering her something pretty and shiny like an Ambassadorship or Cabinet post. I was simply replying about whether it would work. I see nothing to make me think it would but hey, if it did great! I’m not holding my breath. She appears to get her jollies from obstruction obstruction obstruction and being in the spotlight as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/124 "2023-01-23T23:25:20Z")
Sounds to me like it’s worth a try. If she turns it down, then what have we lost? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/125 "2023-01-24T02:50:38Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The only people who would potentially lose in that situation might be the Republicans, … And the Rwandans? (I don’t know, maybe her paper is really good.) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/126 "2023-01-25T17:04:58Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I like the idea of making her the ambassador to Rwanda. Perhaps if we want them to help out and take her off our hands, we should sing to them- “Help me Rwanda, help help me Rwanda…” I fear losing the seat but I wonder how many Democrats would really stick with her after the pain in the ass that she has been, perhaps her 3rd party run would fizzle. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/127 "2023-01-25T17:25:55Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I like the idea of making her the ambassador to Rwanda. She actually seems like a legitimately good candidate for the position, she has real expertise in the area. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on Rwanda’s problems Rwanda actually might be a pretty active post soon, and not a throwaway gig. The U.K. government has a plan cooked up by the rabidly anti-immigrant faction of the Tories to send their asylum seekers to Rwanda. Not for processing, but to dump them there for good (they’ve paid the Rwandan gov’t for this partnership). “You’re fleeing your home in the middle east because they’ll put you to death for being gay? Well, hop in this plane so we can ship your ass to an African country that has no great love for the gays either!” Compassionate conservatism. Big sidebar, but yeah, if the Brits get this scheme off the ground, Rwanda could be a huge focus in migrant issues over the next little while. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/128 "2023-01-27T19:15:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > “Help me Rwanda, help help me Rwanda…” Go to your room, RIGHT NOW, and think about what you’ve done. 😠 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/129 "2023-01-27T19:19:55Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > “Help me Rwanda, help help me Rwanda…” “Help me, Rwanda, YEAAHH!!, get her out of my legislative body…” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/130 "2024-03-05T20:01:25Z")
Aaaaaand she’s _outtathere._ > **[Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says she won’t seek reelection,...](https://apnews.com/article/kyrsten-sinema-arizona-8043c3333e6d87da2404f58339f1e1e6)** > > Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says she won’t seek reelection, avoiding 3-way contest for pivotal seat. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/131 "2024-03-05T20:01:48Z")
Good riddance! ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/132 "2024-03-05T20:03:55Z")
Not really surprised there. Sinema and machin did some damage. It will be interesting to see where they end up. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/133 "2024-03-05T20:22:40Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Aaaaaand she’s _outtathere._ An actual sane move for once. She had no hope to be anything but a spoiler. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/134 "2024-03-05T21:06:30Z")
It sure was interesting to watch her systematically piss away all of her political capital and goodwill over the last six years. I have no idea what she was trying to accomplish by alienating everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/135 "2024-03-05T21:11:22Z")
Kellen Browning of the NYT carries water for Sinema: > Though Ms. Sinema continued to caucus with Democrats after leaving the party and was a reliable vote for some parts of President Biden’s agenda, she angered Democrats by blocking efforts to raise taxes on corporations and aligned with a fellow centrist, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, to stop efforts to weaken the filibuster. “Raise taxes on corporations”, is a very Republican way of characterizing Sinema’s opposition to closing the [Carried Interest Loophole](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/carriedinterest.asp) a gummie bear for hedge fund managers, at the expense of eg entrepreneurs who actually build things. > Ms. Sinema, a calculated and charismatic politician, has had a dramatic tenure in Washington. “Charismatic”: BWHAHAHAHA. Here’s the Daily Mail’s take: “Call the fashion police! As Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema is brutally mocked over garish yellow State of the Union dress, FEMAIL reveals the many other wacky work outfits she’s worn - from skin-tight floral dresses to GOLD cowboy boots”. On Feb 19th, she was polling at 19% for the AZ Senate race. “Calculated”: Sinema never figured out that in a swing state, you have absolutely no chance of election or reelection without securing your base. Reports had it that she perceived herself as the next McCain, possibly Presidential material. Yikes! NYT stenographer presents this without comment: > “Because I choose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of this year,” she said in a video announcement. And… what exactly did Sinema get done? I agree that if she could pull a rabbit out of a hat and negotiate a compromise for even a middle-tier issue, that would impress. Instead we got a lot of claims by her about how bipartisan she was, all while refusing meetings with the supporters who, you know, actually put her in power. Sinema was famous for her inability to read the room. Kellen Browning of the NYT conveys none of that in their piece. Put down your crayon Kellen, pick of the phone, and start doing some actual reporting. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/136 "2024-03-05T21:44:27Z")
> **[Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says she won’t seek reelection,...](https://apnews.com/article/kyrsten-sinema-arizona-8043c3333e6d87da2404f58339f1e1e6)** > > Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona says she won’t seek reelection, avoiding 3-way contest for pivotal seat. > [@](#): > > But she came to believe that she could be more effective building bridges with the Republican majority than publicly excoriating them, she wrote in her 2009 book, “Unite and Conquer.” It was the start of her move toward the center and the persona that has formed her national brand. So how’s the bridge building going? > [@](#): > > Sinema’s announcement comes after Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border and deliver military aid to Ukraine and Israel, which Sinema spent months negotiating. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/137 "2024-03-05T22:19:29Z")
“If I treat crocodiles like puppies they will wag their tails and give me kisses!” With extensive surgery and a lot of physical therapy, doctors think she might be able to walk again someday. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/138 "2024-03-05T22:37:19Z")
I’ll carry water for her (and Manchin). Replace them with Generic Republican R-Arizona (and R-West Virginia), and the world is likely a lot worse place right now. For starters the SCOTUS would likely be 5-2-1 with Ketanji Brown-Jackson having ended up the same way that Merrick Garland did at the hands of Majority Leader McConnell. The Inflation Reduction Act? Never passed courtesy of Mitch. The American Rescue Plan in response to COVID-19? Never passed. The list goes on. I’ll go so far as to speculate that due to lack of US support for Ukraine. also led by Mitch, that Russia would have already conquered Ukraine in its entirety and started in on Moldova. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/139 "2024-03-05T22:47:53Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > I’ll carry water for her (and Manchin). Replace them with Generic Republican R-Arizona (and R-West Virginia), and the world is likely a lot worse place right now. I was a lot more willing to tolerate, and occasionally defend, Manchin because the ONLY way he could hold that seat as a Democrat was to tout his “independence” and occasionally break with the national party. The only other option was a MAGA Republican in that seat. Sinema was NOT in that position. Democrats hold the other AZ Senate seat and the Governor’s office. She was elected on a standard Democratic platform. All of her bullshit was done out of ego not political necessity. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258/140 "2024-03-05T22:49:43Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I was a lot more willing to tolerate, and occasionally defend, Manchin because the ONLY way he could hold that seat as a Democrat was to tout his “independence” and occasionally break with the national party. The only other option was a MAGA Republican in that seat. > > Sinema was NOT in that position. Democrats hold the other AZ Senate seat and the Governor’s office. She was elected on a standard Democratic platform. All of her bullshit was done out of ego not political necessity. I give her a little more benefit of the doubt due to Arizona having still been a red state when she was first elected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sinema-leaves-the-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-she-s-not-seeking-re-election/976258.md?page=8)