Octopus Overlords

Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, whose centrist approach pitted her against parts of President Biden’s agenda and made her the target of Democratic activists, is leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent, she announced on Friday in a series of interviews and in an essay in The Arizona Republic.

Ms. Sinema has not said whether she would caucus with the Democrats, as do two other independent senators, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine. She told Politico that she would not caucus with Republicans, and that her ideology and voting habits would not change.

The Democrats had claimed a 51-49 advantage in the Senate this week when Raphael Warnock prevailed in a runoff election in Georgia.

Writing in The Arizona Republic, she said that she had “never fit perfectly in either national party” and that the “loudest, most extreme voices continue to drive each party toward the fringes.”

Octavious wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 8:07 am 2 more years before she gets sent off into space? Now Manchins turn.

Octavious wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 9:13 am I meant his turn on going independent. Hell this is the best way for them to extract what little power they can.

Defiant wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:03 pm Sinema is very disliked by both Democrats and Republicans (and isn't doing much better among independents). I don't think she'll do much better than third place in a three way race ( unless things dramatically change before the next election).

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/202 ... ryone.html

El Guapo wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:11 pm

Defiant wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:03 pm Sinema is very disliked by both Democrats and Republicans (and isn't doing much better among independents). I don't think she'll do much better than third place in a three way race ( unless things dramatically change before the next election).

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/202 ... ryone.html

Depends quite a bit on who the candidates are. Like if Kari Lake is the Republican nominee, and the Democratic nominee is someone at least perceived as a far left progressive, it's not out of the question that Sinema could win with something like 40% of the vote (say a 40-35-25 split).

In addition, even if her chance of winning a three way race is low (say 25%), that's substantially higher than her chances of winning the Democratic primary. Hence this is almost certainly her best shot at reelection.

Defiant wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 1:46 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:11 pm

Defiant wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 12:03 pm Sinema is very disliked by both Democrats and Republicans (and isn't doing much better among independents). I don't think she'll do much better than third place in a three way race ( unless things dramatically change before the next election).

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/202 ... ryone.html

Depends quite a bit on who the candidates are. Like if Kari Lake is the Republican nominee, and the Democratic nominee is someone at least perceived as a far left progressive, it's not out of the question that Sinema could win with something like 40% of the vote (say a 40-35-25 split).

In addition, even if her chance of winning a three way race is low (say 25%), that's substantially higher than her chances of winning the Democratic primary. Hence this is almost certainly her best shot at reelection.

I think you significantly overestimate her chances in a three way race, although I guess she would probably be screwed either way.

I think her best chance is if maybe the Democrats worry that she'll split the vote and cost them the election and decide not to run anyone against her? Though I don't think that will happen.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Fri Dec 09, 2022 11:29 am Dictionary publishers are scrambling to put a new picture in the "B" section.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema raked in campaign cash from corporate leaders at the end of last year as she prepared for a potential high-stakes 2024 reelection bid in the battleground state of Arizona.

Sinema, a centrist swing vote in the narrowly split Senate, switched her party affiliation from Democrat to independent in December. Real estate and private equity leaders, who have long helped to fill Sinema’s campaign coffers, contributed to a healthy cash haul for the senator in the final months of last year.

As Sinema considers whether to launch a bid for a second Senate term, the senator’s campaign entered 2023 flush with cash, with $8.2 million on hand, according to a new Federal Election Commission filing. Sinema’s campaign raised more than $800,000 during the last three months of 2022, and a portion of those funds came from affiliated committees, according to campaign filings that became public Tuesday.

Since October, Sinema has seen the support of leaders from private equity giants such as Blackstone
, along with the president of America’s largest business lobbying group, the Chamber of Commerce, according to the filing.

A spokeswoman for Sinema did not return a request for comment.

malchior wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 6:14 pm the Chamber of Commerce,

LordMortis wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 7:45 pm

malchior wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 6:14 pm the Chamber of Commerce,

Independent my ass. The CoC are puppies and have spent a decade trying to pull puppies legal moves on behalf of the GOP here for over a decade. To the point if I see CoC on a business door, I debate if I should not walk in.

Kurth wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 10:14 pm

LordMortis wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 7:45 pm

malchior wrote: ↑Thu Feb 02, 2023 6:14 pm the Chamber of Commerce,

Independent my ass. The CoC are puppies and have spent a decade trying to pull puppies legal moves on behalf of the GOP here for over a decade. To the point if I see CoC on a business door, I debate if I should not walk in.

“Puppies” . . .

Mr. Fed wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2005 1:16 am I suspect artistic license. Still, "puppies are bullshit!" is a great catchphrase.