Just as the Democrats felt comfortable with complete control of the Senate, Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema announced she would become an “independent ” and not caucus with either party [she has since announced she will caucus with the Democrat party]. Her position she made clear in a glossy youtube release below.
While we admire her independence, so far it has been largely rhetorical. She has voted lockstep with Joe Biden on just about every major piece of legislation he has advanced. The White House itself acknowledges as much in its reaction to her announcement:
“Senator Sinema has been a key partner on some of the historic legislation President Biden has championed over the last 20 months, from the American Rescue Plan to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, from the Inflation Reduction Act to the CHIPS and Science Act, from the PACT Act to the Gun Safety Act to the Respect for Marriage Act, and more. We understand that her decision to register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate, and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work successfully with her.”
So, if Sinema continues to vote with the Democrats, what does “independent” mean? Apparently, it does not mean stopping big spending on Democrat-sponsored legislation. Nor has she opposed any judicial nominations that we are aware of.
With Vice President Harris, the Democrats still hold the majority. With the waffling Senator from West Virginia Joe Manchin still available, it might be possible to stop some legislation, but he has proven unreliable. Further, Republicans are not united and there always seems to be a handful of Republicans willing to put the Democrats across the finish line.
As an example, just look at the recent legislation on gay marriage, when marriage law has traditionally been the purview of the states. It would not have passed without Republican defections. Their lack of concern about religious liberty was a major disappointment.
It remains to be seen what Sinema’s move actually means in terms of Senate voting, in light of the above.
She will not be a Democrat, but what difference will it mean if she votes with the Democrats?
However, for her political position in Arizona, it may be a clever move.
The recent election showed Arizona quite evenly divided, although Congressional races, which are more national in character as is a Senate seat, went for the Republicans. Sensing this, Sinema may be tacking to the center for political survival.
In addition, defection from the Democrat Party, along with Tulsi Gabbard, signals to the public that something is wrong with the Democrat Party and that it has truly been seized by radicals. Therefore, from the standpoint of public relations, Sinema’s departure is a blow to their public image. It could encourage other Democrats to leave as well.
In one sense it is stunning that Sinema fears a primary challenge within her own party. Having voted 90% of the time with the party apparently is just not sufficient for the fanatics currently in control of the party. To walk away from the money, manpower, and media the Democrat Party can provide, speaks volumes about the intolerance within the party itself.
For the Senate race coming up in 2024, her departure certainly changes Arizona politics because it put her presently held seat in play with the possibility of the vote being split three ways, thus allowing a candidate with a smaller following the chance to win.
At the end of the day, posturing aside, what will be important is how the now “independent” Senator from Arizona will vote. If she continues to vote for all the Democrat bills (which she just did for the so-called Respect for Marriage Act), it means little to the constellation of political forces operating in Washington.
Maybe she has a social libertarian streak in her, but it has not manifested itself in terms of a libertarian streak regarding other liberties, such as the Second Amendment, the First Amendment, property rights, taxes, and Federal overreach.
More important will be if the Republicans can cohere with discipline in the House, and stop bad legislation from ever getting to the Senate in the first place.
