Opinion: Abandoning principles of civil discourse and consensus building is political folly, and Kyrsten Sinema is no clown.
J.E. Dean || The Talbot
By Herb Paine opinion contributor || The Arizona Republic
I rise to speak in defense of Kyrsten Sinema.
The senator’s decision to leave the Democratic Party and register as an independent has predictably compounded the animosity she already provoked among Democrats who have felt betrayed by her actions on the floor of the U.S. Senate, most notably her support of the filibuster.
Theories abound regarding her motivation (that she fears being primaried), and assaults on her character (that she’s narcissistic, opportunistic and deceitful) are fueling social media.
Fairness and reason, however, dictate a more balanced assessment of the senator’s calculations.
Sinema learned independence from Flake, McCain
