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Sinema singlehandedly kills so-called ‘voting rights’ agenda, leaves Biden humiliated

January 14, 2022 | | Print Article

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema all but singlehandedly killed President Biden’s so-called “voting rights” agenda — as prescribed by the radical left elements of the Democratic Party — on Thursday when she said that she will not vote to change the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold.

In a speech from the floor of the Senate, the Democratic senator from Arizona exhibited the foresight that failed the late Harry Reid when he was the Democratic majority leader and exercised the “nuclear option” to advance all federal judicial nominees and executive-office appointments, which came back to haunt his party during the Trump administration, when Republicans nominated Supreme Court justices with a simple majority during the Trump administration.

“Eliminating the 60-vote threshold will simply guarantee that we lose a critical tool that we need to safeguard our democracy from threats in the years to come,” Sinema said.

Citing the division in the country today, Sinema said, “We need a sustained robust effort to defend American democracy, an effort on the part of Democrats, Republicans, independents and all Americans and communities across this country.”

Which is not to say Sinema does not support the “voting rights” legislation, which is little more than a naked Democratic power grab to strip states of much of their power to control elections, as prescribed in the U.S. Constitution — it would also all but do away with voter ID.

“These bills help treat the symptoms of the disease, but they do not fully address the disease itself,” Sinema said. “And while I continue to support these bills, I will not support separate actions that worsen the underlying disease of division infecting our country.”

Along with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., Sinema has long opposed eliminating the filibuster, which would be necessary to pass the legislation given the 50-50 split in the Senate. Vice President Kamala Harris represents the tie breaking vote in the upper chamber.

“There’s no need for me to restate my longstanding support for the 60-threshold to pass legislation. And there’s no need for me to restate its role protecting our country from wild reversals in federal policy,” she said. “This week’s harried discussions about Senate rules are but a poor substitute for what I believe could have and should have been a thoughtful public debate at any time over the past year.”

“But what is the legislative filibuster, other than a tool that requires new federal policy to be broadly supported by senators, representing the broader cross-section of Americans,” she added. “Demands to eliminate this threshold from whichever party holds the fleeting majority amount to a group of people separated on two sides of a canyon, shouting that solution to their colleagues.”

Again, she stressed the polarization in America today to say she has not given up on working across the aisle.

“Some have given up on the goal of erasing our divisions and uniting Americans. I have not,” Sinema said. “I’ve worked hard to demonstrate in my public service, the value of working with unlikely allies to get results.”

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced on Thursday night that the Senate will take up the voting rights legislation on Tuesday — the left has pressured Schumer to hold  a vote to put pressure on Manchin and Sinema.

The announcement came after Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, tested positive for COVID-19 in a breakthrough case, leaving Democrats one vote short on their ability to start debate on the voting rights bill, The Hill reported. The delay will cause Schumer to miss a self-imposed deadline to hold a vote on changing the filibuster by Monday, Jan. 17.

“I have a short announcement about the schedule. Due to circumstances regarding COVID and another potentially hazard winter storm approaching the D.C. area this weekend, the Senate will adjourn tonight,” the Democratic leader said. “However, we will be postponing the recess so the Senate can vote on voting rights. We will return on Tuesday to take up the House-passed message containing voting rights legislation.”

Meanwhile, liberals had a virtual meltdown in response to Sinema’s defiant stand, as seen here:

On the flip-side, there was also plenty of appreciation for what Sinema was accomplishing with her actions:

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