Ray Buursma: Kyrsten Sinema says adios

Kyrsten Sinema left the Democratic Party. Good for her. Well, maybe. Before I explain myself, let me relate an anecdote.

More than a decade ago, I watched one of my children participate in an athletic contest. Next to me were two spectators. One was a state legislator. The other was an interested fan, but the two obviously knew each other. Because of their proximity, I could not help but overhear their conversation.

The second asked the congressman concerning some bill which was being considered. He was interested in its progress.

“Will it pass?” he asked, “And if so, when?”

“We don’t know yet,” replied the legislator. “We are waiting to hear what party leadership says.”

That statement, then and there, taught me much about politics. The representatives you and I elect are puppets largely controlled by a leader or two. Those leaders, in turn, are controlled by a few wealthy individuals or by directors of special interests, all of whom hope to advance their own agenda.

These influential entities generally choose their puppets, provide funds for their campaigns, and watch their nominees win primaries ninety percent of the time. If the puppets win in the general election, the puppeteers sit back and inform the puppet leaders how the puppets should vote. Seldom do puppets cross their leaders, for crossing leaders is tantamount to ignoring the will of the puppeteer. If crossed, he will find replacements for those who dared to defy.

We see the expected results time after time. Seldom do congressmen cross party lines. They almost always follow their party’s leadership, so they generally do as told.

During the past couple years, we watched a few congressmen refuse their party’s bidding. Several Republicans, honoring conscience and the Constitution, paid the price when they were “primaried out” during the midterm election cycle.

Two Democratic senators bucked their party’s call for major legislation during the last couple years — Arizona’s Sinema and West Virgina’s Joe Manchin.

Many decried the apparent apostasy, but not I. While I disagreed with their decisions, I respected their stances. They voted as their consciences and analyses dictated. For that they deserve credit. How wonderful things would be if all our elected representatives voted on the basis of conscience and intellect rather than instructions given by a party leader.

So back to Sinema and her departure from the Democrats. Why did she change her affiliation to independent?

Some say she is positioning herself for the 2024 election. Speculators say she is worried about being primaried out and losing her seat. I guess that could happen.

Some say Sinema represents a purple state and knows many constituents hold conservative views, so she is positioning herself as a moderate to draw voters from both sides of the political spectrum.

But Sinema herself claims she does not want to be “tethered” by partisanship. If this truly is her rationale, then good for her.  Good for her for refusing to be controlled by the powers of a party. Good for her for declaring her commitment to Arizona, to her constituents, to the United States, and to all American citizens.

If her words belie the truth, America could use 99 more senators like her — lawmakers who place country before party; who place logic before dogma; who place intellect before party fealty.

We may never know Sinema’s real reasons, but it is comforting to imagine she has America’s interests, rather than a party’s interests, at heart.

And that leads to a related matter

Recently, former President Trump called for the 2020 election to be overturned and for him to be reinstated as president. Trump went so far as to claim the founding fathers would support such action even if it meant America’s Constitution must be terminated. His comments should surprise no one.

Read Congressman Huizenga’s response: .....

Once again, West Michigan’s representative demonstrates his lack of American values, this time by saying nothing. Huizenga remains silent when Trump encourages the dissolution of America’s Constitution  Apparently he places party above country.  Or worse yet, maybe he approves of Trump’s suggestion.

Regardless, Huizenga’s silence demonstrates he is unworthy of the office he holds.

— Community Columnist Ray Buursma is a resident of Holland. Contact him at writetoraybuursma@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ray Buursma: Kyrsten Synema says adios