Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let’s finish the job.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Second rate reporter says what?

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Come on, man.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Everybody saw this coming.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

White supremacy is terrorism.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Late Night Open Thread: Manic Pixie Dream Senator

Late Night Open Thread: Manic Pixie Dream Senator

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Thirty years ago — assuming an openly bisexual former Green Party woman could’ve been elected in the first place, even as a placeholder after her sitting husband’s untimely death — pundits would be using ‘change of life’ as an excuse for Krysten Sinema’s current behavior. And frankly, I think a form of midlife crisis actually explains a lot of her current stunting.

Nobody seems to pay much attention to the fact that playing ‘zany free spirit who goes her own way’ is a depressingly easy and cheap way to get attention. Dollar Tree jewelry, thrift store outfits, and a willingness to act like a spoiled six-year-old don’t require much funding, and any passably attractive young White woman can manage to sub out this shtick for a personality. Problem is, Manic Pixie Dream Girl has a shelf life, and Sinema’s pushing it. Like any other stock actress, she needs to find a bridge between her current ‘young wild thing’ and a hoped-for eventual ‘zany charismatic older woman’ slot, if she’s going to keep earning.

Manchin’s got all the money he needs, even if he weren’t old enough to retire with his dignity mostly intact; the attention he gets for playing contrarian is what’s keeping him happy. Sinema doesn’t even (as far as I know) have a legal partner to support her when she (probably inevitably, at this point) gets voted out of office.

Right now, as far as I can tell, she’s entirely devoted to putting together a clip reel she can market to whatever Wingnut Wurlitzer media needs a fresh Usta-Be-A-Democrat to whine about how the party left her, no doubt while beguiled by dangerous hotties-of-color like AOC and Kamala Harris.

Too bad we Democrats don’t actually have deep-pocket sugar daddies who could contact her quietly and simply pass over a big check — or a media contract — to literally buy her cooperation. Because she’s making it very obvious that she wants to be bought.


Reader Interactions

81Comments

  3. 3.

    NotMax

    Can somebody closer to it gently thump the turntable, please? Needle has been stuck in the same groove all day.

  4. 4.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Sounds like Sinema is just milking these Conservative PACs for all they are worth, then going to screw them too at the last second and bet the voters forget about her antics in 2024. As they say, don’t trust a traitor.

  5. 5.

    Teresa

    It’s a culture of toxicity. Grown adults that never matured past middle school because it was never expected that they be adults. Many of them are running around doing crazy stuff to please their rich princes and princesses, hoping for ever lasting support and devotion. It’s so toddler level that it breaks my brain. ?

  7. 7.

    Ohio Mom

    How does someone named Michael Cohen from Brooklyn mangle the spelling of meshugas so badly? Muchegas? Especially, where did that “C” come from?

  10. 10.

    Teresa

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques:

    Which is weird on her part because she’s not attractive enough for republicans to use her after this run.  They only use women to stimulate their base.  She’s definitely not a long term thinking person.

    She’s grabbing all the money she can. In a few months she will have campaign spending issues.  Short term grifters always do.

  12. 12.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Ohio Mom: not the same Michael Cohen.

    It’s a pity AZ doesn’t have a Dem governor because Biden could appoint to her some position and replace her with somebody better. I love the idea of Scott Kelly running for Sinema’s seat. Just the novelty would give him some votes. I think she’s going for a teevee gig post-Senate with a lucrative  lobbying side hustle.

  14. 14.

    Teresa

    Open thread comment. I am so tired of businesses invading every aspect of my life. Between executives and marketing people I don’t know which is more disrespectful and annoying. They both make me buy less because I can’t stand their arrogance. ?

  17. 17.

    Teresa

    @Mai Naem mobile: She doesn’t bring anything to the table.  No sides have a benefit with her.  She’s for sale and disposable.  Republicans like crazy big boobs made up blond women.  Rich white dems would only like her to attract white male republicans.  She doesn’t have that.  She brings nothing and no one to the table after this.  She’s gone after this.

  19. 19.

    Anne Laurie

    @NotMax: Can somebody closer to it gently thump the turntable, please? Needle has been stuck in the same groove all day.

    Gave y’all an option earlier, but it got bigfooted by the Blogmaster, so…

  23. 23.

    Suzanne

    I’m telling y’all: she wants to be a celebrity. Think: talk show or CNN contributor. Soft-focus book a la Sheryl Sandberg. Speaking circuit. She’s developed a brand for herself. She’ll likely be successful at it. But she doesn’t want to be thought of as a dumbass like Palin, so she can’t quit.

  24. 24.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Mai Naem mobile: It’s a pity AZ doesn’t have a Dem governor because Biden could appoint to her some position and replace her with somebody better

    She’d have to take it. Olympia Snowe was offered every position the Obama WH could think of. Then just a few years later walked away complaining about the mess she’d done so much to help make.

  27. 27.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: ​  When ACA was upheld by SCOTUS in 2012 she went on CNN and took credit for it’s passage, even though she voted against it, saying she was responding “to the call of history”.

    I just laughed and laughed and laughed.​

  29. 29.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Suzanne: you’ve convinced me of your View theory. Between the winery internship and her fashion sense, or whatever that is, I suspect trading sober banalities about North Korea and public health with Jake Tapper and Mona Charen ain’t it for this one. I’d bet she’d rather talk about dream weddings and interview let’s say Susan Dey about her revealing new memoir after shouting at Joy Behar about North Korea and public health

  30. 30.

    LeftCoastYankee

    @Major Major Major Major: ​
     

    Good call. She reminds me too much of someone I knew like that. There’s no negotiation, only “pay more attention to me now”.

    Unfortunately, the sanest solution is get away from them.

  31. 31.

    Chris T.

    I saw “RoofPAC” but thought I saw “BoofPAC” and was wondering if Brett Kavanaugh was involved.

    And yes, “muchegas”? (I think he meant to write “mishegoss”.)

  32. 32.

    Kay

    Last night, Nancy Pelosi uncoupled the bipartisan infrastructure bill from the larger reconciliation package — which means the House will vote on the $1 trillion bill on Thursday, without waiting for a definitive senate deal on the bigger reconciliation package.
    It’s not clear yet whether this will be acceptable to the progressive caucus, which is still threatening to torpedo the bipartisan bill (and with it the Biden presidency) if they don’t get what they want.

    It’s just amazing to me how much of political commentary is “Democrats should pass Republican bills”
    The job of elected Democrats is to pass the Republican bills Republicans can’t get enough votes for. It’s a weird demand of selflessness and there’s never reciprocity or even a political reward.

  33. 33.

    Kay

    They can’t even be honest about the number. I suppose it doesn’t matter but if the demand is to pass the infastructure bill, get nothing in return, and also take a huge hit politically one would think they could use the real number, which is 550 billion. Why exaggerate and make it a trillion?

  37. 37.

    Edmund Dantes

    Wait… the elevator exchange was real? I saw that earlier and just assumed it was parody or satire.

    She actually did that?

  38. 38.

    Kropacetic

    Manchinema say we just need manly man jobs for men like building roads and bridges, not wussy jobs like child care and education.

  39. 39.

    Geminid

    If Sinema can carry Arizona in 2024, so can Phoenix Congressman Greg Stanton. He is similar in his politics to Joe Biden and Mark Kelly, and they carried the state with a record Democratic turnout last year.

    But job number one for Arizona Democrats is reelecting Kelly. Then they can decide what to do about Sinema.

  40. 40.

    Redshift

    @Mai Naem mobile: I hate to burst the bubble of fans of the twin senator plan, but the Kellys aren’t from Arizona; Mark Kelly lived there because he was married to Gabby Giffords. They grew up in New Jersey. I heard that Scott Kelly is still in Houston post-NASA and is thinking about running for Senate there, but it was just on the internet somewhere, so I have no idea if there’s any truth to it.

  42. 42.

    Another Scott

    I noted this earlier – her 2017 campaign announcement video:

    https://youtu.be/u_Ie7AY1rjM

    It seems to me that she’s exactly the same as she was in that video. No specific program goals, just the American Dream and making Washington work for normal people. Country over party. Yada yada yada. She thinks that is why she won and she’ll keep doing it until she learns otherwise.

    She’ll demand her pound of flesh, something that she can claim is her unique win for AZ and people who don’t like Democrats, but she’ll vote for the reconciliation bill when the time comes. She’s not going to burn it all down.

    My $0.02.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  43. 43.

    Yutsano

    Inasmuch as I hate Chris Hayes, he does interview well. I also like the take of Senator Professor Warren here. She is convinced the sausage is going to get made. Note she gives no guarantee on the quality of said sausage.

  46. 46.

    Raven Onthill

    “Too bad we Democrats don’t actually have deep-pocket sugar daddies who could contact her quietly and simply pass over a big check — or a media contract — to literally buy her cooperation.”

    We do, though. Sinema chose who she sold out to.

  48. 48.

    Comrade Colette

    @Major Major Major Major: Oh no! Sorry to hear that. I’ve dutifully avoided giving Owen potentially unwanted skritches any number of times at Aardvark. All bookstores need resident cats. Peace to Owen, and may Aardvark soon have a new good kitty.

    ETA: rats! I didn’t realize Aardvark had closed. Tough times for bookstores.

  50. 50.

    JWR

    Here’s a bit of the latest from Joe Manchin:

    “… In August, I recommended we take a strategic pause to provide time to develop the right policies and to continue to monitor how the pandemic and economic factors are affecting our nation’s fiscal situation before we spend more. Throughout September, I have made it clear to all those who would listen the need to means test any new social programs so that we are helping those who need it the most, not spend for the sake of spending.

    While I am hopeful that common ground can be found that would result in another historic investment in our nation, I cannot – and will not – support trillions in spending or an all or nothing approach that ignores the brutal fiscal reality our nation faces. There is a better way and I believe we can find it if we are willing to continue to negotiate in good faith…”

    I don’t know where to begin with this jerkwad. Whatevs, dude? Yeah, that works for me. Whatevs.

  51. 51.

    Dan B

    @JWR: He’s the wealthy straight white guy, like Amanpour’s interview of the pablum spewing Stephen Breyer, who has almost zero comprehension of the threat almost all minorities feel in this country.  They are patrician and condescending to the ‘obvious lesser folk’ that the difference between them and malevolent assholes can only be wiped clean by their total inability to recognize the threat that homegrown white supremacists are to our future.  And they seem to live in a bubble where the manipulation of propaganda on social media is a complete unknown to them.  Breyer pissed off Amanpour.

    Manchinema and the Flobalob in her vicinity may put her over the edge

    For my blood pressure it doesn’t help that some legal experts have noticed that LGBTQ rights, Lawrence, Obergefell, and other ‘settled law’ is next up for review, as an addenda to the Mississippi abortion restriction case

    Loving may be more secure but Thomas may be susceptible to states rights / Federalist Society.

  52. 52.

    Dan B

    @JWR: The “brutal fiscal reality our nation faces” is scheduled for the 1st and the 18th.

    China’s having a big celebration on the 1st.  Interesting coincidence.  Xi and Putin smile?  Even they might recognize the Leopard primed to eat their faces once it through with ours.

  53. 53.

    Rusty

    I wonder about her senate staff in this situation.  You need to be at least reasonably politically motivated to want to work for a senator or representative. How do you reconcile working for someone who is undermining what you care about?  Is it all just a cult of personality?

  54. 54.

    Antonius

    I think it’s obvious she has some other grift lined up. Why every single pundit fails to see her standing next to the revolving door mystifies me. It’s like the business<>Congress<>business cycle is a fnord to these people.

  55. 55.

    Tony Jay

    @Cameron:

    It’s the FTF Guardian. Their entire business plan revolves around being pro-whoever faction is the main internal opposition to the ‘Leftwing’ Party in whatever country that version of the rag is aimed at. In the UK that meant supporting the Rightist faction of the Labour Party until they took control, and now they’re auditioning for Labour Leftists of Colour to main-stage their campaign to backstab their former favourites come election time. While in the US that means fluffing the Fauxgressives to high heaven and running “Dems in disarray” and “Old Man Biden Fails Again!” stories as much as possible.

    Basically, they figure they sell more subscriptions when the Right are in Government, and they gear all of their reporting towards making sure that happens.

  56. 56.

    JWR

    @Dan B: That was the first time I’ve seen Breyer interviewed by a halfway decent reporter, and I’m happy she really made him search for the non-answer he was hoping would shut her up. He wasn’t going to answer any real questions anyway.

    I don’t know why judges, especially Supreme Court judges give any interviews at all, unless they’re hawking a book, in which case it should be limited to questions about the book, and not about whether or not the court he brags about is truly apolitical and might not even have much purpose after the next coup attempt, (which election rejection is a distinct possibility, a thing he’s loathe to admit.)

    Sample of interview:

    Amanpour: Justice Breyer, the court’s approval has taken a nosedive. To what do you attribute such poor approval ratings?

    Breyer: (Spoken in that soft, Judge Speak), Oh yeah! Well just look at the approval ratings for congress! Or the president even! (Neener neener question not answered! Tee hee.)

    And on and on it went, not much deeper than would be an interview with a whale bone corset.

    Her interview with Woodward was far more interesting.

  57. 57.

    Morzer

    @JWR: 

    So Manchin wants another year or so of negotiating with the Reasonable Republican Voices inside his confused, greedy old head? Sure, why not. It’s not as if the Republic is in danger or anything.

  58. 58.

    Shalimar

    @Major Major Major Major:  It doesn’t come up often, but the rules allow an additional reconciliation each year for debt. It isn’t one or the other. They’re hesitant to use reconciliation for the debt ceiling because they’re scared of getting blamed next cycle for doing it alone. And because Manchin is posturing yet again about voting against it.

  59. 59.

    Morzer

    @Dan B: Chinese National Day is October the 1st because that was the day in 1949 when the all-new People’s Republic of China was proclaimed.  It really is just a coincidence.

  60. 60.

    Shalimar

    @Morzer: If you want to look at it most charitably, Manchin wants to push the huge achievement to an election year so it is even easier to run on.

    Two major factors make this incredibly unlikely. #1, he isn’t in control of the timing if he can’t convince Sinema to vote for it too.  And #2, Democrats could lose the majority at any moment if anyone dies or is incapacitated.  Rumors are that Feinstein is almost there mentally already.

  62. 62.

    Shalimar

    @Baud: True.  I was thinking there might be some delay like we saw with Ted Kennedy or with Franken getting seated, but you’re right.  We saw earlier this year with Padilla getting seated quickly that California law is fast.

  63. 63.

    Morzer

    @Shalimar: I really doubt that Manchin has that sort of “strategic” instinct – and if that is his game it’s an incredibly dumb way of doing things.  We’ve now seen a godawful mess for most of the past month and the media are happily reporting that the Democrats can’t take care of business. That’s not going to be forgotten by the voters any time soon.

    Manchin and Sinema are simply corrupt, selfish narcissists who will do anything for money and attention.  The only reason they haven’t joined the GOP yet is that they would lose all their power. I think they really are willing to wreck Biden’s presidency if they don’t get to decide everything the way their owner-donors want it to be. They plan to scurry off to fat lobbyist jobs and tell the world they defeated the Socialist menace.

  64. 64.

    Morzer

    @Baud: At this point a Dem who can remember their own name would be more credible than DiFi. I don’t believe in term limits, but age limits in the Senate and on SCOTUS look more necessary by the day.

  65. 65.

    Butter Emails!

    @Baud: Yeah. Thanks to to the California recall results the the appointment of a Republican Senator in California has been removed from the collection nightmare scenarios. Of course there’s still the issue of Bernie Sanders being the junior Senator from Vermont among others.

  72. 72.

    Shalimar

    @debbie: She apparently plans to run for re-election as an Independent.  I don’t think she has enough supporters to finish higher than third as an Independent, but she pays pollsters and I don’t, so who knows.

  73. 73.

    Shalimar

    @Morzer: What Manchin is doing pisses me off.  I agree it’s narcissistic and selfish.  But I do think there is a big difference between Manchin and Sinema.  Manchin has a long history negotiating with Schumer.  I think they have talked privately and will get to some disappointing agreement eventually.  I don’t think Sinema has any idea how to get anywhere.

  74. 74.

    Sean

    . @Another Scott: 
    If she had a “pound of flesh” she wanted to extract, why hasn’t she said what it is? She could probably get virtually anything right now, today, and yet she refuses to answer the most basic questions. She wants the BIF without having to vote on 3.5T, that’s it. She doesn’t want the reconciliation bill at all. She doesn’t like the price tag, she doesn’t want to raise taxes on corporations, she has no policy she is interested in even advocating. She suggests carbon tax as a pay for then immediately cages on that. She wants to preen as a moderate who got the BIF done and I think she couldn’t care less about the rest.

  76. 76.

    Barry

    @Shalimar: “She apparently plans to run for re-election as an Independent.  I don’t think she has enough supporters to finish higher than third as an Independent, but she pays pollsters and I don’t, so who knows.”

     

    She could be a spoiler.  Or rather, continue to be a spoiler.

  77. 77.

    Just Chuck

    Looks like the state party will be holding that No Confidence vote.  Which I imagine translates into zero cash and a primary opponent.

  81. 81.

    NotoriousJRT

    @Old School: in my mind she will always be “Desperately Seeking Sinema.” Who dresses her? Who advises her?  The malpractice is pungent.

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