I do have to comment on Kyrsten Sinema. A slight correction. She didn't switch parties. She simply made official what had long already been the case, i.e., that she is not a Democratic Party team player. Never has been. She always has been an Independent, so she just made it official. And also did so as a masterful check in the game of chess where Democrats were plotting to unseat her; now it will be tremendously more difficult, since Democrats cannot "primary" her. Shrewd realpolitik move by Kyrsten.

As for her declaring herself officially an Independent, I say good for her (of course that is me speaking as an Independent myself). Frankly, I rather hope (though I am not holding my breath on it) that this may kick off a trend for a whole bunch more members of Congress to errr flip a certain finger at both parties and call themselves Independents too.

As for corporate connections taking care of her when she loses ...? Like 90% of members of Congress? It always struck me as curious the way Sinema gets singled out for playing the game that around 90% to 99% of members of Congress play. As a matter of fact, the only one I know of who doesn't play footsie at least sometimes with corporate interests is Bernie Sanders. Everyone else -- including Democrats -- have their corporate "friends." They have to. The campaign cash they need ain't gonna come from little Auntie and Uncle down the street donating 20 bucks. Bernie can make that work, but no one else can. They are all beholden to corporations, and when they leave Congress, many of them (most of them) cash in. It is not as though Kyrsten invented the idea.

Sorry for the lengthy rambling there. I'm unusually cranky this evening. LOL