Kyrsten Sinema went all out for Mark Kelly's swearing in.

[demmiblue]

1. Arizona has 2 elected US Senators now.
2. Arizona has 2 Democratic US Senators now.
3. Kyrsten Sinema went all out for Mark Kelly's swearing in.
4. Mike Pence is almost unemployed.

Link to tweet

I don't always agree with Sinema, but I love this pic!

[drray23]

1. I Wonder why its not Mark's wife who is there ?

maybe covid related concerns ?

[Botany]

3. His wife is Gabby Giffords.

n/t

[drray23]

4. yes i know

Gabby Gifford has been making public apparences with her husband during the campaign. Hence, I wonder why she is not at the swearing in.

[Botany]

10. They must have had a reason why she wasn't on the floor with her husband.

And what ever Mark & Gabby want to do I am good with it.

Maybe they suspect Pence has c-19.

[Hekate]

11. Her energy & health may go up & down due to the fact she was maimed for life...

...in a political assassination attempt.

She’s rehabilitated to a remarkable extent, but she’s never going to “recover.”

[forgotmylogin]

22. Right, not worth it for her to be indoors in a public place.

Especially with Republicans insisting to breathe unmasked there.

[sortasvenska7]

21. Gabby was there

I did just see on MSNBC showing a separate video of Pence swearing in Senator Kelly and Gabby is there holding the Bible as he is sworn in. I believe they do 2 swearing ins, one with the newly elected official and loved one’s and than one on the senate floor.

[demmiblue]

5. I don't know... she did arrive with him.

Link to tweet

I'm sure they have their reasons. She is an inspiration.

[Botany]

2. Oh mother is not gonna like this. Sen. K Sin likes to have sex for fun.

[FM123]

6. I just love her "who cares what anybody thinks" sense of style!

And btw, she looks good!

[Botany]

8. I think that was Sen. K Sin poking Pence w/a sharp stick.

[2naSalit]

17. From the looks of it...

I think you have a very sharp point there!

[More_Cowbell]

7. By tradition, incoming senators are escorted to the floor by another senator

Either the other senator for their state, the senator they're replacing, or another senator. See pp. 2-3

https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/cf80c40a-29bc-4d1b-9dec-541dff2349b6.pdf

(I looked it up because I was wondering why Gabby was up in the gallery, with the rest of Kelly's family, instead of down on the floor.)

Senators can reenact the ceremony with family in the Old Senate Chamber.

[demmiblue]

9. Thanks for adding that.

I feel like I should have known this!

[More_Cowbell]

13. I had to look it up! In "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ...."

The other state senator, Paine, brings him to the floor.

When I was looking up the name of the other senator I found this interesting, very short Christian Science Monitor article that says that still photography is prohibited on the Senate and House floors; maybe that's why they reenact elsewhere? Also usually senators are sworn in four at a time, but of course this is a special circumstance.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Decoder/2011/0105/The-scoop-on-what-really-occurs-at-swearing-in-for-new-members-of-Congress

[demmiblue]

12. Flashback to her swearing in:

[murielm99]

14. Too cool!

What book did she swear on? Is it the Constitution?

[whopis01]

15. It was a book from the Library of Congress that contained

both the US Constitution and the Arizona Constitution.

[TheBlackAdder]

16. She brings some hipness to that stodgy institution.

[Aerator]

18. I wish he was being sworn in for a 6 year term .

[drray23]

19. So do I but I am certain he will win it again in two years

Kelly is respected in Arizona by both democrats and republicans and he has the blessing of the McCain family. I dont think he will have any issues getting reelected for a full term.

[COL Mustard]

20. The Country Is Better Off With Mark Kelly In The Senate

I'm very happy for him, for his family, for Arizona and for the country!