Diane Feinstein versus Joe Manchin - Who Is More Out of Touch With Constituents?

[TomCADem]

I have seen a lot of posts attacking Joe Manchin for not being sufficiently progressive. However, what I have not seen is any evidence that he is not being responsive to the views of Democrats in West Virginia. Sure, he may not satisfy the demands of progressives in a solid blue district, but that really is not the test.

Conversely, Diane Feinstein's praise of how Republicans rushed the Amy Barratt nomination as well as her defense of Cruz and Hawley's rights to object to recognizing the results of the Presidential election does seem at odds with her constituents in California. Indeed, even Manchin was open to the idea of removing Cruz and Hawley for their efforts to subvert the 2020 election.

Put another way, the focus should not be on attacking moderate Democrats from conservative to moderate States. The focus should be on (1) winning seats held by Republicans so that the outcome of a vote does not depend entirely on getting 100 percent support by evert Democratic Senator and (2) targeting those Democrats in blue states that appear to be out of touch with their constituents.

In other words, look at how Republicans are managing to dig themselves deeper into a hole in Arizona, which is a purple state. Rather than break from blind allegiance to Trump and QAnon conspiracies, they have doubled down.

[onecaliberal]

1. Fenstein. She is going to put that seat in jeopardy.

West Virginia is a red state.

[Thekaspervote]

3. Yes she is!! Hate to say it, I wish someone would primary her. she plans on running again

She has really slipped these past 2–3 yrs

[onecaliberal]

7. I haven't heard about anyone trying to primary her yet. There is some asshole repuke running for

governor.

[leftieNanner]

10. I cannot imagine that she will run again in 2024

She would be 90! I would actually like her to retire before then so that Newsom can appoint a replacement who would then be an incumbent up for reelection.

[moonscape]

25. Not necessarily a plan. It was a routine filing for financial reasons but

not necessarily indicative of intent.

[wryter2000]

5. No Republican will beat her

It’s a safe seat

[Mr.Bill]

6. She will be primaried if she runs again.

And that person will win.

[leftieNanner]

8. I don't know that she puts her seat in jeopardy

California is reliably blue. But I would actually like it if she chose to retire before her term is up (2024) and let Newsom appoint a new young Senator who can hit the ground running for the next election.

[onecaliberal]

9. I've lived in California my entire life. She has already announced that she is running AGAIN.

I don't understand why she doesn't retire and give one of the other young stars of the party a chance.

[leftieNanner]

11. I was born and raised in San Francisco

Only moved to Oregon ten years ago. The Bay Area was too much for us.

But I have been a big supporter of hers. Perhaps she thinks her senior status has value to the Democratic Party.

I hope she is successfully primaried or she changes her mind for 2024.

[onecaliberal]

14. So much happing here. It scares me. I hope she just realizes that there are great young guns to

carry on.

[leftieNanner]

18. Good Way to Put It

She is still living in the Senate of the past. Mitch broke it.

[VarryOn]

17. Power is hard to let go of nt

[Hekate]

16. She'll retire next time. Also, I distinctly remember that the voters elected her last time...

She ran, we voted. She’s still doing her job.

[wryter2000]

2. You don't have to worry about how Feinstein will vote

Watching her hug Graham when she had to know if was dangerous said she may not be on top of things, if you know what I mean. She’s been a loyal Democrat for decades.

[treestar]

4. Going after Manchin is so unhelpful in that

WV voters are the ones who sent him, and WV is really red. We'd have to get to those voters to change their minds, and it would take time before they send their versions of Bernie.

DiFi however, is out of her mind as she was elected from one of the bluest states. Might be time for her replacement.

[LanternWaste]

12. I'd think that one's voting record rather than optics is the best measure.

Sen. Feinstein voted against a majority of Senate Democrats 38 times (6.8%) in the 115th Congress.

'Conversely', the average Senate Democrat voted against his or her party 8.8% of the time in the same period.

Manchin voted against Senate Democrats 28.5% of the time in the same period.

[Hekate]

21. Thank you for the fact-based response....

I get really tired of the game of knocking DiFi for being insufficiently progressive or Democratic or whatever the gripe of the day is. The nitpicking has been going on from people outside California for years — as I learned when I joined DU. According to some, she was “too old” 20 years ago and it was time for her to drop dead.

Yet all this time she has gone on winning statewide elections, voting reliably Democratic, and being civil to her colleagues. Amazing. You’d think someone would at least say thanks.

[TwilightZone]

23. Nope.

The key word is "constituents". There is no doubt that he's representing his constituents. All of them, not just Democrats.

That's actually what he's supposed to do, our protestations notwithstanding. In fact, they'd probably prefer that he vote against party more often than he does. Sucks for us sometimes, but the alternative is someone who votes with the GOP 100% of the time.

Politics is not one size fits all, though a lot of DU sure loves to pretend it is.

[Indykatie]

13. Manchin is From A Ruby Red State and No Other Dem Could Win the Seat But Him

So why do some Dems keep acting like that is not a fact? Manichin should no be held to the same expectations as a Senator from CA or even IL or other states that are Blue. The WV Governor came out with a clear support of Biden going BIG. I have no doubt this was coordinated to give Manchin cover. I still can't believe Dems couldn't win ME and even NC but won both GA seats. We need to clone Abrams for 2022.

[jalan48]

15. I think Feinstein is just out of touch.

[BlueLucy]

19. Some people have a hard time giving up power.

Don't they know people's lives are at risk?

[Hekate]

22. How is my senator putting lives at risk?

Do tell.

[BlueLucy]

26. If California gets a republican governor

and something happens that her staff can no longer prop her up... Peoples lives would be at risk.

[Hekate]

27. I refer you to my post #24

[DanTex]

20. This is correct. Manchin is actually one of the most valuable seats we have.

I say this as a progressive who agrees with Bernie and Warren on policy issues, and I am constantly frustrated with Manchin's centrism. But the truth is that Manchin is way to the left of expectation for West Virginia senator, and by that measure, he's actually one of the biggest wins for the left in the senate. DiFi is the exact opposite, a centrist from a very progressive state.

[Hekate]

24. Senators have to win statewide elections, which DiFi has reliably done...

California, contrary to outside opinion, is not a “progressive state” in the way you mean. It is deeply split, politically. Along the Coast, we are mostly Democratic. Mostly, not all. But just drive 40 miles inland, and you are in Republican country. Drive 100 miles in, but just peel off those liberal bumper stickers from your car the better to enjoy your drive.

There’s 40 million of us, and we only get two US Senators. In a state this big, you have to make your pitch to a whole lot of people that Bernie Sanders from little Vermont can afford to ignore.

[AntiFascist]

28. Feinstein is suffering from cognitive decline...

as this article and others have pointed out:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/dianne-feinsteins-missteps-raise-a-painful-age-question-among-senate-democrats

My problem with her has less to do with her politics as it does with whether she will be able to continue to serve in office.