Dianne Feinstein, 88, Failing to Recognize Senate Colleagues, Say Sources Fearing for Her Health

[babylonsister]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/dianne-feinstein-88-failing-to-recognize-senate-colleagues-say-sources-fearing-for-her-health

Dianne Feinstein, 88, Failing to Recognize Senate Colleagues, Say Sources Fearing for Her Health
‘DETERIORATING’
Tom Sykes
Royalist Correspondent
Published Apr. 14, 2022 8:12AM ET

Veteran Senator Dianna Feinstein is sometimes unable to recognize longstanding colleagues or keep up with arguments in the chamber, according to a new report. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that on one recent conversation with another lawmaker, Feinstein, 88, who recently lost her husband, “repeated the same small-talk questions… with no apparent recognition the two had already had a similar conversation.” The Chronicle report says “four U.S. senators, including three Democrats, as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress” told them “that her memory is rapidly deteriorating” and that she can “no longer fulfill her job duties without her staff doing much of the work required to represent the nearly 40 million people of California.” The sources said that on good days, Feinstein “is nearly as sharp as she used to be” and the Chronicle pointed out that she performed well during confirmation hearings for new Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. A source described as “a staffer for a California Democrat” told the paper, “There’s a joke on the Hill, we’ve got a great junior senator in Alex Padilla and an experienced staff in Feinstein’s office.” In a statement, Feinstein said: “The last year has been extremely painful and distracting for me, flying back and forth to visit my dying husband who passed just a few weeks ago. But there’s no question I’m still serving and delivering for the people of California, and I’ll put my record up against anyone’s.”

[mcar]

1. This is sad

Feinstein has been a wonderful Democratic public servant. I hope her family and friends convince her to retire.

[brer cat]

8. +1

As great as she has been, there comes a time to let it go.

[PatSeg]

44. Yes, very sad

She's had a remarkable career.

[JanMichael]

2. Lets readdress this when she is 108.

[agingdem]

6. not to sound too callous but

Feinstein fails to recognize colleagues and MSNBC Andrea Mitchell can't remember words..both need to retire, both have reached and surpassed their sell-by dates...and before anyone goes all "you're a meany" on me...I'm 73 and I'm savvy enough to know when to let go and walk away...

[MOMFUDSKI]

22. I am right there with you.

Watched sister-in-law's memory fail and she tried to hide it as hard as she could. Frig was COVERED with post-it notes. Her kids finally had to do the deed. Sad.

[Demsrule86]

42. Having seen what nursing homes are like...I fully intend to leave on my own terms if I find

myself failing in the future.

[erronis]

51. Yup. Just hope we have the aptitude and means to find the exit.

[niyad]

63. Depending on your state, you may find it less difficult than you think. A friend's

mother is exiting today because this state has a sane view of the choice.

[niyad]

64. Many of us are right there with you.

[True Blue American]

89. So am I!

And happen to be long retired.. I know my limits. Stay in my own home, keep up a 2 story house, hire my yard done, run my own errands , take care of business, but I will know and have told my family not to feel guilty.

[agingdem]

104. I've told my kids

please do trot me out at holidays...if I want to be included I will let them know and if I want to stay in my house binge-watching twenty two seasons of Silent Witness instead of spending two days cooking Thanksgiving dinner while they go to the gym, don't bully me, ever..and I am secretly thrilled that both my children live 800 miles away in both directions because as much as I love them, like you, I can take care of myself..drive a car, pay my bills, maintain my house and yard..and if I have a choice of spending a boatload of money on plane fare to sit in their homes and be ignored or go to Las Vegas and sit in front of a slot machine, I'm going to Vegas..

[True Blue American]

110. Wisechoice!:)

Mine only Live 50 miles away .it is easy tote t, phone, FaceTime. I go to all the family get togethers, enjoy the little ones for a few hours, take pictures, go home to do my own thig.

[Demovictory9]

3. Havent seen much of her for years

[yardwork]

4. She needs to step down now, while a Democratic governor is in office.

It's been clear fir some time that her health is failing.

[BlackSkimmer]

7. Absolutely.

My mom was sharp right up to the end at 90, but as smart as she was, I think the demands of that job would have been too much at that age.

[FBaggins]

11. Is there some danger of a Democrat not being in office in the near future?

These calls strike me as really advocating for Newsom to be able to pick her replacement rather than letting the voters decide.

[Budi]

15. Why shouldn't he?

I wish this finest of Democratic servants a peaceful existance.

[FBaggins]

19. Because Democrats prefer a democratic process?

A "peaceful existence" should include letting her decide for herself when she wants to retire.

[Budi]

23. Completely agree. However, reading into this reality of aging, why shift it to Newsome ?

Should she exit because of health or whatever reasons, the Gov then makes the decision of who fills that Senate seat.
The fact that Newsom is CA gov, is beside the point.

Newsom will fill that seat should it come to that, & he will choose a responsible person to do so.
Doubt he'd select a republican, anyway.

I'm grateful he will be the one to choose should it come to that.

[delisen]

24. Agree . Voting for our reps not having them appointed is a Democratic value. nt

[Budi]

35. Its an appointment to fill a vacant seat. There'll be an election soon enough.

Sounds like some are ready to claw their way to the cherished Senate seat by shouting, Its Not Fair"!!!

The 'Democratic value' is pretty clearly laid out by the laws of CA.
Newsome is about the most Democraticaly elected official to trust that the Senate seat will be filled with a Democrat , one who adheres to Democratic tenats & policies. It won't be another showboater with zero experience
Thank god he would be the one selecting the Senator.

~peace to Sen Feinstein whatever she chooses to do.

[niyad]

68. You do know that governors have the right to fill vacancies, whether a result

of death, illness, retirement, whatever, yes? This is not some anti- democratic (small "d&quot scheme, as you seem to be implying, but a governor's actual responsibility.

[delisen]

94. I am not implying. I am speaking openly of my believe that voting is a democratic value.

Whether you imagine that my direct statement is related to a “scheme” or that I am implying something other than what I have written is conjecture so I can’t usefully speak to it.

[niyad]

97. And you are determined, apparently, to ignore a governor's statutory

responsibilities as though they interfered with the democratic process. But do keep trying.

[FBaggins]

109. Governors have no statutory nor moral authority...

... to fill seats that are not vacant.

And plenty of states (on plain democratic principles) only allow a governor a temporary appointment until a special election can be held to fill the seat through election.

[niyad]

112. We will try this again. NOBODY has said anything about a governor

appointing someone to a seat that is not vacant. And perhaps learn the dufference between vacant Senate and House seats.

But do keep trying.

[FBaggins]

113. You should read the thread

The seat is not vacant... and yet there's quite a call for her to be replaced now.

And perhaps learn the dufference between vacant Senate and House seats.

I'm afraid you don't know what you're talking about. My statement only applies to senate seats.

[inthewind21]

125. No

You should read the thread. There's not a call for her to be replaced right now. It is however being stated she should step down if she is no longer able to do her job. And while there is a D in the governors office. Perhaps you'd prefer a Republican governor to select her replacement if need be.

[FBaggins]

129. Sorry... that simply isn't the case

It is however being stated she should step down if she is no longer able to do her job.

Nope - it's flat out stated that she's no longer able to do her job. And, more importantly, there are some objections (like being nice to senator Graham in a confirmation hearing) that have nothing to do with her age or mental abilities... they just object to her not being pure enough. The same thing happened last year when it wasn't clear that she would support ending the filibuster.

And while there is a D in the governor's office. Perhaps you'd prefer a Republican governor to select her replacement if need be.

Again - that's a non-starter. There is essentially zero chance of a republican governor replacing her. Not only is there almost zero chance of losing that seat in this election... the state legislature would just take the vacancy power out of the hypothetical republican governor's hands.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

33. Thank you.

They are talking about one of my senators, and I wonder how many are actually represented by her.

[yardwork]

38. And if a Republican gets elected because we fumbled this, we lose the Senate majority.

Yes, there's always a chance that a Republican will be elected governor of California. There was a recall election last year.

Timing is everything. Now is a safe time to ensure an electable Democratic incumbent in the next election.

[FBaggins]

60. If a republican gets elected in California this November...

... the Senate is already long gone.

[yardwork]

66. Not necessarily true at all.

[FBaggins]

75. As close to 100% true as a statement about the future can be

Just about the bluest state in the union and no credible challenger six months out.

If Newsome loses this November, it will be part of the reddest wave election we've ever seen. We'll lose so many Senate seats that the likelihood of Feinstein being replaced by a Republican governor before the Democratic supermajority in the state legislature takes that power away from them... is the least of our problems.

The threat is simply not credible.

[inthewind21]

126. LOL

Well, aren't you just the expert.

[FBaggins]

130. Not much of a challenge

Your average 4th grader is enough of an expert compared to the "we might lose that seat!" argument.

But, for the record, the actual experts (every single one of them) ranks the race as "safe Blue"... and that doesn't even take into account the fact that if we somehow DID lose the race... the republican governor STILL couldn't replace her. Supermatjorities in both chambers of the state legislature would (as many states have) remove the power from the new governor and place it in the hands of the people.

[mopinko]

57. democracy demands that sometimes waiting for the next cycle is impossible.

that's why there are mechanisms to replace people temporarily.
democracy also demands that people be called out when they arent doing their jobs. not allows, demands.

[FBaggins]

61. Sure. We call that "death".

Not "gets help from staff on bad days and some people would prefer someone else".

Waiting for the next cycle is, at this point, far from impossible. Has she missed key votes or not been able to vote correctly?

[mopinko]

71. no, we dont. death or disability.

ftr, i was pissed as hell when sen kirk took over a year off in the middle of his term to recover from a stroke.
but you dont recover from old age. nothing anyone says on du is going to push her out of office if she doesnt want to go. and i dont think anyone is considering forcing her to step down at this point.

but if you are on the side of shading the truth, and abandoning standards and consequences for public officials, i gotta ask- which side are you on?

[FBaggins]

79. She is neither dead nor disabled in a way that keeps her from filling her elected position

Give me a call when we start losing 50-49 votes on consequential issues because she can't show up or votes incorrectly.

[mopinko]

121. that's your uninformed opinion. you're entitled to it.

the rest of us are entitled to disagree.
but i find the lack of actual information troubling, and so should you.
i'm guessing a lot of citizens of cali do.

and btw, there's lots of other good reasons to demand ppl step down. like we find out they are sexual predators. does that interfere w their ability to cast a vote? no. but we demand they step down anyway.
we do that in this party, whether we like it or not. the other side, not so much.

your premise is completely wrong.
but which side you are on is clear.

[FBaggins]

123. You have it exactly backwards

The burden of proof is on those claiming that she's incapable of doing her job. The "lack of actual information" should only trouble you when others are calling for her to step down. Otherwise, why not entertain the same nonsense for Chuck Schumer or any other senator?

An anonymous hit piece claiming that sometimes her staff has to work for a living is not "actual information". Pointing that out does not shift the burden of proof.

like we find out they are sexual predators



Give me a call when she's convicted of a crime.

[Spider Jerusalem]

100. Not if she's medically unfit (n/t)

[True Blue American]

21. And he really should. Barbara Boxer retired

And she appears on cable sharp as a tack.

Same for Grassley. It is clear he needs to go but the Republicans managed to get his young opponent knocked off the ballot, clawing she did not have enough signatures. All it takes is one crooked judge.

And the Keystone Kops in Ohio all need to be dumped down a manhole. Their cheating and corruption is right out in the open. Of course Kasich, you know that mild mannered faux Christian was just as dirty with help from Boehner who took his money and ran!

[brush]

31. It's past the point of letting the voters decide if she...

can no longer do the job. And who would the voters decide for, her republican opponent?

Come on. It's time for her to step down and have the governor appoint another Democrat to replace her...and have the advantage of incumbency when the next election comes.

[FBaggins]

58. Do you feel the same way about POTUS?

There are scores of articles claiming that he can no longer do the job. Is that really enough now?

Come on indeed. I suspect that the people behind this push want someone to be appointed senator who they don't think could get nominated and/or elected (but could get re-elected after two years of incumbency).

That isn't how things should work.

[brush]

69. Oh, please. Do you believe those repug talking points? I sure hope you don't because...

Joe Biden is obviously on top of things the way he's rallied NATO, handled the vaccination crisis, is trying get a handle on the inflation (caused by price gouging and supply back up).

And what makes you think people want someone who can't get elected to replace Feinstein? That makes no sense on it's face.

And Feinstein surely won't be re-elected as she's losing her mental acuity...documented and confirmed by Dem colleagues.

Newsom is no fool and will appoint someone who is electable.

Have some faith in fellow Dems Biden and Newson for God's sake.

[ShazzieB]

74. Wait, what?

I suspect that the people behind this push want someone to be appointed senator who they don't think could get nominated and/or elected...

I see absolutely no reason to assume (or "suspect" ) any such thing.

[brush]

76. Agreed. That's totally unfounded, bordering on ridiculous.

No one wants someone in the Senate who is not electable.

[ShazzieB]

93. Thank you!

I agree with all your comments on this, too.

Among other things, we're supposed to be respectful of Democratic public figures at DU. Reading posts here implying that Newsome and others are conspiring to replace Feinstein with someone who the people would not want to vote for makes me feel like I've fallen down some GOP conspiracy theory rabbit hole!

[True Blue American]

91. No, because President Biden proves his

Competence every day.

[MoonchildCA]

72. Last election, her opponent was another Democrat.

California now sends the two candidates with the most votes in the primary to the general, regardless of party.

That being said, I do agree, it’s time for her to step down. I’d prefer candidates would not run at such advanced ages. The chances of a health crisis are so much greater and the stakes are just too high.

[brush]

81. Agreed. And thanks for the reminder on the new Cal. primary policy.

[niyad]

65. You do know that there are provisions in every state for vacancies, whether

a result of death, or illness or whatever, yes? It is not some nefarious, anti-democratic (small "d&quot scheme, as you seem to be implying.

[FBaggins]

70. Nobody here has called for filling a vacancy

They are calling for creating a vacancy so that Newsome can pick someone. Very possibly because the person they think he will pick wouldn't be the one who the people would pick if given the chance.

[niyad]

78. However the vacancy occurs. All people are doing is suggesting that she

retire. Nobody is dragging her out of the Senate chambers, or forcing her to do anything, as you seem to be implying.

[ShazzieB]

87. Wait, what?

Why on earth would you assume that Newsome would pick someone who "wouldn't be the one who the people would pick if given the chance"? Why on earth would he WANT to do that? I can think of multiple reasons why he would want to pick the strongest person possible.

I'm wondering where all this is coming from. So far, it sounds like unfounded supposition, with no basis in fact.

[FBaggins]

92. Unfounded supposition with no basis in fact?

What do you call this ridiculous notion that we might lose the seat? Newsome would have to lose to a Republican and then Feinstein would have to die before the state legislature (with a veto-proof majority) takes away the governor's power to fill a vacancy (keeping in mind that they could do so before this imaginary replacement could even take office).

That's far less plausible than the simple notion that some people obviously don't think that the person the people would pick in 2024 is the same person that Newsome would pick today.

[ShazzieB]

95. No, I don't agree.

Are people feeling more urgency about this than is perhaps warranted? Maybe? I honestly don't know. I'm not in CA and my knowledge of CA politics is limited, so I'm qualified to answer that.

But I find the idea that there is some conspiracy afoot to get Feinstein replaced with someone weak and unelectable to be implausible to the point of absurdity.

[FBaggins]

98. The "Weak and unelectable" is your own spin

I'm not saying "someone who will lose a future vote if they're the incumbent"... I'm saying "someone who wouldn't get the nomination under normal circumstances". Not a republican vs. democrat thing... but rather a mainstream democrat vs. someone closer to the fringe.

That's quite common with vacancy replacements.

[ShazzieB]

102. Not going to argue this any more.

You mind is obviously made up, and so is mine.

Please pardon me for not believing that there's some vast left wing conspiracy afoot to boot Feinstein or that Newsome can't be trusted to pick a worthy person to fill the seat. It would take a lot more than conjecture and supposition to convince me of either of those things.

[brush]

101. Getting struck by lightning is more probable than all of that.

Newsom, if necessary, will appoint the strongest candidate, someone who can get re-elected.

So, come on. California is a deep, blue state. The possibility of a Dem incumbent not getting re-elected is extremely slim.

[FBaggins]

105. That's exactly my point

"We have to replace her before there's a risk of a republican taking that seat!" makes sense for a supreme court justice... but makes no sense for a senator in California.

Why not let her decide when it's time to call it a career? The answers either make no sense or are knowingly or unknowingly dishonest.

[brush]

108. Agreed with you first graph. Not the second on however.

She's 88. It's time. Someone pls tell her retirement is a sweet gig with a Senator's retirement package and the sweetest healthcare plan in the nation. No stress. No bosses. No commute.

[Rabrrrrrr]

122. Dang, that's some serious misreading.

:sigh:

[Budi]

9. That sounds like the scenario of my mom's aging life.

The year her husband of 60 years passed on, & nothing was the same, no matter how she tried to believe it was. Her struggle with trying to maintain the same daily life was met with her own issues of age.

Whatever happens for Sen Feinstein, her incredible lifeswork for Women & LGBT, etc, & making it all happen in a "Corporate Man's world", is a credit to her remarkable smarts & savy.
Thank you & much peace to you, Senator.

[bigtree]

10. the staffers made these comments before her husband died

...when she was going through the trauma of her dying husband.

"They spoke to The Chronicle before Feinstein’s husband, financier Richard Blum, who had been in very ill health as he battled cancer, died."

Said they were 'sensitive' to what she was going through. Apparently not sensitive enough to not trash her to reporters.

[True Blue American]

27. No, Feinstein embrace

Last edited Thu Apr 14, 2022, 11:21 AM - Edit history (1)

Of Lindsey Graham after the Supreme Court mess showed she had problems. The only time you see her is when she comes down to vote. I watch the Senate a lot when it is on something important.

I knew when it was rime for me to retire.and I was in good shape.

[bigtree]

37. if you really watch incessantly, you would have heard her castigate the republicans

...in that very hearing.

Citing a 'hug' over the substance of what the ranking leader actually said in that hearing, and it's Feinstein with the cognitive problems?

You can probably sell that to people who didn't bother to watch the hearing, but it's just crap.

[True Blue American]

77. I heard it!

I also watched her hug Lindsey and tell him he did a great job. He didn’t. He was a petulant, screaming 2 year old and was just as bad if not worse to Judge Jackson. Jackson. I can only imagine what McCain would say about him today and he was a Republican with ethics! Lindsey is just the opposite

[Budi]

28. Yup. Sure thought it was a worthy 'hardhitting scoop'!

What a shitty thing to do.

[BannonsLiver]

53. You couldn't be more wrong

She is an elected public official. If she’s out of it, spaced out, whatever, the public has a right to know about it. While I recognize that might offend some, transparency trumps feelings whether people like it or not. I’m glad it’s out. And if it were one of the aged dipshits from the GOP we’d all be calling for them to step down.

[True Blue American]

80. Agree!

[IronLionZion]

12. She's been a US senator longer than several DUers have been alive

there is no shame in retiring. California must have a deep bench of candidates to represent them.

[intheflow]

13. I think we saw some of this during ACB's confirmation hearings.

She hugged Graham and exclaimed, "This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in.” I don't htink she grasps how thin a line stands between democracy and theocracy these days.

[True Blue American]

84. Thank you!

You witnessed the same thing I did. Democrats were horrified. Her family or advisers need to step in. Can you imagine a debate or rally when she does not remember? You can bet Republicans would be using that.

[ShazzieB]

99. I witnessed that, too, and it was scary.

[True Blue American]

103. One of the reasons I began to watch the Senate more closely.

You get the facts there, not what some eager, beaver reporter trying to get their 2 minutes tell you in-an excited voice.

[AntivaxHunters]

14. Remember this from 2017?

A pharmacist says he has filled Alzheimer's prescriptions for members of Congress
“They’re making the highest laws of the land and they might not even remember what happened yesterday.”
LINK

[Delphinus]

29. Oh my ...

I had NOT read that!

[True Blue American]

107. Oh dear Lord!

No wonder we have a mostly useless Congress! Wish he could name names!

Rand Paul just endorsed JD Vance in an Ad.

[enough]

16. Another powerful aged person unable to put the country before their

personal obsession with staying in power.

[zentrum]

41. Yup. And frankly, I felt

.....the same about Ginsburg who kept getting cancer. She needed to retire in Obama's second term as he asked her to, so he would have two years to replace her. I can't forgive her.

[4Q2u2]

49. Agree

No matter what side. It is a corrosiveness of the soul that needing that power is contemplable.
She was rich enough, served long enough. Chose to spend her time accumulating power and things instead of finishing off her Golden years with Grand Children or doing Volunteer work.

Something wrong with someone that has to hold onto power that long.

[FelineOverlord]

17. I have believed for a long time

That both Feinstein and Grassley need to retire.

This has nothing to do with their politics.

Both have seemed confused and disoriented at times - especially Feinstein.

[JT45242]

25. Both need to go -- video word salad from town hall and ACB

If you saw the video footage of Grassley's rambling word salad response to the Q anon qrazy the other day while on the campaign trail, you know he is out of it. And yet, he is still running and will likely get re-elected iun the swamp that I must now live in.

Both should retire. If you have a security clearance of the level of these two, you should have to take cognitive and physical tests to make certain that you are not a security risk due to diminished health or mental capacity. If you are not fit enough to do the job, you should be replaced temporarily by whatever means your state uses and then an election to replace the rest of the term.

[brush]

106. Agreed. Someone needs to tell them retirement is a sweet gig.

Your time is your own. No bosses. You can sleep in whenever you want. No commuting. No stess. And congresspersons surely have healthy retirement funds, and the best healthcare plan when needed.

What's not to like IF YOU'RE IN YOUR '80s?

[Emile]

18. It's time for her to retire!

[Goonch]

20. ;-{)🖖‍

[Celerity]

43. Lolol

[colorado_ufo]

47. Ha! I think this is an optical illusion.

[geardaddy]

52. ...

[iluvtennis]

26. This is so hard to read. I think Sen Feinstein should retire and go enjoy the last years of her life

You've had a great political career Sen Feinstein - it's time to turn the reins over to someone else.

[Budi]

30. Tom Sykes, Royalist Correspondent

Well they shopped the hardhitting scoop to the right guy!!

[leftstreet]

32. Someone should call Adult Protective Services on her staff

That's what would happen to regular people who were propping up a disadvantaged elderly person.

[Caliman73]

96. Not necessarily. It is much more complicated than that.

There has to be an explicit or implied care giving relationship for it to be considered abuse. An employer/employee relationship is not typically considered a care giving relationship unless there are explicit personal care or iADL tasks that they in charge of, are not performing, that is affecting her well being. There would have to be some suspicion that money was being taken, that the elder's personal hygiene wasn't being attended to, that medical appointments were not being followed, etc... and it would have to be the responsibility of the staffers to be doing all of those things. Just being on staff to help a politician be ready for their job, is not a caregiving relationship.

Certainly, there can be a case made that the staffers are enabling Feinstein to continue to participate in activities that she should not be doing. You can call into question the ethics of doing so. You cannot however, make a legitimate claim that elder abuse under W&I Code or PC 368 is being committed.

Now, you may be able to report self neglect.

[madaboutharry]

34. I'm certain that it is even more serious than this.

There are likely many instances of memory loss that aren’t known or reported.

It is sad. Her stubbornness will rob her of her legacy.
People will remember these last few years rather than the vibrant ones.

What is even sadder is that she is not doing what is best for the people of California.

[Boomerproud]

48. Amen. Where's the family?

I'm starting to feel anger instead of empathy.

[badhair77]

36. It's important to start building that retirement life before the time comes,

if health is relatively good and family and friends are still close. Starting a new life after losing a spouse and being in failing health is difficult and sometimes impossible. I’m wondering if she’s holding on to her seat because she just can’t deal with any more change.

[Auggie]

39. I thank Senator Feinstein for her service. But now it's time to retire. (n/t)

[Botany]

40. Dianne Feinstein, 88, Failing to Recognize Senate Colleagues, Say Sources Fearing for Her Health ...

.... Governor Gavin Newsom to pick Stephanie Miller to replace Senator Feinstein.

[LittleGirl]

45. Please retire

Before we suffer another RBG death!
Sorry, she’s 88 and she should have retired years ago. They need age limits on congress!
Fight me .

[Rebl2]

46. I am sure

she is depressed over the death of her husband. I also know from experience when you are losing a loved one over a long period of time, it can effect one’s memory. You don’t sleep as well which effects memory.

[colorado_ufo]

50. Thank you for saying this, as it is very true.

But for her own health and own sake, she should step down. She needs time to grieve. The clock only marches forward and not backward. The best time to retire might have been before her husband passed, so that she could spend more time with him. But of course, their lives were fairly set.

[Rebl2]

54. I must

say I agree.

[moose65]

67. That's what I don't get

You would think she would have wanted to retire to spend whatever time he had left together.

I think my nightmare scenario would be to still be working at 88 years old. I can't imagine it.

For heaven's sakes, Feinstein has a DAUGHTER who is near retirement age! I love the woman, but the time comes in everyone's life when it's time to hang it up and enjoy what time is left.

[Rebl2]

85. Maybe she

fears being alone if she retires. I agree with you though. I would have wanted to spend time with my dying husband.

[LiberalFighter]

55. It is time.

[czarjak]

56. Term limits?

[getagrip_already]

59. Same for federal judges and scotus......

When it's time, it's time.

It's time.

[Sympthsical]

62. She should have retired

I voted for De Leon last time, and this was one of my primary reasons for doing so.

But the establishment usuals called us all evil and wrong (and sexist and ageist!) even though we were also voting for a Democrat.

Meh. Toldja.

[MineralMan]

73. Unnamed sources, "former" staffers, etc.

Typical. And the Article is written by the "Royalist Correspondent?" A British journalist who specializes in writing about the Royals? I mean, really...

WTAF is all this? I saw her in the recent confirmation hearing for our newest SCOTUS Justice. Feinstein seemed to be holding her own just fine. Yes, she's old. Sounds like someone much younger wants a shot at her seat, eh?

Challenge her in the primary then, and see how you do, whoever it is.

[Calculating]

86. Our country seems to have an irrational attraction to incumbents

It's one of the main problems in our system. The incumbent can literally be nearly 90, and barely able to function, and people will still keep sending them back. See Orin hatch, grassley, feinstein, etc.

[MineralMan]

88. Well, unless you're a voter in California,

you don't have any say in who is a Senator from that state. I think the voters in California can decide for themselves who they want representing them in the Senate. I used to be a California voter. For over 50 years. I have voted for Senator Feinstein, myself, in fact.

If someone wants to run in the primary election for her seat, they can do that. There will probably be several who do. Then, the voters in California will decide if it's time for a new Senator to represent them. That's how "our country" functions. That's how our "system" works.

Would you like some other system? Senators used to be selected by state legislators, but a Constitutional Amendment changed that to a vote by the people in each state. Want to go back to the old politician method of choosing Senators? Or did you have some other method for selecting them in mind?

Do tell...

[Spider Jerusalem]

114. The original article is in the San Francisco Chronicle, Feinstein's hometown paper

and attacking the messenger because you don't like the message is frankly ridiculous:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/dianne-feinstein-senate-17079487.php

[Mz Pip]

82. She needs to retire

I didn’t vote for her last time. With ranked choice her opponent was another Democrat.

I don’t necessarily support term limits but people like Feinstein and Grassley need to step aside, just MHO. Still, it’s up to the voters. I still remember Strom Thurmond being wheeled out to vote when he was 100. It was pathetic, but he always won re-election.

[MineralMan]

90. I see you say you live in California.

So, if there are others running against Feinstein in the primary, you can vote for your choice and even campaign for your favorite. The voters will decide. That's how our system selects Senators from each state. Who do you favor?

[Mz Pip]

118. Kevin de Leon

Was her opponent in 2018. He was on the Los Angeles city council.

[Celerity]

119. We have jungle primaries in CA, not ranked choice. I was not happy de Leon lost the general, I voted

for him in the primary and the general.

[Mz Pip]

124. You're right

I got the wrong term. I voted for de Leon also. Of course if Feinstein had a Republican opponent I would have voted for her.

[Celerity]

128. Ted Lieu is my rep, super happy with him, a superb congressman

[Mz Pip]

131. Barbara Lee is mine

We’ve got some wonderful Congresspeople in CA. Then there’s Kevin MCCarthy. 😖

[Caliman73]

83. Feinstein has had a long and distinguished career in politics...

I have had my disagreements with her, on many occasions, but I would say that she has tried to be a good public servant. Like in boxing (but obviously with larger ramifications) the worst thing is not knowing when to retire. For the boxer, it carries personal consequences to health and family. For a politician it carries consequences to legacy and more importantly, to the people represented.

I can even see that the situation with her husband dying would definitely affect her ability to focus. The sad reality of life however, is that as we age, we lose physical strength, mental acuity, and our resilience just isn't as high as when we were younger.

I am in the camp and of the opinion that it is better for her to retire and allow a Democratic Governor to select a replacement. I don't think that there is too much fear that a Republican will be in office in California in the near future, but it is better to be safe and get a younger person in to build their own legacy representing the people of California.

[beaglelover]

111. Time to resign, Diane. You've had a good run.

[diane in sf]

115. This is why many of us would like her to retire.

[newdayneeded]

116. I thought I read recently

She filed papers to run for another term

[SpankMe]

117. Another good article on this...

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/dianne-feinstein-senate-17079487.php

No paywall on this one.

It's time for DiFi to move on. Over the last few years there have been a number of corroborating stories about her condition that can't be ignored. It's only a matter of time before the Republicans start a dishonorable smear campaign against her to poison the waters against Dems. In spite of occasional spurts of brilliance, focus and energy, it's clear that - on balance - she's less able to serve and is being carried almost entirely by her staff.

DiFi has been an icon of political leadership from her days as a SF supervisor to the present as a US senator. Women's rights, gun control, LGBT issues - she's been on the right side of most issues we care about. I love her to death. We were both born in SF and share a lot of love for the Bay area. But her window of effectiveness is closing and we need new leadership in that position right now.

As an aside, the SF Chronicle article talks about Cali's junior senator, Alex Padilla, and the fact that he has an approval rating of just 39%. This in spite of the fact that he's doing everything right, he has tons of town halls and interactions with his constituents and operates in a very transparent fashion. He has good energy and focus and is doing an excellent job for California. He's networking, sponsoring legislation, investigating things...doing a lot of good work. But, most Californians have never heard of him and just give a negative rating because they don't know who he is.

We should be working on boosting Dems with unfairly low - irrationally low - approval ratings instead of stubbornly fighting to keep an aging and less effective Dem in place.

[I_have_a_cat_bite]

120. I think she should have left after this...

https://jezebel.com/remember-when-dianne-feinstein-helped-the-night-stalker-1846087513

Or this:

[A HERETIC I AM]

127. Perhaps it's time that the congress persons born when there were only 48 stars on the flag retired.

If you want to call that "ageist" go ahead.

I was born when there were 49 stars, but I'm not referring to 62 year olds (soon to be 63), I'm talking about the 75 + crowd.

There's a difference between not getting hired because you are old, and suggesting a geriatric elected official should just go home and enjoy their twilight years.

One is ageism. The other is suggesting congress move into the 21st century.