Pelosi on Feinstein: "I've never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way"

[bigtree]

...(4-12-2023) Rep. Nancy Pelosi weighs in on new calls by Democratic members of the House for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to step down:

Sen, Feinstein has been a champion for California for 20 years. I have been leader or Speaker of the House fighting for California, and I have seen up close and first-hand her great leadership for the country, but most importantly for the state of California.

She deserves respect to get well and back on duty.

It's interesting to me, I don't know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. I've never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way.

watch: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/raw-rep-nancy-pelosi-questions-whether-calls-for-feinstein-to-resign-are-sexist/

[Stuart G]

1. K & R

[BootinUp]

2. I think she is right about that. nt

[Just A Box Of Rain]

3. Bravo Nancy Pelosi!

I also I don't know what political agendas are at work, but they are rancid in the most extreme fashion imaginable.

Get well soon Sen Feinstein!

[RandySF]

4. Boom

[Hekate]

5. Thank you, Madame Speaker. That actually changes my mind a bit. Nancy is acute as ever. nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. Maybe not but reality is that Feinstein's long absence was hurting Dems and

therefore the rest of us. Her gender is absolutely irrelevant AFAIC.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

8. No one (thankfully) treated John Fetterman with such disrespect.

It seems like different standards are at play.

Shameful. Disgraceful. Unforgivable.

[Renew Deal]

11. When is Fetterman up for reelection?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

25. How is that germane?

[Renew Deal]

39. Because answering it honestly proves you wrong.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

42. I don't think so.

[Tumbulu]

54. She is retiring, we are already looking at three excellent candidates

for her seat.

The election is in 2024.

[Ray Bruns]

20. Fetterman's went into the hospital for treatment and is returning to work.

Feinstein is past her prime and it’s best she retires.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

22. Feinstein also went into the hospital for treatment

and is also looking forward to returning to work.

Saying she's "past her prime" sounds a bit like Don Lemon's comments about women.

Comments that nearly got him fired.

[Ray Bruns]

32. It's a fact. It's not sexist to recognize when someone is not mentally up to the challenge of being

In office and dealing with the complex issues the country is facing.


I can’t do anything about McTurtle or what the republicans do with their members. And the only people to blame for returning Strom Thurman to the senate over and over again are the people in South Carolina.

I also seem to remember many on this site asking when Andrea Mitchell is going to quit.

So is your attitude towards Feinstein because she’s a Democrat or do you really believe an 89 year old is up to the task?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

35. I certainly do believe that Dianne Feinstein is up to the task.

She is a legend in the Senate and famously has the best staff on the Hill.

I'm very proud that she represents me.

[Renew Deal]

41. When is she announcing her campaign for reelection?

[Tumbulu]

53. She has already announced that she is retiring nt

[TeamProg]

69. +10!!

[More_Cowbell]

48. Fetterman isn't holding up judicial appointments

I'm fine (CA voter) with Feinstein not stepping down completely, but it's past time that she stepped down from the Judiciary Committee, which without her has a 10-10 gridlock. We need to get judges in place.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

50. Feinstein has helped Biden get the most judges approved than any president in over 40 years.

She is extraordinarily competent at the job.

Unfortunately, she's seeking to temporarily step aside from the committee assignment.

Hopefully that will quell the savage attacks being launched on her.

[inthewind21]

119. Actually

We NEEDED more judges in place. But, Trump got elected instead. We NEED more votes, less cowbell!

[Autumn]

52. Fetterman had a stroke. He can and will get better. Feinstein's is age related, you cant heal from

that.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

56. Shingles isn't really age-related (other than being more prevalent over 50) and

people generally recover from Shingles.

People recover from all sorts of major health events: strokes, heart attacks, cancer. I can't think of a Democratic politican or one who caucuses with our party who has faced calls for his resignation due to those sort of issues.

But Feinstein?

[Autumn]

58. She has had memory problems for a while now. Speaking from experience older people don't recover

from that. She suffers from short-term memory issues that on some days are ignorable, but on others raise concern among those who interact with her. She has said she is not running for re-election in 2024.

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/reporter-details-feinstein-memory-lapse-17587048.php

[inthewind21]

120. Can you

share her medical records with the rest of us that you seem to know about? Or can you make a diagnosis from a newspaper article or video like Frist did with Terry Shavio? We all have memory lapses. I see nothing in the article other than guessing.

[Autumn]

125. I don't need to share her medical records. Her lapses are on numerous videos and have been reported

by several fucking reporters. You really aren't good at this but keep trying.

[TeamProg]

70. I've lived in California all my life and voted for DiFi every election but

it’s far past time for her to retire.

RBG totally screwed up. Where is Nancy on that matter?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

71. I've also lived in CA my whole life and I've voted for Feinstein at every opportunity.

I disagree with calls for her to retire and with the criticisms of RBG.

There are people who deserve to be harshly criticized, but not these two heroes.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

110. Fetterman ain't on the Judiciary Committee.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

111. Feinstein has asked for a temporary leave.

Yet the attacks have continued unabated.

It is shameful and disgraceful behavior.

[SunSeeker]

186. That won't solve the problem.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-want-make-difficult-senate-replace-feinstein-key-panel-rcna79592

It is not shameful or disgusting to expect an 89 year old Senator with memory issues to retire, especially when that Senator is in a safe Dem seat where an able Dem will immediately be appointed.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

188. Retiring would make matters worse.

Feinstein can return to the Judiciary Committee as soon as she's well and the GOP can't stop her.

I no longer wish to engage with you. Okay?

[SunSeeker]

189. No, retiring would not make matters worse.

It’s not unusual for committee assignments to change at this point in a Congress: According to Michael Thorning, the director of structural democracy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, only three of the last 15 Congresses over the past 30 years did not have some kind of assignment change in the middle of a session. But this is typically due to a senator’s resignation or death, with a new successor appointed or elected to replace them.

“The primary complication is the unprecedented nature of a temporary replacement. The Senate would be setting a new precedent that has not been available to extended-absent senators in the past,” Thorning said in an email, highlighting the absences of senators like Fetterman and former Senators Mark Kirk and Tim Johnson, who both experienced serious medical issues while in office.

https://newrepublic.com/article/171906/replacing-feinstein-headache-democrats-judiciary

That suggests that her replacement upon resignation/retirement would take her seat. It is the unusual nature of her asking for another Senator to take her judiciary seat while she remains in the Senate that has created the opening to meddle for Republicans.

[soldierant]

45. If the actual issue - the actual harm

done by her absence - is getting judges confirmed, then her request to Schumar to appoint a stand-in for her to the Justice committee should resolve the problem.

If it doesn't, then there is something else.

Misogyny is a bit like privilege in that many who have it find it so natural that they don't realize or recognize i

But then, there are many possibilities. I don't presume to attribute any of them to any particualr person or group.

[senseandsensibility]

7. It needed to be said.

Thanks, Nancy.

[ymetca]

9. That was quick

to play the gender card, when we're all just wondering why y'all want to die in office.

This ain't about gender, but nice try anyway.

[bigtree]

12. it's a fact

...apparently an uncomfortable one.

Senior Senators like Feinstein have been filling out Democratic majorities for Senate control and on key legislation since most of her critics were in diapers.

I'm certain they're wondering what political agenda is at work here trying to cast them away like old furniture. Sexism(and the ageism) is just an affectation of those agendas.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

44. It saddens me to agree with you.

But...

[live love laugh]

13. Is Pelosi's statement factual? Because labels aren't necessarily.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

29. "Gender card?"

[Renew Deal]

10. Feinstein should announce she's running for reelection.

Of course, she won't do that because she's not running. People can't wait forever.

[NullTuples]

14. From 2001

Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) said Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) is no longer "mentally keen" but stays in the Senate because he has nowhere else to go.

The Democrat's remarks about Thurmond, the Senate's oldest and longest-serving member, came in an interview Wednesday with the Greenville News.

The newspaper said Hollings, 79, didn't seem to want to talk about Thurmond, 98. But he eventually said it is "sad because the poor fellow doesn't have any place to go, if you think on it."

"Someone has said the best nursing home is the U.S. Senate," he said. "He's got a car, a place to stay and somebody over there at night at the apartment with him. If he's well enough, he's in the pool for a few laps."

[live love laugh]

15. This wasn't a call for his resignation.

[NullTuples]

16. I may be wrong but I seem to remember there were some?

[delisen]

18. Republicans did not hassle Thurmond to resign nt

[gratuitous]

27. I was going to bring up Strom Thurmond

I was certainly vocal (for what it was worth) about the elder abuse being inflicted on that old hypocrite by South Carolina voters, keeping him in office until he was 100. But I don't recall that he was in any position to advance or blunt the Republican agenda.

But as far as Sen. Feinstein goes, there are crucial things not getting done because she's not there. Judges, anyone?

[bigtree]

40. she can be replaced on the Judiciary committee so the confirmation canard is out

...so what are the other 'crucial issues not getting done' because of her absence?

[More_Cowbell]

171. The GOP won't make it easy to replace her on the committee

I thought the parties just chose their own committee replacements, but that's not true. Though it's usually done by consent, the out-of-power party can reject it and force a filibuster.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-want-make-difficult-senate-replace-feinstein-key-panel-rcna79592

[SouthernDem4ever]

46. Strom Thurmond was the worst senator in SC history

just after Lindsay Graham. He was too old the day he took office especially since all his views were pre-civil war. Bad example.

[Autumn]

55. Sounds like a huge waste of taxpayer money to me.

[Greybnk48]

17. I agree with Nancy. No one's going after McConnell like a pack

of mad dogs.

[SunSeeker]

23. That's because he's still doing his job and stole 3 SCOTUS seats for Repubs.

Repubs aren't going to get rid of their most effective member, no matter how old he is. The minute he stops being effective, they'll ditch him.

[inthewind21]

121. He didn't steal

anything.

And by the very nature of this thread one need not wonder how we landed in this situation in the first place.

[SunSeeker]

168. Yes, he stole those seats. Stop repeating Republican talking points.

Read up on it:

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/mcconnell-stole-obamas-court-seats-and-gave-them-to-trump.html

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/09/24/mcconnells-fabricated-history-to-justify-a-2020-supreme-court-vote/

[niyad]

19. I certainly do not hear of any demands on the other side that mcturtle resign.

[SunSeeker]

187. He has not demonstrated memory issues. He's the GOP's most effective member.

He stole 3 SCOTUS seats for them.

[SunSeeker]

21. It's not her sex. It's her thanking and hugging Graham after Repubs rammed Barrett through.

She thanked Lindsey Graham for putting on a "fair hearing" and then hugged him. That hearing was a lot of things, but fair it was not.

It's not so much that she's sick. It's that she is no longer the tough Diane Feinstein we knew and loved. And it doesn't look like that person is coming back, even after the shingles recede. Every Dem seat in the Senate is precious right now with our 1 seat majority. We need a fighter in that seat. She is no Nancy Pelosi.

[leftstreet]

24. +1

ugh
thanks for that unpleasant memory

[Just A Box Of Rain]

26. Dianne Feinstein voted against Amy Coney Barrett.

Here is the statement she released at the time:

“Just over a month ago, our country lost Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a leading voice for equality and fundamental rights.

Justice Ginsburg’s nomination was the first that I participated in when I came to the Senate 28 years ago. At her hearing, I had the opportunity to thank her for all she had done and for all she had yet to do.

Before she was confirmed to the bench, Justice Ginsburg played a critical role in breaking down barriers for women.

During her confirmation hearing, she staunchly and forthrightly defended her positions as an advocate for equality, including her own support for a woman’s fundamental right to control her own body – the core holding of Roe v. Wade.

Once confirmed to the court, Justice Ginsburg worked tirelessly to ensure that the opening words of our Constitution, ‘We the people of the United States,’ included all people – not just the elite few.

So the stakes are extraordinarily high in confirming a replacement for Justice Ginsburg in the best of circumstances. But for Republicans to proceed now, just eight days before an election, undermines the integrity and independence of the vote.

Senate Republicans are breaking their own statements and promises by proceeding.

In February 2016, Republicans refused to consider a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia because it was an election year.

They blocked all consideration of President Obama’s nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, claiming that the American people should have the opportunity to weigh in on a Supreme Court vacancy.

Leader McConnell clearly stated the Republicans’ position: ‘My view, and I can now confidently say the view shared by virtually [everybody] in my conference, is that the nomination should be made by the president that the people elect in the election that’s now underway.’ Well, that’s clearly not going to happen.

Chairman Graham, in 2018, reiterated this standard, promising that, ‘If an opening comes up in the last year of President Trump’s term and the primary process has started, we’ll wait till the next election.’

But when Justice Ginsburg passed away just 46 days before Election Day, Senate Republicans did not hesitate to go back on their word.

On the night of Justice Ginsburg’s death, Leader McConnell announced that President Trump’s nominee for the vacancy would receive a vote on the Senate floor.

And Chairman Graham immediately set committee hearings for October 12, giving the committee just two weeks to review Judge Amy Barrett’s record. This proved to be insufficient, as evidenced by Judge Barrett’s failure to identify and disclose significant amounts of material.

Then, before Judge Barrett’s hearing had even concluded, Chair Graham held a markup on her nomination and more rules were broken by setting a committee vote on her nomination for 1 pm the following week.

I, along with the Democratic side, refused to take part in that committee vote, but this was not a decision that we made lightly. We were not willing to participate any further in a process that was used to rush this nominee forward in the middle of this election.

Despite our objections to proceeding, Democrats demonstrated through the course of Judge Barrett’s nomination hearings what’s at stake with her nomination – starting with Republican statements to use the Supreme Court to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and strip away healthcare coverage for millions of Americans.

On November 10, the Supreme Court will actually hear oral arguments in a case titled California v. Texas, that’s a case challenging the validity of the Affordable Care Act.

President Trump promised to appoint justices who will vote to dismantle this landmark law. In 2015, he stated: ‘If I win the presidency, my judicial appointments will do the right thing unlike Bush’s appointee John Roberts on ObamaCare.’

When he nominated Judge Barrett to fill Justice Ginsburg’s seat, President Trump stated that eliminating the ACA would be a ‘big WIN for the USA.’ And even more recently, in an interview with 60 Minutes, President Trump said he ‘hopes’ the Supreme Court will strike down the ACA and he believes ‘it’ll be so good if they end it.’

Let us not forget, after all, that Justice Ginsburg joined a 5-4 majority when the Supreme Court upheld the ACA against Republican-led challenges in NFIB v. Sebelius and King v. Burwell.

Like President Trump, Judge Barrett has criticized the upholding of the ACA in NFIB v. Sebelius. She stated that Chief Justice Roberts ‘pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute.’

She also cast doubt on the chief justice’s opinion in King v. Burwell and said that he departed from the ‘clear text’ of the statute to avoid gutting it. She likewise claimed that the dissent had the ‘better of the legal argument.’

At her confirmation hearing, Judge Barrett did not answer questions about her view of the ACA and did not meaningfully walk back her criticism of these two 5-4 Supreme Court decisions upholding the law.

She also implied that coverage of pre-existing conditions is not an issue in California v. Texas. However, the Trump administration is directly asking the court to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act, including its protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.

Let me be perfectly clear: I believe if Judge Barrett is confirmed, Americans could well lose the significant benefits that the Affordable Care Act provides. More than 130 million Americans have pre-existing conditions like cancer, asthma or even COVID-19, and they could then be denied coverage.

At Judge Barrett’s hearing, we heard the stories of real Americans who will be harmed and who illustrate what’s at stake.

This included a constituent of mine, Krystyna Munro Garcia, who because of the Affordable Care Act received cataract surgery that saved her eyesight.

It included North Carolina mom Stacy Staggs, who testified that the Affordable Care Act has ensured her twin girls receive the lifesaving treatments they need.

And it included Dr. Farhan Bhatti, a family physician working with low-income patients in Lansing, Michigan, who told the committee that opposition to the ACA ‘endangers a lifeline that my patients count on to stay healthy, and in many cases, to stay alive.’

I deeply believe that Senate Republicans should not be moving forward on a justice who will likely help strip health care from millions of Americans, particularly in the middle of a global pandemic that has already taken more than 225,000 American lives.

Judge Barrett also represents a threat to women’s reproductive rights. President Trump has told us so when he promised to appoint justices who will ‘automatically’ overturn Roe v. Wade.

And Judge Barrett has made clear that she would likely be the court’s most extreme member on reproductive rights.

At her hearing, she refused to state whether she agreed with the landmark case Griswold v. Connecticut, which established the right to use contraceptives. In addition, she would not affirm whether Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld the constitutional right to abortion established in Roe, was settled law.

And she stated outright that Roe is not a superprecedent, indicating time and again that continued efforts by anti-abortion activists would provide the Supreme Court ample future opportunity to further limit or overturn Roe entirely.

Now, this was a surprising departure from the last four Republican nominees who acknowledged at their hearings that Griswold is in fact settled law and that Roe and Casey are in fact important precedents of the court.

Beyond these specific examples, Judge Barrett’s view of precedent itself poses a continued threat to countless rights that Americans rely on and cherish.

As an academic, she wrote that it is ‘more legitimate’ for a justice to ‘enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it.’ Essentially, what that states is that she will feel free to overrule precedent that she believes conflicts with her interpretation of the Constitution.

Judge Barrett’s record also raises grave concern about how she would rule on cases involving voting rights and core democratic norms.

In her dissent in the 7th Circuit case Kanter v. Barr, Judge Barrett suggested that voting rights are entitled to less protection under the Constitution than the right to own a gun.

She distinguished between the ‘individual right’ to own a gun and the ‘civic right’ to vote. She argued that a felony conviction should not necessarily result in the loss of the right to own a gun, but emphasized that it may result in the loss of the right to vote.

She even refused to say whether [voting] discrimination exists, even after being informed that Chief Justice Roberts wrote: ‘Voting discrimination still exists; no one doubts that.’

And despite President Trump’s statement that he plans to challenge the results of the election in the courts if he loses and that he wants his justice seated in time to hear those challenges, Judge Barrett would not commit to recuse from cases related to the upcoming election.

In addition, Judge Barrett’s evasiveness at her hearing was deeply concerning. She refused to answer over 100 questions – not 10 or 20 or 30 or 40, but over 100 questions – including basic legal and factual questions.

Let me give you an example:

Judge Barrett refused to confirm that the Constitution prevents a president from delaying an election. That’s a hint.

She declined to answer whether federal law prohibits voter intimidation.

She would not affirm that Medicare is constitutional.

She even hedged on whether presidents should commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

And she would not acknowledge the existence of climate change.
Judge Barrett’s silence on these major questions really speaks volumes. It demonstrates that a Justice Barrett will not be willing to stand up for core American values and rights and raises additional concerns about her willingness to act independent of President Trump.

In closing, it is my belief that Judge Barrett represents a threat to the very rights – including reproductive rights, rights of LGBT individuals and voting rights – that Justice Ginsburg worked so hard to protect.

And for those reasons, I oppose her nomination and urge my colleagues to do the same.”

[SunSeeker]

73. Her actions spoke much louder than her written words. Her hug was played on loop on every channel.

She gave Graham cover for ramming Barrett through, whether she meant to or not.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

74. No. Her vote mattered and her opposition mattered.

She forcefully opposed Amy Coney Barrett.

[SunSeeker]

76. Nobody read her statement. Everyone saw her hug Lindsey Graham.

Voting no on Amy Coney Barrett was the least any Democrat could do. Any Democrat Newsom appointed to replace her would have voted no as well.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

77. I read her statement.

Voting no wasn't all that Dianne Feinstein did to oppose Barrett.

Feinstein is a master of the Senate and there is no one with her experience and influence who could be appointed in her place.

[SunSeeker]

80. Diane Feinstein was a master of the Senate. She is not that Diane Feinstein anymore.

She no longer has that influence. Sure she has experience, but she no longer seems to be applying it. She is not like Nancy Pelosi.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

82. Nancy Pelosi certainly doesn't seem to agree with that contention.

[SunSeeker]

84. That's OK. We're not a lockstep party. Everyone can have an opinion. nt

[Just A Box Of Rain]

86. I tend to agree with Nancy Pelosi.

She seems to find the attacks on Dianne Feinstein pretty appalling.

[SunSeeker]

88. I'm sure she has a special sensitivity to calls for retirement since she faced them.

But in Pelosi's case, they were totally uncalled for. Nancy is sharp as a tack, more so than Mitch McConnell--who nobody was asking to resign. That's why those calls for her retirement hurt her so much.

[inthewind21]

122. "That's OK. We're not a lockstep party"

No, no we are not. "We" cant even mange to not eat our own. Do you wonder how Trump got elected? You shouldn't, it's as obvious as the nose on your face. And judging by all the panic over D.F., as if her replacement would be able to undo the damage done by the VOTERS after the fact is mind boggling. You honestly think her leaving and Biden appointing more judges NOW is going to make all the ugly just disappear?

[SunSeeker]

170. Of course her replacement won't make "all the ugly just disappear."

I never said that. Please stop making shit up.

What her replacement will do will give us an able fighter in one of the 51 precious Senate seats we have. We don't have the luxury to carry her along so as not to hurt her feelings. She needs to do what's best for the country.

We need to be cleared eyed and practical. Trump got elected because a big chunk of us weren't.

[Autumn]

114. The media had no fucks to give about that. All they cared about was her giving cover to Lindsey

[Just A Box Of Rain]

115. Sure, Blame "the media."

[inthewind21]

123. Blame

any and everything. No one seems to realize the voters did this to themselves. The republicans STOLE the Supreme Court! It's the media's fault Trump was elected! And the list of "it's X fault" is endless. Anyone BUT the actual culprit. THE VOTER! Who either voted for, didn't vote at all or voted 3rd party. THAT is how we got here.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

127. Yep.

THAT is how we got here.

[Autumn]

135. Yeah. We all know the media influences no one. Not a single soul.

If that's all you got you got nothing.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

136. I've got plenty.

[Autumn]

137. Then let's see it. I really want to see one good reason why she should stay in office when

she is having these age related memory lapses. One good reason, when she has missed 60 votes in 2023 , harming Biden's judicial appointments while holding her seat on the judicial committee. There comes a time when they should step down for their own good and the good of the people they represent.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

138. Dianne Feinstein represents me and I have full confidence in her abilities.

The people of California elected her to serve us as our representative. That's democracy in action.

Dianne Feinstein has always acted in the good interests of this state and has one of the most impressive legislative records in the Senate and I look forward to her swift return to Washington.

[Autumn]

140. Congratulations. What she does on the judicial committee impacts all of us, not just you.

Still waiting.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

141. Correct, and what she's done is to help Joe Biden set a 40+ record for getting judges confirmed.

Thanks for making my point.

We need our most effective Senators on that committee. In the meantime, Feinstein has asked for a temporary replacement until she returns.

That's true class in action.

[Autumn]

144. No I didn't make your point. There's a big difference between opinion and facts.

I think that elected Democrats know what they are talking about. After all, they have to work with her and they interact with her. I could post a lot of examples of her memory issues but I won't bother because those are well known to people who pay attention. Age comes to us all, I respect the fact that she said she will not run in 2024.

WASHINGTON — Alarm bells are ringing among prominent Democrats about Sen. Dianne Feinstein's lengthy absence from the Senate and the roadblock it presents to confirming judges.

The 89-year-old California Democrat hasn't cast a vote in the Senate since Feb. 16, announcing during her absence that she was hospitalized and recovering from shingles. The chamber returns to session next week after a two-week recess, but Feinstein has not provided a timetable for returning to Washington.

“I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel,” she said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the day, Feinstein spokesperson Adam Russell said they “don’t have an update at this time” on when she will be back.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrats-raise-alarms-feinsteins-absence-stalls-bidens-judicial-picks-rcna79350

Illness-related lawmaker absences and nominee controversies have derailed Democratic plans to speed up consideration of judicial nominations this year with their outright Senate majority.

The Judiciary Committee has canceled meetings and postponed votes to get nominees to the floor. While nearly two dozen were confirmed from the first week in February through the end of March, Democrats were unable to push through some of the most high-profile nominees.

“There are a number of things coming together that are making it more frustrating to move people to confirmation,” said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond who studies judicial nominations.

Democrats had hoped their wider majority would boost what’s already yielded a record number of judicial confirmations and begin what’s anticipated to be a more challenging phase for selecting nominees.

Committee Slowdowns

Biden Judicial Nominations Machine Slows Amid New Hiccups

[Just A Box Of Rain]

145. The facts are that Dianne Feinstein has helped get a 40+ year record of Biden's picks approved.

Those are the facts.

Whose opinions are you talking about when you claim "elected Democrats know what they are talking about" when you claim Feinstein is unfit?

Please quote them.

[Phoenix61]

154. She asked because she was publicly asked to step down.

It’s not the easy fix you seem to think it is.

“Replacing Feinstein on the panel, even on a short-term basis, would require approval from the full Senate. Schumer could ask for unanimous consent on a resolution to make that happen, but any one Republican member could object and block it.

In that case, Democrats would have to go through a lengthy process to garner the 60 votes required to break a filibuster — meaning 10 Republicans would have to join the other 50 Democratic members to allow Feinstein's replacement.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna79592

[Just A Box Of Rain]

155. Asked by whom?

No one with standing to make such a demand.

This is a question that is decided by the voters in CA. We made our choice.

[Phoenix61]

157. Her memory issues have been in the media for some time

Her statement that she will return as soon as she’s medically cleared to travel makes no sense. Shingles doesn’t prevent you from traveling.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

160. You didn't answer a direct question.

[Autumn]

174. Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep Dean Phillips . nt

[bigtree]

162. it's been the word of one reporter who speaks first-hand

...the rest has been anonymous rumor in clickbait articles.

Except for the congressman laughingly demanding a Senator step down, there hasn't been anyone with the temerity to put their name to the criticisms.

No direct, attributed quote, it didn't happen. Just that simple. Anonymous complaints aren't worth shit.

[Phoenix61]

169. They aren't complaints they are comments. It's a situation

Feinstein could easily remedy by giving an in-person interview to anyone.

[Autumn]

176. Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep Dean Phillips have both publicly asked her to step down.

They are not Anonymous complainers. I think more will speak out. That's how it usually goes.

[Autumn]

173. And she has hindered him with her absence. Fact.

End of story.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

175. Not really.

She's evidently missed two Committee meetings thus far. That's very unlikely to change the prospects of any of Biden's other nominees.

Other men have missed votes due to illness, or in pursuit of higher political aspirations, and no one asked them to resign.

There seems to be a decided double-standard, Nancy Pelosi certainly suggests as much.

[Autumn]

190. Who do you think I'm going to believe? Congressmen, legit Reporters or Box of Rain.

Oh I know. Not you.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

191. I thought you didn't like the media?

Perhaps everything is relative? LOL

[onenote]

184. It's not her absence that is keeping nominees from being confirmed.

Indeed, there are five appeals court nominees who already were approved by the Committee with Feinstein's participation -- some as far back as January --- but who Schumer hasn't put forward for a vote by the full Senate. There is only one appeals court nominee pending consideration by the committee.

Similarly, there are more than a dozen district court nominees who have been approved by the Committee, again before Feinstein became unavailable (and again, dating back as far as January in some instances ), but who haven't been voted on by the full Senate. And while there are 17 district court nominees who haven't yet gotten a vote at the committee, most of them were nominated early in the year and could've been considered before Feinstein became unavailable at the end of February.

[bigtree]

47. that's such a hoot

..."...it's not so much that she's sick."

But you have no problem glomming onto these calls to resign because she's recovering from an illness (shingles).

Citing that hearing as some sort of proof that she's not the person you 'loved' is the height of sophistry.

If you actually watched the entire hearing you would have heard her castigate the republicans repeatedly, including Grassley.

You're complaining about 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 it, but it's just crap.

[SunSeeker]

72. The hug and flowery thank you to Graham was so over the top it negated any complaints she had.

Last edited Thu Apr 13, 2023, 03:08 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm not saying she should resign because she's sick. I'm saying she can no longer be the fighter we need in the Senate, with or without shingles. Graham was able to use that clip of Feinstein saying how fair Graham was to show the hearing was fair, even though it was not, and we got stuck with crazy Coney Barrett.

Are you seriously accusing me of having "cognitive problems" because I think Feinstein should resign? Wow. Come on bigtree. I'm not trying to "sell" anything. I'm just giving my opinion. If you think my opinion is "crap," that's fine, but the personal insults are really uncalled for. I would never insult you like you just did me.

[bigtree]

103. did you watch the hearing?

...we don't normally bandy about what republicans say as if we're responsible for any of it.

But the false spin on the hearing wasn't just restricted to republicans characterizing the hearing. Democrats with an axe to grind against Feinstein, for whatever political motive, BURIED the powerful remarks of the Senator that was actually directed at opposing the confirmation and focused on her senatorial comity at the end, instead.

It's actually people who keep harping on that end who have taken focus away from that full and cogent opposition Feinstein brought to the actual hearing.

'Cognitive' may have been over-the-top hyperbole describing her critics, but you've done nothing but make clear where you want to focus attention, and it's not on the actual confirmation hearing. People making hay out of that moment are either deliberately smearing the Senator (for whatever reason), or don't have a firm enough grasp what they're on about.

Do you seriously think you can diagnose the Senator's mental state by pointing to a moment of senatorial politeness? That's not a cogent argument.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

142. Spot on! Once again.

[Phoenix61]

152. "Senatorial politeness"? That's what you're calling that?

“Dianne Feinstein praises Lindsey Graham: "I just want to thank you. This has been one of the best set of hearings that I've participated in," she tells him. "Thank you so much for your leadership.”

[bigtree]

159. anyone having watched the Senate as long as I have

...knows well that it's just how they talk to each other.

With comity. It's meaningless, except as a cudgel which apparently either side will use to bash or defame Sen. Feinstein.

[Phoenix61]

161. No, it's not how they talk to each other. That was over the top.

It was way beyond comity.

[bigtree]

165. yeah, I must have imagined it in my 30-plus years following the Senate and House

...before internet came along.

It's amazing how little people bother to listen and learn with so much resource available. If you did actually take a fraction of the time I have with hours upon hours of floor debates and committee hearings, some in person, you'd know how very wrong you are.

[Phoenix61]

172. It seems you're fine with heaping praise on Lindsey Graham's head.

Maybe she thought it was the best hearing because it was so fast?

[bigtree]

180. there's more than the affectations of ageism and a hug

...behind all of this animus toward Sen. Feinstein.

Like Rep. Pelosi said, "political agendas are at work."

Maybe you thought that wasn't transparently clear?

[Phoenix61]

181. There are always "political agendas" at work in the House and Senate.

None of that changes the fact appointing judges has come to a crashing halt due to her absence and won’t be resolved anytime soon.

[SunSeeker]

177. Yes. But her over the top compliments and hugs to Lindsey are what was carried on all channels.

She actually said in that AP clip I posted that it was "one of the best set of hearings" she had participated in. These statements were shocking and a big deal.

Her reading of the opening statements her staff prepared in opposition to the Barrett confirmation was not notable, and garnered no media attention.

If hugging and complimenting Lindsey after he rammed through Barrett onto the Supreme Court was not attributable to her mental decline, as you suggest, then that raises even more disturbing questions about where her head is at.

Women will die and the rest of us have lost our liberty because of the votes we all knew Barrett would go on to take. No Dem should thank any Republican for that.

[bigtree]

178. the end of the hearing isn't what advanced Barrett

...what absolute nonsense.

And what a way to say you didn't watch the hearing.

[SunSeeker]

179. Allowing that hearing and rushing it along absolutely did advance Barrett.

Stop with the insults.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

91. Well-said and thank you.

[Scrivener7]

112. Aaaaand yes. There is that.

[progressoid]

28. Here in Iowa we're saying it about Grassley.

To be fair, he's not sick, just obsolete.

[ymetca]

36. The two here in Oklahoma

are both full of vim and vigor ...

... to send us back to the Dark Ages.

[MustLoveBeagles]

30. K&R

[Phoenix61]

31. There have been comments, from Dems,

about Feinstein having memory issues for at least two years. Her current absence is preventing judges from being appointed. We’ve all recently seen what one bad judge is capable of doing. I have no doubt there were private conversations with Feinstein to step down from the judiciary committee so they could get on with appointing judges. Pelosi’s comment that she hasn’t seen anything like this in the past is probably true. R’s weren’t openly trying to destroy democracy in the past.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

34. President Biden has, with the help of Dianne Feinstein, gotten more judges apporoved

than any president in over 40 years.

That some have made malicious attacks on Feinstein previously--which is shamefully true--does not excuse what's happened today.

Such attacks are quite ugly.

[Phoenix61]

57. But she's not there now. Everything has ground

to a halt. Full stop.
As far as Biden’s appointments….
“President Joe Biden has appointed more judges to the federal courts at this stage in his tenure than any president since John F. Kennedy, and his appointees include a record number of women and racial and ethnic minorities, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the Federal Judicial Center.”

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/08/09/biden-has-appointed-more-federal-judges-than-any-president-since-jfk-at-this-point-in-his-tenure/

“At this stage” being the key phrase. Not more judges in total. None of which changes the fact that without Feinstein doing her job no more will get appointed. How long would you like to hold her seat on the Judicial Committee thus blocking any future appointments until she returns? One more month? Two months? What’s the magic number? If we lose the Senate all those empty judicial seats will go R. We are in a fight for democracy. I don’t care about her feelings. I care about getting as many judges as possible confirmed under Biden.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

59. Not sure. She has asked for a temporary replacement to be appointed.

Hopefully that quells the vicious attacks that have come her way today.

Too much to hope for?

[Phoenix61]

64. I don't see them as vicious attacks. They are concerns

about getting the work of the Senate done. The San Francisco Chronicle had an article about her a year ago. From reading it, my guess is she has dementia. The fine sometimes then just not quite there. I’ve seen it up close as my mom had dementia. Her doctor said when she got an infection etc, she would never return to the level she was at before. So, my guess is shingles really set her back and she’s not able to return to the Senate but not ready to say that.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/dianne-feinstein-senate-17079487.php
I’m not familiar with the paper but it’s rated leans left and high factual. If you know different please let me know.

[inthewind21]

126. "I don't see them as vicious attacks. They are concerns"

I seem to re-call hearing this somewhere before. Oh yes, it was 2016. Huh, how'd those "concerns" work out?

[Phoenix61]

148. What are you talking about? nt

[SunSeeker]

185. The GOP won't let Schumer replace Feinstein on Judicary unless it's with Sinema

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-want-make-difficult-senate-replace-feinstein-key-panel-rcna79592

[bigtree]

105. I'd like to see a direct quote

...because it's been just a whispering campaign with 'sources say' and 'people close to her' in these clickbait reports.

Just like the Politico article, and that hack who takes snippets of others' reporting and distorted it to say she's not coming back, without any proof provided, or any quotes at all.

I know you can't find one from anyone who served with her, so...

[inthewind21]

124. "We've all recently seen what one bad judge is capable of doing"

Recently? Only just recently? Well, that explains a very lot.

[Phoenix61]

147. Did I say only just recently? nt

[mcar]

33. Yup

[Tetrachloride]

37. the judiciary committee duties are all hands in deck-- and they weren't

repeat

All Hands on Deck

General Quarters

this is war and a leading person is AWOL

[inthewind21]

129. Really

All hands on deck? Just now? You just realizing there is a war? It's been going on for several decades now. All hands on deck came about 7 years ago when the last line of defense was positioning. Just sayin.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

43. Nancy speakin the truth... as usual!!

[Akakoji]

49. Feinstein must Resign from the Senate now. This is not just sad. Or Sexist.

Sorry, I don't care what sex she is. I've provided care for thousands of seniors in my lifetime. No one ever believes they have reached the point they are no longer able to carry out their duties. No one over willingly gives up the car keys. Older people sometimes die from what Senator Feinstein is currently experiencing. She has already missed 52 votes that would have gotten a lot of judges confirmed. Judges that would not have ruled like that Texas judge that wants to end access by women to reproductive care. If she really cared about that, as opposed to working from her home while temporarily stepping down from the Senate Judiciary committee - whatever that means, I do hope that also does not unexpectedly become something she can't do - she would retire immediately. As it stands, the GOP must agree to allow her to step down. Why would they do that when they are so successfully holding up all of Biden's nominations? Will we ever learn?

[Upthevibe]

51. Akakoji...............

I agree with you 100% and I disagree with Nancy P. on this one.

[ecstatic]

61. Exactly right. Hopefully Pelosi was just trying to be nice and doesnt actually believe

that. Again, it's not about you, me, Pelosi or Feinstein. It's about making sure women in this country will be safe. No elected official should be putting his/her own ambitions above the good of the country. We've been down that road before and that's why we're in this situation right now.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

63. Nancy Pelosi says what she means.

Count on it.

[ProfessorPlum]

118. agree

[onenote]

60. Let's be clear: two Senate Judiciary meetings were cancelled due to Feinstein's absence

One on March 2 and one on March 16. No votes were scheduled for after March 16 and the Senate has been in recess since the end of the month. Hearings on nominees were not held up and one judicial nomination was moved out of committee during her absence.

She's agreed to a temporary replacement, so that should be the end of the discussion.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

62. Bravo. Should absolutely be the end of the discussion.

Yet somehow I expect that won't be the case.

[ecstatic]

101. Thanks for the clarification, I spoke too soon, but at the same time

would she have agreed to the temporary replacement without being pressured into doing so? I guess it's a moot point now.

[inthewind21]

130. You

didn't speak "too soon" you spoke without facts, absolved yourself and moved on to a hypothetical "what if" and stayed on the "D.F. must go" bandwagon. THAT is exactly the kind of nonsense that got us to where we are right now.

[SunSeeker]

183. The GOP won't let Schumer replace Feinstein on Judicary unless it's with Sinema

Replacing Feinstein on the panel, even on a short-term basis, would require approval from the full Senate. Schumer could ask for unanimous consent on a resolution to make that happen, but any one Republican member could object and block it.

In that case, Democrats would have to go through a lengthy process to garner the 60 votes required to break a filibuster — meaning 10 Republicans would have to join the other 50 Democratic members to allow Feinstein's replacement.

Five Republican aides involved in the process say GOP senators have not formalized a plan to address the Democratic request. But there appears to be broad consensus that Schumer and his colleagues will need to negotiate some sort of deal that Republicans would be willing to go along with, according to the aides.
...
Republicans have expressed more willingness to support a centrist candidate. Some have said a good fit would be Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the Arizona Democrat-turned-independent who has warm relationships with many in the GOP.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-want-make-difficult-senate-replace-feinstein-key-panel-rcna79592

So no, it's not the end of the discussion. Feinstein should have retired rather than running again in 2018. As Joy Reid said tonight, "I'm getting Ruth Bader Ginsburg vibes":

[Raine]

65. Totally agree and I'm glad she said it! nt

[Mike_in_LA]

67. Nope.

Don't play that card. Not here. Feinstein needs to go. She needed to BEFORE the shingles

[TeamProg]

68. Give us an example Nancy. Did we go after Fetterman? No!!

Hoyer? No !! He’s old but still smart.

DiFi hugging GRASSLEY? Something is wrong there.

I don’t know what the hell Nsncy talking about.

EXAMPLES, PLEASE!!

[Just A Box Of Rain]

75. I think you are (perhaps inadvertently) helping made Nancy Pelosi's point for her.

Democrats have not turned on our own when the members of Congress who have had health issues have also been men.

The contrast is stark.

[SunSeeker]

78. Fetterman will get better. Feinstein won't. Big difference.

Fetterman has already announced he is returning to the Senate. Feinstein has not. To the contrary, she announced she is staying home.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

79. Really. Because people don't recover from having Shingles?

I think you have that wrong.

I'm glad Fetterman is returning to the Senate and that he did not have such trash heaped on him.

Feinstein's treatment, on the other hand, is horrifying and deeply shameful.

Nancy Pelosi has called this correctly, as she always does.

"I don't know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way. I've never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way."

[SunSeeker]

81. It's not her shingles. It's her mental decline. That's not going to get better.

Fetterman's depression has gotten better.

There is nothing shameful about acknowledging reality.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

83. Wow!

[SunSeeker]

85. Why is that shocking to you? It's reality.

Dementia is not reversible, sadly. Depression is treatable.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

87. So now you are claiming that Dianne Feinstein is demented?

okay.

Goodbye!

[SunSeeker]

89. No, I didn't say Feinstein was "demented."

But, as noted by others in this thread, it has long been reported by progressive local papers (not right wing hit pieces) that her memory issues have gotten increasingly worse. https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/reporter-details-feinstein-memory-lapse-17587048.php

This is reality.


Memory issues don't get better, as anyone with experience caring for a relative with dementia can tell you.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

90. Distinctions without a difference.

[Violet_Crumble]

100. You think there's no difference between dementia and demented???

The poster yr replying to didn't say she was demented.
My mum had dementia. She wasn't demented. Why would you say that someone with cognitive impairment was demented. That is such an ugly term and only people who haven't had a loved one suffer from dementia would use it.

[inthewind21]

131. Are you a doctor?

Have you consulted with Fetterman over his medical issues, studied his medical records? Do you have any clue what the odds are of someone who has already had a major stroke having another one? Yea, me either. I'm not a doctor. Which is why I'm not making all kinds of claims as if I were. There's non-stop discussion about lying republicans spreading mis-information, flat out lies and made up crap. Yet hereiit is, on full display. Lot's of absolute claims. And some still wonder how we got here.

[SunSeeker]

166. Please cite me one person with age related memory issues who reversed it.

What "lies and made up crap" am I stating?

We don't have the luxury of having someone taking up one of our precious 51 seats in the Senate who is not firing on all cylinders, and cannot get better.

Sure, Fetterman could get another stroke. If it appears he can no longer fight for PA in the Senate, then I'd be saying he should resign too. Of course, it will be trickier to assure his seat stays blue. That risk does not exist with Feinstein. There are plenty of energetic, smart Dems ready to take her seat. And Newsom will immediately appoint one of them.

[TeamProg]

97. Just speaking the truth. nt

[Just A Box Of Rain]

98. Which is what Nancy Pelosi has done in pointing out the hypocrisy.

[Jose Garcia]

104. Ted Kennedy was absent for months while he was dying from brain cancer

Not one Democratic member of Congress called for him to step down.

[bigtree]

106. that's the most obvious example

...every Feinstein critic tiptoeing around that fact.

[Midwestern Democrat]

109. He was unexpectedly stricken with terminal brain cancer at age 76 and died at 77.

Nobody would be calling for Dianne Feinstein to resign in that exact same circumstance. Dianne Feinstein chose to run for a six year term when she was 85 - what we're seeing now was frankly more likely to happen than not. One month before her re-election - in October 2018 - I was quite alarmed by something I saw during the Kavanaugh hearings. A Republican Senator asked Feinstein point blank "Did you ask your staff if they leaked Christine Blasey Ford's name to the media?" and Feinstein had a deer in the headlights look and stammered "I don't know" and a young staffer had to rush up to her and whisper in her ear "You did ask us". That was four and a half years ago - congressional Democrats have been pretty patient.

[inthewind21]

132. Unexpectedly stricken with cancer

You mean he didn't have it on the calendar ahead of time like most do? You knew she had a medical issue by watching a hearing! Did you train at the Bill Frist school of video diagnosis?

[Earth-shine]

92. Feinstein's need to be senator does not outweigh our need ...

to have someone who can do the job with zest and vigor.

The seat is not her's. It belongs to the people.

[Celerity]

93. +1000

She needs to step down, ASAP.

Unbelievable (well not really) that we have some here apparently ok if she just stays in the seat but absent from the Senate for a very long time, perhaps even if that stretches out for the next 21 months.

Her staff has been propping her up for ages. It isn't the right thing to do to insist she has an almost House of Lords lifetime peerage style right to that seat.

I am a CA-registered voter and I feel like I am not being properly represented.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

94. Not a House of Lord like peerage, but rather the people's duly elected chosen representitive.

Honor the choice of Democratic voters here in California.

[Celerity]

95. Then stop treating it like it is one.

Not a House of Lord like peerage

[Just A Box Of Rain]

96. Who is doing that?

Dianne Feinstein has been elected and re-elected by the people of California.

People like myself, who believe that she's represented us very well.

That's the democratic process.

[Nixie]

102. Exactly. And the same folks had no problem with missed Senate

time for a Senator’s two extended presidential runs.

[inthewind21]

134. May

I suggests Civics 101.

[Celerity]

143. no you may not, I refuse condescension

[bigtree]

107. Sen. Feinstein vows to return to her post

Guardian:

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the upper chamber of the US Congress, said she plans on serving out her term despite growing calls for her to resign.

Feinstein, 89, has not voted in Congress since February, and has been away from Capitol Hill after being hospitalized for shingles treatment in March. “I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it’s safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco,” she said.

Chuck Schumer, said in a statement on Wednesday night that he will ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve on the judiciary committee, “per Senator Feinstein’s wishes”.

“I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the judiciary committee,” Feinstein said on Wednesday.

Last month, Feinstein announced that she will not seek re-election next year...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/12/us-house-democrats-dianne-feinstein-resignation

[inthewind21]

133. Indeed

But you are wrong, it is hers. It was given to her BY the people. Are you not familiar with how Senators get their jobs?

[Earth-shine]

146. Well, that's a matter of semantics. How can anyone "own" a seat in the Senate?

Nonsense!

[diva77]

158. +1000

plus there seems to be a memory gap regarding her votes on some issues in the past. Sure I'm glad she voted for good judicial appointments.

There is also this:


War Profiteering & War Criminal-Feinstein's Husband's Firm URS/Perini Getting Billions
by Peter Byrne
Sun, Feb 4, 2007 3:34PM
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/04/18357152.php

[themaguffin]

108. I get her point, but honestly anyone on that committee would be criticized for holding up judges

and they should be criticized.

Not to mention how selfish Feinstein is being. This is ridiculous.

[GuppyGal]

113. Guess who is calling for her to resign? Appalling nt

[SharonClark]

116. Why guess? If you know, tell us.

[Marius25]

117. People have been calling for Chuck Grassley to resign due to age for awhile now

[Emile]

128. Ruth Bader Ginsburg

[Just A Box Of Rain]

139. Who has come under suspiciously similar attacks.

It seems like a "thing."

[NotVeryImportant]

149. They treated Fetterman pretty badly

So, it's definitely not sexist.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

156. Really? Which Democratic leaders called on Fetterman to resign?

I can think of a single person who did so.

But I'm open to being proven wrong.

[f_townsend]

150. Not one of Nancy's best thought-out statements. n/t

[rogue emissary]

151. Keeping it 💯 as always.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

153. Echoing the excellent statement by Nancy Pelosi, the US Rep. Norma Torres from CA-35 wrote

on Twitter:

Dear @SenFeinstein

Please get well soon.

When women age or get sick, the men are quick to push them aside.
When men age or get sick, they get a promotion.

#WomensRights ARE #HumanRights



That's how one supports Democrats.

[bigtree]

164. saw Chris Murphy echo the same

Link to tweet

[Just A Box Of Rain]

167. Kudos to Chris Murphy.

And ongoing thanks to you for highlighting the hypocrisy over the disgraceful treatment of Dianne Feinstein.

Much appreciated!

[Azathoth]

182. Oh bullshit

Both Byrd and Lautenberg got a ton of shit for clinging to office long after they should have retired. Like Feinstein, they benefitted from all the virtue signaling to "seniority" and their critics got savaged for being "disrespectful" and "prejudiced", but they got shit nonetheless.

Byrd probably got a little less shit simply because he was a blue anchor in a deep red state.