California Democrat defends Feinstein: Allow her to finish final term

[RandySF]

A California House Democrat defended Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) amid calls for her to resign over her health, saying that she should be allowed to finish her term.

Rep. John Garamendi said in a statement on Thursday that he does not believe that Feinstein needs to resign and argued that she is continuing to serve her state and country “honorably and courageously.”

Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) called on Feinstein to step down on Wednesday over her health condition. She has not been present at the Capitol since she was diagnosed with shingles in February.

The 89-year-old senator has already announced that she would not seek reelection in 2024 but said she would finish out her term before retiring.

Feinstein’s absence from the Senate Judiciary Committee has caused difficulties for Democrats seeking to advance partisan nominees forward to a vote before the full Senate.




https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3949149-california-democrat-defends-feinstein-allow-her-to-finish-final-term/

[Just A Box Of Rain]

1. Kudos and thanks to John Garamendi for inhabiting a position of decency and honor.

He is a man of fine character.

[Raine]

29. Agree nt

[Emile]

2. I heard Senator Feinstein has late stage alzheimer's.

Is this true?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. I've only heard the Alzheimer's claim here so far.

I've yet to see a reputable news source say such.

The RWNJs say the same about Biden.

[Marius25]

19. Schumer has brought it up. She has serious memory issues

and forgets what she did or the last person she talked to often. Remember her praising Lindsey Graham and giving him a big hug recently?

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/report-dianne-feinstein-memory-rapidly-deteriorating

Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the United States Senate, is struggling to recognize colleagues, follow policy discussions, and carry out the duties of her office, people close to the California Democrat told the San Francisco Chronicle Thursday. “It’s bad,” one Democratic senator told the paper, referring to Feinstein’s memory. “And it’s getting worse.”

[RandySF]

4. NO

[oldsoftie]

8. Her mental decline has been written about a few times. Not sure if its ALZ though

Her staffers are said to have been running the show for some time. And if you saw her questions during a couple hearings, you could tell she was reaching.
Here's an NPR article from before this latest shingles issue. There have been others, but with this latest news its hard to find older articles.

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/13/1104843151/senator-dianne-feinstein-cognitive-health-continues-to-raise-concerns-traister

[JohnSJ]

15. and fox "news" frequently uses the term "some people say"

[Emile]

16. So it's not true?

[JohnSJ]

17. How would I know?

[Hekate]

25. Some people say this is not true. Many people say this is a slur. Ya know, "some people."

[Hekate]

26. Where did you hear that?

[onenote]

49. Where did you hear this?

Is this a "some people say" post?

[DemocraticPatriot]

56. If that were true, she would not have still been in the Senate 2 months ago.

In the late stages of Alzheimers, one becomes capable of virtually nothing,
even losing the ability to speak intelligibly. My mother died of it.

Senator Feinstein could possibly be in the early stages of it, or just regular old-age issues.

[Nixie]

65. I have heard she hasn't had a heart attack or stroke.

Is that true?

[Emile]

66. I have heard if you can't do your job most places will

replace you after a period of time, is that true in your life experience?

[Nixie]

67. I've heard that the senate has a great healthcare plan -- lots of senators have used it.

But the good thing is that Feinstein has not had a heart attack or stroke, and she hasn't used her healthcare plan for those life-threatening health incidents. Glad for those that it was there for them when they needed it, though.

[Emile]

69. Most cases of shingles last around two to four weeks. Good thing

she has a great healthcare plan.

[Nixie]

71. lol, at least you are focusing on her actual medical diagnosis now rather than

manufactured smears.

[Emile]

74. Always have.

I just asked a question.

[Nixie]

75. Is repetition a sign of Alzheimers?

Just asking a question.

[ancianita]

5. She already has earned respect. She will still maintain dignity. But dignity is a two-way street.

The dignity of the office of Senator, and its importance in good governance, must be respected and maintained by our party, too.

Thanking Senator Feinstein for her years of service should not require that the Senate Democratic Caucus should stand still.

We the people need that seat to democratically function on our behalf.

[Old Crank]

6. I didn't want her to run last election.

I was worried about this type of occurance. I voted for her in the general election. She is showing that she has held on too long. This happened with Justice Ginsberg. We end up paying a steep price. If any of the GOP had a shred of honor they would allow a replacement ot be put on the Judicialry commitee. Perhaps she can just resign from that commitee and then the GOP can't fight a new member.

[dem4decades]

7. We need Biden's judges confirmed. If Feinstein's condition prevents that, she must do the right

thing so the Senate can get them through.

[SpamWyzer]

10. I concur.

Senator Feinstein needs to vacate her post and let someone who is able do it for California.

[Celerity]

12. +1

If she cannot do her job, she needs to do the right thing and resign.

[SpamWyzer]

9. Being a senator

requires one to attend sessions, serve on committees and be present at debates. Sen. Feinstein, with all due respect, is incapable of doing her elected job. The commentary that "this would never happen to a man" holds little water. A man or a woman who cannot perform their duties, needs to be removed and replaced. Very simple. You wish to use the misogyny card, but this has ZERO to do with the senator being a woman. She is incapable of doing the job she was elected to do. End.

[RandySF]

11. So she should resign over a case of the shingles?

Nobody called on Fetterman to resign while he was being treated for depression (nor should they).

[Demsrule86]

23. We have to get judges approved. I don't think folks here understand how bad the Senatorial

map is in 2024. We may very well lose. Or Joe Biden will get no judge now or in his second term.

[maxsolomon]

36. The thought occurred to me.

More because of the stroke than the depression.

But then I remembered the Senate is an awful place where Progress goes to die, so whatever.

[Hortensis]

48. Wow. No distinction for which party holds the majority

or how representative the senate is of the American people, rather than one faction or another?

It's baked into democracy that California's senator needs to appeal to and represent the many peoples of California, not just one self-important fringe faction incapable of respecting the rights of everyone to representation.

Yes, I know, always losing must be tough for them. But that's their doing. Those of us who respect others and processes that arrive at answers that serve most have it much better. Because that's both possible and right. And progress doesn't always "die" for the 80M progressives who elected Democrats this time.

[maxsolomon]

59. You're not going to convince me the Senate is an honorable institution vital to our Democracy.

It has always been a way for the wealthy to control and limit change, regardless of how many Progressives sit there.

FRESHMAN Senator Fetterman's prolonged absence had little effect on the proceedings.

[Hortensis]

61. Good heavens, but thank you for a forthright answer.

It does track with the previously all-condemnatory statement. It would also be in line with acceptance of always losing, those who need it presumably comforted by their own separation since with such a system only dishonorable people who betray the electorate win.

Btw, your view would seem to greatly simply the issue of who becomes California's next senator, and when. Doesn't matter. I don't believe that myself, and am proud of what the Democratic majorities we elected has been able to accomplish, but for those who are coming a bit unglued over this and might benefit from a little mind numbing:

IT DOESN'T MATTER

[JohnSJ]

14. I didn't see that happening with Senator Fetterman? She is recovering from Shingles, and has asked

Schumer to temporarily fill her replacement on the judiciary committee in the meantime.

[Demsrule86]

24. We don't have the votes to do that...it is my understanding we need her to resign in order

to get judges approved.

[tritsofme]

47. I don't see how resignation would make a difference there.

If Republicans are determined to block changes to committee assignments, they could continue to do so after Feinstein left the Senate as well.

[W_HAMILTON]

31. Yep. It absolutely did not happen with Fetterman.

And it was interesting timing how this Feinstein uproar only began from certain segments once Fetterman announced he would finally be returning to the Senate...

[JohnSJ]

32. and he was out two months. Also, this OP explains how the delay isn't just because of Senator

Feinstein:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17825882

[Demsrule86]

33. Fetterman came back in a timely manner...Feinstein has not given a date and has asked to

be removed from the judiciary committee which doesn't help us. We are likely to lose the Senate in 24 with Tester, Manchin, and Sinema all up for reelection. We can not fail to get judges. Feinstein was a great Senator...but judges are too important.

[Nixie]

64. It is very interesting how the Fetterman absence was handled, especially considering he couldn't

campaign because of the stroke. So his absence was long before he even was sworn in.

[onenote]

51. With all due respect, until she contracted shingles she missed only two votes.

Which is one less than Bernie Sanders and a whole lot less than Bob Casey (who missed over ten) or Sen. Feterman.

She actively participated during the Senate's sessions during that period, taking the floor of the Senate to introduce legislation on multiple occasions and make statements in support thereof -- more than most members.

You have no clue what she's capable of.

If she can't come back from shingles she should step down. But she should have at least the same opportunity to come back as Feterman, or, in the past, Ted Kennedy or Robert Byrd.

[asm128]

63. What kind of votes exactly?

You say that she has missed only 2 votes, but, according to this site:
"From Feb 1993 to Mar 2023, Feinstein missed 395 of 10,222 roll call votes, which is 3.9%. This is worse than the median of 2.3% among the lifetime records of senators currently serving."

[link:https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/dianne_feinstein/300043|]

That's more than 2

[onenote]

68. Apparently you misunderstood -- hopefully unintentionally -- my post

It seemed pretty clear, but you seem to have missed the point.

The post to which I was responding claimed that "Sen. Feinstein, with all due respect, is incapable of doing her elected job. The commentary that "this would never happen to a man" holds little water. A man or a woman who cannot perform their duties, needs to be removed and replaced. Very simple. You wish to use the misogyny card, but this has ZERO to do with the senator being a woman. She is incapable of doing the job she was elected to do. End."

My point is that until she contracted shingles, Feinstein was doing her elected job -- she contracted shingles in late February. Between January 3 and the date on which she became ill, she missed only two votes out of the 24 held during that period. One of those missed voters was on a "resolution designating January 2023 as "National Stalking Awareness Month" that passed 94-0. The other was a vote to confirm a Biden judicial nominee. The 21 of the 22 votes she didn't miss before she got shingles were votes on cloture or confirmation of Biden judicial or executive branch nominees. During that same period, four Senators that caucus with the Democrats missed more votes than she did and every vote they missed was on a cloture or confirmation vote on a nominee (Sanders and Padilla each missed three, Fetterman missed eight, and Casey missed fourteen.

So its pretty clear that before she got shingles was cable of doing her job as a Senator at least as well, if not better, than Sanders, Casey, Padilla, and Fetterman. Then she got shingles and missed all of the votes held between February 27 and March 30. Of course, so did Fetterman. But no one here has claimed -- nor should they -- that because Fetterman could not "perform his duties" for most of this session of Congress he should be "removed and replaced."

Fetterman is expected to return to the Senate. At the present, there is no evidence that Feinstein won't return. If she can't, she should step down. But she deserves the same opportunity to come back that is being accorded to Fetterman, who has participated far less than she has during the three months that the Senate has been in session.

By the way, even though he's been a Senator for 14 fewer years than Feinstein, Bernie Sanders has missed 746 of 5,342 roll call votes, which is 14.0%. Indeed, during the period in which Feinstein and Sanders have both been in the Senate (2007 - date), Feinstein has missed zero votes in 39 calendar quarters, while Sanders has missed zero votes in only 10 quarters. Again, this is not to say Sanders should be hounded from office -- just further evidence that the idea that prior to her illness, Feinstein was less capable of doing her job than other Senators is bullshit.

Finally, one more metric: during the last three quarters of 2022, Feinstein missed only 2 votes out of 296. Not the performance of someone who was incapable of performing the duties of a Senator.

[asm128]

72. I didn't misunderstand anything

You stated that prior to contracting singles, she only missed two votes. That is obviously not true. You then changed your statement in your last reply to make it about the last three quarters.

[onenote]

73. I was referring to this Congress. I thought that was obvious.

But apparently not to you.

So to make it completely clear: during this Congress, prior to her illness, Feinstein performed the duties of a Senator as well as or better than many of her colleagues, missing only two votes and taking to the floor to introduce and speak in support of bills. She deserves the same opportunity to come back from her illness as has been or is being accorded to other members of the Senate who missed votes because of illness.

Do you disagree or is there some reason that Feinstein should be singled out for different treatment than, say, Fetterman or any other Senator who misses votes because of illness?

Finally, if you want to look at more than this Congress, do you think those Senators, such as Sanders, who have missed far more votes than Feinstein, should be removed or retire? (To avoid any confusion, I don't think so).

[JohnSJ]

13. Khanna has his own peculiar baggage with the "friends" he associates with. This public

show boating is a disgrace. Why they felt the need to go public, instead of through a private exchange with Senator Feinstein on their thoughts is quite sad.

These House Democrats should be calling out their fellow republican representatives who were part of the January 6th insurrection.

Feinstein has asked Majority Leader Schumer to put a temporary replacement for her on the judiciary committee while she is recovering from shingles.

Unfortunately, the Senate has some half-assed rules which make it very easy for one republican to block that from happening, even though we have the majority in the Senate

[Voltaire2]

18. She's unable to serve, her vote is critical, she needs to resign.

This is not about 'her legacy', it is about the situation in the senate where every vote is critical.

[Demsrule86]

35. Her legacy will be greatly diminished if Biden leaves judges unconfirmed because of her

absence that are later confirmed by Republicans.

[Sky Jewels]

39. Yep.

The people who are putting decorum or whatever over essential democracy-preserving actions like getting judges confirmed just make shake my head. There's too much at stake to worry about someone's "legacy." She's a public servant; her role is to serve the public. If she can't do that, she should resign. The closely divided Senate is way too critical to worry about hurting someone's feelings when our democracy is hanging by a thread.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

20. This thread is quite revealing.

[Emile]

21. Yes it is!

[Just A Box Of Rain]

22. I could not agree more!!!

[leftstreet]

27. People loyal to Biden's agenda want to see it advanced

Shocking

[Just A Box Of Rain]

30. Biden's agenda is best advanced by having Dianne Feinstein, a Senator with one of

the greatest records of progressive accomplishments on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Undermining her sets back progress, in my estimation.

[Voltaire2]

37. no it isn't. It would be best served by having a senator actually ab le to attend the senate.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

43. Many Senators have missed votes for medical reasons or due to making presidential runs.

Feinstein is still the best person for the job. Hopefully she will be shown the same respect accorded to John Fetterman or to a host of presidential aspirants from elections past.

The treatment seems like a double-standard to many, including former-speaker Pelosi.

[Autumn]

50. She went into the hospital in February for shingles. Shingles with treatment last

usually two to four weeks for the rash to heal completely and sometime the pain will last a little longer. This is April. I think it's a little more than shingles and perhaps Nancy Pelosi should remember Senator Robert Byrd.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

52. I had Shingles at 50.

I was an athlete. Played 10 years of football at the most brutish positions in the game: offensive and defensive tackle. 4 years playing rugby (high school and college club teams) and also played the toughest position in that sport: second row. And I boxed.

I know what pain is like. And I have a high pain threshold

Shingles took me to my knees.

If the torturous pain had been delivered by a state-actor, they would be guilty of war crimes.

Not exaggerating. The most intense and sustained pain I have ever experienced in my lifetime, and by a wide measure.

If Dianne Feinstein needs a couple extra weeks to bounce back, I am not in the least bit surprised.

To the contrary, this is nothing remotely out of the ordinary.

I think she reserved a lot more respect and compassion, and I think the attack on her are shameful.

This is a forum to support Democrats. Feinstein is well-deserving of our support.

Her record of getting progressive legislation passed is enormous. Do yourself a favor and look at the bills she's authored and then moved into law.

She's had an extremely rare record of accomplishment.

Now she's had Singles and deserves the space to recover.

Bill

[Autumn]

53. None of that changes the fact that she has memory issues. She said she's not running,

so AFAIAC that's that. But Nancy Pelosi is wrong to play the sexism card. That has nothing to do with the calls for her to resign.

Personally I think it's bullshit that presidents appoint judges, they are Federal employees and should be hired and fired as such. And there should be no lifetime appointments. It was fine hundreds of years ago when education was rare. Educated people are a dime a dozen now.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

54. Now it is "moving goal posts" combined with questions about her mental competence.

Had anyone treated Fetterman in such a fashion, they would have been booted.

Total double standard.

Feinstein is getting knifed. That's wrong.

Not a way to treat a Democrat who is a titan in the Senate.

[Autumn]

55. Talk about moving goal posts. A person can recover from a stroke,

just as Fetterman has. Feinstein will not recover from her memory issues.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

57. A person can recover from Shingles, which was the topic of the discussion.

Now Feinstein's mental capacity is being challenged without medical evidence.

I don't think that's the sort of treatment Sen. Feinstein deserves. And that's the understatement of all time.

[Sky Jewels]

40. Yes, it is revealing, that some DUers don't prioritize very crucial democracy-preserving actions

like filling as many judiciary seats as possible with progressives and instead clutch their pearls over superficial "decorum" matters. It's truly jaw-dropping.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

41. Invalid criticism. No one is more able than the peson who has had the experience and track record

of success than Dianne Feinstein.

Throwing her under the bus..because why? she had Shingles?...is counterproductive to getting as many judges approved as possible.

This is an instance where were can both do well and do good.

Or not.

[Sky Jewels]

44. Her record is irrelevant to the near future.

We need someone in there confirming the president’s choices NOW. Time is of the essence. I’m astonished you don’t grasp how crucial this is.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

45. I disagree entirely.

Shingles is a relatively short term illness. It's tougher at her age, but she appears to be recovering and says she will return soon.

You are wrong about my understandings. I know it is crucial to get judges approved. That why we need a vital member of the team that's already set a 40 year record to return to the job.

We need the A team. And Dianne Feinstein is as good as they come.

[Voltaire2]

46. Everything is theater and therefore

Nothing can really change.

[David__77]

28. How about she temporarily resign.

A temporary placement could be made who would agree to resign once Feinstein is able to resume her duties, and Newsom would ageee to reappoint her.

[Voltaire2]

38. there is no such process.

[maxsolomon]

34. #1, I call on Mitch McConnell to RESIGN.

#2, No problem with her finishing her term, but a health update would be nice. "Senator Feinstein anticipates returning to DC on X date".

[Sympthsical]

42. Hey, it's my representative!

Just excited because I don't think I've ever seen him mentioned in a news story. I only ever see his name in the weekly or so e-mails his office sends out about the most absolutely random things to let constituents know what he's up to.

This week we have *checks* passport stuff, immigration issues for Afghan Fulbright scholars, a Congressional art contest, and an infrastructure meeting with Secretary Buttigieg.

Cool beans.

[Emile]

58. This is the subject on Washington Journal CSpan on now.

[Goodheart]

60. She can't do her job. She OBVIOUSLY should resign.

It's no attack on her honor or dignity for her to do the right thing.

[onenote]

77. She did her job just fine until she became ill.

In fact, in terms of appearing for votes, introducing and speaking in support of legislation on the Senate floor, she did better than a number of her colleagues.

Are you calling for them to resign? Why shouldn't she be accorded the same opportunity to recover from the illness that caused her to miss a month of service (shingles) as accorded to other members who have missed as much or more time?

[themaguffin]

79. That's a deflection. It's imperative to get these judges moving forward.

[onenote]

81. Go ahead. Name one judicial nomination that her absence has prevented from confirmation.

Around fourteen judges have been confirmed during her absence. In every instance, she was not the only Democrat unavailable to vote --- in fact, in every instance, at least three and as many as five Democrats were absent without it stopping the confirmation from passing. And before she became ill, she participated in Judiciary Committee approval of nearly 20 nominees who are still waiting for a Senate floor vote -- something her absence isn't preventing.

With respect to those nominees who haven't yet been voted out of committee, most of them were originally nominated in 2022 and have been fully vetted, but didn't get a floor vote last Congress and were re-nominated on January 3. A number of more recent nominees are still in the process of being vetted -- something that takes at least a month. And Feinstein's absence isn't preventing hearings on those nominees. For example, three nominees were the subject of a Judiciary Committee hearing on March 22 -- a hearing that Judiciary Committee Chairman Durbin himself missed because he had tested positive for COVID.

[themaguffin]

62. No, would you allow someone to drive a car who was no longer able to. FFS. This is insane.

[Hortensis]

70. :) At this point, I might question allowing you to drive. After all,

I don't actually know if you can and apparently that's not required before I take a position on your or anyone else's competence.

If you think THAT'd be "insane," I agree.

[onenote]

76. From January 3 until the end of February, Feinstein actively participated in Senate business

She appeared and participated in multiple Senate Judiciary Committee meetings where a significant number of nominees were approved. She participated in 22 of the 24 votes held on the Senate floor during that time -- a better record than Bob Casey, Bernie Sanders and, of course, John Fetterman. She took to the floor to introduce and speak in support of multiple pieces of legislation.

Those are the facts. I'm not sure what to call you're obviously uninformed analysis of Feinstein's performance.

[themaguffin]

78. I think that not moving judges forward, especially in this environment is insane and

dangerous for the country.

[onenote]

82. and as has been pointed out repeatedly, her absence hasn't prevented any confirmations.

Over a dozen judges were confirmed during her absence (and despite the fact that at least two, and as many as four, other Democrats were unavailable for those confirmation votes). There are nearly 20 nominees, all approved before Feinstein became ill, awaiting confirmation -- her absence isn't stopping them from being considered. Her absence also isn't preventing hearings on the most recent nominees -- three nominees were the subject of a hearing on March 22 and there are hearings of judicial nominees scheduled for tomorrow.

At the Court of appeals level, five nominees -- all approved by Judiciary before Feinstein became ill -- are still waiting for a floor vote. There are three nominees that are awaiting Judiciary approval. Two of them were nominated last week and won't be scheduled for a hearing for at least another month.

[themaguffin]

83. You're being disingenuous, onenote or you don't understand the situation.

[Hortensis]

84. Perhaps you could respond to onenote's level of factual detail with your own?

I'd be interested in the political alliances and any special agendas, and reputations, of those who've been spreading word publicly that Senator Feinstein is too demented to do her job. And the same for those reporting she is still able and at work. We know Nancy Pelosi's reputation for integrity and honesty, of course.

I believe most of the noise on social media is more about factional power plays (coming from the usual noisy factions) than concern about judicial appointments, though no doubt some of that's sincere as it should be.

Avoiding being disingenuous myself, I'll just say I believe no amount of accusations against Dianne Feinstein's age and ability now will somehow help Katie Porter be elected to the U.S. Senate, might even harm the favored candidate among Californians if it continues too noisy and insulting -- as has happened before. Those here who vote in California are the ones who will get to have a say.

[themaguffin]

87. The issue is getting judges through the committee Hortensis

[msfiddlestix]

80. No Comment