It's not ageism or sexism. It's the judiciary. Why Dianne Feinstein must resign. Now.

[live love laugh]

ROBERT REICH
MAY 9
 
 
Snip

… Feinstein is 89 years old and is no longer doing her job. I say this with great sadness, as one of her personal friends as well as one of her constituents. She was diagnosed with shingles in late February but has not been back to Washington since. So far, she has missed more than 60 votes. Many of her friends talk openly of her declining mental state.

She has accomplished many worthy things since she was first elected to the Senate in 1992. She took the lead in passing the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. In 1998, she spearheaded legislation to guarantee humanitarian protections to unaccompanied immigrant children who arrived alone at the U.S. border. She oversaw a six-year review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program, culminating in the December 2014 release of the report’s executive summary and subsequent anti-torture legislation. She authored the 2016 Transnational Drug Trafficking Act.

Feinstein has said she will retire at the end of 2024, but too much damage is being done in the interim. It is clear she can no longer perform her duties. It is time for her to step down. A few weeks ago, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi suggested that sexism was behind calls for Feinstein to step down now. “I've never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way,” Pelosi said. But Feinstein’s situation is vastly different from that of Strom Thurmond or any other senator who can no longer perform his or her duties. The particular duty Feinstein can no longer perform is especially crucial: voting as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which must consider judicial nominees before the full Senate votes on them.

In this era of polarized politics, without Feinstein’s vote the committee is deadlocked and cannot recommend a judicial confirmation to the full Senate. This has put more than 20 Biden nominees in limbo — including, let me add, many women whose careers have been put on hold. Nine percent of federal judgeships remain vacant. … In the past few weeks, Republican-appointed judges have issued rulings that would restrict the distribution of pills used to end pregnancies.

But it’s worse than this. Major parts of the GOP are now actively engaged in dismantling American democracy… from Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch down through scores of appellate and district court judges — are actively enabling the anti-democracy movement. Republican presidents and senators have been especially aggressive in finding and nominating right-wing judicial candidates and getting them confirmed…. As a result, 51 percent of today’s appeals courts judges were appointed by Republicans, and only 43 percent by Democrats. Feinstein’s absence is tipping this imbalance even further … And as long as Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin aren’t willing to carve out an exception to the filibuster to allow Schumer to make this replacement with just 51 votes, Democrats — and America — are stymied.

Feinstein must resign now. For the good of America.

[634-5789]

1. 100% agreed!

She needs to put the needs of the Country ahead of her 'possible' return. Personally, I feel she should resign immediately to get more common sense judiciary placed. She's blocking a better America. Terrible!

[jimfields33]

3. It's her decision. She knows her capabilities.

I certainly hope they don’t go the route of expulsion or something dumb like that.

[Irish_Dem]

4. She works for the American people. It is our decision.

We The People are her boss.

She is a federal employee.
And as such needs to be honest about her illness.

[jimfields33]

26. Actually, we gave her the job for six years. That's the end of our responsibility.

The rest is on the senators or herself. There is no mechanism for us to “fire” her. No recall ability on senators.

[Irish_Dem]

27. Jobs are not entitlements. If you cannot do the job, you are asked to leave.

That is the reality for most of the world.

Or in some cases, you act with honor and integrity when you can no longer
do the job. Because you know your position is vital to the running of this country.

[onenote]

35. Joe Biden was absent because of brain aneurysms for 7 months in 1988

I take it you believe he should have resigned his Senate seat.

[themaguffin]

65. Was he a deciding vote?

[Tetrachloride]

6. Old edit : doesn't take her duties seriously.

Last edited Wed May 10, 2023, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)

new edit:

Today ( yesterday in some time zones), Sen Feinstein appeared in the Senate. Last week, i didn’t think she was going to appear at all.

[MrsCoffee]

11. What a ridiculous thing to say.

[Tetrachloride]

12. Do you have something that can be discussed?

All she has to do is show up. Vote and get back to morphine.

[MrsCoffee]

15. She is a legend. She has served California as a great leader on issues like assault weapons,

environmental protections and women’s rights. She is a trailblazer.

To just dismiss her offhand as someone who doesn’t take her duties seriously is beyond ridiculous. It’s condescending and insulting.

She got shingles. She is doing her best to get back to work. It hasn’t even been two months.

Some folks are willing to bite off their nose to spite their face.

[Nixie]

59. +1000. It's so interesting to see what most of the universal

healthcare crowd really thinks of sick people.

[MrsCoffee]

18. Also, traveling from California to D.C. with shingles is not something one simply does

and then go back to morphine drip. Ridiculous.

[bigtree]

29. not only that, there's a serious risk of contagion

...especially among health-compromised folks on planes and offices and such from unhealed scabbing.


Is it Safe to Travel with Shingles?

If you receive a diagnosis of diverticulosis, your doctor reviews strategies such as dietary changes to help you avoid infection. If you are seeking medical attention because you already have pain or fever that are symptomatic of inflammation or infection, your doctor prescribes treatment with antibiotics as well dietary restrictions. Severe cases may necessitate surgery. In all situations, you are advised to avoid steroid medications such as prednisone


You might want to reconsider your travel plans if you are concerned about complications. The most common shingles complication is pain in the area where the rash developed. Pain levels can be quite severe and you may prefer to be at home and able to consult your doctor during this stage. Patients over the age of 60 — 50 percent of recorded cases fall in this age group — are much more likely to suffer severe pain from shingles.

You might want to reconsider your travel plans if you are concerned about complications.
Pain levels can be quite severe and you may prefer to be at home and able to consult your doctor during this stage.

Health of Others

During the time before your shingles rash develops a crust, you are potentially infectious and could transmit the virus to the people with whom you are traveling. Although the chance of infection is small, think carefully about exposing others to infection. For example, if you will be traveling by car with people you know have already had chicken pox or been inoculated against it, the risk of infecting one of your companions is virtually nil.

Alternatively, if you intend to travel by air, you could be spending time in close proximity to potentially vulnerable individuals, such as:

unvaccinated pregnant women
babies
people with compromised immune systems

In this case, your travel would put fellow travelers at risk.

During the time before your shingles rash develops a crust, you are potentially infectious and could transmit the virus to the people with whom you are traveling.

https://healthfully.com/is-it-safe-to-travel-with-shingles-9630835.html

[onenote]

36. Prior to becoming ill, she rarely missed a vote. And she introduced major pieces of legislation

Things you would know if you were actually interested in facts.

[NewHendoLib]

8. But does she?

[live love laugh]

13. Exactly! She's shown signs of mental decline.

[MrsCoffee]

19. Just stop.

[live love laugh]

20. You do not get to determine what I say here.

[MrsCoffee]

22. No one comes here to listen to right wingish attacks on Democratic Senators.

Because this is the same shit they said about Fetterman.

Do better.

[onenote]

37. Y'know, the repubs say that about President Biden.

I think its bullshit.

[live love laugh]

38. I could be wrong. I really am only repeating what I thought was reliable information

from Reich. Hopefully I’m not disparaging her. I would love nothing more than for this to be untrue.

[onenote]

41. Given how misleading Reich was in what he wrote, I'd take it with a grain of salt

For example, he says that 9 percent of judicial seats are vacant. What he doesn't say is that more than half of them are vacant because President Biden hasn't put forward a nominee for those seats yet. He says that more than 20 nominees are in limbo at the Committee. The actual number of nominees awaiting Committee action is 16, and that includes four nominees that were just sent to the Committee last week and haven't had a hearing yet, as well as a number of other fairly recent nominations that haven't had a hearing as well as several that were sent to the Committee months ago but were not voted on by the Committee even when Feinstein was available. ( Feinstein's absence does not prevent hearings from being held -- several have been held during her absence ). On the other hand, there have 21 nominations confirmed by the full Senate during Feinstein's absence -- more than have been confirmed in any other comparable stretch of time during Biden's presidency.

In short, Reich's sky is falling rhetoric about the impact of Feinstein's absence is bullshit.

[634-5789]

32. I don't think she has all hr capabilities, so, I disagree.

[onenote]

42. How often do you interact with her?

[634-5789]

52. Just what I have seen on the news, (CBS) and The Hill online.

You have to know when to let go for the sake of the Country. I'm not making judgements, but it is what it is. We have to get as many judicial seats filled as possible. Nobody knows what 2024 elections will hold, so yeah, it's damned important.

[edisdead]

46. Is this like a diagnosis?

And is it a simple typo in your post or do we need to diagnose you for potential cognitive issues?

[634-5789]

49. YES.

[edisdead]

50. So you have examined her?

[634-5789]

53. She needs to retire. She's not well and that's a fact.

If you don't like that, well, that's your opinion, but we need those judges seated. That's a fact.

[MrsCoffee]

60. She already announced she is not running again. You want to lose the committee seat?

Then demand that she resign right now as she flies into D.C. Go ahead and snatch victory right out our hands.

[634-5789]

62. Just parroting what Schumer said on MSNBC a week ago.

[MrsCoffee]

63. Yet you still haven't answered post #61.

You say you aren't judging but have no problem tossing out armchair diagnoses based on shit you read on the hill?

LOL.

[634-5789]

64. You sound angry, please move on.

[onenote]

61. Tell me which judges haven't been seated during her absence?

Feinstein missed votes from February 27 - March 27 and then from April 17 until May 4. Those are the only days the Senate was in session for voting. During that period, 21 of Biden's nominees were confirmed by the Senate, more than during any comparable period during Biden's time in office. So her absence hasn't slowed things up. And while its true that around 9 percent of authorized judgeships are vacant, more than half of those seats are vacant because President Biden hasn't nominated anyone.

There are 15 District Court judicial nominees that have been approved by the Judiciary Committee, but Schumer hasn't brought to the floor for a vote. As noted, the Senate, with a 51-49 Democratic majority, has not had problems confirming nominees on the Senate floor, so its unlikely that Feinstein's absence is the reason for those nominees not having been brought to the floor. There are another 13 District Court nominees awaiting Judicial Committee approval. Four of those nominations were just made last week and haven't had a hearing yet. There are others that were made in March that haven't had a hearing (and Feinstein's absence doesn't prevent hearings from taking place), or only recently had a hearing (and there typically is a lag between the date of a hearing and when a nomination is voted on in Committee). There are at least three nominations that were made well before Feinstein became ill, but that haven't been voted on by the Committee. In some instances, Schumer is capitulating to Republican "blue slip" objections or there are issues on the Democratic side of the aisle about a couple of the nominees.

At the appeals court level, there are four nominees that have been approved by the Committee, but not brought to the floor for a vote. And there are three awaiting Committee action; two of those nominees were made in mid-April and are still waiting for a hearing (again, not delayed because of Feinstein's absence ).

So I ask again, which judges has her absence kept from being seated, keeping in mind that 21 have been seated and that there are 19 that have been approved by the Committee but that Schumer hasn't brought to the floor, even though during a part of her absence we had a 50-48 majority and, since McConnell returned, a 50-49 majority.

That's a fact.

[gab13by13]

2. Also,

The judiciary committee cannot subpoena HarlanCrow in its investigation into Clarence Thomas. DOJ would never investigate the SC.

[Irish_Dem]

5. The US senate is aging. They need to be transparent about their health.

Being a federal office holder should not be about ego, wealth, perks.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the American people.
And when you can no longer do the job it is time to go.

[Emile]

7. I thought she was returning to work yesterday. . .

[live love laugh]

14. Why did you think that?

[Emile]

16. This

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217890529

[maxsolomon]

30. That was a note on Schumer's talking points that he didn't even use.

It was, apparently, "aspirational".

[MrsCoffee]

34. And yet she is en route to D.C. now.

[maxsolomon]

40. I posted that before the news broke.

I've also posted elsewhere today saying she should get on a plane. She was listening, apparently.

[MrsCoffee]

43. Lol.

[MrsCoffee]

17. Schumer said she hopes to return this week.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/schumer-hopeful-ailing-dianne-feinstein-returns-week-dems/story?id=99027714

[WhiteTara]

9. Rules say she might not be able to be replaced

GQP has said they won't allow a replacement. She has to come back on her own. No one shrieked at Fetterman and his 2.5 month absence.

[MrsCoffee]

10. No.

She is expected to make a full recovery and be back this month. Wtf good does it do for her to resign. Explain that in full detail. The repugs are going to do everything in their power to block any replacement.

And who the fuck is he to declare that she can’t perform her duties.

Shingles sucks. She is allowed time to recover. Get over it.

[Nixie]

21. Isn't this Robert Reich the Bernie Sanders whisperer?

So is Ro Khanna, as he has mentioned himself in the press.

I would bet Feinstein has noticed the things in common with those pushing her to hand over her Senate seat.

[MrsCoffee]

23. Exactly.

[SalviaBlue]

44. Robert Reich is a solid Democrat. You should not disparage him on DU.

From Wikipedia:

He worked in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, and served as Secretary of Labor from 1993 to 1997 in the cabinet of President Bill Clinton.[4][5] He was also a member of President Barack Obama's economic transition advisory board.[6]

Not pure enough for you though?

[Nixie]

48. Hasn't he defined himself more recently.

Same as Ro Khanna. They have defined themselves and and I’ve heard their takes on the Independents — since you’re concerned about Democrats and purity.

You should read the very informed post #39 in this thread about the misinformation in Reich’s opinion.

I’m so glad Feinstein hasn’t fallen for the obvious ploys to grab her seat.

[pwb]

24. Must and now sounds like Puke talk.

Should may be a better word eh? I have had shingles at a much younger age. I welcome her back when she feels up to it.

[bigtree]

28. no ill and absent Senator ever been treated this way

...the judgeship argument is bogus because, it relies on the fantasy that republidcans blocking a temporary replacement NOW will vote to allow a much more progressive Barbara Lee, or an Adam Schiff, or Katie Porter onto the committee to 'ram through' nominees if we kill off a sitting senior Senator and replace her with a junior appointee.

There are nominees backed up on the floor of the Senate through no fault of Feinstein's. Moreover, the '20' nominees blocked by her absence isn't backed up by anything but Reich's word.

Here's the Senator's response to this gaslighting a few days ago: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2023/5/feinstein-on-status-of-judicial-confirmations


Feinstein on Status of Judicial Confirmations
May 04 2023

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the current status of judicial confirmations during her absence from the Senate while she recovers from shingles:

“The Senate continues to swiftly confirm highly qualified individuals to the federal judiciary, including seven more judicial nominees who were confirmed this week. There has been no slowdown.

“This includes the confirmation of Judge Wesley Hsu to the Central District of California. He will make an outstanding jurist and I’m proud to see him join the federal bench.

“While the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced eight strong nominees during my absence, I’m disappointed that Republicans on the committee are blocking a few from moving forward. I’m confident that when I return to the Senate, we will be able to move the remaining qualified nominees out of committee quickly and to the Senate floor for a vote.”

Background

Click HERE to view the status of every federal district or circuit court nominee in the Senate during Senator Feinstein’s absence.

Claim: Senator Feinstein’s absence has brought the judicial confirmation process to a standstill.

Fact: The Senate Judiciary Committee continues to hold hearings on nominees and advance them out of committee, and the Senate continues to confirm judicial nominees on the floor.

Claim: The Senate is unable to confirm any judicial nominees because of Senator Feinstein’s absence.

Fact: The Senate has confirmed 21 district and circuit court nominees during Senator Feinstein’s absence, including seven this week.

Democrats maintain a 50-49 majority on the floor and are able to continue confirming judges with or without bipartisan support. During the last Congress, the Senate confirmed 97 judges while the Senate was split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans.

Claim: The Senate Judiciary Committee is deadlocked and unable to advance any judicial nominees to the floor without Senator Feinstein.

Fact: The committee has advanced eight district and circuit court nominees during Senator Feinstein’s absence.

Claim: There is a large backlog of nominees who are unable to advance out of the Senate Judiciary Committee due to Senator Feinstein’s absence.

Fact: Only four district or circuit court nominees are currently eligible for a vote in committee.

Three more nominees received a hearing last month but won’t be eligible for a committee vote until next week.

The remaining nine nominees pending in the committee have not received a hearing yet and won’t be eligible for a committee vote until mid- to late-June at the earliest depending on when their confirmation hearing is scheduled.

Senator Feinstein’s absence does not prevent the committee from holding a hearing on any nominees.

Claim: Judicial nominees are not moving to the floor fast enough.

Fact: There are 19 district and circuit court nominees waiting for a vote on the floor, compared to just four nominees waiting to advance out of committee.

If the Senate did nothing but confirm judicial nominees, it would likely take at least three weeks of floor time to confirm all of the judicial nominees currently pending on the floor.

[maxsolomon]

31. Add this to the chorus. The NYT opined on it Sunday.

3 months away. Either she has the worst case of Shingles in history (and I say that as someone who's had it twice), or there are "complications".

After 3 months, she should be able to fly on a private jet back to DC.

[edisdead]

47. So you've looked at her an are able to make a diagnosis?

I knew someone that was out of commission a full summer.

[maxsolomon]

54. Yes, I have remotely diagnosed her.

Never change, DU.

[edisdead]

55. Sure thing JPR.

[maxsolomon]

56. Yeah, that's not me. I was SPECULATING. S P E C U L A T I N G.

TBH, I'm so fucking glad she's back I could scream.

No more threads on this topic, no more huffy responses telling us she's the greatest Senator in history, how dare you question her, no more accusations of Sexist Ageism or Ageist Sexism.

[edisdead]

57. you speculated wrong

without any reason to speculate. And in doing so spread misinformation. Great that you are super happy though!

[MrsCoffee]

33. She is en route to D.C. now. Hope that puts an end to all the malarkey.

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-05-09/sen-dianne-feinstein-is-en-route-back-to-dc-after-extended-absence

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is flying back to Washington, her spokesman said Tuesday, after her extended absence due to the shingles virus threatened to derail Senate Democrats’ agenda.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Feinstein, who had been convalescing in the Bay Area since mid-February, boarded a charter private plane on Tuesday and could return to the Senate as early as Tuesday evening.

[onenote]

39. More misleading BS

Feinstein missed votes from February 27 - March 27 and then from April 17 until May 4. Those are the only days the Senate was in session for voting. During that period, 21 of Biden's nominees were confirmed by the Senate - so her absence hasn't slowed things up. And while its true that around 9 percent of authorized judgeships are vacant, more than half of those seats are vacant because President Biden hasn't nominated anyone.

There are 15 District Court judicial nominees that have been approved by the Judiciary Committee, but Schumer hasn't brought to the floor for a vote. As noted, the Senate, with a 51-49 Democratic majority, has not had problems confirming nominees on the Senate floor, so its unlikely that Feinstein's absence is the reason for those nominees not having been brought to the floor. There are another 13 District Court nominees awaiting Judicial Committee approval. Four of those nominations were just made last week and haven't had a hearing yet. There are others that were made in March that haven't had a hearing (and Feinstein's absence doesn't prevent hearings from taking place), or only recently had a hearing (and there typically is a lag between the date of a hearing and when a nomination is voted on in Committee). There are at least three nominations that were made well before Feinstein became ill, but that haven't been voted on by the Committee. in some instances, Schumer is capitulating to Republican "blue slip" objections or there are issues on the Democratic side of the aisle about a couple of the nominees.

At the appeals court level, there are four nominees that have been approved by the Committee, but not brought to the floor for a vote. And there are three awaiting Committee action; two of those nominees were made in mid-April and are still waiting for a hearing (again, not delayed because of Feinstein's absence ).

[edisdead]

45. JFC THIS #%* again?

[Hekate]

51. Did you read this OP, below?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217898494