California Gov. Gavin Newsom would make an 'interim' choice (re: Dianne Feinstein)

[brooklynite]

As three high-profile California Democrats vie to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would not appoint any of them to the seat, should it become vacant sooner than expected.

That decision could be a blow to Rep. Barbara Lee, since her allies had reason to believe she was Newsom’s first choice to fill a potential vacancy. But that was before she entered the Senate race, where she is currently trailing in polls behind better-known and better-funded fellow Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.

In his most direct comments on the matter yet, Newsom said in the interview with Chuck Todd for NBC News' "Meet the Press" that airs Sunday that he would instead make an “interim appointment” to replace Feinstein if necessary.

“Yes. Interim appointment. I don’t want to get involved in the primary,” Newsom said. “It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/gavin-newsom-make-interim-appointment-dianne-feinstein-senate-rcna103933

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. That's the right thing to do.

I’m a big fan of Newsom, he’d make a great President some day.

[homegirl]

33. Yes, he

would and Adam Schiff would be a great Senator from California, them Newsome's VP, then POTUS!

[Sympthsical]

2. 100% agree with Newsom's decision on this

[JohnSJ]

3. If Senator Boxer was willing to fill in the interim appointment, that would be the ideal choice in

my view.

He made it clear he would not give an unfair advantage to any of the Senate candidates in 2024, and make an interim appointment.

[dsc]

6. I would like to see George Takei

so we could have a gay male Senator but Boxer would be great and have much of the seniority that Feinstein has (she would get back all the years she had).

[drray23]

7. she has a lot of experience for sure but would not "get back" any of that seniority

She would start off as a junior senator again. That is how it works in the senate.

[dsc]

16. No it doesn't

when we appointed Lautenberg he got his seniority back.

[JohnSJ]

8. What experience does he have? Appointing someone only because of their demographic does not make

good sense. We need someone with experience at this critical time.

If you want an experience legislator who is gay, someone like Barney Frank would be the choice because of the experience. Frank cannot be the choice though because he isn't from California.

[dsc]

18. He has served on a few California boards

and even ran for office at one point.

Takei was an alternate delegate from California to the 1972 Democratic National Convention. The following year he ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, finishing second of five candidates in the special election and losing by 1,647 votes; the winner, David Cunningham Jr., received 42% of the votes cast and Takei received 33%. During the campaign, Takei's bid for the city council caused one local station to stop running the repeats of the original Star Trek series until after the election and KNBC-TV to substitute the premiere episode of the Star Trek animated series scheduled by the network with another in which his character did not appear, in attempts to avoid violating the FCC's equal-time rule.[81] The other candidates in the race complained that Takei's distinctive and powerful voice alone, even without his image on television every week, created an unfair advantage.[82]

Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley later appointed Takei to the board of directors of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, making him part of the team that initiated and planned the Los Angeles subway system. Takei was called away from the set of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1978 to cast the tie-breaking vote for the creation of the Los Angeles subway system. He served on the board from 1973 to 1984.[83]

In 1980, Takei began a campaign for California State Assemblyman (District 46) from the greater Los Angeles area. However, he chose to withdraw after his opponent challenged the airing of episodes of Star Trek on local television under the Federal Communications Commission's Fairness Doctrine "equal time" regulations,[84][85] saying also that "this is the wrong time to interrupt my career as an actor and author."[84] He also appeared as a sadistic Japanese POW camp commander in the World War II film Return from the River Kwai (1989).

In November 2010, Takei released a PSA blasting Clint McCance, who was at the time the vice president of the school board for the Midland School District in southern Independence County, Arkansas.[86] In the video, Takei repeatedly called McCance "a douchebag". Takei's video was made as a response to McCance making blatantly homophobic remarks, stating that he "enjoys the fact that [gay people] give each other AIDS and die".[87] McCance went on to encourage gay people to commit suicide, and stated that he would disown his children if they were gay.[88] McCance later resigned his seat on the Midland school board. Takei was praised for his response to McCance and garnered much media attention with the PSA.

[JohnSJ]

22. Barney Frank lives in Massachusetts, not California. Regardless, it won't be Takei or Boxer, it

will most likely be a Californian African American Woman in the interim, because that is what Newsom said he would do previously.

[bullimiami]

13. What a brilliant move that would be.

He has the experience of being a decent human being.
Something that at least half of the congress is lacking in.

[obamanut2012]

14. Takei has no public service experience

[dsc]

19. He does have public service experience

Takei was an alternate delegate from California to the 1972 Democratic National Convention. The following year he ran for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, finishing second of five candidates in the special election and losing by 1,647 votes; the winner, David Cunningham Jr., received 42% of the votes cast and Takei received 33%. During the campaign, Takei's bid for the city council caused one local station to stop running the repeats of the original Star Trek series until after the election and KNBC-TV to substitute the premiere episode of the Star Trek animated series scheduled by the network with another in which his character did not appear, in attempts to avoid violating the FCC's equal-time rule.[81] The other candidates in the race complained that Takei's distinctive and powerful voice alone, even without his image on television every week, created an unfair advantage.[82]

Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley later appointed Takei to the board of directors of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, making him part of the team that initiated and planned the Los Angeles subway system. Takei was called away from the set of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1978 to cast the tie-breaking vote for the creation of the Los Angeles subway system. He served on the board from 1973 to 1984.[83]

In 1980, Takei began a campaign for California State Assemblyman (District 46) from the greater Los Angeles area. However, he chose to withdraw after his opponent challenged the airing of episodes of Star Trek on local television under the Federal Communications Commission's Fairness Doctrine "equal time" regulations,[84][85] saying also that "this is the wrong time to interrupt my career as an actor and author."[84] He also appeared as a sadistic Japanese POW camp commander in the World War II film Return from the River Kwai (1989).

In November 2010, Takei released a PSA blasting Clint McCance, who was at the time the vice president of the school board for the Midland School District in southern Independence County, Arkansas.[86] In the video, Takei repeatedly called McCance "a douchebag". Takei's video was made as a response to McCance making blatantly homophobic remarks, stating that he "enjoys the fact that [gay people] give each other AIDS and die".[87] McCance went on to encourage gay people to commit suicide, and stated that he would disown his children if they were gay.[88] McCance later resigned his seat on the Midland school board. Takei was praised for his response to McCance and garnered much media attention with the PSA.

[obamanut2012]

44. Come on, you know that isn;t what I mean

He should not be an Interim Senator from CA. He does not have the experience.

[chicoescuela]

10. I would agree with this choice, makes sense as a place holder

[JohnSJ]

23. Probably won't happen though because Newsom pledged an African American Woman in the interim

[haele]

11. Boxer is not a threat to primary Dems plus she has experience.

Schumer is going to have to shuffle some committee seats around, because as was pointed out, no matter what her emeritus status was, she's been away from the Senate for a significant time and will be considered a junior Senator.

But it all depends on whether or not she's willing to take a year out of her retirement to step in.

Haele

[roamer65]

31. I would bet she will do it.

[beaglelover]

39. Agree. That would be a great choice if she would be willing to go back to DC.

[maliaSmith]

52. Senator Boxer

That is a great idea and I hope Boxer would agree along with Newsom.

She would seamlessly fill in until we vote in March and November for Schiff.

[FBaggins]

4. Sounds right

Democrats generally favor letting voters decide.

[bigtree]

5. old news

...Sept. 10

[Demovictory9]

9. But relevant cuz she died today

[JohnSJ]

12. exactly

[obamanut2012]

15. Except DiFi died

[stopdiggin]

27. but absolutely on point to today's

issue/topic. It remains Newsom's position.

[marble falls]

17. Newsome has bench of good candidates.

[twodogsbarking]

20. All top notch. Katie Porter makes me smile. She has a way of pointing out

the obvious to those who couldn't see it, or refuse to.

[marble falls]

21. Katie Porter has what it takes to be a strong Senator. I'd support her as a good strong choice.

[ificandream]

50. I've been supporting KP since she announced she'd run.

She's got my vote.

[rubbersole]

24. Rob Reiner could be a great temp.

Just for the memorable quotes...

[Sympthsical]

26. He has the experience

?si=MsTkpSP_r59IZMmZ

[Traildogbob]

25. Jesus

Could sit as interim and McConnell and FQP will not allow him to fill the Judiciary seat she vacated, disallowing judges any to be appointed.

[ripcord]

28. Why do people keep saying no more judges will be appointed for 16 months?

There were 21 judges appointed during Feinstein's absence from the Senate.

[onenote]

42. Because people post without bothering to know the facts.

Sadly.

[usonian]

29. Life is full of ironies.

By Newsom choosing not to favor one senate over another ( the "right thing to do" ) having entered the Senate race rules one out for the appointment.

[aggiesal]

30. Katie Porter doesn't have the resume that Adam Schiff has ...

Plus Katie's Orange County district is predominately (R) and if she gets appointed, her district would most likely fall back into (R) hands.
While Adam's district is a safely in the hands of (D).

I'm actually thinking Katie shouldn't even be running for Senate, because of the narrow margin in the House.
She runs for Senate we lose a House seat, making it harder to gain control of the House.

[Emile]

32. Wouldn't leaving Katie Porter in a predominantly

Republican district risk her losing the seat? I hate to think we lose Katie, egads. Adam Schiff is in a safe district and at no risk of losing his seat.

[aggiesal]

40. That's always a risk ...

But Adam has a better resume and more experience and we can use Katie in her district.
If you hate to think we lose Katie, by running for Senate, she's pretty much giving her seat away, big mistake.

Adam Schiff's public resume
I'm surprised that his official .gov doesn't mention anything about being the Lead Impeachment Manager (i.e. Prosecutor) for the 2nd Impeachment of Pendejo45 or member of the 1st Pendejo45 Impeachment & Jan 6th Committee.
These are some big time credentials, that Katie can't match.

California Senate since 1996
In Congress since 2001
https://schiff.house.gov/about/committee-assignments

Katie Porter public resume
In Congress since 2018
https://porter.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses.htm

Plus, Adam's wife is named Eve. So we need a Adam in the Senate & an Adam & Eve (great introduction) at formal State Dinners when possible.

[Emile]

46. I guess we'll just have to disagree.

Katie would make a great senator and has just as much right to that seat as anyone else.

[aggiesal]

47. I never said she didn't have the right ...

I just said that she doesn't have the resume that Adam Schiff has.
In this case, she doesn't come close to what Schiff has accomplished in the House.
Both will make excellent Senators, but I believe Schiff will get more done.

[aggiesal]

48. BTW, your profile states that you're currently in Western Indiana ...

I grew up in NW Indiana, otherwise known as a Region Rat.

Where abouts in western IN. are you located?

Thanks for the discussion.

[Emile]

49. Out in the country in Warren county near Lafayette, Indiana.

[aggiesal]

51. Purdue country. Got it. I'm from Hammond. Enjoy your day. n/t

[IronLionZion]

34. Yup, sounds fair enough

[republianmushroom]

35. I like the governors thinking.

Fairness.

[pinkstarburst]

36. Boxer is a good choice if she's willing

Lee, Porter and Schiff need to win or lose on their own merits, and Newsom is correct not to tip the scales in any way. It needs to be left up to the voters to decide.

[Danascot]

37. I read that Newsome was considering

Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor, as an interim appointment.

[Polybius]

38. I think he should appoint Katie Hill

She was forced to resign for nothing illegal.

[MichMan]

41. Want to see some Republican heads explode ?

Appoint Hunter Biden as an interim. Another Sen. Biden has a certain ring to it.

[Justice]

43. Barbara Boxer or Jackie Speier

[Mordred]

45. Newsom will live to his word

which means the most likely choices begin with our Sec of State Shirley Weber or State Controller Malia Cohen.