Diane Feinstein dead at age 90

[rogue06]

Nobody can deny that she was a groundbreaker, and served on the Senate longer than any other woman, but now that she has passed on, what are the ramifications?

Pressure is on Newsom to name a replacement

Source: Pressure is on Newsom to quickly appoint Feinstein’s temporary replacement

Feinstein’s death will upend the intensifying race to replace her and force Newsom into a painful political decision.

The death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein places Gov. Gavin Newsom under intense pressure to quickly name a replacement as a bitterly divided Congress votes on a spending plan in the coming hours to avert a government shutdown.

Newsom had hoped to avoid the politically charged decision of selecting a second senator. But he will need to move swiftly as a budget standoff has the government on the verge of shutting down, and Senate Democrats could need every vote. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) affirmed on Friday that the fast-moving political situation creates an imperative for Newsom to make a difficult decision quickly.

“He, you know, wants to be respectful and not name somebody while folks are still grappling with their grief,” Kaine said, but “we cannot afford to be one down. We really can’t.”
The timing of Feinstein’s death — four months before a primary but more than a year before the end of her term — complicates this election cycle. Staff at the California secretary of state’s office was huddling early Friday morning to determine the timelines that would govern an appointment or a possible special election.

The governor’s inner circle knows he’s facing a vastly tighter timeline then the five weeks it took him to nominate Alex Padilla to Kamala Harris’ Senate seat after the 2020 presidential election. He’s expected to move quickly on the appointment while respecting the death of a longtime friend and mentor.

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The left does have a bad habit of seeing someone's death as little more than a political opportunity to exploit. That attitude may very well have cost them the presidential race and handed it to George W. Bush.

But in any case... Newsom is on record saying that he would select a black woman as a replacement if it became necessary. But Kamala is Exhibit A for why making a pick like this should not be dependent on which boxes the candidate will check off (Buttigieg and KJ-P are two others).

Is there any chance that Newsom could select himself (he wouldn't be the first to do so) and give himself a national platform for a run on the presidency? If so, I seriously doubt he'd make his move for it in 2024 -- which he has all but announced for -- and would instead be setting himself up for 2028. And as governor of Californication he probably has as big if not bigger megaphone than he would as a freshman Senator. So I don't see that happening.

So who do you think he'll pick? Maybe Adam Schiff (if he goes back on his earlier promise).

[seer]

So who do you think he'll pick? Maybe Adam Schiff (if he goes back on his earlier promise).

I think this will tell us if he is running for president, if he picks a radical leftist then no, he is not running, if he picks a moderate then yes...

[rogue06]

I think this will tell us if he is running for president, if he picks a radical leftist then no, he is not running, if he picks a moderate then yes...

Interesting. I see it as being the opposite.

He needs to secure the base in order to win the nomination which won't happen if he starts moving to the center already.

If the pick is a strongly leftwing black person I'd see it as an indication that he's running.

[seer]

Interesting. I see it as being the opposite.

He needs to secure the base in order to win the nomination which won't happen if he starts moving to the center already.

If the pick is a strongly leftwing black person I'd see it as an indication that he's running.

He needs to appeal to the independents, squishy republicans - he already has the nut jobs in his pocket...

[rogue06]

He needs to appeal to the independents, squishy republicans - he already has the nut jobs in his pocket...

That always comes after gaining the nomination. They have to run hard to the left to do that then shift toward the center for the general campaign.

[Sparko]

Her death probably won't stop her from voting though. If not in congress then in the next election.

[Ronson]

In California in the 1990s, I had a problem with HUD regarding an imminent domain. For some assistance, I contacted Feinstein's office (twice) and never got a response, or even a form letter. So I next tried Senator Barbara Boxer's office, and her office promptly responded and her staff said they would help, and they did. They sent a letter to HUD an explained the problem and cc'd me. HUD responded promising to investigate and cc'd me. I did end up resolving it on the side on my own, but Boxer's office helped when Feinstein's ignored. I never forgave her.

[Starlight]

She was clearly too incapacitated to do the job at the end, and it was getting to be elder abuse.

In her lifetime, the politics of her state changed quite a lot. By the end, she wasn't a good reflection of where California is currently at.

It will be interesting to see who Newsom appoints, which might have a lot to do with Newsom's potential run at the Presidency. It will also be interesting to see who eventually wins the primary for Senator of Cal.

[rogue06]

She was clearly too incapacitated to do the job at the end, and it was getting to be elder abuse.

Agreed. I wonder what roll those who insisted on dragging her back to D.C. when she sill wasn't well had to do with her death.

Now the burning question is will they continue the elder abuse of old Joe since he as well is clearly too incapacitated to do his job. The man often has no idea where he is or what he's doing.

[rogue06]

In California in the 1990s, I had a problem with HUD regarding an imminent domain. For some assistance, I contacted Feinstein's office (twice) and never got a response, or even a form letter. So I next tried Senator Barbara Boxer's office, and her office promptly responded and her staff said they would help, and they did. They sent a letter to HUD an explained the problem and cc'd me. HUD responded promising to investigate and cc'd me. I did end up resolving it on the side on my own, but Boxer's office helped when Feinstein's ignored. I never forgave her.

I had a similar experience when I contacted Ralph Warnock's office about an issue I was having with Social Security. They at least replied but it was the last I ever heard from them.

[Starlight]

Newsom has picked Laphonza Butler to temporarily hold the California senate seat. She is a youngish (mid 40s) Black lesbian, head of abortion-rights group EMILY's List, and recently sided with Uber against the unions. So I guess from Newsom's perspective she ticks all the boxes (and I'm bitter and disgusted that being pro-corporate / anti-union is a box for him).

It doesn't sound likely she'll compete to hold the Senate seat in next year's election, which seems like it could be quite high-profile and a close race between 3 fairly well-known candidates: Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff.

[CivilDiscourse]

Newsom has picked Laphonza Butler to temporarily hold the California senate seat. She is a youngish (mid 40s) Black lesbian, head of abortion-rights group EMILY's List, and recently sided with Uber against the unions. So I guess from Newsom's perspective she ticks all the boxes (and I'm bitter and disgusted that being pro-corporate / anti-union is a box for him).

Honestly, for Newsom it probably wasn't a box for him. It likely didn't matter as long as he hit the identity politics checkmarks. Newsom strikes me as a style over substance politician. It's more important that his actions be visible than they are smart, well thought out or constitutional.

[rogue06]

Newsom has picked Laphonza Butler to temporarily hold the California senate seat. She is a youngish (mid 40s) Black lesbian, head of abortion-rights group EMILY's List, and recently sided with Uber against the unions. So I guess from Newsom's perspective she ticks all the boxes (and I'm bitter and disgusted that being pro-corporate / anti-union is a box for him).

It doesn't sound likely she'll compete to hold the Senate seat in next year's election, which seems like it could be quite high-profile and a close race between 3 fairly well-known candidates: Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff.

Apparently her primary qualification (aside from checking off several boxes which is all important to identity politics types) is she was an adviser for Kamala when she was a Senator. He also declared that she's an "advocate for women and girls" but I'll bet she'll push for letting more men take awards from them in sports.

[Ronson]

I had a similar experience when I contacted Ralph Warnock's office about an issue I was having with Social Security. They at least replied but it was the last I ever heard from them.

Even though I don't live in Kentucky I'm subscribed to Rand Paul's email newsletter. It comes out about once per month, and it is packed with details of projects in Kentucky he is assisting with. It almost makes me want to move. So although his public face nationally is berating Fauci and complaining about the budget, the guy is very active in his state. And then I think about Feinstein.