All is Not Fein

Back in 2018 here, I wrote about how my state U.S. senator Dianne Feinstein should have announced her retirement, rather than – at the age of 84 – run for re-election to another six year term, which would take her to age 91.  Not just because of her age, but also because running kept the state from electing a new senator who could begin building up seniority.  People like Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell were considering campaigns, but they immediately stopped when Sen. Feinstein ran again.

That wasn’t the case this time around, when Schiff, Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Barbara Lee have announced they were running for the seat (and others are expected to join them), and Dianne Feinstein finally announced she would not run for re-election.

Nonetheless, this has become an issue as Sen. Feinstein has been absent since February – we are now into April – which has put critically important Biden nominees for federal judgeships on hold, since she sits on the almost 50/50 divided Senate Judiciary Committee.

Amid growing calls that she resign, Feinstein’s office released a statement purportedly from the senator saying she’s asked Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to replace her on the Judiciary Committee (though not to resign her seat).  Well, fat chance with that – of course.  At the moment, Republicans are playing hard ball, and said “No,” unless they could approve the replacement.  And thus far, they’ve only suggested Sen. Kyrsten Sinema – who is abhorred by Democrats, and isn’t even a Democrat anymore, having left the party to become an Independent.  And it’s hard to imagine Republicans changing their stance.

To be clear, Dianne Feinstein isn’t absent because of any “mental failing” issues of old age.  She’s dealing with a case of shingles.  The thing is, though, while that doesn’t sound too problematic and something she can recover from quickly and be back in Washington soon – the reality is that shingles, especially for someone who is 89, can be serious and debilitating.  Which appears to be the case, since she has already been absent since February.  And it’s April.

I know someone – not 89, but nearing that age bracket – who contracted shingles in December, and it’s been a very difficult recovery.  In fact, it’s required both occupational therapy and physical therapy – as well as speech therapy.  And that was back in December, and the recuperation, while significantly improving, finally, is still ongoing.

Furthermore, unlike most jobs, being a U.S. senator is not a position you can just put a temp in for the time being.  Dianne Feinstein has to be in Washington, D.C. to serve – not just to do the important work…but to cast votes.  Votes in the Judiciary Committee, but also on the Senate floor.  A Senate divided by only 51-49.

While it’s very understandable why Senator Feinstein – or anyone – doesn’t want to retire, especially from a highly important, powerful job, it’s even more hard to understand why she doesn’t resign.

After all, she’s already said she is resigning, and in just 21 months.  In fact, it’s essentially less than that since the Senate will go on Christmas recess a month earlier.  This isn’t a job she has any plans to keep going.  And she’s 89 years old.  And recovering from a very difficult illness, which will likely require a range of therapy.  And will keep her from Washington and from doing her job for the foreseeable future.  All of which puts Biden judicial appointments and the Democratic agenda at risk.

Other than the ego of holding on to a title and the authority that goes with it, why on earth would she – at age 89 – stick around to the detriment of the political party to whom she has devoted her career, most especially at a time when she knows the country is facing an attack from fascism??

I hope she recovers soon.  But I also dearly hope she resigns as soon as possible.

Governor Newsom will have to appoint a placeholder senator, someone who will not run in 2024, since otherwise that would be unfair to all the declared candidates.  But whoever gets appointed, it will be a Democrat who can do the job and, most importantly, vote.