Feinstein Gets the Boot - Patty Murray to Swipe Her Job as Senate President Pro Tem

Feinstein is a scandal.

Californians - get Feinstein out now. Disgraceful.

R1 Now you've got my wheels turning! Imma steal this idea for my next season!

I'm thinking...

Sarah Paulson as Dianne Feinstein

Cody Fern as Madison Cawthorn

Finn Wittrock as Gavin Newsom

Sarah Paulson as Barbara Boxer

Judith Light as Patty Murray

Sarah Paulson as Harvey Milk (in flashbacks AND as the Ghost of Hannukah Past!)

Darren Criss as Director's Suck Slave

Whatever, OP, you're already in the Datalounge Cunt Ignore Lounge.

No idea what you're bitching about, don't care.

DiFi is 1000 years old. California has a deep bench of experienced Democratic politicians who can carry significant voter blocs in the state. Newsom will appoint her replacement in the fullness of time.

Relax, whatever it is, it's not a big deal.

R3, in that case, Holland Taylor for Feinstein, surely. Paulson can play the Edgar Bergen. It's actually the bigger part in the last few episodes.

And introducing Lindsay Graham as Nancy Pelosi.

Congratulations on your promotion, Peppermint Patty!

Nice bangsch, doll!

Bangsch?!?

R4 "The fullness of time" was two terms ago, when the old cow could still remember her own middle name. Nowadays, whenever a reporter stops her to ask even a basic question, she can't string together a complete sentence without help from an aide. It goes something like:

"Senator Feinstein, how do you feel about the latest force readiness report from DoD?"

"Oh, well, I thought Joan Rivers did a fabulous job on The Tonight Show last night, but I always preferred the episodes where Charo showed up to chase after Isaac and Captain Stubing!"

"No, Senator, that was decades ago. You didn't like the force readiness report, remember? We had all those questions for the Joint Chiefs? Remember the yellow cards?"

"Yes, that's right. I wrote it all down on the pink cards. The Glengarry leads! And YOU don't get them!"

She's a true progressive. Now she can't remember her first name either.

"aides/nurses" is a very deft touch, OP.

[quote] Californians - get Feinstein out now. Disgraceful.

As a CA Democrat, I was pissed that she got re-elected. Who voted for her? Identify yourselves, villains.

Only cunts would do this to Dianne.

[quote] California has a deep bench of experienced Democratic politicians who can carry significant voter blocs in the state.

Exactly. And as DiFi can no longer perform the duties required of her, she is just clogging up space and keeping other [D] politicians from gaining experience.

At least Barbara Boxer knew when to hang 'em up.

Harveeeeeeeey!

Also a CA voter. Nobody will primary her, except occasional mayors or city council members from rural towns. What am I supposed to do come election day – vote for the Republican? I think it was selfish and greedy for her to run last time. She is out of touch with reality, let alone with the finer issues of the day. Whoever her aides are, they're our senator.

Feinstein enjoys the support of California old money Democrats, who are also old and white. The younger crowd of papable California Democrats do not look like the folks with the money, so there's that. Harris replaced Boxer because Harris is married to a white guy, she talks like a white person, and never displayed "ethnic" behavior or speech. Padilla was recently reelected after having been appointed by Newsom. But California Democratic money will not support two POC's representing CA in the Senate. Even if Newsom appoints Feinstein's successor, that person will not win an election unless s/he is, ahem, lacking melanin.

^I think the annoying part is some people pivot to ageism when it comes to criticism re: Feinstein. Well, that certainly is not true -- I did not feel the same way about Pelosi, Jerry Brown (in their eighties but extremely competent and effective). DiFi is no longer competent. And she is out of touch with the new California.

R18 No doubt! Pelosi is still very competent. I haven't heard Jerry B. recently, but he was on his game at the end of his last term. And I completely agree with you – Feinstein is incompetent. This is why her aides keep her out of view and, God forbid, away from microphones.

Sounds like she doesn't know she doesn't want the job

Feinstein has had an incredible legacy...but everyone knows the old gal isn't mentally there anymore. It's a disgrace that she is still an active US Senator. She needs to be at home enjoying her last days in peace.

What's your agenda OP?

This is a funny, classic DL thread. I chuckled out loud at a few of these posts.

Do you think either of these women still have sex?

Do you think Chuck Grassley does? I bet he can't get hard even with Viagra.

[quote] She needs to be at home enjoying her last days in peace.

Exactly! Thank you for your decades of service, Senator, and now you can enjoy a well-earned retirement while other Dems (Schiff? Porter?) ascend to a new level of leadership!

Couldn't they find a younger Senator ? My god.

Jon Voight as Lindsey Graham.

She needs to retire and Newsom needs to appoint Katie Porter to that job.

R29, I totally agree with you and I hope that's exactly what happens. Katie Porter could have that seat for the rest of her life, much as DiFi has done.

No one is going to push Dianne out. Not now, not ever, no thank you. We respect her decades of outstanding service to our state and to our country. Obviously, we are moving into a transitional time in the Senator's life. DiFi knows it, Gavin Newsom knows it, Chuck Schumer knows it, everybody knows. This will be properly timed for all the people involved, barring some catastrophe.

Chill out. It's handled.

At 85, she should she should not have run for re-election in 2018, now she just has two years left in her term anyway. Grassley, was just re-elected to another term at 89!

Patty is a workhorse. She’ll get things done in the Senate and is respected by both parters. California needs a new senior senator

Feinstein needs to go. What an embarrassment.

Murray is probably the homeliest woman to ever hold public office.

I would like to know just bad off she really is. Does anyone have any footage? I have been hearing this for years but I have not seen any evidence.

[quote]Feinstein is a scandal.

Feinstein is a snack!

Do kids still say that?

[Quote]deemed to squishy-brained

Oh, dear. Who's squishy-brained, OP?

[quote] No one is going to push Dianne out. Not now, not ever, no thank you.

This is a huge problem.

As vile and gross as they are, I'd argue that the Repukes do a better job mentoring younger politicians and letting them run/fill political office.

[Quote]According to a New Yorker article in December, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y., had to ask Feinstein twice to step down from her role as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee because she forgot the first conversation.

Dems have to approach her family or something to get her to step down. She was a great Mayor and Senator. Time to go home now, gurl.

r38 forgot about Chuck GrASSley

[quote] California needs a new senior senator

R32 In the current scenario, Padilla automatically becomes the Senior Senator from California if someone else is appointed or elected to succeed a departing Feinstein.

James Spader as Lindsey Graham.

Ben? Ben? Benjamin Franklin! Is that you!?

Newsom should broker a deal: Diane resigns, he appoints Kamala to the role so she has job security after 2024 and her VP failure, Pete gets appointed VP for the experience but only if he agrees to run as Newsom’s VP in 2024, and not challenge him.

Gen X hasn't gotten it's proper chance to be leaders because Boomers won't give up. Xers can't move up till Boomers move on. That's part of why you can't think of a cadre of 50-somethings (who by now should have 20 or so years of experience ascending the ladder of government themselves). Power may be great to have, but Dems, Repubs and everyone should put some sort of government age limit on elected office: that you finish your final term at 70 ideally, or 75 at most.

My mind reels at the thought of all these geezers running our country, from all parties, when I think about the people in my family and friends circle who are the same age putting in that kind of work day. No one says these older adults can't have some other job, or contribute to society in some other way, but it's too old to be in government.

[quote] I'd argue that the Repukes do a better job mentoring younger politicians and letting them run/fill political office.

Strom Thurmond’s ghost would like to have a word with you.

[quote]No one is going to push Dianne out. Not now, not ever, no thank you.

True, but they could always let her just wander into traffic.

R34, I take that back. I forgot about Lori Lightfoot.

R44, Petey is not going to be Vice President. His time in politics will be over in two years.

I like Katie Porter very much, but Adam Schiff deserves it. He's been there longer and was outstanding during impeachment--and Mueller. He's a total bore but would be outstanding in the job. Porter needs to keep that Orange County House seat! We need her there. (And she could run for governor!)

She is 3rd in line to the presidency as president pro-tempore of Senate. Her brain is oatmeal. Can't have that, so good on Patty.

I love Patty Murray. "Snowbird" is one of my favorite songs..

The racism is unnecessary, and inaccurate, of course. I think Mayor-elect Karen Bass would make an excellent Senator. Hopefully the timing is right.

Please, 88 year old Charles Grassley was just re-elected.

[Quote] She is 3rd in line to the presidency as president pro-tempore of Senate.

4th or later at least

[Quote] My mind reels at the thought of all these geezers running our country

Hasn’t Lindsay Graham said he’s never sent an email before?

VP, Speaker of House, President pro-tem of the Senate

who am I missing?

R44, the VP role is thankless. Kamala is doing a good job in a role where she has no power whatsoever. No VP has distinguished themselves in the modern era except for Joe Biden, and that’s really because he became president. But I do think Kamala will have a difficult time achieving a higher office. It isn’t fair, a lot of it is because she’s a woman of color. Obama succeeded because he made no missteps in the process and he was seen as a transformational leader. Kamala is very competent but she’s not transformational. Sadly, I think Hillary was.

[quote]It isn’t fair, a lot of it is because she’s a woman of color.

That's the rationalization that will be used. The truth is that she's not very likable.

I heard (take this with 1000 grains of salt) that Feinstein was planning to step down during the lame-duck session and Newsom was going to appoint Adam Schiff to replace her, which is one reason why Schiff didn't make a big deal of going after the Democratic leadership position in the House but let Hakeem Jeffries have it.

Someone else objected that Newsom would not want two southern Californians in the Senate (although there were two northern Californians all the years that Feinstein and Boxer were there). So I dunno.

I brought up that point about it being two southern Californias, it's something to consider because Newsom is a creature of the Bay Area political machine and there is that NorCal/SoCal rivalry.

More importantly, Newsom has said he would appoint a black woman. He wants to run for President some day, he will get killed in the primary if he renegs on that promise and names a white guy.

I just don't see it happening. At all

[quote] I brought up that point about it being two southern Californias, it's something to consider because Newsom is a creature of the Bay Area political machine and there is that NorCal/SoCal rivalry.

California’s political power has always been consolidated up north in NorCal/Sacramento -- even dating back to the Spanish and Mexican eras. It's a little bit unusual when you consider southern California has the larger (but more politically disengaged) population.

Newsom (who is looking fucking creeeeepy these days) could hedge his bullshit drunken boast by splitting the difference and appointing a Black woman only as an interim senator.

He could pick a Black woman who happens to be an aging, unelectable nutball - say, Barbara Lee, that commie loon from Oakland - who promises to finish out the term but not run for a full term in 2024. The lady would get to retire as a US Senator, and the seat would be open at the next regular election. Lee is as power-mad as she is regular mad, so she wouldn't go this quietly. But someone else might agree to it.

That way, in 2024, the seat is open for Schiff, Fiona Ma, Todd Gloria, and whoever else wants to run.

In a state like California, why must the appointee be black? If he's so committed to diversity, why not go with a Latino or Asian?

R64 Because California Democrats coast on fumes of identity politics, and because Gavin Newsom is ten years out of touch with regular people.

They already have a Latino senator in Alex Padilla.

And California's Asian vote is an unreliable constituency for Democrats. Half the fuckers are Republicans, and they therefore don't deserve such a plum until they get their shit together. Meanwhile, Black women keep organized and keep the party going between presidential trips to the ATM that is Santa Monica and Brentwood.

Kamala Harris is a black woman, since he didn't replace her with another black woman some people were upset r64. So he decided to commit to a black woman if Feinstein retires.

And yes his first appointment was already Latino. Very purposeful, Padilla was an early supporter who endorsed Newsom's bid for governor and helped him campaign in the Latino community. Newsom owed him.

This would've been a lot easier had Karen Bass lost last week. She'd be perfect as a senator, and it's a great golden parachute for someone like her.

But she had to go and WIN, so now who gets it?

Biden should have picked someone else for VP, Harris may not be well liked personally, but she most likely would have remained a US Senator for many years to come.

Patty Murray or Jackie Rogers, Jr?

Is Patty Murray trans?

Wow, I didn't recall Newsom promising that. He can't go back on that, can he? I suppose he can...

I still think Schiff gets it. Newsom could go on Joy Reid and apologize or something. Because I agree, with Karen Bass taking the L.A. mayoralty, the best candidate is out of it.

[quote]And California's Asian vote is an unreliable constituency for Democrats. Half the fuckers are Republicans, and they therefore don't deserve such a plum until they get their shit together.

How about you stop making shit up? Here are some stats from the Public Policy Institute of California.

[quote]Our surveys over the past year indicate that, among adult citizens, 47% of Latinos, 54% of Asian Americans, and 54% of African Americans are likely to vote, compared to 65% of non-Hispanic whites.

Asians are as likely to vote as blacks.

[quote]An overwhelming majority of African American likely voters (73%) and a majority of Latino (58%) and Asian American (54%) likely voters are registered as Democrats; far fewer are registered as Republicans (5% African Americans, 16% Latinos, 19% Asian Americans).

19% of Asians registered as Republicans is not half

Here are some other stats I found interesting about the demographics of California: 40.2% are Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% are Asian, and just 6.5% are black.

If we're going to pick senators in California based on minority status, Newsom should pick an full Asian, not a mix like Kamala. Asians, whole, don't go committing crime at the same rate others do. It would be a better look for the party.

I'd actually like it if Kamala decided not to be Biden's running mate in 2024, then Newsom could pick her and Biden could choose someone else to run with him.

Black voters aren't this thin-skinned. They won't be personally offended by dipshit Gavin and his "broken promise."

They want/need a senator who kicks ass and brings energy to the job. That's Adam Schiff. Appointing a token to the job just because of skin color and some worthless vow he made smacks of cheap sentiment. Black voters deserve more than that.

The black population of California is only 6.5%. The Latino population is 40%. So naming a black person would be pointless. However, two women were elected in California and there have been two women Senators there since 1992. Newsom named a Latino to replace Kamala. If he names another man to replace Feinstein, there will be hell to pay. He'll have to name a woman. The Asian population of California is 15% so I would suspect an Asian woman would be his pick maybe Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Judy Chu - both are in safe Dem districts. Katie Porter's in a purple district. Does a Governor appoint House members like for Senators or is there a new election? Adam Schiff isn't going anywhere.

It's entirely possible Feinstein serves out the remaining 2 years of her term and this issue never comes up.

Agree r75. Her handlers can keep her through two more years, wouldn't be surprised if she rides it out. Then can let the voters decide in 2024.

She's soon to be giving an interview to Barbara Walters.

R75 In other words, the nation's most populous state will be represented for another two years by whatever unelected, anonymous Hill staffers happen to be close enough to DiFi to stir her oatmeal?

They'll be the ones running her office and telling her how to vote.

Here is a dirty secret r78, those hill staffers have always done the real work of running the government. The elected official is more like a figurehead.

R79 As someone who worked on the Hill for an entire senate term, I know that's manifestly untrue.

Senators depend on staff for clerical support - calendars, correspondence, research, driving, etc. - but only the truly ancient and the truly brainless allow themselves to be led to votes like that. Senators go through a grueling, sometimes decades-long political career to reach that point. They know damn well who they are, what they believe, and how to vote.

Feinstein needs a handler because she has dementia. Herschel Walker would need handlers because he's illiterate and brain-damaged. But even assholes like Marsha Blackburn know their own mind.

Could Feinstein, Fetterman and Walker form their own caucus of the mentally challenged?

Fun fact: Patty Murray had an uncredited cameo in THE PRINCESS BRIDE

I thought Patty Murray was younger and prettier, tbh

I remember when she first ran for Senate. She was the "soccer mom in tennis shoes". I haven't noticed anything she's ever done in the Senate though.

R83 Is that all you have to contribute?

Go back to your coffee mug of homemade kahlua!

How about all her gun control attempts that were shot down by Refugs?

I thought Lea Michelle replaced her.

How tall is she?

It's okay. Feinstein won't even know she no longer has the job.

She serves no purpose now...just being propped up. She's not able to do her duties.

It pains me to see her like this. She must have moments during which she acknowledges her mental decline. Sounds like hell.

Somebody escort her out now so she can enjoy the tributes and farewell party.

The entitlement is appalling. She should have been eased out with dignity some time ago and Newsom left to make a replacement. She has a daughter. It's her job to step up. I mean, a wide gap, but when my mom started losing her marbles to dementia we stepped in and took away her car keys. She was not safe nor entitled to drive. It's not that hard.

[quote] The diminutive, brainy senior senator from Washington is no one's idea of a national figure

That's false. I work for a national higher ed assocation and she has been the leading senator in the interests of higher ed policy for at least a decade.

I knew DiFi was not all there when she made a point of hugging and saying how wonderful Miss Lindsey was (during the Amy Cunty Barrett hearing). She needs to be pushed out ASAP-she's filling a space that somebody else with an able mind could have. Get her out of there so she can live out her final days privately somewhere, not embarrassing the Democratic Party.

Where am I? Who are you people?

Scott Wiener (yes, real name) has his gay eye on Nancy Pelosi's House seat for San Francisco.

Nancy seems to want her daughter - THE DOCUMENTARIAN! - to take her place, but the city's actual political class won't allow that. This ain't Phil and Sala Burton, and there's no sympathy this go round for another family member taking an easy win.

He’s White. I doubt that will happen for him.

She reminds me of Martin Short’s Jackie Rogers Jr. character.

[quote]Feinstein needs to go. What an embarrassment.

Yet, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert have been reelected by the Republican party for their great intellect and thoughtfulness for the job.

R99 those two freaks were elected in districts full of freaks. Feinstein's supposed to represent the whole state of California.

R99, that's the stupidest comparison I've ever read. You got dementia or are you just stupid?

Seacow has arrived. They seem to travel only in pairs these days.

Go rock in the corner of your cell.

It is HIGH time for a makeover!

Fossil won't retire... and may run again.

R105 We'll take it away from you if it comes to that, Dianne.

Hey, Dianne, while we have you here: Draw a clock face for a time of 8:20. Tell me your first husband's name.