Thank you for your many years of service, Senator. https://t.co/wRYb0vhkQu
— Charles Gaba (@charles_gaba) February 14, 2023
Each of us was sent here to solve problems. That’s what I’ve done for the last 30 years, and that’s what I plan to do for the next two years. My thanks to the people of California for allowing me to serve them.https://t.co/J1DTR8kNP2
— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) February 14, 2023
She’s already solved one problem — her hopeful successors are no doubt happy to see this statement.
Now can all the good-guvmint knowers go pester Chuck Grassley to do the same?
Sen. Feinstein, whatever her recent failings, has worked hard to support her district and her party, whatever her current failings.
Thank you for long and distinguished service, Senator.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 14, 2023
Betty Cracker
Not so fast, maybe? Copied from thread below:
Okay, this is messed up. After her office issued a statement that she’s stepping down, Feinstein said the following to a Raw Story reporter on the Hill who asked her about the announcement that she’s stepping down:
I’m skeptical of Raw Story, which mostly seems to just reword and repost stories other media outlets get. But they’ve got audio that sounds a lot like Feinstein.
The Moar You Know
Now everyone say “thank you” to DiFi. I’m fucking serious. She busted her ass for Dems for decades and now she’s doing the last, final, right thing.
Alison Rose
@Betty Cracker: I suppose she might’ve meant that she wasn’t making like, a verbal announcement? Like giving a speech or something. But…as I said below, oy.
As a lifelong Californian, I’ve generally been proud to have her as a Senator, though she was often too centrist for my taste. But it’s long past time for her to retire. Shit, woman, you live in a fucking palace, go enjoy it.
bbleh
As noted on other thread, it’s front page on WaPo. It’s done.
@The Moar You Know: concur. Takei is bang on.
pacem appellant
Praise Rod. Four years late, but none too soon.
HumboldtBlue
@Betty Cracker:
I suspect that’s dementia at work because that’s a complete break from what the press release states. I’m convinced she has retired even if she’s not sure she has, and I don’t say that with a smirk, dementia is a motherfucker.
One thing my 90-year-old father has been spared in aging is dementia, he’s still quick and smart mentally if a tad slower than in the past.
bbleh
@HumboldtBlue: hit my mom hard, who was whip-smart for 90+ years. It’s an ongoing tragedy. (And caring for the materially demented is not trivial.)
I have every intention of stockpiling pills toward the possibility that it happens to me, and I only hope I recognize it in time.
Dangerman
I wonder which Republican is going to take one for the team and come in no better than third in the election. Welcome to the jungle primary, motherfuckers.
bbleh
@Dangerman: and get his/her name on the ‘A’ list for one of the biggest electoral ATMs in the country? They’ll be storming the gates.
MazeDancer
@HumboldtBlue: Definitely dementia in action.
Speaker Forever Pelosi issued a formal, official applause for all DiFi has done with a best wishes from she and Paul for DiFi’s future.
Ain’t no way Nancy would do that if it wasn’t happening.
Baud
@MazeDancer:
If Nonna says you’re retiring, you’re retiring.
TMinSJ
The last 3 times she’s been up I’ve voted against her in the primary. She has definitely overstayed. I’m just glad she’s finally seen reason.
Barbara
@HumboldtBlue: Yeah, I couldn’t tell whether she thought that the person was asking whether she was leaving (which she isn’t) versus whether she is planning not to run again. I don’t think it matters. It would be virtually impossible to walk this back even if she wanted to.
Alison Rose
Newsom’s statement:
I remember seeing an old news clip of Feinstein announcing the murders of Milk and Moscone. You could see on her face and hear in her voice how completely shaken she was. To have to step into the mayoral role in circumstances like that must have been incredibly jarring.
Scout211
@Betty Cracker: She announced it in person at a luncheon today.
It’s a done deal.
oldgold
She is 89. That is too old to be a Senator.
I do not think people above 80 should be running for elective office or serving on the bench. And, yes, that includes Joe.
MobiusKlein
I guess the next question is does DiFi retire from the Senate before her term is up? Maybe that was what she was getting at, in the topic of the first post?
WaterGirl
Interesting. I wonder if she has forgotten the decision, or perhaps someone is trying to force her hand. Either way, it’s time.
All good things to Sen. Feinstein.
Scout211
And in good news for Colorado, Adam Frisch officially kicked off his election campaign.
Alison Rose
@MobiusKlein: But her statement explicitly said she intended to serve out the rest of her term.
OzarkHillbilly
Not for George Santos.
Annie
@Alison Rose:
Yes, she has talked about that. IIRC She has said she went into the office of one of the victims — can’t recall if it was Moscone or Milk — to see if she could help. Office was dim, she couldn’t find the light switch, went over to him anyway, and when she touched him, her hand was on one of the open bullet wounds.
More than enough to freak anybody out.
HeleninEire
The first time I ever saw Diane Feinstein was in the documentary “The Life and Times of Harvey Milk.” It was Feinstein who announced to the world that both Harvey and Mayor Mosconi were killed by Dan White. I was brand new to NYC and was walking past an East Village movie theatre. I didn’t have a clue what the doc was about but I was a college student and had boatloads of time to kill. I was transfixed. Both by Harvey’s personality and by how the filmmaker filmed it. It was essentially clips of Harvey, and all of Harvey’s friends speaking to the camera talking about how wonderful he was and how much they loved him. Their sadness and anger was palpable. Just remarkable. I left the theatre crying. Many, many years later the movie “Milk” was released. It was a good movie but wasn’t as good as the doc. At the end of the movie when they showed the picture of the real Harvey I cried all over again. I hadn’t seen a picture of him since I saw the doc. My breath was taken away. I tried to get a copy of the doc but I couldn’t find one. If you can do so, please do. You will not regret it.
ETA: I just looked up the dates to be sure I remembered correctly. Yup. The doc was 1984. I was a Junior at Pace University in lower Manhattan. The movie was 2008.
Alison Rose
@Annie: I think I’d have gone catatonic in her shoes.
Dangerman
@bbleh: Only to get Loser stink on them. Early guess, Devin Nunes. Loser stink on top of cow shit stink should be a nice combo.
ETA: I actually liked Tulare when I lived there. Evolutions might be the best gym I was ever a member of (that wasn’t on a college campus).
Suzanne
Thank you, DiFi.
I am definitely one of the people who feels that (1) there are too many old people in the government, and (2) DiFi specifically should have retired some time ago. But today, I can just recognize that she did good for a lot of years and that’s a thing to celebrate.
dmsilev
@MobiusKlein: At least based on what she announced today, she’s planning on serving out the remainder of her term (so, until January 2025). Certainly it’s possible to imagine plans changing, a health crisis or something like that, but that’s the current state. If she does leave early, I wonder whether Newsome will appoint a temporary placeholder Senator or whether he’ll put his thumb on the scale of the primary by appointing one of the contenders who would then be able to run as an incumbent.
Alison Rose
@dmsilev: I imagine it would be a temporary, or at least not someone who has already announced, because that would look pretty shitty.
Also, forgive me, but so many people here do this and it’s my California pedantic twitch: It’s Newsom, not Newsome.
Qrop Non Sequitur
Ability is a huge factor here. I’m not a doctor, but from what I’ve seen recently Biden has been performing well (best of his life, really) and Feinstein…not so much.
Worried about what would happen with a sudden decline? That’s what VPs are for.
Baud
@Qrop Non Sequitur:
It is individualistic, but Feinstein is 9 years older.
sab
@HeleninEire: Toggled you out of pie and my pitbull girl went berserk.
CarolPW
@Alison Rose: I saw that news clip in real time. It was a terrible night, and she did a good job.
sab
Wished you all had spent a trifle more concern about whether JD Vance was more useful in the Senate ( Clue: he is not.! And Ohio so he will be there until he dies. He ain’t DeWine, who lost a Senate race.)
Steeplejack
@HeleninEire:
The Times of Harvey Milk is streaming on HBO Max and Criterion. Also available for rent or sale on a bunch of services.
dmsilev
@Alison Rose: Sorry. For some reason, my brain always wants to put that trailing e on his name.
WaterGirl
oops, i screwed up the time zone conversation. My post was supposed to go up at 6 blog time, not right on top of yours at 5
In summary, not an asshole, just an idiot. :-)
HeleninEire
@Steeplejack: Thanks. It’s been years since I’ve looked for it.
Alison Rose
@sab: What are you talking about? There was plenty of discussion against Vance here, as I recall.
bbleh
@Dangerman: depends on how they position themselves I guess. Heroic Fighter For God Against Overwhelming Librul Conspiracy could come out of it well positioned for a “real” attempt, either in CA or somewhere like NV or AZ.
hervevillechaizelounge
@Steepleja:
I know this is a dead thread and I’m not sure if I’m allowed to do this, but here’s a free link to the documentary:
LINK TO LIFE & TIMES OF HARVEY MILK
If links to streaming sites are verboten please remove.
I know there are some on this site who are pressed for cash and I wanted to give them an opportunity to see the film.
bbleh
@OzarkHillbilly: wait, I thought George Santos WAS the senior Senator from California.
Steeplejack
@hervevillechaizelounge:
The site is in Russia, which may give some people pause.
m.j.
I’m just throwing out a scenario here, but I think Chuck Grassley will retire during his current term (he can claim ill health) and Kim Reynolds will appoint his grandson, Pat. It’ll give the voters of Iowa time to get used to the idea because if Pat had to campaign from scratch, a fascist like him might have a bit more trouble.
hervevillechaizelounge
@Steeplejack:
Ok.ru is perfectly safe, but here’s a link on a US server:
AMERICANHARVEYMILKDOCU
hervevillechaizelounge
@Steeplejack:
Ok.ru is perfectly safe but here’s a US hosted link:
HARVEYMILKDOCU
Kent
Maybe Kevin McCarthy will find those odds better than the odds that he makes it through 2 years of speakership! Heh.
laura
@hervevillechaizelounge: How very kind and thoughtful of you for doing this. I am forever grateful for the steady leadership that Supervisor Diane Feinstein displayed in the immediacy of the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Her championing of assault rifle restrictions will always be worth my respect and admiration.
She’s never faced a worthy opposing candidate.
Paul in KY
@HumboldtBlue: Your father is a lucky man.
Paul in KY
@bbleh: 30 valiums and drink a big bottle of riunite. Peaceful exit.