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The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Come on, man.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

No one could have predicted…

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

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Let’s finish the job.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

You are here: Home / 2024 Elections / 2024 Primaries / Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Sen. Dianne Feinstein Is Officially Retiring

Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Sen. Dianne Feinstein Is Officially Retiring

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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.

Reader Interactions

49Comments

  1. 1.

    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:

    “Oh, no, I’m not announcing anything. I will one day,” Feinstein told Raw Story, about an hour after her office released the statement on her decision not to seek re-election.

    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.

  2. 2.

    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.

  3. 3.

    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.

  6. 6.

    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.

  7. 7.

    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.

  8. 8.

    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.

  10. 10.

    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.

  12. 12.

    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.

  13. 13.

    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.

  14. 14.

    Alison Rose

    Newsom’s statement:

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the below statement today following Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) announcement that she will not run for reelection in 2024 but will continue to serve out her current term in office:

    “Senator Feinstein has been a powerful champion for California and California values on the national stage for three decades – changing lives across our state and nation for the better while opening doors for generations of women leaders.

    “A daughter of San Francisco, Senator Feinstein became the first woman to serve as mayor of the city after the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. The tragic events of that day led to her lifetime crusade for common-sense gun control laws, including her role as author of a federal assault weapons ban. For the last 30 years, she has served her state with distinction as our senior U.S. Senator, blazing a trail for a new generation of female lawmakers.

    “Throughout her career, Senator Feinstein has worked tirelessly across the aisle to advance tremendous progress on priorities that matter deeply to Americans. Her lifetime of service and leadership has made our country fairer, safer and stronger, and I am proud to call her a mentor and a friend. California and the nation owe Senator Feinstein a deep debt of gratitude.”

    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.

  15. 15.

    Scout211

    @Betty Cracker: She announced it in person at a luncheon today.

    It’s a done deal.

    Feinstein told CNN on Tuesday that during the Senate Democratic caucus lunch – where her decision not to run again was announced – “everybody said nice things so I got kind of teary.”

    “The time has come,” she said about her decision not to seek reelection.

    When Feinstein addressed her colleagues in the lunch she described the recent death of her husband as having a powerful impact on her, according to senators who were there.

  16. 16.

    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.

  17. 17.

    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?

  18. 18.

    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.

  19. 19.

    Scout211

    And in good news for Colorado, Adam Frisch officially kicked off his election campaign.

    I. AM. RUNNING. You heard it here first! I am officially launching my campaign to unseat Lauren Boebert and restore dignity to #CO03 representation. We lost by a mere 546 votes in ’22 – the closest race in the country – and know we can make that up in ‘24,” the Democrat tweeted.

  22. 22.

    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.

  23. 23.

    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.

  25. 25.

    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).

  26. 26.

    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.

  27. 27.

    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.

  28. 28.

    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.

  29. 29.

    Qrop Non Sequitur

    @oldgold: I do not think people above 80 should be running for elective office or serving on the bench. And, yes, that includes Joe.

    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.

  33. 33.

    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.)

  36. 36.

    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. :-)

  39. 39.

    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.

  40. 40.

    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.

  43. 43.

    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.

  46. 46.

    Kent

    @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.

    Maybe Kevin McCarthy will find those odds better than the odds that he makes it through 2 years of speakership!  Heh.

  47. 47.

    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.

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