CA-SEN: What is the case for reelecting Feinstein?

[RandySF]

I remember 1984 when Mayor Dianne Feinstein was on Walter Mondale's list of potential running mates, 1990 when she rand and lost her race for Governor and 1992 when she was first elected to the Senate. Heck, I even remember following the vote count for days in 1994 against Mike Huffington in her one and only nail-biter. I proudly voted for her twice in the last 12 years as a California resident and was ready to do so again if a Republican made it through the primary. But even though I have nothing but the highest respect for her, I wonder if it is time for someone new. Republicans are no longer the party of George HW Bush and George Deukmejian and there's no working with them. As far as I am concerned, we have a win-win choice between two good, loyal Democrats with one having more potential years fighting fighting for us.

So tell me, what is the case for one last term for Dianne Feinstein?

[Nero Mero]

1. Against tax scam, Against Gorsuch, against ACA repeal

Against Putin.
And many more.

[elleng]

2. Seniority?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Seniority.

I was apoplectic when she said Trump could be a good president but she redeemed herself. The question should be what has she done to be denied re-election by another Democrat.

[Nero Mero]

5. Gorsuth vote, ACA repeal, Tax scam vote, net neutrality vote

You can’t just ignore those votes and keep typing “seniority”.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Any Democrat would have voted as she did, especially one representing the Golden State.

Look, we need new blood, new ideas, a new generation of leadership but she hasn't done enough to be denied re-election. I much rather have a Senator Garcetti, a Senator Schiff, or a Senator Lieu but she hasn't done enough to be denied re-election.

Her support is broad but not passionate.

[PoliticAverse]

8. You think Kevin de Len would have voted differently on those? n/t

[Nero Mero]

17. Yes, so why replace her??

?

[Trust Buster]

4. Yes, can't we have more Joe Manchin's instead ? (Sarcasm)

[leftofcool]

6. I refuse to make a case for or against

Hubby and I figure that once the "progressives/leftists/socialist Dems/purists" get through eating the "moderate/centrist/non-purist/established/experienced/third-way Dems" the only ones left will be us and a few others that can scrape the bodies into a mass grave, pick up the pieces and start over.

[renegade000]

9. Who would you rather have giving a speech at Trump's impeachment/conviction debate in the Senate?

She's a senior Democratic statesman who is part of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. She's been thoroughly versed in all the sordid details of Trump/Russia beyond what we can imagine. A freshman senator is not guaranteed to get a position on the same committee, and even if he did, would have to be brought up to speed quite quickly.

She'd be a good voice to have on our side once shit really starts hitting the fan, given her familiarity/credibility with a wider swath of the American public.

YMMV, but that's what I got with regard to a pro-Feinstein argument.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Youth and wisdom are not mutually exclusive.

I remember a junior senator from Illinois who rose to the presidency and acquitted himself magnificently.

Hey, I'm voting for her, more because she doesn't deserve to not be re-elected than because she does.

[OnDoutside]

11. Experience is vital for what is coming next. CA doesn't need an inexperienced person shouting their

mouth off. It's too important, and Feinstein's seniority matters.

[msongs]

12. when does deLeon shoot his mouth off? nt

[Blue_true]

24. I agree on experience.

Feinstein gets us through to 2024, when I expect us to be in good shape as a party. In my view, she should get that one last term, because I don't see her opponent doing close to what she can do in the Senate.

[grantcart]

13. I found this very curious framing

Wouldn't the real question be "What is the case for voting against Feinstein and for De Leon".

Not familiar with De Leon I read his very very long interview with San Diego Tribune.

I expected to see a lot of wild tosses to try and get the "Sanders" vote.

Wasn't there. De Leon is a very substantive pro business, pro California, pro governance guy.

I didn't see a single issue where he would have voted differently than Feinstein (to be fair it was mostly about local and state issues).

So if there is no ideological change why would we remove Feinstein and lose significant Chair leadership?

What is the case for such a radical move?

I can't help but wonder if the fact that Feinstein was a man if anybody would be raising the issue, kind of like Pelosi.

I actually wish Pelosi would step aside for a younger person, but I trust Pelosi, she was a great LOH. If she isn't stepping aside I believe that she has a good reason to do it.

So what is the case for De Leon and why isn't that the subject of the thread?

[JI7]

14. there are issues of sexual harassment in male dominated areas like california legislature

we already don't have enough women . and Feinstein is a fighter for abortion rights and gun control. not just votes but in speaking out.

we need a cultural change and i don't like the idea of getting rid of feinstein for someone like deleon who didn't seem to do much with changing the male dominated sexual harassment culture.

[FreeState]

15. But she's not part of the California state legislators

Both senators from California are women. In fact all my local federal representatives are women - Susan David is the house rep for my area.

[JI7]

18. in talking about deleon

[FreeState]

19. is their legislation he didn't support or ?

He co-sponsored sexual harassment bills etc (SB 967) in the last 10 years. This is a new criticism of him that I have not heard (even via Google). Care to fill me in on the specifics?

[JI7]

20. it's more about the culture and his people connected to him

and why i don't like the idea of going after a women who is a fighter for women's rights. it's not just about votes but actually having women there to fight for it .

[FreeState]

21. Hmm can't say I agree with you there

Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2018, 02:10 AM - Edit history (1)

N/t

[oberliner]

16. Decades of outstanding service on behalf of the Democratic Party

[Retrograde]

22. Seniority, seniority, seniority

If the Dems take back the Senate, she will head several important committees. That means she gets to set the agendas.

If anything were to happen to Patrick Leahy, Feinstein would become President Pro Temp of the Senate, 3rd in line to be president.

[NY_20th]

23. She is the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

That makes her the most important voice and insider in the investigation of Russian interference in our Democracy.

This is an issue that affects us all, and we need her knowledge and experience now more than ever.