Leahy taken to hospital

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
Trish Turner
@caphilltrish
·
Jan 26, 2021
🚨 “This evening, Sen Leahy was in his Capitol office and was not feeling well. He was examined in the Capitol by the Attending Physician. Out of an abundance of caution, the Attending Physician recommended that he be taken to a local hospital for observation, where he is...

Trish Turner
@caphilltrish
... now, and where he is being evaluated.” -David Carle, Leahy spox
3:48 PM · Jan 26, 2021

[Thekaspervote]

1. Awhhh...be well senator Leahy!

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Quick recovery, Senator!

[Celerity]

3. omg, I so hope he is ok! Not to be morbid, but Vermont's governor is a Rethug (although I

think he has said he would appoint a Dem)

[OrlandoDem2]

41. I don't believe it. A rethug would never replace a D with a D!

[Celerity]

49. Scott Says He Would Replace Sanders With Democrat-Affiliated Independent

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/10/23/scott-says-he-would-replace-sanders-with-democrat-affiliated-independent

[Politicub]

4. I hope he is okay. The governor of Vermont is a republican.

I would not trust him to appoint a democratic senator should Sen. Leahy have more of an issue.

[Crunchy Frog]

28. Fuck!

[soldierant]

54. Does Vermont law give him the power

to replace a Senator or Representative with other than a replacement of the same party? Some states don't. Some states don't give the power to the governor at all but to the state chair of the party of the person being replaced.

Of course in the case of an independent, that would be moot. But what he has said he would do would be in accordance with that, I suppose.

[Arne]

5. Please keep the Russian traitors away from him.

[still_one]

6. I just googled Patrick Leahy and there is absolutely nothing about this

Also, at the top of the hour CNN is saying nothing about this

What is going on here ?

[demmiblue]

7. ...

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

etc.

It's breaking, that's why.

[still_one]

9. I am just surprised that CNN OR MSNBC are reporting this. He is the Senate pro tem, it is

a significant event

[W_HAMILTON]

17. They are reporting it right now.........................

[still_one]

22. Got it

[demmiblue]

18. On CNN right now.

Whoops, just saw your post. I am on a 2 minute delay!

[still_one]

23. Thanks

[Initech]

16. Nothing about it on Twitter either.

[pink]

8. Isn't it about time an age limit was placed on politicians?

I was watching Dianne Feinstein while proceedings were happening in the senate and I doubt if she knew what was happening. After that incident of hugging Lindsay Graham after confirming their latest supreme court justice, I often wonder if she's in need of retirement.

[handmade34]

10. no

ageism is not a good thing... yes, some older Senators and Representatives should quit (or eased out) but age shouldn't be a factor... lots of wise elders and lots of doofus youngsters

[BlueSky3]

50. Yes

I agree. Ageism seems to be the last acceptable “ism”. Everyone ages differently and some are doing better at an advanced age than those much younger. If someone is ineffective, no matter what their age, then it’s understandable that they face a challenge in the primary.

[Demsrule86]

11. No, Dianne will be primaried this time and will lose.

[still_one]

13. What are you talking abou, Feinstein will not run for another term

[TwilightZone]

14. She's already filed to run.

https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Sen-Feinstein-87-files-paperwork-to-run-for-15866190.php

[still_one]

19. It's not going to happen, regardless if she filed or not

[Mr.Bill]

20. She will if she has a pulse. n/t

[Blue_true]

21. She has already filed the paperwork to do so, from what I read. nt

We want experience in elected office, but when people are pushing into their late 80s after many years in office, maybe they should yield to younger experienced people.

[still_one]

24. That will be up to the voters

[Celerity]

53. IF she ran & won again she'd be in the Senate until she was less than 2 & a half years short of 100.

I cannot see here running again (despite her filing) and if she does, she will be defeated. I voted for Kevin de León in both the primary and the general (we have a jungle primary in CA, which often results in 2 Dems in the general) and was not happy he lost.

Feinstein (and I knew these things, it was why I was against her even more) is also the 3rd (she just has gone under the radar lately in terms of press focus) Senator who is totally against doing away with the filibuster, and is also completely against SCOTUS expansion. There are likely other Democratic Senators as well with these stances, definitely multiple ones against SCOTUS expansion.

[Indykatie]

27. Feinstein Already Filed Papers to Run in 2024 - WTF was Her Rush to Make That Known?

There have been stories about her declining mental faculty and forgetfulness.

[flibbitygiblets]

36. Also we have eyes and ears; we saw her after the first impeachment trial

DiFi is a centrist and she's in decline. Not to be ageist, but anyone who's not well shouldn't be serving in public office.

CA is a huge, important state that is considered 6th(?) largest economy in the world. My home state deserves better representation. Porter would be an amazing appointment.

[judesedit]

45. She'll be freaking 91 in 2024. Sorry. Too old for the role in my opinion.

We need fearless, smart, fresh, capable, savvy newcomers. Like Buttigieg, AOC, Stacey Abrams, among many others who are now in or up and coming.

[judesedit]

46. She'll be freaking 91 in 2024. Sorry. Too old for the role in my opinion.

We need fearless, smart, fresh, capable, savvy newcomers. Like Buttigieg, AOC, Stacey Abrams, among many others who are now in or up and coming.

[AntiFascist]

62. Her age isn't the only problem...

she's been exhibiting severe symptoms of short-term memory problems.
This can strike people even younger.

[judesedit]

69. Yes. I know. My mom lived to 103 and was quite intelligent, politically savvy, and lucid

up to her mid to late 90's. My mom had a better memory than me. She died almost 2 years ago now. She voted every election and she loved Biden. She would be thrilled to know he is now President. However, once her memory started to go, she went downhill quickly. Sometimes, no matter what age you are, if you're not up to par you have to admit it and leave the job to someone more capable. Feinstein needs to do just that.

[JI7]

61. Part of the reason for that is to be able to raise money and pay things off

[Indykatie]

31. She was Primaried in 2018 by a Far Left Candidate Who Got 12% of the Primary Vote

Don't bank on her losing in the primary in CA's jungle primary system.

[jalan48]

47. Who primaried her?

[JI7]

51. It was a bad candidate. Someone like Katie Porter, Swalwell, Ted Lieu Ahmed many more

could win.

[Celerity]

63. Kevin de Leon was hardly some Far Left candidate He was President pro tempore of the CA State Senate

He and Kamala Harris had basically the same stances on most things when he ran for Senate, and then when she ran for POTUS.

I voted for him in the primary and in the general. I was not happy with the outcome (as I knew in 2018 Feinstein was against both ending the filibuster and SCOTUS expansion, as well as some other issues I disagree with her on). I am a longwave thinker and voter, I look out beyond the next year or 2 beyond election years.


In the general he got almost 46% despite being out fundraised by almost 20 MILLION USD



Feinstein defeated De León 54.2% to 45.8% in the general, and he broke the record for most votes by a losing US Senate candidate and became the first person to get 5 million votes in a US Senate election and lose.

[jalan48]

67. Thanks for countering this "far left" nonsense.

[mcar]

12. Nancy Pelosi didn't enter politics until her 50s

after her kids were grown.

[PatSeg]

26. No, everyone is different

We are watching a 78 year old president who is blowing me away. Dr. Fauci is a very young and sharp 80 year old.

I agree Dianne Feinstein seems to have lost her edge, but that is not true of everyone.

[helpisontheway]

66. Nancy Pelosi is also very sharp for her age. Something I'd wrong with Feinstein

She has this vacant look. It actually makes me kinda sad. She needs to be replaced.

[PatSeg]

70. Oh yes, Nancy Pelosi!

She's 80 as well. 80 certainly isn't what it used to be.

I feel badly about Diane Feinstein. She is a remarkable woman with an extraordinary story, but this past year she definitely has not been herself. I hope she chooses to step down on her own. I would like to see her leave with some dignity. If she keeps defending Trumpist republicans who have questioned the legitimacy of the election, her legacy could be seriously tarnished.

[Hekate]

29. No, and I think you are wrong about DiFi

[LanternWaste]

43. You can place any limit or restriction you can imagine on who you vote for,

That said, predicating a change to the constitution wholly on over-the-internet diagnoses of two examples seems to lack any real rational or critical thought.

However, if you can support your premise with objective and/or peer-reviewed data, I'd be amenable to reading the appropriate journals or dissertations.

[JI7]

52. No

People can vote for someone else.

[SCantiGOP]

58. It would take a constitutional amendment

Only qualification is to be a citizen and be at least 30 years old when taking the oath.

(Biden won at 29 but turned 30 before his term began)

[still_one]

15. CNN is just reporting it as breaking new

https://www.wcax.com/2021/01/26/vermont-sen-leahy-being-evaluated-at-hospital/

[spooky3]

25. Here is another source:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/vtdigger.org/2021/01/26/sen-patrick-leahy-hospitalized-condition-unknown/amp/

Surprised that Ari Melber hasn’t broken away from an interview to report this.

[still_one]

32. Got it, thanks

[thesquanderer]

34. CNN reports *everything* as breaking news. (n/t)

[still_one]

35. Yeah I know it is ridiculous

[flibbitygiblets]

37. So does MSNBC. Literally dozens of "breaking news" every day. Sometimes it's a tweet.

[irisblue]

30. Vt has a Republican for Governor-Phil Scott

[dem4decades]

33. I was worried about Brown and Tester, never thought about Vt.

Fuck me, Mitch would be back in charge.

[Demsrule86]

57. I have been worried about Vermont...given ages of both Senators.

[MyMission]

38. Who's the next senior senator?

Prayers for Leahy. But if he can't run the trial, who's the next in line?

[flibbitygiblets]

42. Holy shit, I think it's DiFi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_senators_in_the_117th_Congress_by_seniority

[MyMission]

44. Oh no! After Leahy, it's Grassly, then McConnell!

Let's hope and pray and tithe and send healing energy to him!

Hope it's just the stress that's getting to him.

[SCantiGOP]

60. No

It is the senior member of the majority party, then it starts through Cabinet members, with Sec of State first in like.

[MyMission]

65. Oh! Thank you.

I thought it went by absolute seniority, not party seniority.

So Diane Feinstein is next in seniority. Then Patty Murray, then Ron Wyden

Meanwhile, most recent reports are saying it was an abundance of caution that sent Leahy to the hospital, so hopefully he'll be feeling better and ready to go. Apparently he's been doing a lot of prep work for this.

[soldierant]

55. That was my forst thought too.

He could well be fine but not until after the trial. The trial appears to me to be the immediate concern.

[flibbitygiblets]

39. In VT, the gov makes an interim appointment, a special election has to happen within 6 months

So its not worst-case scenario, but if anything happens to Leahy, the next 6 months will suck hard.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/17/053

[LiberalArkie]

40. Better check him for that special Russian political medication.

[MyMission]

48. I had the same thought

Lots of Russian sympathizers in our US Senate.

Hope it's an abundance of caution to bring him to hospital, and nothing serious or nefarious.
But I don't trust the rethugs at all.

[Duppers]

59. Yes! 👍

Since we've watched insane tRump supporters trying to kill Democratic lawmakers, we're at point that we can't rule out such things!

This is definitely not a preposterous supposition.
So, thanks, LA.

[zentrum]

56. He sounded terrible today.

Weak, but thick voice. I felt worried.

[Lucinda]

64. ❤️✿❧🌿❧✿❤️

[aeromanKC]

68. Definitely a Putin move