Is it really so hard to support and respect an aged, ailing octogenarian wanting to finish her job

[bigtree]

...even taking a moment to admire this woman for her determination?


twitter.com/igorbobic/status/1656374278915346458

She's "dealing with vision and balance impairments, and will be using a wheelchair (shingles can cause face paralysis and other visible impairments)."

Still, she made her first vote this afternoon since returning, confirming Glenna Wright-Gallo to serve as Asst. Education Sec. for Special Education & Rehabilitative Services. The post has been without a Senate-confirmed official since 2019.

Sen. Feinstein has said she will not run for reelection next year but plans to fulfill her obligation, which ends in early 2025, then retire. We'll see how it goes, but I'm really glad she hasn't let anyone force her out before she was done serving. It's her responsibility, as so many reminded us in the past weeks, but it's also her right as an elected senator from California to finish out her term.

I don't really expect the internet to be kind to the jarring images of the still-ailing senator, but I do expect decent people to stand up and defend our own Democratic legislator against the despicable remarks about her appearance, especially since many of the same very likely participated in the haranguing that demanded she return before she was fully healed.

The dragging of Sen. Feinstein took off here after a bogus 'PoliticalWire' post about a bogus Politico article claiming she wasn't going to return. This return makes ALL of that clickbait reporting a dirty lie.

I don't know, as Rep. Pelosi remarked, "what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way," but I agree with the former Speaker that, "Sen, Feinstein has been a champion for California for 20 years... and I have seen up close and first-hand her great leadership for the country, but most importantly for the state of California.

No one should get away with continuing to drag this courageous woman now that she's wheeled her way back to stand up for our party and the people and issues our Senate majority represent. This is the ultimate dedication to duty, as others perfectly able and present refuse to do the same.

You don't need to bother anymore with measuring the amount of time lost to her illness. Now people who are sincere in their concern for her work undone can begin anew, counting the continuing contributions of her long and consequential career.

[elleng]

1. I hope not, bigtree.

Thanks.

[Phoenix61]

2. Courageous? Exactly what is she doing that is courageous?

Showing up and doing her job?

[elleng]

5. Never been ill, eh?

[Phoenix61]

21. Does breast cancer count? nt

[elleng]

22. It should, and one who had it (and recovered) should understand.

[Phoenix61]

26. Understand what exactly? nt

[elleng]

28. Courage

[Phoenix61]

30. I do. There's nothing courageous about getting

treated for breast cancer.

[bigtree]

7. yes, still suffering from shingles

...I wouldn't wish it on you.

This is public service. A task she began some 30 years ago, before most of her critics were born. This finish is certainly heroic.

As most people who aren't relying on Cornyn's or any other republicans' word that they'd seat a (most likely more progressive) replacement on the committee if she retired believe, this is the ONLY way to advance those nominees that have been the subject of so much whinging after the Politic article falsely declared she wasn't coming back, and this farce of blaming her from everything from a bill Biden could easily block to nominees that won't get hearings in the full Senate for months, even if confirmed today.

Yeah, courageous, in the face of the derision I saw today. A profile in courage.

[Phoenix61]

27. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. A dear co-worker went though

a long bout with it.

[Hekate]

13. May you learn humility regarding agonizing pain and courage. Not wishing it on you, just hoping for

… humility and empathy.

[Phoenix61]

24. I have lots of empathy. Running into a burning building is courageous.

Showing up to support our LGBTQ community when they host a Story Time hour and asshole protestors are there is courageous. Walking with a person who choose to get an abortion through the crowd of protestors at the clinic is courageous. Showing up to do her job with every support she could possibly need and an outstanding staff to assist her, I’m don’t see that as an act of courage.

[milestogo]

14. I only took off 2 days when I had shingles.

My symptoms did not show, but let me tell you it was hell going back to work. I didn't feel I had much choice.

[Phoenix61]

25. A dear co-worker had it. It started on her neck and the thought

the pain was due to an old neck injury. By the time they figured it she had been miserable.

[milestogo]

31. Mine was on my chest.

It only shows up on one side. I thought it was an allergy. A friend said it might be shingles. But its best if you get an antiviral within the first 48 hours, but I didn't.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Some healthcare professionals might have a different opinion.

[bigtree]

9. you mean about facial paralysis?

...or the phony internet diagnosis of senility?

This isn't something that you can push with me.

[Irish_Dem]

16. I have not pushed anything with you.

[delisen]

4. Thank you. ntw

[GuppyGal]

6. Not for me ...I'm #TrueBlue. nt

[TwilightZone]

8. The Politico article did not say she wasn't going to return.

It said that people close to her were concerned that she may not return.

Those are not equivalent statements.

For the record, I think she should retire whenever she wants to retire but I also understand the concerns. Perhaps the ire should be directed toward those who called for her to resign before more information became available.

[bigtree]

11. I guess you want to ignore the frenzy that followed

...and pretend that the PoliticalWire post didn't bring it all here to DU.

I know better.

[Hekate]

10. Thank you so much for this, bigtree. My Senator deserves respect.

[milestogo]

12. Apparently so, At least for a lot of DUers.

I'm surprised people were willing to wait for Fetterman to get well.

[Hekate]

17. As Nancy Pelosi pointed out...

She never saw this trashing and insistence on resignation take place regarding any male member of the House or Senate who was ill or disabled.

[Trueblue1968]

15. It is my opinion she doesn't have the capacity to do her job. I feel she should resign.

[tinrobot]

18. If she resigns, her seat on Judiciary goes vacant and we're screwed.

GOP has already said they'll block a replacement.

So, she's the best we got at this point. I say line up the judges and get them approved ASAP while can still vote.

[bigtree]

32. politics isn't a zero-sum enterprise

...Dems are advantaged by her remaining and voting, as long as she's there when it counts for our slim majority.

I wouldn't expect anyone actually concerned with the progress of any of that to keep squawking that she can't fulfill that role, if she follows through.

She had the capacity to vote this afternoon. That's what our majority needs, not an internet fitness test.

[onenote]

34. Your "opinion" based on what?

You realize that she was back voting on the floor today. What is the basis for your opinion that she doesn't have the capacity to do her job? Have you examined her? Spoken with her doctors? Or are you just shooting from the hip?

[Docjohnson]

19. She is wonderful

And courageous. Ruth Bader ginsburg and fetterman come to mind as recent political figures that kept on succeeding even when the enemy was saying they were unfit for their positions, they proved them all wrong. I am so proud of determined democrats

[brer cat]

20. Thank you, bigtree.

[we can do it]

23. Thank you. Hopefully the disgusting ageist thread has been deleted.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

29. I deeply admire and respect Sen. Feinstein.

I wish her the best as she continues to recover from shingles.

Glad she's back.

[debm55]

33. I had Shingles on the right side of my face. It affected my eye and nerve. I became blind in that

eye as a result. I feel sorry for her. Shingles is shit. I had it for 3 weeks.