Who should be the Senate nominee in 2006?

[genius]

If anyone is supporting Feinstein, I strongly suggest that they switch to Feinstein's true party, the one that starts with an R.

[longship]

1. I'm confused.

I live in SoCal. I haven't heard of anybody declaring against Feinstein, especially somebody as prominent as Mike Farrel or Martin Sheen. What gives?

[Ken Burch]

2. Are those three actually considering running?

Personally, any of them would be good.

Some Dems would probably have a problem with Sheen for his anti-abortion stand(he's Seamless Garment, which is anti-abortion but also antiwar, anti-death penalty and opposed to the exploitation of workers)but this might make a case for putting him on the ticket in a few years.

There would also be the question, to some degree, of Sheen's health. He had a massive heart attack while filming APOCALYPSE NOW in the Seventies, and while he's apparently been fine since then, this was public record and Republicans would probably find some way of using it.

I'm not posting this to attack the idea of a Sheen candidacy, but it is worth considering.

[Ken Burch]

3. Also, if Mike Farrell runs

Would he arrive at campaign events on his motorcycle like B.J. Hunnicutt would?

That would add an element of retro cool to the race.

[genius]

22. PDA is pushing Mike Farrell. He hasn't said "no."

[davidinalameda]

4. insert West Wing joke here

[MaryBear]

5. Some here oppose Feinstein

so vehemently as to suggest anyone supporting her for any reason is not a Democrat; nor a progressive. Some here just want her out. She is not my fav, but I don't join in their sentiment. I hope this response is not offensive to anyone, but this is my thinking on what gives.

[longship]

9. Ahem.

I don't like Feinstein's positions on many issues. But she has a "D" after her name and that is a far cry better than a Senator with an "R" after their name.

Now if there really is "D" opposition to Feinstein, that's great. I would sincerely hope that the opponent would mount a credible opposition, and not just token resistance.

Feinstein has a lot of money behind her. It would take a very good candidate to beat her. I would hate for her to have primary opposition by a substandard candidate that would cripple her campaign against a strong "R" opponent in the general election.

I just don't think that Hollywood actors are the type of people who could mount a meaningful opposition to Feinstein. No matter how much I like Martin Sheen, which is a lot, the opposition will be saying that he's playing on his role of President in a television program. I can hear it now, "I'm not a Senator, but I play one on TV."

I could be all wrong here. But I live in California and I would hate it if we had a Republican Senator.

[Ken Burch]

12. What's your case for not wanting Feinstein out?

Is it just that you think that perhaps a progressive challenger
couldn't actually beat Feinstein, but might weaken her enough to improve Republican chances against her in the fall?

[MaryBear]

14. Basically

I think Feinstein has seniority in the Senate and that together with Boxer can do well by California in general. She is more conservative than I would wish, and I don't agree with many of her votes. However, overall I think we would do better to support progressives going for the House, and leave her seat alone this year. Put that energy to support Boxer and others.

[Ken Burch]

15. I appreciate your taking the time to respond, Mary.

Valid analysis. I'm not a Californian so it isn't my choice, but everybody tends to follow what happens politically in your state.

[Ken Burch]

16. That's a valid analysis.

In any case, I'm a non-Californian so I won't be voting in the race, but it's always an interesting point to speculate on.

[laugle]

19. Energy to Boxer? She just won her election? I don't get it?

[ronnykmarshall]

6. Self delete

[Fenris]

7. I don't think the Reform Party would like her very much.

[genius]

8. Why should I care who Pat Buchannan likes?

[Beaverhausen]

10. Feinstein may yet redeem herself with the Roberts hearings

She has been fairly outspoken about making sure we know where he will stand if he is appointed to the SC.

It may be in our advantage that she has to participate in this in an election year. If she wants to keep her seat she better do the right thing for her party.

[ronnykmarshall]

11. I heard that on KTLK this morning.

She's ready to grill his ass about Roe v Wade.

[Beaverhausen]

13. Here is a link to her speech at the Los Angeles Bar Association

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/082405A.shtml

The Significant Impact for All Americans
By Senator Dianne Feinstein
t r u t h o u t | Address

Los Angeles County Bar Association and Public Counsel
Biltmore Hotel - Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday 24 August 2005

Today, I come to speak to you about the Supreme Court and the unique role that the court plays in our nation. It is a magnificent institution - as powerful in its reach as Congress, and as influential over time as any presidential administration.

And as far as most Americans are concerned, it is probably the least understood of our three branches of government.

For the first time in more than a decade, there is a vacancy on the court. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman justice and often critical swing vote, is retiring.

The President has chosen to nominate Judge John G. Roberts Jr., and over the next several weeks my Senate colleagues and I, first on the Judiciary Committee, and then in the full Senate will exercise our authority under the constitution to evaluate his nomination.

It is certainly the most important responsibility that the Senate will undertake this year, and it is a decision that could determine the course of our nation for generations to come.

It is crucial that the nominee who replaces Justice Sandra Day O'Connor not only be intelligent and well qualified, but balanced and fair. His views should be within the mainstream and considered, and they should be without bias.

In other words, extreme ideology from the right or left is unacceptable.

The only way we can determine if Judge Roberts meets this test is to thoroughly and critically examine his judicial philosophy and temperament.

Will he maintain a balance on the court?
Is he respectful of precedent?
Does he have an open mind or a does he have a radical sense of where he wants to take the country?

MORE AT THE LINK

[laugle]

17. Boy how soon you all forget, Feintein was

the first to say how great Roberts was, the day after Bush picked him. I woke up to that on the radio, and I was mad as hell!! She didn't even wait for the fricking hearings.

Now what's up with her, backtracking......are her numbers beginning to slip.....???

DEMOCRATS NEED TO STOP PLAYING IT SAFE.....SHE NEEDS TO GO......

[maveric]

18. Juan Vargas

Sate rep from San Diego, former city councilman who didnt mind rolling up his sleeves and getting shit done.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. 95% of California Democratic primary voters voted to nominate her in 2000

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/sov/2000_primary/us_sen.pdf

Doeas anyone seriously think that next year's results will be much different?

[genius]

21. Most have learned

Now, people who voted for her in 2000, say "never again."