Democrats Have Reasons for Dumping Dianne Feinstein - but None of Them Are Good

[DonViejo]

OK, she’s old. And she’s crossed the base on a couple high-profile issues. But she’s delivered, especially on guns. And politics isn’t about purity.

JOHN STOEHR
03.13.18 5:19 AM ET

I suppose Bernie Sanders believes he's accomplished something in not endorsing Senator Dianne Feinstein for a fifth and final term. At this point, however, we should be doubtful the Vermont independent can achieve more than political gesture.

It’s true that today’s Senate is among the oldest in the nation's history and probably does not reflect the viewpoints of younger Americans as it might if it were less geriatric (a caucus that could include, some might argue, Sanders himself). But is that good reason to unseat an 84-year-old incumbent seeking her final term?

Activists aimed to accomplish one thing at the California Democratic Party’s convention last month. They denied Feinstein, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence Committees, their party’s endorsement. Oh, and they booed a lot. Otherwise, Feinstein is a four-term senator from California in the era of Donald Trump.

Will she be primaried? Yes. In California, everyone competes with everyone in primaries regardless of party. Will she win? Almost certainly. Along with the jungle party, Feinstein has another built-in advantage: being a Democrat in a midterm year that’s a referendum on a Republican president.

Still another advantage is that she’s lead to charge to reinstate the ban on assault weapons, and she’s hammering the president for kowtowing to the gun lobby—especially important in a year when it seems that this issue might actually cut in the Democrats’ favor.

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/democrats-have-reasons-for-dumping-dianne-feinsteinbut-none-of-them-are-good?ref=home

[vi5]

1. Oh how clever that he references Bernie in the first sentence...

...when in fact the actual Democratic party of the state of California has declined to endorse her.

Nice scapegoating.

We need to stop with this talking out of both sides of our mouths on the subject of primaries.

When the establishment candidate wins it's "The Democratic voters have spoken! That is the candidate they want and that candidate won!"

When the establishment candidate loses or is made to look bad in any way by a primary opponent it's "Oh no! Purity tests are bad!! We're cutting off our noses to spite our faces!! The voters can't be trusted with this decision!!!"

Primaries are there to let the voters of that state decide. If the rules allow for a primary and allow for a person to run in that primary then everyone should just STFU and let the process run its course. And that includes the institutional bodies like the state parties, DCN, DCCC, etc. My understanding is that the state party just declined to have a horse in the race and declined to put their fingers on the scale for a particular candidate. That is the way it should be.

[David__77]

3. Its so condescending.

The author calls Democratic majority at the convention voting against Feinstein “activists.” The 1980s Republicans talking points! They were the deleted to the convention, representing party organizations throughout the state. Her principal opponent is head of the state senate.

[Demsrule86]

6. These are the Sanders supporters some were not even Democrats at the beginning...and

I heard several callers on Tom Hartman's show say they don't represent the viewpoint of Californians. They ran after the last election.

[David__77]

10. All hearsay. This isnt the first time Feinstein wasnt endorsed.

This is not a mattter of Sanders. As an aside: Kevin De Leon supported Clinton in the primary.

De Leon has endorsements of many Democratic elected officials: https://www.kevindeleon.com/endorsements/

[Demsrule86]

11. It is not hearsay...look at who the delegates are.

I don't care who he supported...in an age where we have to fight for our lives...no one should primary Feinstein. We need her to remain the head of the Judiciary committee.

[Demsrule86]

4. Well those who use her age...Sen. Sanders is close to the same age. And she is very

powerful and has done a good job. She will win.

[David__77]

2. Ill be voting for De Leon.

I believe Feinstein will win. I hope that at least a big plurality or perhaps majority of Democrats here will vote for other Democrats.

I prefer Kamala Harris, and Feinstein will be replaced with someone better, some day.

[Demsrule86]

5. There are things that Kamala Harris believes that I don't.

I look at the person. I vote for any Democrat in the general. but Kamala is way down on the seniority scale and will not be heading the judiciary committee anytime soon. That is the point ...in the age of Trump we need experienced Senators...and some of these primaries are stupid...like Manchin. If his opponent wins the primary, we lose the seat.

[David__77]

9. A Republican will not win Feinsteins seat.

West Virginia is a bit different politically.

[Demsrule86]

12. It is not about winning the seat for me...it is about wasting money on a primary that wasn't

necessary and about losing an experienced hand on the Judiciary committee. I don't like De Leon...and I never will at this point. But I don't live in California. I still think she wins...imagine if they put this money into tossing out Nunes.

[Demsrule86]

7. Well I am in Ohio so I don't get a vote. But if De Leon wants to president someday and runs in a

primary, he won't get my vote. I would vote for any Democratic nominee in the General, but the primary is where you vote for people you believe will serve the people well...his candidacy does not indicate he is that sort.

[Cha]

8. Some really good points at

the link... Mahalo, Don

Doing that will dirty your hands. That’s inevitable. But that should not be an impediment to doing what’s needed. Guess whose hands are dirty? Dianne Feinstein voted with her party to increase Pentagon spending—a no-no for most leftists—in exchange for billions in relief funding for Puerto Rico and other disaster areas. Democrats got billions for children’s health, too. Feinstein did something “bad” to achieve something good. Activists should understand that. If not, they don’t deserve the name.

Yeah, that little tidbit is what Elizabeth Warren voted for, too.. and Levi Sanders tried to drag her down..

Link to tweet