Pelosi's Pawn Hangs On

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Let's see if I got this right.   

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the 90-year-old legislator who is senior to every current member of both Houses of Congress, the entire membership of the age-riddled US Supreme Court, and the two executives (the President and Vice-President) of our Executive Branch - that Dianne Feinstein suffered a minor fall in her home this week and was taken to the hospital where she was examined and released. Good for her!  As an aging senior citizen myself, but one who is fifteen years younger than Feinstein, I appreciate the seriousness of falling.  I have fallen at home twice over the past three years and have unfortunately suffered a broken bone on both occasions.  I am glad that Senator Feinstein did not have to endure that painful hell, and I wish her health, safety, and balance in the future.

That was this week.

Last week a story broke in the national news about Senator Feinstein which revealed that she has granted a power-of-attorney to her daughter to handle her legal affairs.  A sitting United States senator, one who in involved in many issues which are central to the safe operation of our government, has to appoint someone to handle her legal affairs.  Dianne Feinstein is herself a lawyer, having graduated from Stanford with a Juris Doctorate in 1955 and being admitted to the California Bar in 1956, yet she requires a family member to handle her own legal matters.  Interesting.  

(I can remember 1955 and 1956 - barely!)

And it was only a few days before that revelation that one of her aides had to publicly tell Senator Feinstein when and how to vote on a bill?

A picture is beginning to form.

And before that, when Feinstein was bullied in returning to Washington, DC, by a rabid press after spending two full months back in California dealing with a case of the shingles, she indicated to a reporter that she was not even cognizant of the fact that she had been away!

Not too long ago it was revealed in the press that one of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's daughters was residing with Senator Feinstein in her home and helping to take care of her.  Feinstein and Pelosi are both members of the San Francisco elite class and their family friendship is undoubtedly firm and long-standing.

Sometime over the last couple of months Senator Feinstein's office announced that she would not be running for re-election in 2024, but she apparently has no plans to retire before the end of her current term.

So now, let's see if I have this right.  Dianne Feinstein, a 90-year-old US Senator who has provided a great deal of very good service to her country, but whose current level of cognition is at least a matter which should be available for public discussion, is hanging onto (or perhaps not being allowed to leave) a position that she has held for decades, and it looks as though she will remain in that position for at least another year-and-a half.  What the hell is going on?

Here's one theory which has seen the light of print of late.  California is a Democratic state, and Feinstein will likely be replaced by a Democrat.  There are currently three big names in the Democratic race to succeed the aging legislator:  Congresswoman Katie Porter (she of the "white board" fame) of Orange County, Congresswoman Barbara Lee of Oakland - one of San Francisco's less elite neighbors, and Congressman Adam Schiff of one of the trendier and tonier sections of Los Angeles.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who would appoint the replacement for Feinstein should she choose to retire early, has said that he would appoint a black woman to the seat - a perfect description of Congresswoman Barbara Lee.   "Speaker Emerita" Pelosi, however, has a stated preference for Adam Schiff.  Some journalist wags seem to be suggesting that Pelosi may be "encouraging" Feinstein to remain in her senate seat in order that Newsom won't be able to appoint Lee to the position and thus give her an advantage over Schiff in next year's Democratic primary race to fill the senate seat.

Surely not!  Surely to goodness Nancy Pelosi would not use her power, influence, and closeness to Senator Feinstein to rig an election!  Nonsense, I tell you!  Pure unadulterated political nonsense!

Have I got that right?

(Full Disclosure:  This poor typist has sent a small donation to Katie Porter's campaign for the US Senate, a campaign which the congresswoman began even before Senator Feinstein announced that she would not be running for re-election.)