Progressives Frustrated With Democrat Establishment Target Feinstein
They want to go as far left as possible.
The Democrats have been in a free fall since Hillary Clinton lost and the GOP picked up seats at local levels in November. Those energized by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) presidential run have started revolting against the veterans in the party.
First, people have demanded that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) step down. Now they’re pointing their rage at Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who announced she will run for a another term.
Not Satisfied With Feinstein
On Monday, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) lashed out against Feinstein, insisting that she remains “out of touch with the grassroots of our party on economic policy and foreign policy.”
He also had harsh words for the establishment who have thrown its support behind her. From Vox:
“The fact that the establishment is rallying around her re-election shows that DC insiders continue to privilege protecting one of their own over the voters’ concerns,” added Khanna, who emphasized he is not considering a run for the seat.
The left has shown disapproval for Feinstein since she has opposed single-payer health care that Sanders’ supporters crave. She has also supported The Patriot Act and raising the Social Security age. Khanna reminded Politico that Feinstein does not share the views of progressives on privacy and technology since she sponsored a bill that “would require tech firms to decrypt customers’ data at a court’s request.”
The bill came after the FBI and Apple sparred over the iPhones that belonged to the terrorists responsible for the San Bernardino massacre.
The left has also grown angry with her over comments about President Donald Trump, which she said could “be a good president.” They don’t believe she has pushed back against him hard enough or used her job as the high ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee to block his nominees.
Primary Challengers?
Is it time for the party to primary her? After all, it’s somewhat worked for the GOP. The anti-establishment movement booted out House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in 2014. Then Trump beat Hillary. Recently the movement helped propel Roy Moore over Luther Strange in Alabama. From The Hill:
“Dianne Feinstein since the beginning has never been the darling of the liberal left, not even as mayor of San Francisco,” said Garry South, a California Democratic strategist. “The Democratic base in California has moved pretty far to the left, even in the last 10 years.”
“You would certainly have to take that into account with respect to the general election runoff between her and another Democrat who would be from the progressive side,” South continued.
The more progressive left have started to rally around California Senate Pro Tem President Kevin de León. Jonathan Martin at The New York Times tweeted out that Feinstein decided to announce to run because de León plans to announce his campaign soon.
He hasn’t made an announcement yet and his office did not respond to The Hill when it asked for a comment. But de León has fought against Feinstein in the past:
De León pushed back after Feinstein’s comments about Trump and sparred with her over gun control, which has been one of her signature issues as an author of the federal assault weapons ban in the early 1990s.
After Feinstein said that no law would have prevented the mass shooting in Las Vegas — though she supports a ban on bump stocks — de León said the U.S. can prevent future mass shootings by “getting weapons designed for the battlefield out of our neighborhoods.”
Khanna told Politico that “he had urged fellow California Rep. Barbara Lee and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich to challenge Feinstein.”
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Comments
The flaw is that the “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” never wants to step aside. The dachas in DC are too comfy. Being a Party Leader to addicting.
Always thought of her as a female version of Ted Kennedy, and when Kennedy isn’t left enough you have officially jumped the shark.
How many did she grope? SNARK!
I don’t agree with her on anything, but she is usually not a demagogue or a flame thrower.
I have no illusions Republicans can pick up her seat, so I’d just as soon have her as a U.S. Senator from CA than anyone the Democrat base wants.
Yes, she will definitely be followed by someone a lot worse.
Feinstein v. de Leon? That’s the kind of contest in which you hope both candidates lose. 😉
Wouldn’t she like to retire and take in a couple of cats? Seriously, she’s going to be 90 at the end of the term if she’s re-elected. Is being a senator so easy that someone that old can keep up the pace? She has close to $100 million. Maybe go on a world cruise. She’s on husband #3. Maybe spend some time with him before he kicks the bucket, too?
Can a Republican be competitive for the Senate in California? Arnold? Carly?
In the last election, there wasn’t even a Republican on the ballot.
Sign at the State of California elections office “Republicans Need Not Apply”.
It would take a thorough cleansing of the voter roles of dead or illegal voters, a determined effort to deal with illegal immigration, a restructuring of welfare policies to begin to dent the stranglehold of the Democrat Party in California. The wealth and power of the state has been used to create the one party system. It was masterful and done in a very short time. The only way out would be a horrendous natural disaster collapsing the infrastructure of the state followed by guided rebuilding.
The result of “Jungle Primary” system, the top two candidates in the primary get to the General, no matter what party they are part of. IF the Democrats can keep the number of candidates in the Primary to a limited number (2) the “Nonpartisan Blanket Primary” system will ensure that for the foreseeable future only Democrats will be on the General ballot (the exception is the Presidential Elections which are normal partisan elections).
Kowalski – Obviously those districts with overwhelming Republican registration may/will still be electing Republicans for non-statewide offices.
It might be a distinct advantage to have Feinswine, someone the far Left considers a “moderate Democrat” (I know, not possible now), be replaced with a wild-eyed Lefty. It should be easier to marginalize and shut down someone who thinks a position on some firearms of “Mr and Mrs. America, turn them all in.” is too far to the right.