Dianne Feinstein Relying Heavily on Staff, Reportedly Confused When Harris Cast Tie-Breaking Vote
A look at the dynamics behind keeping a struggling Feinstein in office.
More information is leaking out from the mainstream media about California Dianne Feinstein and her ailments.
For example, Feinstein reportedly expressed confusion last year when Vice President Kamala Harris was presiding over the Senate to cast a tiebreaking vote.
The Harris example, however, reportedly took place last year and illustrates the difficulty Feinstein has had recalling, at times, the basics of how the Senate operates. According to the new report, Feinstein expressed confusion to her colleagues when she saw Harris presiding over the chamber, in one of many tiebreaking votes the vice president has had to cast.
“What is she doing here?” Feinstein asked, according to the report. The report cites “a person who witnessed the scene.”
Reports of Feinstein’s memory issues stem back more than a year. And since returning to the Senate after a months-long absence because of her illness, the California Democrat appears frailer than she once had and relies more on her staff to help do her job.
In fact, The New York Times recently published a detailed expose on Feinstein’s senate entourage.
Two staff members settled the 89-year-old California Democrat into a chair at the dais as the assembled senators greeted their ailing colleague with a round of applause. When Ms. Feinstein spoke — during a vote on one of several of President Biden’s judicial nominees whose approval had awaited her return — she appeared to read from a piece of paper handed to her by a female aide seated behind her.
“I ask to be recorded as voting in person on the three nominees considered earlier, Mr. Chairman, and I vote aye now,” she said.
The aide knelt next to her and whispered into her ear in between votes — popping up repeatedly from her seat to confer with the senator, at one point clearing away the paper Ms. Feinstein had read from and presenting her with a folder that appeared to contain background information about the nominees.
The scene was typical of Ms. Feinstein’s day-to-day existence on Capitol Hill, where she is surrounded by a retinue of staff members who serve not only the roles of typical congressional aides — advising on policy, keeping tabs on the schedule, drafting statements and speeches — but also as de facto companions to a senator whose age, frail health and memory issues make it difficult for her to function alone.
What is behind the media drive to jettison Feinstein? Journalist and author Glenn Greenwald has an intriguing opinion related to this issue.
We’ll also look at the real reason Hillary, Pelosi and so many other Dems are demanding Dianne Feinstein not resign despite the fact she doesn’t know where she is.
They’re scared Barbara Lee will replace her, endangering Adam Schiff, who they think is entitled to the seat. pic.twitter.com/gnMQeN7YvD
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 26, 2023
None of the potential new senators from California would be great. However, Schiff would be the worst. Clinton and Pelosi’s support further confirms this assessment.
Once again, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reminded of his promise to appoint a black woman if Feinstein retires or leaves office before completing her term.
As California Gov. Gavin Newsom stepped on stage at the state Democratic Party Convention this weekend, Vilma Dawson applauded with the visible faith of someone who had supported him through multiple elections and a recall campaign.
Dawson does not expect her loyalty to Newsom will be tested in a politically fraught decision that may lie ahead – selecting a successor to fill the seat of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, should the 89-year-old, who has already announced she’s not running for reelection in 2024, resign before the end of her term.
“I’m sure Governor Newsom has a plan to appoint an African American female,” said Dawson. Pausing to consider her words, she continued, “I don’t think the governorship is where he’s going to stop his political career. People have long memories as to whether they can trust someone to support, shall we say, promises that they made.”
In 2021, Newsom had said, “The answer is yes,” when asked on MSNBC if he would nominate a Black woman for Feinstein’s seat.
If it’s a choice between Oprah Winfrey or Adam Schiff….
You’re picking the next US Senator from California, and you have to choose between Oprah Winfrey and Adam Schiff…what do you do?
ME: pic.twitter.com/YJGisnT5DT— Leslie Eastman ☥ (@Mutnodjmet) May 31, 2023
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Comments
The d/prog diversity olympics are now eating their own. There’s not enough prestigious seats at the d/prog grown up table to divvy out to the racial spoils system they created. Unless of course folks like Newsom, Pelosi and Schiff step aside and give up their own seats and power. That’s the box canyon the d/prog created for themselves and there isn’t any way out unless they stop pushing tribalism.
I wish it were so, but with POTUS and two Senators displaying rubber plant qualities… all the staff need are their rubber stamps. The “white” leaders of the Dem Party know that if they step aside their precious democracy will further tilt to left of Trotsky…. and they lose all power. They will throw morsels to the squad and the plantation…. but real power must stay “white”.
Poor thing. I feel sorry for her. She’s almost as bad as Joe Biden.
Why would they remove her? She’s exactly at the point where the people behind the curtain control her, just like Biden and Fetterman. I’d almost feel sorry for her if she hadn’t been such a consistent pain back when she still had a functioning brain.
Makes me question how many politicians are puppets to their staffers. We all knew Obama was. Now we have Di-Fi, Joe, & Fetterman. Elder abuse? Fetterman may be protected by the ADA 😉
Fetterman needs a bolt of lightening to get him going each morning.
Mr. Peabody,
would that be 1.21 giga-watts?
I think that would work now since he went to Walter Reed and had the bolts on his neck tightened.
Spare parts are available in the bin labeled “Abi-“
Bin labeled ABI: Acquired Brain Injury? (due to stroke)
Or the bin labeled “brains” since he needs a new brain in order to function.
Abby Normal, silly.
You mean ECT?
Most of them are front men not puppets. They are on board with the things they are saying and the strategy even if they don’t make it.
Another example of why we need both term limits and further age restrictions on those holding public office.
I agree. Young, dynamic people like AOC offer so much…
/actually, I agree about antiques vegitating in office.
You notice how all this talk has nothing whatsoever to do with the average voter and what they may want?
We have a mental retard as POTUS. Why not a couple of Dim Senators? Peas in a pod.
I would agree if the consequences are not so dire for our country
“What’s she doing here?” Dianne thought Harris had wandered away from the other kitchen staff.
My! She’s so clean, and well spoken!
How do you get rid of a Senator? Seriously? Can the GOP under Cocaine Mitch put forth a resolution to get her out of their? At this point it looks like elder abuse and every aide that is helping in this should be forever barred from any political position.
“Elder Abuse” vs. “The Will of The People.”
Yeah, popcorn.
I don’t know why they bother, it isn’t as if the Democrats have a shortage of candidates that will be at least as anti-American as Feinstein if not more so.
It’s a Democrat tradition to remain in office until they die.
To be fair, I am confused whenever I see Kamalla in a position of authority. “What’s she doing here” seems to be a common response from A LOT of people, young and old.
I saw a video of her this morning and she is a sad sight. I don’t really care what the Dems do but this old gal should go home for her final days. She is not a functioning person at this point. Getting old is not for sissies and she needs to find peace.
“Exhumed Corpse of Diane Feinstein Frightens Senators When It Suddenly Speaks”
Fixed that headline for you.
Corpse abuse is still a felony in this country, yes?
Speaking of which, you know who else we haven’t heard about lately?
Taqueria Baldy.
Let us all pray for Diane Feinstein to remain on this Earth and that she musters the courage and conviction to finish her term as senator.