Republicans in the Senate frustrated the hopes of the Democrat Party to move ahead with Biden’s new judicial appointments. They did this by refusing to help replace an absent Democratic senator on a key committee.
Democrats Take Hit from Feinstein’s Illness
Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California has been missing from Congress since early March; she was admitted to a hospital following a shingles bout.
The 89-year-old Democrat, who is in her sixth and probably last term, has in a sense become the female version of Sleepy Joe. Her advanced age and public gaffes have called into question her cognitive abilities.
Against that backdrop, an entire cohort of power-hungry, younger California Democrats has been salivating over her Senate seat like a pack of starving jackals.
Meanwhile, over on Capitol Hill, the Senate Democrats are struggling with the effects of Feinstein’s absence. It has allowed Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee to block the confirmations of no fewer than a dozen pro-woke judges nominated by Biden.
Without Feinstein, the committee features 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. It is unknown when the elderly senator, who is now recovering at home, will be back to resume her duties.
With the longest-serving female senator absent, some Democrats have called for her to resign 1.5 years ahead of the end of her term.
At the same time, last week, Feinstein issued a statement declaring that House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should replace her temporarily on the Judiciary Committee with another Democrat, the Red State reported.
Chuck Schumer on replacing on Feinstein on committee: “We think the Republicans should allow a temporary replacement until she returns." pic.twitter.com/8CS0KdxJWu
— Public News DC (@PublicNewsDC) April 18, 2023
Republicans have blocked Democrats' plan to replace Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
This leaves Democrats unable to move on Biden’s judicial nominees and the committee unable to issue subpoenas to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas. https://t.co/3jSS8T2PfT
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 18, 2023
Dianne Feinstein is another example why we must have term limits. Repost if you agree. pic.twitter.com/CsjCd8dWZf
— Local Joe❌ (@namemeifucan) April 11, 2023
No Way Democrats Get Their Way
Schumer announced plans to do that, but a replacement would require 60 votes in the Senate. This means at least 10 Republicans would have to side with Democrats on the matter.
Even moderate GOP senators, however, have declared they wouldn’t go along with the Democrats’ idea.
Schumer, who said Feinstein told him she would be returning to Senate soon, insisted Republicans should allow her temporary replacements since, in his view, that was “the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was himself absent after suffering a fall at the beginning of March, returned to Capitol Hill on Monday.
McConnell declared he would make sure that no Republicans help Democrats replace Feinstein, which would have allowed the latter to go ahead and appoint dozens of extra woke judges.
This is a painful question: Should Dianne Feinstein resign?
She has missed most of this year to illness. President Biden will not be able to get any judicial nominees out of committee unless every Democrat is present.
She has done a tremendous job, but should she resign? pic.twitter.com/v3PCkYv7E5
— Lovable Liberal and his Old English sheepdog (@DougWahl1) April 11, 2023
This article appeared in Mainstpress and has been published here with permission.Dianne Feinstein, 89, is MIA and has missed 60 of the 82 votes the Senate has taken this year, and her absence is holding up the confirmation of Biden's judicial picks at a really critical time. She needs to resign right now, not retire after the term. https://t.co/nHveg9JTyI
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) April 11, 2023
