Diane Feinstein Dies at 90

Not really a shock.

The political consequences:

Gavin Newsom promised he would appoint a black woman to replace Feinstein if she resigned. (Yay, equality of races and sexes! And by "equality" we mean "superiority"!)

Barbara Lee is currently running in the primary to replace Feinstein, but Newsom has ruled out appointing any of the terrible Democrats (Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter) currently running.

The Democratic governor previously pledged to name a Black woman to the seat should Feinstein leave before the end of her term but, earlier this month, ruled out appointing any of the candidates seeking the office in next year's election.

That group includes Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, a trailblazer in her own right and the only Black woman running for Feinstein's seat. The senator had already announced she would not be seeking reelection in 2024.

"It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off," Newsom told NBC News in an interview that aired on September 10. "That primary is just a matter of months away. I don't want to tip the balance of that."

Lee and her supporters were infuriated by Newsom's announcement. The congresswoman said in a statement that "the idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country."

"If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate," Lee added, "the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment."

The entitlement of the allegedly marginalized...!

Who will he appoint? Instapundit jokes (I think) that he will appoint Kamala Harris, creating an ungraceful exit from the Biden ticket.

Update: Commenters have thrown their support behind "Sparkles," Megan Markle. She's a WOC! And a princess!!!! And a ReAl CeLeBrItY!!!

Another complication is that committee assignments are determined at the start of each Congress, and Feinstein occupied a seat on the Judiciary Committee. Without her, the Democrats do not have a majority, just an equal number of seats as the Republicans have. Without a majority, they cannot just ram through all of Biden's leftwing judicial nominees.

Previously Democrats objected to the idea of Feinstein resigning, because she can be replaced on the committee only with the assent/surrender of Mitch McConnell. I'm not sure that rule still holds in the case of a death.

But if it does, we'll have to see if Mitch McConnell holds firm or if he decides, as usual, that "amity and comity" are more important than delivering for his voters.

posted by Disinformation Expert Ace at 12:00 PM

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