Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., months after drawing flak from Democratic politicians and pundits alike for her conduct during Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing, has once again opened herself up to attacks from her party after defending the Republican lawmakers who objected to certifying the results of the 2020 election.
While other members of her party have explicitly called for Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Miss., to resign following their helming of a campaign to de-legitimize President-elect Joe Biden's victory, Feinstein called their attack "a kind of leadership."
Per the San Francisco Chronicle, Feinstein told the press pool at the Capitol: "I think the Senate is a place of freedom. And people come here to speak their piece, and they do, and they provide a kind of leadership. In some cases, it’s positive, in some cases, maybe not. A lot of that depends on who’s looking and what party they are.
"But it’s an important place to have this kind of dialogue," she added. "It’s probably the highest-level dialogue that you get in an electoral body.”
Hawley, notably, was photographed expressing his solidarity with pro-Trump and QAnon rioters in Washington D.C. hours before their Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol. Cruz and Hawley continued their crusade against the election results following the lockdown of the Capitol.
At least four other Senate Republicans, in addition to Hawley, Cruz and a slew of GOP members of the House of Representatives, also spoke out against the legitimate election results despite the riots, citing voter fraud and other baseless claims.
The number of Democratic officials who have called for the two to tender their resignation has grown since the Jan. 6 attack, which left four rioters and a Capitol officer dead. The list includes Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., Patty Murray, D-Wash., the third-ranking member of the Senate Democrats, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
Maybe trying to sing and dance her way out of indictment? That's a whiff of hopium. Rats poised on the ropes to leave the ship of state and the FEMA camp.
You know it isn't because of decencey,conviction, morals, ethics, love of country or law, or regard for the truth, it's about saving her skin before it's tacked up on the Capitol wall?
Wow! I mean really, WOW! This will not help her rel-election, or her career in any way.
We shouldn't forget their are good politicians, or that everyone deserves a second chance. I'll tell you I never fucking thought in a million years I'd feel inspired reading a quote from Diane Feinstein.
By filing to run in 2024, Feinstein keeps others from throwing their hat into the ring and raising support. I could see her "handing off" her seat mid-term (some time in the next three years) to an heir apparent. Her successor would then have a clear path to re-election. Rep. Ron Dellums did something like that when he endorsed his long time aide Barbara Lee in a special election. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Lee make her way to the Senate.
She has nothing to gain nor lose with the comments. She’s 87. She knows whatever time she has left is worthless if she can’t say what she wants. It doesn’t matter much if she croaks at 98 or 88.
If I make it to 87 and can still speak you can sure as hell bet I’m gonna have a whole bunch of piss and vinegar in me and I’ll say what I want, when I want, snowflakes feelings be damned.
I don’t see how, but it would be awesome to see her flip on the Dems or even give them as much trouble as McCain gave the Republicans.
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Feinstein-defends-Hawley-Cruz-overturn-election-15882575.php