Dicey politics of Feinstein's health issues

The increasing chorus of California Democrats who want Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign can seem like an uncaring mob of younger people determined to shove aside someone elderly.

And no doubt progressives would love to have one of their own occupy Feinstein's seat, creating a potential political no-win situation for Gov. Gavin Newsom.

At the same time, the ravages of old age can't be ignored. And for Feinstein, 89, whose age, frail health and memory issues make it difficult for her to function alone, calls for her to step down are increasing. Her office has already announced she will not run for reelection next year.

While these calls for her to resign might seem like piling on, they can't be dismissed as just “ageism.” With 19 months left in her term, and a crucial vote on a debt ceiling agreement, Feinstein, a senator for three decades, needs to demonstrate she's still up to the job. If she can't do this, then she should step down,

Feinstein's daily routine on Capitol Hill means she is surrounded by a number of staff members who serve not only the roles of typical congressional aides, but also as closeby companions who push her in a wheelchair, remind her of when and how she should vote and explain to reporters when the senator grows confused.

Feinstein's staff make sure she is never alone and is heavily protected. Meanwhile, the Capitol Police and the Senate sergeant-at-arms have gone to great lengths to keep Feinstein shielded from photographers and reporters, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Feinstein recently returned to the Senate after a debilitating bout with shingles, but her issues with fulfilling her Senate responsibilities predate this latest illness as she reportedly expressed confusion about the basics of how the Senate functions. When Vice President Kamala Harris was presiding over the chamber last year in one of many instances in which she was called upon to cast a tie breaking vote, Feinstein reportedly expressed confusion, asking her colleagues, “What is she doing here?” Staff members have been overheard explaining to her that she cannot leave yet because there are more votes to come, the New York Times reported.

For years, Feinstein's memory problems have meant that she has needed far more support than other senators.

Staff members in Feinstein's office say they engage in frank conversations with her about her future and are not shielding her from reality and that she insists she is capable of working effectively for Californians. Nevertheless, a recent poll found nearly two-thirds of Californians believe Feinstein is no longer fit to serve in office due to her health and a majority said she should step down.

Should that happen, and leading Democrats such as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi say it shouldn't, then Newsom has an extremely painful choice to make on a replacement.

Feinstein in the past has been more of a centrist among Democrats, and progressives will press the governor to appoint someone further left on the political spectrum.

They want Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland or, perhaps, Rep. Katie Porter of Orange County, to take the seat should Feinstein step down. And they don't want Rep. Adam Schiff of Los Angeles, who is seen as more of a centrist. All three are running to replace Feinstein.

Polls show Lee trailing Porter and Schiff, and that in a primary election, the two women could split the progressive vote giving Schiff a better chance of winning. Thus, Lee.

And here's where this gets dicey in our age of identity politics. Two years ago, Newsom said, after appointing

Alex Padilla to California's other Senate seat, replacing Kamala Harris after she became vice president, that he would name a Black woman to succeed Feinstein should she resign. Harris identifies as Black and South Asian.

If Newsom is held to this pledge,and appoints Lee, it would give her a massive advantage to win a full term in 2024. The governor would then be accused by many fellow Democrats of unfairly swaying the election.

Which may be why Newsom may hope Feinstein, health notwithstanding, serves out her full term.