Senator Dianne Feinstein appeared confused during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday. When asked to vote on a proposal, Feinstein began giving a lengthy speech instead of simply saying “aye” or “nay” as requested. The committee chair, Senator Patty Murray, had to repeatedly tell Feinstein “just say aye” and remind her that it was time for a vote, not speeches. After some delay, Feinstein finally cast her vote. A spokesperson said Feinstein was preoccupied and did not realize a vote had been called. The incident raises further concerns about Feinstein’s ability to serve at age 90, as she has made other recent mistakes and often relies on aides.
I don’t think she has enough consistent cognitive functionality to know wtf is going on really.
She’s being propped up by Pelosi rather than being allowed to decompose horizontally with dignity.
It’s indicative of just how corrupt the political class is in every western country
Source re Pelosi?
Feinstein’s primary caregiver: Pelosi’s daughter
Pelosis eldest daughter is reportedly taking care of the 89-year-old Democrat, raising concerns that Pelosi is blurring the lines between friendship and politics.
Nancy Pelosi reportedly blamed ‘the left’ and sexism for intense scrutiny of Dianne Feinstein’s health
Pelosi is keeping Feinstein in place so she can swap her out for Schiff instead of having two other candidates who would be interim replacements that are more left wing and not (so much) under her control.
I believe her chief aide is one of Pelosi’s children, and people read into that manipulation by Nancy herself – usually along the lines of “she’s propping up Feinstein to keep out a progressive replacement!”
Feinstein belongs in a memory care ward rather than the Senate, but it doesn’t take nefarious scheming by everyone’s favorite bogeywoman to explain a cantankerous dementia patient refusing to accept their limitations and step away from something that they find comfortable and familiar.
I heard someone joke that if her staffers aren’t propping her up to keep their jobs but are actually delighting in seeing her frightened and confused in public, that person had new respect for the staffers. It’s an amusing way to reframe this tragedy.