513 Comments
⭠ Return to thread

Women have begun to see that if I go through that doorway, I take everybody through it.

___Dianne Feinstein

'No Child Left Behind' requires states and school districts to ensure that all students are learning and are reaching their highest potential. Special education students should not be left out of these accountability mechanisms.

____Dianne Feinstein

College costs continue to rise, and student loan debt threatens to price many Americans out of a college education and out of the middle class.

___Dianne Feinstein

Today we have a health insurance industry where the first and foremost goal is to maximize profits for shareholders and CEOs, not to cover patients who have fallen ill or to compensate doctors and hospitals for their services. It is an industry that is increasingly concentrated and where Americans are paying more to receive less.

___Dianne Feinstein

I basically believe the medical insurance industry should be nonprofit, not profit-making. There is no way a health reform plan will work when it is implemented by an industry that seeks to return money to shareholders instead of using that money to provide health care.

___Dianne Feinstein

Banning guns addresses a fundamental right of all Americans to feel safe.

___Dianne Feinstein

Congressional overseers and the public must be given appropriate insight into government activities as well as their legal rationale to ensure America's values are being upheld and our interests advanced.

___ Dianne Feinstein

‘James Haas was a San Francisco land use attorney, and a gay man who was not yet out in 1970, when he became an informal advisor to Dianne Feinstein.’

‘He also authored the city’s most abiding epigram about Feinstein’s relationship to the gay community:

“Dianne Feinstein doesn’t care who you sleep with,” he famously quipped, “as long as you’re in bed by 11 o’clock.”

“From her time serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors with Harvey Milk to her battle to protect transgender service members, Dianne Feinstein has been a champion for LGBTQ equality and social justice,” Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide gay civil rights organization, said in endorsing her final campaign in 2018. “Senator Feinstein stood with our community back when few others did.” (Politico) See link below.

'Dianne Feinstein, who died Friday at the age of 90, made history as the first woman to become mayor of her hometown of San Francisco.'

'A graduate of Stanford University, Feinstein began her career in politics when she was appointed by Gov. Pat Brown to the California Women's Parole Board in 1960. Nine years later, she was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and was elected president of the board in 1978.'

'She became mayor of San Francisco in 1978 following the assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. The following year she was elected to the first of two four-year terms.

She was elected to the U.S. Senate in a 1992 special election. becoming California's first female U.S. senator. It was an election cycle that became known as the "Year of the Woman" for the record number of female candidates elected to Congress.'

'Feinstein was re-elected five times and in the 2012 election, she received 7.86 million votes, the most popular votes received by any U.S. Senate candidate in history.'

'President Biden said in a statement. "Often the only woman in the room, Dianne was a role model for so many Americans - a job she took seriously by mentoring countless public servants," Biden said Friday. "Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared, and never pulled a punch, but she was also a kind and loyal friend, and that's what [First lady] Jill and I will miss the most."

For a list of her accomplishments:

https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/key-accomplishments

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/29/dianne-feinstein-legacy-00116902

Expand full comment

It was sad to watch her deteriorate in the last months of her life, but that does not take away from a lifetime of service to her principles and to all Americans. Who can step up to fill her place in history?

Expand full comment

They are waiting in the wings. America has no shortage of greatness but an overabundance of mediocrity and willful ignorance. I don't know why the papers are calling Feinstein a "centrist" when she was always a boat rocker.

Expand full comment

Another Reader on this page has their own Substack page, and had an interesting counterpoint to answer your question about her position as a centrist. I've not read far enough to see if they've commented.

I lived in the Bay Area in the early 1980's and dimly recall being a bit taken aback by some of the decisions she made as Mayor of San Francisco, but overall felt she was a good choice. She definitely was a "boat rocker", albeit a more conservative one than people expect from a Democratic Senator from California.

Expand full comment

Her legacy should not be tainted by the way it finished, the last few years maybe regrettable but they don't erase all the positives she accomplished in her career that were truly progressive. The meanings of labels are constantly shifting and should be avoided. Judge people by their actions and not the way they are described by others. Leaders at all levels of government make unpopular decisions, Democrats are not excluded. SF is a difficult place to govern for sure!

Expand full comment

I don't disagree with a lot of what you've written. Senator Feinstein was a trailblazer in so many ways, and I believe opened a lot of doors for other women to have success in politics at all levels. I do, however, caution against the inevitable hagiography that often happens when a true trailblazer dies.

Expand full comment

Ally, I don't know that same standards in judging 'hagiography', a 'biography that idealizes its subject', would apply in this setting. Having cautioned, to quote you, 'against the inevitable hagiography that often happens when a true trailblazer dies' in reply to BlueRootsRadio, have you noted that on this thread? I've read of strong admiration and positive examples of her work but not idealized fabrications. You mentioned some vague disappointment in her on occasion, without going into anything specific. Our memories aren't always up to such a task. I'm sure you are not alone in finding some fault with Feinstein. I for one, would be interested in what you may remember that disappointed you.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Sep 30, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

People who make decisions that will affect other people will NEVER make everyone happy, even if they try. I don't know a lot about Diane Feinstein, but I will now learn.

Expand full comment

Yes she was, but a bit conservative was the way it was in the party back then.

I grew up in the Bay Area ('50s) and was involved as a kid in dem politics. She was of a social stratta that was, by it's nature, more conservative, but the times were changing and her values guided her actions. She rocked a lot of boats.

Expand full comment

Seaking of "Boat Rockers" WBUR's "On,Point" has posted HCR's 46.33 minute interview titled "Historian Heather Cox Richardson's Notes on the state of America". wbur.org

Expand full comment

Thanks, Bryan. I missed the first half of that, and your link gave me a quick way to catch all of it. I needed to hear this.

Expand full comment

Certainly, I found it interesting to listen to HCR in a dialogue with a Host with a more general Audience listening..

Expand full comment

The Democrats have a very deep, impressively deep bench, and not just in Congress. Take a look at the statehouses. Take a look at the state legislatures. OK, maybe not the one in my state (MA), although there are some standouts there too, but when a state like Tennessee produces a trio like Justin, Justin & Gloria, I'm encouraged.

Expand full comment

Because to true leftists, she was close to being Republican.

Never mind that as a woman in the 70s and 80s, she had to be more conservative to get elected. Never mind that she lived through the shooting and made sure people remembered it. She's not Milk.

Never mind that like Obama, she got laws passed that were compromises.

It's a lot like Obama.

Joe Biden can push more progressive policies because he's an old white guy. Obama is called a Communist for pushing Mitt Romney's health insurance plan.

For all the canonization of Bernie Sanders, the people who get laws written and enacted are Obama, Feinstein, Biden types.

Expand full comment

People forget, or were not politically aware, how far right the Democrats shifted in the 80's chasing after Reagan. It didn't get much better in the 90's but in those days Feinstein set GOP legislator's hair on fire. Most political careers in my mind follow the pattern of a sine wave, hers was longer than most. For me her biggest "sin" was staying on the job too long i.e. RBG, but that doesn't erase her vast accomplishments.

Forget all the labels coming from the right, we're all pinko commie LGBTQ Antifa fascists. You learn about the origin of their labeling in a great chapter in Democracy Awakening.

True about Bernie but to his credit, his dogged persistence influenced all of them to maintain the liberal consensus. For cryin' out loud, Biden walked a picket line last week.

'nuff for me.

Expand full comment

My problem with Bernie is that you might find him on a picket line, but he gets no legislation passed and he votes against good legislation because it's not pure enough.

That and he wouldn't release his tax returns and he wouldn't concede in 2016.

Expand full comment

We lost two national elections badly. After we had lost to Nixon/Agnew TWICE.

The Left wouldn't vote for Humphrey and Ted Kennedy did his best to torpedo Jimmy Carter (who was a conservative Democrat in many ways) so I think the party leadership went with appealing to the voters who gave a two bit actor the largest landslide in US history.

If I had been related to Feinstein, I would have worked to get her out of there.

But then again, if I were related to Trump, I wouldn't have let him run at all. For the same reason.

Expand full comment

@Notes, For me what was particularly sad was that the country at-large didn’t recognize the sheer will that enabled Feinstein to hang in as colleagues alerted her to a Senate rule that would have required her replacement to meet a 60-vote threshold to take her seat on the Judiciary Committee.

Expand full comment

Agree, I’d read that recently how Democrats would likely lose the spot on the judiciary committee if she resigned and then her hanging on made sense to me.

Expand full comment

I was not aware of this.

Expand full comment

Susan, Regrettably, most of the country was unaware. Hence, I view posting what was happening behind the scenes as my small contribution to Senator Feinstein’s legacy.

Expand full comment

She was one of a kind, and leaves big shoes to fill. Three excellent candidates are running for her seat. I'm supporting Katie Porter, but I would readily vote for Adam Schiff or Barbara Lee.

Expand full comment

Diane Feinstein mentored so many young people. Someone capable will emerge.

Expand full comment

Thank you Fern. It is good to be reminded of true value with so much sh!t hitting the fan!!

Expand full comment

So good to see you this morning, Kathleen Allen. You always bring your beautiful spirit to us.

Expand full comment

Thank you Fern - more likely, the beautiful spirit brings me - and I am great-full for that!!

Expand full comment

Highlighting her accomplishments is as respectful as it gets. Could be so much baloney, but she may have known in her being that she was going and wanted to leave as a still productive Senator. She served our nation and our people well.

Expand full comment

Thank you. Impossible to disagree with any of those quotes. She will be hard to replace.

A healthcare industry that is profit motivate is not a healthcare industry. Healthcare that is profit motivated is insane. Shouldn't the motivation be healthcare?

Expand full comment

Harvey, I always note with amusement and some anger when a healthcare company (had a cousin who worked in the industry and she called it death care) advertises how much they really care. If they did, they wouldn't have to advertise.

Expand full comment

Harvey, au contraire, mon ami!

A business that is fueling the stock market, such as the medical insurance field, is NOTHING but an industry - and it certainly does NOT allow for nor provide a healthy citizenry, simply judging by how sickly Americans both appear to be as well as how we act. (howz that for a run-a-long sentence)

We are a sickly lot, both in spirit, body and mind.

Expand full comment

And our food industry lets these companies make HPF (highly processed foods) which causes so much sickness: diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease to name a few. But how could our “death care” stay in business without these products. Capitalism at its finest!! Sarcasm speaking. Makes me so sad that people are eating this crap because it’s cheap and very available.

Expand full comment

So, Frederick, you begin your difference with Harvey in French. That caught my attention. I will stick to English in my effort to clarify points that you made. The word 'industry' has wide application, and that includes both profit and non-profit organizations. If you would like to check with Britannica, their link is the following:

https://www.britannica.com/money/topic/industry.

We could have a non-profit healthcare industry, but that still sounds more like a fantasy than a realistic possibility in the US.

In general, I thought you and Harvey were in agreement about the Healthcare Industry in the US.

Expand full comment

We did have a health insurance industry that started as nonprofit entities that sprang up through community associations, at least in the northeast. Blue cross Blue Shield and HIP are two in New York that started out that way.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Fern, for this tribute to a great statesperson.

Expand full comment

No question that Senator Feinstein was one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest.

She almost short-circuited Kavanaugh's appointment to the USSC along with her fellow Democrats on the committee. Thankfully she did bring in Dr. Ford to testify, even though the Republicans on the committee did everything they could to threaten her and her family.

Hopefully Governor Newsome will appoint a qualified candidate to fill in for Senator Feinstein until the 2024 election.

Thanks for an amazing career of public service Senator! You are loved and missed!

Expand full comment

Fern, thank you for reminding us of all of Diane Feinstein’s statements that were so brave at the time and helped move the Overton window on so many issues. It can be so easy to remember the ill woman who dragged herself to work to do the country’s business on the Judiciary Committee; the GOP was so heartless in insisting that she could not be temporarily replaced so that she could stay home and get well.

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/mcconnell-makes-clear-gop-support-replacing-feinstein-judiciary/story?id=98664547

Expand full comment

Mary, I, too, think she “took one for the team” given McConnell’s stance.

Expand full comment

Thank you Fern for these notes. Mark me as grateful in Milwaukee WI. I always look for your remarks and appreciate them. I agree with D Feinstein re the health insurance industry should be non profit. I think healthcare should be protected from the speculative markets as should other sectors such as residential housing just as one example. Certain life essentials should be protected by scaffolds of strong laws on behalf of humans (not on behalf of for profit corporations who presently count on bailouts). Legislators need to work for their human constituents and build structures that protect them. So much has been ceded to the speculative markets--just about everything. The wealth of the country is being siphoned off to a small percentage of people.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Fern. That is an Incredible collection of wisdom by a truly great American.

Diane Feinstein never gave up.

Post that list as a reminder the Government is by and for the people.

Expand full comment

Fern, do you mind if I post your comment on my FB page? I don't want to post it without your permission.

Expand full comment

Colette, it would be excellent to spread Dianne Feinstein's commitment to the welfare, equality, and justice of the people. Please do not use my name. Thank you for your idea and consideration. Salud!

Expand full comment

Okay...I will see if I am tech savvy enough to take your name off of it before I post it! Thanks.

Expand full comment

So good to be reminded of what is possible...Dianne’s values and principles were evident in all she did. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Do you have your own letter Fern?

Your comments here are always very individual and well prepared, you should have a voice yourself.

Expand full comment

Thank you for your question and attention, Christopher Colles. One of the satisfactions of subscribing to LFAA is that Heather Cox Richardson inspires us to understand what is happening in the US. She and subscribers, such as you, encourage me to keep learning.

Contributing to our dialogue is a rich reward. Salud!

Expand full comment

Thank you for your eulogy to a great light, long shall she shine in you and many, many others ❤️

Expand full comment

Except you didn't answer my question.

Expand full comment

Hello, Christopher. I thought I had replied to this question of yours hours ago, which, clearly, did not appear. What is more, I believed that I had answered the first time. I am satisfied with being a subscriber and independent enough to very rarely raise a subject or person that was not covered in HCR's Letter. I didn't have the time and energy this morning to write a strong comment about the meaning of Ukraine and the meaning of Putin. It would have connected to HCR's Letter but makes the point that I've tried to elucidate. I didn't have the time or energy this morning; writing 'Letters' requires a type of responsibility, effort and style of communication on a regular basis, which does not suit me. I appreciate your persistence, Christopher. Cheers!

Expand full comment

Christopher, you put it so well. I always look for Fern’s comments—I always learn something from her words and shared links.

Expand full comment

Me too.

Expand full comment

Me, three.

Expand full comment

I notice that they rarely have anything to do with the discussion or the letter commented on... and they clog up the comments.

You should encourage them to write their own letter.

Expand full comment

Thanks so much for the reminders, Fern. She was, as so many have noted, smart. But she commanded respect through thorough preparation and full command of the facts. The accolades that have poured in since the announcement of her death, even on Fox notNews, speak to the integrity and brilliance she placed in service to this country for so long.

Expand full comment

And not just a health industry whose foremost goal is to maximize profit but all big industry as well as Congress and the Supreme Court

Expand full comment

Nice tribute Fern... Brava ~

Expand full comment

Thank you for this. I wrote to Senator Feinstein about numerous issues over the years. I always got a reasoned, intelligent response. I will miss her very much. She embodied for me what it means to be a responsible and civil public servant.

Expand full comment