The Left Struggles to Cope as Senate GOP Throws Wrench in Feinstein ‘Replacement’ Plan

As RedState previously reported, California Leftist Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s prolonged absence from the Senate has caused major headaches for Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (C/G-NY), especially on the issue of herding The Regime’s radical judicial nominees through the Judiciary Committee.

Feinstein is a member of the committee, and her ongoing battle with the shingles virus has left it at a 10-10 Left/Right tie since late February and with no end in sight.

As a result, three things have happened:

Feinstein has faced growing calls from some of her fellow California [Leftists] including some in the House to resign before her term expires,

[Leftist] infighting has commenced with thinly veiled accusations of sexism coming from Nancy Pelosi [(C/G-CA)], and

Feinstein has issued a statement asking Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee until she is able to return.

Though Schumer has declared that he intends to try to do just that this week, Senate Republicans including some of the more moderate ones as well as several on the Judiciary Committee have made it clear they are not going to play along with Schumer’s plan and in the process set a bad precedent going forward:

At least five Republicans on the Judiciary Committee—Sens. Tom Cotton (AR), Thom Tillis (NC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), John Kennedy (LA), and John Cornyn (TX)—all said they would oppose the effort to replace the longtime California [Leftist] or saw no reason to remove her.

Kennedy said he’d take Feinstein at her word she’ll be back soon.

Tillis, who is often seen as among the more bipartisan senators, tweeted:

I will vote against any attempt by Senate Democrats to temporarily replace Sen. Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee. I deeply respect Senator Feinstein, but this is an unprecedented request solely intended to appease those pushing for radical, activist judges.

Sens. Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK), two of the most moderate Republicans in the chamber, may have put the nail in the coffin of the effort, though for a different reason than some others.

Collins said:

Sen. Feinstein has been an extraordinary senator and she’s a good friend of mine. During the last two years, there’s been a concerted campaign to force her off the judiciary committee, and I will have no part of that.

Schumer said Monday that he’d spoken to Feinstein and that she expects to “return soon” but that in the meantime he believed Republicans “should allow a temporary replacement” because it’s supposedly the “right and fair thing to do.“

Schumer’s second in command and Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (C/G-IL) tried to play the “decency” card on Republicans in an effort to get them to agree to temporarily replace Feinstein.

Durbin said Monday:

Tomorrow, this could happen to the Republicans and they could find themselves in a vulnerable position through no fault of their own. And I hope that they’ll show a little kindness and caring for their colleagues.

Durbin described Feinstein as currently in “a delicate part of her life and her Senate service,” and said Republicans should:

 Stand by her and give her a dignified departure from the committee

It ain’t gonna happen, Dick. And you know damn well so.

Republicans, even the more “bipartisan” ones the Left normally relies on to get them out of jams like this one, are not going to comply because they know what the real goal is here and that’s to permanently replace Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee—and with that, conveniently, being the only committee they seek to replace her on.

If the shoe were on the other foot here, the Radical Leftists would take the same position Republicans have and not budge on it except to be demeaning and condescending.

So, [it is nice] to see even some of the more milquetoast GOPers like Collins and Murkowski say they won’t join in on the [Lefts’] reindeer games.

NOTE:  Feinstein’s absence could possibly be only temporary, but judicial appointments are long-term, and their impacts having the potential to span generations.

Republicans are right not to allow emotional arguments from Schumer and Durbin—two of the worst conniving SOBs in the Senate—to persuade them on this sensitive topic. Too much is at stake to do anything outside of playing hardball.