Passing Of A Lergend ?

(Passing Of A Legend ?)

Age makes suckers of everybody as death, along with taxes, are life's only constants, Long time California Senator Diane Feinstein just passed away at the age of ninety. The Senator had been ill for some time and hers came the other day. The death of Senator Feinstein has broader ramifications, however. With the Senate as divided as it is, removing New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez who could he facing actual expulsion from the Body. As he made clear. however, he intends to extort Majority Leader Schumer, who still needs his vote.


The career of the late Senator was varied. She started in local California politics and rose to Mayor of San Francisco after the assassination of her predecessor. Ultimately, she was elected to the Senate in 1992 and has been there since then. Rest in Peace, Madam Senator.


As Senator Feinstein has passed, one thing that probably won't is the stop-gap spending measure that had been crafted by Speaker McCarthy has been defeated by a coalition of hardline GOP members and some Democrats in sufficient numbers to table McCarthy's Resolution. As has been discussed, there can be a limit to standing on principle but taken to extremes, the act of falling on one's sword can be taken literally. If there is some cost to be incurred, it will probably fall on the Speaker because it was his responsibility to run the House and not rush the agenda at the last day of the Fiscal Year. Motion to vacate the Chair ? 


Speaker McCarthy's situation is not unique among Republican circles. The Simi Vallet debate from last Wednesday was a display of competent GOP contenders but nothing that would blow air up Marilyn Monrow's skirt. Maybe time was limited, and detail is for another day but there was no grand vision. What to do about taxes or the border, or China or crime. In short, all the failed policies of the Biden Administration, who just cut off more drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.


As said the other day, former President Trump was the winner of the debate, and he is seeing no need for further exchanges. What had been the logic of a non-Trump group of candidates in that the former President cannot ultimately prevail. Recent polling has diminished that conclusion. That being said, again, no votes have been counted and Iowa and New Hampshire are months away.


But one can lament the passing of a great legislator, the failure to pass a GOP spending plan, and recognizing that former President is inevitable after all. Speaking of Big Ideas.

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