OK, I want to concentrate on replacing Feinstein.

[Ladyhawk]

She sent me a whiny letter about why she didn't stand up with Barbara Boxer and I'm sick of her fawning all over the Rethuglicans. Does anyone have a solid plan of action on how to deal with this? I want her out in 2006.

Here in California we should be able to do this and not settle for a DINO. I've written her a couple of e-mails explaining that if I had wanted a Republican, I would have voted for one, but all I get are those whiny explanation e-mails. Either she's lost her integrity or she's on the take.

Someone bring me up to date. Are there plans in place? If not, why not? Who looks like the best replacement?

[Jo March]

1. Are there any groups out there that have someone else to run against her?

I'd google for anti-Feinstein groups first and see if any of them are non-freeper groups. Then I'd start calling the local Dem groups and voice my concerns.

I want to do the same thing with Dole but she's a repub so I'll at least have some help.

I'm sure that there have to be some Dem groups there in CA who want to get rid of her.

Good luck with your search. Post back and let us know what you find out there. She is a repub, IMHO, not a Democrat.

[genius]

19. The best candidate is Martin Sheen. He helped found the Office of the

Americas. He is extremely politically active and he opposes the wars for which she has voted. He is also a candidate who could win the primary and the general election without campaigning. I'd rather have a sure winner than someone who has to work with it.

The way to get him on board is to point out that Feinstein will continue to vote for wars. (Her husband gets contracts out of the wars.) The only way he can stop the wars is to replace Feinstein and vote "no". You can probably get his address from the Office of the Americas, the Registrar of Voters or the Screen Actors Guild. All three should have it. It might help if we got all our clubs to call for him to run.

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. You would also have to convince him to put his acting career on hold

Being a Senator is a full-time job.

[Ken Burch]

27. Sheen would be a great Senator, but he's also...

"Anti-choice" (he's a follower of the more progressive "Seamless Garment" doctrine of opposing abortion, but also war, the death penalty and the exploitation of workers.)

Could California liberals live with that trade-off?

[Constitution]

28. He backs pro-choice candidates. I want to end the death penalty.

Everyone he's backed so far has been pro-choice. The more people we have opposed to the death penalty the better. We need to stop executing our citizens.

[Ken Burch]

29. I agree with you, and if I were Californian I'd back Sheen myself...

...I was just playing devil's advocate.

I also have painful memories of progressives and feminists refusing to criticize Clinton or to try to push him to the left because "he's pro-choice" and how that seemed to trump everything else.

[autorank]

2. She should run for Governor.

She could help hubby out but not do that much damage; and it wuld get rid of steroid-boy either by retirement or a lost election. Then we'd get a real Senator from the place of my birth.

[Wilms]

3. Maybe that's an acceptable trade. n/t

[cascadiance]

21. I was thinking the same thing...

Perhaps Dean and the new DNC leadership (if he wins of course and hopefuly so) will give a strong hint to Feinstein that she should pull out of the race if another decent Democrat could be found to run for Senator, and then in exchange the Dems could strongly get behind her to go against Arnold for Governor in 2008. Short of enlisting someone like Bill Clinton to run for governor, we'll need someone that high profile to beat Arnold then. If she runs in the primaries and loses this coming Senatorial election, it would put a damper on her chances of running for governor. I'm no big fan of Feinstein (especially in the Senate), but I could compromise to support her for Governor rather than Arnold, which I think she might have a good shot at doing. She could run saying something like her "having made a mistake in not entering the recall race earlier to give the Democrats a decent option then".

I do agree with voting for someone new into the Senate though. I'm tired of her B.S. that hasn't really represented our state well. I'd voted for Medea Benjamin from the Greens against her in her last election, so I was already onto her crap then.

[gardenista]

23. She should have run for Governor two years ago.

DiFi let us all down when she didn't take a position during the recall. Had she done so, had she run, I do believe we'd be living in a Bush-free country right now.

[sophie996]

4. i'm with you but let's get real ...

so long as she wants the seat no democrat will run against her--there just won't be a primary. that's how the party works. keep writing to her with copies to your county central committee and to the state party at http://www.cadem.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvLRK7O3E&b=29414
and to your local newspaper. she's got to get the message that the grassroots wants her to retire while she still has a shred of respect left. and isn't it time she stepped aside? she's 71. i know robert byrd is older, but she's no robert byrd.

[xxqqqzme]

26. I know! not 2 long ago

I got a cadem email from Art Torres thrilled that Feinstien was going 2 run in '06 and not retire. I am a delegate 2 the CADEM convention in April and I know there R other DUers who are delegates as well. We need a co-ordinated effort @ that time to find a viable candidate and/or get Feinstein 2 move off the dino dime.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. No one with any credibility will have the balls to run against her

She is the most popular Democratic politician in CA.

[sophie996]

6. still the most popular democrat?

what's your source for that?

[Doomsayer13]

7. conventional wisdom

her approval ratings stand in the mid 60's

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. CA Field Poll

http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/RLS2132.pdf

[Ladyhawk]

9. Is it wrong to give it a try, anyway? A lot of people are pissed at her.

I've been to a few Dem forums and I sense a lot of discontent. Perhaps all we need is a start of some kind. :shrug:

This grassroots stuff is really tough. It's hard starting a movement from the bottom up. Due to health issues, I can't start anything. I'm looking for something to join. I can provide a bit of fertilizer and water for the grass, but I can't plant the seeds.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. If it is a member of the House, they would have to give up their safe seat

in order to run a credible campaign.

[paineinthearse]

11. Does that rule out Jerry Brown???

A view from 3000 miles away, but I did live in CA for 10 years.

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Apperently he is running for Attorney General

[Ken Burch]

14. Last time Brown ran for Senate, he got creamed.

Not sure if he's overcome the "flake" factor yet.

Also, his relations with the Left in Cali are weird.

[realFedUp]

10. I agree with you. At the least recruit someone with name recognition soon

I think it's a good idea to go with a Reiner or Sheehan...
worked for the Rethugs and since the election is next
year, fast name recognition is good. Also
Reiner and Sheehan aren't politicians so wouldn't
be a conflict with state Dems.

She needs to go. Contacting Art Torres is
a good first step to let him know of your
frustration with DiFi.

[Ken Burch]

15. I'd like to see Lynn Wolsey or Maxine Waters consider it.

[EFerrari]

17. Brenda Lee or Maxine Waters. Definitely a good idea. n/t

[Ken Burch]

18. That's Barbara Lee, not Brenda Lee

Although it would be interesting to hear "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree" as a campaign song.

[EFerrari]

20. lol. Sorry. An ADD moment. nt

[jfern]

24. I don't know if she could win a statewide election

We want someone more liberal to win the primary, but we also want to win the general election.

[EFerrari]

16. I'm in!.. I'll check around tonight for groups already working it.

And as far as her popularity, why is it that I never meet anyone who actually likes her? That's just strange. Maybe because I'm in San Francisco?

[Gold Metal Flake]

25. I believe...

...that Feinstein is so well known and so well entrenched that there will not be any serious attempt to oppose her in the primary.

If Dean does get the chair, he will provide guidance on this.

That guidance may be to not oppose.

But, this does not stop the grassroots from drafting a candidate, getting that candidate on the ballot, and voting for that candidate in enough numbers as to make the point that the grassroots are not happy with Di's dino ways.

Basically, instead of hoping for a candidate, build one. Winning is not the point. The point is to make an impression in Di's helmet, to help her remember who her constituents are.

On another topic, I doubt that Martin Sheen will be open to a kamakazi run, so don't ask him. If he wants to run for office, he will let us know in no uncertain terms.