Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is hearing swan song praises on Twitter after her fellow California lawmaker, Congressman Ro Khanna, respectfully suggested that it was time for the 89-year-old Feinstein to resign. Feinstein is the oldest sitting member of Congress and the longest-serving California senator.
[NOTE: Feinstein said in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024, but would finish her current term and intended “to accomplish as much for California as I can through the end of next year when my term ends.”]
With her health in decline, Khanna believes that Feinstein can no longer do enough — and that she should vacate her seat. If Feinstein were to resign, Governor Gavin Newsom would choose her replacement.
Once the suggestion was made, Twitter was largely in agreement, with most of those concurring also offering effusive praise for Feinstein’s career and accomplishments. A sampling is below:
She was a trailblazer and a great champion for her city and state — indeed, her country — in so many ways. It is no disrespect to her considerable legacy to suggest a graceful exit would be one more example of her dedication to public service. @SenFeinstein https://t.co/YFGimV6QeZ
— John Diaz (@JohnDiazChron) April 12, 2023
I agree with @RoKhanna. Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But I believe it’s now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet. https://t.co/lvaHhLJYsi
— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) April 12, 2023
Rep. Khanna was elected to Congress on the promise of a “new economic patriotism,” promising to restore American manufacturing and tech leadership — with an emphasis on improving the lives of working people.
A Silicon Valley lawyer with degrees from Yale and the University of Chicago, Khanna is a progressive with a pro business and capitalism bent.
One of the chief tenets of modern capitalism, especially as practiced in Silicon Valley, is the economic concept of “creative destruction” — which describes a continual process of destroying the status quo and replacing it with a better way. What Khanna is saying, as he tries to innovate, is essentially: Make room for the new.
