The US Senate is impossibly old. You look at them and you're immediately reminded of the original "Star Trek" cast, still making movies long after they should have retired. This is something politicos have discussed for a long time. It's not a surprise.
But now, it's becoming topic du jour on social media, because a bunch of people have decided to call on California Democrat Dianne Feinstein to resign. That's because she's been sick with shingles and has missed a lot of votes — on top of previous rumors that she was starting to lose her marbles. Feinstein, at 89, is the oldest person in Congress.
We cats have not jumped on this particular train. It seems unfair. Former Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois suffered a stroke and essentially ghosted Capitol Hill for ages, but there was no drumbeat for him to quit. Strom Thurmond remained in the Senate until he was nearly 100. And more recently, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was hospitalized for depression (he'll be back at work next week).
Could this "Feinstein Resign" movement have anything to do with the fact that she represents a solidly blue state, with a solidly blue Governor who would undoubtedly choose a solidly blue successor? Or is it because she's a woman? Nancy Pelosi thinks it's the latter.
Honestly, this fuss seems misplaced. Feinstein has already announced she won't run for re-election, and she's asked that Leader Schumer temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee so that judicial nominations aren't held up. Instead of wringing our hands over this, wouldn't our time be better spent on upcoming crucial Senate races like Sherrod Brown's in Ohio, Jon Tester's in Montana, and the clusterfuck in Arizona? Focus, people. We cats HISS.
(IMAGE: It was 1991, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered County," and Kirk, Spock, Bones and Scotty were mighty long in the tooth.)
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