• Dianne Feinstein,  Jerry Brown

    Why Senator Dianne Feinstein Won’t Run for California Governor in 2010

    Feinstein

    Comedian / actress Wanda Sykes and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), right, arrive at the Human Rights Campaign’s 2009 Los Angeles Gala and Hero Awards, Saturday, March 14, 2009, in Los Angeles

    She is 75 years old – for the most important of a few reasons.

    Looking at California Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown at a news conference announcing prosecution of the Anna Nicole Smith miscreants this past week, how can you spell old?

    And, Brown is not quite 71.

    The Democrat nomination race will be between two much younger candidates: Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Brown will run and split the vote, though.


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  • Day By Day,  Dianne Feinstein,  Jerry Brown

    Day by Day by Chris Muir February 19, 2009 – Don’t Be Evil

    Day by Day 021909

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    California Senior U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein is 76 years old and it is OXYMORONIC that she is Chair of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee. What a boner.

    And, to think the BUZZ is strong that she wishes to return to California and run for Governor in 2010.

    Wow!

    A choice in the Democrat primary election between 70 year old former California Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown and Di Fi? Such a choice.

    California is doomed – especially since in the last hour the California Legislature controlled by the Democrats rammed through an out of balance state budget that increases taxes to boot.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive


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  • Antonio Villaraigosa,  California Election 2010,  Dianne Feinstein,  Gavin Newsom,  Jack O'Connell,  Jerry Brown,  John Garramendi,  Steve Westly

    Poll Watch: Dianne Feinstein Leading in Democrat Field for California Governor

    Dianne Feinstein and Leon Panetta

    Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. talks with Central Intelligence Agency Director nominee Leon Panetta on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, prior to the start of Panetta’s nomination hearing before the committee. Feinstein initally voiced concerns over Panetta’s appointment.

    This is not too much of a surprise. In a previous poll, it is apparent that California voters like Feinstein and prefer her over the rest of the Democrat field.

    The poll results:

    • U.S.Senator Dianne Feinstein: 36%
    • Attorney General Jerry Brown: 14%
    • San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom: 9%
    • Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: 9%
    • Lt. Gov. John Garamendi: 4%
    • Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell: 3%
    • Ex-Controller Steve Westly: 1%
    • Undecided: 22%

    But will the DiFi run for Governor? She is 75 years old and is the new Chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Jerry Brown is definitely running but can Feinstein who has always coveted the Governorship ignore these poll results?

    Stay tuned…….


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  • California Election 2010,  Dianne Feinstein,  Jerry Brown

    Video: California Senator Dianne Feinstein Hedges on Run for California Governor

    California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein on MSNBC’s Hardball. Run the video ahead to the 8:00 mark for her comments on the California Governorship

    Bad news for California Attorney General Jerry Brown as Dianne Feinstein continues to flirt with a run for California Governor to replace term-limited out Arnold Schwarzenegger. Brown all but announced his candidacy for the race earlier this week and has raised over $3 million.

    But, Jerry Brown is worried about a Feinstein candidacy.

    In any event, Brown will just have to wait for Feinstein to finally decide.

    Feinstein: Well, as you know and I’ve said this, I take my new duty as chairman of the (Intelligence) Committee seriously. I want to see how it goes. You know, I’m one of those people that never says never. That’s just about the situation. It would be hard for me to do, no question, because I’ve got a 16-year commitment here.

    On the other hand, I am really concerned about the state. You know, we’re now furloughing employees. We stopped all capital improvement projects. The state has a $42 billion deficit. There’s a structural deficit now built in. And I think whoever runs for the post of governor had better do so with a plan so that, if elected, that plan becomes their mandate to carry out.

    Matthews: “When will you decide, you think?”

    Feinstein: “Oh, later this year – most likely.”

    Senator Feinstein freezes out other candidates like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with these comments. It will be difficult for them to fundraise for a Governor race will Feinstein lingers about.

    Jerry Brown is a definite go and a Feinstein-Brown Democrat Primary race in June 2010 will be a battle of the Titans – one which Feinstein has the advantage.  See the latest poll:

    california governor 2012 fav vs unfav


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  • Dianne Feinstein,  Leon Panetta

    California Senator Dianne Feinstein Now on Board With Leon Panetta Appointment to be Director of the CIA

    Michael Ramirez on Leon Panetta

    Political Cartoon by Michael Ramirez

    The incoming Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committe, California Senator Dianne Feinstein has caved and now supports the appointment of former Bill Clinton Chief of Staff and former California Congressman Leaon Panetta as the the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, despite the fact he has NO intelligence community experience.

    Obama wants a loyalist as DCIA so he does not get stabbed in the back by CIA career bureaucrats like President Bush did his entire time in office.

    But, is political loyality enough when you are fighting two wars and international terrorism?

    If the United States suffers another failure in intelligence like 9/11, Obama will be heavily criticized for this risky and rookie appointment.


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  • Dianne Feinstein,  Harry Reid,  Rod Blagojevich,  Roland Burris

    California Senator Dianne Feinstein Says Seat Roland Burris

    Dianne Feinstein

    It was reported that Leon Panetta, a former White House chief of staff with no direct intelligence experience, was selected by US President-elect Barack Obama to serve as CIA director. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, seen here in 2007, said she had not been informed about the decision, and indicated she did not approve

    Di Fi may not like Leon Panetta for CIA Director but she can read the political tea leaves and now calls for the U.S. Senate to seat Roland Burris.

    The chairman of the Senate Rules Committee has parted with many of her Democratic colleagues and says that the Senate should seat former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris.

    Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California said Tuesday that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, however tainted by corruption charges, has the right to appoint someone to President-elect Barack Obama’s former seat. The Rules Committee decides whether Burris is qualified to serve.

    Feinstein said that blocking Burris would have ramifications for other governors’ appointments.

    Well, Harry Reid has few legal remedies since every MAJOR legal scholar predicts the U.S. Supreme Court would seat Roland Burris anyway.

    So, Harry Reid will say ashucks tomorrow and seat Burris before the political damage spins out of control.

    In the meantime, the Illinois GOP is licking its chops to challenge the 70 year old plus appointed Senator in two years tainted by Hot Rod Blagojevich whose impeachment is just beginning.


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  • Dianne Feinstein,  Jay Rockefeller,  Leon Panetta

    Obama Picks Leon Panetta as CIA Director – Democrat Senators Feinstein and Rockefeller Choke on His Lack of Intelligence Experience

    Leon Panetta

    US president-elect Barack Obama has chosen former lawmaker and White House chief of staff Leon Panetta, pictured in 2006, to head the Central Intelligence Agency, US media reported Monday

    Guess POTUS – Elect did not consult with two senior Democrat Senators on the Senate intelligence Committee before he appointed “OUTSIDER” former Bill Clinton Budget Director and California Democrat Congressman, Leon Panetta as the Direcotr of the Central Intelligence Agency. Panetta has extensive government experience but virtually none in the intelligence community.

    Both Senators Feinstein and Rockefeller were nonplussed and may oppose Panetta’s confirmation.

    • Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who this week begins her tenure as the first female chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said today that she was not consulted on the choice and indicated she might oppose it.
    • “I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA director,” Feinstein said. “My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.”
    • A senior aide to Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), outgoing chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the senator “would have concerns” about a Panetta nomination.
    • Rockefeller “thinks very highly of Panetta,” the aide said. “But he’s puzzled by the selection. He has concerns because he has always believed that the director of CIA needs to be someone with significant operational intelligence experience, and someone outside the political realm.”

    Panetta would report to the Director of National Intelligence, Retired Admiral Dennis Blair who is also an Obama nominee and also faces confirmation by the Senate.

    In the meantime, if the President-elect does NOT afford senior California Senator Dianne Feinstein the respect that she feels she is earned, Di Fi may very well return the favor by leaving the Senate Intelligence Committee Chairmanship to run for California Governor in 2010. Her term in the Senate expires in 2012.

    Look for increasing crticism of this Obama nomination and its eventual withdrawal. The wrong man for the wrong job here.


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  • Dianne Feinstein,  Jerry Brown,  Meg Whitman,  Steve Poizner,  Tom Campbell

    Meg Whitman Vs. Senator Dianne Feinstein for California Governor in 2010?

    Meg whitman

    Meg Whitman, formerly President and CEO of eBay

    They both have as good a chance as any to represent their party (Whitman, GOP and DiFi, Democrat) according to the California Field Poll conducted before last Tuesday’s Presidential election.

    U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein is the early favorite on the Democratic side of the 2010 race for governor, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is attracting attention in a likely battle for the GOP nomination, a new Field Poll shows.

    The survey, which was taken before last week’s election and lists the favorability ratings of possible candidates to succeed Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, “is a little teaser for when we start to look closer at the governor’s race next year,” said Mark DiCamillo, the poll’s director.

    Many California voters aren’t ready to shift their attention to an election that is more than 18 months away, but the fall campaign already has had an effect on San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, whose opposition to the same-sex marriage ban apparently hurt his statewide standing, according to the survey.

    On the GOP side, more than two-thirds of registered voters have no opinion about Whitman, former San Jose Rep. Tom Campbell or state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

    “It’s basically a level playing field for all of them,” DiCamillo said.

    Here is a poll summary:

    california governor 2012 fav vs unfav

    Flap thinks that on the Demcorat side the nomination will be between Dianne Feinstein and Jerry Brown since they are both seasoned polls who can raise the mega $ millions it will take to run a statewide campaign.

    Both appeal to the LEFT with Brown a little more fringe left than DiFi. However, both candidates are OLD and the newly registered young Democrats and independents (who vote in California Democrat primary elections) may be drawn to the sex scandal plagued duo of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

    A multi-way race will not be advantageous to either Brown or Feinstein – look for some early knock-out blows sponsored by the big Labor unions like SEIU.

    On the GOP side, Meg Whitman will be the nominee if she wants it. Campbell and Poizner are light-weights politically and although Poizner can self-fund, Whitman has the $ mega-bucks to match him dollar for dollar, plus more. Whitman is new and fresh but can she read a teleprompter?

    Meg Whitman was also highly visible in the Yes on California Proposition 8 campaign which had the support of California conservatives. Flap believes Campbell favors gay marriage and Poizner remained neutral during the Prop 8 campaign.

    Stay tuned as early posturing begins and don’t forget there may be a darkhorse GOP candidate should Whitman decide to sit this one out – Mitt Romney.

    Stay tuned…….


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