Not a happy thought

A headline yesterday gave me a horrible flashback. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy's coming retirement means

Feinstein poised to move into presidential line of succession if Democrats keep Senate 

That is, the party in control of the Senate picks the president pro tempore of that legislative body. By tradition, that's the longest sitting Senator; when Leahy goes, that Diane. The role is almost entirely ceremonial -- with one exception: if for some reason, a president, a vice-president, and the Speaker of the House are unavailable, presidential succession moves on the Senate president pro tempore. 

Now we still have a Veep and a Speaker (that would probably be wet noodle Kevin McCarthy if GOPers win the House in 2022) before we get to the Senate president pro tempore. So an upward leap for Feinstein seems improbable -- and a good thing too, as in her case, it doesn't seem advanced age is leading to wisdom.

It's mostly forgotten, but we have Diane Feinstein because of previous unthinkable events. In the mid-1970s, she looked to be a washed up local San Francisco politician. She'd run for Mayor twice and lost; as has been typical in the city, candidates to her left and to her right sucked up all the energy. In 1975, the city elected the progressive candidate, George Moscone. Feinstein remained on the Board of Supervisors, but she seemed done. Then in 1978 Supervisor Dan White killed Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk; the crime was a consequence of culture war tensions much like those we are living through today. 

As president of the Board of Supes, Feinstein became "acting mayor." And, through some twists and turns and one recall, that's how she got where she is now.

Here's hoping, if Dems hold the Senate, they'll find a graceful way to inject someone with sharper energy into the line of succession.