It looks like we have DiFi's attention people.....

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the state's Democratic Party pushed back Wednesday against a proposal by a coalition of progressives to censure the four-term senator for her recent votes siding with the Bush Administration, dismissing the proposal as a distraction put forth by activists who did not speak for the majority of Democrats in the Golden State.

Rick Jacobs, founder of the Courage Campaign, one of the progressive organizations backing the censure resolution, said such statements sent the wrong message to California Democrats.

"I'm concerned that party employees don't want to hear from party members," Jacobs said. "I think such statements send a message that is very simple: that we will make the decisions and you shut up and do as your told."

The Courage Campaign (of which I'm a supporter) backed a censure motion on Dianne Feinstein recently for her behavior and the CA Democratic Party responded yesterday with this:

And here is a quote from the Senator's staff from the SacBee insider site (reg req)

Scott Gerber, a Feinstein aide, defended the senator, saying she "has been an independent voice for California."

"What people may not know is she was a strong leader in the fight against (now Supreme Court Justice Samuel) Alito and (Chief Justice John) Roberts," Gerber said, noting she opposed "more than a dozen" circuit court nominees from the Bush administration.

Calitics has a good piece on her now....

Here's what she had to say on Alito:

"I don't give heed to my personal views. What I do is I interpret the law,'" she said, quoting the 55-year-old judge from New Jersey. Feinstein said she believed Alito was sincere.

Aren't you glad that Dianne thinks he's sincere? And this:

REPORTER: Did you ask the judge about the job application issue with his comments about abortion?

SEN. FEINSTEIN: Yes, i did.

REPORTER: and…

SEN. FEINSTEIN: And what he told me was this: he said, First of all, it was different then. He said I was an advocate seeking a job, it was a political job, and that was 1985. I'm now a judge, you know, I've been on the circuit court for 15 years, and it's very different. I'm not an advocate, I don't give heed to my personal views, what I do is interpret the law. And I believe he was very sincere in what he said. And he talked about Roe in particular, about having had many views. Didn't use the word "well settled," but did use the word stare decisis. I agree with one thing. We talked about labels, and I don't really think he can be labeled in that sense. He is an independent thinker. He thinks for himself. He's got clearly a very good mind. And as I said to him, that the real part of this that matters is what you say on the record that's transcribed and becomes fact or record for all time. And that of course will begin on January the 9th.

And she refused to filibuster Alito via Face the Nation:

Ms. GREENBURG: Well, you voted against John Roberts during his hearings back in September for chief justice. Did you get a sense that Alito would be more or less conservative? Do you have greater concerns about his views on these issues?

Sen. FEINSTEIN: I would get a sense from his record, 15 years as an appellate court as well as from his answers that he would be more conservative. Now in my view, he's clearly qualified. This is--I mean, I was very impressed with his ability to maintain a very even demeanor during this entire thing and his ability not to specifically answer any questions.

SCHIEFFER: Are your concerns strong enough, Senator, then that you would support a filibuster to block him?

Sen. FEINSTEIN: I do not see the likelihood of a filibuster to be very candid with you. I don't see those kinds of egregious things emerging that would justify a filibuster. I think when it comes to filibustering a Supreme Court appointment, you really have to have something out there whether it's gross moral turpitude or something that comes to the surface. Now I mean, this is a man I might disagree with. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court.

SCHIEFFER: All right.

Ms. GREENBURG: So it would be different for Supreme

I say let's keep the pressure on because she may vote to give immunity to the Telecoms...

CA Dianne Feinstein (202) 224-3841 (202) 228-3954