Apparently, Dianne Feinstein's reversal on the filibuster of Samuel Alito didn't pacify Cindy Sheehan enough. The former Bush gadfly now wants to take on the California Senator in a primary fight for her re-election:

Cindy Sheehan, the peace activist who set up camp near President Bush's Texas ranch last summer, said Saturday she is considering running against Sen. Dianne Feinstein to protest what she called the California lawmaker's support for the war in Iraq.

"She voted for the war. She continues to vote for the funding. She won't call for an immediate withdrawal of the troops," Sheehan told The Associated Press in an interview while attending the World Social Forum in Venezuela along with thousands of other anti-war and anti-globalization activists.

"I think our senator needs to be held accountable for her support of George Bush and his war policies," said Sheehan, whose 24-year-old soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Feinstein has always enjoyed a lock on her seat, and even the GOP hasn't focused as much of their energy on her as they have on the more-radical Barbara Boxer. Feinstein's relatively centrist approach has made her a tougher target for Republican opponents in liberal California. The state Republican party has been in disarray for several years and mostly unable to mount serious challenges for state-wide seats for the last decade. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger's surprise election as governor has done little to build party credibility.

A primary challenge to Feinstein might give Golden State Republicans an opening to reverse that trend. With Sheehan attacking Feinstein from the leftist base, Feinstein will have to move towards Sheehan to head off the Senator's traditional Bay-area support from abandoning her for the new radical on the block. That will leave Feinstein vulnerable in teh general election, especially if the GOP can find a well-known, credible challenger for her seat.

It will probably prove a long shot for the GOP, but it might turn out that Sheehan could be an unexpected gift for GOP hopes of reinvigorating the party on the West Coast.

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry is

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Gifts From The Left:

» Considering the Alito Filibuster Attempt from Deep Keel
So, Sen. Hillary Clinton has joined the effort to filibuster the Alito vote.  Seems like the Democratic party wants to take this opportunity to ’send a message’ to the President (and the far left base of the Democratic party).  A... [Read More]

Tracked on January 29, 2006 1:35 AM

» Sheehan Still Considering a Senate Run from The American Mind
An Alito filibuster might not be enough to keep Cindy Sheehan from running for the U.S. Senate: Sheehan said running... [Read More]

Tracked on January 29, 2006 12:04 PM

» Sheehan Still Considering a Senate Run from The American Mind
An Alito filibuster might not be enough to keep Cindy Sheehan from running for the U.S. Senate: Sheehan said running... [Read More]

Tracked on January 29, 2006 12:07 PM