At last check, the situation involving Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) had not gotten much better than it was earlier this year when she missed over two months of time in the Senate due to a tough battle with shingles and the health complications that followed. 

In August, Feinstein, who turned 90 in June, suffered a fall in her home that required a brief hospitalization. Prior to that was an alarming moment over the summer involving Feinstein again having to be instructed by aides, that time on what to do during a procedural vote on a defense appropriations bill. 

As it stands now, Feinstein's plan is to retire when her term is completed, which would be in January 2025. But due to her frail condition and alleged cognitive decline, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly been put on the hot seat when it comes to the issue of a possible temporary appointment to replace her in the event Feinstein steps down early.

In 2021, Newsom committed to appointing a black woman to fill the seat should it come to that.

It is perhaps with that in mind that Congressional Democrats including close allies of Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) have been trying to push Feinstein out the door because they'd like Lee to get a leg up on the 2024 competition (which includes Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter) by already being in the seat when it comes primary time in the Golden State.

That would, of course, assume that Newsom would appoint Lee in Feinstein's place should the situation call for it, something Newsom recently reaffirmed during an interview with NBC News anchor Chuck Todd that he had no intentions of doing:

“Yes. Interim appointment. I don’t want to get involved in the primary,” Newsom said. “It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away. I don’t want to tip the balance of that.”

"But you're going to abide by – it would be essentially a caretaker –an African American woman?" Todd also asked Newsom, to which he replied "I abide by what I've said very publicly on a consistent basis. Yes."

Not surprisingly, this caused an eruption from Lee, who declared she was very "troubled" by Newsom's "insulting" comments because in her view Newsom was boiling it down to appointing what MSNBC has called a "token" black woman.

Her full statement:

"I am troubled by the Governor’s remarks. The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election. There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years. The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed -- and needed for more than a few months. Governor Newsom knows this, which is why he made the pledge in the first place. If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table."

LOL. So in other words, if Newsom appoints any other woman of color to that seat - even if they were qualified - they will "not be the best person for the job" and will essentially be a token, per Lee.

Isn't it a trip how these ridiculous and self-serving identity politics games are? I mean Lee has set up a no-win scenario for Newsom no matter what he would do if he had to make the appointment. 

If he fell back on his word and appointed her, it would enrage Schiff and Porter, who would cry unfair advantage. 

If he stays true to his word, he still wouldn't be woke enough in Lee's view because he won't pick her. 

What woke Democrats like Lee (and Newsom) conveniently leave out of these little public rows is the fact that the very nature of the scenarios they like to see play out in these situations inevitably involves putting someone (like Vice President Kamala Harris) in a powerful position precisely because of their physical characteristics above anything else, which in reality is what is really insulting about all of this.

But while I won't shed one tear for Lee, let's not feel sorry for Newsom here, either. He made his own bed on this matter, and appointment or not, he deserves the scorn and derision directed his way.

As does Lee, because there's a reason she is kicking up a fuss over Newsom's remarks. And it's not so much because she feels like he's playing the "token" game but because she sees what the polls are saying about her chances at this stage in the game and she's desperate for the boost an appointment would give her.

Though Feinstein's health situation is not a laughing matter, I have to admit that I find watching the wrangling and gnashing of teeth among Democrats and their allies over her Senate seat to be popcorn-worthy and, in a weird way, revealingly self-defeating. 

I look forward to the inevitable mudfests to come as the primary race heats up. Bring it on.

Flashback: Ron DeSantis Trolls Gavin Newsom in California as the Owning Continues