Is it sexist?
By 
Isaac Chotiner interviews Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) on whether it is sexist to argue that Dianne Feinstein should retire from the Senate now. Stabenow thinks it is.
…The reality is that we need Senator Feinstein to be back with us, and she wants to be back with us. So, rather than people disrespecting her right now, I would prefer that they were wishing her well and rooting her on to be back with us, which is what she wants.
Offering her thoughts and prayers?
Right, and it doesn’t help her credibility to have that happening.
Her credibility?
Well, I mean in the sense of people in her own party suggesting that she step down or whatever. That’s not helpful. Anybody in elected office—it wouldn’t be helpful to me or anybody. I’m not trying to minimize the situation. It’s a difficult situation.
She offers Strom Thurmond as an example on the other side.
When I came in, Strom Thurmond was in the Senate. He stayed until he was a hundred years old. He wanted to be the first senator to hit a hundred years old, but he literally would lie down in the reading room off of the reception area of the Senate. Then, for voting, they would put him in a wheelchair, and he would come in to vote. I don’t recall people saying that he should step down. I don’t recall it happening to other colleagues of mine who now are also in their late eighties and having various challenges, so I’m sensitive to that.
But Thurmond’s term ended in 2003, which is twenty years ago, and Republicans had not yet gone full fash.
It looks like Stabenow suffers from an inability to see beyond her in-group.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was . . . there aren’t words to describe how amazing she was and the impact she had. I know some people felt that was sexist. From my perspective, given the fragility of the Court, and the majority, and everything at stake, that was something that I know she looked at and, I think, was certainly something worth discussing. But, again, I would prefer that those kinds of things be private.
Stabenow has announced she will not run for re-election.