This is very interesting, considering that Feinstein is a respected senior Democrat who is a master at games of palace intrigue.
She wouldn't do this, unless some hidden tectonic shift wasn't already happening.
For her to publicly state such disagreement with Obama's leadership is a serious vote of no confidence - and yes, it's a signal to other Dems that it's now safe to go "off the reservation".
“If you look back, too, at Taliban control, I’ve got to tell you, I particularly worry about women in Afghanistan,” _____________Women in Islam
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles.htm
who would ever has guessed that Feinstein was a racist?