WP Feingold Pushes to Censure President (Democrats Wary of Resolution )

[rodeodance]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/13/AR2006031301094_pf.html
Feingold Pushes to Censure President
Some Democrats Wary of Resolution On Wiretapping

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 14, 2006; A08

Democrats sharpened their attack yesterday on President Bush's warrantless surveillance of Americans, with a liberal senator introducing a censure resolution and party leaders showing a willingness to debate the matter.

Some party strategists, however, worried that voters will see the move as overreaching partisanship, and Republicans pounced, practically daring Democrats to vote for the measure. "The big question now," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), "is how many of his Democrat colleagues will follow him over the cliff?"

In a floor speech introducing his resolution, Sen. Russell Feingold (Wis.) said: "When the president of the United States breaks the law, he must be held accountable." Bush, he said, "authorized an illegal program to spy on American citizens on American soil, and then misled Congress and the public about the existence and legality of that program."

Sensing a Democratic misstep, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) labeled the resolution a "political ploy" and called for an immediate vote, hoping to put Feingold's colleagues in a tough spot. But Democrats invoked Senate rules to postpone action, and it was unclear last night whether Feingold's measure would face a roll call.

[rodeodance]

1. "Feingold also rejected arguments that he may hurt fellow Democrats,"

......Feingold, a member of the intelligence and Judiciary committees, disputed Bush's assertion that a president's inherent constitutional powers trump FISA's restrictions. Feingold also rejected arguments that he may hurt fellow Democrats, telling reporters that Republicans are "nervous as cats" about having greater scrutiny of the spying policy. He said thousands of Americans have called or e-mailed his office to protest Bush's actions, with some calling for the president's impeachment.

[MadMaddie]

2. They had a window of opportunity to stand together...

By the way I hate Biden...heard him on the news saying that Feingold gave the resolution out of frustration....he didn't support him...

The dems have their opponants on the ropes and all they have to do is keep up the blows to the ribs and the head and finally deliver the knockout punch.....

The Repugs know this...they know the dems are too afraid to make a united stand.....

[dennis4868]

3. That's the problem with the Dems....

they don't know how and when to do the knockout punch....my gosh they are weak and spineless and definitely do not care about the constitution and the american people.

[spotbird]

4. Which Democrats?

Are any named?

[KoKo]

11. Notice the article uses "Some Dems say/Several Dems say...yet they

don't give one name of these supposed Dem strategists they talked to in this article. Why wouldn't any Dem Strategist be quoted "on the record?"

Typical WaPo and NYT's crap. Never giving sources when they want to push an agenda. In this case the agenda is "Dems don't support Feingold."

Quotes from the article:

Some party strategists, however, worried that voters will see the move as overreaching partisanship,


Democratic leaders reacted cautiously to Feingold's move


Several Democratic strategists said surveillance issues are not Bush's most vulnerable spot, and they fear the party may appear extremist

[Canuckistanian]

5. What a disgusting show of cowardice

The president at 35% approval, scandals galore, Repub Congressmen falling like flies to corruption charges, disgust at torture, bad insider trading deals, NOLA, illegal spying...

And these Democrats still get weak in the knees at the thought of a mere censure?

What. Are. They. Afraid of????

:wtf:

[rodeodance]

7. looky what Boehner said

House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) called Feingold's resolution "political grandstanding of the very worst kind," which exposes "the soft underbelly of the Democrats' positions on national security issues."

[Canuckistanian]

9. Oh, I know, the "soft on national security" card

Combined with the deadly "political grandstanding" gambit.

Ouch, that hurts. Can I go home now? These guys are being too mean.

[ClassWarrior]

6. Call your Senators and ask them this question...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2512789&mesg_id=2512789

NGU.

[spotbird]

8. will there be debate today?

[Stephanie]

10. Where is this at right now? Can someone fill me in?

Did they vote on it yet?