"The Feingold Resolution and the Sound of Silence" - Dana Milbank

[DancingBear]

(from today's Washington Post)

Democratic senators, filing in for their weekly caucus lunch yesterday, looked as if they'd seen a ghost.

"I haven't read it," demurred Barack Obama (Ill.).

"I just don't have enough information," protested Ben Nelson (Neb.). "I really can't right now," John Kerry (Mass.) said as he hurried past a knot of reporters -- an excuse that fell apart when Kerry was forced into an awkward wait as Capitol Police stopped an aide at the magnetometer.

<snip>

Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) brushed past the press pack, shaking her head and waving her hand over her shoulder. When an errant food cart blocked her entrance to the meeting room, she tried to hide from reporters behind the 4-foot-11 Barbara Mikulski (Md.).

"Ask her after lunch," offered Clinton's spokesman, Philippe Reines. But Clinton, with most of her colleagues, fled the lunch out a back door as if escaping a fire.

<snip>

Republicans were grateful for the gift. The office of Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.) put a new "daily feature" on its Web site monitoring the censure resolution: "Democrat co-sponsors of Feingold Resolution: 0."

Many of Feingold's Democratic colleagues agree that Bush abused his authority with the NSA spying program. And they know liberal Democratic activists are eager to see Bush censured, or worse. But they also know Feingold's maneuver could cost them seats in GOP states.

Hence the elaborate efforts to avoid comment. Five Democratic senators called a news conference yesterday to talk about the Bush budget's "dangerously irresponsible priorities" -- but three of them fled the room before allowing questions. The other two were stuck.



link to rest of article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/14/AR2006031401519.html


Welcome to The Band Of Cowards.

[Mass]

1. Dana Milbank - The man who is specialized in making the Democrats

look foolish. Remember how he mischaracterized Conyers's hearings concerning the DSM.

I would not make anything of what he said.

[DancingBear]

7. Ah, so we're shooting the messenger?

If you feel that these Senators do not feel this way, and that they do not cower in the corner when forced to make a stand, please feel free to have at me.

I'd love nothing more than to be proven wrong on this one, but sadly I believe Milbank has this one nailed down shut.

[Mass]

9. No, I am warning about the messenger

Sure, the democrats are not rushing to support Feingold, I agree, but I would not take Milbank as a source for that. Even if they did, he would still write an article attacking Dems. His goal is not to support Feingold, it is to attack Democrats AND make Feingold foolish.

[DancingBear]

21. OK, let's take him out of the equation

How many threads here on DU have been written on the failure of the Democratic Senators to back this resolution?

How many AAR hosts have railed about it?

How many blogs are all over it?

How much "base" anger is out there?

What he wrote about is REAL - it showed up with John Roberts, The Patriot Act, Alito - the list goes on.

We have, for the most part, representatives who are afraid of their own shadows when it comes time to bite the bullet.

You watch Hillary in the next few days - I can almost guarantee she will give some speech somewhere that is chock full of good ol' red meat Democratic ideas.

And she'll run like hell from Russ Feingold - unless of course "internal polling" tells her it makes political sense, in which case she'll wrap it around her shoulders like a king-sized quilt.

That is what we deal with here, and I don't give a rat's ass whether Milbank writes about it or I do.

[jamesinca]

2. Sen. Boxer will support it

I just got off of the phone to her DC office and she has informed her staff that she will support it. Sen. Feinsteins office told me that they would pass it on to the Senator, guess she needs a few calls and letters.

[Mass]

4. Same thing for Kerry.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

16. I called Kennedy's office yesterday, "He needs to study it"

I'll call again today and see what he's learned in 24 hours.

[file83]

36. Are you sure? Because I'd sure like to see some proof

that Kerry is supporting it. Can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post a link to a quote from Kerry supporting this - because so far it's only been people here at the DU saying that.

[calimary]

31. Good to hear! I called yesterday and they said they'd "pass it on to

the Senator." She must have spent some time looking it over. In HER I have faith.

Indeed - on edit - I DID call again (locally, her Washington office is busy, just as it was yesterday) and confirmed that YES, she IS supporting it. YAY!!! Such a girlfriend she is!

[reality based]

3. Democratic candidates for President who will get my support

without supporting Feingold: 0

[KittyWampus]

34. so you tacitly admit the real reason why Feingold pulled the censure

maneuver.

[reality based]

35. Care to complete the thought?

I don't understand exactly what you are implying.

[mattclearing]

5. Try not to take Milbank too seriously.

Talk about an agenda.

But yes, I'm sure the Democratic Senators are not exactly falling all over themselves to get on the record on this.

Feingold has staked out his territory, though. Good for him.

[DancingBear]

13. The problem is not with Milbank

This is where we make our mistakes, by just poo-pooing someone's "agenda." He ain't Limbaugh, he ain't Hannity, he ain't Pat Robertson, and to many people (I don't happen to be one of them) he ain't nuts.

He is no friend of the left, to be sure, but he has a Page 2 column in the paper, and people read it.

Not The Washington Times, mind you, but The Washington Post.

BTW, did you read it? For Milbank, it is "almost" even-handed. :)

[mattclearing]

22. I have now.

If Milbank were on DU, his reporting would be factually accurate:

"That gives Feingold two solid votes, including his own. The rest: avowedly undecided."

Harkin, Boxer, and Kerry support it, and Kerry was known yesterday here.

Nice work, Dana.

[LiberalVoice]

6. How am I supposed to fight for what I believe is right...

when the mother fucking pieces of shit who represent me are afraid of the press, not to mention the fascist republican pigs in office?

[countmyvote4real]

8. ditto that LV. n/t

[Evergreen Emerald]

10. I am getting angry

They should be shouting from the rooftops. What are they waiting for? Dana Milbank may be slanted, but the dems have been silent.

This has been their rein to date. And this is why Bush and his neo-conservatives have gotten away with their attempts to destroy our democracy as much as they have.

What are they waiting for?

[Demit]

11. fucking Profiles in Courage, aren't they? Milbank can't be blamed

for the fact that they're all ducking the issue. And Kerry? Bah. His seat is safe, what does he have to worry about? Cowards, all.

[Mass]

15. Why should Democrats speak to Milbank, a man who is doing

everything he can to show them as fools.

And how do you know Kerry was NOT in a hurry. He has already talked about the issue in Ohio and I am sure he will again later, but why would he talk to people like Milbank, for god's sake.

[Demit]

24. oh for heaven's sake.

Kerry didn't want to say anything. He got held up at the magnometer or whatever and still didn't say anything.

He wouldn't just be talking to Milbank, he'd be talking to ME. And all the other Democrats who are begging the party to take a stand. To be a true opposition party. Milbank would have quoted him if he'd said anything. I'm tired of hearing apologists for these cowards. If they had any balls they'd be buttonholing every reporter they could find, to force them to listen to what they have to say, which should be plenty, and to repeat it over and over again. Instead, they hurry past, they plead ignorance, they have to go to lunch. Fucking cowards all, and they shame me.

[DancingBear]

28. Dear Ms. DIAA

Congratulations.

You.Get.It.

Regards,

DB

[xkenx]

45. Amen--I posted this elsewhere

Once again our elected so-called leaders stick wet fingers in the wind, consult the political "Don't-ever-take-a-stand-or-some-voter-realorimagined-somewhere-may-take-offense-and-not-vote-for-me" manual, and fail to back Russ Feingold in his (actually mild) censure resolution. It was okay for 20 Senate Dems. to vote to censure Bill Clinton for getting bl*wj*bs by a consenting adult on his own time, and for the House of Representatives to impeach him for the same thing, but not okay to even censure B*sh and B*shco for violating the Constitution of the United States of America and any number of ancillary laws?? Bush took an oath to defend the Constitution, so let's look at the record.

ARTICLE I, SECTION 8 (POWERS OF CONGRESS): To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Bushco violated this article and any number of laws and treaties with his torture program, and by lying to Congress and his employers (we the people) about Iraq.

ARTICLE II, SECTION 4 (DISQUALIFICATION): The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Bushco and or Cheney, and others committed treason by violating the espionage laws of the United States by "outing" an undercover CIA officer (Valerie Plame) and likely compromising her entire network working on Iran and their WMD. Yes folks, that's treason! Merely passing classified information to anyone not possessing both the requisite security clearance and a need-to-know is a security violation. I call the deliberate compromising of security for political reasons a "high crime/treason," way beyond a misdemeanor.

AMENDMENT I, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, PRESS, EXPRESSION: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Bushco has systematically squelched dissent, to the point where you not only can't speak, but you can't even wear a T-shirt honoring dead American soldiers in Iraq.

AMENDMENT IV, SEARCH AND SEIZURE: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
This article was backed by the law establishing the FISA Court. Bushco has trashed the Constitution and laws of Congress here and lied about it, with his domestic spying agenda. This one is really clear-cut. As Constitutional Professor Jonathan Turley has said, Bush has already confessed publicly to deliberately breaking this law. This one's a biggie. If the emerging Bush dictatorship is to be halted, he cannot be allowed to use the "9-11 changed everything" argument for his dictatorship. We will permanently have terrorism to guard against. Does that mean permanent
suspension of the Constitution?

AMENDMENT VI, RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL, CONFRONTATION OF WITNESSES: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
AMENDMENT VIII, CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Covers illegal detainees, torture.


IS THIS NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR ELECTED DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND CONGRESSPEOPLE TO BE PATRIOTIC AND DO THEIR DUTY? STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

[blm]

44. Kerry supports it - his office was the first to support it - Kerry's been

rushing like a madman to deal with ANWR before GOPs sneak drilling into the budget vote.

Kerry is the Dem pointman on ANWR and he'll be battling thru tomorrow on that. He'll put out a release on censure support soon.

Why do people dump on Kerry first when it's been all over DU that he's supporting censure?

[nascar55]

12. Feingold has guts

the rest cut and run? I think I will give it time for the people of this nation to wake up the rest of em. How much longer will we let the right get away with what they are doing? Maybe its a pipe dream for me to feel we the people will overcome this bull shit!!!!!!! :hurts:

[ClassWarrior]

14. Call your Senators and let the Magic Question show them the way...

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

It works on Dems and Cons alike.

NGU.

[nascar55]

17. I did call

but I am in Ohio and tis like pullin teeth :banghead:

[ClassWarrior]

19. Did you ask them the Magic Question?

It's all about framing...

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

NGU.

[nascar55]

20. Yep I did

you have to remeber who I'm callin lol.....De wineeeee and the other guy.....there staff screens there staffs phone calls lol....anyway I will keep calling till the MAD cows come home are the BIRD flu gets me..I am feed up.......:sarcasm:

[Deep13]

18. Bush admitted to an impeachable offense on national television.

How much more information do we need?

The only reason the Right has an advantage on this is because Congressional Ds are such (me-e-e-o-ow) that they will not talk about it. Oh, Bush said it was for national security. Guess we had better believe him!

[5X]

23. Bush eats babies on national TV.....

One lone senator calls for censure.

News at eleven.

[Deep13]

25. If Bush needs to eat babies to stop another 9/11,...

...then we should not be giving comfort to the enemy by opposing it.

[Deep13]

26. Planned donation to DNC now going to Feingold.

My wife had planned on sending the DNC a check this month. Instead they are getting an angry letter telling them to grow a spine like Feingold. His election committee is getting the check.

[5X]

27. With some of the posts on here lately...

one would wonder.

[hairamerican]

29. Bush should be censured, impeached, arrested, and jailed.....

but we don't have control of either house in congress so what does it really matter? Even if all the Democratic Senators were co-sponsors and Frist allowed a vote, the resolution would still go down in flames. I can't blame any Senator for not supporting Feingold. No one knows how the voting pubic would react and there could be a backlash that would harm our chances to take back the Congress in November. We must keep our eyes on the prize...

They aren't cowards. Just very savy politicians.

[grasswire]

30. Milbank is Skull & Bones

That's all you need to know.

From his confessed boredom with Gore to this story, it's all crapola.

[DancingBear]

32. So, then, all the Senators should be front and center with Feingold

If it is indeed "crapola."

Instead, they are conspicuous by their silence.

But, alas, the problem lies with Milbank.

<sigh>

[file83]

37. EXACTLY - all you have to do is go to Kerry's website to see NOTHING

even mentioning Kerry's support for Feingold's bill, let alone him even mention it's existence.

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/home.cfm

Wow, some support. I find it pathetic that the only way people are refuting Dana Milbank's article is to discredit Milbank, instead of finding evidence to the contrary. That's probably because they don't have a choice in the matter.

[oasis]

33. When it comes to the "Sound of silence" Milbank's an expert. Rove has

had a muzzle on him for the past 5 years.

[underpants]

38. This article is complete CRAP

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2515459

[DancingBear]

39. I'm sorry, could you please provide me a list of the Senators...

who have called Bush to task on lying to the American people? You know, the ones who come out front and center each day with new ammunition?

I'll wait...

Ah, didn't think so. Instead, you speak about an article posted here on DU, and make the canyon-like leap of equating the messenger with the message.

Sorry guy. it won't fly. There is about as much chance of these cowards conducting long-drawn out hearings than there is of me losing a year with each passing birthday. Two days, two months, two years - it matters little. What matters is the fact that those who we trust to tell the truth are so afraid to do so that they couch each nuanced word in so much saccharine that democracy gets stomach sick.

Milbank is not the problem - a tool, yes. The problem, no.

All he does is take the cowardly words and deeds that we give him free of charge and make therm fit the master's bidding.

Bravery would kill him, for he would be forced to engage in the silly name-calling that is causing hate radio to lose listeners by the bushel full.

Don't you think we should try it??

[underpants]

40. Yes

I do think we should try it.

(BTW I am not replying on that thread only to you here)

My point is that I think that they are trying or at least Feingold started it. Someone had to.

I think that I made the mistake of at once blaming the media at the same time I was expected them to suddenly change colors.

I agree that Milbank is not the problem. The problem as I see it is first of all that WE allow ourselves to be manipulated so easily. Second-yes the Senators should come out and support the censure now of course.

[DancingBear]

42. We are in agreement then

No argument from me about us being allowed to be manipulated.

I think that all of us, you and I included, get so damn mad when we expect our reps to raise the bar and then we find them slinking under it.

I say we kidnap them all under the guise of night and then hit them with rubber hoses until they agree to stand up straight and do the right thing.

Might not do much good, but damned if we won't feel better afterward. :)

[makeanoise22]

41. I have to agree with Dana....

If Democrats do not speak with a united voice and take a stand, and LEAD...
They will lose forever and I will have no choice but to call them all what they are...

COWARDS!

[pinto]

43. Milbank ought to write for Entertainment Today. Breathtaking commentary!

Not.