Current Count: 4 Senators for Censure

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Feingold, Harkin, Boxer, and Kerry !!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/14/AR2006031401519_2.html


The worst comment yet:

snip

Mary Landrieu (La.) pursed her lips. "Senator Feingold has a point that he wants to make," she said. "We have a point that we want to make, talking about the budget."

The best comment yet:
snip

Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa). "The president broke the law and he needs to be held accountable," he said. "Talk about high crimes and misdemeanors!" Harkin said he'll vote for the Feingold resolution -- if it comes up.

[Mass]

1. Add Boxer and Kerry

It is what they answer when you call their offices.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. cool !!!!

[derby378]

3. OK, so we're up to four...

How sad. I think the rest of the Democrats in the Senate should be forced to watch V For Vendetta so that they'll get the picture, too.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. haven't seen it, but it has been getting a lot of press. Is it political?

[derby378]

8. Oh, yeah - in a BIG way

Haven't seen it either, but I can't wait.

[Heewack]

5. What about Dodd?

"Most of us feel at best it's premature," announced Sen. Christopher Dodd (Conn.). "I don't think anyone can say with any certainty at this juncture that what happened is illegal."

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. I know. And I listened to Feingold's speech - he laid out a

air-tight legal case. But maybe they are thinking that it is innocent until proven? But how do you do that if no one will try him.

[oc2002]

6. ..just four? thats weak..err .. spineless..gutless..whiney..

Democrat.

[babylonsister]

7. Byrd? After all his posturing and petitioning to stop the wiretapping,

he remains remarkably silent as well AFAIK.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

9. I just called his office.......

and got a pretty disheartening non-answer. I guess he has forgotten his little speech back in Dec 2005 when Sen. Conyers was assembling support for a censure of both Bush and Cheney:

"Americans have been stunned at the recent news of the abuses of power by an overzealous President. It has become apparent that this Administration has engaged in a consistent and unrelenting pattern of abuse against our Country's law-abiding citizens, and against our Constitution."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/122005Q.shtml

I reminded the aide of this comment, and all I received was a passing "Uh huh." I am so mad I am shaking.

Don't get me started on Rockefeller. His aide said that "he's still doing research". Okay, he'll censure Clinton over a blow-job, but spying will require some research. These folks make me ashamed.

[Beelzebud]

13. Byrd is one of the gang of 14 that hijacked the constitution.

He's also ex-KKK. Don't be so suprised when his true face shows up.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

17. He recanted is KKK involvement........

Let it go, that was 50 years in the past. Do I condone it? No. And it has zero to do with current spinelessness. By using that talking point, you are only enabling his critics, and disregards all the GOOD that he has done this state.

His refusal to filibuster Alito however, is another story.

[babylonsister]

22. Thanks for stating the obvious, CPB. I get tired of

DUers repeating r/w talking points. That's ancient history; time to move on.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

25. I realize its a rough issue.....

and his apology for his KKK involvement is probably "little too little, little too late" for blacks in this country. I just hope that most folks will not forget his KKK dealings, but will see that he has made some efforts to heal some of the damage the racial divide, that he once cultivated, has done.

However, until recently, Sen. Byrd has made great strides in keeping the Constitutional principles alive in this land. I just hope we can kick him in the ass and remind him that the Constitutional crisis is NOW, and if he fails to act, the repercussions will be felt long after he is out of office, or even on this planet.

[babylonsister]

19. I've been plugging his petition to stop the wiretapping, so am

now really wondering why I even bothered.
Stop shaking! I know it's very frustrating, but not worth cranking up your blood pressure over. :hug: I guess I'm becoming pretty cynical; it's always one crisis after another, isn't it.

[radio4progressives]

10. Call Senator Reid's DC Office Number: 202-224-3542 - Now!

After an hour of closed-door negotiations, Democrats were no closer to resolving the Feingold rift.

"Most of us feel at best it's premature," announced Sen. Christopher Dodd (Conn.). "I don't think anyone can say with any certainty at this juncture that what happened is illegal."

Dodd must not have checked with Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa). "The president broke the law and he needs to be held accountable," he said. "Talk about high crimes and misdemeanors!" Harkin said he'll vote for the Feingold resolution -- if it comes up.

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

Schumer, leaving the lunch, still hadn't found his voice. " He's gonna talk about it," Schumer said, pointing to Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (Nev.).

Reporters, as instructed, asked Reid where he stood. "It's a question that's been asked 33 times in the last few hours," he said. "And so, for the 34th time, I'm going to say the same thing: I'm going to wait . . .''


Harry Reid's DC office number: 202-224-3542

[Beelzebud]

11. Wow... 4.... We really know how to stand up for each other huh?

[meganmonkey]

12. Levin apparently has not taken a position yet

I just called his office and that's what the staffer told me.

I encouraged him to support Feingold, fwiw. In my experience Levin takes his time deciding but he generally ends up doing the right thing.

Peace!

[leftchick]

14. mary is DLC

as are a lot of other senators. They will do what the repukes want.

[madaboutharry]

15. She is always a let-down.

The only time she ever came out of her stepford-dem mode was when she was getting jerked around after Katrina.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. Agreed. She makes me so mad. I know she is begging for aid,

which is a good thing. But she voted repig before katrina

[magellan]

18. What 40 Senators are telling me

That the Democratic Party isn't any more interested in defending the rule of law and Constitution than the Repugs.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. And - They don't care about us progressives "NETROOTS" either

http://wizbangblog.com/

One Democratic political organizer, Joseph Trippi, told The New York Sun that Mr. Feingold's call will require some response from other contenders for the 2008 nomination.

"Regardless of the public opposition and of how many people roll their eyes, this is pretty serious stuff," Mr. Trippi said. "I think it's going to have an effect on the rest of the field."

Mr. Trippi said he thought Mr. Feingold's motivations were sincere and consistent with his long track record in favor of civil liberties. The senator is already popular among online activists, sometimes called the "netroots," and will gain ground with his latest move, the analyst said.

Mr. Trippi warned that any potential candidate who dismisses the censure idea risks being flamed online. "Anybody who says this is going too far is somebody who's probably writing off that side of things," he said. "Anybody who writes off the netroots or says you don't have to pay attention is really playing with dynamite."

[understandinglife]

23. Pathetic.

Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[bleedingheart]

24. Landrieu thinks playing nice with * means more $$ for LA

and she is just fooling herself...the Bushies won't do shit for her since she is a Dem and they will drag it out until they can have someone unseat her...

[Supersedeas]

26. Harkin is the authentic politician that the Press fabricated for *