Dean: "Feingold is a traitor"

[MellowOne]

That's what Republicans want you to think.

They are so scared of having a legitimate debate about Iraq or national security that they have only one reaction to news of their failures or calls for accountability.

On Monday, Democratic Senator Russ Feingold introduced legislation to censure the President for breaking the law by creating a secret domestic spying program. Agree or disagree with his proposal, as a Senator -- and as an American -- he has the right to speak his mind and express his views without Republican Senators questioning his patriotism.

But that's exactly what happened. This week Republican Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado, in an interview with Fox News radio, said in response to Feingold's action that he has "time and time again with the terrorists".

Send a message to Senator Allard: shame on him for questioning the patriotism of another Senator. Sign this petition and it will be delivered to Allard:

http://www.democrats.org/stopattackingruss

Agree or disagree with Russ Feingold's censure resolution, it is completely out of bounds to suggest that anyone demanding accountability is siding with terrorists. It is simply un-American to question the patriotism and loyalty of a Senator who wants the Congress to live up to its responsibility.

We've heard this cowardly nonsense from Republican leaders before. They attacked decorated Veteran and Democratic Rep. Jack Murtha for getting real on Iraq. They attacked Democratic Leader Harry Reid for shutting down the Senate to demand answers about manipulated pre-war intelligence.

They have ended the careers of generals who questioned Bush Administration talking points, and they even attack their own when respectable Republicans speak out on the disaster this administration has created in Iraq and its failure to close the gaps in our security here at home.

And time and again, the Republican controlled congress has consistently failed to conduct real oversight of the Administration, choosing instead to protect the Administration.

But polls show that nearly 70% of Americans reject this president and the Republican Congress that has failed to hold him accountable. And together we will hold Republicans accountable at the ballot box this year.

That's why the Democratic Party is putting the infrastructure on the ground now to fight in all 50 states. People everywhere are saying "enough is enough" -- and we will be ready to organize and fight everywhere with your help.

Please contribute whatever you can to make it happen:

http://www.democrats.org/accountability

The sick behavior of desperate Republicans will only stop when we fight back, and 2006 is the time to do it.

Thank you,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

[bryant69]

1. Good statement

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[derby378]

2. The thread title is a bit misleading

Dean didn't call Feingold a traitor, you see...

[Teaser]

8. That's why it's an excellent tabloid headline

kudos to the OP.

[orleans]

10. i thought it was misleading too

but that's what it says on the dem blog that dean wrote:

"'Russ Feingold is a Traitor'
That's what Republicans want you to think."
https://www.democrats.org/blog.html

[Rebelry]

22. No, but that WAS the title of Dean's email.

It got my attention. Course I knew that he wouldn't actually say that, so it was easy to see it as a ploy to get me to open the mail.

And it worked because I not only read it, but I signed the petition.

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. It got me to click on the thread. Peaked my curiosity. nt.

[hippiechick]

3. Yowza - you might want to edit your headline.

I was gettin' ready to call the Good Dr's office and challenge him to an arm-wrestling match.

[MellowOne]

5. That's the whole point of the message

The first line reads, "That's what Republicans want you to think."

[AuntiBush]

12. It Grabbed My Attention...:)

[ClintonTyree]

21. That's the way the subject of the e-mail is worded.......

I received it this afternoon. I must admit it took me by surprise for a second as well but I knew before I opened the e-mail what he was getting at.

[magellan]

4. So Dean defends Feingold against Repug attacks but not censure

"The sick behavior of desperate Republicans will only stop when we fight back, and 2006 is the time to do it."

Resoundingly disappointing, Gov Dean.

The DNC gets my money when they decide to stop putting off till tomorrow what they can do today.

[cali]

9. I thought it was a strong

blunt statement. What is your problem with it?

[magellan]

13. It was strong in defending Feingold against attack

But it barely waffled on the censure matter. That's my problem with it.

[DrGonzoLives]

18. Oh, for fuck's sake

Whatever. Something tells me nothing that Dean or the party does would prompt you to send them any money.

[magellan]

28. I have contributed to the DNC in the past

I would again. But I don't buy into the "my party, right or wrong" mentality any more than I do the "my country, right or wrong" mentality. I can think for myself, thank you. And I think excusing the lack of forthrightness from Dean and excoriating others for not doing the same is shameful.

When the Dems lose this habit they've picked up from the Repubs of treating the rule of law like its optional, I'll donate.

[cascadiance]

30. I didn't donate to the DNC here! Go give Russ $20.08 instead!

I went to his fundraising site here and gave this amount. Everyone here who likes his leadership should do the same! That's the best way to make sure that Russ continues fighting the good battles for us! Shouldn't be given to someone that can spread it around to all of those who've been pansies all of this time!

https://ssl14.pair.com/feingold/contrib/contribute.php?refer=web

[magellan]

34. Excellent idea, calipendence!

Thank you for sharing that. I'll do it right now!

[sagesnow]

42. Thanks for the idea. Just donated

to Feingolds campaign.

[IndyOp]

11. What has Dean said specifically about censure?

Is there a press release? Statement? Did I miss it?

If he hasn't said anything about it, then I won't jump to conclusions, but I would like to know...

:shrug:

[magellan]

16. He hasn't said anything about censure

Yet he was quick to defend Feingold over the Republican reaction to censure. Is my disappointment uncalled for? I don't think so.

[Teaser]

17. THAT IS NOT DEAN'S GODDAMN JOB.

Look people, I'm going to print up little signs for you to wear around your necks:

"Dean's job is to raise money/build party infrastructure and promote the party."

That way, when you get these ideas in your head that it's Dean's job to decide party policy on particular issues, you can look at the sign, read it, and say "Oh yeah, that's not Dean's job. My bad."

Jesus, most people who actually bother to understand how the party is organized have this stuff down cold.


Some other helpful hints:

DNC != DLC

DSCC raises money for senatorial races.
DCCC does the same for congressional races.

Dear God, if this represents that knowledge base of the average Democratic voter, no wonder we lose.

[IndyOp]

20. Lol -- We are so desperate for someone to take a

courageous stand that we would follow any bright 8-year-old willing to speak TRUTH TO POWER.

I am not dissing Howard at all -- he just got $25 from me -- he is doing his job very well.

The extent to which other people are criticizing Dean is, in fact, a back-handed complement -- he does so much so well, why can't he do *everything*?

[cali]

24. Thank you!!

I'm getting a little sick of this idiocy myself. Why people can't figure out that it isn't Dean's job to NOT weigh in on this and other issues, is beyond me. He's not a candidate. He's not in the House of Representatives. He's not in the Senate. He's Chair of the National Party. His is not a policy position.

[magellan]

29. So as Chairman, Dean can publicly defend Feingold

...and he can speak out about wiretapping:

"The Bush Administration's secret program to spy on the American people reminds Americans of the abuse of power during the dark days of President Nixon and Vice President Agnew. Why is it that President Bush went in front of the American people and said that a wiretap 'requires a court order,' after having approved a wiretap program without a court order two years earlier? It's time for the President to tell the truth. Americans deserve real answers."

and he can "applaud Democratic efforts to prevent President Bush from outsourcing the control of America's largest ports to a foreign government-owned company" in a radio address...

But he can't offer words of support for censure? Well, color me confused for thinking he had a right to speak up. :sarcasm:

[LSK]

40. thank you

[killbotfactory]

6. So you're either with Bush or with the Terrorists?

How can anyone not compare these assholes to nazi's?

[mwooldri]

32. Hmmm... Sounds like Hobson's Choice to me. (n/t)

[BootinUp]

7. good letter from Dean. n/t

[bobthedrummer]

44. Aha. Sure. eom.

[BootinUp]

45. ?

Whats the matter bob? someone piss in your cornflakes?

[Imagevision]

14. Dems failure to back Feingold will only hurt when we fight back

[radfringe]

15. done

[Swamp Rat]

19. Geaux Dean!!!

:kick:

[Sugarcoated]

23. Please change the title of thread

someone lurking could misunderstand.

[WiseButAngrySara]

25. K&R. Thought your title meant that John Dean was calling Feingold a

traitor!

[immoderate]

26. I signed the petition and wrote a note to Allard.

I have to say that Allard's remarks particularly pissed me off. Can you tell?

Allard you are a low-life pipsqueak. Saying that Senator Feingold sides with the terrorists is the kind of tactic that only a pusilanimous scumbag such as yourself would indulge in.

When I look at you, and think that to some, you represent the United States of America, I feel a terrible sense of shame. I regret that there are no words to express how disgusting you are. You would make vomit nauseous.

Glad I got that off my chest.:)

--IMM

[VP505]

27. I sent Allard

this FAX, might I suggest that everyone do something similar. Senator Allard, Shame on YOU SENATOR, quit defending lawbreakers and START defending the law and Constitution. Agree or disagree with Russ Feingold's censure resolution, but stop the cowardly "questioning the patriotism nonsense" and start living up to your oath to defend the Constitution and rule of law.


Fed up Voter!

[UrbScotty]

31. Ahh, the joy of thread titles like this one. (nt)

[MellowOne]

35. It gets your attention.....

Then you love the message connected to a sarcastic title.

[free_belmont]

36. what?

Dean says 'and together we will hold Republicans accountable at the ballot box this year.'

Has he heard of Diebold? There's no such thing, Mr. Dean.

[Hutzpa]

37. What a misleading headline post.......I could have

sworn you're from the media, thats how they send misleading news report. Is this how you get our attention, I'm not impress.

:wtf:

[Lugnut]

41. Back up the truck one second

That was the actual title of the e-mail Howard Dean sent out. Please don't kill the messenger. :)

[EVDebs]

38. If Chalabi was an Iranian spy and Bush & Co. relied upon said spy...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=659430&mesg_id=668344

Then that would make Bush & Co. traitors. Just something to think about or talk to your freeper friends about.

[LSK]

39. again, Dean has said he will not meddle in Congressional affairs

Why do we have to keep rehashing this crap?

[BREMPRO]

43. my response to Allard...

Here's what i sent to Allard:

"Your attempt to equate Senator Feingold's censure motion to hold this president accountable for his illegal action- with support of terrorists- is the lowest form of political spin. You know Russ Feingold does not support terrorists, but is trying to protect the people AND the constitution. The president broke the law, unnecessarily, since there was a legal option to wiretap with FICA. We can and must both protect the people AND the constitution. This is not possible with a president who fragrantly ignores the law and makes his own rules- that's Executive tyranny- something the founders of this country knew was a potential risk and therefore have in place mechanisms to check the power of a runaway president. But you know this already. Russ Feingolds act is a check on that power. Your criticism, although free speech protected, is stirring up and playing to base public fears, misleading people about the truth, and is the ultimate unpatriotic act disguised as patriotism. Senator McCarthy would have been proud of you."

-Brad White