Frist To Bring Censure Resolution To Floor-After Recess (Hotline)

[kpete]

March 16, 2006
Frist To Bring Censure Resolution To Floor
We hear...

....that Senate Republicans will force a floor vote on Sen. Russ Feingold's censure resolution after Congress returns from its next recess.



The GOP wants to put Dems on record. Sen. Maj. Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) believes that the best tactic for Republicans heading into a midterm where the environment favors Dems is to heighten the contrast on issues where Americans percieve Dems to be weak.

An adviser said Frist wants to use "the completely off-the-rails behavior of the Democrats on censure to serve as an organizing principle for Republicans in the Senate, house, and in the states and counties." Frist's VOLPAC will try to build a grassfire against the censure among the Republican base. (The PAC's e-mail list is quite large.)

Said one Republican shoulder-deep in the midterms: "If it is a referendum, we have a challenge, if it is a choice, we have a chance."

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/from_our_report.html

[magellan]

1. Well, there you go, Senate Dems, the battle cry has been sounded

Like it or not it's time for backbone. Will you stand up for this country or hand it over to the Repug criminals because you're too afraid of mussing your hair?

[ladjf]

15. The best Democratic response to the Feingold resolution

would be to fully support it, every single Democratic Senator. Otherwise, it shows weakness and divisiveness.

[magellan]

16. And not supporting it will look really bad if they ever decide to impeach!

Not to mention that nearly half the electorate supports censure.

[ladjf]

18. I agree. Feingold correctly surmised that a passed censure

resolution or even a well discussed resolution could be more damaging to the Republicans than a certain failed attempt to impeach. Further, had the impeachment and removal happened, power would have simply been handed of to Cheney.

I don't think Feingold ever thought that the censure would pass. He might have hoped that most or all Dems would have supported it. Short of that, he clearly set himself up as the boldest Democrat in the Senate, a move that could well mean that he will be nominated either for Pres or vice Pres in 2008.

[democrat_patriot]

2. If ALL the dems vote for censure this will work.

If they waffle it will 'split the party' (or that will be the spin, no unity blah blah blah).

If they all vote for censure, it says "hey, they stand for something. What is going on with the NSA?"

All IMHO

[quisp]

4. I agree with you...

Senate Dems MUST vote for censure or they are, once again, abdicating their responsibilities.

[patrioticliberal]

6. We wont have all the dems and you know it.

Lieberman, Dayton, LANDRIEU (GRRRR)

[mattclearing]

9. Hell, we may not even get Clinton.

At least we can count on Boxer, Kerry, and Harkin.

[mattclearing]

7. Agreed. n/t

[Demit]

3. Time for the Dems to challenge the R's: Do YOU believe in the rule of law?

[Babel_17]

5. Tactical error

Dem's can just claim they wanted to debate the issue but if Frist is too scared to discuss the facts and wants to force the issue ......

I don't want to go off topic but if I was a dem in the senate I'm mention the war in Iraq and the port's deal every time the issue of censure came up.

Because it is the pattern of lawlessness and disregard for the consequences that's at issue here.

Remember how the republican talking point after the Iraq invasion was that the exact reason for invading didn't matter? They said it was a laundry list of reasons and WMD's was just the most convenient one to hang the rationale on.

Karma kickback time.

Dem's need to start getting and talking bold. Laugh in the faces of the MSM whores when they ask questions based on republican talking points. Our mantra is better than theirs, let's start talking it up.

Apologies for the rant.

[magellan]

14. Beautiful rant!

You're absolutely right, they've been handed two opportunities here: to conclude censure is appropriate and support it, and to talk up their conclusion despite the Repugs. They hold the high ground...for the moment! Will they use it??

[IsItJustMe]

8. When push comes to shove, I think most Dems in the Senate will support it.

I think it will be a party line vote.

[Webster Green]

10. I'll bet they'll be lucky to get five Senators on board...

I would love to be wrong however.

[IsItJustMe]

13. Time will tell. It looks like will come up and we will see who has the

berries. Another thing to remember is that there are a number of those Dem Senators that voted to Censure clinton.

[gilpo]

11. I've got two words for them

Bring it on...

This is Hugh!!!11!!

[ladjf]

12. I don't see how suggesting that Bush should be held accountable

for breaking the law to spy on Americans could be perceived as being weak on terrorism. All Bush had to do was to comply with the FISA law. It would have had no negative effect on the eavesdropping process. The only difference would have been (1) he wouldn't have broken the law and (2) he could only conduct legitimate spying activities. And if you was "on the level" , he wouldn't have minded the FISA court knowing who he was spying on.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

17. Dems Will Go Down In Flames

The majority of them are too Pathetic to be able to maintain cohesiveness. Feingold will get about 10 or so to vote with him, but the rest will vote with their buddies on the other side.

We're just so nice, and wouldn't want to anger the repubs. Maybe they'll let us have dinner before sending us to bed.

[patrioticliberal]

19. yep

[WillyT]

20. Yep...

Makes me wanna... :puke: