Washblog || Today's Democratic News.........

Today's Democratic News.........

By The Left Shue
Mon Mar 13, 2006 at 08:01:08 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Democrats

And Today's News From the Democrats is.........

"Nothing new here."

Feingold draws little support for censure
By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer
Monday, March 13, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Democrats distanced themselves Monday from Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold's effort to censure President Bush over domestic spying, preventing a floor vote that could alienate swing voters....

...Republicans dared Democrats to vote for the proposal....

..."A formal censure by Congress is an appropriate and responsible first step to assure the public that when the president thinks he can violate the law without consequences, Congress has the will to hold him accountable," Feingold said.

Even as he spoke, Democratic leaders held off the immediate vote that Majority Leader Bill Frist requested....

...The referral averted a debate and a vote that Democrats privately worried would alienate voters who could decide close elections.

Throughout the day, Feingold's fellow Democrats said they understood his frustration but they held back overt support for the resolution....

...Feingold's resolution accuses Bush of violating the Constitution and the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

It reads in part:

"Resolved that the United States Senate does hereby censure George W. Bush, president of the United States, and does condemn his unlawful authorization of wiretaps of Americans within the United States without obtaining the court orders required."

The resolution says censuring Bush also is warranted by "his failure to inform the full congressional intelligence committees as required by law, and his efforts to mislead the American people about the authorities relied upon by his administration to conduct wiretaps and about the legality of the program."
***************************

Apparently, what we have here is another case of grandstanding by a a rogue operator who does not understand "The Way It's Done."

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

< Ain't no march of the penguins | Why I'm So Vitriolic >

Today's Democratic News......... | 3 comments (3 topical)

And for the "reality-based"....

A brief summary of the issue from Monday is specified here:

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006/03/feingold-to-introduce-censure.html

Our Senators need to support Senator Fiengold's action in order to maintain this issue in the public eye.

A straightforward explanation of what to say to your Senators is listed here:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/13/92636/8829

Contact Info:

Tollfree phone numbers:
888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641

Senator Reid is included to help you provide him, as Senate Minority Leader, with some spine to support Feingold.

Murray, Patty - (D - WA)
173 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2621
Web Form: http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm
http://murray.senate.gov/contact/

Cantwell, Maria - (D - WA)
717 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3441
Web Form: cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

Reid, Harry - (D - NV)
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3542
Web Form: reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

The point of this is not to expect the censure motion to be passed, but to maintain public visibility of President's Bush's willful violation of the 4th Amendment. If we want the Constitution to have any meaning, then we have to make sure it's enforced.

This is one step on the road to doing just that, and your help is needed now.

by palamedes on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 07:26:21 AM PST

* 1 5.00 1 *

Democrats are incredibly cautious until...

...it comes to stifling thier own.

The embarrassment of having such a Neo-Dem like Donna "Blame The Fags" Brazile upbraid her own party of pussies for rushing to stifle Feingold is unbelievable. The White House is just going to increase the heat more and more because they know the Dems will do absolutely nothing to stop them. Frist and Boner aren't going to let their majorities go to waste or go down the drain.

The Republicans will craft a new legislative agenda and probably cap it off with a nice little war. Their only challenge is coming up with a consensus candidate (for the purposes of the Press, anyway) for '08. They only have to stop laughing at the Democrats long enough to do it.

by dlaw on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 03:05:11 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Censure

Any Democrat that isn't in favor of Feingold's proposal should at least shut up about it. Especially Lieberman.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

by Belltowner on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 04:54:43 PM PST

* 3 none 0 *

Today's Democratic News......... | 3 comments (3 topical)

RE-ELECT
ALEC FISKEN
Seattle Port Commission

www.rentonfacts.com
RENTON FACTS

FISKEN'S PORT WATCH
Environmental Issues

REAL CHANGE
HOMELESS EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

PIRATE TELEVISION
Challenging the Corporate Media Blockade

Watch Live or Archived Shows:
Seattle SCAN
South End PSA

PNW TOPIC HOTLIST

Blog Directory

WELCOME AND FAQ
ABOUT

Login

Make a new account

Recommended Diaries

MTV goes politics with 'Choose or Lose'. WA finalist Teresa submission features Lt. Watada and more
Teresa, representing what I think are strengths in our young generation, was among three finalists for MTV 'Choose or
By Lietta Ruger (0 comments)
Anti-Gay Activist Running for Renton City Council
Help prevent a fundamentalist, anti-gay activist from buying her way into local politics.
By Renton Citizen (7 comments)
What the Kenmore City Council Doesn't Want You to Know
There was a forum for candidates running for Kenmore City Council last Wednesday. If you are a Kenmore resident and you
By technogramma (28 comments)
Douglas County is the only county in Washington State that does not have a weed board.
The county commissioners and other "Private Property Rights "activists have been fighting the state and county residents for years on this
By Dixie (5 comments)
Political Graphics 101: 34th LD lit deconstructed
As part of my highly opinionated, ruthlessly honest series on political graphics, I zero in on campaign lit from the 34th.
By dinazina (6 comments)
Gulliver's Travels
Jeb Bush came to town today and stopped by to speak with the Microsoft Political Action Committee. Most memorable metaphor on
By BryceM (8 comments)