Feingold's Latest Proposal - Censure The Democrats!
Feingold '08 continued to rally its target audience with a bold new proposal which complements his effort to censure President Bush - now he wants to censure the Democrats:
Feingold Accuses Democrats of 'Cowering'
WASHINGTON -- Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold accused fellow Democrats on Tuesday of cowering rather than joining him on trying to censure President Bush over domestic spying.
"Democrats run and hide" when the administration invokes the war on terrorism, Feingold told reporters.
Feingold introduced censure legislation Monday in the Senate but not a single Democrat has embraced it. Several have said they want to see the results of a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation before supporting any punitive legislation.
Republicans dismissed the proposal Tuesday as being more about Feingold's 2008 presidential aspirations than Bush's actions. On and off the Senate floor, they have dared Democrats to vote for the resolution.
As to Sen. Feingold's observation that Democrats "run and hide", Dana Milbank provides more details here (oops, here we go):
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.
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.
The courage to lead.
As an aside, Barack Obama, the non-reader noted above, picked up the much-sought endorsement of Maureen Dowd for 2008 (yes, as President!). He has, Ms. Dowd informs us, a compelling personal story, is even older than JFK, and can deliver a funny speech. She does not suggest this slogan (but she could have!): "Barack: A stand-up guy who can do stand-up".
Still very much in character, I see: Feingold and McCain's argument for BCRA, after all, boiled down to "everyone in this town is crooked but us".
Best quote:
"I'm amazed at Democrats ... cowering with this president's numbers so low," Feingold said. Men of courage only cower when the president's numbers are high.
Posted by: Paul Zrimsek | March 15, 2006 at 11:52 AM
What's a simple Copperhead to do if his fellow seditionists won't even back him up? Surely, Rockefeller and Durbin could issue a joint statement of support.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | March 15, 2006 at 12:13 PM
Well. Running to the left in the Dem primary worked for Dean.
Oh wait........ok never mind.
Posted by: Dwilkers | March 15, 2006 at 05:47 PM
Can THIS possibly be happening? This is an insane idea!!!
http://hughhewitt.com/archives/2006/03/12-week/index.php#a001621
Carol
Posted by: Carol Johnson | March 15, 2006 at 09:39 PM
Yes, Russ! Bring it, Russ! DO IT! DO IT!
Posted by: richard mcenroe | March 15, 2006 at 10:16 PM
You guys realize Bush's approval rating is in the low 30's right? That more american associate him with "liar" and "idiot" than "honest"?
Posted by: Jor | March 16, 2006 at 03:05 AM
That more american associate him with "liar" and "idiot" than "honest"?
Uh huh - that explains why Democrats flocked to co-sponsor Feingold's proposal then.
Posted by: TM | March 16, 2006 at 06:41 AM
Say Tom
The top 5 one word descriptions of President Bush in the Pew poll
Feb 2005 – Honest, Good, Integrity, Arrogant, Incompetent
July 2005 - Honest, Incompetent, Arrogant, Good, Integrity
March 2006 – Incompetent, Good, Idiot, Liar, Christian
Bring it on?
Posted by: TexasToast | March 16, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Sure. Bring it on. You think conservatives are pissed at Bush? Wait till they get pissed at liberals. ::grin::
Posted by: Sue | March 16, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Hey they are flocking. I see Tom Harkin has signed on to the SS Feingold staff already. Surely the rest are only just needing to catch up on their mail and once they read they will be onboard too. Surely...
Posted by: Gary Maxwell | March 16, 2006 at 11:43 AM
Sue
Naah, I'll pass. I'll wait till Bush's numbers get closer to Cheney's - less support that that odd dentist who recommends sugared gum.
Posted by: TexasToast | March 16, 2006 at 11:50 AM
Texas,
I'd pass too. ::grin::
Posted by: Sue | March 16, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Sue
Glad to see we agree on something. Russ Feingold seems to like that Don Quixote thing (IIRC, he was for the impeachment of Bill).
Its your war, its your debt, its your pork, its your prescription drug program and its your disaster relief.
Have fun!
Posted by: TexasToast | March 16, 2006 at 12:43 PM
March 2006 – Incompetent, Good, Idiot, Liar, Christian
April 2006: Incompetent Christian, Good Liar, Idiot.
Oh, well.
I am stealing someone's point (Kaus? TAPPED? Plank?) but Feingold benefits from a display of lonely courage - Mr. 99-1 will sell in New Hampshire, whereas "Mr. Oe of 35 losing Senate Dems" may be less appealing.
Feingold was the "1" in opposition to the original Patriot Act, this person said (I think it was the Plank.)
Posted by: TM | March 16, 2006 at 12:55 PM
Definetely TM
He'll benefit in NH and Iowa (if you read anything into Harkin's support for the motion.).
Posted by: danking70 | March 16, 2006 at 01:00 PM
Babs Boxer said to be on board. Who said ONE is the loneliest number. I remember Harkin standing behind Dean at the SCREAM moment. DEms lost the election at that moment.
Posted by: maryrose | March 16, 2006 at 02:40 PM
Texas,
Its your war, its your debt, its your pork, its your prescription drug program and its your disaster relief.
Damn. At least it wasn't my blue dress.
Posted by: Sue | March 16, 2006 at 02:46 PM
Maybe Russ isn’t so lonely after all. ARG has it at 46-43 in Russ’ favor. Seems to me that it’s a poor target in a target rich environment, but, speaking of blue dresses, maybe history can repeat itself
“In the wake of the House of Representatives' approval of two articles of impeachment, Bill Clinton's approval rating has jumped 10 points to 73 percent, the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows. CNN 12/20/1998
Posted by: TexasToast | March 16, 2006 at 04:25 PM
Its your war, its your debt, its your pork, its your prescription drug program and its your disaster relief.
That aptly summarizes the liberal program to deal with problems.
A blank bumpersticker.
Sort of a legislative "Don't ask, Can't tell."
Don't ask them what they'll do; and besides they can't tell you anyway.
Hmm, that's a responsible political party.
At least when the right was out of power, they had ideas and programs to put forward. Not always good ones, but at least more than just "it's not my problem."
SMG
Posted by: SteveMG | March 16, 2006 at 07:31 PM
46 to 43 in Russ's favor Drat those dems they are up to their old tricks again -just polling dems like they did on election day in 2004. Don't they ever learn? They need to read WINNING ELECTIONS FOR DUMMIES- Good luck in 06.
Posted by: maryrose | March 16, 2006 at 08:39 PM