Feingold puts forth Censure Resolution

[adigal]

on ABC's This Week. He said that censure for Bush is a good step, this situation calls for Congress to act and if they don't, it will be an historic failure. He wants to force a vote and put every senator on record. He said that this is his announcement that he is doing this, so he will be taking everyone by surprise.

I LOVE this man.

[adigal]

1. Frist is next - should be fun to watch him sputter

in anger and surprise.

[rodeodance]

32. but he really did not answer if he would allow a vote in the Senate on

Feingolds resolution.

[Demit]

2. I love him too. Only Dem in the Senate with any balls.

The rest of them can go pound sand as far as I'm concerned. This man stands up for what he believes.

[LeinesRed]

3. Russ Rocked!

Straight talk from the Midwest!!!

[llmart]

4. Link?

[LeinesRed]

5. can't find any print coverage yet!

just watching the program right now!

[adigal]

6. He just announced in on ABC This Week

and said that this is his first announcement.

We'll see if anyone runs with this.

[MaineDem]

7. To censure Bush?? n/t

[Vinca]

8. Echo, echo, echo. I love him, too! nt

[Hissyspit]

9. kick and recommend

[Hissyspit]

10. kick again - Why isn't this on the Greatest page yet? Wake up.

Hasn't everyone had their coffee yet?

[rodeodance]

28. geech, it IS sunday morning

[Hissyspit]

67. They're all weekdays for me!

:P

[WestHoustonDem]

11. Recommended! We don't get this week until 9:30 Central

can't wait to see it!

[boobooday]

12. Thank you, Mr. Feingold.

Thanks for the cajones, sir!

Thanks for standing up!

:woohoo:

:patriot: :patriot:

[LeinesRed]

13. Apparently Frist replied

with a snarky comment that he hoped that the Iranian leaders weren't watching. I was flipping to MTP and missed that comment. Sen. Feingold had finished his interview. Would have loved to see the two together, so Feingold could have slapped back at such a ridiculas comment.

[HereSince1628]

14. Feingold is the Anti-Bush, who will get pushed forward as the antidote?

The political establishment CAN'T have Feingold gaining ground with the base.

[LeinesRed]

15. When asked about the port deal...

Russ said that if Bush was so concerned about our image abroad in Arab nations he SHOULD NOT HAVE INVADED IRAQ!!! Damn, that need to be repeated by every Democrat everywhere.

[alarcojon]

33. Brilliant!

Russ has indeed come up with some great lines. Another one goes something like "Mr. Bush accuses his opponents of having a pre 9/11 mentality, while he and his administration have a pre-1776 mentality."

[wordpix2]

38. GREAT reply!

[Hissyspit]

16. "Martial law was not declared on 9/11"

From DailyKos: "Russ is introducing a bill to censure Bush on illegal spying. He mentions the fact that Bush's legal justifications have shifted back and forth and finally settled on the notion that he has the inherent power. George challanges him on why we he isn't going for impeachment. Good question, actually. Fiengold states that we have to do 'what's best for the country'. He later goes on to state that he is looking for something that both parties can support, because the congress needs to stand up to the president because 'martial law was not declared on Sept. 11th.'"

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/12/984/79866

[still_one]

17. looks like the DLC won't allow him to be our nomination

[stray cat]

21. They sure are not going to stop me!

[wordpix2]

39. me,either, I'll vote for Feingold whenever I get a chance

[Le Taz Hot]

75. They won't have to

that's what Iowa's for.

[sabra]

18. More >> Feingold Calls for Bush's Censure

http://www.abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/Politics/story?id=1715495&page=1

Feingold Calls for Bush's Censure Wisconsin Democrat Asks Senate to Rebuke the President for NSA Wiretaps

March 12, 2006— In an exclusive interview on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold called on the Senate to publicly admonish President Bush for approving domestic wiretaps on American citizens without first seeking a legally required court order.

"This conduct is right in the strike zone of the concept of high crimes and misdemeanors," said Feingold, D-Wis., a three-term senator and potential presidential contender.

He said President Bush had, "openly and almost thumbing his nose at the American people," continued the NSA domestic wiretap program.

...

But in a copy of the censure resolution obtained by ABC News, Feingold asserts the president, "repeatedly misled the public prior to the public disclosure of the National Security Agency surveillance program by indicating his administration was relying on court orders to wiretap suspected terrorists inside the United States."

[bluedog]

19. Hits Yahoo..Rate it up........

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060312/ap_on_go_co/bush_censure;_ylt=AhuNMo7F35v7wNSnKidzgXCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

[rodeodance]

20. AP Feingold Wants Bush Censured for Spying

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060312/ap_on_go_co/bush_censure;_ylt=AvmEo6eeIe4FM.JKJvp1T5is0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
Feingold Wants Bush Censured for Spying

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

A liberal Democratic senator who is considering a White House bid in 2008 said Sunday he is seeking to censure President Bush over his domestic eavesdropping program. The Senate majority leader called it "a crazy political move."

A censure resolution, which simply would scold the president, has been used just once in U.S. history — against Andrew Jackson in 1834.

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), a longtime critic of the Bush administration, said he hoped a censure would cause Bush to apologize for the warrantless surveillance that he put in place on his own after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"What the president did, by consciously and intentionally violating the Constitution and the laws of this country with this illegal wiretapping, has to be answered," Feingold said on ABC's "This Week."

[rodeodance]

23. says Feingold will introduce resolution on Monday TOMORROW>

"Russ is just wrong. He is flat wrong, he is dead wrong," Frist said. He did not respond directly when asked if he would allow the resolution to come up for a vote.

"The signal that it sends, that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that is making our homeland safer is wrong," Frist said.

The White House says Bush had the power to order the monitoring as commander in chief and under a September 2001 congressional authorization to use force in the fight against terrorism.

The resolution Feingold planned to introduce on Monday would have the Senate condemn Bush's "unlawful authorization of wiretaps of Americans within the United States" 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."

"The idea that the president can just make up the law in violation of his oath of office has to be answered," Feingold said.

[TankLV]

61. Hey CAT KILLER FRIST: NOT ONLY DO I NOT EVER SUPPORT THIS WAR CRIMINAL

HAS BEEN INSTALLED AS "pResident", BUT I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER AND URGE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND PLANET TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER AGAINST HIM ALSO!

Am I clear enough?

He neverhad and never will have my support, you fucking REPUKE bastard!

[rodeodance]

25. Average (43 votes) 4.6 stars

RECOMMEND THIS STORY

Your Recommendation:

Average (43 votes)
4.6 stars

[rodeodance]

26. AP Photo: President Bush waves as he arrives for Sunday services

at the yahoo site---if you want to wave to Jr.



.....AP Photo: President Bush waves as he arrives for Sunday services at St. John's Episcopal Church in...

[Hissyspit]

22. Email it, too for most e-mailed. n/t

[rodeodance]

27. you bettcha. DONE

[leQ]

45. done - #4 of most emailed (n/t)

[rodeodance]

24. "This conduct is right in the strike zone of the concept of high crimes ..

[rodeodance]

29. "would weaken the U.S. during wartime--says Frist! yugga yugga

"A crazy political move" that would weaken the U.S. during wartime was the immediate response from the Senate leader, Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who appeared on ABC right after Feingold.

[rodeodance]

30. "Russ is just wrong. He is flat wrong, he is dead wrong," Frist said.

"Russ is just wrong. He is flat wrong, he is dead wrong," Frist said. He did not respond directly when asked if he would allow the resolution to come up for a vote.

"The signal that it sends, that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that is making our homeland safer is wrong," Frist said.

The White House says Bush had the power to order the monitoring as commander in chief and under a September 2001 congressional authorization to use force in the fight against terrorism.

[rodeodance]

31. Frist did not respond directly (will he allow a vote in Senate?)

"Russ is just wrong. He is flat wrong, he is dead wrong," Frist said. He did not respond directly when asked if he would allow the resolution to come up for a vote.

[stray cat]

43. It must be right if Frist says its dead wrong - great endorsement!

We know Frists track record for accuarate diagnosis as a senator.

[IndianaGreen]

48. C'mon, Frist can diagnose a patient from watching a video

Frist said that Schiavo was fine, based on watching her video.

If Frist says something is wrong, you bet Frist is the one that is wrong.

[NoodleyAppendage]

52. Maybe that's a threat to shut Feingold up permanently???

Previously, I would have thought "nah...they wouldn't dare to shut someone up permanently," but now I'm not so certain. I wouldn't put it past the BFEE to start "disappearing" inconvenient people.

J

[lilly_j]

69. brainwashing

Have you noticed how they say everything three times? They think if they do that we will magically believe them. I don't think their brainwashing works as well as they would like though.

Russ is right! Russ is totally right! Russ is absolutely right!
:applause:

[wordpix2]

40. inside trader Frist should STFU, he's a criminal, too

[Jack Rabbit]

34. It's too early to talk about presidential politics

But if the primaries were held now I would vote for Russ Finegold over Hillary Clinton.

[wordpix2]

42. interesting choice: first Jew for pres. or first woman?

[Jack Rabbit]

44. As far as I am concerned, that's not it at all

It's somebody who stands up to the tyranny of the Bush regime on Iraq and civil liberties against someone who talks a good game on the speaker circuit but kisses the Frat Boy's ass on the Senate floor.

[The Wielding Truth]

54. Yea, Jack ! Someone who believes that the a US President is

accountable to the law of the constitution. Finally someone (Feingold) is working for our interests.Bush and Co. swore to uphold the Constitution and they are ignoring it. It's time to hold them accountable. Rove shouldn't be in so much power,either. He's should be banned from public office after all the slimy,corrupt things he has done.

[William Seger]

35. "A crazy political move," says Frist.

"The signal that it sends, that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that is making our homeland safer is wrong," Frist said.

The signal it would send to the world is that we are a nation of laws. I can remember a time when that was a lot higher on the Republican talking points list.

The signal it sends to the Senate is that it's time to decide between defending the Constitution or defending the political backside of an unpopular president. Voters have a right to know which Senators don't take their oath of office seriously and put their party above the Constitution.

[stray cat]

41. Does Frist feel the same about other bold visionary law breakers?

Bold murderers, bold bank robbers, bold Enron, bold.....

[usregimechange]

36. kick!

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Let the fun begin!

Censure is just the first step. With so many repugs running away from Bush and the rest getting indicted, Bush will soon be history.

[pushycat]

46. Yeah, bring it on and on and on....

[VirginiaDem]

47. How about the politics of this?

Before getting in to this, let me state clearly that I support this move and I support Feingold. Having said that, just because we all believe and hope that it is a good move does not make it so. Nothing wrong with sort of examining the politics of it. Will this move hurt or help 1) the Democrats generally and 2) Feingold specifically? How/why?

[54anickel]

49. This is one of the times where I would have to say to hell with worrying

about the effects on Dems or Feingold. It IS in the best interest of the nation. JMHO.

Having said that, I think it could help the Dems for '06. Bush's poll numbers are in the crapper. Are the Repubs willing to not censure and risk going down with him? If they vote to censure, it could make impeachment that much easier.

Could it backfire? Sure it could. Rally round the flag, don't criticize a "war president" in the midst of a war, blah, blah, blah.

[IndianaGreen]

51. Given the choice of saving the Democrats or the Republic

I choose the Republic!

We have a de facto dictatorship and unless we take Bush's powers away, we will lose the Republic for good.

This is the time to stand for the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights of which is part, not to take another poll or have another focus group.

I am sure the DLC will join Frist in opposing bringing Feingold's resolution to a vote.

[VirginiaDem]

55. I'll take that as support.

We probably actually line up on this one.

[adigal]

58. That is the difference between Dems and repubs

The Democratic party could NEVER create a cult of one person, as they have around Bush. Too many critical thinkers who question the propaganda rather than mindlessly calling talk shows and saying, "The right president at the right place in the right time," and "Better to fight them over there instead of over here," never questioning how war over there would keep 19 hijackers from sneaking away and coming over here.

Stupid and mindless.

[lyonn]

63. This wire tap issue is about to be swept under the rug

Hopefully this will keep this terribly important issue alive. The hell with whether it is politically correct or not good for the dems politically. I don't know if Frist can keep it from a vote, anyone know?

[sattahipdeep]

50. All comes back to 9/11 huh an who really committed the act

"We, as a Congress, have to stand up to a president who acts like the Bill of
Rights and the Constitution were repealed on Sept 11, 2001," Feingold said.

-Reuters-December 17, 2001 So what happened? WTC hard drives?

German firm probes final World Trade Center deals?

Or was it coincidence that unusually large sums of money, perhaps more than
$100 million, were rushed through the computers as the disaster unfolded?

"The suspicion is that inside information about the attack was used to send
financial transaction commands and authorisations in the belief that amid all
the chaos the criminals would have, at the very least, a good head start," said
Convar director Peter Henschel.

"Of course it is also possible that there were perfectly legitimate reasons for
the unusual rise in business volume," he told Reuters in an interview.

"We have been quite surprised that so many of the hard drives were in good
enough shape to retrieve the data," he said.

"The contamination rate is high. The fine dust that was everywhere in the area
got pressed under high pressure into the drives. But we've still been able to
retrieve 100 percent of the data on most of the drives we've received.

"We're helping them find out what happened to the computers on September
11 as quickly as possible. I'm sure that one day they will know what
happened to the money."

http://www.prisonplanet.com/german_firm_probes_final_world_trade_center_deals.htm

That was almost 5 years ago....When bush is out of office?

http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/040804_condi_rice.html

I wonder how much these piss ants made....



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2160335&mesg_id=2160335

[mvd]

53. Right now

He's my first choice for 2008, if Kucinich doesn't run.

[VegasWolf]

56. Now here is a man I can vote for on PRINCIPLE!! He is not hiding

behind what is "politically expedient"!

[pa28]

57. Reminded of 1998 and Lewinsky.

Those glowering, arm-crossing, house managers would always say.

'There should be censure. Impeachment IS censure.'

[Disturbed]

59. The following Senators should sign on immediately.

Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)
Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico)
Barbara Boxer (D-California)
Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia)
Lincoln Chaffee (R-Rhode Island)
Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota)
Mark Dayton (D-Minnesota)
Dick Durbin (D-Illinois)
Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
Jim Jeffords (I-Vermont)
Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts)
Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont)
Carl Levin (D-Michigan)
Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland)
Patty Murray (D-Washington)
Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island)
Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland)
Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan)

[kevin881]

60. go russ. -nt

[Mitt Chovick]

62. Censure? What about Impeachment

and removal?

[Lifelong Protester]

64. Find the print coverage on CNN.com

and I have already written to him and given our support. I also asked him to oppose this proposed gag order on reporting any of the illegal wiretapping activities of the president. What the hell are we coming to here?

[yojon]

65. Well violating the Constitution sort of seems to me like a

high crime and misdemeanor imho. This would call for impeachment but an impeachment bill would have to go through Sensenbrenner's Judiciary Committee - would not get very far.

I wonder if a censure bill has to go through a committee before it hits the Senate floor..

[madmark]

66. do it feingold

[savemefromdumbya]

68. Didn't John conyers put forward a censure too

[lilly_j]

70. yeah but

that was about the war in Iraq, not the illegal wiretapping.

[savemefromdumbya]

72. what happened to that?

[stillrockin]

71. Finally . . .

someone is taking their balls out of their purse.

[adigal]

73. But I heard on NPR this morning that Dem senators

are cringing over this.

I really wish they would grow a fricking spine.

[rodeodance]

80. Dems are cringing??---who said that?

[sattahipdeep]

82. The only senator to vote in 2001 against the USA Patriot Act

"Congress has to reassert our system of government, and the
cleanest and the most efficient way to do that is to censure the
president,'' Feingold said. ``And, hopefully, he will acknowledge
that he did something wrong.''

He also voted against the 2002 resolution authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5680684,00.html

1 vote.:patriot:

[Pryderi]

74. Will it be on C-SPan? If so, what time?

[rodeodance]

76. AP (new Monday) Feingold Proposes Censuring President Bush

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060313/ap_on_go_co/bush_censure&printer=1;_ylt=AlDqM7Nv06EaaPI7XY9JzfeMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Feingold Proposes Censuring President Bush

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 36 minutes ago

A liberal Democrat and potential White House contender is proposing censuring President Bush for authorizing domestic eavesdropping, saying the White House misled Americans about its legality.

"The president has broken the law and, in some way, he must be held accountable," Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., told The Associated Press in an interview.

A censure resolution, which simply would scold the president, has been used just once in U.S. history — against Andrew Jackson in 1834.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., called the proposal "a crazy political move" that would weaken the U.S. during wartime.

[rodeodance]

77. "The president's action were "in the strike zone" (impeachable offense)

....The president's action were "in the strike zone" in terms of being an impeachable offense, Feingold said. The senator questioned whether impeaching Bush and removing him from office would be good for the country.....

[rodeodance]

78. "The five-page resolution to be introduced on Monday"

....The five-page resolution to be introduced on Monday contends that Bush violated the law when, on his own, he set up the eavesdropping program within the National Security Agency in the months following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Bush claims that his authority as commander in chief as well as a September 2001 congressional authorization to use force in the fight against terrorism gave him the power to authorize the surveillance.

[rodeodance]

79. 10:00 (est.) LIVE Senate Session cspan sechedule but will Frist 'allow"

the resolution. I don't know what will happen.

10:00 AM EST
10:00 (est.) LIVE
Senate Proceeding
Senate Session
U.S. Senate
The beginning and end of this live program may be earlier or later than the scheduled times.

[rodeodance]

81. Warner----"political grandstanding. And it tends to weaken our president.

....."The signal that it sends, that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that is making our homeland safer, is wrong," Frist said.

Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., said on CNN's "Late Edition" that Feingold's announcement on a Sunday talk show was "political grandstanding. And it tends to weaken our president."

A longtime critic of the administration, Feingold was the first senator to urge a withdrawal timetable for U.S. troops in Iraq and was the only senator to vote in 2001 against the USA Patriot Act, the post-Sept. 11 law that expanded the government's surveillance and prosecutorial powers. He also voted against the 2002 resolution authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq.

Jackson was censured by the Senate in 1834 after he removed the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Whig Party, which controlled the Senate.

[sattahipdeep]

83. kick

:kick: