Harkin to cosponsor Censure Resolution!

[smoogatz]

Harkin Signs on to Censure Measure
By Erin P. Billings
Roll Call Staff
Wednesday, March 15

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has become the first co-sponsor to Sen. Russ Feingold’s (D-Wis.) controversial resolution to censure President Bush for authorizing an allegedly illegal domestic surveillance program.


Good on him! Gotta start somewhere.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/12561-1.html

[skylarmae]

1. okay - that's one...

now let's see who else steps up...

[Rambis]

56. He was the sponser of Americans with disabilities act

He also called Dick Cheney a coward.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: 15 YEARS OF PROGRESS

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005
This month, our nation is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act – the landmark civil rights law securing the rights of people with disabilities. As chief author of the law, I remember the day it was signed into law – June 26, 1990 – as one of the proudest in my entire legislative career.

http://harkin.senate.gov/column.cfm?id=240918

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

2. WOW! Good for you, Senator Harkin. Spines are good things.

[stop the bleeding]

3. OK - starting out small - lets

go BIG

[coalition_unwilling]

41. I called Boxer and Feinstein this morning. Here's what I was told:

Boxer (San Francisco office): No decision yet, no idea when decision will come down. Told staffer Boxer should support and co-sponsor. He sounded like he wasn't going to do anything with my suggestion, other than pitch it right in the wastebasket.

Feinstein (West LA office): No decision yet, no idea when decision will come down. Told staffer Feinstien should support and co-sponsor. Weirdly, this staffer sounded like he actually was going to pass along my comment.

[coalition_unwilling]

44. Just read elsewhere here that Boxer is 3rd to co-sponsor

Just announced.

[jamesinca]

75. I called Boxers DC office

She will support it, I was told that by the staffer. It was not on her website, it was not a press release at the time, it was a statement to the staff so they would have an answer for phone calls. It will be posted eventually in some official form.

[CoffeeCat]

4. My Senator!

I'm so glad to hear this news! It's icing on the cake, that Harkin is my Senator!

Harkin's best friend was Paul Wellstone. I'm sure Paul is very proud of his friend
right now.

[saigon68]

22. He is a good person

[Rambis]

36. Favorite Harkin story

He had a first term pug in his office one day...
Harkin back story to the audience-

"There are two things hanging on the wall in my office. One is a picture of my mothers house with a dirt floor. The animals slept on one side and the people on the other. The other thing is a little orange ticket. It is says Mr. Harkin (his father Harkin SR)please report to work on such and such a date by the order of FDR and the WPO 1932.
He tells that story every time he hears somebody say that government can't help people or solve peoples problems.

"No one wants a handout just a hand up. That is the difference between republicans and Democrats. When a republican gets up the ladder they pull up the ladder with them. Democrats leave the ladder down so others can climb up too"

Tom Harkin my senator Too!

[Zorra]

47. No surprise here. Senators Feingold and Harkin are about the best

we have.

[file83]

62. FEINGOLD & HARKIN for 2008!!!!

:woohoo:

[Vidar]

67. Applauding Harkin. And then there were two.

[Debi]

5. YEA!!!!!!

:kick:

Go Harkin - Go Iowa

:kick:

[Atman]

6. Hartford Courant claims our two Senators are "inclined to support" res

Shays and Dodd are both on the front page (which is actually kind of newsworthy in itself in that republican rag) with their quotes saying they're inclined to support censure, but just need some more information.

[wordpix2]

9. great news! But---Shays is a rep, not senator---wonder what Lieberbush

will do?

[Atman]

20. Whoops...sorry. I knew that! Here is a link to the story...

I was quoting without the newspaper in front of me, which was a big no-no! Here is a link to the Hartford Courant story...

=====


Bush Censure: Democrats Tempted
March 15, 2006
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON -- Rep. John B. Larson says he "could be persuaded" to vote to censure or even impeach President Bush.

But first, the 1st District Democrat wants to know more about Bush's domestic wiretapping. He wants answers about the Iraq war.

Punishing the president was the main topic of discussion in the halls of Congress and at press conferences Tuesday, dwarfing attempts by legislative budget-writers to call attention to a day full of votes on 2007 spending.

Democrats - tantalized by the prospect of taking bold action against an increasingly unpopular president - proceeded cautiously but deliberately, knowing they could seem strident.

"It is premature. You want to be smart about this," said Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn. "First we have to determine if the president has done something wrong."

http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-censure0315.artmar15,0,1956039.story?coll=hc-headlines-nationworld

[Atman]

23. BTW, this quote really burns me up...

"But first, the wants to know more about Bush's domestic wiretapping. He wants answers about the Iraq war."

Where the hell has he been? Jesus H. Christ, does he ever show up to work? I think it should be required that every member of Congress spend 1 hour a day reading the DU Late Breaking News section and Editorials & Articles section!

[SnoopDog]

25. Lieberbush - first time I read that - that is really funny....!

[Critters2]

54. Yay Tom!!

This native Iowan salutes you!! Make us proud!!

:kick:

[goforit]

70. Lieberbush? thats a given!

[Greeby]

11. Shays is a House member

He probably wants censure to stave off Conyers' impeachment investigation. Same way most Democrats signed on to censure to avoid impeaching Clinton

[smoogatz]

16. It's possible to support both censure and impeachment, y'know.

But only the House can vote to impeach. So the threat of censure is really the best tool at Feingold's disposal.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

13. How can any Dem in congress need more information?

BushCo has been acting like a crime family for five years now.

Gang wars (Iraq), theft, murder, illegal spying and kidnapping enemies (Gitmo).

[wordpix2]

28. maybe they're spending too much time with corporate/rich donors, & not

enough time reading the NEWS

[Botany]

7. And out in the ocean the wave started to grow.

Either the repugs are going to have to say that bush breaking the law is fine or
sooner or later they are going to have to impeach him.

[wordpix2]

8. thanks, Tom Harkin, let's haul in some more!

[rucky]

10. Harkin's record has been solid

let's give him some love!

[David Zephyr]

12. K&R

Harkin is stellar. Always has been and continues to be.

I still admire his endorsement of Howard Dean.

Go Tom!

[riona]

14. MORE, MORE!!!

[John Q. Citizen]

15. I think this should be dragged out and debated and kept around

for as long as possible.

The issue is more important than just a quick up or down vote which we already know would fail on a straight party line vote.

A long slow building of support would do much more than quick death.

So I'm glad to see Harkin on board and I'm sure we will see others as time moves on.

[wordpix2]

18. I'm hopeful more will come on board, too. A question I'm sure they're

debating is, "What do we do for a penalty? Is it enough just to censure?"

[John Q. Citizen]

27. Censure is the penalty. No other, just a big slap on the wrist. But

it's a good first step towards impeachment.

Which, realistically, probably wouldn't be sustained anyway even if the House and Senate goes back to Demo control after the 06 elections.

I think it takes 60 votes in the Senate to sustain impeachment.

But the value of doing this (Censor and impeachment) is not so much in attaining actual censor or impeachment, but rather in using these issues to help the Dems regain control of the house and senate.

[AuntiBush]

21. Agree

This needs to NOT go under the rug, not any longer.

[wordpix2]

17. MoveOn.org petition link---over 218,356 signatures so far for CENSURE

http://political.moveon.org/censure/?id=7043-3325316-VylzY2D6IKAvIpQ65wCHqw&t=1

[hackshop]

43. Thanks for the link!

Just signed

[AndyA]

19. Thank you Harkin! Get on board, the rest of you!!

:woohoo:

[bemildred]

24. Thank you Senator Harkin.

After all these years, I see I did well to give your Presidential run a contribution.
:applause:

[NYC]

53. I favored Harkin.

How long ago was that? Seems eons.

[CountAllVotes]

26. Feingold/Harkin 2008!!!!!

There is the ticket! And a ticket that can and WILL WIN!!! :woohoo:

:dem: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[IA_Seth]

32. I'd support that. n/t

[CountAllVotes]

37. yep it would be a great ticket!

and a fine one too. Feingold is shining bright! :party: And as for Senator Harkin, has a long standing reputation as as being a fine and honest senator and I know he is well liked by our friends abroad. :D :hi: friends abroad btw! :hi:

KEEP HOPE ALIVE! WE SHALL OVERCOME THIS GREAT EVIL THAT HAS GRIPPED OUR GREAT NATION!!


:dem: :kick:

[vikegirl]

46. Wish Harkin would've got the nod in, what was it,

'92?

Anyway, K&R!

[MARALE]

29. I am so proud

I love my senator!!!!!!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[IA_Seth]

33. Hey!

We could use you in the Iowa Forum sometime...stop in!

[Uncle Joe]

30. Senator Harkin, I salute you.

:patriot:

[Oceansaway]

31. Harkins a good guy....

unlike that asshole Grassley....i lived in Iowa and Harkin always had my support !!

[melissinha]

34. Amen

That cold hearted Grassley is a jerk!!!

I miss having a great Senator...... I've got the Cronies: Cronyn and KBH.

[leftofthedial]

35. Harkin is six for six

bankruptcy
Roberts confirmation
Alito colture (filibuster)
Alito confirmation
Patriot Act

and now censure

:patriot: :bounce:

[CountAllVotes]

39. Harkin: The signs of a real American representing We the People!

Wow! Thanks for the information!

I salute you once again Senator Harkin! :patriot:

HARKIN/FEINGOLD or FEINGOLD/HARKIN 2008!!! :D

:dem: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[radfringe]

38. WHOOO-HOOO way to go Harkin!

I'll be sending him a letter too!

here's my letter to Sen. Feingold:

Thank-you for speaking out and introducing the resolution to censure President Bush.

For too long Congress has avoided their responsibility to hold the Bush administration accountable.

I find it ironic you are being criticized for speaking out. It's been said your call for censure sends the wrong message to terrorists. President Bush has repeatedly said terrorists hate our freedoms. I fail to understand how exercising freedom, and holding President Bush accountable for violating those same freedoms is sending a wrong message. In fact, it sends the right message about how a democracy should work -- where leaders are held accountable for their actions, when speaking out does not mean being imprisoned, where the people are heard.

The strength of a democracy is measured by the freedom of citizens to express support or opposition of a government - be it in times of peace or war.

Our strength as a democracy is being undermined by the repeated efforts of the Republican Party and the Bush Administration to silence all opposition.

[DoYouEverWonder]

40. Add another Patriot to the list

Thank you Senator Harkin!

[calimary]

42. Call him and say THANKS!

Use one of the TOLL FREE numbers to the Capitol Hill Switchboard (see my sigline)!

:thumbsup:

[coalition_unwilling]

45. Just read elsewhere here that Boxer is 3rd to co-sponsor

Just announced in past 20 minutes.

[smoogatz]

49. Got the link?

Good for her. Looks like the ice is broken, and we've got momentum (as opposed to Joementum).

[Tuesday_Morning]

48. Thanks Sen. Harkin! n/t

[Iowa]

50. I contacted his office a couple of days ago...

He listens to constituents. Go Tom!

[BlueInPhilly]

51. Maybe I should call my senator's office

Santorum better co-sponsor this bill or buh-bye November. :rofl:

[llmart]

64. Do it!

At work today, out of the blue, a woman who is way up in the organization told me that she was on the phone to our two senators today urging them to censure. I was flabbergasted as I wasn't sure if she was a repug or not. She started talking with me and told me she and her friends have a visceral hatred of him. Well, so do I.

I had signed the petition, but now I'm going to call too!

[Iowa]

65. Ha!

I definitely feel your pain... Charles (Dufus) Grassley is my other Senator.

[IndianaGreen]

69. Why don't you ask Bob Casey if he would support censure?

Casey wasn't shy when it came to supporting Alito!

[calimary]

73. So does Boxer. She pays attention.

I called her office this morning to thank her - told them the money I sent her reelection campaign in '04 was the best investment I made that year! And as you can see, it's still paying dividends!

[Rex]

52. Good man

nt

[Blaze Diem]

55. GREAT! Then its Feingold/Harkin 2008

Backbone anyone?

Any serious 2008 Dem contenders will be further judged by the strength of their spine.

Might suck for the Dem prima donnas out there BUT this is how its gotta be.
America has spoken..all 67% of them who despise Bush and how he's run our America into the toilet for generations to come.

You're either WITH US or you're with them.

Its your choice...Stand up and show yourselves!!
Thanks
Blaze

[CoffeeCat]

57. Hey, I could see that! Harkin ran for president before...

...and the Iowa caucus is first. He'd kick ass in that caucus, which would help any presidential candidate.

Sure, the nomination process is a long one with many states--but it certainly could help that he is from Iowa--and that Iowa is FIRST in the nomination process.

[Blaze Diem]

59. Harkin is the last of a great line of True Blue Statesmen.

His loyalty to the American people and our CONSTITUTION says he has earned the distinguished place at the top.

His time has come full circle..AND HE HAS A FREAKIN SPINE!

Thank You Senators Feingold and Harkin!
Maybe, just maybe they've been listening to America!

[lumpy]

68. Hear hear

great man

[54anickel]

58. What - did he see the latest Pew poll, or just come to his senses on his

own accord?

[Blaze Diem]

60. Maybe he, like Feingold are just fed up & desire to end the

reign of terror brought down upon their Nation by bushco.

They've been around longer than others, maybe they too, realize its now or never for America.

Rather stand alone for truth than stand in a crowd of total insanity & destruction.
I don't care what their reasons..I say they are hearing what America is saying and know if America is to be salvaged, its up to them.
I'll bet they don't listen to MSM either..They listen to people like us.

More power to them both..

[54anickel]

71. I agree, the reason doesn't matter - the more the merrier. eom

[file83]

61. "Harkin'.....who goes there?" A TRUE DEMOCRAT AND PATRIOT!!!

:kick:

[lovuian]

63. Good Going Tom!!!

:whoohoo:

[IndianaGreen]

66. An old fashioned Democrat, Tom Harkin!

Looks like the Midwesterners are the ones with the cojones!

[smoogatz]

77. But of course!

Hasn't it always been so?

[0007]

72. God I miss Paul Wellstone

[IsItJustMe]

74. Thank god. One more Dem with balls

[MaggieSwanson]

76. Go Senator Harkin!

My thank you email:

Senator Harkin,

Thank you for your support of Russ Feingold's resolution to censure Bush. You continue make me so proud to be Iowan!

A ten dollar contribution towards your presidential run was my first political donation - and it was a big deal to me, as I was a single teenage mother at the time. I've never had occasion to re-think my support for you.

I thought you (or your staff) might like to see some of the nice things being said about you on DemocraticUnderground today. Here is a link, and keep up the great work.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2168683

Warm Regards,
Maggie Swanson

[Blaze Diem]

79. Wonderful email!! Thank You also for enlightening Sen. Harkin

to our words of praise here on DU.
He needs to know his decisions are followed in lockstep by 67% of the American people who Bush and Fox News pretend do not exist.

Cheers to you and Cheers to Harkin and fellow crusader Russ Feingold.

And we can add Senator Boxer to the list.
Slowly, one by one, day by day another will be added, and another.
It will be like a slow and painful death to Fristy's bush kissing cabal of criminals.

America has spoken. Thanks for hearing our voices..

It is because of people like Feingold, Harkin and now Boxer, that we continue to hold a glimmer of hope for the salvation of our beautiful America.

Thanks
Blaze

[leesa]

78. Bout effin time you cowards.

[CornField]

80. Email note from Sen. Harkin about his decision

We have a President who likes to break things. He has broken the federal budget, running up $3 trillion in new debt. He has broken the Geneva Conventions, giving the green light to torture. He has repeatedly broken promises – and broken faith – with the American people. And now, worst of all, he has broken the law.

In brazen violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), he ordered the National Security Agency to conduct warrantless wiretaps of American citizens. And, despite getting caught red-handed, he refuses to stop.

Let’s be clear: No American – and that must include the President – is above the law. And if we fail to hold Bush to account, then he will be confirmed in his conviction that he can pick and choose among the laws he wants to obey. This is profoundly dangerous to our democracy.

So it is time for Congress to stand up and say enough! That’s why, this week, Senator Russ Feingold proposed a resolution to censure George W. Bush for breaking the FISA law. And that’s why I fully support this resolution of censure.

Nothing is more important to me than the security of our country. Of course, we need to be listening to the terrorists’ conversations. And sometimes there is not time to get a warrant. That’s why the FISA law allows the President, when necessary, to wiretap first, and obtain a warrant afterward. But that’s not acceptable to this above-the-law President. He rejects the idea that he should have to obtain a warrant before or after wiretapping.

We have an out-of-control President whose arrogant and, now, illegal behavior is running our country into the ditch. It’s time to rein him in. And a fine place to start is by passing this resolution of censure. I hope that Senator Feingold’s measure will be brought to the floor. And when it is, I will proudly vote yes.

-------

So proud of you, Tom. Let's keep this party rolling!

[DainBramaged]

81. Pay it forward, keep it live