Trey Ellis: Russ Feingold Is Right and He's Wrong

[OKNancy]

Opinion
Trey Ellis: Russ Feingold Is Right and He's Wrong Trey Ellis
2 hours, 16 minutes ago

Originally in the Huffington post
Yahoo link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20060314/cm_huffpost/017280;_ylt=A86.I0b3MhdEQTQAdwf9wxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

I am all for censure. Hell, I think if Bush were a man he would have resigned in shame months ago. But I am also a realist and understand that we the opposition will continue to get nothing done if we keep thinking as individuals instead of as a group. The Republicans have understood this for years. From their leadership to right-wing hate radio to their corner of the blogosphere, they all read from the same script.

Democrats on the other hand act as if they are all a party of one. Mr. Feingold's motion to censure is a fine idea and would have had a terrific impact and been a lovely show of strength if the rest of the Democratic Party knew about it before hand and was already on board. It is ridiculous that, apparently, the first time any other Democrat heard of his idea was when they read it in the paper.

As usual, David Sirota, is absolutely right in saying that Democrats seem more concerned with playing nice than with winning. In an earlier post I wrote that the Republicans "would do whatever it took to take control, while the Democrats had (and still have) an almost British, "That's not cricket, old chap," attitude."

So many Democrats seem to view Republicans like some drunken, abusive stepfather. They hate the bastard, despise how he's abused and duped their poor mother, obsess on seeing him fail, are petrified of his anger -- and yet deep down crave nothing more than a pat on the back from him after they hit a homer in Little League.

[PVK]

1. I think Russ was fed up and figured he'd just go ahead.

If the other Dems can't take the heat they should get out of the kitchen.

[OKNancy]

2. I found an old quote from Feingold that goes nicely with

what is going on right now:

In a 2002 interview, Senator Feingold remarked, "I don't worry too much about what people think about my image...My colleagues say I am a gentleman in my dealings with them, even when I disagree. I am difficult because I won't back off on things...I'm not a go-along kind of guy....I didn't go to Washington to make friends. That's not where my friends are."
http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalpersonalprofiles/p/SenFeingold.htm

[rodeodance]

4. nice, thanks

[EST]

8. Thanks for the link.

How many times I have, in frustration, proclaimed a mighty oath concerning what a real politician should be like. I had not read his profile, before, preferring to make up my mind about him by listening to him (I'm, comparatively, a political neophyte.) I am, indeed, enormously impressed! Guess I've been so caught up in what's wrong with congress I never really appreciated what's right. This man is NOT typical.

[EST]

3. What's funny, or maybe it's DU, but I've known Russ was

going to introduce the censure resolutuion for more than a week(actually< IIRC, it's been several weeks.) How come the dem "leaders" manage to keep themselves in the dark? He's talked about it for quite some time and, for me, his Sunday announcement was just establishing a timetable.

[rodeodance]

5. What is IIRC and how did you know?

[PVK]

6. IIRC is If I Recall Correctly.

Russ telegraphed this on his website.

[EST]

7. Yes, he did and I am pretty sure there were threads with

links here, although I don't have them at my brain's fingertips. Mighta been Kos. Thanks, PVK.