Feingold voted for Roberts?

[cynatnite]

Wisconsin's two Democratic senators - both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee - backed confirming John Roberts as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court as the full committee voted 13-5 to recommend the nominee to the Senate.

Sens. Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl each acknowledged they had concerns about Roberts' past as an attorney for the Reagan administration. They were among three Democrats - Vermont's Patrick Leahy was the third - who joined 10 Republicans in supporting Roberts.

But, as Kohl put it, "I will vote my hopes and not my fears."

Kohl said he was convinced during Roberts' confirmation hearings that he will be "a modest judge" who will interpret the law and not create new law with his decisions.

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=55118

I don't get it.

[VADem11]

1. Feingold has always voted for presidential nominees

He even voted for ashcroft and it didn't surprise me that he would be deferent again. I'm dissapointed though.

[hopein08]

7. My thing is that this isn't just any old presidential nominee...

it's a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land by a super conservative president for a man only a few years younger than Feingold himself. I saw on COURT TV's coverage that they graduate from Harvard Law together...maybe Roberts' has some deep secret about Feingold that he's lording over him.

[xultar]

2. So, is Feingold a DINO now?

[cynatnite]

3. I don't think he's a DINO...

but voting for him just boggles me. The guy didn't answer any questions. How can anyone vote for someone when they don't say anything?

It's troubling to me since I've been liking Feingold as of late.

[LittleClarkie]

9. If you know Russ, it's about par for the course

he gives nominees the benefit of the doubt and generally trys to give a president the nominees he asks for. He's consistent. Generally, I don't see Russ playing politics. He honestly is going by what he believes.

Doesn't mean folks will always agree with him, however.

So, conversely, does this mean that neither Biden nor Clinton IS a DINO? I'm not ready to go there yet.

[cynatnite]

11. I really haven't seen enough of Russ

I don't expect to always agree with dems on issues, but this concerns me. It bothers me Roberts said so little. It's pandering.

[cascadiance]

16. Or Feinstein for that matter...

I fully intend to send a letter (hopefully a big letter from our Dem group here) congratulating her on doing the right thing this time around. On the other hand, I still won't look the other way when her votes stink up the joint at other times.

I wonder if this vote was "engineered" to help out some of the DLC Democrats that perhaps the party senses are "under assault" by those of us who feel that the DLC is a cancer. When you have Biden, Clinton, Feinstein, etc. all voting against Roberts and those like Leahy and Roberts voting for him, perhaps the intent WAS to confuse us so that we won't have any true champion to introduce change into Washington, and they feel like they can go back to the status quo of the Rethugs and corporate America taking over the government with their cushy jobs not being threatened.

I hope that Feingold really does get a good reason for his vote out there soon. Many more votes like this and I'll go back to looking towards someone like Barbara Boxer or Wesley Clark as my favorite for 2008.

Has Clark spoken on Roberts nomination yet? Does anyone think he might also make the war rallies this weekend, which these DINO congress critters appear to also be avoiding as well. I think this would be his big shot to be the big favorite for 2008, if he's there and speaks both to vets and those against the war with equal charisma.

[In Truth We Trust]

4. He cast a DINO vote didn't he? By any other definition that is DINOesque.

[pretzel4gore]

5. forget them milk fed upper class twits...

if this thing is to be saved, you (we) have to do it. and the weakness of the enemy is the pigmedia (everybody hates the media)...we just must differentiate between a free press, which exists in the shadows, and the pigmedia (owned/operated by the pig for the pig)
even freepers hate them bastards

[Dudley_DUright]

6. Feingold has an exaggerated sense of deference to presidential

appointments. He needs to re-read the "advise and consent" clause of the constitution.

[dandrhesse]

10. he voted to recommend him to the Senate for vote, but that doesn't mean

Feingold has to vote yes when the full Senate votes, correct?

I will hold off condemning his vote until the full Senate votes. If he votes yes on the Senate Floor vote I will be very disappointed. I think all Dems as well as any Republicans with a shred of self-respect, which in recent years has been let's see...uh...none should also vote no.

[Dudley_DUright]

14. That is correct, but don't be surprised if he also votes for Roberts

on the floor.

[cascadiance]

8. This is the first time I've felt disappointed by him as well!

Hope that Roberts doesn't turn out to be as wicked as I'm concerned he might be. That will be tough for both he and Leahy and him to get over. I always had liked Leahy and his stances on Civil Rights issues, etc. that stood out from the rest of congress. Not sure why they aren't standing firm on this. Must be another hidden "game" going on now...

[LittleClarkie]

12. He voted to let Condi out of committee as well

This is kinda normal for him.

[Just Me]

13. I feel confused, too. I deeply respect the outspoken Feingold.

He has inspired me time and time again.

I have no idea why his cast this vote? :shrug: Surely, he knows Roberts' allegiance to the BushCo/neoCON regime.

I just haven't a clue. However, Feingold speaks for me 99% of the time and I refuse to dump him based upon this one decision. I do wish he'd provide a more satisfactory explanation.

[joanne]

15. I agree with you