Why did Feingold vote against Gonzales?

[Uzybone]

I thought that weak kneed posuer said it was his principle to allow the president to have his nominees? Wasnt that his principle?

I cheer him for voting against Torquemada, and finally showing guts when it counts, maybe the blinders have finally fallen from his eyes.

That guy is most full of shit senator we have.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Surely...

You jest.

[southpaw]

5. Is the HST quote in your sig line from the article

Jesus Hated Bald Pussy?

[Uzybone]

7. No Im not jesting

Im really pissed off about that guy. He voted to confirm Ashcroft (if he had voted against him in commitee Ashcroft would have never reached the floor) and he said his principle was to allow the president to get his choices. He said the same BS when he voted to approve Condi. Now he has finally seen the light.

[Wabbajack]

18. He would have made to the floor

The commitee was tied and it's GOP chairman could esentially break tie votes.

[saracat]

2. Feingold is odd.He is also the only Senator to vote against

Patriot Act. He is looking into a Presidential run. Funny , when they think about that , they turn moderate and get their asses kicked. But whatever. He voted the right way, thankfully.

[Rose Siding]

16. He was also the only dem to vote against dismissing the impeachment trial

Odd isn't the half of it.

[E_Smith]

3. he gave a good speech on it

I heard it. he stated he gives the president a lot of leeway but in this case the role of the attorney general is different and Gonzalez is not suited.

[Pirate Smile]

4. The job of AG is different because you are supposed to be independent

and willing to enforce the law against the executive branch and Bush also. I believe that is the reasoning.

[stray cat]

6. Sorry, Feingold rocks! He actually reads legislation before voting.

He thinks before acting and he is one of the best truth speakers we have. I wish they were all as strong and independent minded as Feingold. We needs some intelligent mavericks who haven't lost the ability to stand their own course. We have way to many Lemmings in America and in politics.

[dolstein]

8. Then explain his vote for John Ashcroft

NT

[txaslftist]

13. Ashcroft hadn't approved torture.

[txaslftist]

9. Are you a troll or just uninformed?

Feingold is probably the MOST principled senator we have. That's why we often disagree with what he does. He was the only dem senator to vote to bring articles of impeachment against Clinton, because he is principled.

He sticks to what he views are right and wrong, and the heck with the consequences. That's why Wisconsin voters love him. He's strong and true, even if you don't like the way he votes, I promise you it is a principled thing.

Your post sounds like Free Republic.

[Uzybone]

11. blah blah blah

you still havent explained why he voted against Gonzales. He said its his principle to give the president his nominees.

[txaslftist]

12. read the post above.

AG is different. As someone who goes against the AG's employees every day of the week, I know. AGs don't just advise on policy, they make it.

You get into the whole "how could he have voted yes or no that one time four years ago?" rant and you can say all democratic senators are sell outs.

But I guess that's what you want to say anyway. Tell me, is anyone in politics pure enough to play the game how you like it, or is this just more "blah blah blah" that you don't get?

[Uzybone]

20. Then why did he approve Ashcroft

who IMO is worse than Gonzales?

Actually Im one of the anti purists. I actually applaud those who dont rigidly toe the far leftist line. Im digging into Feingold because for some reason the far lefties love him (probably because he voted against patriot act).

[latteromden]

21. Ashcroft had no "torture memos." He never called the Geneva Convention

"quaint." Nobody knew what he was going to do. Nobody could have predicted Sept. 11th when voting on him - and definitely couldn't have predicted the Patriot Act or what Ashcroft would do with it.

[Uzybone]

22. all very good points

and Im glad you posted them. But that should tell us all not to accept Feingolds excuse of "principle" if he tries to do it again in the futre. Im sure he has learned a lot during these last 5 years and Im glad he has matured.

[hippiechick]

19. I think the only one that can explain why he voted that way

is Feingold himself.

Don't expect us to be able to read the man's mind.
If you want to know, call his office and ask for a
statement.

I campaigned for Russ on his first run back in '95/96
and hallelujah, if he hasn't made me a proud Cheesehead.

[Finding Rawls]

10. I'd take a Feingold run in 08

He's a good man

[goddess40]

14. Feingold's vote

He said something to the effect that he does feel the president has the right to chose his cabinet but sometimes the choice of the president is just too over the top and he can just not vote for him.

[latteromden]

15. Why did he vote against Gonzales? Because he does not approve of torture,

unlike our new attorney general. Ashcroft didn't have the same kind of evidence we have against Gonzales.

And by the way. I HARDLY think that Feingold is worse than, oh, say, Lieberman or Miller (although he's not a senator anymore) - and being the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act takes guts that 99 other senators apparently did not have.

[lojasmo]

17. Feingold is a principaled man

and a strong senator. Not one to toe the party line. I'd welcome a bid in 2008. I don't know if I'd caucus for him, depending on who else was running, but I'd work my ass off for him if he got the nomination.

[erpowers]

23. He Has

Feingold has taken stands when it counts. He voted against the Iraq War Resolution and against the Patirot Act. I do not see Feingold as week kneed.

[Jack Rabbit]

24. You are really being too hard on Senator Feingold

Senator Feingold believes that the President (or whatever Bush really is) deserves a wide latitude of deference in choosing his cabinet. I can respect that, even if I might have voted against Ashcroft were I a member of the Seante. As far Feingold was concerned, if the only problems he had against a Presidential appointee were ideological, then the nominee should get a pass.

In the case of Gonzales, the problems go beyond mere ideology, or at least beyond what is acceptable. Gonzales wrote or approved a series of memos that justified torture. They justified behavior that is prohibited by treaties to which the United States is party.

Not only should Gonzales have been rejected by the Senate today, but he should be brought before an international tribunal charged with crimes against humanity, along with those who implemented the policy which he approved.

Those Senators who voted to confirm this appointment should hang their heads in shame.