Why aren't Democrats supporting Russ Feingold's censure of Bush?

[yurbud]

Poll question: Why aren't Democrats supporting Russ Feingold's censure of Bush?

[aden_nak]

1. Cowardice, but of a different sort.

I think they are as out of touch as Bush in many respects, and they still believe the bullshit that most Americans think the way the Republicans in congress do. Maybe that's not all their fault, I mean, they spend every day sunk in a majority that believes Bush is bigger than Jesus. They are hopelessly out of touch with America, and they still warble in fear of being called unpatriotic by some blowhard chickenhawk.

[Dawgs]

9. What aden_nak said!!

:pals:

[Critters2]

2. A lot of DC Dems support the basic agenda of the neocons

That's true of the DLC types, at least.

[underpants]

3. Other-why are you buying into the wedge issue?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2515459

[Mass]

5. Same here - Thank you.

[yurbud]

14. that would make sense if not for the glaring record of caving

in, silence, and even voting with the GOP for the last couple of years.

I don't see any reason for Democrats to unified in cowering before Bush.

[TankLV]

29. We're all IMPATIENT and GODDAMNED TIRED of all the shit

We're angry, and tired, and we want action and we want it YESTERDAY!

That is my two cents worth.

You do make good points in your thread, tho.

We shall see.

So far all we get it waiting and seeing and keeping the goddamned powder dry.

We must have the fuckingist dry powder in history!

Nobody can say the Dem party goes off half-cocked without "supplies"!

[CTLawGuy]

36. Wedge issue?

With all due respect, this is not gay marriage or parental notification laws...

The president admitted to blatantly breaking the law by spying on American citizens without a court order when one is clearly required. The FISA law requires a warrant before the tapping or if there are exigent circumstances, shortly afterwards. Bush did not do this and he appears to be proud of it.

If Bush had the inherent power to wiretap as he claims, then the 4th amendment would be meaningless, because it requires a warrant based on probable cause before the government can search.

Frankly if the Dems cannot take action on a blatant violation of the law, how can they win an election? how can they lead this country if they fail to act on something as morally clear as this?

[SaveElmer]

4. Other - Feingold screwed up not lining up support first...

Now Democrats look inept scrambling to get support. I see Kerry and Harkin have signed on...Feingold should have had them on board before he proposed it. I suspect more will sign on over the next few days, but now the story is not the censure, but the process of getting support for it.

[radio4progressives]

16. Not Kerry, only Harkin and Boxer (according to Feingold)

did you get a chance to listen to Feingold's interview with Ed Schultz today, yet?

[blm]

18. Kerry's office says he supports it - not formally signed on as cosponsor

at this time, but he's dealing with ANWR attack today and tomorrow.

I expect he'll get out a press release soon stating his support.

[karynnj]

37. There is also no contradiction here

Kerry's office says he supports it - which could logically mean that he will vote for it if it comes to the floor. His office was the first to offer support.

As to co-sponsoring it, he may feel that the use of the censure, at this time, is a bad idea. He called for an independent investigator for this weeks ago. Although, it's clear that Bush broke the law, an investigation could provide more damning information - that would make some Republicans willing to condemn it. Also, when the censure is defeated - which it would have been if the vote was this week - Bush would claim he was vindicated.

[yurbud]

38. either would be good

[SaveElmer]

20. Unfortunately...

I don't get a chance to listen to the radio during the day...but I thought I read here that Kerry had come out in support of the resolution?

[IndianaGreen]

17. How hard is it to realize that Bush broke the law when he admitted it?

This excuse you are putting forward is rather lame!

[SaveElmer]

19. IndianaGreen...

As usual you cannot stick to the topic...one has nothing to do with the other...

If you would open your eyes and look past the dogmatic responses we usually get, you will see that I wish he had planned better because I think censure is a GOOD idea. Had Feingold had support up front the story today would be about the censure resolution, not the disarray in the Democratic Party, and the scramble to scrounge up a couple co-sponsors!

[Greyhound]

22. So, is there anything the Democratic Party could do that you would

not excuse?

[SaveElmer]

24. Is there anything...

You would not criticize?

[Greyhound]

25. A partial list...

-Get on the Peoples side and stop whoring for the corporations
-Take a stand, and stick to it
-Start trying to win as opposed to trying not to loose
-Start talking about the real issues and offer real remedies, not the shiny distractions
-Be straight, tell us the truth
-Promote the citizens and our welfare
-Stop supporting and promoting evil tyrannies all over the world
-Re-create the military to suit the world as it is, not as it never was
-Investigate, expose, and prosecute the rampant disregard for the law in government, regardless of what letter is after their name (OK, start with the re:puke:s, but keep it going)
-Eliminate the Congressional exception to laws, if it's good enough to impose on us, it's good enough for them to live with
-End the corporate welfare state
-Cease the meddling in the affairs of other countries, at least until we've got our own house in order

Now, since I've shown you the consideration of answering your question, perhaps you will return the courtesy.

[SaveElmer]

26. One thing...

If I ever thought for one moment that any Democrat in Congress, the DNC, the DLC, the DSCC, the DCCC was not doing everything they could possibly do to regain the majority in Congress and to regain the white house, then I would not excuse that. If any Democrat came out and politically supported a Republican for office, or refused to endorse a fellow Democrat, I would support removing them from the party. My one and only concern right now is getting Democratic majorities in the House and Senate and to retake the White House. If mistakes are made along the way, as long as progress is being made, I can overlook them.

I believe Russ Feingold made a mistake in not garnering support for the censure resolution before he proposed it. He is trying to do that now, so I feel better about it. In fact there have been a number of mistakes made...but overall, good progress is being made in attaining that goal.

[Greyhound]

27. Thank you for answering.

I guess I just don't believe that just getting elected is going to help. The real problems we will face in the next 5 years are nearly insurmountable, and without a unified, honorable, group that is willing to pay the price (and there will be a heavy price), nothing much will change.
It is so sad that we've come to this state, but the status quo Democrats did their share to get us here, so I can't trust them any more.

[SaveElmer]

30. With the folks running this year...

And with a majority...Ted Kennedy will be chairman of the senate judiciary committee...John Conyers and a number of members of the progressive causcus would chair committees in the house, Harry Reid would be Majority Leader in the senate and Nancy Pelosi would be Speaker of the House...

If I knew nothing else that would be good enough for right now. :hi:

[Greyhound]

35. I don't know...

Kennedy is, obviously, a great improvement over Spectre, but you can't get more OG than Ted, he was leading us through the entire capitulation. Conyers and Pelosi are outstanding, we just need to clone them 290 times. Reid is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma to me, but the person I trust most says he's smarter and better than he appears, his anti-choice beliefs worry me.

I guess the point is, we have to win BIG and this country cannot survive a large block of pro-corporate politiwhores, any more than it can survive another 6 years of re:puke: rule.

Here's wishing us all luck, either way we're going to need it. :beer:

[TankLV]

31. Why is it so hard to use the word "LIAR"?

Some people just don't get it, never will.

So many opportunities.

So many LOST opportunities.

But at least we have our POWDER DRY!

[BigYawn]

33. Let's face it...Finegold never wanted anything more than

publicity for his presidential bid. His name
recognition has sky-rocketed since he intro'ed
the censure. Mission accomplished.

[martymar64]

44. Is that you Joementum?

Did you get rid of that herpes from playing tonsil-hockey and hide-the-salami with Bush?

[Kierkegaard]

6. I honestly don't know.

I can't even hazard a guess, but I do hope that each and every one of those complicit or cowardly weasels are voted out of office come November. I've had enough of this shit...

:mad:

[blm]

7. I think the real reason is that it's out of the normal process. There is

supposed to be an investigation first, and then censure after guilt is concluded.

Feingold stepped out of process to call for censure, understandably because the GOP senate will not investigate Bush. He also did it without any consultation with other senators. Give them a chance to catch up.

After all, Feingold voted for process when he voted to continue impeachment proceedings against Clinton, and rejected censure. Surely he understands that other senators believe in process, too.

[Vox Populi]

10. my first post

I just received the fund-raising email from the DNC capitalizing on the Republican response to Senator Feingold. Here's my email response to them:

----------------------------------
I just received your fund-raising email, citing the Republican response to Senator Feingold's brave and principled stand in introducing a censure motion against the president. Your email did not support Senator Feingold's motion. I will not give you one more penny while the Democratic Party continues to act in a craven, cowardly manner. Instead, any donation I may have given to the party will now go to Russ Feingold specifically and the Progressive Democrats of America. The DNC can fuck off.
------------------------------------

I don't think the DNC is aware yet of the depth of frustration and anger that their pusillanimous cowering has triggered. Yesterday, I sent the first emails I have ever sent to legislators: one to Russ Feingold in congratulation, one to the DNC in disgust. I am sure I am not alone in being moved to action (finally) by the Democratic reaction to Feingold's motion. If my reaction is typical of the silent, apathetic majority of Democrats, the DNC will quickly find out that it has badly miscalculated the mood of its constituency. As they seem to be driven by money, the absence of new money coming in - and the massive infusion of money to individual Democrats who show some courage - will hopefully have the necessary salutary effect. Until then though, they can fuck off.

[blm]

12. Actually, Feingold is getting what he needs - it's going to committee

and Dems are looking to hear more in committee. That's process. There are also some Dems who have already said they're supporting censure - Kerry, Boxer and Harkin.

More will - too many DUers are allowing themselves to be spun by a GOP controlled media.

[yurbud]

15. we're just turning up the heat, so Dems know which way we

want them to go.

[KoKo]

41. blm....the Repugs shut down "the investigation." Without subpoena

power how can Dems do an investigation. Censure Motion was appropriate...and other Dems should support it.

[Metta]

8. They're afraid to see that Repubs are just a lot of storm and stress.

In not wanting to *risK* appearing weak, they avoid conflicts and blind themselves to taking advantage of opportunities to show the public that what the Repubs are saying is without substance. Inasmuch as silence means consent, the Dems paralyasis appears to justify their behavior as they're colluding in the Repubs accusations since they're not actively shedding the image. They are weak, only it's in inaction and fear. However, since that's not clear, anyone can fill in the blank and define the dialogue.

As the Dems fail to use their resources, their actions don't speak of anything other than what they're being accused of. They'll tremble in paralysis and allow themselves to be marginalized. ridiculed and ignored. Their choice. Our consequences, unfortunately.

[yurbud]

13. with some significant exceptions they aren't just silent but

vote WITH the GOP on the worst stuff--patriot act, Iraq War Resolution, etc.

That kind of puts the lie to their "don't interfere with GOP committing political suicide" shtick.

[Metta]

43. Yeah, that's wishful thinking and still based in fear.

The only way to dispel its hold is through seeing that it has no substance, that Repub complaints are without merit. Dems could easily turn the direction of the rhetoric by putting out their own populist plan. That would be a bold move and would have Repubs howling which would, of course, be more of them just blowing hot air.

I hope I live long enough to see the Dems become the opposition and not be content with being the minority.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. Because they want to save the filibuster for a REALLY BAD nominee.

Ooops.

Wrong cave-in.

[Greyhound]

23. LMFAO!!!

But seriously the Scalito debacle was the last straw. The last time we had a SCOTUS this bad (potentially) was 183? and 170+ years later we are still suffering the consequences of that. What would it take for these gutless wonders to stand up.

[leesa]

21. They are complicit...whether it is cowardice or another reason

they are helping Bush and the GOP to destroy democracy and the constitution. They are beyond contempt

[ChipsAhoy]

42. VERY well said!

Different day, same shit.

Contemptable is right.

[TankLV]

28. Cowardice - they lack spines & are not sure what to do

After all, only 70% would support them!

Besides, the wind isn't blowing, and they're out of water, so it's kinda hard to see which way the wind is blowing.

And the repukes stole all their gonads.

[Jack Rabbit]

32. !!

Photo of a jellyfish from FridayAnimal

[yurbud]

34. While the jellyfish has taken an admirable shape, we cannot support

something so definite at this time.

[KoKo]

39. I couldn't vote......I think several of your choices

could be the reasons ....why "some" Dems won't support him. Remember "Some Dems" didn't support Murtha either and yet Murtha's plan is close to what the Repugs are going to end up doing and it started the FIRST DIALOG on how Bushies have screwed up Iraq.

[yurbud]

40. I would agree with you on Murtha IF more Democrats had said...

Murtha's statement warranted respect and investigation rather than he only speaks for himself.

By not backing him, they deflect GOP criticism, but also make themselves look like cowards.