Josh Marshall has some great comments on Feingold Censure & Dems.

[KoKo]

I've said this before. But I think the bigger problem for Dems is not the things they do but the very public hand-wringing and navel-gazing about how people might react to the things they do.

That doesn't look good. And it doesn't look good because it really isn't good.

President Bush really does deserve to be held accountable for breaking the law and then even more for claiming after the fact that the law actually doesn't apply to him. In constitutional terms, that bogus claim is a very big deal. So 'censure' him. Or don't censure him. But most of all don't get all bent out of shape or whiny about whether it might make some Bush supporter unhappy or might prompt some scold on the WaPo oped page to say tut-tut.

Will some swing-voter not agree? He or she will get over it.

Basically, the big tectonic plates of political motion are the key thing. And everybody should stop looking over their shoulders and jumping at every scary sound in the dark.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007922.php

[librechik]

1. pink tutu dems must go

and take the pantie wetting Pukkkes with you!

[Pirate Smile]

2. Their is a good thread on this issue on Daily Kos.

"Now there are different ways to say "I am going to wait." The manner in which our Democratic Senators did so is an exercise in stupid politics and weakness. Here is a simple lesson for them -- Next time, excoriate the Bush Administration for their arrogance, apparent lawlessness, "JUST LIKE IN THE PORTS SCANDAL," and their inability to "come clean with the American People," but Censure is a serious matter and one not to be decided lightly. Say that you will seriously consider the Resolution from Senator Feingold, "A MAN OF PRINCIPLE," but that you are not taking a position at this time.

Senator Reid, of the undecided Dem Senators, comes closest to this. But the opportunity to criticize the President must not be passed up. Argue from strength. Not ready to take a position? Then don't. But do not act afraid. Whatever you think of the resolution and its effect on Dems' image on national security, the pathetic show of weakness by these Dem Senators has done 10 times the damage - feeding every negative Dem sterotype of weakness and lack of principle."



http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/17/94529/2888

[still_one]

4. I can tell you in conversations from conservatives I work with

they are laughing at the democrats, not because of the censure resolution itself, but how the democrats are afraid to confront the issue

[still_one]

3. It is what our constitution is all about, seperation of powers

either the senators do their jobs, or they should be thrown out of office

[xkenx]

5. RIGHT FROM THE CONSTITUTION

Once again our elected so-called leaders stick wet fingers in the wind, consult the political "Don't-ever-take-a-stand-or-some-voter-realorimagined-somewhere-may-take-offense-and-not-vote-for-me" manual, and fail to back Russ Feingold in his (actually mild) censure resolution. It was okay for 20 Senate Dems. to vote to censure Bill Clinton for getting bl*wj*bs by a consenting adult on his own time, and for the House of Representatives to impeach him for the same thing, but not okay to even censure B*sh and B*shco for violating the Constitution of the United States of America and any number of ancillary laws?? Bush took an oath to defend the Constitution, so let's look at the record.

ARTICLE I, SECTION 8 (POWERS OF CONGRESS): To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Bushco violated this article and any number of laws and treaties with his torture program, and by lying to Congress and his employers (we the people) about Iraq.

ARTICLE II, SECTION 4 (DISQUALIFICATION): The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Bushco and or Cheney, and others committed treason by violating the espionage laws of the United States by "outing" an undercover CIA officer (Valerie Plame) and likely compromising her entire network working on Iran and their WMD. Yes folks, that's treason! Merely passing classified information to anyone not possessing both the requisite security clearance and a need-to-know is a security violation. I call the deliberate compromising of security for political reasons a "high crime/treason," way beyond a misdemeanor.

AMENDMENT I, FREEDOM OF RELIGION, PRESS, EXPRESSION: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Bushco has systematically squelched dissent, to the point where you not only can't speak, but you can't even wear a T-shirt honoring dead American soldiers in Iraq.

AMENDMENT IV, SEARCH AND SEIZURE: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
This article was backed by the law establishing the FISA Court. Bushco has trashed the Constitution and laws of Congress here and lied about it, with his domestic spying agenda. This one is really clear-cut. As Constitutional Professor Jonathan Turley has said, Bush has already confessed publicly to deliberately breaking this law. This one's a biggie. If the emerging Bush dictatorship is to be halted, he cannot be allowed to use the "9-11 changed everything" argument for his dictatorship. We will permanently have terrorism to guard against. Does that mean permanent
suspension of the Constitution?

AMENDMENT VI, RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL, CONFRONTATION OF WITNESSES: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
AMENDMENT VIII, CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Covers illegal detainees, torture.


IS THIS NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR ELECTED DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND CONGRESSPEOPLE TO BE PATRIOTIC AND DO THEIR DUTY? STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

[blm]

8. Constitution calls for impeachment as legal remedy - censure was created

outside the constitution to punish activity that did not rise to the level of being illegal, or couldn't be proved as illegal.

[xkenx]

9. I agree

Bush's offenses are certainly impeachable. I was railing against Dem. congresspeople who don't even have the courage to support Feingold's relatively mild charge.

[flpoljunkie]

6. Thanks for posting this, KoKo01.

[KoKo]

7. thanks....I think he makes sense in this.

and Josh is kind of a centrist Dem. Good to see him defend Feingold, here.