Feingold: Asking for a Few Republicans with Integrity and Courage

[Time for change]

I suppose that’s too much to ask, but it’s worth a try:

The GOP’s Stake in Checking the President
by Russ Feingold
March 30, 2006
TomPaine.Common Sense

During the Watergate hearings, then-Senator Howard Baker, a Republican, showed tremendous courage, and a deep sense of Congress’s duty to hold President Nixon accountable, when he asked that now-famous question: “What did the President know and when did he know it?” Baker was one of a handful of Republicans during the scandal who stood up to their party, and to the President. Today, as the President admits, even flaunts, his program to wiretap Americans on American soil without the warrants required by law, we need more courageous Republicans to stand up and check the President’s power grab.

When the President breaks the law, he must be held accountable, and that is why I have introduced a resolution to censure the President for his actions. Yet, as we face a President who thinks he is above the law, most Republicans are willing to cede enormous power to the executive branch. Their actions are not just short-sighted, they are a departure from one of the Republican Party’s defining goals: limiting government power.

(snip)

A party that prides itself on limiting government, and supporting individual freedom and the rule of law, should think twice before it allows any President to ignore the laws that Congress passes. By supporting the President now, Republicans are making it tougher for members of their own party to challenge the power of future presidents and departing from their own values in the process. That’s a short-sighted strategy that won’t serve either party, or the nation, in the long run. What would serve the nation, and support the rule of law, is for a few courageous Republicans to follow the example set during the Watergate scandal by standing up to a President of their own party, asking tough questions, and holding the President accountable for his abuse of power.

More…

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/03/30/the_gops_stake_in_checking_the_president.php

[MadMaddie]

1. Republican...Integrity and Courage in Washington?

Never gonna happen....they are the ultimate cowards....afraid of their own shadow...afraid to stand up to the cabal....(I would like them to prove me wrong)!!

[Blutodog]

34. Forget the Repukes!

Russ your wasting ur time trying to find a honest man or women in the Repuke party none exist they're all a bunch of flunkies and nothing more. The problem is where are the Demos that should be rallying around your cause? Consider this Russ 21 of of your own voted in 2000 to Censure then Pres. Clinton but you can't get 5 to do it today against a man who openly defies Congress and brags about it!

[wurzel]

35. Didn't see a lot of Dem "integrity and courage" either.

I don't think the Repukes would have let one of their own to hang out to dry like Feingold was by the Dems.

[Voltaire99]

36. Agreed.

Feingold might as well search the opposite side of the aisle. This side isn't exactly suffering from a surplus of "integrity and courage."

[Trevelyan]

37. Russ will be appearing on "Fox News Sunday" this weekend

Just wanted to make sure you knew that Russ will be appearing on "Fox News Sunday" this weekend (please check your local listings for times). Hope you can tune in to see Russ!

Sincerely,

George Aldrich
Progressive Patriots Fund
http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,61653,00.html
Sunday, April 2:
• Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., on censuring the president
• Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on immigration reform
• Plus, breaking down wall between law enforcement and intelligence gathering

[fooj]

2. Are there any left?

:bounce:

[0007]

24. Don't be so cynical, finding em is like trying to find WMD's ya

just to look for them.

[Vinnie From Indy]

3. He should try Dick Lugar

He should work the "You're getting pretty old and this could could be your legacy" routine on him.

[radio4progressives]

16. I'm sorry, but i heard Lugar give Honor Cap Weinberger Yesterday..

Lugar is thug lover..

[Newkophile]

4. Yeah, but about the spineless Dems?

It's all well and good for Feingold to ask Repubs to follow his censure resolution but what's the excuse for the overwhelming majority of Democratic senators who won't back up Russ? What do they have to lose? They might be pleasantly surprised by the support they would get from the significant numbers in this country who are disgusted with Bush's illegality.

[Time for change]

9. Right, but think of it like this

He's baiting the Republicans with this article.

If he gets any small number of Republicans to come over, the reluctant Dems might start to get the picture, and then there might be a stampede to support him.

[blondeatlast]

11. My thinking as well. Shrewd move on his part.

There was a time, I'm (barely) old enough to remember, when Congress put the nation above politics. Deals were made and compromise ruled the day.

Sadly, both parties have seemingly deserted this ideal.

I'd love to see it come back.

[Time for change]

12. I see it somewhat differently than that

I think that the Republicans in Congress have hit an all time low.

But I believe that most congressional Democrats are decent patriotic people. However, they face a severe problem, with the corporate media ready to lambast them publicly any time they "step out of line". The corporate media is far worse than it's ever been in my life time IMO. Consequently, many Dems have become overly cautious, afraid that they'll be voted out of office if they appear too "liberal".

[kentuck]

5. This is a good strategy, in my opinion....

Put the ball in the Republicans court. Let them vote against the Constitution and the laws of this country and for an incompetent lawbreaker in the White House. Make them stand up.

[Time for change]

20. Exactly

And some of them may recognize that they'll be in big trouble if they do that.

[notadmblnd]

6. I thought that animal was extinct?

nt

[Scout1071]

7. Inegrity?

Not trying to be the spelling police, but.....

[Time for change]

13. Thanks -- You caught it in time for me to edit it

That's why I always check my new posts before the hour is up -- I never know when I'm going to screw up something.

[BentleyJD]

8. Yep..

Amd I would like to hit the 24 million dollar jackpot in the Florida Lottery.
Ain't niether one going to happen though
take care
tony and wonder guidedog dietrich

[drduffy]

10. some may simply be cowards but it's worse

because a great many think that what bushco is doing is right for America which has worse implications because it means that they are either really stupid, really ignorant, or simply evil. I don't see a fourth option.

[Time for change]

17. I agree

Just the fact that the Republican Senators have supported Bush on almost everything (with the exception of Chafee) for five years confirms what you say.

But Bush's popularity is getting so low now that I am hopeful that a few may jump ship in the hope that that will help them politically.

[Wisconsin Larry]

14. It is really in their own self interest. One of the questions I've asked

Senators' staffers from both parties is similar. What is the point in passing laws if you allow the President to ignore them? Why not just stay home Senator?

Russ has the right question for the Senate, independent of party affiliation, why do you allow any President to ignore the laws that Congress passes? I would love to hear McCain asked this question directly. Now if only someone, anyone, would pick up on this theme. Russ, Barbara, and Tom should not be standing alone but should be part of a huge chorus.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=27416&mesg_id=27416
has a good way to remind the Judiciary Committee of this: The "U.S Constitution: Do Not Shred" campaign.

[Time for change]

18. I agree, that certainly is the right question

I would love to see how the Republicans try to answer that one.

[radio4progressives]

15. k&r

:applause:

[Lostnote06]

19. Take It To Them Russ......

........every face has a place.......we know who They are but do They know who they are......I suspect the GOP will be "Hammering" their own here shortly and hopefully a thinning of the ranks might be in store.....

[radfringe]

21. integrity and courage?

they'll have to be weaned off the kool-aid first

[Jeffersons Ghost]

22. Russ thinks we NEED new democrats in theirs seats!

Feingold writes
I'm proud to congratulate Bill Winter as being the netroots' choice for our second Pick a Progressive Patriot event. Bill received thousands of votes from members of the Progressive Patriots Fund community, and we'll be sending him a contribution of $5,000 today to help his efforts.

Bill Winter, a Navy and Marine Corps veteran who views public service as a patriotic calling, is running against Tom Tancredo in the Colorado 6th District. To learn more about Bill, please visit his website and consider joining me in making a contribution to his campaign.

In addition to supporting Bill Winter, I'm happy to announce that the Progressive Patriots Fund will be sending smaller contributions to all of the other candidates who were featured in this latest event. All are worthy of our support, and I hope they will all join me in Congress in 2006.

The upcoming November elections are critical in our efforts to bring accountability to this President. I am determined to help elect more Democrats across the country and I want to thank all of you who have contributed to this effort and have taken the time to share with me your recommendations for which candidates are deserving of our collective support.

I look forward to our next "Pick a Progressive Patriot" event, to be held later this year. Please keep sending in those suggestions; everyone we've supported so far has been recommended through our candidate suggestion form, and this will continue to be the way the Progressive Patriots Fund chooses who to feature in our Pick a Progressive Patriot events.

Thank you for your support in the past weeks, and look forward to more events like "Pick a Progressive Patriot" in the future!

Sincerely,



Russ Feingold
United States Senator
Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund

Supporting Russ requires more than typing words online.

[Time for change]

27. He's right about THAT

Hopefully we'll be able to get some accountability prior to the November elections.

But more likely we'll get it afterwards. That's ok by me too.

[marmar]

23. Talk about looking for a needle in a haystack....

Correction, talk about looking for a needle in a massive pile of elephant dung.

[Time for change]

28. Yeah, it's a hard job

But someone's gotta do it.

[Totally Committed]

25. I think he's barking up the wrong tree, tbh...

there ARE NO GOOD Republicans. Anyone who has voted as consistently as a block with this president LACKS INTEGRITY AND COURAGE, and should not/cannot be trusted to do the right thing for the American people. Period.

TC

[Time for change]

26. Well, Chafee did vote against giving Bush the unilateral right to

commit us to war in Iraq.

But I pretty much agree with you with respect to the rest of the Senate.

However, it is possible that Feingold, by directly challenging Republicans like this, could embarass some of them into supporting his resolution -- especially given Bush's tanking approval ratings.

[Trevelyan]

29. God Bless You Senator Feingold. This will separate the treasonous Dinos

from OUR REPRESENTATIVES. I think we are going to have to form a third party quickly, if the Dems don't come through on their (and our last chance) to stop these goons.

[Trevelyan]

30. Aren't most Repukes up to their necks in Abramoff/Cunningham money stolen

from our treasury to elect BFEE Repukes?

[Time for change]

32. A lot of them are

Maybe that will make them less likely to join a censure resolution. The more vulnerable they feel, the more likely they'll want to stick closely together.

[ClintonTyree]

31. Good luck with that, Russ.

Finding a few Republicans with integrity and courage, that is. They're more scare than hen's teeth. They've been corrupted by absolute power. They control the entire government now and they'll do anything, ANYTHING to protect that edge. They're doing it right now, stealing elections, lying, dirty tricks and walking in lock-step to maintain their grasp on power. The American people should never trust a Republican again in public office, but the American public has never been accused of being being all that bright. They're easily fooled lemmings, not curious enough to find out the truth about what's going on in their country. The Republican part of America anyway. Just like "Fat Tony" Scalia, I give them the back of my hand! :mad:

[Time for change]

33. Yeah, I pretty much agree with all of that

:grr:

[enough already]

38. Feingold has not shot of finding honorable pukes

they don't exist.