Who is to be thanked for posting first the list of Democrats who

[Mass]

censured Clinton? Certainly not somebody who is a friend of the Democrats, for sure. For God's sake, it has only been two days that Feingold has proposed his resolution and even he said on Ed Schultz that two days were a short time.

It is by now on every blog with nasty comments and it is clear that, by now, there is a movement that is manipulated by whoever, to make Democrats look bad and make sure that the only valid answer is to co-sponsor the bill (soon they will say that being co-sponsor is not enough, because it is too late).

This is getting more and more crazy: an answer by a senator's office (Kerry in this case) that he supports the bill is no more enough for them.

We are in total idiocy.

Examples

http://democrats.com/senate-censure

dailykos.com

A couple of threads on GD, with some remarks that are clearly nothing else than Kerry bashing).

(even toughenough.com - whometense, you may want to talk to Eric :shrug:, but at least, he is not attacking Kerry as some do).

Sure, I'd like my senator to say something officially on this subject, but, even when he does, I am not going to attack the other ones. This is absolutely stupid and makes Feingold's gesture meaningless or counterproductive.

[_dynamicdems]

1. I have to agree with you...this entire thing has gotten out of hand.

It is idiotic to make this move NOW. Censure and even impeachment are things we all want, but this is not the time. Wouldn't it have been smarter to do this AFTER we take back control of congress? Damn Feingold. I used to like him, but this could cost us seats in the elections. This is just a total waste of effort at this point. Nothing will come of it and it will probably make Democrats look like a bunch of idiots. Of course we are all for censure, but pushing it at this time is just plain stupid. We should have one goal this year: taking back Congress. This is totally different than the filibuster because there was an imperative there that would not wait. ANWR is the imperative now, not censure. Censure could wait. ANWR will not wait.

I'm very disappointed in Feingold grandstanding like this. I'd really had a lot of respect for him because of his existential bent, but he's not applying any common sense here and he's obviously trying to make himself look important. The Hell with gaining ground in Congress as long as Feingold personally looks like a hero.

Of course Senator Kerry will support the censure of Bush, but I'll bet he's shaking his head wondering if Feingold is insane in doing this now. Timing is everything and this is really not the time.

[wisteria]

3. I am just about in tears over this. This is so counter-productive.

I want to hold this President FULLY accountable for the things he has done too, now the best we may do is censure. I am also shocked that many people don't understand the full ramifications of this, they are apparently just living the moment. It has become a media circus. The Situation Room on CNN tonight had Cafferty taking Feingold's side and calling the Democrats wimps, claiming not one came out in support of Senator Feingold. Wolfie made a derogatory Dem joke and both of them laughed.
Worse for me, my husband asked me what was wrong with the other Democrats. I had to explain the whole thing to him. The media didn't even bother to mention that Feingold took it upon himself to go it alone on this one. My husband then asked how the leadership could allow one of their own to do this, questioning why no one looked like they were in control.
Damn, this was all so unnecessary. I don't know enough about Resolution submittal and Procedural votes, but I was wondering if Feingold could withdraw his resolution. Do you know if this is possible?

[TayTay]

4. That would make it even worse.

See how it plays out over the recess week. If there is truly a groundswell of support for it, Senators will hear that on their break. If there isn't then it will die a slow death of neglect.

It would be a very sad irony indeed if a measure intended to shore up Democratic support and showing the Dems 'had a spine' instead inflicted damage on the Dems. That would be awful.

Anyone know how this is playing in Sen. Feingold's home state? I am just curious. I suppose it is like everywhere else, good and bad.

[wisteria]

5. I suppose you are right, we will have to ride it out and just see what

happens.

[whometense]

6. I don't know about that,

but I did hear on the radio this afternoon - I think it was Ed Schultz - that Feingold seemed to be backpedaling a bit on his dem-trash talk. He had Feingold saying that it's early yet, and people still have lots of time to get on board, etc. Kinda late...

I'm confused by the whole thing. It almost seems like he just didn't think it through. Like he just wanted something splashy to unveil on This Week, and just went with it. It makes him look selfish and tone-deaf, two qualities I had never attributed to him before.

But then, as you're always saying, this is the kind of thing that scuttles peoples' grand plans. The dumb stuff. I know the lefty freepers are eating it up, but I have to think most people who are paying any attention at all are wondering why he had to go freelance like that.

I am totally f***ing sick of hearing the "no balls" comments - it's stupid, and it's just not true. Everyone has their own agenda, but I don't think for most of them courage or cowardice play any part in this.

[ProSense]

7. I hate that

"no balls" crap. These people are so irrational: weren't they saying that about Boxer last week? Now the new troll/Repub talking point includes "Democrats cowering."


If this does get to a vote, I hope Democrats vote for it en masse. That is the only way to salvage this disaster. And three days from then, when it sinks in that the ultimate prize for all this feel-good frenzy/bashing fest was unity, not censure, everyone will be wondering what the hell just happened.

[kerrygoddess]

12. The interview on Big Ed's Show

http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/31506Feingold.mp3

I posted about it here - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2273

[ginnyinWI]

10. from Wisconsin's biggest newspaper:

No time to post, but here is an editorial:

Editorial: Censure is premature, unfair
From the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Mar. 15, 2006
It's easy to see Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold's point in seeking censure against the president for illegal wiretapping. But his actions are ill-advised on a number of fronts, from the purely political to mere ineffectiveness.


On the political front, that scurrying noise you hear is the sound of Democrats trying to get as far away from a proposal they view as radioactive as quickly as possible. But it's also the sound of Senate Republicans shouldering each other aside for the privilege of putting this to a vote as quickly as possible.

The Republicans know an election-year gimme when they see one. Democrats do, too. The only one who doesn't see it, apparently, is Feingold.

But, OK, Wisconsinites are accustomed to Feingold being ahead of the pack on various issues. The state is used to Feingold - on principle, we believe - committing seemingly suicidal acts that have prompted some to write his political epitaph, prematurely. He has not suffered any appreciable political cost stemming from his solo vote against the USA Patriot Act, his nearly solo filibuster on the act's renewal, his early opposition to war in Iraq and other issues...

More:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=408367

[TayTay]

2. This is brain-dead.

This is a case of data posing as information. They are taking that censure vote out of context and twisting the meaning and life out of it. Honestly, for a group of people who self-define as smarter than the Rethugs, this is dumber than a bag of cold rocks.

I usually just post that I would have voted for the Clinton censure too! I was very unhappy with his behavior in the Oval Office with Ms. Lewinsky. The censure vote was appropriate. The impeachment and trial were, however, a farce and a cruel joke perpetrated by vindictive bastards.

[JI7]

9. "smarter than the Rethugs"

i use to think that . but there are clearly ignorant asses on our side also.

overall Democrats are much more intelligent and just better on everything than Republicans. but there are exceptions.

[JI7]

8. some of these assholes care more about bashing Kerry than the Censure

they really don't care about the censure thing at all. only as they can use it to bash Kerry.

if anyone really cared about it passing they would be focusing on getting Senators who are not supporting and especially those with a history of straying to do it. instead they are ranting about Kerry not doing this or that. stupid ignorant shit head jackoff motherfuckers. dumb ignorant fucks who care nothing about issues but only want to jackoff to their own fucking rants.

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. Don't hold back

I love your rants. :hug: Agree with you 100%

[TayTay]

13. That was a thing of beauty honey

a thing of beauty. I love a good rant, and now is the time, IMHO.

Did you see Will Pitt's post on 'I hate liberals'? Yeah, it's like that sometimes. Liberals, can't live with 'em, can't find decent free trade coffee without 'em. Sigh!

[_dynamicdems]

15. A-men!

:woohoo:

I'm glad somebody said it and I couldn't agree more.

[ProSense]

16. Agree wholeheartedly! n/t

[politicasista]

17. Amen gurl!

:applause: We play right into their hands every single time. Roveboy is laughing all the way to the bank.

[karynnj]

14. Feingold's argument that no one was speaking of this

The fact is that there had been a steadilly increasing flow of negative articles on what Bush has been doing. It seems that people on the inside are falling away and more stuff is coming out all the time - and it isn't pretty.

The huge drop in the polls shows that people, who are normally Republican, are rejecting Bush en mass for the first time. The danger is that they will feel they have to protect the President. The NYT has a front page article that about the reaction to this where they have people like Limbaugh calling it a gift.

On the other hand, Ed Shultz's comments and DU show that this has worked for Feingold playing to his base. The Feingold comment that was most interesting was his mention of his wanting a special prosecutor to ivestigate the Clinton campaign contributions. 2008 is going to have one nasty primary fight.

[Der Blaue Engel]

18. And now it's on DU's homepage

:puke:

How Freeptastic it's looking out there.