Kennedy on FTN

[karynnj]

I didn't catch all of it, but he was great.
-He said censure may not be needed. Spoke of needing to both get the National security information and to follow the law.

-He answered Cheney's crack that Kennedy was pre 9/11. Kennedy said it was Cheney who was because in the wake of 9/11 he wanted to invade ... Iraq. He then listed many things Cheney was wrong on - concluded he was always wrong.

On Iraq - he sounded like Kerry - Diplomacy needed, within the country, with the countries in the region. Our presence fuels the insurgency - need to withdraw some troops.

- This is a transcript worth getting.

[ProSense]

1. Levin's comments

WALLACE: But there's a political reality in this, too, as I don't have to tell you. Do Democrats want to be in the position of investigating the president for possible censure, a president in the middle of wartime, over a program that, at least according to some people who have been briefed on it, including a Democrat, does a good job in protecting the American people?

LEVIN: No, I think it's premature to reach any conclusion about censure, and I would first put the inquiries before you reach any conclusion.

WALLACE: Do you think it was helpful to even raise the idea?

LEVIN: No, I think to say that you should censure the president before you have had the inquiries is premature, so I don't think it's helpful to reach that conclusion at this point.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189140,00.html

[ginnyinWI]

2. the point I got clearly,

...and I hope this got through to most viewers: When Kennedy was on Bolger asked about Russia. Kennedy's response showed that he feels national security is the most important thing, and we should respond to Russia accordingly, including witholding economic relationships. Then Hadley got on and got the same question and his answer was the opposite. His response was to hem and haw and act like economic relations was more important--that we have to see, etc etc!

Lesson: Democrats are clear and unequivocal about national security. Republicans put money and business first!

[karynnj]

3. Very interesting

I didn't see Hadley, because we changed the channel and watched a nasty Dr Rice try to spin things.

But you are right - Kennedy's spying answer also immediately spoke of National security (as have almost all Democrats). What is clear is that Feingold really did go pretty far out on the limb - and the party is refusing to climb after him. (I haven't been to DU-P today)

[ginnyinWI]

11. nasty nasty Condi

I don't listen to her (unless JK is cross examining her). I keep remembering her lying to the 9/11 Commission and think, what's the point of listening if I don't believe a word of it.

[ProSense]

4. Link to transcript

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/face_032606.pdf


Video here of Kennedy's comments on immigration reform:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/19/ftn/main1419437.shtml

[ProSense]

5. The disconnect

is censure vs. impeachment. Iraq is much too grave for censure, as this article points out (seems we can all agree that Bush lied to Congress):

Bush Makes Iraq the Vital Reason for His Impeachment and Removal
by Harvey Wasserman

George W. Bush has clarified the most vital reason why he must be impeached and removed from office as soon as possible: the slaughter in Iraq, and his clear statement that it will not end while he is in the White House.

Snip...

Bush supporters also say that ending the war is a policy decision, and not a legal issue. But lying to Congress and the public to bring the nation into a war is a clear violation of the president's Constitutional oath. Bush's abuse of the Fourth Amendment and other laws in his wiretapping campaign is also an impeachable offense.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0326-27.htm

Today Sens. Kennedy, Reed and Levin stated that censure is premature, but that they will consider it. They all indicate that serious investigations need to take place before deciding if censure is the right course or not.

This Kos poll is indicative of the disconnect. Nearly half the responders are pursuing the path to real censure, but more than half of the rest think the this is a sham.

ACTION ALERT: COJ Hearing on Feingold's Censure Call
by The Termite
Fri Mar 24, 2006 at 06:17:47 PM PDT
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary announced today that it will hold a hearing next Friday to address Feingold's call for censure.


I will...

...write the Democrats and ask them to stand behind Feingold 136 votes - 23 %
...write the Democrats AND the Republicans 243 votes - 42 %
...sit on my ass and watch this whole thing turn into a sham 193 votes - 33 %

572 Total Votes


http://www. dailykos. com/story/2006/3/24/201747/867

If the idea was that both can happen, this wasn't the way to go about it. IMO, the idea that both can happen was never true because investigations would come before either---Democrats were never going to pursue censure without inquiry. If investigations occur, I doubt they'll end in censure.

So what will happen with Specter's move on Friday?

[TayTay]

6. That is an excellent question ProSense

It depends on how Sen. Specter wants to pursue this. Specter is the chairman of this committee and he gets to come up with the witness list.

BTW, this hearing Tuesday in Judiciary is also very important.

"NSA III: War Time Executive Power and the FISA Court" "
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DATE: March 28, 2006
TIME: 09:00 AM
ROOM: Hart 219
OFFICIAL HEARING NOTICE / WITNESS LIST:

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE HEARING

TIME CHANGE TO 9:00 a.m. AND ROOM CHANGE TO HART 219

The hearing on "NSA III: War Time Executive Power and the FISA Court" scheduled by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for Tuesday, March 28, 2006 will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will take place in Hart Building Room 219.
************************************

Watch what happens here and then carry those conclusions over to the Censure hearing on Friday.

[ProSense]

7. Ooooh, thanks! Any chance it's on C-Span?

I'll have to tape. It's going to be a very interesting week.

[TayTay]

8. www.capitolhearings.org says it's closed to start

and then will be open for that second half of the hearing. Check the C-Span site on Tuesday to see if C-Span 3 is cutting in to show the live part.

Otherwise, check the capitalhearings.org site. They will have a blank pic up for the Judiciary hearing until they open the hearing up, then the broadcast will pick up.

This is tricky stuff to catch. Chances are, I'll miss it, but pick up the repeats later on on C-Span.

[ProSense]

9. Thanks for the link. n/t

[TayTay]

10. Wonks 'R us! I really do listen to the hearings.

A lot of them are routine, but I try to listen to some of them and see if I can absorb anything. (I am, of course, not always successful at this, alas.)

The NSA/FISA hearing and the Censure Res hearing are tailor-made for great political theater. I wouldn't miss those for anything. They should be a great way to show the split between the Dems and Rethugs, just in terms of who is calling for an active investigation and who is covering up for the law-breakers.

[ProSense]

12. Kennedy victory on immigration

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2538053&mesg_id=2538053