Russ Feingold on MSNBC right now! 9:32 a.m. EST

[Coexist]

[Coexist]

1. discussing the censure

"we are in a tough situation here."

"although this may well be an impeachable offense, this is a bi-partisan solution."

[usregimechange]

2. Does that mean he has a GOP Senator[s] on board?

[Coexist]

4. doubt it - he mentioned blogs saying other Senators should support him

EVERYONE PLEASE CALL!!! your Senators.

[berner59]

6. I love him!!!!

Keeps saying that Bush BROKE the law!!! Keep saying it!!! Said he was the only Dem Sen who asked to see the Clinton evidence and now we've got a Pres who did far worse things and the Repugs are whining about grandstanding...HA!!!!

[Virginia Dare]

21. This will put Chimpy right over the edge...

I do believe it will. He will go on a rampage. He will accuse the Democrats of attempting to stage a coup and/or treasonous acts.

[Mass]

8. He said yesterday he had not discussed that with any senator yet

I doubt he has a GOP senator on board. More that he thinks it is a solution GOP senators could agree with (which I doubt).

[usregimechange]

10. That was yesterday, hummmmm.

[Mass]

11. GOPers are towing the line with Bush - It wont happen

Now, will there be Democrats is a more important question. Will Feingold seek to have Democrats on board?

[rodeodance]

14. "Dems are cringing"--someone on DU said this was on NPR today

[Mass]

15. This does not surprise me - I think everybody among the Dems are cringing

those who are against it, but also those who are for it and see that Feingold has gone alone rather than seeking for co-sponsors and start in a stronger position (according to AP, he has announced it yesterday without speaking about censure with any other Senators).

Not exactly a good way to get people on board - Hopefully, others will join quickly.

[Coexist]

16. why?

[Mass]

17. Imagine that Kerry, Clinton, or somebody else had done the same thing

call for censure without even talking to his fellow senators before: how do you think the blogs would react. They would say it is a dumb move, that he should have sought other senators to go with him, that it would sink the 06 elections (whether it is true or not).

Feingold's credibility on these issues allows him to do what he did, but I would not expect his Democrats senators to agree on how he proceeded (particularly Schumer and Reid).

[Coexist]

18. Are we sure that he didn't speak with them?

I would be interested to know what really went on behind closed doors, not what they will say in public.

[Mass]

23. That is what the AP article says that Feingold said (here)

This surprises me a little bit, but if he is the one who said so, I am willing to believe him.

I agree it would be good to know what they will say at their caucus luncheon, but my bet is that it will go like the Alito filibuster: people being afraid of moving.

interestinghttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060313/ap_on_go_co/bush_censure;_ylt=Aq.GsiU8bmlvWoGEDK.oV6es0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

The Wisconsin Democrat, considered a presidential contender for 2008, said he had not discussed censure with other senators but that, based on criticism leveled at Bush by both Democrats and Republicans, the resolution makes sense.

He definitively needs some co-sponsors now.

[Coexist]

25. I wonder when he will do it - Frist is up on now.

[adigal]

19. That was me - I heard that from NPR this morning

I think that Cokie Roberts person said it, so she may be trying to create reality here, but somehow I believe it.

[Coexist]

22. Cokie is icky.

But I hope she is not right.

[Coexist]

3. he sounds fantastic!

"If we don't do anythihng, what's the point of having a Congress at all."

[Catchawave]

5. Do we know yet about what time he'll do this ? n/t

[Coexist]

9. I have no idea -but we need to call our Senators.

[Coexist]

7. "I'm gonna call 'em as I see 'em."

[The Witch]

12. Please liveoaktx -- pick this up :)

:loveya: forever! :loveya:

[EST]

13. Mr. Feingold is sooo impressive.

[Coexist]

20. Here is some of the actual resolution:

http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/06/03/20060312.html
<snip>
The President Broke the Law by Wiretapping Outside of FISA

It Is Illegal to Wiretap Without the Requisite Warrant or Court Order: The law is clear that the criminal wiretap statute and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) “shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance . . . and the interception of domestic wire, oral, and electronic communications may be conducted.”

FISA Has an Emergency Exception: The Administration has indicated that it ignored FISA because the application process takes too long. In fact, in an emergency where the Attorney General believes that surveillance must begin before a court order can be obtained, FISA permits him to immediately authorize the surveillance as long as the government goes to the court within 72 hours. Prior to 2001, the emergency wiretap period was only 24 hours. The Administration requested and received the increase to 72 hours in intelligence authorization legislation that passed in late 2001.

FISA Provides for Wartime Situations: FISA also permits the Attorney General to authorize warrantless electronic surveillance in the United States during the 15 days following a declaration of war, to allow time to consider any amendments to FISA necessitated by a wartime emergency.

The Administration Has Used FISA Thousands of Times Since 9/11: Administration officials have criticized FISA, but they have obtained thousands of warrants approved by the FISA court since 9/11, and have almost never had a warrant request rejected by that court.

... more good stuff at the link - please consider checking it out.

[Coexist]

24. SENATE IN SESSION! Opening prayer now.