DELAYING THE CENSURE VOTE *IS* SUPPORTING IT!

[IndyOp]

Y'all are drinking Republican Kool-Aid if you are believing that delaying the vote is evidence that Dems don't support it.

The purpose of offering the censure resolution is to force an investigation -- force the media and Rethugs to discuss the lies. The purpose is not to have an immediate up-r-down vote.

Let's put it this way: Yesterday, Frist tried to *demand* an up-r-down vote within minutes of Feingold's introducing the censure motion and Feingold had wisely departed. Frist could've killed it and used it to club the Dems if the vote had been immediately.

The Dems *must* have time to 'investigate' whether they should censure -- to pull the media and public toward our side before they can vote on it. The longer they can hold off a vote, the better!

Thom Hartmann covered this well on his show today - you can access the 24/7 stream here: http://www.whiterosesociety.org/Hartmann.html

And Thom suggested that one way to show the Dems which way the wind is blowing is to donate to Russ' re-election fund: <https://ssl14.pair.com/feingold/contrib/contribute.php?refer=web>

If you can, give $5 or $10 -- if 10,000 people contribute... that makes a statement that even the waxy-eared DC Dems can hear.

ON EDIT: Before I get flamed - I do want to acknowledge that the Dems who have had press conferences/interviews have been sounding wishy-washy and, no, I am not proud of this. But, again, delay the vote is not evidence of the same.

[KittyWampus]

1. Thanks, so now the question is why GOP is blocking investigation?

[JuniperLea]

4. Haha!

They are probably all in cahoots! And they are probably afraid of getting threats AGAIN from BushCo...

[radfringe]

15. fear trumps democracy?

[JuniperLea]

26. That's what I've seen going on in Congress and the Senate lately

Someone should post your post outside their doors!

[atreides1]

14. It's Simple

The first group of warrantless wiretaps was probably directed against certain Republicans in the Senate who might think that they have the right to think for themselves.

This of course is just a theory.

[helderheid]

2. kicked and recommended!

[xultar]

3. OH MY FUCKING GAWD!!!!!!!!!FINALLY SOME ONE GETS IT!!!

This is what I was trying to say yesterday.

INVESTIGATE...they can't
WHY?...it's rigged
THEN WHAT?....win 2k6 so we can un rig the shit!

[Rex]

7. My, someone gets easily excited.

I guess we will have to call you Xultar the Prophetess from now on! :evilgrin:

[xultar]

10. I don't get out much. But yesterday people weren't getting it. I'm

happy that today someone other than me said...

Investigate...can't
Why...Rigged
Then what...win2k6

If investigations, Censure, possible Impeachment in the House aren't a reason to win in 2k6 I don't know what is.

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[ourbluenation]

13. what he said...I had this conversation on another board.

This is exactly what is going on.

[Rex]

23. True, the Dems could go into the 2006 elections looking very strong.

Is it to much to hope that we take back both House and Senate?

[Rex]

5. If it causes Dems to bring about a renewed interest in their jobs

as representatives of the American people, then more power to them. If they eventually turn tail and run then what is the fucking point anymore? Find some counterparts who are up for impeachment, I know some moderate Reps are ready for it. It's either censure or impeachment.

[EFerrari]

6. That's right. Precisely!

Let them "investigate" the all the calls they get FROM US on this issue.

:)

[Kansas Wyatt]

8. By delaying the Censure Vote, Republicans can't

"Cut & Run" from their failure to investigate, and more time lapses for more attention to be drawn to and focused on the purpose of the resolution. If it still hasn't been voted on, it does not just go away, and momentum builds for real investigations.

[Independent_Liberal]

9. I'm sitting here with...

...a drug needle in one hand and a mangled video tape in the other. I'm saying, "This is Watergate. On Steroids!"

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

:D

[liam_laddie]

11. Agree with IndyOp...good insight!

I think this is a well-worked out strategy by Russ and other Senators to drag the issue
into better focus...as stated above, a quick up-or-down vote would've buried it.
Too many Dems are not thinking past the initial dust-up. :thumbsup:

[moobu2]

12. Precisely..

A vote anytime soon helps Bush.

Give em enough rope and they'll hang themselves.

[yodermon]

16. so what do you make of Feingold saying, today,

"I’m amazed at Democrats, cowering with this president’s numbers so low.The administration just has to raise the specter of the war and the Democrats run and hide. … Too many Democrats are going to do the same thing they did in 2000 and 2004. In the face of this, they’ll say we’d better just focus on domestic issues. … {Democrats shouldn’t} cower to the argument, that whatever you do, if you question the administration, you’re helping the terrorists."

Is he criticising Dems for not backing his resolution en masse? Or is it a general-purpose "grow a backbone!" sentiment?

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/14/feingold-accuses/


(on edit: added link)

[gordianot]

18. There seems to be a tendency to view retreat as strategy.

I have been guilty of thinking this way in the past. Example, Kerry is taking his time to contest voter fraud, or Democrats will stand up to Republicans, or Fitzgerald will eventually indict KKKarl.

This is retreat.

[IndyOp]

20. I think both...

He is criticising Dems for not backing his resolution en masse. And it a general-purpose "grow a backbone!" sentiment.

Again, I am dismayed (to say the least) that there haven't been 44 Senators who rushed to stand behind him to use this opportunity to yell "We need investigations!" --

Russ is providing the same 'cover' that Jack Murtha provided in the house -- the Dems could've flocked to Murtha/Feingold and still been safe - but no, not yet anyway...

Russ *is* doing right. We've all got to rush the installation of Dem spines -

[RhodaGrits]

17. Thanks for posting this. I just contributed to him online.

It is the best way to send a message these days :-(

[NoodleyAppendage]

19. DELAYING CENSURE VOTE IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS...

Let's get this out of the way right now...fuck you to all who think it's freeper or Repuke to hold our apparently meek democratic representatives accountable for their INACTION.

Feingold had the conviction and balls necessary to be respected by the majority of the American public. I can tell you that the Repukes are SCARED SHITLESS of Feingold. Too bad the remainder of our reps don't have a similar presence.

BUSH BROKE THE LAW. Delaying censure is delaying JUSTICE.

J

[IndyOp]

21. Rushing the vote will guarantee inaction. (n/t)

:hi:

[emulatorloo]

22. kick n/t

[Chimichurri]

24. done! Feingold has my support 100%!!!

as Sam Seder has said - When the Senate was giving out balls, Sen. Feingold was first in line!

[DancingBear]

25. I think you may be mis-stating a lot of positions here

The anger is NOT pointed at the speediness of the vote - I think most if not all here realize the foolishness of such a knee jerk vote, as evidenced by Frist roaring out in "support" of a quick vote.

Rather, the anger is pointed (and justifiably so) at those who do not SUPPORT (key word) the concept of censure itself.

That's a very big difference.

Apologies in order if indeed many here are angry at the fact that there is no vote as of right now - I just haven't seen that reaction in the posts I have been reading.

[DearAbby]

27. I am surprised that they had not pulled

the same stunt as was pulled in the house with the Murtha Plan...ie Duncan Hunter, calling it the Murtha Resolution that was voted on 403 -3

Just to get it out of the way and force the issue...I should shut my mouth give the rats ideas :crazy:

[ClassWarrior]

28. It's certainly giving we, the people a chance to work our caucus.

So call your Senators and ask The Question...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

NGU.

[zulchzulu]

29. Tis true, my brother

We're going to have to string them along until we throw them over the cliff.

[PetraPooh]

30. OK, you've convinced me to have hope, but if this turns out like

everything else so far and when the chance to vote or filibuster or whatever other means have so far been abandoned by so many Democratic legislators in regard to:

Patriot Act
Scalito
NSA investigations
budget
national debt
prescription drug coverage
and others. . .

then I will once again feel like a fool. I am tired of feeling like a fool and seeing the Democratic legislators roll over to have their tummies scratched by bushco et al. Since I am reasonably sure by so much history of late, that Russ Feingold will be ostracized and minimized by his own party (like Murtha, Dean, and others); I am not feeling good about having hope. An oxymoron to be sure, but the truth. I am gravely angry at myself for letting your optimistic perspective interfer with my certainty that most Democrats are now just worthless and that the few that aren't, are being run over with mac trucks of BS.

[ClassWarrior]

31. You watch too many movies.

Political progress is usually never a torrential downpour. It's a steady drip... drip... drip... And WE'RE the ones who have to make it drip.

Chin up. We will win. Because we're right.

NGU.

[gordianot]

33. I also fear this is this weeks topic.

Next week it will go away or recede in the background. Nothing ever seems to work out. No lasting results or consequences.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

32. THANK FUCKING GOD SOMEONE ELSE IS STILL GODDAMN SANE!

Yes, I screamed that. Sorry all, but I was too friggin excited when I saw a thread that actually tries to be objective with this issue. I don't know for certain this is the case, but I like this line of reasoning far more than the melodramatic time to join the green party garbage.

Thanks IndyOp!

:yourock: