I had an idea about the censure thing.

[Plaid Adder]

Or more specifically, about how to light a fire under the Congressional Democrats who aren't Feingold, Boxer, Harkin, or Conyers.

I was thinking the other day, you know, we normally assume that someone who's a leader will be braver than the people he or she is leading. I mean supposedly that's what leadership requires, along with intelligence--the willingness to get out in front and chart the course. The problem we have at this moment is that not only are our leaders _not_ braver than we are, they are actually _less_ brave. I am willing to bet that most of us here on DU have at least one story about standing up to someone who had power over you because you thought that was the right thing to do, and then dealing with the consequences. Certainly we all have experience with speaking out even though it's going to make us unpopular and lead to our being accused of being unpatriotic traitorous liberal types what oughta be shot.

I was thinking maybe I would write to my Democratic senator--Evan "The Face" Bayh--and tell him my most recent story about taking a risk to take a stand, and wind it up by saying, "I took a stand--now it's your turn. Support Feingold's censure resolution."

I dunno. Maybe realizing that they are weaker, more frightened, and more cowardly than the people they're supposed to be leading would shame them into doing their jobs. Then again, maybe it wouldn't. At any rate, I do wonder what would happen if every day these guys went into work there was another batch of letters there from ordinary constituents telling them what _they_ have done to try to stop the slide this country is on, and asking them to at least be _as_ brave as the people who pay their salaries.

Who knows,

The Plaid Adder

[madokie]

1. I like it

be doing that very thing

[ClassWarrior]

2. That's a great idea, Adder... But we have to remember...

They're not our "leaders." They're our "representatives." The first implies that it's their job to lead. The second that it's ours.

NGU.

[kiteinthewind]

6. Excellent distinction!

:patriot:

[Bucky]

3. All I have is Republican senators >;oÞ ... but still...

But I'll still send them the email. Dammit, they still work for me, even if I can't fire them.

[electropop]

4. Good one!

[Minnesota Libra]

5. We need to remind leaders they were elected........

.....not to do as they please once they got in office - they were elected to represent all of US.

[autorank]

7. They won't censure because they've supported...LIEbermans situation is the

best motivation. He's starting to come unglued already because he actually faces opposition. He's probably done some internal polling and found that he can lose. What does he do? He attacks local columnists in CT who suggest such a possibility. He will never change because he's a * supporter.

The others, Bayh's of the world, may actually look at this and think, "Wow, I may really take some heat." That's the only motivation for that crew...self interest and fear.

Want to really scare the DINO's...get someone to challenge Feinstein, someone substantial. She'd fold like a cheap card table challenged with some real dialog.

You can't instill courage in people who either lack it or don't show it when they don't agree with the cause in the first place.

Keep up your great work but energy on Face Man and others, absent a focused ground swell, is low return stuff.

[Raster]

8. LIEberman SHOULD lose. He's a collaborator and a * lapdog,

and an insult to his constituents in Connecticut. Time to kick his sorry ass to the curb, along with the other DINOs in Congress. Every Congressperson that violated their sworn oath to serve the citizens should be voted out of office and, if the situation warrants, prosecuted for their crimes, which I'm sure are legion. Let lapdog joe serve as a warning to the rest of the DINO collaborators!

[autorank]

9. AMEN! I love CT. Great state, great people. They'll send him packing.

[skyblue]

10. Name Calling crap

If polls indicate that avg voters would view dems in a neg way should they decide to censure the thug then perhaps we should wait and take that chance after 11.06. I hate the "You People are so Weak" crap. It's annoying. It's got that "I want Dems to be pissed at Dem leaders so they decide not to give money to the party" feel to it. While there's other R vs D House and Senate RACES that should be looked at and would be more productive. And then you have the R's who give lots and lots of money including corporations that have more money than several different GNPs of multiple countries money constantly to the party that "will deliver us from evil" crap. And meanwhile, they RW is crafting and inventing new ways to screw average American. There are so many people who come from Jesusland and we (individual dems not the one's who have access to key polling info) don't know enough about the research from swing vote states so we can't really tell if this is the time to do it. But they all did perhaps break many laws (the Plame thing: can't believe they got away with that one, all her coworkers lives being put at risk as well as the extensive amount of time we spent setting up that Intelligence operation and time and money we'd have to spend setting up a new one!!!) so hopefully they will as they should be held accountable. And hopefully our leaders will make this decision after thorough review of what is doable.

[yellowdogmi]

11. Good Idea Adder

There was a logo on here the said "speak your mind even if your voice shakes." I wish every democrat here would send a message to Feingold, Boxer, Harkin and Conyers saying thank you for standing up for what we believe in. A ground swell of support for those individuals may push other democrats into fighting this administration. For years the RW pundits have been marginalizing our voices to the point that democrats have shifted towards the center to appeal to more people. What we need is to start shifting the party back to the left. Our positions have helped more people than theirs. Our policies empower everyone not just campaign contributors and the wealthy. While I appreciate Howard's plan to put people on the ground in every state, we need these people to loudly and boldly question this administration publicly to get people to question this administration. I find DU to be a great forum because we have been able to actually focus our efforts. We have moved our leaders to filibuster against Alito. We helped to tell Russ to stand for us against the patriot act. The more we do, the more our party leaders will be forced to listen to us.