Feingold Draws Little Support for Censure

AP via Yahoo ^ | 3/13/06 | LAURIE KELLMAN

[Sub-Driver]

Feingold Draws Little Support for Censure

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago

Democrats distanced themselves Monday from Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold's effort to censure President Bush over domestic spying.

The White House hit back at the same time, Vice President Dick Cheney telling a fundraiser in Feingold's home state that the resolution was an "outrageous proposition."

As the crowd in De Pere, Wis., booed Feingold's effort, Cheney said, "Don't hold back."

Feingold's fellow Democrats did just that Monday, with several saying they wanted first to see the Senate Intelligence Committee finish an investigation of the warrantless wiretapping program that Bush authorized as part of his war on terrorism.

Asked at a news conference whether he would vote for the censure resolution, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada declined to endorse it and said he hadn't read it.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said he had not read it either and wasn't inclined simply to scold the president.

"I'd prefer to see us solve the problem," Lieberman told reporters.

Across the Capitol, reaction was similar. Feingold's resolution drew empathy but no outright support from Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

[Darkwolf377]

Please, Dems, don't throw us in that briar patch!

We so, so do not want you to keep defending the terrorists and attacking W for trying too hard to capture them, oh, please, don't do it!

[fortheDeclaration]

Maybe we should censure Feingold.

[satchmodog9]

I have been filling his email box. If you want to give him real hell, go to his constituent area and type in a local address and zip. I'm sure they pay that side more attention.

[YOUGOTIT]

Feingold: Anti Americna left-wing fascist, supporter of the terrorist what in the past would have been called a TRAITOR.

[CharlesWayneCT]

So Feingold brings it up, Senator Frist calls for Unanimous Consent to VOTE on it, and Reid has to object to having a vote, because they don't actuall want to vote on it.

Then after Feingold speaks, Arlen gets up to have a "debate" with him, but Russ runs off, with Arlen asking him to stay and then asking his staff to go get him.

Then he spends most of his speech trashing Feingold for not staying around to actually debate his resolution.

Durbin comes and asks a question of Specter, and Specter says "you're harder to debate than the senator from wisconsin".

[bcsco]

If anyone thinks the Dims won't go this route (or Impeachment in the House) if they win back Congress, they're deluding themselves. Don't buy in to the wishy-washy statements. They don't want to announce their real intentions. Feingold is just a test of the waters.

[capt. norm]

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said he had not read it either and wasn't inclined simply to scold the president.

I don't fault Lieberman one bit for having to say that. He's between a rock and a hrad place facing this re-election as a Democrat, he has to walk a tight-rope, but he is the only Democrat I have any repect for...and even that was diluted by the way he changed his tune to match Al Gore in the 2000 campaign.

[American Quilter]

Good for Specter.

[OldFriend]

Feingold voted NO on the Patriot Act renewal.

He's a man of the 60s, anti war protests. Hasn't gotten a bit smarter, just smarmier and more unpatriotic than ever.

[Northern Yankee]

What an absolute coward Feingold is.

He ran away from Arlen?

Unbelivible.

Atta boy Russ, show them just how unpresidential you are.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Feingold is a Buzz candidate. Once the buzz is over so is he.

[Siena Dreaming]

Feingold is a traitor.

Is he from Joe McCarthy's old district? What a difference a few decades makes.

[bcsco]

"So Feingold brings it up, Senator Frist calls for Unanimous Consent to VOTE on it, and Reid has to object to having a vote, because they don't actually want to vote on it.

Then after Feingold speaks, Arlen gets up to have a 'debate' with him, but Russ runs off, with Arlen asking him to stay and then asking his staff to go get him.

Then he spends most of his speech trashing Feingold for not staying around to actually debate his resolution.

Durbin comes and asks a question of Specter, and Specter says 'you're harder to debate than the senator from Wisconsin'."

Where did you get this? Did this actually happen on the Senate floor? I recall someone on FR this a.m. suggesting that Frist should call for a vote if he had the cojones, but haven't heard anything definite. If this is true, it's really something!

[princess leah]

How is it the only guy in the republican senate with any spine is the RINO Arlen Specter?

[clawrence3]

Bookmark for later.

[newnhdad]

once again. wishy-washy democrats too spineless to back up their trash talk, with action.
I have no doubt if these losers take control on congress, this garbage will take up the most of two years the President has remaining in office.

[clawrence3]

Jeff Sessions is up now.

[RetiredArmy]

Some days ole Joe makes sense and others he doesn't. One of his better days I guess.

[1035rep]

Bookmark

[CharlesWayneCT]

There's a live thread on the subject, I believe the debate is over for now but you can read all the messy details. Thread's over in breaking news I think, so it's easy to find.

[Siena Dreaming]

How is it the only guy in the republican senate

Spectre is the hero today. Other Senators take the lead other days.

[CharlesWayneCT]

He's just the guy they designated. You certainly didn't want dozens of people to make this a big deal.

[TeddyCon]

Nah, let's just send him to Gitmo.

[R.W.Ratikal]

The only real hope Finegold and the other socialists have of taking power is to attempt a military coup.

But where would he get the military?

[bcsco]

"There's a live thread on the subject, I believe the debate is over for now but you can read all the messy details. Thread's over in breaking news I think, so it's easy to find."

Thanks! I'll check it out. Feingold's been beeting his gums over the weekend and now he's been called on it. That's great news!

[sporkgoddess]

Hahaha, Feingold's politically just shot himself in the foot.

I always told people he was crazy, but no one ever believed me!

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Russ is a turd-juggling cheese head.....

on his best day.

[plain talk]

Feingold is just a test of the waters

Right. To add on to what you said I think there is a calculated dem strategy to influence public perception of the President. These hit and run tactics are propaganda techniques to influence the mushy people in the middle (who don't follow the details) but keep seeing all this smoke and to also stay on the offensive with anything and make the Republicans respond to THEIR tactics.

I think the Republicans would be better off playing offense. Bush should have long ago moved on to domestic issues and acted as if this Iraq deal was in steady-state mode now that they have a Consititution and a government. In other words we have already won Iraq, it's a success and we are now in the steady-state aftermath phase. The casualties we are seeing, suicide bombers in Iraq, etc is just the normal course of doing business over there in rebuilding an Arab country. It's a difficult line to walk because we also need to continue to garner support that we still need to stay over there and it's not over yet. Clinton would have known how to walk that fine line. (I wonder if Rove could hire Clinton as a consultant?). As it is the success part of the message has become lost.

Bush needs to get on offense and stay there. And the Republicans in Congress should be doing the same.

[Godebert]

"The only real hope Finegold and the other socialists have of taking power is to attempt a military coup. But where would he get the military?"

Cuba or North Korea?

[blackie]

[clawrence3]

I agree about sending Feingold to Gitmo. Here is his "Censure Resolution: http://feingold.senate.gov/censureresolution.pdf

[bcsco]

Thanks for your input. I'll respond tomorrow. Right now I have things to do.

All the best,

bcsco

[StAnDeliver]

"Asked at a news conference whether he would vote for the censure resolution, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada declined to endorse it and said he hadn't read it. Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said he had not read it either and wasn't inclined simply to scold the president. "I'd prefer to see us solve the problem," Lieberman told reporters. Across the Capitol, reaction was similar. Feingold's resolution drew empathy but no outright support from Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi."

Ha ha ha. $**k *t, DUmmies.

[ronnied]

Democrats distanced themselves Monday from Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold's effort to censure President Bush over domestic spying.




feingold is getting to be a regular one man show....

[Darkwolf377]

I guess Feingold is in a conference room somewhere whining "Come ON, guys, the DUmmies are rootin' for us! Come OOOONNN! Geez!"

Showboating nitwit.

[Draco]

AP's slip showing: Senators' "effort to censure" but VP/White House "hit back" -- who at AP edits this stuff? Al Franken?

[StAnDeliver]

cRussty is obsessed with cutting off Hillary's PoS/DUmmie/DSA Left flank.

Again, I wonder what his price is, because any POTUS run for him in '08 is win-or-bust -- he doesn't play well with others.

And she'll make him suffer if he runs 3rd (I expect Hillary-Bayh-cRussty finishes from NH to Iowa to the South) until Super Tuesday and forces her to the Left before Cali (lest Bayh dominate the delusional DLC types).

For me, it comes down to one thing only...

Schadenfreude!

[freema]

Beautiful synopsis.

[Cowboy Bob]

Feingold voted NO on the Patriot Act renewal.

wasn't he the only Senator to vote against it?

A Jew siding with Arab Terrorists. Go figure.

[Thunder90]

I bet that Fiengold is the Democratic Dark horse candidate.

[Ann Archy]

I think "little Rusty" is being advised by "Big Crusty"!!!

She's leading him down a rathole!!HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

I just read that he's divorced TWICE!! I thought he was GAY!

[advance_copy]

ROFL... Frist tried to bring it up for a vote, and every time he did DemocRATS objected and wouldn't let there be a vote.

[LibLieSlayer]

Michael Barrone was on with Brit tonight. Baronne has been is every US district (435) over the last few months, and he has been polling and watching carefully. Without going through 5 minutes of detail, he sees virtually no chance for the dims to take the house back. If they are lucky and win 2/3 of the seats they "may" have a chance of winning (and in most this is a stretch), they will still come up 5 seats short. We would have a house that was about like the 1998 house.

LLS

[KellyAdmirer]

Hey Russ, shouldn't there at least be a trial or a hearing or something before you get to the penalty phase? Or no, wait, you think you're back in the USSR, don't you.

[bcsco]

"We would have a house that was about like the 1998 house.

I watched the first part of the show but left before Barrone was on. That's interesting news. I still believe that a lot will be based on Conservative disenchantment with Congress in 2006. Too much spending, too little attention to the border issue (by the Senate), this over-the-top reaction to the ports issue, and other issues make them vulnerable. They simply haven't been listening to their base; or they're too RINO.

If conservatives stay home, it could be an unfavorable year at best. There's a lot riding on 2006. It's going to be interesting.

[JOE43270]

Feingold will get NO SUPPORT from me.

[LibLieSlayer]

As soon as gore starts his campaign... bottom line... Conservatives will find their reasons to engage. Mid-terms will not yield any power flip. ALL of this is only my educated opinion.

LLS

[mcg1969]

Let's not forget that before Specter beat up on Feingold, Bill Frist called for an immediate vote on Feingold's censure measure. So as strange as it may seem, we have a couple of normally weak ones sportin' some brass you-know-whats today.

[Peach]

Feingold has very little support for his little stunt, even among Democrats.