Feingold
Censure motion against lawbreaker Bush
The most interesting thing about Wisconsin US Senator Russ Feingold’s Censure Resolution against President Bush for illegal warrantless wiretapping is the way it injects a dose of political reality into a media atmosphere smothered by its own nearly unshakable delusions. A large swath of the public has become sensitized and now rejects the criminality of President Bush and his administration. But usually you wouldn’t hear that perspective in mainstream reporting.
Feingold’s Censure Resolution would seem to be an anemic move given the colossal transgressions of Bush. Of course I agree totally with impeachment efforts (thanks for links, Francis) Rep. John Conyers and the Center for Constitutional Rights are now promoting. But now with Feingold out there, a pretty good sized spasm of coverage for the case against Bush for lawbreaking is out there. In this environment, even a little thing like censure is such a massive departure from the consensus narrative that it echoes everywhere like an explosion.
Even so, there is a great deal of work left to do. The explosion will not last long. The push-back coverage is abundant today–“Feingold Draws Little Support for Censure”. While Frist wants to wash Feingold with a bucket of “we’re at war” nonsense, support for censure even from Feingold’s own Democrat Party is “tepid”. So, yes, this move will probably not stay out front just now. But it is a move in a healthy direction to have it there at all. Thank you, Russ Feingold.
Follow the story/watch the video:
1. Initial interview on ABC This Week
2. Democracy Now! piece, including Senate floor statement
3. Russ Feingold is a solid guy, can hold his own in a hostile interview.
March 15th, 2006 at 02:30
Just received an email from Conyers. Impeachment is preferred, but censure if the first step.
If you want Senator Feingold to run for President in 2008, please, come over to http://russfeingoldpetition.blogspot.com/ and sign the petition.
Thanks for your time. Peace.
Kat
March 15th, 2006 at 06:00
niice!
Speaking of censuring, I just double checked one of the reports I previously posted, and found it to have been deleted from house.gov…
It used to be hosted at house.gov (democraticleader.house.gov/pdf/AmericaForSale.pdf) but there is now a smear compaign to try and discredit the author. The report was deleted from house.gov, but I did find a mirror of this pdf.
I double checked the security settings of that pdf, and it’s still password protected by the House of Representatives, so it should be the unedited document. Apparantly it was written by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, but it’s not even listed on her website anymore…
Yesterday, she posted a short article indicating that many republicans are attempting to smear her and this new report. You can read her response here.
Here’s a brief overview of her report that was released late last month (source)
“From her vantage point atop the House Rules Committee, Rep. Louise Slaughter has had a birds-eye-view of how the Republicans have done business in Washington over the last several years, and the costs those actions have had for the average American.
In a 118 page report to be released later today, Ms. Slaughter lays out in painstaking detail exactly how the Republicans have conducted themselves over the last several years, and the myriad ways that has cost the American people.
The report, entitled “America for Sale: The Cost of Republican Corruption,” is rich in detail and covers seven major areas where the GOP has put interests of average Americans up for sale–health of seniors, energy security, homeland security, national defense, publich health, jobs and access to higher education in America.
The report also gives a history of the K Street Project, including the prominent role played by Majority Leader John Boehner. In addition, it details the services provided by the GOP Congress and the Bush administration to Jack Abramoff and his clients.
In sum, it is a damning indictment of the GOP Culture of Corruption and will be an invaluable tool to those who wish to understand how the GOP Culture of Corruption has hurt real people, and for those whose job it is to explain that to others.”
March 15th, 2006 at 06:21
Now I wish Feingold was a little more solid on ending the war against the people of Iraq…He talks a good game about how the Iraq policy is harmful for America, but his position really can’t be considered anti-war.
March 22nd, 2006 at 22:52
Tried to post a comment here, but not sure if it went through, so apologies if you get two.
Russ is on The Daily Show tonight. Hope you get to see it. Peace.
Kat