I hereby offer my position on Feingold's amendment. I offer this position for free - no attribution or compensation required.
"I'm troubled that the President continues to violate the FISA statute. The Moussaoui is exhibit A what happens when the government doesn't follow the law, it jeopardizes justice. We need to get to the bottom of the NSA warrantless wiretapping program, and if found illegal - there should be some accountability, and censure seems a reasonable option."
anotherpawn |
03.15.06 - 12:34 pm | #
Just got off the phone with my Senator's Washington office...
It seems that Senator Feinstein believes it's too early to support the censure resolution because she's on the sub-committee investigating the FISA/wiretaps issue.
This is incredible really if you think about it:
Senator Feinstein CANNOT now support the resolution to call the President to account because she's been called to busy active duty in the republican scheme to bury the lawbreaking itself as an issue.
If this excuse of Feinstein's isn't evidence of Glen Greenwald's argument in his last couple posts, I don't know what is.
aspTrader |
03.15.06 - 12:36 pm | #
btw, did you notice our Fitzy being used as eye-candy for Gonzales' KiddyPorn press conference?
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 12:39 pm | #
did you notice our Fitzy being used as eye-candy for Gonzales' KiddyPorn press conference?
That is SUCH good news -- when the BushPorn Wing Nuts hide behind Fitzy, it exposes them as the buck nekkid cowards they are.
anotherpawn @ 03.15.06 - 12:34 pm -- Well put. These two things are related. In the now gone forum at firedoglake.com, I said yesterday that the government's behavior in this matter leads me to wonder whether the guy is actually guilty of anything. Misbehavior on the part of the government in a case sheds doubt on any aspect of the case, whether it's fair or not.
Cujo359 |
03.15.06 - 12:45 pm | #
Well, who wants to go to Fire Lake? That is, make the phone calls, write the letters, and etc. to get another retraction from this media shill?
Plano tex |
03.15.06 - 12:47 pm | #
EPU'd to GSD:
GSD @ 11:37
"Is somebody upstairs mad a the state of Texas?"
Yes, she is.
Ever since Texas amended the constitution to ban marriage.
"The constitutional amendment providing that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage."
Audrey Yoeckel |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 12:47 pm | #
OT: the Indiana Legislature finished its 2006 session yesterday with NO anti-woman legislation passing. Wingers had introduced quite a bunch but all were fought back. Indiana is a conservatively moderate state: its an achievement of the national mood that nibbly-away-at-rights stuff wasnt passed!
Wilson46201 |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 12:52 pm | #
Wilson46201
I watched it on CBC.
He even got to speak for a while.
Although I'm not from IA, I called Harkin's office to thank him for cosponsoring. The aide said that they had received several similar calls.
Meanwhile, my two S.C. senators (Republican, natch!) both are against censure (Surprise!). DeMint responded to my phone call with a generic email espousing the balance between liberties and security, and praising Bush for his efforts in the WOT, etc, etc.
Graham actually responded to my phone call with an email saying that he was too busy to respond personnaly except to South Carolinians...which is what I am...
I emailed them both back demanding a better explanation for not supporting censure of a president who broke the law.
TC |
03.15.06 - 12:54 pm | #
If one reads Feingold's censure resolution it is a model of logic, respect for the constitution, our form of government and the rule of law and reasonable in tone.
The fact that all of the Dems haven't come out in support of his resolution points out more clearly than anything else in recent memory just how lacking in backbone they are.
I have called Sen. Ron Wyden (D) Oregon, for three days now. Each time the response I get is that they are taking down caller's opinions but Wyden hasn't put out a position yet. Does Wyden really think that trying to slow walk this and hope that it will disappear is working to his advantage or to the advantage of the Dem party? The people that care about this are getting pissed off at politicians like Wyden that only take a stand when the DC Dem establishment gives them permission.
P.S. I also called Gordon Smith (R) Oregon. His office tried to talk me out of the Feingold censure by pointing me to some bill introduced by Sen. Sessions (R) Alabama that they said would address the problem. Are they nuts? Sessions?
Alvord |
03.15.06 - 12:54 pm | #
Plano tex @ 03.15.06 - 12:47 pm -- I'm attempting to write to Salon (they're an AP customer), but the letters page is not loading.
Cujo359 |
03.15.06 - 12:55 pm | #
why the hell haven't the dems learned anything from the social security fight?
When they stand together (minus joe fuckwad) they win. And they will win this one if they stand together.
ohdave |
03.15.06 - 12:55 pm | #
Cujo- I'll assume he's guilty. I think the real question then is what is he guilty of?
They played him up to be a "mastermind" (although everyone they catch or are after seems to be a "mastermind").
This is the penalty phase of the trial - he plead to the charges (whatever they were).
The gov't (i.e. Chimpy and the Repugs) have been been dreaming of executing a "terrorist" since 9/11, to show the nation we are winning the war on terra, and that they are tough and doing the winning.
The problem is a lot of people believe that Maoussoui (I admit to not knowing how to spell his name), although guilty of crimes, was not guilty of any crime for which the death penalty applies, and that it would be a very tough sell to get the death penalty.
So, if she did it not to protect the admin from witness testimony, she did it to make it seem like the Court was responsible for there not being a death sentence (which is the most likely outcome now).
Evil Parallel Universe |
03.15.06 - 12:55 pm | #
I just sent a nice, short and to the point email to the AP (subject title - OMBUDSMAN - Laurie Kellman is WRONG AGAIN)
If you feel so inclined, here is the email address I used off their home page:
"For general questions and comments; or to contact a specific employee: info@ap.org"
Plano tex,
I emailed a thankyou to Harkin. Unlike some Senators, Arlen Specter, DiFi, for example, Harkin's has not come back to me yet with a message about accepting emails only from the home state. I suspect Harkin wants as many Dems on board as he can get. If he's getting a lot of positive emails, calls, letters, he may share that with Reid and others. http://harkin.senate.gov/
John Casper |
03.15.06 - 12:57 pm | #
Just called Menendez's DC office to ask if he was supporting the censure measure and got a reply that he hadn't decided yet. So don't count him in just yet, and keep the calls coming. He's up for re-election to a full term this year, and the pressure needs to stay on him.
I accidentally called Murkowski's line first, and when I said, oh, sorry, I have the wrong number, the staffer slammed down the phone. What is it with Republicans and bad manners?
Otto Man |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 12:58 pm | #
Link to new poll released today by Pew.. GW Clusterfuck now at 33% Job Approval- lowest in his career so far- and now well within the Nixon range.
Clusterfuck is being heavily damaged by new stories every week showing:
errors
poor management ability
incompetence
dishonesty
The press is now attuned to these stories and to the public attitude- so every one gets covered and not in a way that gives the White House the benefit of the doubt.
The most recent polling is largely measuring the effect of the ports scandal--Clusterfuck will likely recover a bit from this level- but there is now a pattern developing- Clusterfuck gets a big smackdown- then as he gains a little distance from the smackdown- he climbs up a bit- but not to as high a level as he was before gettin smacked- when the NEXT smackdown comes- he gets knocked down even lower than the last--
Continuous oscillations in an overall downward direction..no sign that this will change..
He's a Lame Duck- and one that most americans no longer trust.
rwcole |
03.15.06 - 12:59 pm | #
Speaking of hacks, what's up with Donna Brazile? She's an advisor, along with Holy Joe, to the right-wing Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. I don't trust her to do anything in the interest of either Feingold or America, so I have to assume that by supporting Feingold's position, she's up to no good of one sort or another.
JWR |
03.15.06 - 1:02 pm | #
I get dibs on this one in the smear pool -
Harkin -(D)Iowa 'crusty but benign, old school liberal workhorse, failed Presidential candidate, today announced his support. . .'
cbl |
03.15.06 - 1:02 pm | #
"President Bush's declining image also is reflected in the single-word descriptions people use to describe their impression of the president. Three years ago, positive one-word descriptions of Bush far outnumbered negative ones. Over the past two years, the positive-negative balance has been roughly equal. But the one-word characterizations have turned decidedly negative since last July.
Currently, 48% use a negative word to describe Bush compared with just 28% who use a positive term, and 10% who use neutral language.
The changing impressions of the president can best be viewed by tracking over time how often words come up in these top-of-the-mind associations. Until now, the most frequently offered word to describe the president was "honest," but this comes up far less often today than in the past. Other positive traits such as "integrity" are also cited less, and virtually no respondent used superlatives such as "excellent" or "great" terms that came up fairly often in previous surveys.
The single word most frequently associated with George W. Bush today is "incompetent,"and close behind are two other increasingly mentioned descriptors: "idiot" and "liar." All three are mentioned far more often today than a year ago. "
OT - But here's an example of what I'm up against here in the good ole Bible belt... Just received an e-mail reply from my lovely senator, Blanche Lincoln, concerning the Alito vote. The full text was very thoughtful and very much against his confirmation, but made no mention of the filibuster attempt, which was the point I was trying to make. Also, just a tad tardy?
Sorry, just needed to vent.
Dr. Bong |
03.15.06 - 1:03 pm | #
Just when I think that politics in America can't get any more surrealistic....
Kafka's tale of The Metamorphosis is not all that far fetched in DC except that Feingold must feel that he woke up one morning and found that everyone else in the Senate was a cockroach.
Gentleman Jim |
03.15.06 - 1:03 pm | #
Can we make MORON number 1?
Evil Parallel Universe |
03.15.06 - 1:04 pm | #
I'm going to apologize right up front for not remembering if I posted this. I think I might have yesterday.
At BlueNC we are copying the action plans and making up some of our own, just to spread them around to non-FDLers (You mean there are some?)
Monday we phoned, Tuesday we wrote letters to all Democrats in Senate and today we sent LTEs. This was my LTE...short, sweet and ttp.
Many pundits and members of Congress say now is a bad time to censure the President for breaking the law. I say it's never a good time for the President to break the law.
I think editors of papers in NC are going to regret the day I found FDL. My first ever printed LTE was in Sunday's paper. It was about the sale of our National forests. They cut 4 sentences down to 2. (But I'm proud anyway! hehehe)
B. Muse/Southern Dem |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:04 pm | #
I think "Jumping Joe" is better than "holy Joe". The pathos of him so eagerly leaping to his feet to be first to clap for Bush is most revealing.
TR |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:05 pm | #
Countin' is hard work.
Professor Foland |
03.15.06 - 1:05 pm | #
Plano - I've been in fire lake mode for awhile.
anotherpawn |
03.15.06 - 1:05 pm | #
He's a Lame Duck- and one that most americans no longer trust.
rwcole | 03.15.06 - 12:59 pm | #
Then why are not ALL these 77% of Americans howling for his head? I know some of us are, but why are WE being tagged as an unruly bunch of "Cuckoo Noozzas," as one of my Schizophrenic patients used to say.
kathi |
03.15.06 - 1:06 pm | #
Evil Parallel Universe @ 03.15.06 - 12:55 pm -- Agreed that the most likely outcome is that Moussaoui (can't spell, either) will get a life sentence. There also seems to be a fair amount of evidence to indicate that he was with the hijackers at one time. However, how that evidence was obtained and handled has a bearing on how much faith we can put in it. If the government is mishandling these witnesses, it calls into question how it's handling everything else.
Like I said, it may not be fair, and it may not even be logical, but you can't help but have doubts.
Cujo359 |
03.15.06 - 1:06 pm | #
--read this article on Dubai--and our president Abu Abdullah, as he is known there--
I just got off the phone with a very nice male staffer at Harkin's DC office. (It took about 20 rings for someone to pick up, btw.) He said that they have been deluged with calls of support from all over the country, and was seemingly proud to state that he had "yet to field a negative call".
He asked if I was from Iowa, and I had to tell him no. Then asked if I'd contacted my own senators and I laughed and assured him DiFi had heard an earful from me. He laughed when I mentioned her call for censure for a blow job. I said with 34% approval rating, you'd think people would start standing up and saying, "Hey, maybe I should start siding with the Majority of Americans, here."
The staffer giggled, offered a heartfelt "Thank You" then said he had a few more calls to answer. I thanked him and he said he'd pass the comments along to Senator Harkin. He sounded very happy at the responses he'd been getting.
FYI. Felt REALLY good to talk with him and wanted to share the love with you all.
Jacqrat |
03.15.06 - 1:09 pm | #
B. Muse/Southern Dem | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 1:04 pm
Wrt "fire lake mode," Durbin is another Senator who appears to accept emails from out of state. He did a fine job imo of "debating," old "Scottish Law" Specter on Monday. http://durbin.senate.gov/
John Casper |
03.15.06 - 1:10 pm | #
OK Wolf is going to talk about the new Poll. I guess they are starting to pressure him to shake up his staff, although Papa says that won't do much good since the problem IS the President!
kathi |
03.15.06 - 1:11 pm | #
The democrats follow Clinton's and Emmanual's lead and those 2 take counsel from the DLC and the likes of this guy:
***"Looking at how loudly the Republicans are screaming. As the Democratic Leadership Council's Marshall Wittman said, "The Republicans couldn't contain their glee over an attempt to censure the president for being overly zealous in defending the country against al-Qaeda."
Wittman - Hudson Institute, Christian Coalition, former staffer to John McCain who is now a? democrat? and we wonder why the dem leadership take the positions they do and we wonder if Karl is an all powerful guru mind reader? Or maybe he has Marsh on speed-dial.
then read Molly Ivins, she has it about right.
der |
03.15.06 - 1:12 pm | #
Actually, I just called Dayton's office -- he's taken no stance on the issue.
pipbody1 |
03.15.06 - 1:12 pm | #
Kathi - just spewed my afternoon coffee on my monitor. The problem indeed IS the President. Love it.
B. Muse/Southern Dem |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:13 pm | #
Just watching from way up here in Canuckistan...and I'm sure this is self-evident to most involved but it has been interesting to observe how much, particularly in the last couple of weeks, how the comment threads have moved from mostly good strong discussion to mostly tales of good, strong advocacy work.
kathi- Well maybe they do- no pollster has asked that question yet that I know of-
But I doubt it- I think most people are thinking- this guy's incompetent and dangerous--and has three more years left in office--I really want someone who I trust looking over his shoulder..
I don't think most people want to recreate the last Clinton years and the impeachment debate- they just want someone to make sure we stay between the ditches for the next three years- but I'm guessing.
rwcole |
03.15.06 - 1:14 pm | #
cbl - Thanks. I am and it feels good.
B. Muse/Southern Dem |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:15 pm | #
on ABC News- "...Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., both declined to endorse the censure resolution. Rather than censure the president, Lieberman said he would "prefer to see us solve the problem."
in the Boston Herald- "...Even fellow Democrats are ignoring his pointless efforts to censure President Bush over the warrantless wiretaps of those suspected to have terrorist ties.
Now we think Bush was dead wrong on the issue, and the Senate Intelligence Committee well within its rights to investigate and to tell the president whether indeed his wartime powers trump provisions of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. But that’s obviously too grownup an approach for Feingold. ..."
saw this headline on Google at Bloomberg, but can't access: "Feingold Censure Move May Give Bush a Boost on Security Debate"
brkily |
03.15.06 - 1:19 pm | #
Thanks for the comments above about Zacarias Moussaoui. I don't like to desecrate sacred FDL blogosphere with a Newsmax link, but I think I saw something about the Judge being a "Clinton appointee." Goes to how important ReddHedd's post, "Shameful," was last night.
IMO the neocons are going to use Moussaoui declare a media war on the Judicial Branch. They want to "prepare" the Judiciary for indictments against Dana Priest, James Reisen, and their sources wrt NSA leaks.
John Casper |
03.15.06 - 1:23 pm | #
Just got off the phone with Maureen at Senator Harkin's Dubuque, Iowa office.
Gave her my name and told her about FDL and how good it was to see Senator Harkin take a stand with Feingold.
Maureen's reply was "We're very excited about it too."
She said that she would relay the message.
I fessed up and told her that I was not from Iowa, but she took my address info anyway.
A very pleasant young lady and I told her to check out FDL for herself. Go Feingold and Harkin.
Get this ball rolling downhill into an avalanche!
Apple Canyon 2 |
03.15.06 - 1:23 pm | #
B. Muse: great insight: keep the WH staff, replace the President.
scarecrow |
03.15.06 - 1:23 pm | #
The DLC must be eliminated.
Splash |
03.15.06 - 1:26 pm | #
A quick scout of the news and more shocking news. Waxman has sent letter to WH that the Feb 6 Medicare bill Bush signed into law is not the one that Congress passed ... and there a probably $2 billion dollar difference; then I see BushCo is rejecting SBA Kartina and hurricane victim loans. They're at only a 15% approval rating for SBA and and averaging 35% on others. AND then I see Josh has a muck article about Mitch Wade's MZM and the unveiling of the Pentagon's CIFA which may make the NSA warrantless wiretaps look like a cakewalk. Lord, where does this end?
mainsailset |
03.15.06 - 1:28 pm | #
Apple Canyon 2 | 03.15.06 - 1:23 pm
I posted a response to your question about sources for the ISI, Saudi Intel, and 9/11 on the Ides of March thread on the FDL blogspot page -- I got shut out of the new place. links below --
Scarecrow...wish I could take credit. Kathi said it and had me laughing. Do they really think they can bring one person in and ta da...things will be all better?
B. Muse/Southern Dem |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:30 pm | #
In January 2005, Bush earned a lofty 89% approval from members of his own party, but that has declined to 73% in the current survey. Among independents, the number approving of Bush's job performance has fallen from 47% in January 2005 to 26% today; and Bush's support among Democrats, already quite low, has fallen by about half since the start of his second term (from 17% to 9%).
Apple Canyon 2 @ 03.15.06 - 1:23 pm -- Get this ball rolling downhill into an avalanche!
Reminds me of one of my favorite Babylon 5 quotes: "The avalanche has started. It's too late for the pebbles to vote."
At some point, there have to be enough pebbles to count as an avalanche.
Cujo359 |
03.15.06 - 1:31 pm | #
The Stay Pufft Marshmellow man could fix everything.
Sorry, I am in a really spacey/out there mood today, even for a Universe.
Evil Parallel Universe |
03.15.06 - 1:31 pm | #
ck,
I thought it got lost in the netherworld.
I posted it on the new format, then went to re-fresh and up popped haloscan so I have been reading and posting a little when I have the time.
Thank you so very much.
Apple Canyon 2 |
03.15.06 - 1:34 pm | #
Got stuck (in the parallel universe) at the other site for awhile.
Chris Matthews takes $35,000 from corporate special interest groups in speaking fees. (Big violation of NBC policy)
Wondering if Timmeh will give him a slap on the wrist.
shoephone |
03.15.06 - 1:36 pm | #
brkily -- the Boston Herald is the area's scandal sheet. You're as likely to see pictures of missing white women on the front page, as anything else. The Boston Globe, owned by NYT but independnently run, is the grownup paper.
scarecrow |
03.15.06 - 1:36 pm | #
If you want a laugh go read the PEW numbers. They have a list of one word descriptions and how often each was used. It's hilarious....least I think it is.
rwcole posted this earlier. It's very interesting.
Cujo359
Go Pebbles and bring the Flintstones with you. We can use all the help right?
Apple Canyon 2 |
03.15.06 - 1:37 pm | #
I can't even access the other site. I just get the cplan or whatever page that the url is not there.
Evil Parallel Universe |
03.15.06 - 1:37 pm | #
and Bush's support among Democrats, already quite low, has fallen by about half since the start of his second term (from 17% to 9%).
WTF, there are others like Holy Joe out there?????
elroy |
03.15.06 - 1:38 pm | #
Sent them an email asking why Kerry doesn't matter (about supporting Feingold) but I also asked why no one remembered Kerry during the election debates, and in speeches thereafter, warning that our ports were extremely vulnerable, not secure, etc. when the Dubai port deal was being examined so intensley. His name never was brought up as the one who warned America first. So, in my opinion, even if the Democrats DO TAKE A STAND, no one bothers to listen (of course, we who care DO!).
H. Stevens |
03.15.06 - 1:38 pm | #
33% JAR--that's BAD--that's VERY bad--Nixon must be lookin down/up and grinning. Misery loves company.
rwcole |
03.15.06 - 1:39 pm | #
The WSJ has long lead editorial today on Feingold, whome they treat almost with respect, repeating rovespin that Feingold signals that the only Dem agenda is to win the 2006 elections and impeach Bush.
Gosh, had no idea we were that organized.
scarecrow |
03.15.06 - 1:39 pm | #
Greenwald is getting right to the heart of the matter.
We are all looking forward to 2006 and possibly taking one or both houses of congress.
If we are fortunate enough to have this come to pass, I think many of us will be disappointed when it doesn't change a thing - the vichy Dems in Congress will still be too afraid to stand up and be heard for fear of criticism from the beltway pundits and Republican Wurlitzer.
If they won't stand up to a President with a 34% approval rating, they won't stand up for anything.
The conventioanl wisdom that the Democrats are weak on national security/defense comes not from their policies but from the fact that they are personally, almost without exception, cowards. How can folks trust them to stand up to international terrorists, rogue states, etc. if they can't stand up to Bill Frist, Orin Hatch and Sean Hannity?
Thank God, at least Fiengold is showing a little sac.
mobiaxis |
03.15.06 - 1:40 pm | #
Dayton's local office did not commit on a firm position other than to say he told someone in the press he thought it was 'too soon'. They will not confirm 'definitely does not support' at this time.
JSiq |
03.15.06 - 1:40 pm | #
The Wimpocrats (Nogonadacrats, Yomommacrats, HorseAssacrats) seem to be so scared and willfully ignorant and greedy and arrogant and, did I forget putzish, I do believe they would not attack Bushit Inc. if his popularity was in single digits. That's how corrupt the situation has become.
If let's say BushBaby had a 9% favorable rating, the DinoDems would enable him by saying he had a terrible childhood at elite private eastern prep schools and his c- grades were a triumph of will. What a spectacle the Senate Damnocrats have Devolved to.
I can actually hear the bark peeling off the Liberty Tree folks.
I called my reps, they listened in desultory deference
.
Gentleman Jim |
03.15.06 - 1:40 pm | #
Mommy, Mommy, can we take Haloscan with us when we move to the new place? Can we, can we, please-please-please???
Earlier today, I was reminded of Churchill's quotation about democracy -- Blogspot and Haloscan are terrible forms of blog hosting software, until you compare them with everything else.
I think karl rove already has taken the "Fat but Fluffy," white boy slot! ;0
kathi |
03.15.06 - 1:42 pm | #
EPU -- I was stuck in the other parallel universe for an hour this a.m. It kept working, so I kept posting, replies to myself, mostly. "Where's everybody gone?"
Thought I broke something (and maybe I did).
scarecrow |
03.15.06 - 1:42 pm | #
OOPS!
The Stay Pufft Marshmellow man could fix everything.
Sorry, I am in a really spacey/out there mood today, even for a Universe.
Evil Parallel Universe | 03.15.06 - 1:31 pm |
I think karl rove already has taken the "Fat but Fluffy," white boy slot! ;0
kathi | 03.15.06 - 1:42 pm | #
kathi |
03.15.06 - 1:43 pm | #
That's Ok Scarecrow, we've al spent some time in OZ today!
kathi |
03.15.06 - 1:45 pm | #
Now I know where all of you have been. Here I was posting on the new site and wondered why there were only 25 comments or so after the post had been up quite a while.
I am going to call Mark Dayton's office again. Someone posted he was against Censure then someone else said they had called and he had not taken a position. Heck, Dayton has nothing to lose, and he should be all for this.
So, are we hanging here until the new site moves to the newest of the new digs?
GrandmaJ |
03.15.06 - 1:46 pm | #
Deadlines for Bush/Iraq - bad
Deadlines for Grandma choosing medicare - good.
"There's got to be fixed time for people to sign up," Bush said today after a speech in Silver Spring, responding to a question by a woman who said her mother was having trouble signing up for the program. "Rolling back good deadlines is not going to help your mom make a good decision."
Is it just me, or is the President seem a wee bit condescending and inconsiderate?
anotherpawn |
03.15.06 - 1:49 pm | #
Called my two Senator's local (for me ) offices in LA:
Feinstein: Got the same response that aspTrader got -- "premature". Said I strongly supported the motion.
Boxer: Staffer confirmed that she was supporting it. Said to thank her very much and to let her know that just as she is there for the country we Dems will be there for her.
fbg46 |
03.15.06 - 1:51 pm | #
As Pachacutec would say, we shouldn't trash the Democratic name; but we should hold those who claim to be Dems to account when they don't stand up for that name and Democratic principles. It's an important distinction.
An example, yesterday, the Dems in Senate voted unanimously in support of a budget/ fiscal responsibility matter that would have made it difficult for Congress to extend Bush tax cuts. They got five Repubs to join them and made the others look irresponsible. They are trying to work as a united group -- they just don't always see the advantages of being united when one of their own gets out in front and leads. Lots of reward/punishment needed here.
scarecrow |
03.15.06 - 1:51 pm | #
Well, I'm not sure if it's accurate, but all the email addresses I have for ap reporter are in the pattern firstinitiallastname@ap.org. So I figured I would give lkellman@ap.org a try. This is what I wrote (and I cc-ed the feedback address):
Dear Ms. Kellman,
I am writing to take issue with a statement in your recent article on the Feingold censure legislation that "not a single Democrat has embraced it." This is - as I am sure you know by now, and as I, a regular citizen and no journalist, knew before your article was published - not true. Senator Kerry immediately supported the resolution, and since has been joined by Senators Boxer, Menendez and Harkin. I am certain that your correction will be forthcoming. A mea culpa would serve to correct the undoubtably false impression that you were minimizing the support for censure for political reasons.
Not likely to get a response, but it made me feel better.
pyewacket |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:53 pm | #
kathi -- yeah, and all out best stuff is over in OZ!
scarecrow |
03.15.06 - 1:53 pm | #
Since I just found y'all, and having just read the last thread, let me respond to EPU's T.V. rant:
EPU, I watched the Unit last night. What intrigued me was all the lying going on. I understand there are units like this, but the wives must stay on base, and the men are thrilled to be shooting something up during their day job, and come home to wife and kids.
Even when one of the soldiers on base was killed, in Iraq no less (2d tour), they lied to her about what their own husband's did.
And the wife of the leader lied to the psychiatrist about who was shooting guns in the neighborhood. Umm, reality in the service????
GrandmaJ |
03.15.06 - 1:54 pm | #
"There's got to be fixed time for people to sign up,"
Not enough Iraqi's are registering as Republicans.
John Casper |
03.15.06 - 1:54 pm | #
pyewacket,
keep sending and sending and sending! Do not put space between your ideals and apathy! You are doing what the rest of us should be doing daily... once, twice, thrice! Continue your Reach for the Heavens
thepoetryman |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:56 pm | #
Boxer is on board, per Ed Schultz.
Mad4clark |
03.15.06 - 1:56 pm | #
Can the President operate an illegal program that is covered and protected by the Espionage Act?
Stated differently, is it lawful to prosecute the disclosure of an ILLEGAL program under the Espionage Act? If the Executive operates an illegal domestic spying program (or any illegal program for that matter)is the unlawful activity protected under the other laws.
It seems to me that in America, we have a tradition that if you do something illegal, you do not have the right to state-sponsored protection.
But this class of legal and logic question plagues many of our American wink wink, nudge nudge programs and activities. Do illgeal immigrants have the same or similar protections granted to citizens? If a business knowingly violates the law, should they be forced to disgourge all profits from that activity? If a prosecutor gains information using an illegal method, should that evidence be admissible in court?
With Ollie North, Abu Graibe, etc., we learned that following orders does not grant you immunity for illegal actions. Would their defenses have been different if national security had been important?
If the President orders a law to be broken (which he has admitted), he needs to be held accountable, and he cannot hide behind the Espionage Act. If he can, so should Ollie North, Lyndie England, etc. America is supposed to mean that all people are equal before the law. Bush should be treated no different than Lyndie England.
(As an aside, I would argue that in terms of national security, publishing accounts of Lyndie England's actions was much worse for America that the NY Times publishing what Bush was doing. So if he gets to use the Espionage Act, so should she!!!)
The ultimate question for all of us is whether or not America is going to hold George W Bush acountable, or are we tacitly agreeing to sit idly by as he shuts down our free presses?
dead last |
03.15.06 - 1:56 pm | #
The trap is to believe the DNC has to "prove" anything.
The RNC has to prove they're for anything. This entire "national security"-argument is absurd: The RNC's results are defective. Throw it back on the RNC: "You have no evidence of results in national security; the issue is the rule of law." Make the RNC Membership choose between the rule of law or rebellion.
. . .
If you need some inspiration -- this is what one person has started: Patrick Meighan The Congress is doing what it can; however, there appears to be a problem. Some in Congress feel they can "do what they want." Small problem: The reason they are there is to protect our rights and prevent the abuse of power.
Tell your friends about Patrick Meighan
Here's an anecdote showing what a staff member failed to do, and why there is more evidence that Congress needs to have better rules mandating action to prevent this abuse of power. Here's what a Senate Staffer did which raises reasonable questions and prompts this call to modify how Congress is doing what it is doing: Patrick Meighan's challenge: An unresponsive Congress: [Here]
It is clear: The Congress is not interested. The way forward is to discuss what must be done to force Congress to do what it promised to do. We can lawfully revoke the power of Congress to make and enforce rules -- and delegate that power to the States.
Spread the word -- this going to be like the 603 effort. Let your friends in Kos know, and the other sites. Tell your friends the Constitutional Convention planning continues: We shall lawfully revoke the powers of the Federal Government that they are abusing, and fail to assert.
Mention his name: Patrick Meighan
This Constitution is ours. It is ours to Protect. This Federal Government has failed. We're moving again on this. Tell your friends about Patrick Meighan. He deserves our support. Tell your friends: Patrick Meighan!
Constant |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 1:56 pm | #
Ya have to laugh.
I've got CNN on and they're covering the story about Harris in Florida.
My daughter, who is 19, says that she looks like a drag queen.
I give her little background about the person.
Suddenly my daughter remembers that Harris is in her March issue of Allure magazine. It's the 15th anniversary issue and Harris makes it in under the 2000 timeline.
It has a photo of Harris before "makeover" and says:
"November 2000
Amid the presidential election mess, Florida Secretary of State Katharine Harris is ridiculed for her excessive makeup. The Boston Globe compares her to a drag queen."
I put makeover in quotation marks because at least for my young target demographic, the change didn't help. Heh.
State Trooper Lieberman after pulling President Bush over for being intoxicated and plowing through an intersection full of people: "Rather than throw you in jail and prosecute you for DUI, I would prefer to see us solve the problem." WTF? What problem? The problem is that the President of the United States is breaking the law. Willfully. Admittedly. And continues to plow his intoxicated runaway administration through this country's future.
shooogarp |
03.15.06 - 2:03 pm | #
So how do we punish the cowards among us?
The reason a majority of Democrats are not responding to our calls to support Feingold is because they don't fear us enough.
So how can we demonstrate our power?
What dramatic move can we make to demonstrate to our congressional Democrats that we must be taken seriously?
Here is a good sign. My 77 year old father, who lives in eastern Washington state, is mad as hell at Bush and wants him impeached.
My dad grew up in Idaho and Montana. He has only voted for Republicans since he voted for Wallace in the 60s. My dad told me yesterday "Bush broke the law. It is that simple. You don't break the law. There have to be consequences. I don't care who you are."
It is really this simple. Get the word out.
dead last |
03.15.06 - 2:04 pm | #
White evangelical Christians were solidly behind the president throughout his first term in office, but that support has waned over the past 15 months. Currently, just 54% of white evangelicals approve of the president's job in office, while 36% disapprove. Bush's support has also dropped among people who attend church each week or more frequently. According to post-election exit polls conducted by the National Election Pool, these voters backed Bush over Kerry by a 61%-38% margin. But today more disapprove (46%) than approve (42%) of his performance.
That's pretty bad news for GW Clusterfuck- and worse- SHOCKINGLY- Clusterfuck has only a 34% approval rating IN THE SOUTH!
How the hell did THAT happen?
rwcole |
03.15.06 - 2:04 pm | #
From B.Muse--
"Many pundits and members of Congress say now is a bad time to censure the President for breaking the law. I say it's never a good time for the President to break the law."
i called Boxer & Feinstein also today- they are deluged, i'm sure with pro-censure calls, although they would't say. couldn't get through to Feingold's office at all. sent fax sayin "wish you were my senator"
brkily |
03.15.06 - 2:06 pm | #
Almost forgot. From the article:
Once again the age old question rears its head -- when the revolution comes, who will be the first against the wall, the Democratic pundits or the Democratic consultants?
I don't follow DC politics as closely as I should. Isn't this a false choice? Aren't the pundits and consultants pretty much the same group of people? Carville and Begala have done both, as has Donna Brazile, for that matter.
Cujo359 |
03.15.06 - 2:11 pm | #
brkily - Called them as well here in San Diego. They were swamped. Poor workers. I feel sorry for them. Told them both to stand behind Russ ON TV and stand up in the Senate.
california_reality_check |
03.15.06 - 2:14 pm | #
new thread: "Drayton"
John Casper |
03.15.06 - 2:18 pm | #
So how can we demonstrate our power?
What dramatic move can we make to demonstrate to our congressional Democrats that we must be taken seriously?
hizzhoner
If people are calling and writing, we are doing it.
ruffian |
03.15.06 - 2:20 pm | #
Regarding Jane's point about fighting whether you're going to win or not:
What do we feel about the French collaboraters in World War II. Why do we call people who work for the opposition quislings?
Any Democrat who doesn't fight Bush (unless he or she genuinely agrees with Bush, in which case he or she is really not a Democrat) is a collaborator.
The entire structure of the "establishment" Democratic Party in Washington excepting the DNC must be purged and brought to heel but the real 500 pound gorilla in our livingroom here is AIPAC and the extent to which AIPAC is the vehicle for political extortion and bribery by the fascists in power. By forcing this issue into the open and confronting these folks we take away their effectiveness. Bribers and extortionists shrink from the light...they will still have the money and access but by exposing them, we can give elected Democrats cover to support the DNC.
Why has there been no investigation of the extent of penetration of our government and elected politics by citizens of another country? JEEzus, when AIPAC can publicly fund a successful primary challenge to a sitting US congressperson (C.McKinny - sic) isn't there a bit of concern ??!! My God, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is an Isreali citizen and a former commissioned officer in the Isreali Army. And of course there is the head of Homeland Security...
I don't think that there is any question that a great part of the fear by elected Democrats of confronting this administration is the well founded fear of losing AIPAC campaign money or getting opposed in the primary by AIPAC . The extent to which AIPAC controls the political behavior of elected Democrats must be investigated. Not only does the DLC need to go, but if we succeed in booting the Republicans out of power in Congress but don't circumscribe the power of AIPAC we won't have changed anything.
KEEP THE FAITH, THERE WILL ALLWAYS BE A FIGHT TO BE FOUGHT!!
NorskeFlamethrower |
03.15.06 - 2:33 pm | #
"I accidentally called Murkowski's line first, and when I said, oh, sorry, I have the wrong number, the staffer slammed down the phone. What is it with Republicans and bad manners?
Otto Man | Homepage | 03.15.06 - 12:58 pm | # "
maybe we should start prank calling the opposition...
you should have gone ahead and asked for Menendez and insisted that the staffer was in fact the one in the wrong.
Anonymous |
03.15.06 - 2:38 pm | #
Pass the word: We can plan to fix things. The details are at the link.
Good luck. Spread the word, share the story of Patrick Meighan
Also, we can throw it back on the RNC and say, "Hay -- what's your whining about 'national security' -- you have no credibility: Look at the disasterous results."
Constant |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 2:44 pm | #
I know this is a dead thread, but I'd like to point out that Kellman is the same AP journo who wrote the article that was wallpapered all over the internet within an hour or so of Feingold's speech.
Title: Feingold Draws Little Support for Censure
Lede: Democrats distanced themselves Monday from Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold's effort to censure President Bush over domestic spying...
But in the content, Kellman's Dem sources are few (Lieberman, Reid, Durbin) and not necessarily direct (as in she may not have called them, only regurgitated parts of what might have been said).
This journo deserves to be dogged in the same way that Nedra Pickler was dogged last year by Atrios. And the Ombudsman ought to get a dose of the same.
Rayne |
Homepage |
03.15.06 - 2:46 pm | #
Why can't the AP count? Probably went to Yale.
Pechorin |
03.15.06 - 3:01 pm | #
e-mail to AP:
Why is AP reporter Laurie Kellman stating that "not a single Democrat has embraced it" regarding the censure legislation introduced by Feingold on Monday? Senator Harkin has signed on as co-sponsor of the bill, and other Senators including my Senator Boxer have indicated support. I understand hyperbole to make a point, but one expects reporters to make the effort to report facts rather than make points.
jarotra |
03.15.06 - 3:19 pm | #
Rude racial and ethnic slurs will not be tolerated. Period.
Edited By Siteowner
Told You So |
03.15.06 - 4:11 pm | #
NorskeFlamethrower,
What about the charges against the 2 AIPAC people happening right now? I forget what that's about ... yeah, Good to focus on briber/ext. - Banking system too, money laundering etc. Follow the dough to the top of the puppet strings. The DLC is a critical piece of their "portfolio." And yes, the DCCC is leaking front-group ooze as we speak.
Splash |
03.15.06 - 5:32 pm | #
Only continuous displays of complete political spinelessness can prove that Democrats are strong enough to defend America.
SqueakyRat |
03.15.06 - 5:39 pm | #
Who to believe?
I saw the news and heard Gloria Borger say that Bush had decided that there was no whitehouse personel shakeup in the cards. Hearing Brian Williams, on the other hand, said "stay tuned, for something happening in the future." I am paraphrasing here, but I find it quite suspicious . I hear the old *(buttering up the toast ) if you know what I mean.
What I found most hilarious from this apologetic media are sound bites, which are more about dealing with Tim Russert. Egg on his face, having to admit that the democrats are ahead , even if they have alot more work to do. His look afterwords was quite hostile. Damn! His show is entirely designed around Republican spin. What is he going to do now that the spin has turned into a wirpool drilling its way into the sewer. As the Republican polls tank, the lies will now rise expotentially. For every action there is a opposite and equal reaction. Tim Russert has been giving the Democrats the finger for quite sometime now.
P. S. The design of this website is more elegant, readable. I love the political pictures. I should try my hand at them, sometime.
blue generalist |
03.15.06 - 8:15 pm | #
