'The President Has Broken the Law'
Senator Russ Feingold is proving once again that he deserves a shot at the Presidency in 2008. In fact, he may be the only Democrat worth considering.
Feingold plans to introduce a resolution in the Senate to censure President Bush for violating the 1978 FISA law on wiretapping. The resolution also charges the president "repeatedly misled the public" by claiming that his administration was getting warrants for wiretaps. This is what the president said in 2004 on the subject, long before the FISA story broke:
Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires — a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists, we're talking about getting a court order before we do so.
That's a flat-out lie. It may not be as titillating as I did not have sex with that woman..., but it is just as audacious. And it does have real and troubling consequences for the nation.
Politics being what it is, Feingold's resolution, if it even gets off the ground, has no chance of success. But this is an election year. Thirty-three senators (15 Republicans, 17 Democrats, 1 Independent) are up for re-election. Let them go on the record on whether it's ok for a president to knowingly break the law and brazenly lie about it.
Let's hope the Senate gets to vote on censure. In November, it is our turn. If we send senators back to Washington who believe the president is above the law, then we will get the government we deserve.
Comments
Good for Feingold. Might be just a slap on the wrist but at least Bush'll know somebody's paying attention to the fact that he's lying.
Posted by: Neil Shakespeare | March 13, 2006 03:18 AM
I think he should keep bitching and get people rallied. He should definitely run.
Posted by: Lily Branford | March 13, 2006 11:25 AM
We already have the government we deserve. I mean, how many bites at the apple do you hippies want?
Posted by: Rex Kramer, Danger Seeker | March 13, 2006 04:00 PM
Kidding aside, I love Russ (in a completely heterosexual way, of course...let's not get any rumors started.) That said, can you imagine a candidate the GOP wants more than Feingold to win the nomination?
Besides, Hillary, of course.
Here's your 2008 GOP talking points: Hates America. Divorced. Liberal. Oh, and yeah, Jewish.
Call me a pessimist, but I don't see the Bible-Thumpers crossing over for Russ.
Posted by: Rex Kramer, Danger Seeker | March 13, 2006 04:03 PM
The bible-thumpers aren't going to vote for any Democrat worth electing. But just once, I'd love to see a contest between a conservative and a liberal who's the real thing.
Yeah, he'd be a target. But the mudslinging might backfire on the hatemongers.
Posted by: abi | March 13, 2006 07:50 PM
It was a bold, brave move in a room of cowards...and for that he deserves every accolade we can heap on him.
That a revolutionary move such as introducing legislation to censure a sitting President turned into a Eulogy for Mr Inouye's wife was staggering. I'm very sorry for his loss. But that was just the single worst move I've ever seen a fellow party member pull when the chips are down.
But Go, Russ, Go!
Posted by: Kira | March 14, 2006 12:18 AM
Let them go on the record on whether it's ok for a president to knowingly break the law and brazenly lie about it.
Wouldn't that be something. Even CA's senators need to be put on the spot on this one.
Posted by: Kvatch | March 14, 2006 01:55 AM
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Posted by: Online Education | June 14, 2006 06:16 AM