But hey, none of this matters anyway, right? Feingold is just another crazy liberal elitist terrorist-loving America-hating baby killer, emboldening our enemies in a time of war with his pitiful attempt to attack The Great and Powerful Bush. And who doesn't want us to spy on towelheads who want to kill us? Traitors, that's who. Anyway, Bush didn't violate FISA. Or if he did, it's OK because Congress said he could do whatever he wanted. Or if Congress didn't tell him, really the Constitution says the President can disregard any law that gets in the way of potentially killing towelheads. Because the President's war powers, in a war he declared, are infinite. So FISA is actually unconstitutional! Or something like that. Give me a few more hours watching Fox and I'll be up to speed.
UPDATE: Egregious weasel words from Michigan Sen. Carl Levin on Feingold's censure resolution:
"I think criticism of the president is legitimate," Levin said. "I think we ought to welcome some checks and balances on the president.""Welcome" "some" checks and balances, Carl? How about "demand" "all"? This is still America. For now.
UPDATE II: Glenn Greenwald on how the administration lies to try to defend itself. They are utterly shameless.
UPDATE III: It's really a shame when only one Democrat in the whole fucking Congress is willing to stand up against a President who has not only violated the law and consistently lied to the American public, but who is at 34-freaking-percent in the polls. Every single one of those cowering, simpering weasels should be thrown out on their asses. And then beaten severely about the head and shoulders with a large tuna.
UPDATE IV: Well as expected, Herb Kohl wimped out and wouldn't support his Wisconsin colleague.
"As the Senate continues to investigate the president's implementation of the domestic eavesdropping program, it is not clear that censuring the president is the most effective way to bring that program into line with our need to protect national security and civil liberties."Thanks, Herb.
8 comments:
Someone needs to rush that censure idea to a vote right now. An excellent move for Democrats. I know I'd get a tickle out of it. It's political genius.
Wait a few months, and maybe that smug look on your face might not be there.
36 percent, baby!
And which of the "our President didn't break the law - by definition, he can't!" talking points do you most agree with? Just wonderin'.
"L Etat, c'est moi."
(Oops. I guess that's some of that liberal elitism peeking through. We can't help ourselves!)
I like to wait judgment until something's been determined unlawful. It's easy to do when you don't have an emotional stake one way or the other in the outcome. Censure now is a bad idea for everybody, except those who hate the President and want some sort of emotional payback. Or need to score political points with the emotional payback folks. The thrill of sticking it to the Man won't be of much benefit to the Democrats later.
I'll admit I have an emotional stake in whether the President follows the law.
As for waiting until it's been "determined unlawful," I'm not sure what you're waiting for. The FISA law requires warrants when you're spying on U.S. citizens, and the administration has admitted that they did warrantless wiretapping.
Unless you think that the Congress gave Bush unlimited war powers with the Iraq resolution, or that the Constitution gives the President unlimited war powers, then there's not a lot to determine. (And if you believe either of those things, watch out.)
As Feingold has said, the majority of the Senate Intelligence Committee isn't even allowed to hear the details of this program. And if you think that the Republican-controlled House, Senate and Supreme Court are fit to further investigate this matter, I've got a bridge to sell you.
This isn't impeachment. This is someone finally standing up and saying publicly that the President isn't above the law. It's high time for that.
Regarding update III, doesn't this quote from your own link somewhat answer it?
"Several have said they want to see the results of a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation before supporting any punitive legislation."
Can you not see that maybe that one brave soul jumped the gun and made a misstep? Really, you don't see the common sense in waiting until more is known? Why hasn't anyone moved forward to stop this illegal program? Does the "whole fucking Congress" have to be cowardly weasles because they don't see it your way? And now Russ Feingold is the chosen one because he does something you like.
You can't trust the Republicans to oversee anything. They're evil liars. You can't trust Democrats because they're weasley cowards. The entire Congress is wrong and you're right. Take a good long look and see if there's anything wrong with this picture.
As Feingold said, an investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee is impossible, because the administration has told them that only certain members can know any details about the program.
I've said why I think it's illegal. I still haven't heard why you think it's legal - or even under what circumstances it *could* be legal. What's unclear about it?
Forgive me if I'm willing to condemn a Republican-controlled House and Senate for not being willing to investigate their President. I also beg forgiveness if I slam Democrats for not standing up for what I see as a crucial issue in this democracy.
Also, forgive the hyperbole in what I think is an appropriate quote:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
-Edmund Burke
Well, it's okay this time. Just don't let it happen again.
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