Nancy Pelosi is over at Kos drumming up support for her resolution to have the Ethics Committee investigate Tom DeLay. Now that’s a worthy goal, but as we all know in a Repubilcan-controlled House extremely unlikely to happen. Has she actually filed a complaint with the Ethics Commitee? According to Ari Berman in The Nation, the answer would be no.
I myself would rather hear an explanation for this:
“I think that things are going well for the Democrats right now,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday, alluding to recent data showing that a plurality of poll respondents would prefer a Democratic-controlled House.
So why, she implied, should Democrats risk spoiling the mood?
She rebuffed the call by Sen. Russ Feingold, D- Wisc., to censure Bush for ordering National Security Agency surveillance of al Qaida contacts with persons in the United States without seeking warrants from a court.
“I have no idea why anybody would censure someone before they have an investigation,” she said.
I really don’t think the Democratic leadership gets it. I don’t think they understand, as Glenn Greenwald has stated over and over again, that the President admits he broke the law and therefore censure is appropriate. That no investigation is needed to determine that, nor will an investigation be forthcoming, especially after Chuck Schumer’s ego dictated that nobody would show up and support Russ Feingold at the Judiciary Committee hearing.
I know they don’t get that a lot of people feel this way. I’ve heard over and over again that the Democrats don’t think that the people are behind Feingold.
Nancy Pelosi is in the House. She’s not in the Senate. Why she had to pipe up and cut the legs out from underneath Russ Feingold I have no idea, but maybe someone should ask her.
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fritz!
Why did she dis Russ? WHY?!?
oh, Nancy, you make it difficult for a home-boy to root for you…..
FWIW: Mrs. Pelosi is 66 years old. Botox can be a girl’s best friend…
Gloves off my ass.
Problem is that when you are wearing those long white formal gloves that go up to your shoulders it takes more than a few seconds to remove them.
Lady, you’ve barely even started to roll them down.
Bad short term memory here. Do I recall correctly that there have been NO complaints filed with the ethics committee for quite a while?Even with all of these indictments flying around? Hopefully someone can clear this up for me.
File the damn ethics charges CREW has stacked up or shut the hell up.
We’re not stupid.
How punked will you be if/when DeLay files charges against McKinney?
Clueless indeed.
*ilson46201 – Do you realize the impact a no-Botox rule in Congress would have?
That’s like drug testing at a Dead concert.
Pelosi and a lot of other dems need to stick their noses in the corner and write on the blackboard 100 times ‘I will grow a backbone and represent my constituents’. I did like her resolution but as Christy pointed out she has offered similar stuff 11 other times and fwiw, I think it is grandstanding at this point. Get it together dems– no more ceding anything ‘in the spirit of bipartisanship’ and worrying about getting re- elected. Out here, we know we are a nation divided and we got your back if you stand up for what we want– progressive values and what’s correct.
That’s like drug testing at a Dead concert.
I can’t remember,, Did I mention I have no short term memory?
Things are going well? Really? Flowing right along, are they? How about people feeling they are not listened to by their own representatives and senators, because that is certainly how I feel reading this. And if you ain’t got me, a life-long Democrat, you expect to sway many Republicans and Independents?
Stand the $&%^ UP for Feingold.
Seems to me that the “ethics committee” decided to let itself fall into the abyss.
Most dems are convinced that the voters don’t want a house or a senate that’s going to concentrate on punishing Clusterfuck- and so they back away from Feingold’s bill.
I don’t know if they are right or wrong- but I don’t think that they are about to change their minds.
There is another member of the house who hasn’t been discussed much on this site, but who has made snide remarks about the censure resolution. Dave Obey. From Wisconsin. In a visit to a small town recently, he had this to say about censure:
‘On Feingold’s censure resolution, Obey said he believes Bush should be reprimanded, but he does not want to “waste time” trying to get a resolution passed in a Republican-controlled Congress.
In response, students asked him how he expected the president to be held accountable for his actions if Democrats would not support a censure.
Obey said he would rather see the Congress censured for not overseeing the presidency, which he believes has taken on too much unchecked power.
“The last time I checked, we had a president, not a king,” Obey said. “Presidents are supposed to obey the law.
On the issue of accountability, Obey also noted that he was the first legislator to call for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld three years ago.’
So, in other words Obey is proud of his quixotic efforts to fire Rumsfeld but he simultaneously believes that it is a waste of time to try to censure Bush. Talk about cognitive dissonance!
Here’s a link to the article:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/daily….._id=209056
very convenient, to ask for an ethics investigation after he’s already said he’s going to leave. Why not before? Wasn’t there already a preponderance of evidence?
I think she’s just saying this because it’s good timing; I hate to say it, but I always thought better of her. That she would say what she said about Russ Feingold, especially since she a) has no bearing on the matter and b) should know that any investigation has already been railroaded into oblivion definitely makes me think less of her.
However, she’s not my congresswoman (Waxman is), so we’ll see how well that plays out in her district. I bet the San Fransiscans won’t like it too much…
thanks kirby from last thread, and yeah.
zennurse so sorry you’ve been hurting, everybody loves you which may not help but it’s still true.
Pelosi: oh c’mon, Nantz – Ethix Comm (quel joke) investigate Delay? I think the criminal justice system is taking care of him just fine right now.
And excellent question Jane. I really would like to know.
I am but a humble grad student, not a lawyer, but if somebody confesses, there’s no trial, right? You go straight to the penalty phase, yes?
Since Bush freely admitted breaking the law wrt to domestic spying, can’t we skip the did he/didn’t he investigation bit, and go right to the penalty phase? How come I, a lowly proletarian, can see this, but the august Lady Nancy cannot?
also, and this is just a side point, I’m getting images looking all blocky (this is the first one in a while that isn’t). If you resize the image (in photoshop, or better yet, for free with any number of programs), then images that are larger than a certain size won’t look so terrible when squeezed into the image size above the articles. (I’m using Firefox 1.5 fwiw)
Oh, cool! Nancy wants another “committee” to “investigate” possible ethics charges against DeLay! Wow, Nancy, did that take a lot of courage for you to come right out and make that proposal, right out loud?
Come on, Nancy, turn the page. Strike a new pose. Say something we haven’t heard already. Do something to keep us involved. Something ethical. Throw us a bone!
Clueless! If we understand that the Dems in Congress might as well not show up to work, the influence they have, why can they not get it?
Hate to say it- but the dems may be right.
Their options are:
1) Force a vote on the Feingold motion- which doesn’t have a chance in hell of passing and give the goopers the “dems will spend the next two years trying to attack Clusterfuck if elected” issue.
or
2) Use their air time to position themselves as responsible counterbalances to Clusterfuck’s excesses.
Given the fact that they will need to win seats in many seats that Clusterfuck carried by wide margins in 04–”2″ is not a bad option.. and they are gaining ground without the “censure” issue.
Hey Sharkbabe
Back at ‘cha
Here’s the statistic that needs to be out front and center. In CT-05, Nancy Johnson’s seat, she and her D challenger each raised the same amount of money in-state in the last reporting period. For him, it was 95% of the total. For her, LESS THAN 50% of her total!
When more than half your money comes from out-of-state fat cats, to whom you are beholden, why, why, why would anyone living in this district vote for you????
If the question is why did Pelosi diss Feingold, my guess would be someone else is to be annointed, and it ain’t Russ.
she should be attaking this
DHS Press Secretary Arrested on Child Seduction Charges
Funny how Nancy can’t find it in herself to back Feingold, but has the time to slag McKinney. This SF resident is working to replace li’l Nancy, you may believe.
Nancy, Nancy, Nancy-
Here’s why you support censure, for pragmatic political reasons. It forces all the Republicans to vote, up or down, on whether they think Bush is doing the right thing. It boxes them in. They either give their president a humilaiating, stinging rebuke right before midterms, or they tie his unsightly abatross carcass around their necks. They can’t try to distance themselves or triangualte away from him afterward. It’s a beautiful, beautiful trap. It makes every GOP candidate have to spend some of their political capital on Bush.
Oh, and it’s morally the right thing to do, you dumbass. Why don’t you try doing that, for a while? It’s a principled stand that is also politically sound. What part of win-win do you not understand?
I got a great idea. How ’bout fucking filing an ethics charge instead of sticking your finger in the air to see which way the wind’s blowing? How ’bout doing it three fucking years ago?!
Oh, and while you’re at it, STFU about Feingold unless it’s to praise him, effusively, for his bravery and offer him your full support.
Sweet baby jeebus. To call Congressional Dems pussies would be an insult to a magnificent human organ which brings a lot of people happiness.
Stockholm Syndrome, anyone?
I don’t think the President needs to be censured or impeached, but I do think he should be tried for treason for 9/11 as well as war crimes for Iraq.
Any of our legal scholars look at the latest Libby filings? Eager to hear what they think.
Her speaking skills can be likened to Jokementum’s– just another warbler. (Apologies to birds everywhere.)
Sharkbabe, did you see my note #122 on the Pedophile thread?
lisadawn and kirby, will write tomorrow, too sore tonight for much typing, OK?
I want Feingold or Dean, or someone to say something like this:
“I have no idea why anybody would censure someone before they have an investigation conduct an ethics hearing after the primary target has already quit.”
Nancy needs to be reminded that she was appointed by a bunch of her buddies in the house…they may like her bullshit, but us…
….not so much.
Oh JEEzus…how I wish Pelosi, Reid, Schumer and Emanuel would jest stay offa the tube, don’t interact with the base and let the DNC, Move ON and the candidates in each race speak to the mass of voters. Jest STFU Nancy, don’t fuck this election up!
KEEP THE FAITH AN DDON’T TAKE ANY OF ‘EM SERIOUSLY!!
Thank you Sen. For recognizing our opinions and support.
Sen. Russ Feingold censure resolution when raised on this site received energetic and positive support, it was clear that he was a person of his word. Judging from the responses so far and I hope your open to them, there is lacking of trust in these parts for your proposals, consider the reasons.
My take after reading about the house Dems for years is that they too are so ethically compromised that they exist in a MAD world (mutually assured destruction). One complaint from Pelosi will lead to some from the repubs and more from the dems until there is such a pile of stinking crap on the floor that no one will be left unsullied.
I say, let the fun begin. I think the dems have the message to suvive the war much better than the permanently corrupt republicans.
Never wear your best pants when you go to fight for freedom.
man, my spelling is crappy. triangualte? wtf?
BTW–that DHS pedophile story is all over the local news here. (Silver Springs FL is not far). Complete with creepy, slo-mo arrest footage.
I remember that Pelosi was the one that had Rep. Slaughter’s report on Republicrook corruption taken off the govt. web site: via MYDD
Not a smoothe move for someone pretending to fight corruption. I’m not ready to sign on to any plan of hers yet.
Pelosi doesn’t get it, she never has. With Pelosi and Reid as our leaders we will see no meaningful change.
Invite the Honorable Ms. Pelosi to do guest post here and we can ask her.
I’m with FDL on ethics committee: file a complaint and then make a stink every day unitl something happens. On censure, I’m halfway between the firebrand FDL and rwcole. I can think of other, better options than a vote right now. But if Dems take line that there is need to investigate, then there should be a very public, very aggressive push for real investigations. I’d like that -as I’ve said, it would focus lots of attention on the Rubber Stamp GOP Congress in the months before a Congressional election. But a real investigation, real hearings, didn’t happen. Astoundlingly, to some extent this was because the Dems wouldn’t support them. What wat the deal with that!!?? Contra rwcole, I think the Dems are confusing the concept of responsibility with that of passivity, and of moderation with lack of any convictions about anything. Moderates can have vision and convictions too, you know.
So, at this point, I say censure. It would have been better to publicly humiliate the GOP Congress with some kid of effort at real hearings, but that won’t happen. So the Dems need to cut the crap on that excuse to do nothing.
Invite Pelosi over here for a chat.
As you may know, Senator Russ Feingold has called for Congress to censure, or formally reprimand, President Bush over the issue of his warrantless wiretapping program. Censure is a way for Congress to express strong disapproval of a President’s actions without going so far as impeachment. Would you support the censure of President Bush by Congress, or not?”
.
Support Wouldn’t
Support Unsure
% % %
ALL adults 42 50 8
Republicans 20 75 5
Democrats 60 30 10
Independents 42 51 7
Here’s the latest polling on the censure issue. 42% support it.
So if you were a political consultant, would you advise your clients to vote for it during an election year? Would you advise red state senators to vote for it?
First, I am not a big fan of Pelosi’s, or of Rahm Emanuel, etc. I no longer contribute to the DCCC.
However, and I know that this will piss a lot of people here off, Feingold’s censure resolution is a waste of time now. With the GOP holding power in both houses of Congress, it ain’t never gonna happen.
When we get back control of the Senate (still seems more likely to me than the House)THEN, AND ONLY THEN, we can go after these sleazeballs.
Slaughter, when interviewed on NPR, said that the Ethics Committee doesn’t really exist, that there is no remaining mechanism for filing a complaint. The question was asked. Mike Stark called in to that show, I’m pretty sure, but I can’t remember if he is the caller who asked. She basically said the Ethics process is completely broken and that there is nowhere for a complaint to go.
I’ll see if I can find out more about this.
Barack Obama is not much better on censure.
Barack Says No To Censure, Credits Bush With Good Faith.
Bad Nancy.
Hope Pelosi (more likely her aide) takes the time to read the comments to her diary at Kos. In a word, ouch. That is, most commenters are less than impressed with Pelosi and her diary and raised the same complaints as have been raised here. Also, check out Rep. Slaughter’s diary when you are there. You’ll see that she took the time to read the comments to her diary and updated the diary to answer a few questions the commenters posed.
This is off topic, but the motivation provided by Jane, Christy, RevDeb, Scarecrow and the rest of the gang encouraged me to get off my butt and go to our county’s Democratic convention this past Saturday. Mel Watt was our speaker and he was on fire. It might be completely meaningless to some, but I’m proud to say that Mecklenburg County, NC Democrats voted to support Senator Russ Feingold’s resolution to censure President George W. Bush. I doubt Empty Wig and Burrrr will pay any attention.
Here is a letter from Sen. Sam Broke, er, Brownback, R-Kan. about censure. From what it doesn’t say, it almost makes it look like he is undecided on the issue.
“Thank you for your correspondence regarding Senate Resolution 398. I appreciate hearing from the people whom I serve.
On March 13, 2006, Senator Feingold (D-WI) introduced Senate Resolution 398, a resolution calling for the censure of President George W. Bush. The Resolution cites the President’s authorization of a National Security Agency (NSA) program involving the wiretapping of certain communications to and from the United States with a connection to suspected terrorists without court approval as grounds for censure. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist called for an immediate vote on Senate Resolution 398, but Democratic leadership objected, insisting the Resolution be deliberated in the Judiciary Committee. Thus, Senate Resolution 398 has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary where it continues to await further action.
The Senate has censured a president only once in its entire history. In 1834, the Senate demanded that President Andrew Jackson produce a document relating to his veto of a bill to re-charter the Bank of the United States. President Jackson refused and the Senate narrowly voted to censure the President. The censure was later expunged from the record in 1837. Obviously, the decision to censure an American President is not one to be made hastily. A censure should not be proposed merely to make a political statement, but should be based on fact and a belief that the public official involved has committed actions truly worthy of censure.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me again and feel free to visit my website at brownback.senate.gov for information on the issues on which I am working.
Sincerely,
Sam Brownback
United States Senator”
Feingold’s resolution was never going to pass.
But talking about the runaway illegal administration, while speaking solemnly about the potential need for censure, keeps the president’s corruption in play and forces Republicans to defend a president with 37% approval ratings.
It’s not rocket science.
House Minority Leader Pelosi threw this dead fish (call for an ETHICS investigation of the hammer? talk about yer Hail Mary Play) for one of two reasons IMHO …
1. Pelosi has Mollusk Democrat Battered Wife Syndrome: Whaaaa. They won’t let us do ANYthing. See that? See that? Didn’t I try?
OR
2. She’s with the Chuck Schumer “F**k ‘em” (’em being the true, liberal progressive base of the Democratic party) philosophy, as outlined in the hagiographic suck-up coverage of King Maker Schumer by Ryan Lizza in New York Magazine. And I quote (or paraphrase):
CSchumer: So yuh know I’m asking these Manhattan drawing room type Dems for money and more money. And the twits accuse me of ignoring their progressive, voting and money-giving base arses cuz I’m backing some anti-abortion types with DSCC money. Well, with THEIR cash. So I sez, I sez, “Oh yeah! Well there ain’t no progressive democrat base in North Dakota.” Ha ha. So just give me the money, give me your vote and shut up. I know what I’m doing; we gotta get more Demo-wimps in the Congress.
It’s either 1 or 2 above for grandma Pelosi.
I vote for 2.
OT for immanentize- imm- let me know if you are still reading. If so I will give you a temp email addy for contact.
Incomplete post, sorry
I’m not in any way defending Pelosi and think this should be a loud and proud issue for Dems to raise right now. How can Repugs say they’re “reforming Congress” if there’s no ethics committee? And remember when I mentioned voinovich on the floor whining about how there was a very busy Senate Ethics Committee? Well, do we think they could have had anything reported to them with Hastert or Blunt around? Pretty inconcievable.. Sure they’re busy now that Abramoff has been let out of the barn, but before? Not so much.
Pelosi and Reid (nice as he is) are letting so many great issues pass them by in terms of where fires could be started and it completely pisses me off. I support censure for the reasons given above by wesgpc @ #38. The vote is doomed, sure, but get the issue on the damned media and for once, STAND TOGETHER!
Props to B. Muse.
It’s part of the “We the People” movement that needs to start. If we don’t show up, we don’t exist. If we do, others will follow. If we have to start a revolution one person at a time, so be it.
Wasn’t it Woddy Allen who said 80% of life is showing up?
Well, I did my part and asked “why no ethics complaint?”
http://www.dailykos.com/commen…..15/8981/98
Not that I actually expect her (or her aid) to answer, mind you.
Pach – exactly…
B. Muse — that’s great.
I think 42% is pretty high since pretty much the narrative that most people hear on the mainstream media is that the censure idea is so f#$&ing crazy even the dems don’t want to do it. Imagine how high it would be if people heard more than one person advocating for it.
You know those political consultants who are telling people not to vote for censure are the same people that told the dems to vote for this damn war. You can see how well that is working for us.
Pelosi shows she knows how to go for the capillary. I am impressed. Not!
Pelosis’ resolution to investigate Delay is just cheap formula-driven politics that is neither principled or courageous. It is designed to feed the Dems “culture of corruption” argument. Sticking that label on the republicans is a worthwhile goal but it is not a substitute for real conviction politics such as Feingold’s attempt to hold the President accountable for his illegal behavior.
Feingold’s censure resolution showed authentic principle and political courage. Pelosi should learn from him rather than disparage him.
rwcole
It is not yet the election year. That starts sometime after labor day. Remeber the famous “Contract with America” was trotted out just about TWO WEEKS before the election.
To make a decision on polling today is idiotic. A good consultant would see where the effort was going, try to influence it in the direction of progressive ideas, and basically do what Feingold is doing. Frankly, Pelosi demonstrates that the Democratic party is exactly as you describe it, poll drven and incapable of creating a change in environment that would benefit the whole of the party.
They suck. No vision. No guts. Cowards and whimpering talking heads all.
VG, I am still here, just put the nugget to bed and (hopefully) to sleep…
Brownback is not going to vote for censure on a bet. He’s a complete right wing lunatic and will vote with his party, for certain.
I got a letter from Ted Kennedy begging me to send money to the DSCC. I haven’t yet responded, but I will in the tradition of good firedoglakers. I’m sorry to see his name on the letter, and will e-mail about it to his office as well.
Note the “hit and run” nature of the post on Kos. . . it was posted presumably by the congresswoman but there were no replys from her or her office to any of the comments.
Grandstanding. I’m shocked, shocked I say.
immanentize
here here
you know when Clinton was in office I was frustrated how much of a “centrist” he was- but you know what? At least he won! I don’t get what is so hard to understand with this:
WE LOST, then WE LOST AGAIN, WE ARE LOSING, WE KEEP LOSING, KEEP LOSING…
How about we try something different?
Imman–Yeah- sort of reminds me of some boardroom discussions–lots of people wanting to bet on the come and others wanting to hold fire until there are more facts available.
I can see both sides of this- and I don’t know who is right if the sole critereon is winning in November..
My gut tells me that dems are better off to leave this one alone. To force a vote would put some dems who face tough re-elections between a rock and a hard place- between pleasing their base and antagonizing independants- but I’ve been wrong before.
I think that this is all pretty academic now. It ain’t gonna happen- so whatever the merits of the arguments- it’s over.
Jane Hamsher >”…Nancy Pelosi is in the House. She’s not in the Senate. Why she had to pipe up and cut the legs out from underneath Russ Feingold I have no idea…”
MOLE !!!
Apparently one among many
Wake Up folks !
“The future will be a struggle between huge competing systems of psychopathology.” – J. G. Ballard
OT for immanentize
email me asap at this very temporary account and I will give you a better email contact-
tenureransom at hotmail dot com
PS VG, You can always reach me at jsjude at comcast dot net. Didja know that Jude was the patron saint of hopeless cases? Perfect for me, and makes me wonder if names are destiny. Where is my Catholic friend John Casper when I need saint comments….
Sooo, Pelosi is ‘trying’ to use the blogosphere to drum up support for her resolution to have the ethics commitee investigate Tom Delay. Throw the baby out with the bath water.Someone on her staff knows how to use the internet?Her credibility went out the same window a long time ago.
If she represented Boswell’s district in Iowa, I could understand her lack of enthusiasm for supporting something that only 42% of the people support. But she comes from SF, and 60% of dems support censure, so it’s no risk to her.
If the Democrats had been at all creative with this issue it might be going somewhere. Instead they ran like roaches from the light. Meanwhile, that giant hoovering sound is the NSA reading our email and prowling bank records, happy in the knowledge that no one cares.
One wonders how they missed the DHS guy. Maybe the tripwires aren’t set for sex.
What’s a slap on the wrist when you brutally murdered 3000 of your own countrymen and sent 2300 more to their death based on a lie?
rwcole:
I can see what you are saying- but I think each Dem should look inside themselves and vote how they really feel. I don’t mean to be naive- and I don’t think every vote can be cast that way, but in this case it should. They should vote how they feel and then explain to their constituents why they did what they did. They will then be speaking in their authentic voice- something people can really tell.
Today I heard John Kerry 2 times on the radio. You could tell he really BELIEVED what he was saying. It makes a difference.
Susan- If Pelosi were not a part of the leadership, she would be supporting the Feingold censure motion- it’s got to be wildly popular in her district- but she now represents many other representatives who don’t come from such districts- she needs to give them cover.
She comes from a family who has won MANY elections- and SHE has won MANY elections. I don’t sell her short. She has reasons for what she does.
Hey Susan on a totally different note I live in San Diego now- but I grew up in Decorah Iowa and went to the U of I. I may live in California, but I am an Iowan girl….
rwcole: I think following shows polls rather volatile on censure. I believe this is subject where leadership and public advocacy can make a difference.
http://www.democrats.com/taxonomy/term/276
Do you favor or oppose the United States Senate passing a resolution censuring President George W. Bush for authorizing wiretaps of Americans within the United States without obtaining court orders?
3/15/06 Favor Oppose Undecided
All Adults 46% 44% 10%
Voters 48% 43% 9%
Republicans (33%) 29% 57% 14%
Democrats (37%) 70% 26% 4%
Independents (30%) 42% 47% 11%
Based on 1,100 completed telephone interviews among a random sample of adults nationwide March 13-15, 2006. The theoretical margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points, 95% of the time.
comparison of ARG and Rasmussen polls
http://mydd.com/story/2006/3/17/11424/8443
zenn, did go back and looked at your note #122 on the Pedophile thread – thanks and don’t give it another thought darlin. Plus it’s always correct to send love to Valley Girl for any reason. :)
Pelosi may have won many elections in SF- but as you say she is a national leader now. I am sure she has a lot of valuable skills- but I don’t see her as a great national leader. Why are they not bitching about Iraq every single day? Why does she not support Murtha publicly? The country doesn’t even support the war anymore.
They are too timid.
RevDeb, thanks. I met another blogger(DEFuning) at ePluribus Media. It felt great to move from behind the computer screen.
Censuring Bush will only make his grin bigger.
I thought this item from ThinkProgress might be of interest:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/…..-reported/
Another relevant link: http://today.reuters.com/news/…..NTAGON.xml
Well, if holding a leadership position in 2006 means standing up for all your reps’ varied interests and giving everybody cover– then, I think something has gone seriously awry. The serious- headed people who wrote our Constitution and founded our Republic must be dizzy from this charade. Just look how much Bush has earned from listening to all the fools in his base…….
“St. Jude died a martyrs death. Tradition tells us he was clubbed, possibly into insensibility, and his head was then shattered with a broad ax”.
I agree with Pelosi.
Can we start thinking about winning elections and stop doing what makes us feel good? Pushing censure only rouses Bush’s base and boosts their fund raising.
Let’s win some elections first. Then we can do what makes us feel good.
Off topic, response to post 71
Paida, I go kayaking near Decorah on the Upper Iowa River. It’s one of the beautiful places on the planet, with ferns and swallow nests hanging from limestone cliffs over the water. I was born in Tucson, lived in Portland OR for 20 years, but I’m an Iowa girl now, too.
rwcole, I understand the tension….
But I have always been more a stategist than a tactical thinker. It may be true that censure is dead, but 42% paid attention and supported it in spite of no organized effort in its favor by the establishment dems. 42%. That should say something of its resonance.
However, the whole censure thing has moved the country further into the meta-narrative of Bush incompetence and criminality. I am very pleased with Russ….
On Iraq–most americans think that Iraq was a mistake- but they aren’t ready to pull the plug- here’s the latest polling on that subject from NBC:
.
“More specifically, do you think that we should have an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all troops from Iraq, or not?”
.
Immediate
Withdrawal Not an
Immediate
Withdrawal Depends
(vol.) Unsure
% % % %
3/10-13/06 30 66 2 2
12/9-12/05
27 68 3 2
30% want to get out now- 66% don’t.
Running on a national platform of getting out of Iraq right now is suicidal politically.
OT I decided to poke around at one of the “lesser” RW sites, figuring that LGF and RS had lots of attention already. Up today:
http://www.exposetheleft.com/2…../#comments
first comment on article:
LtntWolfe Said:
April 5, 2006
I’m getting really tired of this illegal immigration argument when the solution is simple….Take over Mexico. I bet you the Mexican people would say yes (they don’t have to come here, we’ll bring “here†to “thereâ€), the army would cave, and we would have enough oil production to send Pat Robertson over to Hugo Chavez’s house with a poisoned-tip dart. Also, us straight white men will then put the hot poker to these democrats because we will then the ones behind affirmative action.
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Why should Kos folks support her “show.” She obviously dismissed the lefty blogosphere when it was behind Feingold.
At the very least, I hope that she reads the comments. One can’t be in the reality-based community without acknowledging reality.
On her main point, the House ethics committee wouldn’t even get around to a complaint before DeLay is officially gone (whenever the hell that may be, it’s not soon enough), so filing an ethics charge on DeLay now is sort of like closing the gentleman farmer’s barn door long after the horses have escaped, torn up the lawns in the neighborhood, shit on everyone’s doorsteps and peed on the roses.
And it will give the right wing full opportunity to say the Dems are kicking poor. poor Tom when he’s down.
It’s tantamount to grade-school level stupidity to go after DeLay when he’s leaving (and when prosecutors are already after his chubby, well-fed and well-tended ass) and then turn around and dismiss the issue at hand–showing George Bush to be a monarch in red, white and blue.
Fine. DeLay’s gone. Give him a kick or two in the ass on the way out. But, don’t ignore Dubya’s wholesale Constitutional robberies just for some fleeting emotional satisfaction.
Gotta keep an eye on the prize, something the current crop of professional Democrats are not very good at doing. Making George Bush look like an even bigger thief of democracy than DeLay is one way of that eye peeled.
This administration–and its Congressional analogue–are so bad at what they do that paying attention to that fact just might convince the electorate that this bunch has stolen their government for its own purposes. Any Democrat who’s not emphasizing that central point in every way possible is part of the problem. Bush and the neo-cons are still in charge, even if DeLay is gone, and Pelosi doesn’t seem to get that–at all.
OK Kiddo,
Considering my current work situation, that seems rather ominous!! A broad axe — overkill, or WHAT?!
Thanks Jane – I get more motivation just from stopping by and reading the posts and the commenters here. I met my mother there, so really two of us were motivated…she just didn’t know about it!
Howard Dean is coming for a rally on April 28, so anyone close enough and interested you can find out more on the Mecklenburg County Dem Party web site.
Imman- I like Russ as well- his positions on the issues tend to be close to mine-
Whether he helped or hurt with his resolution isn’t clear yet- but it won’t be much of a factor come November.
Things are going OK- although taking either house is still a bit of a long shot-gets a little better every month though.
rwcole
Polls are important- but depending on how the questions are asked the answers are totally different.
Again how many sides of the story are people getting. A majority of Americans think Bush lied to get us into war- something that is hardly mentioned in the main stream media. Imagine if it was?
Censure is not just something to make us “feel good”- it is about making someone publicly accountable. And it is about winning elections. People think we have no guts- that we don’t stand for anything. Lets show them they are wrong.
The Dems have been looking at polls forever- it is not working. We keep losing. How about making arguments that actually may change poll numbers?
Valley Girl has mail
RW Cole, I take your point, and you may be right. But I feel that leadership is needed on this and many issues, and the leadership must be apparent and compelling. Remember Bill Clinton and his “strong and wrong” formula. As long as the Democrats leave themselves any room for the “clueless, spineless, idea-less” criticisms, we are not going to win.
I would like to see them take the gloves off for real, to show they aren’t afraid to lose a round over something they feel strongly about. If not the Constitution, then what? It’s not like the NSA/FISA mess is about what percentage of tax break some oil giant gets.
Its about fundamentals, which is what Feingold and Greenwald do such a great job explaining. Too bad no one else has Russ’s sense of evil history being made.
Susan- I totally agree with you. They need to show some courage. Truely what is happening now to this country is so overwhelmingly awful- we need more Dems to stand up and say so.
Decorah is beautiful. It was a nice place to grow up too. A lot of good liberals at the Oneota Food Coop downtown. (like my folks…)
Clusterfuck is out selling his “medical spending accounts” bullshit. It is, of course, another tax scam for the wealthy- allowing them to shelter large amounts of income from taxation- and solving NONE of the problems that we face in the country about health care- dems should level all the guns at the little fucker on this issue.
rwcole #83
The problem with the poll you cite is that it asks about immediate withdrawal. The results might be very different if the wording were changed to: Do you support a scheduled withdrawal over the next year (and more specifically, leaving troops in friendly countries near Iraq but not in Iraq)?
rwcole at 89:
What’s your take on Russ’ supoport of same-sex marriage? Good for ‘06? ‘08? or a bridge too far?
Again, I think he is normalizing progressive thinking which will help all dems….
Oh and for Valley Girl whom I think I just missed last night.
Popular DVDs often have French language tracks and captions.
Renaud-Bray is a good bookstore in Canada. Prices are cheaper than in France and are in Canadian dollars so less than they look. There is an exchange rate feature too. Regular mail takes 2-3 weeks if you’re not in a hurry.
The French version home is here:
http://www.renaud-bray.com/fra…..on=Accueil
An English version is available and this takes you to their subject list page (Hint: look for books + audio document for books on tape/CD or just type in a title you might be interested in.):
http://www.renaud-bray.com/fra…..tion=Livre
Imman- I guess I share your take- it’s a bridge too far right now- but his discussion of it may help in the long run.
Hugh- Yes you could get different answers by changing the question.
I think the majority of people think that Clusterfuck made a huge mistake by getting us in- and are afraid of the consequences of getting out too soon- but aren’t willing to let this thing go on for years. They want to see reductions this year and a total withdrawal within a year or two.
kimster, at this point I think winning elections is almost moot, if some of the so-called dems are, for instance disrupting filibusters so that extreme right judges end up in the Supreme Court. Dems should not be supported unconditionally, be allowed to kick progressives in the teeth and then ask for money or whatever.
imm hasn’t shown up yet, but I also sent you an email at the martyr account.
nancy is losing my support more and more each day . . .
aside from the pointless and gutless reaction to RUSS FEINGLOD’s censure movement, she recently tried to kill sites like KOS . . . oh well. she has millionaire agri-busineess execs to please. me and the rest of us unwashed and unmonied voters probably don’t matter to her.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..111535/935
boy she is taking a ration of shit over at DK now!
Winning the next two elections is NOT moot in my opinion. They are two of the most important elections in our history..
We have fascists in power- get them out- and we can go back to normal politics. I would support Goldwater against these bastards.
OT for Hugh- thanks- I did see your earlier comment, read it this morning and thanks again for the links. thanks for the repeat, I don’t always check back. Merci
I actually was very pleased with Kerry’s plan today. At least W- (or Clusterfuck as rwcole says- perfect!)can’t say we don’t have a plan.
Poeple are right to worry about getting out too soon- but at the same time the Dems really do need to lead. I think Kerry tried to make everyone happy and that just doesn’t work.
I still think the American people have not heard the arguments for centure. The Dems are not talking about Bush breaking the law. I really think if they were talking about it Americans would be horrified. People have turned on Bush. People do not like or trust him anymore.
I totally agree about winning these next 2 elections. One can not overstate how important they are. However I disagree that the way to do this is craddle the middle again. We tried in 2000,2002 and 2004. Didn’t work.
btw- I know my spelling sucks. Sorry.
VG replied.
I am SUCH a martyr!
Nancy Pelosi is a complete idiot. She’s the left’s version of Jean Schmidt. I can’t believe the Democratic leadership even allows her to speak. She needs to stop talking.
Clusterfuck is out selling his “medical spending accounts†bullshit.
In Bridgeport, CT no less too, which is a city with a lot of people below the poverty line & noone who voted for him. Saw part of Chimpy’s speech today, something about “taking responsibility” for their medical care until someone “gets really sick.” I am so sure that people can afford to spend a gazillion dollars on medication & tests– or not, until they’re laid flat in the hospital.
I disagree that the way to do this is craddle the middle again. We tried in 2000,2002 and 2004. Didn’t work.
ditto paida
rwcole, perhaps moot is not the right word. Don’t mean to scare you. But I am feeling a little bitter about vichy types.
Left her a piece of my mind, not that it will do much good. What I hate about most politicos whether Repub or Dem is their unstated but very present belief that only they know what is going on and what should be done. Until they drop the blinders and really start listening to their constituency, they will continue to be losers.
Focusing all of the attention on 2006 is not what is going to help our country. Stand up now for the rule of our laws now– both here at home and abroad with our violated treaties. You know, when the spin machine grinds away, they say the dems have no plan. How about just standing up for the laws we have enacted? Don’t you think people might listen? Vote with conviction and conscience, not with only your career in mind.
Jane, I presume to suggest you might want to write about this one.
Speaking of winning elections against Repubs, especially ones who are not fit to be scraped from the shoes of their opponents, Atrios and Josh have this: http://atrios.blogspot.com/200…..1331145113 about Joe Sestak who is being attacked by his GOP opponent Curt Weldon for not having his daughter’s brain tumor treated in a PA hospital. Brought tears to my eyes, of rage.
If we start an ActBlue page for Sestak, I’ll donate there, but otherwise directly.
Yay Angie. Definitely not all the attention.
Hey Nancy now that the gloves are off are you going to repost Rep. Slaughter’s report that you pulled?
Pelosi actually had a pretty good interview on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer a few days ago. It sounded like she had looked at Dick Durbin’s talking points.
The whole Tom Delay thing is a little like shaking your fist and telling someone that they better not come back. It looks good and would make more of an impact if only the person had not already left the building.
Much as I’d like to ask, I’ve already lost my “trusted user” status at Kos, and the new system makes it even easier to get “autobanned”.
As I understand it, when the senators and representatives post at Kos (and they don’t post anywhere else), appropriate protocol is to lick their boots. If you do otherwise, the swarm goes after you.
Sorry, I’m having another “bad wolf” moment. But I don’t consider these people “more accessible to the netroots” if they *only* post at Kos.
mui
George’s support of private medical accounts is just another brick in the wall of private payer healthcare, one of the costliest, most inefficient and inequitable “systems” imaginable. It’s part of the meme that private enterprise is always better than public management even when it clearly isn’t. It is also part of “you are your own, Jack” philosophy of the “empowerment” of this Administration.
Hah, that makes me smile, Renee in Ohio.
I know I appreciate some irreverance. I think other here do too. Boot lickers, what a scourge! I wrote a protest to the McKinney post at A-Blog; if I didn’t get banned, I would feel inadequate.
Hugh, yes and not appreciated in Bridgeport, hence one of the many ironies of Chimpman’s visit. I think either New Haven or Bridgeport, can’t remember which, at one point had the highest HIV positive rate per capita on the east coast. Per capita that is. Responsibility! For illness that often derive from occupational hazards, environmental hazards, & other stuff larger than one individual’s ability to control!
The stance Ms. Pelosi has taken is not surprising. She, like 80% of the Democratic party, are enablers of this President. Time and time again, be it Patriot Act, Censure, (insert your issue here). These folks just keep sticking it to those of us who elected them. You should KNOW they’re going to stick it to/in you, so at least you have time to lube up.
Wow–I just looked at Pelosi’s Kos diary, and that’s the least love I’ve ever seen a pol get over there. And the people who are criticizing her are getting recommended rather than dissed. Interesting.
Guess it’s going to be another bash the dems thread. Time for a vodka tonic methinks.
Yeah, it is a bloodbath over there… Everyone is chanting Feingold’s name… :)
i know its already been pointed out, but isnt she THREE YEARS TOO LATE?!?!?!
So if you were a political consultant, would you advise your clients to vote for it during an election year? Would you advise red state senators to vote for it?
Aboslutely.
Vote for it and beat and pound on it. YOu are talking 42% with NO ONE ponying up and taking responsiblity to say the President clearly broke the law and violated the Constitution, here’s why, and he has been breaking the law for close to FIVE YEARS NOW folks. Lying about it, covering it up, and never even TRYING to get a program in place that would comply with the CONSTITUION’s warrant requirements, much less FISA’s. The ABA established a task force of ex- Prosecutors, Counsel for CIA, FBI director, Judge, national security specialists etc. and it is not even CLOSE. The American Bar Association has resoundingly called for the program to be brought into line. Etc.
And here’s why rwc. As long as all you are doing is picking polling points to follow – you ARE the flipflop stand for nothing that they claim. You do NOT lose votes on censure, no matter what anyone is telling anyone out there. Those who don’t support it but are leaning Dem aren’t going to change their mind bc of censure. Those who don’t support it and are RIGHT aren’t coming over no matter what other polling points your candidate chooses to follow. Those who are voting against it bc that’s ALL THEY HEAR ANYONE except Feingold say — if they start hearing more and more — their opinion will absolutely change. Just like on the Murtha redeployment plan. But when every red state Dem candidate is saying exactly what the red state Repubs are saying, just not as well, they don’t really win much in the end, and by 2008, when Bush is on his way out, the weak support garnered in 2006 will be lost bc the base – not base PLUS middle, that, even hearing their leaders reject the idea over and over, STILL resoundingly support it, won’t see much they really need to support left in the Dem party. 2008, IMO, will be a stay home or 3rd party year in overwhelming Dem numbers, and Indy’s too, if major issues of Constitutional import are not addressed head on.
Of course, no one’s hiring me as a consultant and there’s not many that I would want to work with even for money.
That was supposed to be “not JUST the base, but the base PLUS the middleâ€
Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats are playing the censure card properly. Since they won’t support Feingold without an investigation the Republicans get no traction in turning the debate around into questioning their patriotism. So Bush has no target but Feingold.
This is all probably Feingold’s idea, to be the attack dog and insulate the counterattacks only to him. This tactic has kept the issue alive in the media, so all we hear about is whether Bush should be censured now or whether there should be censure after an investigation for other wrongdoings as well.
If the Democrats hadn’t done this then Rove would have turned the issue into why the Democrats hate America so much. Now the issue is what else an investigation will uncover. Since an investigation might vindicate Bush (almost impossible) the Democrats give the illusion of helping Bush out while giving him continuous bad press over the issue.
Sorry. I don’t buy that line of logic. The country is now evenly split. Time to fight and not get bogged down in Rovian deceptions that no longer work.
I just sent a reply to Senator Schummers email from DSCC which they sent me for a donation. As far as I’m concerned the same goes for the DCCC.
Here’s my reply to the DSCC.
Dear Senator,
As we no longer have any Democratic Representatives in Washington who will fight for the survival of the Constitution I can not in good faith contribute any funds to the Democratic Party.
Your unwillingness to support Senator Feingolds resolution to censure the criminal facist theocrat now running the American Peoples Country you have shown that we have no need of a Legislative Branch of Government.
Between the Rubber Stamp Republicans and the Do Nothing Democratics do not be surprised when Fuerher Bush has you all arrested under the Patriot Act as enemy combatants, declares Martial Law and suspends the Constitution.
With Bush’s signing statements and the Congress’s refusal to perform your sworn duties to Uphold and Defend the Constitution you have given up the American Peoples Bill of Rights. Like Hitlers enablers in the German Legislature you have doomed OUR COUNTRY to a new Theocratic Dictator who has no qualms about World Domination and has already put OUR COUNTRY on the road to Destruction.
All members of Congress and the Senate should be ashamed of yourselfs for this act of betrayal against OUR COUNTRY and should resign. I will not donate any monies to the DSCC or the Democratic Party until you stand up and fight for OUR RIGHTS. Instead I will support only those canidates whom I feel has the AMERICAN PEOPLES rights and Supports and Defends the Constitution of The United States of America.
Until that happens it appears that we are now AMERICA the FOURTH REICH.
Sincerely yours,
George A.
I can ALMOST understand Pelosi. Bush has lied so many times that even his confession to lawbreaking may be a lie…
This time, however, I’m willing to take his word.
Join the campaign for progressive legislation http://www.boycott-republicans.com
I seek activist volunteers to pass this letter around for a project that will force the speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to enact progressive legislation. I also seek volunteer activists to do this project to force Senator Frist to enact progressive legislation.
If you want to send me email please place the word PRIVATE in the subject or it will not reach me. Thank you.
Send the following letter to Speaker Hastert and Senator Frist. After you send them email or US mail drop me an email that you sent them email so I can keep track of how many emails and letters they receive, thank you.
Pass this progressive agenda or face a mass boycott of Republican contributors.
I demand that you get the Republican Party to hold a press conference and accede to these demands. Until such a press conference happens and the legislation and/or actions gets passed I will boycott products from Republican contributors Walmart, Wendy’s, Outback Steak House, Dominos Pizza, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Eckerd, CVS and Walgreens, Curves for women health clubs, GE and Exxon/Mobil.
I demand that congress pass legislation ending the war in Iraq and withdraw the troops and arrange with the United Nations to replace US troops with UN troops to defend Iraq until The Iraqi army can defend Iraq.
I demand that the Republican party end their aggressive and hateful action to end a woman’s right to choose abortion or not.
I demand that the Congress of the United states and the president of the United States enact a law to increase the minimum wage to TEN dollars an hour and also to extend unemployment benefits to a year or more for all people whose unemployment benefits expired after 6 months even though they still seek work.
I demand that the Congress of the United States to not privatize social security benefits in any form including taking a percentage of the social security tax and placing it in private accounts. People can already create their own pensions with money after taxes in the private sector.
I demand that the congress make all of a person’s earned income taxable for social security FICA tax purposes and remove the 88,000 dollar taxable income limit. This will make social security solvent for many years to come.
I demand the congress increase the payroll tax in order to make social security solvent as well.
I demand congress and the president enact a prescription drug benefit under Medicare Part B which covers 80 percent of medication cost, with no extra premium, no extra deductibles, no means test and no coverage gaps, and no penalties for signing up in a succeeding year.
I demand congress repeal the faulty Medicare law HR 1 / S 1 passed by congress in Nov 2003.
I demand congress enact single payer universal health insurance for every citizen as minimum coverage.
I demand that congress and the president enact universal vote by mail throughout the 50 states of the United States of America with paper ballots easy to fill out and difficult to change or invalidate by Republican Party officials. This will prevent Republicans from vote suppression by skin color and political party which happened electronically and in person in the 2000 and 2004 elections.
I demand that congress and the president enact that civil servants on every state payroll keep track of voter registrations and vote counting of mail in votes in each precinct and not companies such as Choicepoint. We need to take the Republican Party out of the business of keeping track of voter registration and counting votes.
I demand that congress and the president ban the secretary of state in each of the 50 states from engaging in politics especially acting as a campaign official for a presidential campaign.
I demand congress enact legislation protecting private pensions from corporations deliberately declaring bankruptcy or ending pensions outright.
I do this in the spirit of peaceful resistance to a congress that refuses to enact this legislation.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
Then call your local franchise or store that sells products of companies mentioned for boycott and tell them unless the Republican Party enacts the above demands, you will no longer do business with them, so get the CEO of the parent company to get the GOP to accede to these demands. No company wants thousands of people boycotting them espcially getting thousands of phone calls from citizens demanding a progressive agenda enacted or they lose our business.
Tell others to send this mail and to call these companies local franchises. In the case of General Electric call your local store that sells General Electric products.
carot April 5th, 2006 at 8:04 pm:
I think you are optimistic, if this was a strategy, wouldn’t we be hearing the Dems advertise more of the potential political points that you so astutely point out?
rwcole: I don’t wanna a be a Dem basher. But I did produce a poll that showed plurality of people in favor of censure. That was awhile ago. I’m just sayin’ that the poll you posted was done after a month of standard Dem nothingness, so that must be taken into account. I think Dem leadership on issue could have turned plurality into a majority.
rwcole: but I admit that I am very heavily influence by fact that cautious approach has produced losses recently. And I have been heavily radicalized recently. A year ago I thought “impeach Bush” was silly and shrill and over the top… but not no more.
I am sick of waiting for the Democraps to get off their collective ass’s and do something. The lazy bastards are waiting for Fitz and the Abramoff investigation to take out some main Repubes, thusly doing their dirty work for them.
At this point in time I would rather vote for my friggin cat than any Democrap other than Feingold.
As Spinal Tap would say, “smell the glove(s)”.
IMHO this is how a Democrat should respond when a colleague goes out on a limb. Otherwise, just DON’T say a thing. Sheesh, what’s so hard about that?
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
On Senator John Kerry’s Call for an
End to Our Military Mission in Iraq
April 5, 2006
“Since August 18, 2005 I have been calling on the Administration to aim to redeploy U.S. military personnel from Iraq by the end of this year so that we can focus on the threat posed by global terrorist networks. I applaud Senator Kerry’s call today for our combat forces to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of this year. Senator Kerry has been a strong leader in calling for a clear, coherent strategy to complete our military mission in Iraq while engaging Iraq’s leaders with genuine diplomacy. Having just visited Iraq last month, I witnessed the desperate need for Iraqi politicians to form a unity government to prevent the country from falling deeper into violence. Senator Kerry is absolutely right to say that the end of this year is a reasonable target date for redeploying our troops in Iraq.â€
Ms. Pelosi, When those gloves come off…put some brass knuckles on.
What the hell’s the point in trying to investigate DeLay NOW????? He’s resigned and under criminal investigation. Don’t waste your ammo shooting the dead – go find another crook to investigate. There’s plenty to be had.
What a frickin joke, investigating a guy that’s already resigned. Crissake.
25 cleter says:
April 5th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Nancy, Nancy, Nancy-
Here’s why you support censure, for pragmatic political reasons. It forces all the Republicans to vote, up or down, on whether they think Bush is doing the right thing. It boxes them in. They either give their president a humilaiating, stinging rebuke right before midterms, or they tie his unsightly abatross carcass around their necks. They can’t try to distance themselves or triangualte away from him afterward. It’s a beautiful, beautiful trap. It makes every GOP candidate have to spend some of their political capital on Bush.
Oh, and it’s morally the right thing to do, you dumbass. Why don’t you try doing that, for a while? It’s a principled stand that is also politically sound. What part of win-win do you not understand?
Cleter – great post. Any chance you can sneak into the pissers in Congress and post this on all the mirrors and stalls???
When you’re done, maybe you could swing past DNC HQ and do the same there.
Maybe all our Dem “leaders” will finally understand what Feingold is trying to do. Dumbfucks. It seems so obvious to us out here – why the fuck can’t they see it too?????
40 GADem says:
April 5th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
First, I am not a big fan of Pelosi’s, or of Rahm Emanuel, etc. I no longer contribute to the DCCC.
However, and I know that this will piss a lot of people here off, Feingold’s censure resolution is a waste of time now. With the GOP holding power in both houses of Congress, it ain’t never gonna happen.
When we get back control of the Senate (still seems more likely to me than the House)THEN, AND ONLY THEN, we can go after these sleazeballs.
GADem – two points:
1. Go back upthread and read cleter’s post #25. It clearly and easily explains why the censure is so important for the Dems. It’s all about strategy.
2. If the Dems retake either side of Congress – or both sides – we are going to go for impeachment, not censure.
If Pelosi had been paying attention to dkos — or her staff were smart — they would have been looked for any indication of how the community felt about her. It wouldn’t have been hard to find out: 2 weeks ago, Kos polled the community on their response to Dean’s, Reid’s, and Pelosi’s leadership of the DNC, the senate, and the house.
67 percent of dkos readership ain’t thrilled.
The poll was taken March 20 — just about 2 weeks ago. What’s her excuse for not knowing this, and leaving herself open for the response she’s getting?
She’s right about DeLay. He says he didn’t do anything, but the evidence is circumstantially compelling.
But the Chimperor’s an admitted Abrogationist. He’s proud to assume power anytime he thinks he needs to. “That’s what the Constitution’s fer!”
The guy has fallen off of every hobby horse he’s ever been given, and that’s his whole life through. He needs to be checked on this one because of the freakin’ anti-social bullies hangin’ onto him since 2000.
Pelosi wants the no-risk solution, even if she’s gotta escrhew the integrity that’s forced it on her act big.
I wonder if she regrets writing that diary? She is catching hell at Kos right now.
FYI, the Reid and Dean polls show 33% and 10% disapproval rates, respectively.
Poll figures are found here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/20/181548/105
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/20/181555/264
I just went over to DKos to pile on. About a week ago, I got a fund-raising email from the DCCC, with her name on. I kind of flipped when I saw it and made the following reply.
To the credit of the poor person who had to read my diatribe, I got a real reply from th eDCCC. Unfortunately the reply was just that they don’t comment on the actual positions or actions of members of congress.
this is why a large portion of the american people think the democratic party is dead in the water, too busy playing politics instead of concentrating on beating the republicans.
Pelosi is just as corrupt as Delay.
Hey Americablog this is why a large portion of democrats don’t like money. because it buys policy and corrupts.
there needs to be a third party.
as for kos, they are seen as just trying to position themselves to take a slice of the corruption pie themselves. i can’t see why Red would go that way!