Purses and Sows Ears?
I'm behind in my news reading so maybe my dear friends here can help sort this out. It seems that the Republican machine views Senator Feingold's attempt to censure the president (over the illegal wiretapping) as a plus for them in the interim elections. Rally the base, inflame the radio hosts, scare people with the threat of an impeachment hearing during a time of sort-of-war, etc.
What say ye?
posted by Corresponding Secretary General at 9:44 AM
2 Comments:
I'd use it if I were them. Taking positions with painfully obvious flaws has done amazingly well for them so far.
They spent a suspiciously long time telling us all about their secret strategy to use this for November, the idea being that all the depressed right wingers will be so enraged they'll go vote. I'm not so sure.
After a day to process, I think Feingold should have introduced it, because it was necessary to raise the discussion, and because of the stakes to the democracy. He knows perfectly well it's not going to pass a Republican Senate.
What it does do is force the Republicans to vote it down - standing by Bush in the swampwater of incompetency, and claiming dry clothes.
It also - and this may have been the primary purpose - has a put up or shut up message for the Democratic party, and establishes Feingold, running for president, on a national stage, unafraid.
It may have been a warning shot against our spineless buddies the Libermanian centrists.
Freedom matters, and we need to fight. Finally, it sets the stage for serious hearings if we take the House or Senate back, which is looking pretty possible if you look at the state polls.
Whatever else, Feingold has stood up for the U.S. Constitution in a way no one else has, voting against the original Patriot Act, and deserves a particular respect that other Democrats have not yet earned.
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