Feingold Says "It's Time to Fight Back" - But Will He?
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Russ Feingold is blogging at DailyKos:
Pre-1776 Mentality
by Senator Russ FeingoldThe President and his administration continue their spin and media blitz in attempts to defend the fact that they broke, and continue to break, the law... This administration reacts to any questions about spying on American citizens by saying that those of us who stand up for our rights and freedoms are somehow living in a "pre-September 11th, 2001 world."
In fact, the President is living in a pre-1776 world...
Many of you saw this week's story in the Washington Post on the exchange Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and I had during his confirmation hearing in January of last year. Mr. Gonzales misled me and the Senate Judiciary Committee under oath about whether the President could spy on Americans without a warrant. (Many of you blogged about it when the story first broke and I thank you for getting the word out.) That exchange is extremely telling about the depths to which this administration will go to grab power. I look forward to a little more honesty from the Attorney General when he testifies about the spying program before the Judiciary Committee on Monday.
I don't have to tell you how important this issue is. It gets to the core of what we as a country are all about. We all agree that we must defeat the terrorists who threaten the safety and security of our families and loved ones. Why does this President feel we must sacrifice our freedoms to fight terrorism? This is a gut check moment for members of Congress. Do we sacrifice our liberty? Do we bow to those who try to use security issues for political gain? Do we stand and applaud when the President places himself above the law? Or, do we say enough?
Stop the power grab, stop the politics, stop breaking the law.
It's time to stand up - not to cheer, but to fight back.
I couldn't agree more with Senator Feingold's sentiment.
But the question is whether he and the other Democratic Senators will deliver the goods.
A lot of us are feeling deeply betrayed by the 19 Democrats (not including Senator Feingold) who defeated the Alito filibuster.
We're way past the point of being placated by rhetoric. We want action - real, meaningful, consequential action.
If Gonzales lied to Feingold last January - and he did - then Feingold should demand perjury charges because it is a crime to lie to Congress.
If Gonzales dances around the truth on Monday, then Feingold should demand that he be held in contempt of the Senate right then and there because it is a crime to mislead Congress.
Senator Feingold, if you are sincere about standing up and fighting back, Monday is your rendezvous with History.
If you'd like to share your thoughts with Senator Feingold, try these links:
- http://feingold.senate.gov/contact.html (may ignore non-Wisconsin comments)
- http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/page/s/candidatesuggest
- Bob Fertik's blog
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>the 19 Democrats (not
>the 19 Democrats (not including Senator Feingold) who voted for the Alito filibuster.
Of course, Feingold voted for Roberts. And for Ashcroft. And for welfare "reform".
When asked who was France's greatest writer, Andre Gide replied, "Victor Hugo, alas!" Who is our best presidential candidate? Russ Feingold - alas.
Monday is our rendezvous with history too
We are always complaining that the democrats in office are weak. Agreed, they are. So we should give them strength. They're afraid of Republican backlash? Let's tell the republican smear machine we will not be swiftboated again.
Glenn Greenwald is working with the Judiciary Committee staffers in DC and he says the Democrats already show signs of intimidation.
Write your Senator, your newspaper, your TV network, the White House NOW. The swift-boating has got to stop and we are the ones who have to stop it.
Use these words from Glenn's post: Intimidating and threatening the people who expose wrongdoing and illegality are the hallmarks of street gangs and military juntas. The idea that anything meaningful was disclosed when we learned that our Government is eavesdropping without judicial oversight and approval has always been frivolous on its face. But the statement from Cheney that this disclosure caused ''enormous" damage to our national security" is dishonest trash, transparently intended -- on the eve of the NSA hearings -- to stir up populist rage against anyone who blows the whistle on misconduct by the Administration and to intimidate other potential whistle-blowers with threats of criminal prosecution and treason accusations from the highest levels of our government. We need aggressive and meaningful questioning from Senators from both parties who understand that one of their most central constitutional duties is to serve as a check on excesses by the Executive Branch. It was the Senate which was continuously deceived about eavesdropping by the Administration, humiliated into believing that the laws they passed were actually being obeyed rather than ignored, and now face a President who literally claims the right to take action without what he calls "interference" from the Congress.
The FBI refuted the government's claim that these taps were useful. They gnerated to no leads that the FBI didn't already have.
They could not have stopped 9/11. Those phone calls were recorded but they weren't translated until 9/12. That's in the public record.
Let the senator deal with facts. Let US deal with the bullying.
I love Feingold! I watched
I love Feingold! I watched the Gonzalez hearings and wanted to stand up and cheer for Russ! It is nice to see the dems standing up and speaking out! I just hope it continues!! We need to do everything in our power to keep the word out there as we head into the 06 elections!
http://www.unfilterednewsnetwork.com
I saw Russ Feingold on Bill Maher's
Realtime last night. It was the first time I've seen him
on T.V.
I was very impressed with his intelligence, insight and ability to cut
through the crap and get to the core of matters. I heard no BS or
placations in his interview. He is a solid Democrat.
I like Feingold. He sounds very sincere.