Dems Run, Can't Hide

On Tuesday, Russ Feingold was even angrier than he was on Monday when he shouted out, rather than respectfully introduced, his resolution to censure President Bush.

Yes, Russ is ticked.

Laurie Kellman of the Associated Press writes:

Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold accused fellow Democrats on Tuesday of cowering rather than joining him on trying to censure President Bush over domestic spying.

"Democrats run and hide" when the administration invokes the war on terrorism, Feingold told reporters.

Feingold introduced censure legislation Monday in the Senate but not a single Democrat has embraced it.

True, no Senate Dem has "embraced it." However, some have reacted positively to Feingold's folly.

At a press conference yesterday, Harry Reid said, "[I] commend Senator Feingold for bringing this to the attention of the American people."

Speaking from the floor of the Senate, Dick "American personnel at Gitmo are like Nazis" Durbin said, "I think it's important, regardless of party affiliation, that we ask the critical constitutional and legal questions about this wiretap program. This resolution by Senator Feingold will be a catalyst for that type of investigation ..."

John Kerry told the Associated Press that he needed to take a closer look at the resolution but, "We also do need to hold the President accountable."

Republicans dismissed the proposal Tuesday as being more about Feingold's 2008 presidential aspirations than Bush's actions. On and off the Senate floor, they have dared Democrats to vote for the resolution.

Sure. I say hold a vote.

Feingold's twenty-five minute Senate floor slander-fest should be addressed. No Senator should be allowed to do what Feingold did yesterday to President Bush without demanding a response from the other members of the body. They should not be let off the hook and allowed to pretend that Feingold's idiotic censure move didn't happen.

"I'm amazed at Democrats ... cowering with this president's numbers so low," Feingold said.

So, Feingold makes decisions based on poll numbers?

Did President Bush's approval ratings embolden him?

That statement really exposes Feingold. He sounds like a terrorist that finds courage to attack when the target appears weakened.

Feingold certainly doesn't sound like a brave maverick, a man of principle, does he?

He is an opportunist, pure and simple.

The distinguished Dana "Blaze Orange" Milbank, Washington Post columnist, gives a play by play of the Dems' reaction to Feingold's resolution.


(Isn't Milbank cute mocking the accidental shooting of a 78-year-old man?)

Milbank writes:

Democratic senators, filing in for their weekly caucus lunch yesterday, looked as if they'd seen a ghost.

...Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) brushed past the press pack, shaking her head and waving her hand over her shoulder. When an errant food cart blocked her entrance to the meeting room, she tried to hide from reporters behind the 4-foot-11 Barbara Mikulski (Md.).

"Ask her after lunch," offered Clinton's spokesman, Philippe Reines. But Clinton, with most of her colleagues, fled the lunch out a back door as if escaping a fire.

...Many of Feingold's Democratic colleagues agree that Bush abused his authority with the NSA spying program. And they know liberal Democratic activists are eager to see Bush censured, or worse. But they also know Feingold's maneuver could cost them seats in GOP states.

Hence the elaborate efforts to avoid comment. Five Democratic senators called a news conference yesterday to talk about the Bush budget's "dangerously irresponsible priorities" -- but three of them fled the room before allowing questions. The other two were stuck.

"Was it a good idea for Senator Feingold to bring up this resolution?" came the first question, from CNN's Ed Henry.

"He brings up some very important issues," Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) ventured.


Tuesday, Stabenow was far less diplomatic. She needed a giant sign to get her message about the Bush Administration across.

Henry was unsatisfied. "So do you support censure, or not?

Stabenow took another stab. "It needs to have hearings," she said.

Mary Landrieu (La.) pursed her lips. "Senator Feingold has a point that he wants to make," she said. "We have a point that we want to make, talking about the budget."

...The one Democrat happy to talk was Feingold, who, in a pre-lunch chat with reporters, seemed to enjoy his colleagues' squirms. "I'm concerned about the approach Democrats are taking, which is too often cowering," he said.

Feingold, seeking liberals' support for the 2008 presidential nomination, said he wasn't motivated by politics. But then he slipped. "If there's any Democrat out there who can't say . . . the president has no right to make up his own laws, I don't know if that Democrat really is the right candidate," he said of his likely primary opponents.

BUSTED! Feingold is motivated by politics.

He really didn't need to say it. It's very clear.

After an hour of closed-door negotiations, Democrats were no closer to resolving the Feingold rift.

"Most of us feel at best it's premature," announced Sen. Christopher Dodd (Conn.). "I don't think anyone can say with any certainty at this juncture that what happened is illegal."

Then why do Dems keep saying that the terrorist surveillance program is illegal domestic spying by the Bush Administration?

Feingold is right. The Dems are cowering. They're eager to voice their attacks, but not willing to act on their words.

Dodd must not have checked with Sen. Tom Harkin (Iowa). "The president broke the law and he needs to be held accountable," he said. "Talk about high crimes and misdemeanors!" Harkin said he'll vote for the Feingold resolution -- if it comes up.

That gives Feingold two solid votes, including his own. The rest: avowedly undecided.

The rest: avowedly wimpy.

If the Dems are going to be attacking the President for illegal activity, then they shouldn't be afraid to go on the record about it.

The fact is the Dems are just trying to score political points by keeping this "domestic spying" story alive.

They know that the President didn't do anything illegal. They know that tapping international phone calls placed from inside the U.S. to terrorist operatives outside the country is an important tool in protecting the homeland.

THEY are choosing to mislead the American people about the nature of the terrorist surveillance program.

THEY are playing with our national security.

Most Dem senators are just as guilty as Feingold in undermining the war on terror.

THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY INCOMPETENT.