House & Senate Democrats Introduce Censure Resolutions For Bush Cheney & Gonzales
By Logan Murphy Monday Aug 06, 2007 8:31amVia The Raw Story:
Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced resolutions calling for the censure of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.Sen. Russ Feingold sponsored two resolutions in his chamber calling for the legislative action against the administration officials because of they misled the country in pursuing war with Iraq and have undermined the rule of law, he said.
"These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration that have weakened our national security, cost more than 3,600 American lives, and undermined the principles on which our country was founded," Feingold said in a prepared statement.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“From misleading this country into invading Iraq to establishing a warrantless domestic spy program, this White House has continuously misled and deceived the American people while disregarding the rule of law that guides our democracy,” Hinchey said in a prepared statement. “The Bush administration has placed an extraordinary burden on this and future generations to recover from the damage done to our Constitution and national security." Read more...
Perhaps these resolutions don't go far enough, but it shows that some Democrats are still working for us. They want to put something into the public record to show that somebody in this Congress stood up to King George and I say go for it...
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Whopee! That'll have 'em shakin in their boots.
Worthless.
Right. That'll show 'em as the "gather intelligence" by reading our emails, declare us enemy combatants, disappear us, torture, and erase all evidence of our existence. Wow, I feel much better now.
yes! feels good
Impeachment or bust.
Seriously, a censure resolution, without any teeth in it, is a sign that they "stood up" to the administration? Couldn't they have just refused to pass the FISA travesty that just went through? The more these guys do, the more I'm convinced that I'm going to have a hard time sending money to the Democratic party ever again.
The honor and good name of this country cannot begin to be restored unless the People of the United States in Congress assembled, take a public stand that this Bush cabal is inimical to the history, traditions, and spirit of the great experiment in democracy, the Unites States of Amerca and this action must come while the gangsters are still in power!
It will almost be like having no confidence in the Attorney General of the United States (either a very forgetful person or a very deceitful one - or both) and then giving him control over the FISA court NSA wiretapping program.
We should all call Howard Dean and tell him not another dime until I get my civil liberties back.
big fucking deal. the cowards have already signed away the constitution. i'm sure bushco is shakiing and quaking at those harsh words ...
how friggin pathetic. i am so disgusted by these cowardly careerists.
It's about time.
Censure is for sissys. We need new leadership
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It's a start. Not an end, Congress. A START.
It's a beginning and that's more than we've had so far. I agree with Logan, go for it.
I don't think the democratic party or even the "netroot leaders" have any idea how furious the masses out here are. It was very difficult reading my favorites writing about who they sat next to at dinner while the Constitution was being canceled. With power comes responsibility.
I see Congress has finally HAD ENOUGH! This is LONG overdue. The people have HAD ENOUGH of them dragging their feet which may cost them the election in 08 if they don't do something noteworthy against this massive abuse of power.
A hollow, meaningless, and cowardly gesture. Given that Bush has an approval rating that's in the toilet and half the country is now supporting impeachment, what the hell are the dems waiting for? Are they waiting for the GOP to do the impeachment for them? At least the GOP has the balls to do it.
We need a viable 3rd party. The dems are aimless cowards and the GOP is corrupt to the core and neither of them give a shit about defending the Constitution or protecting the US from tyranny.
We are at a turning point for the country and the path we've chosen is dark, ugly, and leads to our eventual ruin.
“These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress" didn't have the nerve to do anything effective.
I say "go for it" too. But I also remember that those they are Censuring are the same people who can make state National Guard records dissappear(illegally I might add) so there is the possibility they will make Congressional Records dissappear too.
emerald @ 15:
The Dems are in lalaland just like the Repukes. They sit on their ivory towers and paint the picture rosy. They had a mandate to achieve by the 06 elections and they are failing us on the most important issues. The anger of the people is forcing them into the Independent status and will definitely hurt the DNC overall. They'd better take an honest pulse reading and not just sit on their ivory towers and believe that all is well for them. It's definitely NOT.
They've become equally complicit in the minds of americans as the Bush Administration in NOT standing up to him on this spying bill and the Iraq spending. Two strikes now.....
I don't know if people will give them an opportunity for a third strike this time. I believe they've sunk their own ship in 08 by what they did to the people who trusted in them this past weekend. The "gang of 41" enablers could have stopped the spying in it's tracks....and held Bush accountable for breaking federal law. They bent over and caved into Emperor George. Now they can serve him and not the people who trusted them.
anonymous @ 13:
It is regression.
Maybe they could all line up and moon the President? Or they could hold a tea party and forget to invite him. That would show him.
I hate to break the news to Logan Murphy but it is highly doubtful if the war mongers in the White House are, as LibertyLover correctly states, shakin' in their boots over the latest pusillanimous move by the Democrats, who were elected because they were allegedly going to bring this illegal occupation to an end. These Democrats should take time to read a document called the U.S. Constitution, specifically Article II Section 4, which specifically states that "The President, Vice President ... SHALL [my emphasis] be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery. or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." The Constitution does not equivocate on this issue. It clearly puts forth that Congress has an obligation to bring charges against those who have committed crimes against the people, crimes which this administration has surely committed. If they are not stopped now, there is a good chance that Bush will start a war against Iran, thereby killing hundreds of thousands of Iranians. Bush and Cheney laugh with impunity at the Democrats because they know that the Democrats do not have the courage and integrity to stand up to them. Censuring Bush hardly qualifies as an act of bravery.
Ryoko @ 17:
Go to www.independentvoting.org and see that a good 35% of people have had enough with our two party system. The time has come for a Third Party Candidate. And it's coming with what the Dems did to us this past weekend.
I can't wait to see who will run on this ticket. Now 20 states have "open primaries". Check to see if yours is one of them.
Vote for a Third! Remove yourself from this "bend over Congress" and any personal attachment to the chicanery going on by switching yourself to the "fastest growing non-party inthe country" - Become Independent today.
The Dems are nothing more than spineless limp dicks, just like the Repugs! This is nothing more than political lip service used to
appease the less educated of us. What a sad time for our country. :-(((
Maybe next they could pass a resolution stating that (metaphorically) they are holding their breath until he changes his position on the war?
We want impeachment, and they go for censure (I'm almost certain that won't get filibustered.)
What a waste of frakkin time.
Russ is a frakkin cheesehead.
Still working for us my ass. It's the same old Kabuki theater. Where are they when it really counts? As in the FISA bill?
First, nail down what you can. If you can't go any further in Congress, then go to the streets. But something must be accomplished and banging your head against a brick wall and ranting about it gains nothing.
Censure wont do shit. Impeach the bastards.
It will show future generations that this do-nothing-congress is insulting our intelligence.
Major crimes have been committed and all they can come up with is a slap on the wrist.
Shameful.
Bite me, Dems. I love how they're looking to censure them for the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens in express contravention of FISA, right after they changed the law to permit them to wirelessly wiretap American citizens.
These pathetic pukes can't stand up to the most despised president in U.S. history in a matter that involves the most fundamental of personal liberties. Maybe the GOPers are right: if the Democrat party can't stand up to ANY political pressure exerted by anyone with a pulse, how can they be expected to protect the country? Seriously. They have nothing.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Yawn.
This would be somewhat interesting news if not for the fact that Congress authorized warrantless search and seizure just a few days ago.
A start?
This is like the kid that just let the bullies take his lunch money for the umteen-hundreth time calling them 'assholes' when they have gone around the corner. Eating a poo-sandwich, crusts and all, and complaining about it later...
It's a freaking joke. It's a political stunt.
They think that stomping their feet and pouting is going to do some good. Heck, this almost qualifies as a temper tantrum.
When you take the entire term of Bush's junta in total and weigh it against a censure you will see what a screaming farce it is! A charade. Is this supposed to be our 'morning after pill' after the screwed us so badly?
This isn't even locking the fence after the cows have run away... This is like standing out in the corral, seeing that the cows are gone, and saying 'Looks like rain'...
Well, I guess that will show those bad, bad men who's boss when they read that censure letter. I am just so thoroughly disgusted by the inability of the Democrats to do anything that holds these criminals accountable. I'm sure the parents, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and children of those murdered in Iraq by this cabal will feel oh so much better knowing that the Democrats have finally found the courage to censure. This country is doomed regardless of who Diebold and the Supreme Court give us 08.
it is far beyond the time to hold our representatives accountable for their actions and inactions. i urge all americans to watch how their congress reps and senators react and vote on items like this. let them know how you feel, either way. it is time to at the very least make you voices heard in the offices of our elected ones. take a few minutes and use the tool free nnumbers to remind the unconnected in washington that they do have a boss.
It's the Cats Musical and the Phantom of the Opera. Maybe even The Who's Tommy!!!
Barbara de Sevile? FIIiiiiiiggggaaarrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
It is Tuesday and many of the political blogs are still posting pictures of themselves with their pen pals. If I wanted "celebrity news" I could watch NBC.
And still the Demo Rats continue to support Bush on anything he dishes out-slop. It's all show folks-Punch and Judy show ( Punch Drunk and Pelosi show )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfHM2evTgFg
Like McCain said--We can't leave Iraq because of vulnerable poor defenseless Israel .
Face it, folks. It's all over, including the shouting, and the fat lady is receiving a round of applause for her singing.
Game, set, and match for the Globalist Elite.
I hope you're all beginning to realize, that the America you thought you always knew was a lie. Our entire mass-marketed history is a lie.
We are the dead.
Bwahahahahahahahahaha.
It's a stunt with no sanctions. All they want to be able to do is to be able to say they've done something without actually doing something that has consequences. It's a ploy to run out the impeachment clock.
You should be ashamed.
Pixie @ 27:
Or the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, being blocked from the Homeland Security papers on a post-attack plan, an investigation into the governments role in 9/11...Cheney's stand down orders, the myesterious "video" Bush saw before going into the Fla classroom, etc.
After the North American Union is formed we will have no constitution nor any Republic to pass on to another generation. Censure is like sticking your tongue out and calling them names...pahleez.
That's my nickle...
Ahh, the old 29% Republican Creed:
We will praise Jesus with our lips but scour the poor whom he loved,
making Limbaugh Laughter of their plight -- and it is good to laugh at
the misfortunes of others.
We will worship a worthless millionaire playboy as President -- a man
who has never soiled his hand with work or troubled his brain with
thought, while he righteously tells the poor to tighten their belt and
work more for less. Verily -- lower wages, no protections, no safety
net, and lesser benefits are his creed. And it is good. For none may
stand against corporations, or yet sue them for wrongdoing, murder, and
theft as long as our champion is in office.
We will pervert democracy and steal the vote that we might fatten the
rich. Yea, they need MORE. They have more than they need, but more
still they must have. For did not even our savior say, "Those who have,
more shall receive." And we surely believe in That!!!
kudos to Feingold and Hinchey. I hope they get the needed votes
Too little, too late. Censuring and giving into Bush at the same time doesn't cut it.
As long as it doesn't rule out impeachment later, or even better trials in the Hague for war crimes, go for it. It does feel like throwing spitballs when a sledgehammer is necessary, but what the hell. DO SOMETHING.
"They want to put something into the public record to show that somebody in this Congress stood up to King George"
Typical Democrat symbolic BS...don't actually do anything that might change something, just display the correct attitude, pose with the fashionable...
Waybackmachine 1933: put something on the public record to show that somebody stood up to Hitler, that do so much good won't it?
They are doing something. They are on vacation and raising money for re-election.
ej doyle @ 42:
WHAT mysterious video? Links please, or at least a way to search? Thanks.
"These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration that have weakened our national security, cost more than 3,600 American lives, and undermined the principles on which our country was founded,”
Sorry, Russ Feinglod, but that's so lame as to be delusional. So long as Congress failed to execute its duty to impeach when given ample evidence of high crimes, bribery and misdemeanors, the LAST thing Congress will have done was to stand up to this criminal
regimeadministration. Future generations are going to know that it was this Congress that let freedom and liberty die in America, that let America itself die. that you would try an insult the intelligence of the People with your gratuitous act of self-justification is just one more unforgivable deed in a long litany of shameful acts of capitulation, ommission and collaboration with the folks who are doing everything in their power to destroy this country. You guys want to bullshits yourselves, that's your business, but don't try and feed me that kind of crap.linda @ 10:
Well said
veritas @ 23:
The trouble with your argument for a third party is that it will take YEARS and possibly DECADES before a third party can bring effective change to America. What did we end up with the last time a third party candidate ran? Bush.
Third party candidates can only bleed pissed off voters from the democratic candidates vote total. It's doubtful that many republicans will actually go in and vote democrat, or independant, in that voting booth. It would be like a fundie voting against God and all the angels. Remember Jews for Buchanan (sp)?
People vote out of fear and ignorance. Ignorance breeds fear.
Hey, an update on the FISA bill. Yes it sunsets in February but the bill stipulates a one year span for illegal monitoring. That means that the illegal monitoring would extend the entire length of his remaining term in office (I'm assuming that Gonzo, Cheney and Bush would actually stop illegal wiretapping and email monitoring on the sunset date (in Hawaii)).
Boy, I'm glad I can count on the Democrat party to represent me and protect me.
I see many years of presidents worse than Bush if there is a third party candidate (short of God himself) that runs but I jump the couch here, there may not be a country left to ruin by then.
WTF is Murtha doing???
Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense John Murtha (D-PA) has moved to block a provision President Bush signed into law making the national intelligence budget public.
...it now appears that a powerful member of the party challenging Bush Administration secrecy -- the Democrats -- will move to keep the figures under wraps.
After California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa offered an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act Aug 5 that would prohibit budget disclosure, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) announced the amendment was accepted -- without any debate.
Fuck the scumbag Dems!! They're as bad OR WORSE than the reich-wing Bush-suck republicans. WTF????
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
From Money.CNN.com:
'Why the private equity bubble is bursting'
Here is a little passage.
"It's looking more and more as if the private equity phenomenon was a classic Wall Street bubble. It brought unprecedented riches to investment banks, minted a flashy new generation of billionaire Masters of the Universe, and bestowed a magical aura on leveraged-buyout specialists like Carlyle and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. And now the bubble's bursting. Loans will go bad, deals will be canceled, fortunes will be lost. We're witnessing the unwinding of the whole dynamic that propelled the stock market (not to mention Manhattan real estate prices) to record highs."
Read the rest at http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/06/markets/privateequitybubble.fortune/inde...
Chip @ 45:
Everybody is on vacation for a month...
Horray! A pointless, empty gesture, that probably won't pass anyway! Democrats, what vast, over-reaching powers are you going to give Bush today? Oh that's right, you won't know what to do until Bush tells you.
Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons...
Bill Clinton - Dec, 1998
In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members…
Hillary Clinton - Oct, 2002
Whoop-dee-doo! A meaningless slap on the wrist. Bravo, Dems! With each and every passing day you prove how USELESS you are. One day you give Busholini the expanded (illegal) authority he demanded and then you say you're going to censure.
And next Pat Leahy will send them another stern letter. Worthless indeed.
Yeah Whatever
Is this supposed to appease We The People while our fascist leaders continue to destroy the Constitution???
TOTAL BULLSHIT
great.. more posturing.... GO DEMS!!
The days drag on as this administration predictably gains more control and Americans lose more civil rights. (thanks Dems! Knew we could count on you! (I’m being sarcastic)) The waning days of the three branches of government and built in checks and balances fading out like an old movie run too many times.
Censure my ass...smoke and mirrors.
DFAL @ 57:
Thanks. The more I see of Hillary Clinton the more I detest her. I hope to hell she isn't the lesser of two evils that I have to pin my reluctant vote to.
Vote in the FreedomWorks Democrat presidential straw poll at
http://www.freedomworks.org/strawpoll2/
How are they going to censure the president for something a lot of democrats just signed off on this week???? These guys are unfathomable. As the Onion guy says, "You won't need to eavesdrop to hear this: I voted for you assholes because you said you were against shit like this."
http://www.theonion.com/content/amvo/congress_approves_surveillance
A wimpy gesture by cowardly spineless careerists.
After listening to Paul in LA's arguments, it seems to me that the real reason the Dems have achieved nothing so far, is that they do not actually have a majority in the House. The "Blue Dog Democrats" act more like "Stealth Republicans" when the shit hits the fan. They're the ones who allowed Bush to get away with the new FISA regulations.
Those same "Stealth Repugnants" would probably kill an impeachment bill, too, and Reid and Pelosi surely suspect this, too, which is why they've done jack-and-shit about e.g. defunding.
This is at least on possible reason to explain things (besides "ivory tower" isolation, and craven cowardice, which I'm not ruling out yet.)
DFAL @ 57:
Nice try, but that's out of context. You'll notice that he said that Saddam must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors with WMDs and did not state the Saddam had WMDs. Here's the rest of the statement:
Timing was important, said the president, because without a strong inspection system in place, Iraq could rebuild its chemical, biological and nuclear programs in a matter of months, not years.
The intelligence reports referred to in this statement were based on data supplied to congress by the whitehouse. These reports had been cherry-picked, manipulated, taken out of context, and stripped of all qualifiers like "rumor has it..." or "unreliable sources suggest...". Contradictory evidence was deliberately omitted.
WTF this is going to make up for throwing the constitution out the window..what a crock of b.s....
OOOOOHHH! Next Feingold and Hinchley will be throwing spitballs at them! I'm sure the fascists are TERRIFIED of a censure motion!
History books are filled with the fantastical exploits of those whom dared to politely and formally express their disapproval of other's actions.
Pointless, empty, waste of time, face saving measures.
Oh boy, they're going to sign a piece of paper that is essentially a written finger-wagging. Where is the fan fare of blazing kazoos?
Yet when the time comes for real change, when the opportunity to reign in or stop shrub co. arrives what do they do?
Hang their heads and capitulate.
Gosh golly gee mr. shrubbie you sure can have all our civil liberties. We weren't usin' them any way. Can we bend over any further for you sir?
Hey Dems -- remember Chamberlain??!!
yeah, go for it. And admit that this was all the Dems did to stop Bush's destruction of America.
Pathetic
Censure is impeachment for pussies.
LibertyLover @ 1:
Haha!
Seriously, to a heartless group of fascist thugs who are torturing, building secret prison camps, starting fake wars, slaughtering hundreds of thousands, extoring our economy & ursurping our rights out from under us, this has got to seem like a spitball.
ARREST the motherfuckers!
This is the best the Dems can do? Pass toothless censure resolutions and hope history villifies Bush and his henchmen (which it will) instead of taking on the crooks themselves? Shit, why don't we just dissolve the Congress if they aren't going to do their duty and uphold the Constitution.
Oooooooohhhhhh this will just kill them....... another strongly worded letter from democrats. They must be soiling themselves about now. Gosh, I hope they don't have another "no confidence" vote, that would break their hearts for sure. Give me a freakin break.
Secure the vote for 2008? No, we'll back down till 2010 to let them steal another election.
Hold them accountable for violating FISA? No, we'll back down and sacrifice the constitution to please them.
Impeach? No that might make us unpopular.
Bust Gonzo for perjury? No, lets let him get by with word play that a 5th grader wouldn't have the gall to try to pass off.
I don't have all day to bitch about this, but HOLYFREAKINGCRAP!!
Ok. And then what?
"Hey Russ, the people are getting pretty pissed after us making the TSA and all of Alberto's hijinks legal last week, why doncha a throw 'em a bone to take some of the heat off of us while we're on vacation?"
"No problem Harry."
Actually, the "shall be removed from office" language is modified by the "on impeachment and conviction" language. In other words, if they are impeached in the House and subsequently convicted in the Senate, then they SHALL be removed from office. It is not written as a mandate to initiate impeachment. On the other hand, they are violating their oaths of office by failing to uphold the laws of the land and protect the consitution.
Censure is a joke. Like calling Barney a bad dog.
The dem apologists around really need to wake up and smell the coffee. These people aren't on our side.
[...] Clark Contact the Webmaster Link to Article george w bush House & Senate Democrats Introduce Censure Resolutions For Bush Cheney [...]
STOP!!!
...or i'll say 'STOP' again!!!
Next thing you know Harry and Nancy will sneak up to Cheney's house, ring the doorbell and run!!
OOOOHH! That'll teach them!
Like giving a spoiled brat a ‘time out’ when what is needed is a good old-fashion whupping.
Kiss their asses then publicly declare them smelly. Oh, I'm impressed.
Wait a minute... maybe my kneejerk reaction was all wrong... after all, Rove and Harriet Miers complied with their subpoenas, right? Oh, wait, they didn't? Well, the Congress certainly held them in contempt of Congress, right? They didn't? Never mind then, my sarcasm stands.
I tell you this, Dems: in '08 elections... the only way that we can win back the country and get it back on an even keel is to have the people vote in record numbers for the Dems --- not for any independents. But you are squandering potential '08 votes faster than Bush squandered the outpouring of world sympathy and support post 9/11 when he invaded Iraq. The People are angry. We want and expect action. In a world where it seems that "Accountability is so 90's" the people will stay home for lack of a viable candidate in '08 --- and that will lead to yet another incompetent Republican President. Please don't let that happen. Do your JOB. Y'know the one the people sent you to Congress to do.
How about a draft censure resolution from the netroots? Let's censure the Democratic Party. .... "That'll show'em!"
"Dear Dems, We the Netroots hereby issue this firm slap on the wrist for your failure to stand up to the republicans. If you do not improve your performance, we will be forced to report your malfeasance to the proper authorities at the New York Times and the Washington Post. We hereby request very strongly that you try your hardest to do better, or else we will be forced to issue another censure resolution which will dispense an even firmer slap on the wrist (but only if we can muster up the votes)."
Just to make the Dems realize how ridiculous their little censure resolutions are.
BTW, when the Repubs "dont have the votes" they make deals and twist arms and move mountains until they do have the goddam votes. When the Dems dont have the votes, they whine on the sidelines, "We dont have the votes."
Pretty soon, Russ, Nancy, Harry, Steny, DickD., you guys are really, really NOT GOING TO HAVE THE VOTES. In a big way.
Window dressing.
Opium for the masses.
Plain old BULLSHIT. Politics as usual. Move on, nothing to see here...and NOTHING will happen.
"These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration that have weakened our national security, cost more than 3,600 American lives, and undermined the principles on which our country was founded..."
Oh Pahleeeeeaaaaaase!!!
These "censure" resolutions are nothing more than a desperate attempt at making the public think the democrats are actively trying to change the methods of the government. They are NOT designed to actually make things better. Censuring? Censuring is nothing but a written document saying Congress is watching. Heeellllllllooooooo!!!! Do MORE than "watch". ACT!!!
The dems are LOVING this new found power Bush has created for government, that is why they are not impeaching him. If they were SERIOUS about making things better, they would impeach all of the crooks in the White House.
“These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration that have weakened our national security, cost more than 3,600 American lives, and undermined the principles on which our country was founded,”
Bullshit
"“These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration that have weakened our national security, cost more than 3,600 American lives, and undermined the principles on which our country was founded,” Feingold said in a prepared statement."
Why on earth dis they vote for the patriot act, war authorization, countless giant budgets, etc., etc., in the first place?
Losers.
Liberal AND Proud @ 90:
I agree with Liberal AND Proud. Same old talk but very little action will result. They'll hold lots of hearings and then they'll introduce the censure resolution, where it will fail because people like Diane Feinstein will vote against it. After they handed Bush his revamped FISA bill against the objections of most of us, I sincerely doubt any talk of a censure or impeachment. Censure is a slap on the wrist and Bush, Cheney and Gozales will serve out their terms and retire very wealthy, happy and free, while the rest of us clean up their mess.
great, what's next an 11:00 curfew or reduce their allowance.
This would be comical if it wasn't so absolutely depressing. What's next in the Democratic arsenal - threaten them with...THE COMFY CHAIR?
I think the voters in 2006 were hoping to elect Vlad the Impaler, unfortunately, all we got was Count Chocula.
too little , waaaaaay too late.
after 6 yrs of complicity they want to "stand up" to the War??
yeah right.
more like, man we really want to win the presidential race!
So we will join the President in PISSING ON THE CONSTITUTION, but boy oy boy hes in trouble cause were gonna call him a big Poo-Poo head on the floor of congress.???
Only to have their simple majority broke, and then embarassed when it fails ,prolly thx to the the now infamous "16" benedict arnolds posing as senators.
You hand over the fifth amendment to a pile of Texas poo, then you want to censor him? I would laugh but it frightens the yogurt. Even yogurt culture has more sense then Congrees right now.
join the independent party. one party is filled with crooks and traitors and the other is nothing but cowards. call 'em what they are. smoke 'em out.
Considering how much the "conservative mindset" has entered Canada recently and how well played the neocon playbook is... I don't think there will be any future generation of the united states that will be able to look on this any other way than as the downfall of the republic and the birth of the New World Order. They will say these were just the "growing pangs" of a new world that George Bush brought. Finally a way to control and keep the masses of the entire planet subservient to the Corporate Theorcracies which make up this NWO.
Corporations have a seat on the world councils, but we will not.
We will be the 200 million poor who are clamouring at the gates to get food and to attempt over and over again to behead the people in power. But we will fail.
If only we beheaded them now before it was too late.
Still fucking useless. impeachment is more appropriate. Giving Bush his latest whim is a a sign that they are useless. I'm sure that there are more democrat hopeful that will vie for this asshats office I will surely remember Pelosi and Reid on election. Cindy Shehan you got my vote already. Russ is already in the bag.
Will the censure include a stern finger-wagging and 50 lashes with a wet noodle?
Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 40:
Good, now we can be reborn.
2012 is right around the corner.
Smoke and Mirrors people..................Trust me.
"Something" will take this off the radar................doesn't it always?
Now, back to our regular featured manipulated reality.
Until the Dems wake up and realize that we are in the midst of a war right here at home, they will continue to lose. The Repubs have internalized that they are AT WAR with liberals. They are waging war. They read Sun-tsu, Machiavelli, and brag about having such books in the White House. They make no bones about calling Dems and libs "the enemy." Many of them even see it as a Christian war. They are blowing up the government with their "Starve the Beast," ends-justify -the-means extremist ideology. Knowing that the Dems lack spine, they even announce their intentions (e.g. PNAC '98) knowing that the Dems will not stop them and their perfidy will thus be "legitimized." Christian wingnuts are even trying to take over the entire military and have made great strides in that direction. What more evidence do people need that there is a civil war going on in the US right now? No centrism, no compromise can possibly bring the ship of state back to equilibrium.
IT IS A COLD CIVIL WAR PEOPLE.
WE ARE IN A WAR RIGHT HERE IN THE US! The only way to defeat the Repubs is to wage political warfare against them. No Democrat who doesnt realize this should hold public office today.
So.
Number One: War on the BlueDogs / Lieberman / republican wing of the Dem party
Number Two: War on the corporate media
Number Three: War on the republicans.
All three at the same time. If they can fight wars on several fronts, so can we.
Yes, nancy and Steny and Russ are not doing enough. But I think they will if we give them the political cover. But that's going to take a little time, and in the meantime let's solidify the Netroots around the concept of political warfare. It's what the right did and their party eventually followed. They took several pages from the progressive book. One good turn deserves another.
I think the spirit behind Logan's post is right - the Dems need us to have their backs, and giving up on the Dems now is not wise. Im willing to get their backs, but ONLY if they acknowledge through *action* that we ARE AT WAR WITH THE RIGHT. Otherwise, it's better for the Dems to do nothing and regroup and fight another day. A strategic retreat (as we see in iraq) is not always such a catastrophe.
Breaking news...
Congress is voting on a resolution to leave a burning paper bag of doggy poo on the White House steps.
Sorry, but in order for the dems to get my vote they need to prove they would actually do something different. Right now it looks like they are hoping for Queen Hillary instead of King George. I want my country back.
On another note, reading the editorials in the MSM today is enlightening. They are more on the money that anyone in the netroots today.
I've thought a number of times that Bush has probably been recording the phone calls of family members of the House and Senate for years. Karl Rove probably has a library of templated letters to send out when folks get out of line.
Stuart @ 67:
I've said this from the start! You can't 'control congress' unless you have more than a simple majority!
Having 51 votes in the senate and 101 in the house means NOTHING! Well, unless the republicans want to play patty cake and let you win.
The house may be in "solid" democrat control, but the senate is not. Read my keystrokes: THE CONGRESS IS NOT IN DEMOCRATIC CONTROL!!!
It's more likely that the meme that the democrats 'control congress' is a Rove 'rat fucking' tactic then anything that a conscious democrat would, or should have uttered. (Take that Pelosi and Reid)
Just like in the song 'Sheep' by Pink Floyd, we are being led down into the 'valleys of steel' for the slaughter. The only 'look of terminal shock in the eyes' is from us and potentially the democrats who take part in this. Not looking forward to their vacations I'd hope. Questions, questions... "Whose side are you on?"
Is it that the republicans play for keeps and the democrats just play?
[Deleted. Conspiracy theory]
106 Weaseldog Says: Breaking news…
Congress is voting on a resolution to leave a burning paper bag of doggy poo on the White House steps.
____________________________________________________________________
The least they can do is order a s**t load of pay upon delivery pizzas that no one ordered.
Preferably with anchovies, red peppers, jalapenos and M&M's.
Ryoko @ 17:
Yes! I'm glad someone has finally mentioned this -- you know, after the 2 centuries + that our founding fathers put this together, many of them saying a 3rd party is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY... people are finally starting to realize this?! HELLOOOOOOO!
And yes, both of the big-boy parties are corrupt. Hasn't anyone else noticed that the Democrats are putting on a game show, doing the -=absolute=- minimum to keep the teeming masses from going straight into frenzy and whispers of revolution? TV is a powerful thing, people; if this crap were happening back in the early days of the country, even the first centennial -- Bill of Rights violated, wars of profit/aggression, separation of powers dissolved, HABEUS CORPUS gone -- the people would already be storming the streets with their right to bear arms, destroying the corporations that bought our government and marching right into the white house to remove the scourge!
But where are we? sitting in our comfortable air conditioned homes, watching TV, taking our Meds which are absolutely necessary to our continued existence (I'm sure), and grasping at scraps from the Congressional table of lies, deceit, and buy-in/opt-out 2-party politics. Congratulations, American Founders -- you gave birth to a country which has slowly matured to a full-on abomination. Thank the American Public for caring more about their own drug-induced apathy than their fellow men and futures.
I can't say I have the answers to this problem, but it is certainly not just sitting around talking shit on message boards and praying for someone/some miracle in Congress to magically fix everything. Turn off the TV and go public, DO something.
Whoops... 218 votes in the house...
pinkythebrain @ 109:
With all due respect, the Republican's position is just as weak, yet they are kicking the Dems asses. Skunking those punks. Beating the crap out of them. Making them cry for their mommies.
All Bush did was threaten to make them stay up late and they ran away like a puppy from a rolled up newspaper.
i guess after alls said and done my only reaction to bullshit is BULLSHITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Bush/Chaney/Gonzales already new since they probably wire-tapped all of the Dem's offices.
Johnny Law @ 105:
The dems will NEVER wage "war" against the GOP because the Bush admin has given the White House a level of power and control that no government employee can resist. The State is an entity that benefits if it is large and influential. The health of the State is war, and so the fact that the neo-cons have created a huge State is actually beneficial for the dems. The democratic philosophy is very similar to that of the current crop of neo-cons. They do not tend to actually do things themselves, they speak it, they want it, but they want other people to actually do the things they also believe in. That is why most democratic supporters want the democratic congress to do things on behalf of them, like higher taxes to pay for their wanted programs. They will not go out door to door and steal people's money to achieve their goals, they want others to do it.
Hence, the current crop of democrats in Congress are just sitting back and laughing it up that they have all this new found power that they don't have the cahones in taking for themselves. Bush is not being impeached by the democratic controlled Congress because they LIKE having this new power. They are just acting like governments always do. You will not see the dems doing anything that takes power away from the government, even if that new power is evil.
I can guarantee you this, if Bush enacts a new law that gives the government true dictatorial powers such as a new law saying nobody is allowed to say anything bad about the administration in public, then the dems are not going to do anything about it, because the dems themselves will benefit from that power.
It makes me sick to my stomach that more people are not seeing this, it is literally screaming at us in the face. The US population voted the dems into power in 2006, but really, have they changed the course of where we are going? They have done literally NOTHING. NOTHING. NADA. If I did as much in my job in one day that the dems have done since 2006 I would be called UNPRODUCTIVE and LAZY.
I would love for people to WTFU and realize supporting the dems will NOT make this country better. Supporting the GOP will also NOT make this country better. We need to change the way we look at everything, because the status quo IS NOT WORKING. If you had a flat tire, would you continue driving on it hoping it will fix itself? No, you'll change the tire. We need to change who we vote for and vote for someone who DOES NOT WANT POWER.
Marley @ 110:
That's very liberal and progressive of you to do.
Have I wandered onto Ann Coulter's web site or something?
To censure is the parent that "pretends they will spank" if the kid throws a screaming fit. Where is the backbone we voted for in 2006 ? Are they all on the Rove payroll?
Does anyone remember that in 2004 there was talk of post poning the Presidential election because we were in a war? With all the extra authority Bush is being given wonder if the talk will become actuality in 2008. This would give the Republicans a reprieve to hide their dirt a little bit.
Oh wait a minute the Republicans care not what the public thinks anyway, why bother to hide anything.
Bush vetoed an extra billion in bridge repair just last week...in case anyone missed that little thing.
And in other news today, it was reported that after a 40 million dollar
research spanning 4 years, was found that if you eat fast food everyday
for 3 years straight, you will be overweight.
texas lady @ 120:
i love bush hes picking the corn out of texans shit!
Censure Resolution: the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
.
Maurice had gone and done it now ain't he.
Another toothless resolution of "no-confidence" where we get to tell our leader he sucks.
Here's how Maurice puts it
• Misleading the nation about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s regime and about Saddam’s links to al Qaeda and 9/11
Feloniously misstated, that is.
• Inadequate planning for military action in Iraq
How many days or weeks... but certainly NOT how many months?
• Overstraining the military and undermining homeland security
WHAT? ANOTHER 18 MONTHS? What do we need a National Guard for anyway. It isn't like America ever needs a local guardsman in an emergency, or anything.
• Misleading the nation about the strength of the insurgency
Is the insurgency EVEN al-Qaeda?
• Authorizing the illegal NSA warrantless wiretapping program
So why do we need FISA anyway? What was this last go around really about?
What? If the president authorizes it, that means it's legal?
• Pursuing extreme policies concerning torture and the treatment of detainees
Torture IS an American Principle now?
• Detaining enemy combatants indefinitely without charges, access to a lawyer, or habeas rights
It's not TYRANNY when the USA does it?
• Unilaterally authorizing flawed military commissions that were subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court
TWICE RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
• Misleading Congress and the public about, and obstructing investigations into, the firings of U.S. Attorneys
Obstruction of Justice.
• Making misleading statements regarding civil liberties abuses under the Patriot Act
There's no FREEDOM of dissent anymore.
• Undermining acts of Congress with signing statements based on extreme theories of executive power
USURPATION OF THE CONGRESS!
These are CRIMES.
These are CRIMES against humanity and these are also WAR CRIMES.
And yet the deference paid to Bush and Company is that of a FEARED RULER. But most certainly NOT a respected, revered, or heralded President of the United States of America and his Administration.
To consider that, even for the moment, that any of the above is acceptable in any form, is anathema to what American Principles are. Yet, members of CONgress seem to find some redeeming qualities to these CRIMES. Their moral boundaries may be a tad out of whack and ergo are found excusing these CRIMES as somehow acceptable... to a degree.
See Congressman,
America IS paying attention.
WE the PEOPLE get it... DO YOU?
Censorship shows where the limit is tolerated too...
Impeachment shows what is intolerable and insufferable.
.
texas lady @ 120:
YAY, a second person talking sensible, forseable realities! The scariest power given to the president during times of war is the ability to extend his term until the war is over. Couple this with martial law (a.k.a. military laws, not even close to civilian law) and you have an effective DICTATORSHIP. All this needs to become a reality is one more weak democratic vote in congress. HELLLLOOOOOOO!!!!! not a conspiracy theory, I see this as an eventuality given our current course. Notice how it's NOT IN THE MEDIA, even though they have discussed presidential powers during times of war.... hmmm, seem to have left these conspicuously off the discussion table, huh?
Trying to get a censure resolution passed by the same Democrats who just voted to give Bush the unfettered FISA powers that he originally said he had despite the law, then threw a temper tantrum on national tv to get, would be the ultimate in hypocrisy.
I had so much hope when the Democrats took over Congress. I have lost it all. I am tired of hearing excuse after excuse for why they caved on the war, caved on our constitutional rights, etc., etc. Bunch of enablers. Rather than accountability we were promised, all we're getting is more of the same with new Democratic whining and "we'll get'em next time." Stuff needs to change now. At this rate, Bush & Co. will go right on doing everything they were doing until his last day in office, and the fact that the Democratic majorities have not stopped the train is ridiculous.
Spineless. I hope they enjoy their ^%##$ vacations. I'll watch my sarcasm level when I call my relatives in England.
note to demowimps in congress...
Oversight is not the same thing as Overlook.
Not just Texans, check around the other states....many of us DO read and DIDN'T vote for either Bush....the first one took the jobs...the second one finished raping America of credibility, economy and services.
Too bad the rest of the nation didn't do their homework...voting for someone they could sit down and have a beer with....yeah that's who I want running America.
“These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration"
Wooooo.... I'm so friggen impressed!
Wow, stop the presses.
LARF!!!
Larry - I know you mean any step would be good but the majority of the public is with Pelosi and Reed they just need to wake up and realize it.
From the voices I hear the public would be with them but in that bubble of Washington perhaps they only hear the loudmouth Republican bullies shouting the White House propaganda. You know career fear infects even the ones in power. They worked their whole lives and do they throw it away going out on a limb for people who are more interested in a celebrity's rehab than the latest vote taking our rights away?
Why isn't the American public making more noise, have we all forgotten what marching in the streets did to stop the killing of Vietnam?
Tucker Carlson said, "it would be humilating to leave Iraq." Well humilation is better than one more American life. How did American lives become so cheap to the war mongering Republican thinking?
This sounds an awful lot like the treatment the right-wing base has traditionally had from the Republicans. Every once in a while, the Republican leadership tosses their supporters some symbolic "victory" that actually accomplishes nothing, and they spend the rest of their time undermining their supporters' basic rights-- and their wages.
Color me cynical, but having watched months of apparent Congressional collusion with the proto-fascists in this government, I'm not impressed by symbolic gestures.
On one hand I am very angry that the democrats allowed Shrub his FISA bill. It seems as though the democrats talk tough an then roll over on every opportunity.
On the other hand the democrats only have a slim majority in the senate and Lieberman is really voting with the republicans so it's not really a majority. And the republicans have used the filibuster on numerous occations during this congress.
On one hand I am angry that this is only a censure resolution and not impeachment.
On the other hand Russ Feingold is a class guy and is always on the right side of every issue. He is definetly not a coward. He would impeach Bush but he knows he doesn't have the support so he's trying to do what he can do.
On one hand I think the democrats should investigate and subpena and cut off funding to the war and kick republicans ass.
On the other hand and I think this is the crux of the matter, I think the democrats smell blood and if the republicans continue to support the war they will lose big time in 2008 and not only will the democrats have a majority but they will have a filibuster proof majority.
I don't agree that this is right thing to do but I think this is the mind set.
Censure means absolutely nothing. This country has been -- and is being -- raped by this administration, and the Dems are simply watching the crime as it happens. In fact, the Dems have now joined the crime. They should be ashamed. But, of course, they're not. It takes a conscience to feel shame.
As the philosophers say, necessary but not sufficient. Censure all you want; the offending parties are deserving in spades, but for god's sake do something significant to stop these bastards. They don't give a flying fuck whether you censure them. They'll only stop destroying our nation, when we give them no other choice by impeaching and convicting them. Period.
If you think the republican Blue Dog Democrats will vote for it.....lotsa luck.
If they won't impeach. I wish this would pass. At least it would be in the records for future generations, to see that the American people did not approve of this administration.
I wish Tucker would sign up for active duty and take my Nephew's place in Baghdad.
Cowards.
How is wagging your finger at them any form of "standing up"?
"On one hand I am very angry that the democrats allowed Shrub his FISA bill. It seems as though the democrats talk tough an then roll over on every opportunity."
They lied to you, just like Bush did, to ensure their career future.
Dems are trying to set a record for how many times they look like idiots.
I understand that you're saying that you don't agree with what they're doing (and I agree with your observations of Feingold), but while they're "smelling blood" and waiting for the right opportunity, people are dying and our rights are being violated. And every single f****g Democrat who voted for that bill is complicit in that behavior. Bastards.
wojo @ 133:
What country do I live in? Why do the people that were elected to represent the people actively decide not to? Why does NO ONE speak in substantive terms about what is really happening in this country?
HMMMMMM, questions, questions. I honestly thought after 2006 that we would have representatives that were willing to jeopardize their positions to create real change. From a subjective viewpoint, I see very little being done to protect this country and correct the current course that has been thrust upon us.
I remember reading in high school social studies that taxation without representation pissed off a lot of people in colonial times. Am I no longer an American if I cannot swallow the pill that the current occupants in elected power give to me?
wojo @ 132:
Riding the political wave of violence and blood shed in Iraq is an unconscionably reprehensible slap to the face of humanity. Doesn't matter WHO propagandizes the war for their benefit. The facts still remain: THIS WAR IN IRAQ IS ILLEGAL! There is no other hand on this one... most likely it's been blown off.
Majority, shamjority! Defending and supporting the Constitution IS CONgress' ONLY unifying cause. The majority of whom seem to think it to be quite quaint. Defending and supporting the Constitution is NOT an option, THERE EXISTS NO OTHER HAND.
Whoop-dee-fuckin-doo.
Ya' know - Congress is a broke-dick dog. This censure is the equivalent of writing "bush sux" on a bathroom wall at the Smithsonian.
What ELSE do these morons have to do to be IMPEACHED?
A Congressional Nyah Nyah Nyah by the Dems in the playground while the Principal's in his office rigging the tests.
Seriously. Do the Dems have any clue as to how pathetic they look to the American people?
Talk about bubbles.
Sheesh!
I think the fact that "these resolutions don’t go far enough" proves that Democrats are no longer working for us. All it does is say they disagree with the administration, which is hardly a courageous stand to take these days given the administration's popularity.
Being concerned with what future generations think is pathetic and self-serving, considering they should be concerned with what the current generation is experiencing and what future generations will no doubt experience as well.
Wait a minute why isn't there as much outrage at SIX years of crap being heaped on us ? We critique everything the Demos do and they are working up a muddy hill still in the minority of numbers. Every day Bush does another destructive thing and it hardly is noticed. Honestly what does he have to do to finally get the public against him? 30% is still 30% who think his actions are just fine.
Public outcry is the only answer to giving strength to fight the schoolyard bully who owns the courts, the Congress and the media. We need to get off our duffs and make some noise.
The '08 scene shows a country that can't wait to get rid of their republicans.
The '08 scene shows a country that can't wait to get rid of their bluedog democrats.
The repugs are sucking the life out of our country as are the bluedogs. What remains are a handfull to trueblues. What are we planning to do about this? This is a pregnant landscape for sprouting a new element. Will we USE it?
Censure is a gesture (that will fail of course like everything related to protecting our constitution has) with the impact of a prisoner's last words before an execution. It's just sad beyond words. Even a GESTURE will fail.
The ball's in our court.
What we all need to see is a hiccup in consciousness on the congressional and senate floors...A PHYSICAL BRAWL after which jack can't be stuffed back in the box.
No, it makes you think that some Democrats are still working for us, which is why they're doing this after just voting to give more power to the 3 same damn people. I mean come on, a few days ago they vote to give them more powers and extend the administrations power grab, and to make up for it they're going to say "those 3 did bad things"? The saddest part is it's working, we have Logan Murphy saying that "some Democrats are still working for us". (sorry if that sounds a little harsh but these democrats are pissing me off)
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