Perhaps the current spate of dems in the congress and no better than their counterparts. Keeping their heads low and crawling on their bellies keeps them out of the cross-hairs.
I don't know too much about Feingold but I would say he's out front in the leadership of the democratic party. (At least the progressive democratic party.)
Posted by Cordier at March 20, 2006 01:38 PMI loathe Hillary.
Posted by God Of War at March 20, 2006 01:40 PMI wish the American public would realize what the Republicans did to this country when they impeached Clinton. It is the reason Democrats are loath to even broach the subject of impeachment. Everyone in this country knows that the Clinton impeachment was nothing more than the attempt to distract the Executive and derail the opposition agenda. No one who was not a partisan nut job wanted Clinton removed. Now, when we have a president who truly has wiped his ass with the Constitution the politicos are affraid to remedy the situation for fear of either looking like it's political retaliation (ala the Clinton impeachment)or of setting the precedent that we're gonna have an impeachment in every administration where the opposing party controls Congress. That's why I don't think the Dems should be very vocal on that front between now and November. There are a lot of people who fear the emrgence of the impeachment card as recurring partisan power play technique.
The Clinton impeachment did irrepairable harm to the political fabric of this country.
Posted by snark at March 20, 2006 01:54 PMHillary has not shown leadership and she voted YES for Iraq war. Feingold is one of the six Democrats who voted NO on Iraq war. He seems to have the courage to confront the administration. However, being Jewish, he is at disadvantage when religion becomes a big factor in the minds of many voters. Democrats should think about "outsider" candidates such as General Clark, Governor Warner or even rejuvinated Al Gore.
Posted by suresh at March 20, 2006 02:13 PMI don't like Hillary either but I'll vote for her over any repuke if that is my only choice!
Posted by bbtb at March 20, 2006 02:19 PMLets not forget that Bush is not running again (thank God!). The Democrats can't win on an anti-Bush platform. They need a positive platform - be the change agents that restores this country's values (yes - the Dems have a chance to be the party of "values") and remember the enemy is not Bush - it will be McCain, Frist, or some other equally repugnant self-centered Republican.
Posted by Cookie Monster at March 20, 2006 02:24 PMI still worry about Jeb running! That's all we need.
This stupid, enabling congress could over turn the 22nd amendment if we don't take power. Or the idiot declares martial law.
Let's talk about a true revolution then.
Posted by bbtb at March 20, 2006 02:31 PMWith as many recesses that this Congress is taking I would assume that holding their feet to the fire when on home turf would be something to explore. I know they hold townhall meetings (or at least they say they do) and blogger participation might go a long ways. Body count, particicularly if well informed, while they say they have their ears on ... so if we organize attendance, help focus the discussion, it could end up being a two-fer with the crowd seeing that the bloggers aren't just 13 year olds and that the bloggers are indeed well informed while simultaneously demonstrating to our representatives that we have higher expectations and will energize more and more couch potatoes.
Posted by mainsailset at March 20, 2006 02:44 PMDemocrats, by and large, have allowed themselves to be bullied by Bushco.
They lost their spine after 9/11 and have never recovered.
Only 22 Senators (including Feingold) had the cajones to oppose Bush's Iraq war and only Feingold voted against the Patriot Act.
The DINO Dems are GOP-lite and should be ashamed of themselves.
Posted by Christopher at March 20, 2006 02:45 PMCooki Monster you are right that Dems are not running against Bush. However, they should run against the problems created by him and this rubber stamp Republican Congress. They must highlight the problems such as Iraq war, Ballooning Deficeite, Medicare presciption mess, Wiretapping by breaking the law, Lobbyists influence, Underhanded Dubai Port deal, so on and so forth.
Posted by suresh at March 20, 2006 03:15 PMI'm with GOW... well, and bbtb.
Though thinking of Jeb running makes me think that Bush has set the bar so low, that virtually anyone can come in for the GOP and look BRILLIANT! Which will energize the gop base again and some swing voters.
Dems need to be loud and clear. They can't bring anything of substance to the floor of congress nor in the MSM.... unless they get loud and downright obnoxious.
People are starving for some real leadership Feingold, Murtha, Schweitzer, (though I disagree with most of what the latter 2 have to say) are the only ones showing any signs of governing and leadership.
My wife is participating in a sit-in protest in Wyden's local office today. they did manage to meet with the Chief of Staff but it ended with "I'm done with you guys" and he stormed off. Wyden's response to us when notified that this event was coming was esentially "Don't threaten me" and something odd about something coming down the pipe in about 6 weeks. Something may be starting to happen, but everyone is playing mid-term election politics and timing.
Fuck that. Something needs to be done NOW.
Posted by Simp at March 20, 2006 03:20 PMPeople, from everywhere that I have been, we - as Progressives - are done with DINOs and DLC Democrats.
It is time to take our Party back and support Progressive candidates. It is time to prove that corporations do not run our Country.
Progressives want what most Americans want.
Clean air, clean water, good schools, healthcare, decent jobs, safe neighborhoods, equal opportunity, laws followed (especially by the politicians.)
These are American values. Progressive values are American Values.
It is time to support Progressive candidates. Period.
I can name the ones in Congress, in my State: Inslee, McDermott, Baird. All Dems. All Progressive.
Time for more.
2006 is here now. It is grass roots time. It is time to figure out our Candidates and our members of Congress who support our values and get behind them. Grass roots.
No more bitching and moaning. We are a Representative Democracy. These people work for us. They Represent us. They are not some leaders in some office somewhere. They come from here, our home districts, they work for us.
Thank you cards went out this morning to the 4 (what happened with Menendez BTW?) Senators who support the Feingold Censure. Also sent a thank you card and a little bit of money to Jack Murtha for kickin' ass on MTP yesterday. We must make clear to the politicians - REPRESENTATIVES - what we want by supporting good acts and calling them on their fuck ups.
We the people must be involved.
Posted by Anjha at March 20, 2006 03:27 PMI've decided, based on the inaction of the Democrats when they have been handed, time and time again, the winning hand, that they not only do not want to win, they are willing to go out of their way to ensure that they will not win.
Posted by Judith at March 20, 2006 03:49 PMBefore you toast Dems who are sympathetically calling for investigation think about it. If they vote on censure tomorrow what happens? Best possible, a party line vote, "just politics" says Joe American. More likely, a paucity of votes, "bad politics by Feingold, tsk,tsk." Says the press; yup. However, if we push the issue of investigating, "serious charges, why are the Rethugs running from this chance to learn the truth?" Daily bits & pieces of info. coming out about the raunchy details of this illegal spying on the people... We might still be talking about NSA spying without warrants into the fall campaign.. Good news for our side. Remember, it was the GOP leadership that wanted to get an immediate vote, they want to avoid an investigation phase; we shouldn't. Meanwhile, we being all nice & civil & "withholding judgement" until we can drag every nasty truth in front of the American people. Good strategy, don't knock it.
Posted by Papa at March 20, 2006 05:48 PM"The Clinton impeachment did irrepairable harm to the political fabric of this country".
Snark posted that.
I'll go you one better, Snark. The democratic congress in Reagan's 2nd term inflicted even greater damage upon the body politic, when they failed to impeach the Gipper for his Iran-Contra high crimes.
As to the 2008 campaign? Kerry/H. Clinton (or any other beltway bullshitter who has thus far failed to step up and endorse Feingold's motion) has blundered badly. If they ultimately refuse to endorse it, their pusillaminity will be remembered by pissed off primary voters. If they finally show some horse sense, Feingold will be able to congragulate them for eventually coming around and following his lead. Either way, at this point, they've lost.
Posted by Sonoma at March 20, 2006 06:23 PMPapa, excellent strategy. However, just who is going to implement it? Democrats? Don't hold your breath.
Sorry I am being so negative, but that's just where I am lately.
Posted by Judith at March 20, 2006 07:49 PM"Everyone in this country knows that the Clinton impeachment was nothing more than the attempt to distract the Executive and derail the opposition agenda. No one who was not a partisan nut job wanted Clinton removed."
Snark, yes you are correct. Yet, it certainly didn't stop the Republicans from gaining control did it? I'll give them something the Democrats don't have, balls.
Posted by Judith at March 20, 2006 07:54 PM