Promoted from the diaries. - - Thurman Perhaps you're like me and am a part of progressive hero Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot mailing list. If so, you were happily pleased to see this Democratic challenger guy in NJ-05, someone named Shulman or something or other (seems he is getting some attention for his strong campaign?) up for a $5,000 Progressive Patriot cash donation -- if he is voted the latest Progressive Patriot.
Senator Russ Feingold issued a statement today praising Lautenberg's leadership on Iraq:
"Senator Lautenberg has been a leader in our efforts to bring our troops home from Iraq. He has been a strong and consistent advocate for the Feingold-Reid legislation, which I introduced with Majority Leader Harry Reid. The bill sets a deadline for the safe redeployment of American troops out of Iraq. Unlike other Democrats that have talked tough and then failed to cast the appropriate votes, Senator Lautenberg has taken a consistent, principled stand by supporting the Feingold-Reid legislation to redeploy our troops out of Iraq."
US Senator Russ Feingold, author of the Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act, commended the legislature for voting to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey:
"I commend the New Jersey legislature on its votes this week to repeal the death penalty in that state, and I commend Governor Corzine for indicating he will sign the repeal. The implementation of the death penalty in this country is deeply flawed, as well as inconsistent with basic American principles of justice, liberty, and equality. While it will take patience and persistence, it is evident from the Supreme Court's de facto moratorium on executions by lethal injection, the American Bar Association's call for a nationwide moratorium on capital punishment, and votes like the ones this week in New Jersey that support is building across the country to end this practice."
Senator Russ Feingold was at the South Brunswick Senior Center this afternoon, where he spoke breifly to a group of eager citizens and took some questions. (Senator Menendez was scheduled to appear, but was caught up by supporters at other events.)
US Senator Menendez (D-NJ) is “looking closely� at signing on to US Senator Russell Feingold’s (D-WI) bill to censure President Bush, Senator Menendez told Atlanta Progressive News during an in-person interview.
Menendez told Atlanta Progressive News that many US Senators are looking closely at the bill, S Res 398.
When they are satisfied after investigating the facts that the President broke the law, he is sure more Senators would sign on, Menendez said.
For all the crimes he's committed and authorized, Bush should be locked away for life, but if they want to start off with a symbolic slap on the wrist, I'll take it.
A friend who’s one of the most politically active people I know just came by, looking so tired and disgusted that it was a wonder he could even speak. The disgust was for the Senate Democrats who have been acting like Sen. Russ Feingold has cooties for introducing a motion to censure the president over his grossly illegal domestic espionage program. The fatigue came from the knowledge that this little scenario has already been played out many times by the national party, and will be played out many times more.
"If this is how I feel," he said, "how does it make other people feel?" Meaning: people without his level of commitment.
They probably feel the way I do. Baffled, frustrated and certain that whatever happens in the upcoming congressional races, the Democrats will take away the wrong message.
Progress Now reports that on Fox News Radio yesterday, Senator Wayne 'Whiny' Allard (R-CO) accused Senator Feingold of "[siding] with terrorists" for introducing legislation to censure the President. This cowardly statement - a blatant attempt to stifle a discussion of Bush's illegal spying on Americans - deserves nothing less than a swift condemnation by every Senator. Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg need to strongly condemn these comments - not just to defend a colleague, but more importantly, the principles of democracy and open debate.
UPDATE: We have the audio now, thanks to AM 760 in Boulder.
Listen to Senator Allard: "He has time and time again taken on the side of the terrorists that we are dealing with in this conflict."
Not so long ago, while Americans were serving in Yugoslavia, Allard was a war critic, voting against giving the president power to bring Slobodan Milosevic to justice and attacking the effort while troops were serving.
Allard Attacked Previous Administration for Attacking Slobodan Milosevic to Stop Brutal Campaign of Ethnic Cleansing
In March 1999, Allard strongly opposed NATO bombing missions in Serbian Yugoslavia, saying, “The (Clinton) administration, as in past missions, has no long-term plan beyond the bombings, and unfortunately, in the end these bombing strikes will accomplish very little; in fact, they may even strengthen the hand of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.� Allard also explained that he did not support the U.S. involving itself in civil conflicts [Rocky Mountain News, 3/24/1999].
(bump - this is really important kids. A sitting US Senator has reached out to us pajama wearing internet geeks to help frame a debate and get the media to pay attention to this. Let's help. - promoted by Media In Trouble)
Fortunately, today we have an opportunity to help answer that question. Let's partake in the political process as a team!
Over the weekend, Sen. Russ Feingold announced he was going to introduce a motion to censure the President. This is largely a symbolic gesture to ask the Congress to hold the President's feet to the fire over his blatant disregard for the law (see wiretapping, domestic and warrantless).
All you have to do is contact Sen. Lautenberg, and Sen. Menendez and ask them if they support Sen. Feingold's censure, if not why not, and if so have they made any plans to talk to the press about it.
Sen. Lautenberg:
(202) 224-3224
Sen. Menendez:
(202) 224-4744
While you are at it, you can call the rest of your Congresscritters (find them here, and ask them the same questions.
Below the fold are some talking points you can refer to on these exciting phone calls.
Once you do, report back here (in comments), and I will report back to Firedoglake and in the end, we should have a report about how all Congresscritters feel about Russ Feingold's maneuver. Of course, any congressfolk (or their authorized representatives that are reading this) can directly answer these questions in comments.
As Shakespeare's Sister reminds us, censuring a sitting President hasn't been accomplished since Jackson. I realize that like many other things these days, censuring Bush may require a pig and some anal unicorns to take flight but we can at least make a phone call to see if the forecast calls for swine.
(Every Senator needs to be put on the record about whether or not they support warrantless wiretapping in violation of the FISA Act, and whether they will holt the President accountable for violating our laws. - promoted by jmelli)
Update - March 12, 2006 at 23:05:36 EST by jmelli Firedoglake wants us all to call our Senators first thing Monday morning:
Your action steps: call both your Senators first thing in the morning and ask if they support Russ Feingold's censure proposal. If they don't, ask what their position is on the issue -- and why.
The more people we have calling, the more staffers in the offices start to realize that Feingold struck a political chord with a bunch of us in America. And then the more we continue to call, the more that message starts to sink in...and then some. Plus, it forces Senators to go on the record one way or the other, which is useful information for all of us to have.
Frank Lautenberg: (202) 224-3224, FAX (202) 228-4054 Bob Menendez: (202) 224-4744, FAX (202) 228-2197
We have to FLOOD their offices with phone calls, faxes, emails! They did not join Feingold in voting against the Patriot Act in the final vote, so they are obviously susceptible to GOP pressure or posturing for the next election.
A hand written fax can be effective, as well as a phone call.
Let us know what they say.
You can also call Feingold's office to thank him: Russ Feingold: (202) 224-5323
