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Home Front: Politix
Democratic Senators Flee Feingold's Stink Bomb
2006-03-15
Democratic senators, filing in for their weekly caucus lunch yesterday, looked as if they'd seen a ghost.

"I haven't read it," demurred Barack Obama (Ill.).

"I just don't have enough information," protested Ben Nelson (Neb.). "I really can't right now," John Kerry (Mass.) said as he hurried past a knot of reporters -- an excuse that fell apart when Kerry was forced into an awkward wait as Capitol Police stopped an aide at the magnetometer.

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.

In a sense, they were. The cause of so much evasion was S. Res. 398, the resolution proposed Monday by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) calling for the censure of President Bush for his warrantless wiretapping program. At a time when Democrats had Bush on the ropes over Iraq, the budget and port security, Feingold single-handedly turned the debate back to an issue where Bush has the advantage -- and drove another wedge through his party.

So nonplused were Democrats that even Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), known for his near-daily news conferences, made history by declaring, "I'm not going to comment." Would he have a comment later? "I dunno," the suddenly shy senator said.

Republicans were grateful for the gift. The office of Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.) put a new "daily feature" on its Web site monitoring the censure resolution: "Democrat co-sponsors of Feingold Resolution: 0."

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.

Posted by:Captain America

#15  It is so TOUCHING to see how Just Curious believes that Democratic politicians are as PURE as the DRIVEN SNOW. Oh the WONDER of it ALL.
Posted by: Ptah   2006-03-15 20:15  

#14  It still clings Frank, how could we forgit! LOL
Posted by: RD   2006-03-15 18:10  

#13  I noticed Just Curious has that odor of an American "Gentle" - any others think so?
Posted by: Frank G   2006-03-15 17:26  

#12  "Even though he knows his resolution has little realistic chance of passing in a Republican controlled CongressÂ…"

Good God man! Even if the democrats were the majority in the Senate, a censure vote had absolutely no chance of passage. So what did Feingold’s obvious political grandstand accomplish? Other then exhibiting decorum not befitting an US Senator, a couple of things come to mind. First, he has removed all doubt from the minds of his Senate colleagues that he is anything other then completely agenda driven and therefore cannot be viewed as an honest broker. And judging by the orgasmic reaction from the progressive crowd ole Russ certainly got some name recognition should he fancy an ‘08 presidential bid. Quite “bold” indeed.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-03-15 17:20  

#11  The one who (finally) showed balls was Frisk, who took up the Wisconsin loon on his offer and encouraged a Senate vote.

Feingold, immediately after he made a fool of himself, he left the floor rather than debate the matter with Specter. If he has balls, he wouldn't know it without a microscope and tweezers.
Posted by: Captain America   2006-03-15 17:12  

#10  Don't throw red meat to the Sheehan Fringe, they might become enboldened and threaten to hold their breathes until they get their way (one hopes).
Posted by: Captain America   2006-03-15 17:05  

#9  touche!! Seafarious..lol

it's good to see you have a sense of humor..
Posted by: Just Curious   2006-03-15 16:16  

#8  The expressions on the faces of the Democrats as they tried to flee the media onslaught was even better.

Posted by: Seafarious   2006-03-15 15:56  

#7  I listened to Sen. Feingolds' speech yesterday I have to give him a A+ for "balls" and "chutzpah". He is known in the Democratic Party as sort of a maverick and independent thinker.

Even though he knows his resolution has little realistic chance of passing in a Republican controlled Congress, it was quite bold of him to actually go out and say the things he did, especially in the way he said them, knowing full well, that he may as well have put a target on his back for Bush backers to shoot at. I just wish I had been there watching the facial expressions of Republican Senators in attendance. It had to have been quite extraordinary.

Basically, Sen. Feigold was throwing a piece of red meat to the Democratic parties liberal anti-war base which had to be thrilled that someone finally came out and said and promote what they have been saying for quite some time now:

That President Bush is a criminal who should be censured and/or impeached.
Posted by: Just Curious   2006-03-15 15:47  

#6  LOL - check out this from Tim Chapman at townhall. :))
Posted by: Glert Thetch2165   2006-03-15 14:47  

#5  Article: At a time when Democrats had Bush on the ropes over Iraq, the budget and port security, Feingold single-handedly turned the debate back to an issue where Bush has the advantage -- and drove another wedge through his party.

You gotta love Milbank - always inserting his opinions when straight news would have done.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2006-03-15 09:25  

#4  But first the Dems will let him attack, trying to erode Bush's credibility a little more.
Posted by: lotp   2006-03-15 09:00  

#3  I realise I'm not a political consultant, but it seems to me that being insane is not a viable strategy for attacking the evil G. W. McChimplerBurton, no matter how much fun it may be. I predict that Feingold will walk the plank alone on this one.
Posted by: SteveS   2006-03-15 08:51  

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

The standard CYA drivel for Moonbat Machinations.
Posted by: Glert Thetch2165   2006-03-15 08:04  

#1  Can't believe Milbank wrote that. Who's his ghost writer?
Posted by: Danking70   2006-03-15 00:13  

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