Censure is the beginning not the end; Bush should be impeached

ProSense

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:23 AM
Original message

Censure is the beginning not the end; Bush should be impeached

Edited on Mon Mar-13-06 10:24 AM by ProSense

Senator Feingold Has Just Joined Me Calling for Censure

On ABC's This week with George Stephanopolous , Senator Russell Feingold has just joined my call for censure of the President. Many of you remember that I introduced a resolution...

On ABC's This week with George Stephanopolous, Senator Russell Feingold has just joined my call for censure of the President. Many of you remember that I introduced a resolution, House Resolution 637, last December to censure the President at the same time I introduced House Resolution 635 to investigate the President's Administration for possible impeachable offenses. The Senator announced on the show that he planned to introduce his bill at the beginning of the week.

As you know, the Senate tends to move much more slowly on issues such as these. While Senator Feingold has not come to the same position as I have - calling for a special committee to investigate impeachable offenses - he didn't rule it out. And when asked, he didn't rule out pressing for impeachment. It is a good sign that there are others catching up with us in the call for accountability for this White House. While some are impatient for immediate action, we need to understand that pursuing this in a measured fashion will give us the best chance of success. The emergence of Senator Feingold in taking this stand is a broad and positive step toward our ultimate goal.

http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000400.htm#comments

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

blm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:25 AM
Response to Original message

1. Sorry, but Feingold on MSNBC this AM said censure was appropriate because

Edited on Mon Mar-13-06 10:26 AM by blm

impeachment was too radical.

Censure comes AFTER impeachment case falls short.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

INdemo

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:28 AM
Response to Reply #1

4. Other Spineless Democrats will not go along

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Armstead

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:32 AM
Response to Reply #1

5. On CNN he didn;t rule it out

He said that is something that could be considered, but that what is most impoortant right now is to send a message about the surveillance escess and decepotions.

If Feingold an get even a reasonable amount of Senators to join him, that alone sends a message that makes both censure and impechment much more feasible to talk about in the future.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

blm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:35 AM
Response to Reply #5

6. Except it's not what he said on MSNBC later - calling impeachment radical

undercuts the efforts to impeach. Censure is an ALTERNATIVE to a failed case of impeachment.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Armstead

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 11:25 AM
Response to Reply #6

7. He called it a possible "first step" on CNN

Maybe we're quibbling over words, but I got the distinct impression his attitude is about putting carts before horses on this.

I also think his read of the situtation is correct. An impeachment is much more traumatic for the country than censure, and the coutry does not -- at this point -- have the stomach for that.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

blm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 11:50 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. If it's about cart before the horse, then impeachment procedures need to

be given the room - censure comes from the senate as a compromise INSTEAD of impeachment.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Armstead

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 11:55 AM
Response to Reply #8

9. They're not mutually exclusive

If presented as an alternative to imeachment or a result in the later stges, it might be seen as a substitute.

But what Feingold is sying -- and I agree -- is that censure can also be used to put the president "on notice." It also breaks the taboo of thinking about Congress actually making the president accountable.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

blm

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 11:59 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. Except Feingold specifically stated that impeachment is too radical a move

while censure was appropriate.

It's nice to pursue both, but one shouldn't UNDERCUT the other.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

havocmom

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:25 AM
Response to Original message

2. These things have to be done in stages

if we want the people to get behind it.

And impeachment is a pipe dream until we get more clout in Congress. The people know bushco is malevolent. They are rumbling. Move them at a pace they can sustain.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

goclark

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-13-06 10:27 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. Correct ~ stage 1 nt

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Sun May 12th 2024, 08:53 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.