Possible Feingold explanation

[Minnesota Libra]

I can’t believe that Senator Russ Feingold made the speech he made on the Senate floor only to leave the whole matter hang right there. At this point, for me, there are three possible explanations for the fact that nothing else has happened on the censure bill yet.

Scenario number one, the republicans gave Senator Feingold that particular time slot for his speech and censure bill knowing full well that Senator Feingold had to leave immediately for a previously scheduled commitment. If anyone tries telling me the republicans wouldn’t purposely do something like that I’ll refer them to free republic.

Scenario number two, to understand this particular scenario we have to keep in mind that republicans control what comes to the Senate floor and when. So, Senator Feingold gave his speech when the republican controlled Senate allowed and then left in order to put Democrats on notice that the censure bill is coming. He may have also wanted to give all Democrats and possibly even some republicans a chance to decide how they wanted to vote on this issue. The mere fact that the censure bill was read into the official Senate record should be viewed as a feather in Senator Feingold’s cap.

Scenario number three, Senator Feingold knows full well the censure bill has absolutely no chance of going anywhere in a republican controlled Senate. So he may have entered the censure bill solely to set himself apart from the pact in preparation for 2008. If that is the case, the very fact that he got it into the official Senate record sets him at the top of the list in my book.

Anyone else got any possible scenarios??

[DURHAM D]

1. Yesterday was not the time to debate

the issue. I am glad he got off the floor.

Feingold and progressives will now spend time getting the buzz up and getting the average citizen talking/thinking about the pres breaking the law.

He/we know the msm won't help with the process so it is up to the bloggers, K.O., and talk radio to raise awareness.

When the debate takes place it won't be just on c-span - it will be on network, cable, NPR, etc.

[MADem]

2. Alternative scenarios

1. He is a canary in the coal mine....a scout. Like Jack Murtha. Send him out there to put the idea forward, and get the mood of the nation. The longer this vote is put off, the more people discuss it. Remember how Murtha, initally, didn't get much traction. Now he's got more traction than a two ton truck with oversized tires.

2. His goal is to get the GOP on the record. The Senators up for reelection are on a tightrope--they need to distance themselves from the Monkey, but not go too far afield, less they risk loss of RNC funding. Put them in an uncomfortable spot, where they have to 'angst' between funding and votes, and then use their vote against them with oppo ads if they go for the cash.

The result of the vote is foregone--if those GOP clowns want their RNC cash, they'll play ball and stand with the wee cowboy. But if they are running, it can hurt them, BADLY. All it takes is a cheaply made, quickly produced oppo ad, reminding voters of it, early and often...all ya need is a few kissy face pictures with Monkeyboy, or his minions, and the members of the UAE Supreme Council...a quick voice over, a dire warning of terrorism, a line about selling our security to the highest bidder, a quick mention of 911 hijackers, the former friendship between the UAE and the Taliban (they SAY they are our friends NOW, but they were one of only three nations to recognize ... THE TALIBAN--pic of Osama on screen)...you get the picture. Get out the butter, 'cause it's time for some TOAST!

[Minnesota Libra]

3. You make some good points - especially the issue of the.........

.....longer the issue is out there the more people ill talk about it. Either way Feingold really made inroads with me.:applause:

[MADem]

5. And more importantly, in the run up to the 06 Congo races

...it makes inroads AGAINST GOP incumbents.

See, we don't even have to convince GOP voters to switch, and vote for the Democrat. We just have to make them sick enough to their stomachs to sort of forget to vote, or be too busy, or just not be motivated. If they have that queasy feeling about their 'boy' they just might decide to "not bother" going to the polls this election cycle. Who wants to be associated with a Quisling, or a traitor to our National Security???

It's VOTER SUPPRESSION, using nothing more nefarious than The Awful Truth!

[Pierogi_Pincher]

7. Same here--I like your take!

Industrial-strength republicon neighbor has finally had a revelation--in recent (mundane)conversation says someone is a money-grubbing %^&*@+! and should BE IMPEACHED! Whoa!

[flpoljunkie]

4. I like the way you think, MADem. Excellent post!

[MADem]

6. Why thank you!

It is a game of patience, and a game of chicken. I know there are a lot of people who would actually like to see a censure vote succeed, right now, this very instant...but the wee cowboy is gonna have to do a few more things to push the country totally over the edge. And the GOP Senators are not going to risk having Ken Mehlman turn off the cash spigot as the election cycle goes into full swing...it's a perfect storm, really.

The American public does NOT listen--ya gotta pound stuff into their heads, and they do not give a damn unless and until it affects them, personally. The longer we can keep the censure ball in the air, the more people will start to pay attention to it, or absorb the reasoning behind it by slow osmosis.

If they can drag this issue out, for a few weeks, even a few months, educating the public, and getting some of these GOP clowns on the record one way or another, the potential to use their words or their votes against them as they seek reelection grows exponentially. We have less power than they do, so we have to use wily tactics that sneak up on them, so they don't know what hit them.

[Minnesota Libra]

8. You know I think you've got a point about the pounding stuff........

.....into people's head a little at a time while also making the neocons take a stand that will bite them in the .... later.:applause:

[flpoljunkie]

9. My only concern is that Feingold's resolution will die a slow death in the

Judiciary Committee where it has been referred. We must keep it alive. Big Eddie Schultz is doing his part. It was the main focus of his show again today. He is lambasting the "risk averse" Democrats, calling for some "intestinal fortitude" on their part and considers this an "issue of accountability."

Keep it up, Big Eddie. We are with you on this!

[Minnesota Libra]

11. It's up to us to keep this at the forefront for our Senators, just......

.........write your Senators and write them often. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[MADem]

13. It needs to just bob along, like a turd in a GOP sewer

Occasionally sinking, occasionally rising to the surface. The way the polls are reading, the MonkeyKing just HAS to attack a province in Iraq, and make a big push against child porn, to try to eat up the 24 hour news cycle. He can't do "War without end, AMEN" or keep the "government finally wakes up and deals with the problem of child porn" business above the fold forever--especially since compelling pictures of EITHER horrific occurrence can't be shown on tee vee (and it is all about IMAGES in Murka, after all), and when these things die down, or become part of the background noise, we raise the issue again...like a mosquito buzzing around their pointed little heads.

In an odd way, we can't lose on this--if it comes to a vote before November, the GOP is gonna have to answer. If it is stalled until we get a Democratic Senate, well, then the Monkey is hamstrung for the remainder of his days. The Democrats are keeping their heads down for now, because they want to see how well this issue takes hold (and dissatisfaction is growing by the day--diehard Bush fans of my acquaintance are actually railing in disgust, to my profound surprise and delight). They learned from the Murtha experiment--send out a point man, draw some fire, and then see how it plays. So far, it's playing pretty well for us.

[ClassWarrior]

10. Scenario Four...

He's counting on US to make this thing happen.

Call your Senators and demand that they answer this question...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

NGU.

[Minnesota Libra]

12. By all means Yes, write to them and write often......nt