The President Has Broken the Law by Russ Feingold

[Coexist]

http://www.counterpunch.org/feingold03162006.html

President Bush Must Be Held Accountable for His Illegal Domestic Spying Program

By Sen. RUSSELL FEINGOLD

"As Congress heads into a weeklong recess, I hope members of the Senate have a chance to listen to their constituents back home. All Americans want to fight terrorism and protect our country from those who wish to do us harm, but they don't want to sacrifice the rights and principles our country was founded upon. One of those fundamental American principles is that the President doesn't get to pick and choose which laws he follows.

There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks, and especially this week, about Congress changing the law to authorize the President's otherwise illegal domestic surveillance program. Of course, anyone who makes that argument concedes that the program is illegal. In addition, the President has yet to explain convincingly why he can't follow the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which allows wiretapping of terrorists while protecting law-abiding Americans.

The President has broken the law, and the censure resolution I introduced on Monday is intended to hold him accountable. While there have been plenty of personal attacks directed at me this week, few have argued the merits. The facts for censure are clear. FISA makes it a crime to wiretap American citizens on American soil without the requisite court orders--which is exactly what the President has admitted doing. Before the program was revealed, he misled the American people by assuring them that he was getting warrants for wiretaps. Since it was revealed, he has misled the American people about the legal basis for his actions.

I look forward to a full hearing, debate and vote in committee on this important matter. If the Committee fails to consider the resolution in a reasonable time period, I will ask that there be a vote in the full Senate. I know Americans will have a lot to say when they see their elected officials during the break. I hope my colleagues listen."

...nuff said.

[Swamp Rat]

1. SUPPORT FEINGOLD!!! ... SUPPORT CENSURE!!!

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT!!!

SUPPORT FEINGOLD!!!

:patriot:

[stepnw1f]

2. SUPPORT CENSURE

then we Impeach the Crowned Imp. No more Monarchy!!!!!!!

[sellitman]

3. Whoever doesn't vote with Russ should be....

Swept from office and then..

BOILED IN OIL!!!

:mad:

[understandinglife]

4. "The President has broken the law ..." -- 6 words is all it takes ...

... to mandate:


Be The Bu$h Opposition - 24/7

[Coexist]

10. absolutely right - 6 words

[blm]

18. He broke the law - the legal remedy is impeachment.

Censure is fine, but it shouldn't be sold as an alternative to impeachment when censure provides NO LEGAL REMEDY.

[wordpix2]

5. Go, Russ! At least we have one senator with balls who's willing to stand

up to the thieves, liars and robber barons in this *misadministration

[QuettaKid]

6. Censure. It Is Time.

.

[HootieMcBoob]

7. nuff said is right n/t

:kick:

[valerief]

8. You're either with Russ or against America!

[blm]

17. I'm with Russ' censure but ALSO for legal remedy of IMPEACHMENT which

Russ thinks is bad for the country.

Where does that leave those of us who are working for both and unlike Russ, think there SHOULD be a legal accounting for Bush's crimes - IMPEACHMENT?

Seems we've become pariah's now because we disagree about the legal remedy.

[Coexist]

22. No - not really

but Impeachment right now is seen as "way-crazy-radical". To my mind, this Censure actually opens the door to these discussions - gives them mainstream play.

[IndyOp]

9. Sign MoveOn.org petition - New goal: 400,000 (and rising?)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x682436

[msgadget]

11. The President doesn't get to pick and choose which laws he follows

:kick:

[Coexist]

12. For those who think this will help POTUS re: unifying the base,

here is the funny part of needing something like that:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142549411985&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795
<snip>
"For those in Bush's White House, this was like hearing the cavalry arriving at last on the battlefield. A battle over impeachment, backroom types told reporters, was the one issue that might mobilize the Republican base to actually come out to vote in this fall's mid-term elections and thereby give Bush the boost he now needs so desperately.

In reality, this "good" news for Bush isn't going to last. The Democrats are a pretty unimpressive lot these days. Their policies, on everything from national security to the economy, are all over the place. Their likeliest nominee for the presidency, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is quite likely unelectable.

But the fact that Republican and White House backroomers should be making so much about an improbable attempt to impeach the president (several grassroots organizations are calling for it) confirms just how desperate Bush's political condition has become."

[UrbScotty]

13. Gracias, Russ! (nt)

[Karmadillo]

14. Stop it! If Democrats speak the truth, they'll never win.

nt

[jane_pippin]

15. Again, GO Russ! And in case you want to hear more from him...

here's a link to the press conference Russ gave this week explaining a little bit more about his reasoning:

http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/06/03/2006316.html

[bobthedrummer]

16. kick

[mdmc]

19. love your avatar and RUSS!

[Coexist]

21. Thanks, I adore Bill the Cat

And Russ!

[Radio_Guy]

20. The President Has Broken the Law

And that is why I support the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of Bush.