Why is it that Dick Cheney still gets to threaten Democrats for criticizing the president? Who is he fooling? The public is behind punishing Bush for what he did, in both Iraq situation, and with the "Big Brother is Watching You" domestic spying program. And, in recent news,
the public absolutely hates Bush. So why would supporting a move to censure even be risky at all?
I think the more risky move would be kissing up to an extremely unpopular president who is still scrambling to come up with one realistic reason as to why he is not a criminal. Why is falling in line with Bush considered a solid political play anymore? Are we that cowardly that we believe the Republicans' empty threats? We need to frame the debate on this quickly, or our opportunity to stand strong will vanish. Quite frankly, supporting Bush is far more extreme than calling for his censure. And that is precisely what I intended to point out in my letter to the Chicago Tribune below.
I have to shorten it up a bit, but I'm sending it in after I do that. I hope it gets published, or at least, it inspires Kossacks to write to their own papers.
Just yesterday, Senator Russ Feingold called for the censure of President Bush for breaking the law with his warrantless wiretapping program. The program, according to most legal scholars not directly connected to the White House, is a blatant violation of the standards set forth in the 1978 FISA Act. But before Feingold introduced the legislation before the Senate, Dick Cheney was already daring Democrats to support it, as if doing so would mean you are unpatriotic. Not that same old tired line.
I would take that dare. In fact, I would dare Republicans to let Bush, an extremely unpopular president, off the hook in an election year. With Bush's approval ratings in the mid 30's and 51-53% of the public supporting the impeachment of George W. Bush if indeed he did break the law, I would challenge Republican senators to stay on a sinking ship while there are still lifeboats available and time left before the 2006 elections. It is the Republicans that should cringe at defending an unpopular president when he so very clearly broke the law. In fact, I think Democrats like Barack Obama and Richard Durbin should band together to support censure, and then use Republicans' opposition to the move as a campaign issue in 2006. Endangered Republicans such as Lincoln Chaffee (RI) and Mike DeWine (OH) would be forced to defend kowtowing to a president who is vastly unpopular to a solid majority of the public, especially in their home states. In the most recent Gallup poll, 44% of Americans strongly disapprove of President Bush, and another 16% or so disapprove somewhat. That 44% strong disapproval rating is more than twice that of Americans who strongly approve of the job Bush is doing. In this circumstance, protecting the President should be a more risky move than censuring him.
Democrats should not be afraid of being labeled as "terrorist sympathizers" by the Rovian slime machine. Like the boy that cried wolf, that line has gotten old to a public in which a convincing majority does not even trust Bush when it comes to national security. Democrats should all get together and vote for censure. The measure has next to zero chance of passing in the Senate, but the vote will force Republicans to chose between siding with the law, or siding with the law breaker. No more investigation is needed, as Feingold clearly pointed out. A tough choice indeed for Republican senators with a public that already overwhelmingly favors Democrats in the looming 2006 elections.
If the Democrats give in to hollow pressure from Republicans who say censure is an "extreme" measure, it will leave the majority of the population thinking that they are extreme, a conundrum that has existed for over a year when it comes to disapproving of Bush. The fact is, approving of Bush is becoming a fringe position to take, a position Bill Frist and certain spineless Democrats are more than happy to fill.
XXXX XXXXX
Chicago, IL
It's time to acknowledge that we are in the majority, and only fringe wingnuts stand with President Bush.