There has been much debate about the relative merits/deficiencies of Feingold's censure resolution. Both sides make good points.
But what has struck me most about Feingold's move has been the renewed discussion of what may be the starkest challenge to our Constitution since Watergate.
The Republicans had successfully swept questions about NSA domestic spying under the rug. The relevant committees, particularly Pat Roberts on the Intelligence Committee, had once again buried this affront to the Constitution in committee.
And it was not likely to see the light of day again.
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Feingold's move was a dramatic gesture. But a dramatic gesture with a purpose. He had to know his ploy would garner no support. In fact, I am sure that he knew that going in. He's no dummy.
But he wanted to resurface the issue. To make people discuss it again. To focus attention on the wayward lawbreaking of this president and this administration.
I find it a bit ironic that some folks now want to claim that this move would only be effective if Americans were behind the idea of censure or impeachment.
How would Americans be able to get behind any such initiative given the fact that the Republicans had effectively buried the issue?
It's a Catch-22.
This is a crucial constitutional issue. And it had been swept aside. Without any plans to ressurect a discussion of this critical issue, Feingold chose a dramatic gesture to force discussion on the Senate floor of something the Republicans certainly don't want to discuss, especially in an election year.
I don't think the apt comparison is in this case is Kerry's stunt on cloture. I think the better comparison is to Murtha's press conference and floor defense of his call to get the hell out of Iraq.
Murtha didn't have much Democratic support for his idea, either. And he certainly knew that in advance of his press conference. But he opened the floodgates to discussion (with a vengeance). And that discussion has led most Americans to now believe that our incursion into Iraq has been a monumental failure and that Murtha is right. It's time to bring them home.
Murtha chose a dramatic gesture. So did Feingold. Will Feingold's move have a similar effect? Only the coming weeks will tell.