(Sen. Mark ) Dayton assails Feingold's call for censuring Bush

[sabra]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/14114820.htm

Dayton assails Feingold's call for censuring Bush
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton Thursday strongly criticized fellow Democrat Russ Feingold's resolution to censure President Bush over domestic spying.

"It's an overreaching step by someone who is grandstanding and running for president at the expense of his own party and his own country," Dayton said of Feingold, a Wisconsin senator and potential 2008 presidential candidate.

"I think it's a very dangerous territory for the democracy that we have in this country to be playing around with those kinds of resolutions, without any consultations from his colleagues. I think it was irresponsible."

Dayton is a member of Feingold's own party from a neighboring state, and has himself been one of Bush's harshest critics.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Call Mark and ask him the Magic Question...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2512789&mesg_id=2512789

NGU.

[katinmn]

33. I called. Asked the question. Aide took down my info

I Am So Angry.

:argh:

[ClassWarrior]

62. Call and demand an answer every day till you get one. And don't...

...let go of it even after you get one. They'll try to tell you he wants to wait for the investigation. Then ask them if he trusts Arlen Spectre and the Republicans to investigate the criminal activities of their boy. Ask them if they've heard about the FBI spying on peace groups, and remind them that spying on political enemies includes Democratic Senators and their aides. Ask them if they're comfortable being accessories to a crime.

:hi: kat, by the way!

Never Give Up, no matter how angry you get, my friend...

[katinmn]

64. I will call again tomorrow!

Thank you for the encouragement, CW. :hi:

[CanonRay]

57. I sent him an e-mail; called him a jellyfish.

[The Magistrate]

67. It Is A Beautufuk Question, Sir!

"Does the Senator support censure, or criminal conduct?"

[Love Bug]

2. Damn him! He's leaving at the end of the year -- what has he got

to lose by supporting Feingold? I don't know about him, sometimes.

[Mass]

10. Supporting Hillary in 2008.

He said so in 2005.

[Zhade]

43. I don't care who he's supporting - this was an asshole move.

First, because it undercuts the very legitimate need to AT THE VERY FUCKING LEAST censure the criminal in the White House, and second because it sounds like jockeying for his own run.

Bad move, Dayton. Certainly won't earn MY vote this way!

[VegasWolf]

50. By attempting to trash war hawk Hillary's opponents! Asshole! nt

[MissMillie]

56. With Shrub's numbers as low as they are,

it would seem that anyone supporting censure is not exactly taking a very big risk.

[Career Prole]

3. It's pretty friggin' obvious which of the two

is acting "politically". :eyes:

[saigon68]

4. Dino Dayton Cowers in his hole in the ground

As HIS Corporate Masters tell him

WHAT TO DO

WHAT TO SAY

[bobthedrummer]

16. Maybe Norm gave him the words in the Senate cloakroom?

Yep.

[saigon68]

22. THAT'S POSSIBLE

[0007]

53. I didn't know!

I didn't even Drudge was gay!

[dubyaD40web]

5. Thanks Dayton!

You're playing right into the repukes hands. Keep driving a wedge between our party and we'll never take control back!

[northernsoul]

8. this is why I'm relieved that he's not running again

Dayton never fails to zig when he ought to zag. The man's capacity for blunder is staggering.

[katinmn]

34. He also criticized Boxer for standing up against Ohio vote fraud

Dayton has been off kilter for more than a year.

[northernsoul]

51. I was not looking forward to having to defend him this election

I'm not head over heels in love with any of his likely replacements, but any one of them will be (hopefully) a little smarter and a little more adept at public speaking. Yeesh.

[reality based]

6. May the ghost of Hubert Humphrey scare the bejesus out of him n/t

[fooj]

9. LOL!!!!!!

Peace.

[Demeter]

35. I Don't Think Humphrey's Ghost Is Capable.

He was such a gentle man.

[reality based]

39. A demonstration of HHH's passionate oratory in defense

of democratic principles should strike the inarticulate Dayton dumb with jealous awe.

[gademocrat7]

7. Is Senator Dayton unaware that shrub broke the law?

This is not grandstanding. This is about a blatant disregard for the Constitution of The United States of America.

[librechik]

13. hmm. Who exactly is grandstanding here?

Why does Dayton step out to condemn? If he doesn't agree, just vote no.

[madaboutharry]

11. He is one Senator who I will not

miss when he leaves Washington. These type of comments make me want to avoid shopping at Target.

[chancew]

12. Question

Is he involved with Target or something? Or is it because Target is located in MN?

[madaboutharry]

15. He is an heir.

The Dayton family owns Target.

[leftchick]

14. what a fuckhead

he must be DLC.

[katinmn]

17. WTF? I'm calling now. He's hurting us.

a dangerous territory for the democracy? We're entering a dictatorship for God's sake!

[blm]

18. Geez - Dayton's saying censure's too much and Feingold's saying censure's

just right and impeachment's too much at a time of war and Conyers is saying impeach.

Uh, Mark.... Feingold started censure, let it play out and support him, and Russ, please speak more respectfully of the impeachment case that is gathering strength.

[mzmolly]

24. He's not critiquing the censure but the lack of leadership involved.

I gotta say, I understand where he's coming from - but I also think he should take his own advice and not "harm the party" with such a divisive/vocal/public statement.

Pick up the phone Mark. ;)

[blm]

29. Well, we all wish it had been done through process, but it is what it is

at this point, so I will echo you - PICK UP THE PHONE, GUYS.

[Uncle Joe]

42. I agree, I even think this point needs more emphasis,

PICK UP THE PHONE, GUYS! You are the American People's representatives, you are not on the television show "Survivor".

[bullimiami]

19. i just strongly criticized dayton in an email.

he is in the dog house as far as im concerned until he earns his way out.

[FiveGoodMen]

20. Then I'm glad he's retiring!

[mzmolly]

21. I agree with his rationale here. He's not criticizing CENSURE he's

critiquing the manner in which Feingold went about it. It was done very sloppily and one should question why that is.

"I think it's a very dangerous territory for the democracy that we have in this country to be playing around with those kinds of resolutions, without any consultations from his colleagues. I think it was irresponsible."

...

"For somebody who wants to lead our party and our nation, I think consultation and forewarning is a prerequisite to that kind of leadership," he said.

He's right! However, that said - Dayton should NOT be taking this issue to the public arena, he should pick up the phone and chew Feingold's rear private like. He should then encourage Feingold to try to mend some fences and get an actual cohesive measure going.

Flame away if you must.

[truthisfreedom]

27. Dayton's not stupid. he does things for a reason... the question becomes

why did he do it in public?

[blm]

31. Agree he should have voiced it privately, first, but that can also be said

for Russ - he should have discussed censure with at least a small group of colleagues before he proffered it publically. He of all people, since his claim to principles is his respect of process and procedure.

[Zhade]

45. Why, so the DC elite and DLC could shut him down?

Fuck that. Feingold went bold and I applaud him for it.

If he'd run it by the safe status quo-ers in the party, this never would have happened, based on the party's dismal record of opposition to the most criminal administration possibly ever.

[blm]

52. And how do you come to that conclusion? Alito filibuster proved otherwise.

Should Kerry have just announced it without talking to Feingold and others on the judiciary committee? Did Kennedy not beseech other senators first?

The process called for judiciary committee to handle Alito nomination - what happened there? When no judiciary Dem would stand with Kennedy, Kerry did, but only AFTER begging the others to do it. Then Kerry gets accused of grandstanding.


Really think it through, Zhade... you know others would have supported Feingold on this and it would have gone to committee. It's there now, but look how the media is making it an attack on Dems yet again. and so many are falling for it....again.

[mzmolly]

32. Good point.

He did so to respond publicly to a "public" display by Feingold I imagine? He's calling him out.

I agree with his message, but don't care for the "good for the goose" mentality as it's not productive IMHO.

[Zhade]

44. Because HE'S the one grandstanding, and undercutting us to boot.

NT!

[silvermachine]

36. No flames here...

...but Dayton's remarks are more divisive and harmful to the party than what Feingold did, imo. And I think your belief that he's not criticizing the actual censure itself is a pretty generous assessment.

[mzmolly]

37. I know Dayton, and I don't read anything into what he said other

than a person vying for the highest leadership position in the world, should demonstrate said leadership when it comes to such a bold move. I don't think I'm being generous at all, in fact I'd be willing to bet he'll end up supporting censure. ;)

[NanceGreggs]

23. Oh, really ...

"I think it's a very dangerous territory for the democracy that we have in this country to be playing around with those kinds of resolutions."

I guess Mr. Dayton sees no 'dangerous territory for our democracy' in the fact that the president broke the law.

No problem, though. Let's just keep looking the other way, and soon there will be no 'democracy' left to worry about protecting. I guess that's the 'political strategery' that people like Dayton subscribe to.

[mzmolly]

26. I think by playing around he means that it was done in a sloppy manner.

However, Dayton is being a bit sloppy right now himself.

[peacetalksforall]

25. Really disappointing. He's a good guy. Uses his salary to bus

seniors to Canada to buy their prescription drugs.

What does he know that we need to know to judge this decision?

A censure appears to be the only tool at our hands because few people will get out on the street and walk for our country without George and PNAC.

Something seemrd to change in him when he was assaulted about his decision to send his staff out of their Washington office during one of the bomb warnings or whatever it was.

His performance on behalf of Dems has been strong on many issues.

[mzmolly]

38. He is criticizing the method me thinks?

:hi: He is a good egg, though I've been disapointed a time or two.

[0rganism]

28. Did the GOPsters threaten his family?

Dayton's not running for re-election, so it's not your average batch of closet skeletons. They must have something that will really hurt him, long term. Jail-time stuff. Probably has a lot to do with why he's not running again.

Damn. Right at the time when the Dems could really use some party unity to up the pressure on corrupt republicans.

[0007]

30. Goddamn is Dayton off his fucking meds or something?

Man, I thought this cat was a screeching, howling, clawing liberal that was ready to scratch the holy snot out of junior's eyeballs on a given noticed.

Dayton you have two timed me! Tell me it ain't so, please!!!!!!

[saigon68]

40. He is part of the ruling class

A very important, rich part, of said class

[Divine Discontent]

48. and thus...

bows down to his financial masters "rule of law", if you will. which he shouldn't... he shouldn't have spoke out in public. it's his opinion, fine, but to do so, so hacks like O'Creilly, Blanndity, and Limpball can rip on Dems with HIS words against Feingold's censure, just reeks! Feingold is so in the "right" for doing what he did... I think he thought he'd have more than just 1 senator backing him so far!

call 612 727 5220 and give her 15 seconds of what you think... I went on for about 20, I'm sure she got tired of me when she said, "Okay, thank you, I'll pass along your message!"

[katinmn]

59. Repugs will use Dayton's comments as talking points. They will quote

him over and over and over. Just like they quote Hillary and Kerry regarding the IWR.

[Zhade]

41. BUSH BROKE THE FUCKING LAW!

What the FUCK is wrong with Dems like Dayton?

Idiot!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

61. That's what I call a bitch move. n/t

[LynnTheDem]

46. Gee Dayton, when the president BREAKS FEDERAL LAW, ya think

maybe something should be done about it, like CENSURE???

Sure, only personal private sex such as BLOWJOBS rates impeachment proceedings, but if you or I VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW we'd be sitting in jail right now.

[LynnTheDem]

47. Gee Dayton, when the president BREAKS FEDERAL LAW, ya think

maybe something should be done about it, like CENSURE???

Sure, only personal private sex such as BLOWJOBS rates impeachment proceedings, but if you or I VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW we'd be sitting in jail right now.

[Vidar]

49. Traitor!

[primavera]

54. Oh great, the next Zell Miller... n/t

[ninkasi]

55. I'm so frustrated

Ok, Dayton's criticism is apparently because he felt he wasn't consulted. He then calls the censure as putting the country into dangerous territory. What, then, does he, or any other Democrat who won't support Feingold think we SHOULD do instead? After lying us into an un-winnable war in Iraq, ignoring the Constitution when it stands in the way of what he wants to do, after the Katrina debacle, and the illegal spying, and spending our country into poverty...just how bad does Dayton think it has to get before censure is warranted?

We're sliding into a dictatorship right now. If Dayton has been one of Bush's harshest critics, then what action would he support? Pointing out that Bush condones torture, and puts people in prison as "illegal combatants", something he made up himself in order not to have to give them the right to have a lawyer, and staying imprisoned without charges, pointing out all of those things and not taking any action doesn't make sense.

Some members of Congress are pointing out ways Bush is breaking the law, and trashing the Constitution, then letting him continue without any kind of opposition. It only encourages this administration to proceed to newer, and more egregious forms of law breaking. I guess I can understand Dayton's frustration, but he really needs to realize how frustrated WE are. Are we supposed to just say "oh, how terrible, shouldn't be doing that, that's illegal", and going back to watch Survivor, letting Bush continue to get away with it?

[Generator]

58. At the expense of his party

We wouldn't want to hurt the Democratic party, it has done so much for us. That's exactly how Republicans think. PARTY and loyalty ABOVE this thing called America and it's constitution. Which comes first? America or the Republicans? America or the Democrats?

And maybe..just maybe.. the man or woman that stands up to Bush deserves the presidential nomination the most. They certainly do in my book.

[katinmn]

60. Contact info for Dayton:

email form: http://dayton.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

SR-123, Russell Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Metro Area Office
Federal Building, Suite 298
Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111
Phone: [phone]
Toll free: 888-224-9043
Fax: [phone] Washington, DC Office

[ladjf]

63. He just made the biggest political blunder of his life.

[madmark]

65. so dayton thinks the nsa domestic warrantless spying is legal?

he never addresses the merits of feingold's charge. Why not?

[TankLV]

66. WIth friends like these, who need enemies!

Where are all the self-righteous fucktards here who are constantly criticizing us for complaing that the dems are spineless and should support Feingold?

Where are the fucktards who constantly scold us all who are not satisfied with the direction of the party or criticize Feinigold for daring to tell the truth?

THEY MAKE ME SICK!

I want to see them take Dayton apart for daring to cause rancor and daring to "criticize a fellow democrat when they should be only criticizing repukes" bullshit.

I won't hold my breath.