Spin harder

In another fine example of Democratic submission, Dick Cheney dared Democrats to censure President Bush, and apparantly, they acquiesced.

Or at least that's how it's being spun by the blow hard right and headlines like Democrats Beat Quick Retreat on Call to Censure President. Ah yes, the old cut and run Democrats are at it again. Even Stephanie Miller was lamenting the weakness of Club Donkey in abondoning the man she refers to as her future husband, Russ Feingold.

To be fair to the press, the Dems recently pretended to have spines care about their constiuency, but when it comes to protecting the Constitution from power-mad neo-cons, and not having Arabs to scapegoat, they usually turn into pusillanimous children.

The Houston Times:

WASHINGTON - Democrats distanced themselves Monday from Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold's effort to censure President Bush over domestic spying, maneuvering to prevent a vote that could alienate swing voters.

Now we can be sure the Republican right is going to have a field day because V.P. 18 percent dared someone to do something and they did it.

But lets look closer:

WASHINGTON, March 13 — Senate Democrats on Monday blocked an immediate vote on a call by one of their own to censure President Bush for his eavesdropping program.

It doesn't actually sound like they want to quash censure, it sounds more like they don't want to vote on it today. I wonder why?

Democratic leaders held off the immediate vote that Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee requested. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he didn't know if there ever would be one. Durbin said that Feingold had sought to use the censure resolution "as a catalyst" for thorough investigations.

Minutes before Senator Russell D. Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, formally introduced his resolution reprimanding Mr. Bush, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader, said Republicans were ready to vote by day's end or Tuesday.

Oh, they just want an up or down vote.

"When we're talking about censure of the president of the United States at a time of war, when this president is out defending the American people with a very good, lawful, constitutional program, it is serious business," Mr. Frist said. "If they want to make an issue out of it, we're willing to do just that."

See, Bill said it was a lawful program, therefore there is no need to investigate, they should just vote now. This resolution deserves an up or down vote dammit!

Harry Reid thinks there should be an investigation.

"To try to limit debate on this most important matter that Senator Feingold is going to put before the Senate is not appropriate," said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the minority leader.

Given how many Republicans are currently being investigated, it's easy to understand why they wouldn't want to see another one.

"The American people already made their decision," Vice President Dick Cheney said Monday in an appearance in Mr. Feingold's home state, The Associated Press reported. "They agree with the president."

And if Dick Cheney says the American people agree with the President, then they must agree with the President.

Except when they don't.

WASHINGTON - More and more people, particularly Republicans, disapprove of President Bush's performance, question his character and no longer consider him a strong leader against terrorism, according to an AP-Ipsos poll documenting one of the bleakest points of his presidency.
. . .
Personally, far fewer Americans consider Bush likable, honest, strong and dependable than they did just after his re-election campaign.

Given his 18% approval rating, I'm not sure Dick Cheney is really a reliable resource on what the American people think.

I'm going to use that awful talking point wingnuts love to use - "If you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about."

Well, Mr. Cheney and Dr. Frist, if you're doing no wrong, then you won't mind an investigation. And unlike wiretapping Americans without a warrant, a congressional investigation is legal!