By Ezra
Shakes writes:
At whom was Feingoldâs message really directed? The resolution itself was clearly directed at Bush, and more generally at the GOP who facilitate his dirty deeds.
I don't know, I think the resolution was pretty clearly directed at the liberal base, who received Russ's message loud and clear. As it is, a censure, despite its intrinsic appeal as a Fuck You to George W. Bush, is not a serious act. It's a scolding, not a time out; a warning, not an ejection. And since Democrats don't control either house of Congress, it's not even going to pass. So you have a non-actionable punishment with no prospects for manifestation. I don't really see any serious way to evaluate it, then, save for the politics. And unless you think the message that'll rally Americans in 2006 is that the Democrats will officially recognize a slip of paper rebuking George W. Bush, it's not clear why Feingold would find this so urgent that he couldn't risk spoiling the secret by speaking to his caucus.
