Feingold blasts Bush's priorities: Expanding power is an obsession,

[bobthedrummer]

Senator says.

Russ Feingold spoke to a MoveOn.org sponsored audience in Philadelphia yesterday.
He clearly spoke about the fact that the war on terror and the broad expansion of police and surveillance powers were a "cover to justify changing our system of government"-the fact that George W. Bush and his administration only care about power and control.

Russ Feingold also mentioned the fact that some elements within his own Democratic Party (he didn't name them) have enabled Bush's obsession with power.

Here's how the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported my Senator's speech in Philadelphia.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=503116

What do you think about Russ Feingold's speech yesterday?

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Feingold for President

It seems that Feingold and Conyers are the only two full-time actual Democrats in Congress. The rest are, to a lesser or (mostly) greater degree, a bunch of craven triangulatin' enablers.

Unfortunately, it will take years of catastrophe for even most "Democrats" to figure out who is really helping them in Congress. I hope that our two real Democrats can hang in there against the slings and arrows of their fellow "Dems" until cluefulness takes root.

[wakeme2008]

2. I really worry about the 2008 election and the

day Bush is to move out of the White House. I just do not see him going ....

[fasttense]

3. Exactly, He is building up the executive office.

He is the perfect patsy for the ultra rich elite. He doesn't see the dangers of power invested in one person. He sees only black and white, so he doesn't question the ridiculous agenda of the neocons. Since he obviously can't give advice and develop an agenda himself, he will be of little value on the outside, advising the new dear leader. He has to remain in office to be of any use.

Something is going to happen that will allow him to stay as our dear leader.

[flpoljunkie]

4. Great to read Feingold willing to try and stop unacceptable detainee bill.

Talking to reporters beforehand, Feingold criticized administration-backed legislation coming before Congress this week on both detainees and warrantless surveillance. He said talk of a filibuster was "premature" but didn't rule it out. Congress is due to adjourn at week's end and not return until after the Nov. 7 election.

"I'm in no hurry to get out of town . . . I am not going to just stand by and not use some of my rights to slow this down if I think it continues to be unacceptable," Feingold said.

"This is legislating on the fly on some of the most fun- damental questions that we've ever addressed as a govern- ment . . . The way this is being done to jam it through because the Republicans see this as 'National Security Month' is irresponsible. And it's my job to put the brakes on it, and I hope other senators feel the same way. We need to get these bills right."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=503116