Censure?

Though congressional Dems failed in their push for a full investigation of the Domestic Spying program, one of the louder voices of liberal dissent in the senate, Russ Feingold, used the Sunday morning talk show circuit to call for a censure of the president.

"What the president did by consciously and intentionally violating the Constitution and laws of this country with this illegal wiretapping has to be answered," Mr. Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin, said on the ABC News program "This Week." "Proper accountability is a censuring of the president, saying: 'Mr. President, acknowledge that you broke the law, return to the law, return to our system of government.' "

Not surprisingly, Bill Frist countered with a “rally ‘round the family” defense.

Mr. Frist, who appeared on another segment of "This Week," said support for a censure would undermine the nation's efforts to fight terrorism and defend itself against its enemies.

"We are right now at a war, in an unprecedented war, where we do have people who really want to take us down," Mr. Frist said.

"The signal that it sends — that there is in any way a lack of support for our commander in chief, who is leading us with a bold vision in a way that we know is making our homeland safer — is wrong," he added. "And it sends a perception around the world."

I recall hearing a prominent another Republican leader say that our “offensive against terror involves more than military action. Ultimately, the only way to defeat the terrorists is to defeat their dark vision of hatred and fear by offering the hopeful alternative of political freedom . . . the rule of law, and protection of minorities, and strong, accountable institutions that last longer than a single vote.” What better way to fight this ideological battle than by demonstrating our own commitment to the rule of law by holding our highest officials accountable? Seriously, all those living under the “dark vision of hatred and fear” might like what they see.

--MM