[KevinTheOmnivore]

Looking at it another way, when this article says "Dems", they really mean two. I could've told you that Lieberman wouldn't support this, and Reid won't support anything unless he knows it's viable.

The Republicans are playing this perfectly, and the Dems will allow it. The GOP will turn this measure into a referendum on the Democrats, and the Democrats will cower and hide. Feingold, and maybe a select few, will stand and be marginalized for something that makes perfect sense.

This quote drives me nuts: "The American people already made their decision," Cheney added. "They agree with the president."

This is why we are a republic. This is why the masses elect representatives to act in their best interest rather than their whims. This is why we have a republican government! Just because the Bush campaign team (which is certainly more of a campaign team than an actual administration) has framed a solid message around this and gained support doesn't mean it's the right thing to do! (note: I happen to feel this same argument applies to the whole Dubai issue)

The American people are misinformed on this issue. Bottom line. If more of them knew that this program included spying on Quaker groups, they'd be pissed. If this is necessary, why is the PATRIOT Act necessary??? But this is the fault of the Democrats. Russ Feingold does what every Democrat should be doing. I was in Madison in 2004, I saw how he operates. If he believes in something, and feels that his own constituents are being denied necessary details on a matter, he goes to the town halls and the community centers. He MAKES his argument to the people who support him (many, many, many of them coming from rural, RED Wisconsin). He doesn't bend over and let the Republicans call a duck a rabbit.

Ugh. I don't even AGREE with Feingold entirely on the war, but I still think he is arguably the most principled member of the Senate.