Resolutions Rebuke Bush Administration for History of Misconduct and Abuse

Feingold to Introduce Resolutions Censuring President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Other Administration Officials.

Russ Feingold and George W. Bush

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold says he is going to introduce two censure resolutions today that condemn the President, Vice President and other administration officials for misconduct relating to the war in Iraq and for what the senator describes as "their repeated assaults on the rule of law."

Feingold says the resolutions are appropriate and necessary steps for Congress to rebuke an administration that is "responsible for some of the worst misconduct and the worst abuses of the law in American history."

He says censure is about holding the administration accountable. “Congress needs to formally condemn the President and members of the administration for misconduct before and during the Iraq war, and for undermining the rule of law at home.

Feingold says censure "is not a cure for the devastating toll this administration’s actions have taken on this country." He says that when future generations look back at the terrible misconduct of this administration, "they need to see that a co-equal branch of government stood up and held to account those who violated the principles on which this nation was founded.”

Many who share Fiengold's vision of accountability for the Bush Administration, say it is too little, too late. Harry Reid of Nevada says the proposal from Feingold illustrates the nation's frustration. But he also says he will not go along with Feingold. Reid says his priorities are finishing spending bills on defense and homeland security.

"The president already has the mark of the American people he's the worst president we ever had. I don't think we need a censure resolution in the Senate to prove that."

White House Spokesman Trey Bohn told FOX News, "We realize that Senator Feingold does not care much for the president's policies."

Bohn says Bush wants to work with Feingold and other Democrats on such matters as supporting U.S. troops, improving energy choices and securing health care and tax cuts for families. "Perhaps after calls for censure and more investigations, Congress may turn to such things," Bohn said.

Feingold will work with his colleagues, as well as seek input from his constituents and the American people, as he crafts the final language of the resolutions, he says. The first resolution will condemn the President and others for misconduct relating to the war in Iraq.

Feingold says Bush is guilty of overstating the case that Saddam Hussein had WMD, particularly nuclear weapons, and falsely implying a relationship with al Qaeda and links to 9/11.

He also says the adminitration is guilty of failing to plan for the civil conflict and humanitarian problems that the intelligence community predicted.

Feingold also charges the administration with over-stretching the Army, Marine Corps and Guard with prolonged deployments and justifying our military involvement in Iraq by repeatedly distorting the situation on the ground there.

The second resolution will focus on the administration’s attack on the rule of law. This includes the illegal NSA warrantless wiretapping program, extreme policies on torture, the Geneva Conventions, and detainees at Guantanamo.

It also references the refusal to recognize legitimate congressional oversight into the improper firings of U.S. Attorneys.

In March 2006, Feingold introduced a resolution censuring the President for authorizing and misleading Congress and the public about the illegal NSA warrantless wiretapping program. In January 2007, the administration finally brought its wiretapping program within the FISA statute.

“At my town hall meetings, online, and everywhere I go, I hear the American people demanding that the President and his administration be held accountable for their misconduct, both with regard to the disastrous war in Iraq and their flagrant abuse of the rule of law. Censure is a relatively modest response, but one that puts Congress on record condemning their actions, both for the American people today and for future generations,” Feingold said.

Feingold is encouraging people to email suggestions of what to include in the censure resolution. People can email Senator Feingold at Russell_Feingold@feingold.senate.gov or visit his webpage at http://feingold.senate.gov.