Russ Feingold Is an Idiot

Proving once again that wealth and elective office do not require intelligence, Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who is rumored to be running for President in 2008, today asked John Roberts during the confirmation hearings: (loose transcription on the fly)

Speaking to Judge Roberts of 9/11, "On that day, did you realize that the attack meant it would be harder to protect individual liberties?"

I thought of hundreds of things that day...who did it? why? how many were killed? what would happen next? The list goes on and on. I take a back seat to no one in my respect for and commitment to individual rights. I enjoy and celebrate my freedoms as an American. I recognize that many people are concerned about the potential erosion of rights during wartime, particularly in reference to the Patriot Act.

But how in the name of all that is holy and decent does the "respected gentleman" from Wisconsin expect to be taken seriously when he asks that kind of question about 9/11? There is a marked difference in the public perception of Republicans and Democrats on the issue of national security. Feingold has, by his nearly unhinged question, demonstrated exactly why people think that way. (And for what it's worth, if that's the first thing he thought of on 9/11 or if it's something he thought of at all on that day...well that just further proves the point!)