"Feingold bashes both parties over Iraq" (with video) (UPDATED)

UPDATE: David Sirota discusses "Feingold: On Iraq, it's us vs. the Washington consultant class" and links to a three minute audio excerpt from the conference call with Feingold and bloggers after the vote.

John Amato:

Russ Feingold came out swinging tonight on Countdown. He was livid that nothing concrete is being done about the war in Iraq except for empty gestures and Republican filibustering. He says we need to speak out and contact our representatives. Video from "Countdown" here.

Brad Friedman:

In a conference call with several bloggers concluded moments ago, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) had a number of harsh words concerning today's procedural bickering and fillibustering by Republicans in the Senate, which stifled both votes on his own resolution to end the Iraq War as well as allowing amendments to several non-binding resolutions that also failed to come to the floor for a full vote.

Feingold's remarks were highly critical not just of the Republicans, but even moreso of his own Democratic caucus colleagues, "Washington insider consultants", and even former Senatorial colleague-turned-presidential candidate John Edwards for failing to take a tough stand to end the war in Iraq.

In a passionate thirty minute call, Feingold stressed, "This is an important moment to see if we're gonna try and end this war. Frankly, I'm disappointed that Democrats are playing it safe on this one."

"We need to play hardball on this. We're gonna have to take the lead on this issue and we're gonna need to tie this place up as long as it takes," he said in describing what he sees as a fear and timidity in his colleagues who now hold a slight majority in the Senate.

"The problem is a whole lot of middle-of-the-road Democrats who refuse to pull the trigger, who refuse to do what needs to be done," Feingold stressed. "Even people who voted against the war" seem afraid, he explained. "It requires courage. It requires brinksmanship."

RAW STORY:

Vocal Bush administration critic Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) today excoriated his Democratic colleagues in the Senate after Republicans successfully blocked debate on a resolution that criticized President Bush's Iraq escalation plan.

"The fact is, the President and the Republican leadership are so out of touch with reality and the American people that they don't understand that this war is a disaster, and the American people want us out of there," Feingold said on MSNBC this evening.

He adds, "The Democrats are being too weak as well."