(Russ) Feingold Tests Waters for Possible 2008 Presidential Run

[rodeodance]

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/New...

Feingold Tests Waters for Possible 2008 Presidential Run
By Ron Hurtibise


Last update: January 29, 2005

DAYTONA BEACH -- One of President Bush's most vocal opponents in the Senate is weighing a 2008 run for the presidency.

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., told the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County on Friday that he'll decide whether to run after "going around the country" working to return a Democrat to the White House.

In Bush's first term, Feingold opposed the president's policies on the Iraq war, USA Patriot Act, Medicare reform, education policy, environmental regulation and abortion rights. He made clear he was leaving his own presidential options open after a club member asked if he plans to run.

For now, Feingold said, he wants to be "part of the process" of identifying a candidate likely to succeed George W. Bush in 2008. That involves helping to create "national organizations of people to make that happen," he said..........

[rodeodance]

1. i am ambivilant-he is my Senator

[Voltaire99]

40. He represents the Democratic wing of the party.

Could that be the cause of your ambivalence?

Smart and principled, Feingold is just the medicine this moribund party needs.

[President Jesus]

44. voted 'yes' on condi in committee and on the floor. nt

[laylah]

46. The only senator

to read, in its entirety, and vote against the Patriot Act. I'd consider voting for him.

Jenn

[sasquatch]

2. I hope he does the same thing to the republicans that the democrats did

too Dean in the 2004 primaries.

[Pirate Smile]

4. He is a Democrat.

[salin]

22. er... HUH?

I don't follow your post at all. Clarification please?

[saltpoint]

3. Feingold in the White House would bring some dignity --

-- back after 8 years of skulduggery of BushCo.

But if Doyle loses to Tommie then Feingold's seat goes to a Republican, doesn't it?

Yikes. We could lose him in the Senate and he might lose the presidential race, too. Then what?

We like you, Russ. Don't leave us.

[hippiechick]

6. Mark Green (R - barf) is gonna run for Gov in WI

I don't think Tommy will want that job back.

[rodeodance]

7. Things a mess in WI in Tommy runs againt Kohl and now Russ thinking

of running.

[KC21304]

13. I don't think Tommy will run against Kohl. He hates it in Washington.

[saltpoint]

18. Hmm. Green doesn't sound very good at all.

And Tommie is such a fool.

Do something, quick!

[hippiechick]

34. Green is a total fundie.

Very scary. VERY.

[saltpoint]

39. Well, hippiechick, we've got to stop Green.

Does he have broad statewide appeal?

Wisconsin seems to have a lot of cliffhanger votes.

[hippiechick]

45. I don't think he's got statewide appeal ...

... but north eastern and maybe northern WI likes him (he's from Green Bay - he was a summer camp counselor when I was in 7th grade - thought he was an asshole, even back then!) ...

He's the typical clean cut, 'self made', 'family values' GOP'er that sells so well with the elderly - which there are ALOT of in NE WI.
He's a poster child for the Brownshirts.

The only way the Dems could be successful against him is to run a candidate who is just as 'clean cut', and who can itemize Green's voting record and then translate that into the harm it's done to the interests of the elderly and low-income up there.

[ginnyinWI]

5. he's my senator, too

I'm disappointed that he voted to approve Condi Rice.

[rodeodance]

8. I trust Russ voted his conscious--that is good enough for me.

[HuckleB]

9. I don't understand that vote either.

It seems out of character.

[rabbit2484]

12. He explained weeks ago why

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/120804A.shtml

Russ kicks ass and I would let him leave to steer this country back

[radio4progressives]

52. Out Standing Speech - thanks! n/t

[BamaLefty]

10. Wisconsin Guaranteed

We wouldn't have to spend money on WI. We could put it on IA, OH, FL, NM, etc.

[latteromden]

20. Minnesota guaranteed, too - people here'll realise the similarities to

Wellstone.

[UrbScotty]

11. I proposed the idea a few weeks ago in the campaigns forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[patricia92243]

14. He is ok, but running another senator scares me that we'll be guarenteed

to lose.

[dolo amber]

15. No chance

I love Russ with all my heart, but he's a) very left and b) a Jew. He's not your DINO repub-friendly Joe Lieberman kinda Jew, either. I just can't see it happening...Much like Kucinich; sounds awesome in theory, but the realities are much, much different.

[rodeodance]

24. I think I agree with you.

[latteromden]

26. In a state where Kerry won by .35%, Feingold won by 11.3% - I think

there might be a chance there. Of course, it might play out differently in a national election, but that's still pretty impressive.

[fujiyama]

38. He'd do better than Kucinich in a GE

After all, Feingold has actually won a statewide election in a battleground state and he seems more "normal" (IE has a wife and kids)....I know its superfical but hey to many out there it matters.

[leesa]

16. Nope. He lacks courage when courage counts.

[latteromden]

17. I would call being the one senator to vote against the Patriot Act courage

"when it counts."

[expatriot]

19. Yes, for a Senator he is pretty damned principled (again, for a Senator)

[Lefta Dissenter]

27. Thanks,

I couldn't even respond to that post.

I haven't agreed with all of Russ' decisions, but he stands up for what he believes in, and he's not afraid to explain his decisions to his constituents. We voted him back in, knowing that he would likely approve bush's appointments.

I truly don't want to lose him as my Senator, however, so I have mixed feelings about the whole damned thing.

edited to add: principled? That doesn't even begin to describe it. My son worked for Russ' Senate office for a year, and I saw how Russ' expectations for himself and those who worked for him were lightyears beyond what I've seen from many, MANY other Senators.

[Zynx]

21. Voted against IWR, Tax Cuts, Patriot Act, and all sorts of other stuff.

You can shove it. No other Senator can say that. No one has more political courage than Russ Feingold.

[salin]

25. I think the one place some DUers find fault

is that on principle he votes for major cabinet appointees on principle (on the idea that a pres should be able to select his cabinet - and then let the chips fall where they will). I get it - though I may not always agree (eg Ashcroft... ugh... as a colleague he could have seen that coming) - but on all other votes - he has one of the best records in the Senate. I love Fiengold. I don't agree, but accept his principle per cabinet appointees (and he is consistent on it). I don't know that he has the populist flair that will likely be needed in the next round. I would be more likley to throw my hat behind someone like Harkin (who can rouse a crowd with populist rhetoric with the best of them.)

[Zynx]

28. Russ is classic Wisconsin. He just makes sense.

With what is basically a pretty liberal record, he was able to win places like Outagamie county, which never vote Democratic. True, Michels wasn't as formidible as his opponent in 1998, but even so it was impressive.

[latteromden]

31. Is 'classic Wisconsin' like the billboards for stores that sell "fireworks

and cheese"?

(Sorry, I'm from Minnesota, I had to say SOMETHING! ;)

[Zynx]

33. Rural Wisconsin doesn't have much.

They have to make a living somehow.

[54anickel]

29. Huh? When does courage count in your mind? Could you maybe

give an example, cuz I'm afraid I might be missing something here.

[Zynx]

30. They have no idea what they're talking about.

For a board that has a lot of people who claim to be well informed a fair number of us seem to be fairly ignorant about a lot of different things.

[rodeodance]

32. ditto-my fellow Wisconsinite

[54anickel]

35. Funny, that's been the topic of a couple of PMs I've had recently. Seems

DU has changed quite a bit as it's grown. Must have been all of that publicity - blessing and a curse at the same time I guess.

Ironic in a way, ain't it. Can't keep a good thing like DU to yourselves, but as you share it, it changes and is not quite the good thing it was. Heh, that's progress though.

[fujiyama]

37. I know his vote for Rice

is disappointing and frustrating, but to his credit he has stated that other than in the rarest of circumstances, the president has the right to appoint those he wants to cabinet positions.

I disagree with this but he has made his stnce clear and he has been extremely consistant. On most of the issues that matter he's been vrey courageous and principled.

[metisnation]

23. FUCK YEAH BACKBONE

http://www.russfeingold.org/feingear.php

GO RUSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Walt Starr]

36. He'd have my support

especially if Dean is DNC Chairman.

[RCPJAP]

42. It's too soon

to tell who will be in the running in 2008. Might as well be light years away. I think we should begin speculating on who is going to run in about two years. For now, we need to at least take back the Senate in 2006.

[American Tragedy]

41. If he runs, I'll almost certainly back him

In my opinion, his vote to confirm Condi Rice is overwhelmingly outweighed by his record on substantive issues like Iraq war, Patriot Act, Medicare, environment, abortion rights etc. His positions in general are very consistent, which would make it much easier for him to explain himself to the American people and to credibly stand up against a Republican.

We would also be guaranteed at least one swing state, thus enabling us to redirect our resources.

[underpants]

48. I agree-what I know of him I like and he is a real straight shooter

GO RUSS!

[Renew Deal]

43. I could support him.

He would be a great choice.

[Redstone]

47. Forget it.

No matter how good he is, just forget it.

I can just see the Rove Smear Machine already cranking up the behind-the scenes buzzphrase for the Red State Religious Loonies:

"Wayull, yew know, FeinGOLD, thet thar'n one a them Jeeeeuw names, and yall know what them Jeeeeuws done did to Christ, now don't yall?"

If they could smear Cleland, they wouldn't be above using the "Jeeeeeuw Card," would they?

Redstone

[American Tragedy]

49. Realistically, is there anybody who is free of such vulnerabilities?

[smoogatz]

51. Wingnuts love Jews

As long as they're orthodox Israelis with no connection to Hollywood or the international banking system.

[smoogatz]

50. We like him in Wisconsin

He's a common-sense, straight-talking guy who doesn't take crap from anyone. He pretty much disemboweled his dim-bulb Republican opponent in November (the debates were wonderful to watch--"You haven't even read the patriot act," he said to what's-his-name--"How can you support it?"), and he votes correctly from a progressive's viewpoint about 90 percent of the time. He's a smart, tough-minded politician from a swing state in the Midwest. Hook him up with somebody with military cred as a running-mate, and you've got a likely winner. And dollars to donuts he votes against Gonzales.

[radio4progressives]

54. He was clear and emphatically opposed to the war and Patriot Act

THAT took COURAGE in this Brave New Bush-Wellian World ..

I'm very interested in seeing what positions he has on other foreign policy matters. Such as the Israeli Palestinian issue, and will be painting Chavez as some sort of evil doer like Condi Rice tried to imply during the hearings. There're just a couple things i want to be very clear on. What's his position on single payer health care, and Corporate Personhood?

don't get me wrong, these are not litmus test issues i'm presenting, just curious...

[KissMeKate]

53. Run Feingold!

You rock!

(despite your dissappointing vote on Condi Rice)