Russ Feingold, The Real Maverick

[babylonsister]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-14/real-maverick-confronts-one-word-plastics-commentary-by-margaret-carlson.html

Real Maverick Confronts One Word, Plastics: Margaret Carlson
By Margaret Carlson - Oct 13, 2010 8:00 PM ET


Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin is not among those members of Congress to have “gone Washington.” He’s as Wisconsin as the Green Bay Packers, walleyes, cheeseheads and chocolate bacon on a stick.

When he ran in 1992, defeating Republican incumbent Bob Kasten after dispatching two wealthy Democrats in the primary, Feingold posted five promises on his garage door that, 18 years later, could serve as the manifesto for this election season’s crop of angry outsiders.

Feingold pledged to live and send his children to public school in Wisconsin, reject any pay raise, visit each of the state’s 72 counties every year and rely on in-state contributions for the bulk of his fundraising. To reduce the influence of money in politics, he joined with Republican John McCain, back when the Arizona senator was still copping to being a maverick, on the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law.

Feingold stuck to his promises and gave every sign of becoming Senator for Life, following a quirky path in the tradition of the Progressive Movement leader Robert La Follette. He is David against the Goliath of organized special interests. He casts unpopular votes against popular spending programs such as the prescription-drug benefit for seniors. He opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement, the war against Iraq, deregulating banks and, nine years later, bailing them out.

A study by a Harvard University fellow, cited in a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, found that Feingold’s voting behavior deviated from prevailing left-right patterns more dramatically than any other senator in seven of the nine sessions of Congress in which he has served.

snip//

Feingold and other endangered Democrats face the oddest of coalitions. Working-class voters most damaged by corporate America have made common cause with new, faux populists to demand tax cuts for the wealthy, the continued under-regulation of corporations such as BP Plc and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and the repeal of Obama’s health-system overhaul so that insurers can decide who will and won’t get care. What’s best for business is best for America.

Those are mere details at a time when voters seem willing to send clowns to Washington just to put some new faces in the circus.

[BootinUp]

1. Just a guess

but if he loses, it will be mostly about money. Not having lots of it to defend against smears/lies hurts in two ways, the second way is the lack of media coverage (because he doesn't pull in big money).

[Hubert Flottz]

2. I have more respect for Russ Feingold than any other democrat

in Washington. When the chips were down Russ Feingold was one of the few patriots. When the cowards cowed down to Bush and Cheney Russ Feingold stood up to the liars and war criminals.

The cheeseheads who give a damn about America had better turn out and support Russ Feingold.

[babylonsister]

3. I'm hoping this is why Feingold isn't polling well...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x475948

Is Cell Phone Bias Skewing Polls?


A new Pew Research study finds that not only can landline-only surveys exaggerate the Republican enthusiasm because cell-only users tend to vote more Democratic, but they also may be even more biased than in 2008.

In three of four congressional election polls conducted since spring, estimates from landline-only samples had slightly more Republican support and slightly less Democratic support. One of the polls showed no difference. In the most recent congressional poll, Republicans led Democrats 46% to 45%, among landline-only users who were registered to vote. But when cell-only registered voters were included, Democrats took the lead, 47% to 44%. Among likely voters, Republicans held a 12 point lead among those with landlines only, 53% to 41% but the lead shrinks to seven points, 50% to 43%, when cell-only voters are added.

Jon Cohen: 'While Pew's update to their long-running research on cellphones and surveys isn't a broad rebuke to pollsters who don't interview on cellphones, it raises fresh doubts about the precision of the reams of polling data fueling estimates of what may happen on Nov. 2."

[w4rma]

12. Feingold is behind because big money is focused on taking him out.

I believe he has a good chance of pulling this out! It's going to require lots of grassroots work and a *very* good GOtV on election day. The trend is on his side, but we need to speed up the trend so that he's ahead, rather than behind, on election day.

We also have to bring up the national numbers, since that will directly help Sen. Feingold and help Democrats keep the House - which we are currently on track to lose.

[Hubert Flottz]

13. I have a sister who does this kind of polling and agrees about

this cell phone vs land line assessment you posted.

She told me pretty much the same thing a couple of days ago, about the tight senate race here in WV.

[opihimoimoi]

4. Big money is killing Russ.....and its working....hopefully, the peeps come to their sanity

Hopefully AMERICA COMES TO THEIR SENSES before the election....

Get Willy to tree them GOPers in your area like he does the JWs

[Hubert Flottz]

14. It's a shame that our government has reached a point where the

politicians are no longer ashamed to admit that they are owned lock stock and barrel by their corporate piggy banks.

On the take is part of the job description in Washington now, democracy and We The People be damned.

Our country is bankrupt just about any way you look at it.

Political capital is as worthless as the Dollar.

Willy won't chase a republican...I guess he ain't a shit eater.(their smelly diapers are a dead give away)

[opihimoimoi]

22. I don't blame Willy for rejecting them GOPers....more fun with J Witless crowd

BTW...them miners gatta be the luckiest bastards in the Universe...

The rescue was awesome

coulda use them in the gulf to stop the oil.....

Its been over nine years we been here dude...congrats...Hellos to Karen...

[Hubert Flottz]

23. Looks like the GOPers are on the rebound...

Can you believe the American people are that stupid?

We might have somebody worse than Bush ruining the country again before long.

[Scuba]

9. Russ is the best!!!!

And some of us cheeseheads are working hard to get him re-elected.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. Good for you Scuba...

I've worked with some good folks from your state.

[Scuba]

17. Thank you.

[babylonsister]

19. Thank you! I dread the thought of him not being there. nt

[Scuba]

20. You, me and a whole bunch of others. That's why were working hard to get out the vote. n/t

[elocs]

5. Don't discount that Feingold has visited every county, every year

and met with thousands of Wisconsin residents. He is known and he is trusted.

Last night I saw my first Feingold tv ad in many days while I have seen Johnson attack ads every day.

[babylonsister]

6. I'm trying not to discount anything; I desperately want Russ

to win, and hope all the pollsters and talking heads are wrong.

[karynnj]

10. Elocs, What do you hear from neighbors, co-workers, friends and family

compared to previous years? Same question for any WI person.) Are there many people who you knew in the past voted for Feingold but are now for Johnson?

It really is sad that money can buy an election.

[Dinger]

7. Hmmm. K & R

:patriot:

[Scuba]

8. According to Russ, speaking at yesterday's event in Milwaukee...

...his has inched ahead in the polls. But work remains.

The ONLY thing that matters at this point is getting voters to the polls on November 2nd.

You can help do that.

Volunteer down at Democratic HQ. They need people to make phone calls, knock on doors, compile lists of local events, do data entry, etc.

Help others get their early ballots in case they can't get out on election day.

Get a yard sign.

Talk to your cousin/nephew/aunt etc.

We need to focus on this or the next two years of DU will be not about how to improve the country, but about limiting damage.

thanks,

Scuba

[karynnj]

11. Nicely said - and best wishes

[Scuba]

16. Thank you.

[FourScore]

21. +1,000

[Evasporque]

18. Ron Johnson is another wealthy Wisconsin right winger....

Who really only cares about how much money he can make in a given quarter.

Old school "git'er done" manufacturing mentality. He'll close a business in a heartbeat if it meant another 2% profit. And will

WILL VOTE FOR A MAJOR TAX CUT....FOR HIMSELF if elected.