The Lone Patriot Russ Feingold

[rodeodance]

......Feingold's courage needs to be honored, not by celebrating him as a brave loner, but by following his leadership. Legislators of both parties need to preserve our liberties, despite ominous claims of permanent war and unchecked power. If not, God save the Republic.......

Published on Saturday, February 18, 2006 by the Boston Globe

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0218-21.htm

The Lone Patriot
by Robert Kuttner

The other day, editors of the American Prospect interviewed the Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid. I pressed Reid about the difficulty that Democrats were having mounting a unified opposition to President Bush, even on issues such as the badly bungled Medicare prescription drug program.

Reid did not respond directly on privatized Medicare drugs, where his caucus is divided. Instead, the minority leader invoked the bravery of Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin.

Reid said, ''An example of how people really appreciate your standing up for what you believe is Russ Feingold, the only person to vote against the Patriot Act -- the only person. The Republicans in 2004 spent tons of money going after him on that one issue, and it didn't matter because people believed that Russ Feingold did it because he thought it was the right thing to do." Indeed, last year, when John Kerry carried Wisconsin by a bare 12,000 votes, Feingold sailed to reelection by more than 330,000 votes. ''I so admire Russ Feingold," Reid added.
.......

[rodeodance]

1. Reid, who so admires Feingold's courage, left [him] all alone yet again

.....When Democrats agreed to support an extension making only superficial changes, Feingold vowed to filibuster. On Thursday, the Senate voted to end debate. Exactly two other senators voted with Feingold. One was octogenarian Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who carries a copy of the Constitution around in his pocket. The other was the flinty former Republican Jim Jeffords of Vermont, the Senate's lone independent.

Reid, who so admires Feingold's courage, left Feingold all alone yet again.

[serryjw]

2. I stopped being surprised

by what the dems leadership doesn't do. I wish I could support Feingold in 2008 but it is suicide w/o a wife.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Maybe we can find a volunteer here at D.U.

to marry the man, so he can be Al Gore's Vice-President in 2008.:)

Kicked and recommended.

Oh well, too late to recommend.

:kick:

[Talismom]

3. Yeah, how can he face himself? The whole govt. has gone to hell! n/t

[WhiteTara]

4. I saw Feingold on Bill Maher last night

and he has a great presence. Intelligent, thoughtful, witty. Yeah, I could get behind his presidential candidacy.