Feingold tests presidential waters for '08

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5453232.html

Feingold tests presidential waters for '08
Rob Hotakainen, Star Tribune Washington Bureau Correspondent
June 13, 2005

FAIRCHILD, WIS. -- When Sen. Russ Feingold came here for his 893rd listening session, retired teacher Roland Mead popped a blunt question: "How does President Russ Feingold sound to you?"

"Like a lot of work," Feingold replied, moving quickly to the next question.

The third-term Wisconsin Democrat says it is too soon to decide whether he will run for president in 2008, but he is looking and sounding like a candidate, promising to travel to all 50 states to make the case for his party.

In Washington, Feingold's name is on all the short lists of possible candidates, creating a buzz among liberals. In Wisconsin, where Feingold received more votes than any other candidate in state history last fall, voters are trying to figure out if their senator's recently announced divorce will affect his national prospects.

<</SNIP>>

[Teaser]

1. I like Feingold but

he's a dud, in terms of personality.

We have to stop nominating duds.

[ewagner]

2. This plus this:

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=186x8710>

[bluestateguy]

3. I'd be happy to support him

But my first choice for the nomination would not be a member of Congress: those voting records are real easy to tear apart in 30 second ads.

[Eloriel]

4. Well, who the HELL does he think he's winning over by dissing Dean?

That was stupid. He's done dug himself quite a big hole to climb out of with me on that one.

Stupid man. I'm really sick of all these totally out of touch Dems.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Let's be honest, Dean has embraced the stay-the-course in Iraq mantra

We really need someone that will say "NO" to war and "YES" to peace, and I don't mean one that will be willing to keep our troops in Iraq until things turn our way. They won't!

[Larkspur]

11. Yes, I too was disappointed in Feignold dissing Dean

Obviously Feingold didn't get the whole story on Dean's remarks, but thank Goddess the DNC executive committe reminded Dean that they didn't elect him to be a wimp and but elected him to rally the base and keep the pressure on the Repukes even if the Repuke-lite Dems kept screaming foul.

[cestpaspossible]

5. Feingold, Kerry, Boxer,

that's my short list... but I'm open to others... it's so, so far away, it's kinda silly to even think about it... 2006... 2006... 2006...

[AndyTiedye]

10. Diebold, Diebold, Diebold

It doesn't matter who we run, if we don't do something about Diebold,
and all the other ways the Rethuglicans are STEALING OUR VOTES!

We also have to get our most promising candidates to stay out of small airplanes!

With

all things are possible

[AtLiberty]

7. If he wins, he'll be the most eligible bachelor...

...like "An American President," only that he lost his wife to divorce and not death.

[geek tragedy]

8. I love Sen. Feingold, but I love him as a Senator.

As a Presidential candidate, the last thing we need is another liberal Senator.

[warrens]

9. I am not sure what effect the divorce will have

It can't be good, but it was not much of an issue for Kerry. But it is recent, but apparently amicable. But it is also his second divorce and you KNOW what the GOP will say about that. "Can't run a marriage, how can he run a country?" Apart from Kerry and Edwards, Russ is my preferred candidate. He has a strength I have never seen. While I was up in Wisconsin working for Kerry, I ran into a TON of Bush/Feingold yard signs. He's a flat out liberal, but people of all stripes respect him. He says what he is going to do, then he does it. I ended up talking to a lot of Bush voters (by accident) who told me, if Russ was running, I would not vote for Bush. I don't know how rational that is, but it seemed to be a pretty pervasive feeling among the non-wingnut GOP. The main problem is, outside of the midwest, no one knows who the hell he is.

In a fair world, this would be our next president. He would make a great VP too. We gotta get some fresh blood out there, and I think as much as I like Kerry, he is not going to run again. Feingold and Edwards look best to me.

[Moderator]

12. kick to combine

[dissent1977]

13. Wisconsin's Feingold Tests Presidential Waters

FAIRCHILD, WIS. -- When Sen. Russ Feingold came here for his 893rd listening session, retired teacher Roland Mead popped a blunt question: "How does President Russ Feingold sound to you?"

"Like a lot of work," Feingold replied, moving quickly to the next question.

The third-term Wisconsin Democrat says it is too soon to decide whether he will run for president in 2008, but he is looking and sounding like a candidate, promising to travel to all 50 states to make the case for his party.

In Washington, Feingold's name is on all the short lists of possible candidates, creating a buzz among liberals. In Wisconsin, where Feingold received more votes than any other candidate in state history last fall, voters are trying to figure out if their senator's recently announced divorce will affect his national prospects.

More: http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5453232.html

Read the rest of the article, he takes some good jabs at the Bush Regime. Feingold sure looks like a great candidate to me.

[AlienGirl]

14. Feingold ROCKS!!

:thumbsup: He is one of my favorite Senators.

Tucker

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. I"d vote for him, absolutely!

One of the best of all politicians - integrity, intelligence, sanity, normalness....

Feingold is totally awesome!

[crizzo5137]

18. Never happen...

The same group who freaked-to-the-polls over gay marrage bans would flock to make sure someone with a Jewish sounding last name lost...



Not being racist or whatever, just getting into the head of Billy Bob <and now I feel icky!... heh>

[AlienGirl]

28. Since they like to pay lip-service to "supporting Jews"

they might be held back from some of the worst character assassination precisely because Feingold is Jewish.

Or maybe not. Maybe they'll just show their true colors.

Tucker

[bluestateguy]

16. I like Russ

but I'd rather not have a senator or rep. as the nominee. They have voting records on paper that can be torn apart in 30 second ads. In Fiengold's case it would be a 15 year voting record.

[JohnLocke]

17. See the sig.

:o

[mcctatas]

19. Being from WI, I adore Russ, and he has the stones to be a great pres...

but he has some baggage that might not do well past the manson/nixon line. 1. he's Jewish
2. he just got divorced
Still, I think a divorced Jew from the midwest would fly better than a (gasp) woman senator from NY who is married to the whipping boy for repuke venom and hatred. It's a risky proposition, but one I'd love to see.

[pstans]

25. Those are 2 hurdles

Ideally, he could fall in love and get married in the next 1 year and a half. hehe

The Republicans have a long list of leaders who have hitory of divorces. I have heard Randi Rhodes talk about it a couple times. Reagen, Gingrich, Limbaugh, etc. She went on andn on and did a couple of segments on the hypocrisy of the Republicans supporting marriage and getting divorced all the time.

[countmyvote4real]

20. OK. Now I'm excited about 2008.

I don't want to vote for the GOP's chosen candidate for our party. I'd rather see her continue to serve NY in the Senate. Virginia Governor Mark Warner is also too much of a centrist to compell my support. On the other hand, Feingold would be a breath of fresh air.

[drfresh]

21. Rumblings in WI since February...

I tried posting this story back on February 26th, but didn't have enough posts to be able to start a thread. Alas :

Just got back from the annual College Dems of Wisconsin convention, where a speech by congressman Ron Kind raised some eyebrows and got people talking (actually there was talk of this the night before as well, which made it even more interesting). He thanked us for helping re-elect Russ Feingold, the "conscious of the United States Senate" and then said grinning, "and I hope he will get to be the next president of the United States" (something to that effect). There was definately a look on his face that said he knows something we don't...

Normally I'm not a rumor spreader but my 6th sense kicked in when he said that and I couldn't keep it to myself, and now it looks like the Russ 08 rumbles are continuing :)

[pstans]

24. Welcome to DU drfresh

Check out http://www.russforpresident.com/ for information on Feingold. The site was started by a student from UW-Steven's Point.

[CityDem]

22. I will send $$$

Feingold is my kind of dem -- it would be great to have a progressive candidate like RF instead of the DLC retreads.

[pstans]

23. Feingold stands on principle

Everytime that I hear Feingold's name in the news, I get excited. Why? Because he is stands on principle, principles that are right for this country. This allows him to be able to explain every one of his votes (unlike our last nominee). If he reminded me of any politicians it would be Bu$h. Bu$h said that you might not like his positions, but you know where he stands. The same could be said for Feingold, but Feingold has strong positions that are right for America.

He voted against the Patriot Act, supports a PAYGO ammendment to balance budgets, has strong environmental record, voted against No Child Left Behind, and has been against the war in Iraq from the get go.

Here are some links with more info on Feingold...
http://www.russforpresident.com/
http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/
http://www.russfeingold.org/index.php

[dissent1977]

26. Please do not compare Feingold to Bush

Bush and Feingold are pretty much complete opposites. And no people do not know where Bush stands. He says he wants to spread democracy, while he supports coup attempts in Venezuala. He calls a bill to chop down the forests the healthy forests initiative.

You know where Feingold stands by his votes. You only know where Bush stands if you read the fine print.

[pstans]

27. I can see why you don't like the comment

I hate Bu$h with the best of them, but he appeals to the average American for some reason. I think it is because he isn't too complicated. He keeps it simple and you know where he stands on an issue. Feingold is the same way. However, Feingold has American values at heart and follows through.

Feingold's Progressive message will resonate with Americans and he is able to give that message in a way that wil connect to the average American. He is likable and as someone else said he has a normalcy to him.

[CottonBear]

29. I really like Russ Feingold but I think he's not the right

for the job (Personally, I think he's brilliant). I think that we need a Governor or a military person. Somwone w/ NO fed level voting record.

[Zhade]

30. MAN, I hope he runs.

NT!

[AndyTiedye]

31. "President Russ Feingold" Sounds WONDERFUL to Me!

[still_one]

32. I would vote for him or anyone who DID NOT VOTE to go to war in Iraq

I will NOT vote for anyone for president who did

[IndianaGreen]

33. Russ is a maverick

He voted against the war and against PATRIOT, but he has also kept his own counsel on other issues. Whether we agree or not with his votes, we know that he votes his convictions, a refreshing change from those politicians that rely on polls and focus groups to figure on which side(s) of an issue to stand.

[Bushfire]

34. Why should this cheddarhead vote for him

I've personally talked to him about voting reform issues, including articles that detailed a whistleblower's account of putting uncertified patches on Diebold machines in GA. He was non-chalant, and wouldn't sign on to Sen Grahams' legislation when introduced last year. If he won't take the lead on voting reform, how can we vote him in. Do we need to fly Andy to DC, or WI to have a little chat with him? I'm not concerned about him taking WI either, which he should without a problem. We all know that OH, GA, and FL are where a Dem should win with fair elections. He's better than Hillary in my eyes, but if we can't have fair elections why throw money at him or anyone else?