Feingold's appeal crosses party lines

[pstans]

This was posted on www.russforpresident.com and it shows why Russ Feingold should be the next President in 2008.

A man I can support
Written by Guest on 2006-02-04 07:36:36
While I personally don't agree with most of Russ Feingold's politics, this is a man that I can easily support for President. I consider myself a conservative, right-wing, Bible-thumping Republican. Why in the world would I look at Feingold as "my" candidate?

First, because the man is a true leader. He fights his party when the battle needs to be fought. He reaches across the aisle for support - and can be reached from across the aisle. This is the kind of bi-partisan leadership that Washington needs. Cooperation - not conflict - is what our country rises and falls on. Partisan politics is killing America. We need less division and more cooperation. Feingold has made a career of doing that - while still subscribing to the common sense to object to the objectionable.

Second, Feingold fights ideological battles with a sense of reality. In a time when our country is at war - one which I support and Feingold generally doesn't - I want a leader leading that war with a sense of purpose and realism. I don't agree with many of his ideas, but I do agree that it's time this country got some real leadership - leadership that it hasn't seen since the 1992 election. In that time, I've been forced to vote for Ross Perot twice, and have purposely NOT voted for President in the 2000 and 2004 elections since no party gave me a candidate that I could support in good conscience.

Russ Feingold believes in the same principles of government that I believe in, as shown by his voting record. That he doesn't vote the same way I'd vote on many "issues" as framed by the media doesn't worry me.

Russ Feingold voted for confirming Chief Justice Roberts. He should have. The man was qualified. I'd support anyone who was qualified, even if they don't fit my voting stance - and, apparently, so will Russ Feingold.

Russ Feingold voted to continue the impeachment hearing of Bill Clinton, when every other Democratic Senator voted against it. He understood, as Clinton and Bush didn't/don't, that our system of government is not something to be circumvented. It's something the people DEMAND.

Russ Feingold sponsored campaign finance reform. And it's about time, as too many greedy Washington politicians only answer to their special interest groups.

These kind of things tell me that Russ Feingold believes in the America that I believe in - even if he sometimes believes differently.

Get this man elected, folks. We need real leadership for a change.

[stray cat]

1. I think independent bipartisan leaders can be elected

I think leaders like Feingold can get elected in a general election. I am less sure that they can get their parties nomination but in Feingolds case I sure hope so!

[elehhhhna]

2. 2nd Nom. I love Feingold.

[guidod]

3. I think Feingold would attract a wide

range of voters. He's my number one candidate.

[quiet.american]

4. Talk about a backhanded endorsement!

But, okay.

[NanceGreggs]

5. I hope Russ runs for the WH in '08 ...

... he's got MY vote!

Articulate, with an ability to be visionary and down-to-earth at the same time. He presents common-sense ideas to deal with REAL problems, and not just rhetoric. A TRUE leader ...

[Totally Committed]

6. Russ is a really good man...

I like him a lot.

TC

[Telly Savalas]

7. Now if we can only convince self-proclaimed "moderate pragmatists"

that we can do better than their milquetoast offerings who pander foolish right-wing ideology. "Electability" and standing up for what's right are not mutually exclusive.

[stray cat]

9. I consider myself a moderate pragmatist

and I really like Feingold! I agree with you - we need a strong candidate who stands up for whats right and stands up for the little guy but who has appeal to moderates. I really don't think thats a difficult combination. I believe alot of the electorate is ready for competence and integrity along with strength and resolve.

[calimary]

8. K&R. That may have shaped up a ticket for me:

Feingold/Clark. Or Clark/Feingold. Either way. Both good. And he can truly stand there and say he didn't vote for the war before he voted against it, or any of that nuanced crap that too much of America seems incapable of understanding. Nobody can throw his Iraq war or Patriot Act voting record back in his face. Especially since, in the hindsight bush decries, we now know (and most of us already did know) that his positions on those issues were EXACTLY spot-on.

[LaurenG]

10. I really like Feingold

I'm happy that others see him in the same light as I do.

[cascadiance]

11. I think his staying away from PAC money preserves his integrity...

... and his sensibility in taking very principled and defensable approaches on most issues in congress. When we are always scratching our way trying to figure out why other congress people vote the way they do and often times write it off to "backroom deals", if Feingold doesn't vote the way we might want or expect (aka the Roberts vote), there usually is a "principled" reason for him doing so. Like the conservative guy says here, someone who's straightforward like that, and doesn't get "bought off" like other politicians have been notorious for doing lately, that is the kind of person we need in leadership now and can REALLY appeal to people in the middle not be the "moderate" that DLC members try to claim themselves to be. I see him as THE guy to get some real reform in campaign financing if it can be done later. We really need it now, as I think it is the ultimate reason why we have so many messes in Washington now.

Not only that, I can't think of anyone else in the Senate that has stood more for civil liberties and "the rights of the rest of us" than Russ has. Patrick Leahy has come close, but Russ has moved ahead lately with his stance on the Patriot Act, etc.

I REALLY want him to win the WH in 2008!

[CTyankee]

12. My Wisconsin sister in law likes him

and she has consistently voted Repub. I like him too.

The problem is that he is a senator. I am convinced we can't elect senators, only people with no voting record nationally. For me that means Clark (I really belive in this guy)and maybe Warner as a running mate.

Sorry, but I am disillusioned with regard to Senators' having a chance to win the presidency. Too many disappointments.

[NJ Democrats]

13. I love Russ!

Russ in '08!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. What I've been saying all along--the American voter likes feistiness

The American voter hates wishy-washy or timid.

That's more important than ideology in many cases.