Feingold The Forthright

[dogday]

Is this man too smart to be president? When Russ Feingold talks about how national security and foreign policy intersect, you think this man might just know what he's talking about. His ideas don't sound canned or full of buzz phrases, nor do they appeal to fear. Plus, they make sense.

Speaking Monday at the National Press Club, Feingold described his vision for national security. The senator from Wisconsin said he believes that "battling al-Qaida and associated networks" should be the nation's national security priority. Thinking about the war on terror in exclusively military terms is short-sighted and insufficient. Instead, Feingold argued, the U.S. should be focusing on safe havens of Islamist activity (like Indonesia), rescuing failed states and supporting human rights. Put another way, Feingold seemed to be saying, where we consort with repressive leaders and ignore the human rights of their citizens, we sow the seeds of anti-American hatred. Sure, it would've been nice if he'd noted how large America's fossil fuel-dependency looms as a factor in U.S. foreign policy decisions and how the lack of a real energy plan undermines our national security (hat tip, my former colleague Patrick Doherty and Michael Klare). That aside, it was refreshing to hear a Democrat talk about national security strategies that transcend defensive, reactive postures, and are informed by principle, not polling.

On Iraq, Feingold displayed the candor and directness that makes him popular with why-don't-Dems-get-a-spine progressives. He blasted the Bush administration's decision to invade, his Democratic colleagues' decision to vote in 2002 to authorize the president's use of force ("We missed an opportunity to define a different approach to the war on terror"), and the White House's refusal to admit it's made any mistakes and thus lay the groundwork for solutions. Feingold's own proposal relies on drawing down U.S. troops according to a "flexible timetable." When asked to counter those who claim that withdrawal of U.S. troops will plunge Iraq into further chaos, Feingold didn't flinch:

Our presence is a stimulant to terrorist activity. Reminiscent of France in Algeria and the Soviets in Afghanistan. The lesson of insurgencies is that when the occupying power leaves, it will lessen the power of the insurgency.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/08/feingold_the_forthright.php

[papau]

1. Tompaine.com ignores Feingold endorsement of McCain as noted by ABCNOTE

Per ABCNOTE:

"In his address to the National Press Club yesterday, Sen. Feingold was asked if he discussed and shared advice on a possible presidential run with Sen. John McCain. Feingold replied that "we kid around about this," and, when asked if he believes he can "beat" Sen. McCain in a general election, Sen. Feingold said that "he would beat me in Wisconsin."
More Feingold on McCain: "It would be wonderful if we'd be able to elect a president that the American people feel good about, whom we could trust, and these are some of the qualities that I see in Sen. McCain."

[Blaze Diem]

2. Intellectual Statesman or Pretzeldent Perch?

Face it, great depth of thought just has never been an obvious feature of George Bush. Its not something that's been expected either.
From failed business ventures, AWOL status, or easy family placement in the political world, George's thinking was pretty much done for him.

The guy went from a partying poser as cheer leading frat boy, to party man of the oil patch. Schmoozing and talking b.s. with the best of them, George Bush had a 'last name' and a bankroll that would take him wherever someone else told him to go...(Yale, Gov of Texas, President of the United States)
While Senator Feingold talks of intelligent & sensible governing in a volatile world, defining problems and plans to extend the life of planet Earth, well, old George Bush knows things like fishing for perch, telling those tall tales of the one that got away, a good day fishing and hanging with the guys afterwords, maybe having a few beers and "shootin the breeze".
George Bush also likes baseball, even bought a big league team once. Yep , George likes fishing and baseball, and talking 'bout those great All-American pastimes.
Yep, fun things that George loves.
And that's o.k., for George is just really an average guy, who happened to be born into a family who just never stopped trying to make him into something he just never was cut out for ..He's smart maybe, but somehow the job of governing the world should be left to someone with that intellectual statesman quality that it will take to do such a job and do it well. Someone who loves that business the same way ol' George Bush loves fishing and baseball and casual b.s. with the guys.