Disclosure: the only contact I have with Russ Feingold’s office is from his media guy, who sends me emails to let me know when Russ is going to speak on the Senate floor. This is not unique, I get the same notices from several other Senate offices. I have no financial or any other relationship with Senator Feingold.
There are a lot of people that are known to be considering a run for the 2008 Democratic nomination for President. Here is a partial list: John Kerry, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Evan Bayh, Tom Vilsack, Mark Warner, Wesley Clark and…Russ Feingold.
If anyone of these politicians secures the nomination I would be willing to support them over any conceivable Republican opponent. But, right now, only one of these politicians is standing up for me.
And that politician is Russ Feingold. We know that the NSA controversy is just the tip of the iceberg. We now have evidence that the FBI is spying on anti-war groups, we know the Defense Intelligence Agency has spied on anti-war groups and even classified them as terrorist threats. We know that that the National Security Agency has been spying on American citizens without judicial oversight and that the administration will go to any lengths to prevent the people from knowing the true targets of that illegal surveilliance. Despite these facts, the Democratic leadership seems to be content with the current situation that shows a 55%-39% advantage in generic congressional polls.
Things are going so well in the polls that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi seem to not want to rock the boat by pointing out that the President has been brazenly violating the law and intends to continue breaking the law.
Whatever the merits of their strategy, Russ Feingold is telling the truth about the President. And if the Dems don’t back him up, they are just as bad as the President. Russ Feingold is standing up when his leadership would prefer that he sit down. We asked the Dems to fight to preserve our rights, and Russ took up the challenge.
For this blogger, Russ’s stand will be remembered. And anyone who fails to back him up is my enemy. When it comes time to decide who to support for the Democratic nomination, I will be looking at the courage and principle of Russ Feingold, and I will be looking at the lukewarm support he is getting from the other contenders today.
Shiiit. If Russ runs, as of right now, he’s got my primary vote here in PA and my voice on the ‘net and feet hitting the streets here in Philly. He’s the only one speaking, PERIOD, let alone for me. The others are just twiddling their thumbs right now. Blech.
Good god if Kerry runs my head’s gonna explode.
The Al Gore that ran in 2000 was weak and John Kerry ran the worst campaign I’ve ever seen.
Now, it seems, the top Democrats want to do it all over again.
Leadership? The Democratic Party has none.
yes they do. They have Russ. We have Russ. That is what I am saying. He needs to be rewarded and others need to be punished.
in my respect for Feingold’s leadership and courage. But if he’s a “leader” in the Democratic congress, he’s a leader with no followers.
I wish it were otherwise.
Booman is absolutely and Positively right!!!
We need to send Russ some love and support that is excruciatingly visible, and somewhat painful, to the other spineless Dems.
Chicotown wrote this excellent diary over at the Orange site. I called and donated to Russ’ Progressive Patriot Fund PPF. The guy who answered the phone states that the donations are coming in fast and furious.
So lets do a Booman Tribune Action in honor of our stellar leader (Booman) here.
Lets show those DLCers (DAMNED LOSERS CLUB) that we are not going away, and that we are not taking orders and advice from overpaid dinosaur consultants who haven’t been successful in their advice or strategy for over 10 years.
Lets show them what a STELLAR community BT is.
when the next election comes around. Since neither is up for re-election this year, I wanted them to know that their silence will not be forgotten. I will remember, talk, and vote.
Some talking head on TV last night said the Dems were just letting the rethugs hang themselves. My senators value their re-election above the death and suffering in Iraq, the bankrupting of our treasury, and the loss of our democracy. They have blood on their hands.
Russ Feingold spoke up for America and Americans, and I will remember that, too.
Feingold has my vote if he is still in the primary here. I would also support Clark as a second choice. Outside of that, I will be going to the polls just to vote for someone other than Biden, Clinton and Kerry. To me, those three and others not in the race represent the public face of everything that is wrong with the Democratic party.
http://www.progressive.org/node/3142
“I can’t see a damn soul in D.C. except Russ Feingold who is even worth considering for President. The rest of them seem to me so poisonously in hock to this system of legalized bribery they can’t even see straight.”
Molly calls it perfectly yet again, bless her.
Principled leadership. Something I believe most of America has given up hope even exist within this political ssystem.
I think if a Principled Leader can stand up long enough for most of Anmerica to see and know who he/she is, this will be our next President, if the voters are allowed to decide in a fair election. Even if they don’t agree with his stand on everying. Even if they don’t get everything they want on every issue.
They will come out and vote for hope. That’s what a principled leader can offer, that is missing now. Ad what the ordinary American is desperate to see.
I sincerely hope Feingold is the one; it is sure looking like it so far. If he is, it’s going to be all uphill, big time, and he won’t be supported by his party.
He would have to be supported by the people instead. While I have very little faith left in professional politicians, my faith in the American people is still intact, once they are awakened.
The Republicans have done a fine job of waking up a whole lot of Americans, who are shaking the sleep out of their eyes and taking a good look around at last. I think Feingold knows this, and will stand firm as long as he possibly can.
And I sincerely hope he watches his back.
I haven’t seen Pelosi lately to be able to comment, but Reid has been speaking harshly against the administration, going as far as calling them incompetent. I get the impression that he isn’t enthusiastic about the censure because he wants to save the bombshells for later in the year. Not that I favor putting the needs of political candidates ahead of the needs of the country, but at least it does look like dems will fight this year.
They’re not trying to win – they want to avoid losing. As one wag said, the only thing the “prevent defense” actually prevents, is victory.
And so they avoid Feingold’s resolution, to quote Baudelaire, “as one would avoid the breeches of a man with the itch”.
I can honestly say that the reason I would still consider support for the Dem party is from BooMan’s persuasion over the past few months to rebuild it. I don’t even see the immediate lack of support as a bad sign and certainly not something that can’t be spun a bit in a positive light. Actually, if all of the dems had immediately rallied right behind Russ’ Resolution then I doubt I would have trusted it. This shows a thoughtful consideration on the part of the democrats who choose to ponder possibilities…
In one campaign season, he painted a contract on his garage with promises to his constituents.
This guy is the one, if anyone is.
Scrutiny Hooligans has a great post on this:
“It is insulting to suggest that America can’t overcome radical Islamic terrorists wihout doing away with our national values. It’s a cowardly nation that, when confronted with a far weaker enemy, abandons its principles out of fear.
Russ Feingold is asking us to stand up and be courageous, to stand up for the Rule of Law and the Constitution of the United States. He’s asking us to win this war with honor and with our national spirit intact. He’s calling George W. Bush into account for his cowardly willingness to jettison American liberty in the name of American liberty.”
my vote — and my time, my talent and my treasure too.
If it’s so damn important for the sake of the country to impeach a President who lied about a blow job, then censuring a President who has stolen the Constitution should be a no-brainer…
To me this is an integrity issue pure and simple. I’ll leave political calculus to the math geeks.
If Dems are going to stand for anything, it must be
Senator Feingold’s effort to censure embodies all three of these commitments.
I posted several times at DKos in the straw poll diaries from late last summer and into the fall against all in the partial list you included in this diary except Feingold. I posted support for Dean, Gore, Feingold and Boxer based on how each spoke for me.
Acknowledging it as unrealistic and considering that Dean and Gore stated they were not seeking office, I pondered in at least one of those diaries about a Feingold/Boxer ticket perhaps being an ideal representation for me.
Kos is pushing Mark Warner for some reason in the Orange Zone.
I know it’s a dream, but hey, a Jew and a black man saved the whole goddamn planet in the too-patriotic-to-be-believed yet entertaining (if only to see Jeff Goldblum’s pecs) Independence Day.
BooMan, you speak great wisdom.
I will have more to say on this later today, but right now I have to hop into the shower and head for work. Boiled down to a couple of sentences, it’s this: If Russ Feingold is going to run for President, you and I are going to have to make it happen, because you know how much support he’s getting right now? Unless you and I make it happen right now, that’s how much support he’s going to get in 2007 when it counts (in the runup to the caucuses and primaries).
via liberal oasis via mydd
I think that this lack of initial support is an advantage instead of a liability. If a majority of dems jumped on it right away, it would look to be more of a strictly partisan ploy. This keeps it in the media spotlight but in a different way and it should give more attention to the substance of the resolution.
Here’s the meat of S. res 44:
Just replace the first “Whereas”, about the blowjob, with something about violating his oath to uphold the Constitution and it fits GW better than it fit Clinton by a damn sight.
i made my phone calls
to russ’s office to show support….to bidens to ask what the hell he is doing….to reid and pelosi to ask them to please grow a spine and DO something.
but im so disgusted right now because i know america….racist moron america…will not elect a president who is A) jewish and B) twice divorced and not married (omg he could be gay)
there is still time for someone else to step up. But if we have Russ, we can win with Russ. I really believe that.
you really honestly do?
i dont know whether to admire your optimism or fault your naivete.
having lived in the bible belt for 7 years and since then being part of communities that arent very liberal…..i do not believe there is any way in hell that enough americans will get off their asses and go vote for a jew, or a woman, or a person of color….not in enough numbers to overcome the cheating the repubs are going to do at the polls.
and i belive mccain will totally squash feingold.
i think you are right if we limit ourselves to the fact that he is a liberal, a jew, a divorcee.
But when you look at the man, he overcomes those obstacles. Look at Russ. Not at his labels.
He has that magic.
I think he can win. I do.
hunny i have no doubt that there are some people out there like US who dont give a crap about whether he is a jew or divorced….but most americans are morons and racists….i believe this to be completely true….and when i say most i mean 70%…they know more about the simpsons than the constitution….they live in homogenous neighborhoods that are increasingly gated to keep out the darkies….do you remember when nj was planning the regional rail line from camden to trenton? my husband was working on that project so i had lots of exposure to the public hearings…..and here in liberal northeast where you wouldnt think you would have to deal with too much blatant racism…..hundreds of people showed up at meetings and write letters amd made phone calls because they didnt want a train going thru their community that could bring poor black people/criminals from camden making it easier for them to be robbed and raped etc…..ive seen good god fearing african american democrats at a community meeting in mt airy stand up and yell at their gay neighbors and tell them they dont want them in their neighborhood….racism is everywhere and add stupidity to the mix and i just dont see a jew no matter how magical he is getting enough votes to overcome the fact that americans really are a bunch of stupid intolerant mindless fuckers.
but im right there with you on russ…..ill give him my time and my efforts and my money just like i did to dean (and i actually believed he could win)
yeah the camden-newark rail line debate was ugly.
But his status as a liberal is more dangerous than his status as a Jew or as a divorcee.
First of all, he could get married tomorrow.
And Joementum got more votes than any VP in history.
It won’t be easy. But it can be done. If Dean had Russ’s savvy, he would be President today. I believe that.
that Lieberman IS NOT VICE PRESIDENT.
There are some things to be thankful for, even if Gore ran a weaselly campaign and backed down when the occasion called for him to grow a length of spine.
Recently, the schmuck tells women to go take a walk on abortion??
Lamont had better win this one. Please.
I agree with you on that.
I’d take him over Cheney anyday.
LIEberman is an out-and-out traitor (DINO) to the party. And pretty close to being a traitor to the country for supporting Bush’s agenda.
Cheney is an out-and-out traitor, war profiteer and murderer.
I can’t argue with anything you said there, but having Lieberman as VP implies that Gore would have been President.
And I don’t think anyone here will argue against the benefits of having Gore in charge instead of Bush.
Once upon a time, the vice presidency was worth nothing more than a ‘warm bucket of spit’ (Spiro? I don’t remember for sure). After President Cheney, I wouldn’t mind seeing it return to that…
But, also know, I’ll vote for Russ over any other Dem in the running now. Bottom line: I always vote for principles and issues and if my guy wins I’m always freakin’ amazed! And I really, really want to be amazed on Nov. 5th, 2007…
Russ has always spoken truth to power … I don’t think he can do otherwise. He’s the real thing. I’ve been following him for some 20+ years now, and he only gets more impressive. As I’ve posted in other threads recently, and wrote to Russ himself over the weekend, he has my support 100% and then some, for a potential run for President.
If anyone embodies the antithesis of all that we loathe in Republicans (and DINOs such as Libermensch), Russ is the man. Thanks, Booman for promoting him recently with your great recent posts, because you’re helping bring greater recognition to one man who could, if elected, bring our country back from the brink and truly restore truth and dignity to the office of President and our country.
Shameless Russ groupie I may be, but I’ve followed him since his early campaigns for state office, and I look forward to busting my butt for him in 2008. Let’s hope more and more jump on board for Russ and we can all help him help us begin to erase this nightmare that began in 2000…
I’m glad I was able to mentally telepath my concerns to at least one Democrat 😉
Like I said in the other post, he’s the only one with stones in the joint. Everyone else is looking out for Number One; he’s thinking of the country and its future.
He and Dean should be sitting down and putting their heads together.
I’d also like to see what he says about black folks’ concerns, too. Especially if he mounts a presidential candidacy.
But I like what I see so far. And I don’t give a damn how many times he’s been married and divorced.
I don’t give a damn either, blksista. Given an unequivocal voice & a strong, consistent message, I’m fairly certain many others would also ‘forgive’ much that remains ‘unelectable’ in Feingold the candidate.
Clearly, when we go with ‘electable’ we get crap.
Additionally: anyone else recall the apparent difficulties of electing a Catholic?
As of now, at this apparently early stage of the game, Feingold looks very good to me.
I’m guessing that any nation that can elect a presumably recovering alcoholic as prez should be okay with a divorce or two. 🙂
at Camp David is worth at least two divorces, and drunk on your ass laying around a Houston prostitutes place until your forty has got to have the “sin” of being Jewish beat hands down!
Agree. And I would add one name to the list: Al Gore, who also has been doing everything humanly possible to speak up.
If we had to rank them all today, I’d put them in this
order:
Russ Feingold
Al Gore
Wesley Clark
Mark Warner
and then these guys I’d really rather not vote for:
John Kerry
John Edwards
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Evan Bayh
Tom Vilsack
Feingold is starting to look like the sane guy in the asylum. This is the crisis point — there will be no going back. As far as I’m concerned, if Feingold doesn’t get full backing from his party on this, the party is dead to me. The only hope will be third parties.
Here’s what Feingold told Fox”News” (via ThinkProgress). I can’t believe he’s the only one in Washington so far to see and speak such a glaring, blazing, obvious truth. What the hell is wrong with all the rest of them?
. . . in a nutshell, is the ease with which statements like this are made:
And anyone who fails to back him up is my enemy.
Gee, where have I heard that kind of declaration before?
Rhetorical flair or not, it’s a revealing locution in an unflattering light . . .
If Feingold were to consider running outside the party, will he run a one-off campaign like Jon Anderson, Pat Buchanan et al? Or will he work to build a viable party structure? Nader’s lack of interest in a party fucked the Greens. That would matter in determining my level of support.
I’m happy Feingold is standing up for the Constitution, really. But are we to seriously believe that he isn’t a memember of the bi-partisan aristocracy as far as US foreign policy is concerned? What will he do with the mega-bases currently being built in Iraq? Does he support the Pentagon’s spying on peace activists in order to root out Fith Column ‘attacks’ — I wouldn’t assume his stand in Congress the other day precludes it. His website indicates unflagging support for Israel & fears of the Iranian threat. How can any activist for peace, justice & humanity support that? When do we get a voice? Or am I just supposed to send the check & STFU?
There’s much to admire about Feingold, & he deserves our support today for his resolution. But as far as principle is concerned, I have yet to be convinced that he can stand alongside people like Cynthia McKinney, Barbara Lee, John Conyers, or a voice I truly miss in the House, Ron Dellums.
I voted against my conscience for Kerry. Given a race between, say McCain, Clinton & Feingold, Mr F would be most attractive & get my conscience denying vote again on Nov 2, 2008, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to “support” what my conscience says is wrong & keep silent.
If that makes me an “enemy,” so be it . . .
I intend to support the Dem nominee. I hope that nominee is someone like Feingold. If he goes third party that changes things. I will not support a split on the left in this election. The party that needs a third party threat to straighten it out is the GOP that has lost its way on the budget and civil liberties.
The question about being labeled by you as the “enemy” doesn’t go over any better than when George Bush does it. My inquiry is a serious one.
Personally, I’ll be surprised if Russ runs indie, but would you truly abandon him in favor of Clinton (or whomever) if he did ?
Personally, I don’t see much point in one-off candidates uninterested in party building. In my dreams, both Dems & Repubs would implode simultaneously (& we may be near that — who knowss?), reducing the fear of abandoning one’s traditional affiliation. They both deserve it. Like the pimp in Hustle & Flow sez: “Everybody’s gotta have a dream.”
Are we who differ w/ you now the enemy?
or can you see your way to supporting a diversity of views without drawing divisive lines?
I’m personally hoping that he goes 3rd party. Seems to me that is the way he’d be the most effective, as too many today are pissed off at both parties.