“The idea that Democrats don’t think it’s a winning thing to say that we will stand up for the rule of law and for checking abuse of power by the executive — I just can’t believe that Democrats don’t think that isn’t something, not only that we can win on, but it does, in fact, make the base of our party, which is so important, feel much better about the Democrats. The Republicans care deeply about making the base of their party feel energized. What about the people of our party who believe in the Democratic Party especially because they fight for the American values of standing up for our rights and civil liberties?”-Digby has this excerpt and more from Feingold’s appearance on Charlie Rose last night. Crooks and Liars has video.
18 Comments
Finally! Some real attention being paid in our direction. Thx for the heads up on this, howie.
my pleasure
to jumping on the Feingold Express…just worried that the Powers-That-Be are waiting up the line at the switch to derail it into a dead-end siding to make way for the Safe Bet Special limping along on with a busted boiler…
I share your apprehension too, CS, but I remain quietly hopeful that the long awaited sea change has truly begun. I’ve noted elsewhere here recently that Feingold really is a man of his word, with integrity to spare, despite some of my finger wagging quibbles with some of his votes over the years (Abu Gonzales, Alito, etc.). But, by and large, he is fighting from his true convictions, which I always find admirable, regardless of political affiliations. He is more than willing and able to make his case forcefully and intelligently, and those two qualities alone have me on the bandwagon (and have for many years actually). Keep your eye on this guy, and let’s help him go places, very high places!
A ditto from me on your concerns. The group that worries me most are the DLCers. As Kos pointed out in his book, Al From, and his ilk, are the ones who derailed Deans campaign in Iowa. And guess who is head of the DLC-Hillary Rodham Clinton.
And what do they stand for? Benchmarks (not defined) for leaving Iraq, in favor of Free Trade and CAFTA – and other Republican-lite positions.
I am hoping we neutralize the DLC before things heat up for 2008. David Sirota calls the DLC dangerous and Arianna Huffington has some great advice for why Dems need to unload the failed, lackl luster DLC consultants who consistently lose elections for us.
Feingold is awake. That’s good. Can he wake up the rest of the leadership? That would be better.
You know, I’d be satisfied with the leadership following him. Or the rank-and-file within the caucus just saying “Screw it” to the leadership and following Feingold.
His statements shouldn’t be news. It should be common knowledge.
You mean crap like this (from a few days ago)?
Yeah, that’s the kind of crap I was ruefully thinking of as well. Thx for pointing this one out … let’s hope when we re-take power, we can find a way to oust triangulating Nancy and put someone with a real stance in her place.
Ms. Pelosi was WAAAAY out of line here.
Russ Feingolds censure is a type of “sense of the SENATE”. Pelosi does not even have a vote in this.
Pelosi would need to vote on Conyer’s resolution from December, or sign onto one of Conyer’s impeachment bills – one for Bush and one for Cheney. Of course her name is nowhere near these House bills.
Perhaps its time Ms. Nancy hears from the blogger base she works so very hard to ignore.
I think ms pelosi’s priorities are int he wrong place. She needs a little reminding of this, don’t ya think?! Lets help her find that again if she ever had it.
Agree absolutely!
Pelosi – what a surprise.
Yeah. I ain’t exactly holding my breath or betting my life savings on the rest of the Dem leadership to actually wake up.
I know he is awake. When the likes of Bill Kritol comes out praising him, it tells me that he [russ] is making waves all over the place.
This man is running for President. And I think he might actually have a chance, if he can keep throwing out lines like this.
Well, I can tellyou I am on his team already, he just doesn’t know it yet..:o) I am gonna fight for his lean mean team for the leadership he can and will do for us. Lets all join in to help him do this thing! What ya say? I normally do not get on anyones bandwagon until I am firmly confirmed they deserve my help…so here I am all ready suited up and ready to go…
It’s the right question to ask. The answer is complicated. Part of it goes back to the 1968 split when enough liberals sat out the election to throw it to Nixon. The McGovern fiasco was the second trauma, due more to his having to dump Eagleton because Eagleton had done psychiatric treatment than for anything McGovern actually stood for. Nevermind. It’s the narrative that matters. That narrative was sealed when Mondale lost in 1984. Dukakis – forget it. He blew a 20 point lead. Somehow the liberals got blamed for his lousy campaign. Go figure.
Clinton was a minority president in the first term. What the establishment Dems regard as conventional wisdom was formed in his Presidency. He was under attack the whole way, and had to triangulate. He didn’t have any other avenue to survive. The Republicans knew him better than the Dems. They knew he was a real liberal, which is why they went so hard after him and his wife.
Times have changed. Feingold is announcing those times, just as Dean did in 2004. It’s hard to get those who actually survived the Republican onslaught of the 90s to change their strategy. It’s all they know. But we are beyond the problem of whether a Democratic candidate or officer survives. We are talking about the survival of the nation under the Constitution. That is what Feingold is all about.
Maybe the Dems could run on the idea of restoring honor (and honesty) to the office of president.