Russ Feingold, you are the best!!!

[Patchuli]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060509/ap_on_go_co/feingold_iraq

Please forgive me if this is a dupe!

[hippiechick]

1. Some of the photos are great, others suck ...

... it's like the media is totally schizophrenic on whether they should portray him as Presidential, or as a schmuck.


:freak: Dangit!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. did you see Russ speak at that national Press club yesterday?

He was direct and honest: it was a classic Russ moment.

[Patchuli]

5. No, but I think he's great! An honest man!!!

A Gore/Feingold ticket would have me back on the registration/tabling front lines in a nanosecond!

[blm]

12. He was HONEST that we lost 2004 because Kerry didn't show a practical

and emotional READINESS to lead the fight against terrorism?

That was CRAP! There wsn't a Dem candidate to be had who knew more how to deal with the ENTIRE iissue of terrorism than John Kerry.

The post 9-11 loudmouths can go fock themselves. Terrorism needed to be dealt with many years ago and few even stood with Kerry when he was working to expose the growing strength of terrorism throughout the 90s.

[Adelante]

14. He's not necessarily referring to Kerry

At least I don't take it that way. It is true there has been a reluctance on the part of many Democrats to step up on national security (no, not by Kerry) and bring it into the Democratic agenda. This is changing, thank goodness, because we have lost a ton of votes because of it.

[blm]

15. Kerry is the ONLY one he could have been referring to about 2004.

It was Dems who HAD been the leaders on the issue of terror and for Feingold to say they don't show PRACTICAL and EMOTIONAL READINESS to lead the fight against terrorism, is pure SELF-SERVING CRAPOLA.

Let Feingold put his efforts on the issue of terror up against Kerry's and let's see how they measure up in terms of both the practical AND emotional. Because I have never seen any effort by ANY lawmaker, Dem or GOP. who took more practical steps to combat terrorism and track its money trail, even BEFORE 9-11.

And, OH YEAH, I'd love to hear Feingold have this debate WITH Kerry and with all the Dems he attacks in the press. You think he'd dare say to Kennedy that he doesn't know HOW to oppose Republicans?

[Adelante]

17. Nevertheless, we lost on national security

That's the larger point. And there is really no need to convince me on Kerry's work in that area. Honest.

[blm]

19. Feingold's just really pissing me off because he doesn't HAVE to go so far

as to make mischaracterizations of Kerry to make his points.

And the attacks he makes on Dems, overall, could come from Dana Milbank or Joe Klein, fer chrissakes. He relies upon corporate media storylines to gin up distaste for Dems while propping himself up as the answer. That's a sign of poor character.

Did you ever ONCE hear Kennedy, Kerry or Boxer attack other Democrats when they chose to not join the fray or provide back up for them on important matters?

Was Feingold attacked as spineless for not supporting any of them on Tora Bora? Downing Street Memo investigation? For not leading Alito filibuster out of committee like it should have happened?

Feingold has been attacking other Dems since censure, and apparently thinks it's good politics for him. And he reserves praise for scumbag McCain.

[sandnsea]

28. Me too

I read his speech to the Press Club and I was really disappointed. He was my #2 choice, but this "outsider" attack on Democrats lost its pizzazz quite a long time ago. It's just simplistic red meat and Feingold is smarter than this. What's really sad is that he apparently doesn't understand why it didn't work when it was tried before. People want solid leadership in their President, not a loose cannon throwing windmill punches whenever the left pushes a button. I'm just really shocked he's going down this road.

[Patchuli]

24. I liked John Kerry too

until he conceded way too fast for me. This wasn't meant to be a pee contest between Russ Feingold and John Kerry. It was a post saying kudos to Feingold.

[blm]

36. No kudos from me to someone out to slug at other Dems to glorify himself

while saving his praise for McCain.

[karynnj]

29. It also seems bad polictics for Feingold or any Democrat to say this

The Republicans did a poor job on national security, Kerry and other Democrats really had the more solid record here. The best things that were done were the measures to track money going to terrorists - Bush has claimed credit for this working, but that legislation against international money laundering was stuff Kerry wrote and pushed in the 90s. The domestic banking part was Sarbanes' work.

Kerry spoke about port security every day in 2004. Kerry spoke out at the time when Bush said he would have the Afghans guard parts of Tora Bora.

What Feingold mistakes is perception of Bush and Democratic strength on terrorism vs reality. That he concedes the point is really really stupid - no matter which Democrat wins.

This would be hardest if Feingold himself wins the nomination. He has NO credientials, real or perceived on this, so he will have to depend on excellent surrogates to bolster him on this issue. On terrorism, there are few people who would be better than Kerry. Kerry has also always been there to help others and would be an excellent surrogate - so tearing him down on this issue is just bad strategy.

[papau]

3. We ignore Feingold's endorsement of McCain as noted by ABCNOTE ? WHY?

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."

[Patchuli]

4. Note that Russ said "some of the qualities"

about McCain. I used to like McCain too but I wouldn't judge Russ for doing the same. Let's keep in mind how Russ has been the lone voice of reason in many areas lately!

[blm]

21. In what seriously important areas has he been the lone voice?

Patriot Act he agrees with 90% of it and most Dems who agree with 92% of it would change aspects of the Patriot Act once they gained power or became president.

Where was his great voice on Tora Bora? Firing Rumsfeld? Downing Street Memos? Roberts? Alito?

Alito's effect on this nation will last for generations - alot longer than the parts of the Patriot Act that are certain to be overturned by a Dem majority or Dem president.

[Patchuli]

23. Um, well there is

attempting to censure * for wiretapping, calling for troop removal and speaking out against Gen. Hayden for the CIA for a few. There are others in the DLC that are pretty mum yet aspire to president, apparently.

As to your discourse to us on the 'Patriot (sic) Act' and Alito, thanks but I already am informed of the consequences.

[karynnj]

31. In addition,

Another thing about the Patriot Act, is that his vote will be criticised based on the 90% he agrees with. That's the problem when you can vote only yes or no. Any Republican opponent will point to the fact that it did tighten the reins on international money laundering and that that was essential to the real war on terror. (No, it won't be said that this was Kerry's work)

Also, each of the things you listed have been issues where Kerry was there too. On censure, Kerry is clearly in the demand investigations - but he called Bush's actions illegal as early and as loud as Feingold did. Where they differ is on technique - if there were a vote right now, censure could lose - which would help Bush. Kerry's statement on Hayden is fundamentally no different than Feingold's. Kerry's been in the same ballpark on withdrawal, but has always expressed more of what the diplomatic piece should be.

What is clear is that what Feingold is doing here is critisizing Kerry because he and Kerry are pretty close on the political spectrum and they and likely Gore and possibly the formerly centrist, Edwards are competing for the left of Hillary shot. (I'm not sure whether ultimately Clark will aim here or to the alternative to Hillary segment) Oddly, he is attacking an area where Kerry has more credentials than he does - so transitivity says, if he makes the case that Kerry is too weak, then he is too weak.

[blm]

35. censure is another issue that has far less real impact though I'm for it

as a way of having the investigations of the spying on record.

Feingold called for troop removal but didn't have the expertise to draft and submit an actual plan. Yet he makes the charge in his speech that another senator who did submit a withdrawal plan is also not practically or emotionally READY to lead the fight against terrorism - as he would be.

And no one has YET to answer why Feingold never backed up OTHER senators on serious issues opposing BushInc, yet they applaud his implication that he is the only one who opposes Bush.

Where was his great LONE voice when it could have made the most difference?

[JNelson6563]

44. He knew better than to vote for this stupid war

unlike your hero blm. Quit flinging shit, you look ridiculous.

[blm]

46. You want ME to stop pointing out that Feingold is "flinging shit" and not

being HONEST when he says that the other Dems won't oppose Bush?

Show me Feingold's LONE VOICE that opposed Bush while no one else would. Teach me. The list must be pretty long.

BTW - SHIT is used to describe something that's UNTRUE. Please point to one thing I said about Feingold's speech that was untrue, J.

[JNelson6563]

53. There's been one vote that went 99-1

When it was extremely unfashionable to go against the fascism. Was it your hero? No, it was Russ. Oh yes and who was it everyone was running away from when the word "censure" came onto the scene? Oh yeah, that was Russ.

Chill out, the Dems are due for some criticism and a lesson in backbone growth.

Or perhaps you prefer the school of thought that thinks it's wise to wait three weeks before responding to swift-boating? Or maybe conceding elections before all the votes are counted is more your style?

Get a grip.

Julie

[blm]

56. Yes it was Russ - and that bill can be changed and WILL be changed to

reflect the 90% of the bill that Russ and others agree with when they have the majority to do it or the presidency.

Alito will matter for generations to come.

And CENSURE got support from other senators even though it doesn't MATTER and has no legal accountability in it. And Russ sold it to the press as an ALTERNATIVE to impeachment. But, IMPORTANT - NO.

Where was he on important matters that really would have made a difference if he spoke out and provided vocal back up in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004? MIA. And even MIA on the DSM in 2005.

See, unless Russ chooses to make something an issue, he isn't INTO provideng backup muscle for anyone else. Yet he has the balls to complain about THEM not falling in line behind him as quickly as he would like? Kerry supported Russ on censure, even though it has no serious accountability. Russ didn't support Kerry on MANY issues like Tora Bora, when it WOULD HAVE MATTERED.


And newsflash - Russ doesn't believe in machine fraud. He was asked about that, too, at his press luncheon.

[Skip Intro]

6. I don't know that that's an "endorsement" but it bothers me nonetheless

mccain "trustworthy" - ???


I don't know what to make of it.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. certainly these comments show...

Russ is not only more honest than most people in DC but also that he is a class act.

[Kashka-Kat]

9. shows he's non partisan & speaks his mind- I kinda like that

A lot of people like that- he has many fans here in Wis. because of that, including about 10-20% of the Bush voters. I dont always like his opinions or agree with some of his votes (like approval of Ashcroft) but you know EXACTLY where he stands--no ifs ands or buts-- and I do like that.

(editted to add-- I don't know if he's "endorsing" exactly - as in actually advising people to vote for McCain-- or just giving some positive comments in his inimitable non-partisan Russ kind of way. I would guess its an opinion based on having worked closely with McCain on things)

[blm]

10. He sees great qualities in McCain who was the BIGGEST SUCKUP to Bush while

he also FALSELY accuses Democrats of being too afraid to oppose Bush - as if HE is the only one to do so.

That's BULLSHIT - self-serving BULLSHIT. I can name plenty of times Russ kept quiet on important issues at important times, and left others hanging on their own.

[Patchuli]

25. I don't know, dude

I just liked what Feingold did.

[FrenchieCat]

26. oh.....shit! Oh No, Feingold didn' say that....I pray he didn't....

Do you have a link on that?

I can't believe that Russ would say something like that about KissingBush's Ass McCain!

[JNelson6563]

45. Maybe he was kidding

Maybe it'd be better if he said he'd've been a Rethug if only Rove woulda called him.

That woulda been ok. But to say something nice about his partner ont he campaign finance reform effort??? Unacceptable.

Just kidding. On the square.

[FrenchieCat]

52. But shouldn't he have to defend it for like three weeks at least?

as did the person who you are speaking of...

Seems like it wasn't so OK on the "should have called" joke...cause people are still posting about it, after three years.....

........like you.

[JNelson6563]

54. Highlighting differing standards

that's all.

Clark's statement was "a joke" or explainable any number of creative ways but Feingold saying a good word about the guy who worked with him toward some kind of finance reform? Unacceptable. Let's stone him and get it over with, the traitorous bastard. Obviously he's a reich-winger who fooled many of us, right?

Or maybe, just maybe, he's a potential threat to your idol?

Just askin'. As if I need to.... :eyes:

Frankly I could easily disregard Clark's statement. Your hysteria over Feingold's statement though is such a polar opposite of what you are willing to excuse from Clark, couldn't help but point it out.

Funny how stones thrown can sometimes bounce back, ain't it?

Juile

[karynnj]

30. Were these 2006 comments?

What is he thinking? All the Democrats need to stop this kneejerk praise of McCain.

[0007]

8. Russ will be our next president.

[papau]

11. Russ says he would lose to McCain - But he'd like McCain as GOP candidate

Tough to see how that works out to "Russ will be our next president".

[Adelante]

13. Feingold was clearly joking

Feingold, who insists he won't think about a presidential run until after this year's congressional elections, nonetheless made a few joking references to a potential campaign.

Asked whether he and his campaign finance reform ally, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., have talked about their respective presidential ambitions, Feingold deadpanned, "I think he'd beat me in Wisconsin."

[blm]

16. Was he joking when he said that he and McCain were on their own in the

Senate and that if McCain wasn't there he'd be all alone? WTF kind of BS is that?

It sounds like he's selling himself as the lone wolf maverick Dem version of McCain so the press adopts him as such. I can't believe the attacks he made on so many good Democrats while praising a Bushlicking hypocrite like McCain.

[Adelante]

18. Well, I'm no fan of McCain

But I also remember in 2004 when many Kerry supporters wanted him for VP. Feingold's always been a lone wolf on his own and I disagree with some things and agree with others. In any case, I didn't hear the speech, just responding to the OP's link, so you probably have a clearer take on it than I do.

[blm]

20. Cspan probably has it up - most people are applauding him for

attacking the Democrats, but it sounded really bad to me, because I know he wouldn't DARE say it to their faces - he's trading on media lies and mischaracterizations and knows he's not speaking the truth. If he really believed what he was saying, then he would have taken the bull by the horn and ran in 2004 or made sure he was opposing Bush vocally in 2002, 3, and 4 on ALOT of issues - but he didn't. he was mostly silent, even in his dissent, and rarely turned up the volume in defense of other Democrats on ANY issue.

The part about McCain comes up towards the very end.

[Adelante]

22. Thanks

I'm on dialup now, but I will watch it when my DSL comes back.

[FrenchieCat]

27. I'm gonna go look this shits up on C-Span.....and IF Feingold

is kissing McCain ass, even in joking......but at the same time attacking Democrats.......Then, Sorry, that ain't nothing to Bravo about....not when it's being done in a public forum, televised, etc..... :(

[blm]

37. Backslapping Feingold for tearing down Dems FALSELY is troubling to me

He's been playing the Dems are cowards while he's a lone, brave voice for the same MEDIA WHORES who drool over McCain and he's been doing it for over two months now.


I want to see him say it to their faces, instead of the press corps. Let's see who sounds hollow then.

[karynnj]

32. I think it was the media and people like McCain himself and Biden

who kept that alive. I wasn't on DU, but I assure you I thought it a very bizarre idea. Their world views are just too different on too many key ideas. Also, the only real function of the VP is to replace the President. Would Democrats want to take this risk? I also would worry that pro- PNAC people associated with the VP office could feel it their duty to remove Kerry.

[Adelante]

34. I was on DU and I assure you the idea had its proponents

I thought it was exactly the wrong idea, so I was glad it went nowhere. The office of VP is what the President makes of it. I didn't think Kerry would have had his sitting around waiting for him to die. The best use of that office, in my opinion, is as a bridge to Congress, pushing the administration's legislative agenda. This is why I have long felt the VP should be a former Senator or Rep. Any president elected in the foreseeable future will be occupied by foreign policy, it will be unavoidable, and I think a strong VP who is well-versed in domestic policy would make for an ideal Executive team.

[karynnj]

38. Sorry - I wasn't implying that Kerry would not effectively use a VP

But the fact that he becomes President is a major problem. How many Kerry cabinet members would McCain keep? How many legislative proposals put through would he continue? (I think you describes JFK's VP - LBJ did precisely that.)

I would guess their were proponents as the MSM was pushing it and one of the selling points was that it would be unbeatable. So, if someone was primarily concerned with winning and really didn't care that much who the VP was - it could sound good.

[Adelante]

39. The larger problem for me at the time

was I thought it would look as if we Dems, yet again, were on shaky ground on national security and foreign policy. That Kerry might need beefing up by McCain, the Democratic ticket need strengthening by a Republican, both of which I thought was ludicrous to begin with and handed the banner over to the Repugs as has been our situation for 30 years. If I remember correctly, Will Pitt was one of those advocating for McCain for VP back then and there was a lot of support on DU for that position. It wasn't until McCain said it wouldn't happen that the idea lost traction. And, yes, it was about winning and nothing else. I don't agree it was the MSM. It seemed sincerely felt to me.

[blm]

40. I recall the greater emphasis was on uniting a very divided country above

and beyond all else.

Kerry's a FAR BETTER national security candidate than McCain could ever hope to be. Kerry is one of the few people in this country who actually worked to FIGHT and expose terrorism BEFORE 9-11, and McCain's own book before he was Bushified states he couldn't have gotten through the Vietnam normalization process without Kerry keeping him steady. And that if it hadn't been for Kerry it couldn't have happened at all.

[karynnj]

41. People are influenced by the MSM - and that doesn't make it insincere

McCain played with the idea for a few weeks in the media - because it flattered him. Kerry stayed silent - possibly because he said that he wouldn't speak of who he was picking until he did.

[peacetheonlyway]

43. in total agreement...

i want to see that come to pass... or have better choices than hillary or liebermann

[rniel]

33. He portrays a lot of confidence

You can see it in him. He seems a born leader. Like he knows what he's doing and believes in himself. Doesn't go whichever way the wind blows on issues. Rock solid integrity.

That's what I like about him. And I think people really miss having these kinds of qualities in their president. And wouldn't it be nice to have a president that can actually speak english.

[blm]

42. If he REALLY believed in himself he wouldn't attack other Dems to glorify

himself, he'd just state his positions and argue the points. Biden pulls that exact same BS, all the time.

Attacking other Democrats while claiming superior motives is NOT what a leader would do.

[Sugarcoated]

47. He doesn't attack Dems

He says how how he feels, he's honest. Critisizing isn't attacking.

[blm]

48. If he was honest he'd point out that HE, TOO, didn't provide back up at

crucial times when others led the opposition on important issues.

Did you ever hear ONE senator complain about Feingold when HE CHOSE TO STAY SILENT? If they did, then Russ' reputation would have been sealed YEARS ago.

But, now he's selling himself as the lone voice along with McCain. You call it "honesty" and I call it pandering to the media and using media mischaracterizations of Democrats to bolster his own claims against other Democrats..

[Sugarcoated]

49. I think you're nit picking.

It wasn't his best, I wasn't thrilled with his props to McCain, but I think you're mischaracterizing Russ.

[blm]

50. You think Russ ISN'T nitpicking against other Dems?

He cherrypicks the issues he wants to lead opposition on, and then attacks other Dems as "too intimidated by Bush" to oppose him - yet Russ stayed silent on MANY important issues, himself, and NOWHERE do I find any other senator's attacks on Russ' motives for staying silent on those issues.

[Sugarcoated]

51. Not the way I see it

We'll have to agree to disagree here

[blm]

55. Yes....but proof would still be nice.

.

[Acadia Blue]

57. Gore Feingold ticket for the White House!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!