I saw Russ Feingold tonight!

[dflprincess]

I attended the "Patriots' Ball" (perhaps you heard it advertised on AM 950) at Buck Hill in Burnsville tonight. Feingold was the featured speaker. He was great and I hope he runs for president. Ideas much like Wellstone, though he delivers them in a much calmer manner. The crowd loved him and he got several rousing ovations, especially when he mentioned a time table for leaving Iraq and his vote against the Patriot Act.

Wendell Anderson introduced him. I haven't heard him give a speech in years and I don't think I every heard him so fired up. Of course, he's not running for anything so he didn't have to try and pull any punches. He's mad about the war, he's angry about what the Republicans are doing to Minnesota. For you younger ones who may not know - Anderson is the governor who appeared on the cover of a 1972 edition of Time with the caption "The Good Life in Minnesota". I was sitting next to a guy who said it was that article that made him decide to move here. At the end of his speech, Anderson endorsed a Feingold presidential run.

Other attendees included nearly everyone who is running for senate and governor (though I didn't say Hatch there - odd given this was held in his home district). Entenza was there and said something in his few minutes about going after corporations making obscene profits (he did not mention if that included United Health Group). I met Colleen Rowley and Wendy Wilde (she emceed the event). Several state legislators and candidates for the legislature were there. I believe the only Congress person to show up was Betty McCollum.

All in all, it was a very encouraging night for south suburban DFLers. Quite a good crowd. Feingold said he is seeing this kind of turn out wherever he speaks (though given the speed at which the place began to clear out after he spoke, Russ' appearance may be what's drawing the crowds). And, he's finding that even in the most conservative areas of Wisconsin, people are angry at Bush.



The turn out

[katinmn]

1. Thanks so much for this great summary, dflprincess!

I wish I could have gone.

Most people who hear Feingold seem to come away even more impressed. What I know about him I really like.

Do you think Hatch stayed away as a signal that he is going to back Hillary? Damn. The lines seem to be being drawn early.

Well, that's to everyone's advantage, I guess.

Good on Wendell Anderson! I know there are Republicans that hate what the Bushbots have done to MN and the entire country. Hope more of them speak up.

Thanks again for the great report.

[dflprincess]

2. I don't have a clue why Hatch wasn't there

It could be he had a conflict.

[Eric J in MN]

3. Was there loud music?

Dancing?

I thought of going, but I didn't know what it would be like.

[dflprincess]

5. The band seemed pretty good

loud enough to hear them, but not so loud you couldn't have a conversation with someone.

[Demrock6]

4. Feingold/Clark 08'

Is my dream run. I would settle for Clark/Feingold though! I wish I could of gone.

Russ is doing great work all over the country. www.progressivepatriotsfund.com