bad news, Feingold not going ot run for President

[JI7]

in GD.

Kerry will always be my first choice. but Feingold was one of the few others i liked.

on edit, it might be good in that he will continue to be a leading voice on the left in the Senate. especially since we don't know where some of the new Senators will be. but Feingold can be a Maverick at times so you never know.

[ProSense]

1. Agree!

I didn't want any of the progressive Democrats to drop out!

[JI7]

2. i might not have thought much of it before, but with the way the

Clinton bunch is being it just feels like it's too forced.

i always thought it would have been tough for him even without that, but his voice in the debate would have been something to look forward to.

[wisteria]

3. They are trying to push everyone out, so she can run in the primaries

with little opposition and money. I think someone has got to take her on. It would be for the sack of our party. We will lose people in 08 if she is the candidate.

[JI7]

4. i wonder

if some people saw how nasty it got with the attacks on Kerry and just didn't want to go through it. i mean, that was just the beginning and it would just get worse.

i have no idea why Vilsack is running but my guess is that after everything that we have gone through he thinks his appeal as a boring and not so interesting Governor will be appealing. he dosen't have "Baggage".

[wisteria]

5. I think your are correct, and I think that is why Warner dropped out already. n/t

[sandnsea]

6. That's what I thought

I've got no idea about Feingold's life, except the two divorces. I do remember an article a while back where he and Hillary got in a loud argument over 527's and his campaign finance bill and how she was manipulating it. "Oh grow up Russ", is what the article quoted. I kind of think he took one look at what they've been doing to Kerry and said 'no thanks'.

I don't know why Vilsack is running, maybe for VP or maybe to be her attack dog. Or maybe to be an extra DLC voice in the debates, like we'd hoped Russ would be on the progressive side.

I'm really not liking what's going on in our party right now. Except Nancy Pelosi - she's a dynamo!

[wisteria]

16. I have the same feelings. n/t

[ProSense]

7. Interesting when you think about it!

They had to launch a preemptive attack on Kerry at a time when it wasn't prudent for him to defend himself to the fullest! People still forget that this election is going to come down to experience and the issues. Look at the line up, Kerry has the experience and vision and when he gets out there he'll build support. In fact, more people were expressing support even as the pundits continued to echo the meme.

[whometense]

15. Excellent point:

They had to launch a preemptive attack on Kerry at a time when it wasn't prudent for him to defend himself to the fullest!

The timing is all. Of everyone in the 2008 pool, she came off as the most selfish, the most self-serving, and the biggest backstabber. There was no reason apart from knifing Kerry in the back at a time when she knew damned well that he would say nothing that might jeopardize the dems' chances of winning back congress.

She is lower than low - that was a craven and despicable act.

[karynnj]

23. It also counted on knowing that Kerry would put country and party first

McCain was asked on Meet the Press about his attack on Kerry. He insisted on his story that the comments were offensive. At some point, there is a good potential that people will look at the real words - and see that McCain and Hillary both were unscupuless.

You could even argue that both were willing to hurt the troops by spreading a lie that a US Senator did not respectthem - when both KNOW that Kerry didn't.

(He also insisted on his comments on Iraq which is more damaging. )

[whometense]

14. You have to think that he'd

be very happy in the veep position.

[blm]

8. And I was warming to Feingold since he started working WITH others instead of

on his own.

I hope he continues on the path he is on. Maybe someone will tap him for VP.

[_dynamicdems]

9. The trend I'm seeing is a little frightening: first Warner, now Feingold.

While the two have different political viewpoints and probably different reasons for not running, the net result is that a path is being cleared for Hillary.

Feingold is one of the few I like too.

[TayTay]

10. This is good news for Sen. Kerry

as it sharpens the focus on who is a real progressive and the rest of the field.

[whometense]

13. I agree.

Feingold was always going to have a lot of trouble in the money department - I think he's just being realistic.

[YvonneCa]

11. Send a Thank You note to Senator Feingold...

...here's mine:

>>>>>>>>>>>




Senator Feingold,

Thank you for being such an outstanding patriot and fighting so hard to put our beloved country back on the right track. I have been a strong supporter of all the Democratic Party members who have lead the way to the Democratic Party victory of last Tuesday, but I have favored Senator Kerry as the person who has the qualifications to turn this country around and unify us, once and for all. I believe strongly that we need foreign policy experience in our next presidentil candidate and will get behind the candidate who has that experience and speaks the truth to the American people.

Your leadership, especially on Iraq, has been stellar! As Senator Kerry has said, "Patriotism does not belong to those who support a president's policies, it belongs to those who support their country." You did that, with style. :) I hope one day you DO decide to pursue the presidency. Thanks again, for all you did for our country.

:patriot:

[wisteria]

17. A very kind letter. n/t

[YvonneCa]

20. Thanks, wisteria! n/t

[Dr Ron]

12. Impact on Kerry

My post on Feingold's announcement at Liberal Values does get into the impact upon Kerry:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=593

[wisteria]

19. Good points, however what about the possibility of Obama? n/t

[Dr Ron]

21. Remains to be seen

There is certainly noise about Obama but I think it is too early for him. If he runs I expect him to also run against the war. Some might accept him over Kerry due to the IWR (with Obama not around to cast a vote) but I see Kerry's years of opposing unjust wars as making him a far more credible anti-war candidate.

[wisteria]

22. Oh, I agree, I was just throwing some spin. n/t

[Firespirit]

26. I think Obama running would be good for Kerry

Realistically, this is likely to come down to Hillary, Kerry, and one other candidate. I used to think that would be Edwards, but if Obama gets into the race, it is really bad for Edwards, Bayh, etc.

Obama seems, based on polls, to cut into everyone's support except for Kerry's. If he gets in, I could see a kind of rehash of 2004, minus a Dean-type candidate. The experienced one, and the younger fresh face. The voters "flirt" with the inexperienced fresh face, but gravitate toward the experienced senator in the end, and he perhaps chooses the fresh face as his running mate. (Kerry/Obama would kick the ass of any combination the Republicans might run, including their strongest, McCain/Giuliani.) Hillary is hurt badly by Obama; even now he shaves off a third of her support, and I would only expect that to grow. It shows that her support is not solid at all. Obama doesn't touch Kerry's number, though -- and I expect Kerry and Obama both to pick up supporters if/when Gore says he isn't running.

[ProSense]

18. Iraq withdrawal is on the agenda

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2960981&mesg_id=2960981

[ginnyinWI]

24. I think he might accept a veep nomination, though.

He just doesn't want to have to campaign for president--and who can blame him.

That said, the Senate does sound like it will be a fun place for the Dem Senators now, and he'll be a constructive part of it.

[Firespirit]

25. I like Feingold...

If Kerry couldn't quite pull it through, he was one of my top second choices. Gore was another, but I will be shocked if Gore runs. Edwards defended JK in the joke thing, but I don't like how he is attacking John and Teresa through his wife. Guess there's always Obama. I will not support Hillary, though. ANYONE but Hillary.

Evidently Feingold decided he could do the most good where he is, because of the majority (a majority that is likely to last through the 2008 cycle -- anyone see the seats up for re-election in '08? VERY unfriendly toward the Republicans).

[zann725]

27. I think a Kerry/Feingold ticket would be indominable.

And the "chemistry" between he and JK would be interesting. He would NOT let JK back-down or drift. Visually, and idealistically they SEEM like a "natural" Team. Not one "created" by the powers-that-be (i.e., an Obama)...to balance out, negate JK's strengths, by watering-down his strengths. Feingold would instead enhance JK's strengths, and vice versa.

Or Kerry/Gore....