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Author Topic:   Russ Feingold or The 2008 Presidential Candidate Thread
Asgara
Member (Idle past 2302 days)
Posts: 1783
From: Wisconsin, USA
Joined: 05-10-2003


Message 1 of 15 (272651)
12-25-2005 3:18 PM


Russ Feingold
I'm sure you can see where my loyalty resides. Let's discuss the possibilities and potential candidates.

Russ Feingold, Junior Senator from Wisconsin

quotes:
AbE
In response to Bu$h claiming to use his "inherent power as president" to authorize illegal NSA wiretaps -
"If that's true, he doesn't need the Patriot Act because he can just make it up as he goes along. I tell you, he's President George Bush, not King George Bush. This is not the system of government we have and that we fought for,"
Sen. John Cornyn: "None of your civil liberties matter much after you're dead."
Sen. Russ Feingold's retort: "Give me liberty or give me death."
Statement Of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On The Anti-Terrorism Bill
From The Senate Floor
October 25, 2001
Of course, there is no doubt that if we lived in a police state, it would be easier to catch terrorists. If we lived in a country that allowed the police to search your home at any time for any reason; if we lived in a country that allowed the government to open your mail, eavesdrop on your phone conversations, or intercept your email communications; if we lived in a country that allowed the government to hold people in jail indefinitely based on what they write or think, or based on mere suspicion that they are up to no good, then the government would no doubt discover and arrest more terrorists.
But that probably would not be a country in which we would want to live. And that would not be a country for which we could, in good conscience, ask our young people to fight and die. In short, that would not be America.
"Political watchers such as University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato point out that while Feingold's recent stands on civil liberties and the Iraq war may please liberal activists, they may well hurt his chances later on with moderate Democrats and conservatives. "
The Senator's response?
"I don't care,"... "Whatever political considerations I have are absolutely irrelevant to the decisions I make having to do with people's civil liberties and something as weighty as Americans risking their lives overseas. The day that I start think politically about those things is the day I should leave politics."
Ten Things to Know About Russ Feingold
1. Russ holds a listening session in each one of Wisconsin's 72 counties every year, where he hears Wisconsinites talk about their concerns first-hand.
2. Russ has one of the best attendance records in the U.S. Senate. Out of thousands of lifetime votes, Russ has missed only two. During this session of Congress he has not missed a single vote.
3. Russ has given the "Calling of the Bankroll" on the Senate floor more than 30 times, in order to highlight the campaign contributions of major interests involved in legislation the Senate was considering.
4. Russ cast the deciding vote in favor of the 1993 Deficit Reduction package, which by today has reduced the federal debt by over $40,000 for each family of four in Wisconsin.
5. Russ has one of the highest lifetime voting records of any seated U.S. Senator from the League of Conservation Voters, a bipartisan group that advocates for environmental conservation.
6. Russ ran his 1998 campaign for re-election under the guidelines of his own campaign finance reform bill, which had not yet been passed into law. Despite being outspent by millions of dollars, Russ won re-election to his second term.
7. Russ has been hailed as a "Deficit Hawk" by the Concord Coalition, a non-partisan group that advocates fiscal responsibility in the federal government.
8. The Capital Times, a Madison newspaper, has said that "Feingold['s] record on labor, environmental and international affairs is arguably the best in the Senate."
9. Russ does not accept pay raises during his term in office. When his colleagues in Congress vote to increase their pay, Russ returns his share to the U.S. Treasury.
10. Was the only member of the US Senate to vote against the Patriot Act and led a broad bi-partisan coalition four years later to stop a blind reauthorization of it.
This link is to Project Vote Smart's page on Russ. Here you will find his entire voting record and relevant quotes if available.
Even if you're not a Russ fan (though I don't see how you couldn't be ) you can find information on your own elected officials and representatives here.
http://feingold.senate.gov/
Domain Names, Web Hosting and Online Marketing Services | Network Solutions
http://www.russforpresident.com/
This message has been edited by Asgara, 12-25-2005 02:18 PM
This message has been edited by Asgara, 12-25-2005 02:24 PM

Asgara
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"
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Replies to this message:
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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 2 of 15 (272666)
12-25-2005 5:24 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Asgara
12-25-2005 3:18 PM


As a Republican
I can say that Russ Feingold has my full and complete support. No one yet mentioned among the Republican candidates or among current State or National level positions would even come close. I intend, as a Repeblican, to do all I can to get Russ to run for President, to work to see that as many other Republicans get out and support Russ, and given the opportunity, to vote for Russ Feingold for our next President.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Minnemooseus, posted 12-25-2005 6:12 PM jar has replied

  
Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 3 of 15 (272679)
12-25-2005 6:12 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by jar
12-25-2005 5:24 PM


Re: As a Republican
I believe Russ is tagged with the dreaded "liberal" label. And perhaps he is a liberal.
But this just illustrates the worthlessness of many political labels. In many ways the so called "liberals" are more conservative (in the traditional sense) that the so called "conservatives".
But I don't think Jar is a Republican. You are an Independent, or perhaps a Progressive. You are willing to vote for or against a candidate regardless of what party or other political label is put on him or her.
Like Russ Feingold, there have (IMO) been other bright light presidental candidates in the past. Eugene McCarthy in the late 60's, John Anderson back in the early 80's, and Dennis Kucinich in the most recent election. And I'm most likely forgetting some.
It sure seems that it's possible to elect a truly bad president, but is it possible to elect a truly great president? And even if a candidate with real "greatness potential" somehow gets elected, will the system permit him/her to achieve that greatness? I am not optimistic, but maybe we can have a great George W. Bush backlash.
Moose
{Edit - Added Dennis Kucinich Wiki link.}
Added by second edit:
From Dennis Kucinich - Wikipedia:
2004 presidential campaign
His platform included the socialization of many services and great expansion of federal authority and power. Specifically, it included:
1. Immediate withdrawal from the WTO and NAFTA.
2. Moving U.S. troops out of Iraq and replacing them with UN peacekeepers.
3. Ending the drug war.
4. Abolishing the death penalty.
5. Preventing the privatization of social security.
6. Ratifying the ABM Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol.
7. Introducing reforms to bring about instant-runoff voting.
8. Creating a single-payer system of universal health care.
9. Creating a cabinet-level "Department of Peace"
10. Legalizing same-sex marriage.
11. Repealing the USA PATRIOT Act.
12. Full social security benefits at age 65.
13. Environmental renewal and clean energy.
This message has been edited by minnemooseus, 12-25-2005 06:38 PM
This message has been edited by minnemooseus, 12-25-2005 06:44 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by jar, posted 12-25-2005 5:24 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 4 of 15 (272682)
12-25-2005 6:39 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Minnemooseus
12-25-2005 6:12 PM


Re: As a Republican
But I don't think Jar is a Republican.
Just gotta set the record straight. Registered Republican. The first campaign I was involved in was as campaign manager for Dwight Eisenhower in a mock election during his second run. Worked for Nixon against Kennedy, supported Rocky first but then AuH2O, Nixon again (and also was the senior advisor for a TAR group; got a personal letter from Tricky Dick for our work in the South, specifically North Carolina at the time), supported Reagan's first run even though I'd seen how he destroyed public education in California.
But Reagan was a disaster for both the Nation and the Republican party. That has continued as Bush Senior turned the nation into simply a corporate slush fund to be siphoned when desirable. I supported Steve Forbes and then John McCain in 2000 but voted for Bush over Al Gore (big mistake).
In 2004 I voted for Kerry as I could not morally support Bush.
I'm still registered as a Republican and if they can field a candidate of equal stature to Russ Feingold, I would likely vote for him, or her. But none of the candidates mentioned so far come even close.
I would love to see the Republican Party rise from the ashes once again. It should be possible to recruit candidates of moral character, that respect civil liberties, that believe that government should only exist where it fulfills a need and that are capable of rational thought.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

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nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 5 of 15 (272683)
12-25-2005 6:42 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Minnemooseus
12-25-2005 6:12 PM


Re: As a Republican
I believe Russ is tagged with the dreaded "liberal" label. And perhaps he is a liberal.
I think Russ combines fiscal conservatism with common sense. If that makes him a liberal, then we need more liberals.
But I don't think Jar is a Republican.
I think he is. I think he is a Republican in the traditional sense, the kind of Republican we had before the GOP toppled over the edge into insanity.

Impeach Bush

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Minnemooseus, posted 12-25-2005 6:12 PM Minnemooseus has not replied

Replies to this message:
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Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 6 of 15 (272695)
12-25-2005 9:29 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Asgara
12-25-2005 3:18 PM


Re: Russ Feingold
I have already contacted the Feingold campaign to volunteer for him.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Asgara, posted 12-25-2005 3:18 PM Asgara has not replied

  
Theodoric
Member
Posts: 9076
From: Northwest, WI, USA
Joined: 08-15-2005
Member Rating: 3.7


Message 7 of 15 (272696)
12-25-2005 9:32 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by nwr
12-25-2005 6:42 PM


Re: As a Republican
Yes Russ will get the dreaded Liberal label, but I think he is better labeled as a Progressive. The Rebublicans have give such a bad name to Conservative, that people might be willing to give a Liberal a chance.
This message has been edited by Theodoric, 12-25-2005 08:34 PM

Barb's Site
Exposing the radical right with facts

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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5819 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 8 of 15 (272783)
12-26-2005 7:27 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Asgara
12-25-2005 3:18 PM


Re: Russ Feingold
Since Bush can't run again in 2008, its almost a moot question of who to run against the Reps. The Reps may very well run a valid and powerful presidential candidate.
In fact that would be one of their best strategies. Spend the rest of Bush's term making excuses and rewriting history as well as getting at least 1 "success" under Bush's belt. Then run someone who could actually be a President. That way they get at least 3 terms in the executive, with the successes of the latter used to whitewash the horrors of the Bush presidency.
Since I'm an independent I'd still be willing to vote Rep, if they field a valid and powerful candidate.
HOWEVER, from the Dem side of things from what I have seen, I do like Feingold. In fact I've already been discussing this possibility with friends. I like his responses, which are more direct and understandable to the public than Kerry's, and he has a conservative financial outlook. Perhaps he is more a lapsed libertarian like myself.
What would be kickass is to maybe see a merger occur. How about a Feingold/McCain ticket?
I agree with others that his "liberal" label will be what Reps will hone in on. Apparently he was awarded "most liberal" or something by some group. I'd expect to hear that a lot. Too bad if people only listen to that.

holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

This message is a reply to:
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Asgara
Member (Idle past 2302 days)
Posts: 1783
From: Wisconsin, USA
Joined: 05-10-2003


Message 9 of 15 (273096)
12-27-2005 1:13 AM


bump for more feedback
bump

Asgara
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"
Save lives! Click here!
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC!
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Replies to this message:
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Asgara
Member (Idle past 2302 days)
Posts: 1783
From: Wisconsin, USA
Joined: 05-10-2003


Message 10 of 15 (273496)
12-28-2005 12:01 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by Asgara
12-27-2005 1:13 AM


Re: bump for more feedback
bump

Asgara
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"
Save lives! Click here!
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC!
http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
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This message is a reply to:
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Asgara
Member (Idle past 2302 days)
Posts: 1783
From: Wisconsin, USA
Joined: 05-10-2003


Message 11 of 15 (273981)
12-29-2005 8:05 PM


bump
bump
(no one seems interested )

Asgara
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"
Save lives! Click here!
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC!
http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com
http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

Replies to this message:
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bobbins
Member (Idle past 3613 days)
Posts: 122
From: Manchester, England
Joined: 06-23-2005


Message 12 of 15 (274021)
12-29-2005 10:06 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by Asgara
12-29-2005 8:05 PM


Re: bump
I am interested (British but interested)- yet bewildered that I could like a republican and want to vote (hypothetically) for one.

This message is a reply to:
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nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 13 of 15 (274026)
12-29-2005 10:23 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by Asgara
12-29-2005 8:05 PM


Re: bump
(no one seems interested )
Lack of posts need not indicate lack of interest. Maybe there just isn't much to say this early in the campaign season. It is almost 3 years before the next presidential election.

Impeach Bush

This message is a reply to:
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Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 14 of 15 (274032)
12-29-2005 10:35 PM


The senator to president transition problem, etc.
Something I was vaguely aware of, but that was further pointed out somewhere on NPR earlier today.
There have been only 2 Presidents to come out of the Senate (I understand that to mean active Senators becoming President). They are John F. Kennedy and (IIRC) Warren G. Harding. I don't know about Presidents coming out of the House of Representatives.
A big problem senators have, is that they have a prominent and relevant voting record that can be used against them, either legitimatly or via distortions.
Most of our recent Presidents were governors - Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and now George W. Bush. They don't have that voting record to haunt them, the question is, it this another way of saying that they have little or no experience in dealing with federal issues.
Bottom line - A Senator may make a better President, but a Governor tends to be more electable.
Now, Russ Feingold.
I think he probably has a solid record as a Senator. To what degree that will work for or against him is the question. I guess I can hope that his strong record against things GWB, combined with a hard anti GWB / Neo-con backlash, might get him elected.
Moose

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 15 of 15 (274036)
12-29-2005 10:47 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by bobbins
12-29-2005 10:06 PM


Re: bump
Not to worry. Russ is not a Republican unfortunately. I wish the Republicans had a comparable candidate. The closest thing to a comparable candidate in the Republican sphere is John McCain. Robert Ehrlich, the Governor of Maryland might be another, but it's unlikely he would be considered simply because Maryland is a small state even though it has the same number of votes in the Electoral College as Wisconsin.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
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