Feingold tests the waters, but will he jump in?

It will be interesting to see who gets the antiwar vote. So far, Feingold seems the one most likely to earn it. If that happens, I think maybe he becomes something more than a long shot.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/nat/jan06/382117.asp

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The forthcoming presidential contest is an open race, without so much as a sitting vice president in the wings. Moreover, Feingold would not have to sacrifice his seat if he runs, since his current six-year term runs through January 2011. Plus he has, in Sabato's words, a "built-in anti-war constituency looking around for a candidate more liberal than Hillary Clinton."

So much for Feingold's pluses.

The minuses? To begin with, a lack of name identification, a lackluster war chest and a crowded field.

Potential rivals start with Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, as well as others steeled from national contests, such as John Edwards, John Kerry and Al Gore, plus Mark Warner, the Virginia governor whose term ends this month. Warner, who cannot seek re-election under Virginia term limits, is both a Southerner and moderate - much like the only two Democrats elected to the presidency in recent decades.

In Sabato's view, Feingold "is not the front-runner - or anything close to it."

"He's very much a long shot," concurs Charles O. Jones, a University of Wisconsin-Madison emeritus professor of political science.

more...

... he had ME from 'hello'.

I saw an interview with Feingold about eight months ago, and have been a staunch supporter ever since. In the subsequent interviews I've seen and read, he continues to confirm that my first impression was right.

Intelligent, articulate, charming, straightforward, able to point the finger of blame (and shame) at this administration without getting carried away with rhetoric - and always follows up with a suggestion about how the situation can be improved.

And the good looks and charisma sure don't hurt.

If you watch the discussion threads here (and on other sites), you invariably see comments like, "I didn't know who this guy was. But I saw him on TV the other night, and I'M REALLY IMPRESSED!" He seems to be able to win people over to his point of view without any effort.

Feingold is THE GUY!!!

to the floor for a vote, voted for AsshKKKroft, against the AWB and won't take any pay raises. Sounds like a weirdo. A perfect foil for Hillary.

Not to mention 100,000+ Iraqis so that defense industries could make more money. Nobody with that much blood on her hands gets my vote.

Oh yea and the House of Representatives if the body that impeaches the president. Considering that Russ Feingold has never sat in the House of Representatives, I can't possibly fathom how he would have voted for bring Clinton's impeachment to the floor for a vote.

Oh and explain to me how his two divorces will in any way effect his ability to be President?

The Devil is in the Repackaging

The Curious Case of Russ Feingold

By ANIS MEMON

The recent Senate confirmation hearings on John Roberts once again, and with perhaps more urgency, brought attention to Russ Feingold's iconoclastic voting record. Feingold had previously voted to approve John Ashcroft as Attorney General in 2001. At that time, Feingold's liberal supporters, though somewhat perturbed, conceded that this singular manifestation of his independent spirit had to be accepted if they were going to praise his defiance of not only the Democratic leadership, but of the entire somnolent political scene following 9/11: for Feingold was also, courageously, the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act and he is someone who from the beginning has loudly denounced the war on Iraq.

The same sort of noise is now being made about his Roberts vote; and again his supporters point to his action as a sign of his independence from the Democrats, as proof of his sincerity, honesty and general upstanding character qualities which are woefully lacking from politics. He is a man with integrity and moral fiber, an ardent foe of narrow ideology, a consensus-builder who however does not flinch from holding others to the same standard he holds himself to. He was the only Democrat not to vote against a bill that would have dismissed the Clinton impeachment charges; and he is the co-author in conjunction with that noted lefty John McCain of a lukewarm campaign finance reform bill.
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<http://www.counterpunch.org/memon10132005.html>

2 divorces is like buying a used car with too many owners.

Hillary's vote one way or another wouldn't have stopped the war in Iraq which she was always against. You sound like you're using Republican gotcha standards for her vote.

I'd support Al in a heartbeat, but I don't see Gore building a campaign network and he's indicated that he won't go the traditional path to the nomination, that is vying against other contenders. But if Al decides to run or is able to outmanuver Hillary, than I'd support a Gore/Feinold ticket enthusiastically.

Right now my only 2 choices for Dem Prez nominee for 2008 are Gore and Feingold. I won't support Hillary or any DLC clown.

just a few long shots early on that became president.

I'm watching Feingold. Those of us in WI know him well and he is building up a grass root progressive group regardless of a potential run for president. I had never hear much about Warner or Dean either and both took off rather quickly after a certain point.

An end to the disaster in Iraq abroad; honest government and fiscal responsibility at home.