Feingold needs moderates or he will lose. (Along with MANY other candidates.)

[rbilancia]

I am a dedicated, longtime Democratic moderate-to-progressive and very active. The ongoing debate about moderate vs. progressive is a very foolish one. For a party to have national viability, it MUST be a big-tent organization, and the various components must be willing to gel around the 70-80% of ideas where they can agree and not stand in a circular firing squad which only benefits the opposition. In the medium to long term, the RePUKEs with their hard right TeaParty turn will dissolve dramatically as the nation continues to diversify. They are screwing themselves in the long term, make no mistake of that. When they are willing to nominate O'Donnell over Castle, the proof is in the pudding bigtime.

BUT, in race upon race all over the place, Democrats can not and must not fall into the same implosive purity test trap that Republicans are now volunteering for in droves. Russ Feingold is in trouble right now. Why? He's a progressive's hero. It is because there simply are not enough progressives to carry the day. MOST progressives MUST have some moderate indies willing to vote for them or they simply can not win. Can't win, no power to do anything. It is just that simple.

Let the RePUKES slam the door in the faces of the moderates. They are welcome in my party. They'll need to compromise with the progressives, but they are welcome, because in many offices all over America, the plain truth is we can't win without them.

[bigdarryl]

1. So much B/S how did he get reelected the other times if he needs moderates

[rbilancia]

2. Because he GOT moderates. This is just reality my friend. Purity = poltical implosion over time.

[rbilancia]

3. Are you suggesting Feingold could win today with JUST progressive Dems? Uh uh. Not enough of them.

[Imajika]

5. Because he got lots of moderate voters?

You realize only around 20% of the public identify themselves as "liberal" right?

About double identify themselves as "conservative".

We do need LOTS of moderates and indies to win elections in a lot of districts and states. Lets not alienate them the way the Tea Party seems determined to do.

[nevergiveup]

4. This is so true in Wisconsin.

Also in Illinois where chronic liar Mark Kirk will take Obama's old seat if moderate independents break his way. I know a lot of these people and they tend to go with the flow. It is particularly scary this year.

[MBS]

7. " " " "" n/t

[MBS]

6. yup, you're absolutely right

I've been really depressed, not to mention appalled, about Feingold's struggle for reelection. For one thing, Johnson is AWFUL. How could he possibly be ahead? Why should this even be a contest in a state with a proud progressive and good-government tradition? Are the brains even of Wisconsin voters so poisoned by fear? In their second debate (Only one I've seen), Feingold was so clearly superior.. .surely voters will see that before Nov 2?
On the one hand, the voters themselves simply need to wake up and do the right thing.But the Dems need to do everything they can to make them see both moderate and progressive voters to see the light.I'm glad that the national party has finally started to send in the big guns to help.

[OHdem10]

8. I have no problem with Moderates. It is the Conservative Democrats

who vote with Republicans that anger me.

I had rather Republicans be in charge and get the blame
when we go over a cliff again; than have Democrats
passing same "Rightie" legislation and they(Dems) get the blame.

Conservative Democrats are going to vote with Republicans
the majority of the time.

[rbilancia]

18. Even most "blue dogs" vote with the Dem caucus a majority of the time.

[Radical Activist]

9. I don't think him being progressive is the problem.

Even progressives can have very strong approval in moderate states after two terms. For example, Tom Harkin is just as liberal in a more conservative state, but he's untouchable.

Part of the problem is that Feingold needs those infrequent, progressive voters who supported Obama. He should have thought about that before he spent two years trying to show how independent he is and voting against important Democratic bills.

[Unvanguard]

10. There's no particular reason to believe that that's why Feingold is losing.

The simpler explanation is that he is in a "purple" state in an election cycle that is bad for Democrats. If anything, his comparative independence should be helping him.

[rbilancia]

15. You only amplify the point. Dems NEED "purple" voters, or they can't win.

[Unvanguard]

19. Then Democrats should reduce unemployment

Again, no reason particularly to do with Feingold's ideology.

[Mass]

21. No, they need voters to vote. It is not because the Dems are not moderate enough that they dont vote

It is because they come out as standing for nothing (whether it is justified or not) and that people dont see what voting will bring them. Part of this is because of poor communication from our side. Part of this is because of the economical situation. Part of this is because of gross media politicization.

None of these have to do with Feingold's ideology.
None of these things have to do with somehow not standing on our values. All of them have to do with standing for something.

[Mass]

11. A big tent organization to do what? This is the issue.

I trust Feingold (or Deval Patrick in our state) to attrack enough moderates to win, but how do you define the agenda. It is not about people, it is about what they will do.

[rbilancia]

16. To make some PROGRESS, even if it isn't purity. What can you do if you lose the election?

[saltpoint]

12. I want Feingold to pull this one out and have a very

satisfying win on Nov. 2nd.

I would prefer to have him cloned and then use those clones to replace about 40-plus Puke Senators as soon as the scientists can get that done. Make it snappy, you scientists.

Absent that, I certainly want Feingold returned to the Senate. He's as free-standing an accomplished adult as anyone has a right to ask for in the United States. There's a bedrock integrity to him which his smarmy, fat-walleted opponent does not have.

If the future matters, Feingold deserves re-election.

[JNelson6563]

13. Well said as usual Saltpoint.

:toast:

[saltpoint]

14. Hey there, JNelson!

Howdy, and happy autumn!

I'll raise a toast to you and your posts on this site as well, even though I haven't even had breakfast!

:hi:

:toast:

[rbilancia]

17. I agree. I'm sure he's getting the progressive vote. He needs more indies to win.

[jgraz]

20. RBInMaine: why are you posting from a sock?

I thought this was against the rules.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

22. Hmmmm... I noticed that the other day. I even asked him...

...if we were, now, all allowed 2 ID's @ DU. No reply. Perhaps it's a good question for the new ATA forum? :shrug:

[rbilancia]

28. Hard to always see and respond to every single post/reply. Working with admin. to fix it.

[rbilancia]

25. Have already asked admin. to correct this. Am awaiting their action.

[jgraz]

26. OK. Good luck. (seriously)

[rbilancia]

29. Even just sent them another notice on this. Will hopefully be corrected soon.

[Dinger]

31. Hmm, Guess Not

Interesting.

[Phx_Dem]

23. That is always the case.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Describe for me a possible compromise

I have no idea what you as a moderate stand for. If I as a liberal need to compromise with you, what is it you see as areas of contention?
And frankly, if 'moderates' are not voting for Russ, but for some crazed Republican, if find the term inapplicable to them. It also seems they are the ones with some 'purity test' if they are the ones not casting the vote. In what way is Russ too liberal for them, or too progressive? How could he be more 'moderate'? How would that express itself, exactly?

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Sorry to ask you to define your terms, but of course you could not

Most Americans have no idea what 'moderate' or 'progressive' actually mean, as they are not actual political groups, but just terms of art to apply as needed.
We know this because when asked, moderates have no idea what makes them moderate and other not moderate.

[golfguru]

30. Feingold is not losing moderate democrats, he is losing independents

because of abysmal employment situation in better
paying jobs of manufacturing. It is simply anti-incumbent
sentiment to blame who ever is in charge.

[Dinger]

32. Unrec (nt)