Raw story developing, Russ Feingold headed to New Hampshire

[killerbush]

No link yet, just getting the headline off Rawstory.

[MaineDem]

1. Of course he is..he's speaking at their convention

And then he's coming to Maine to speak to our convention.

This isn't breaking news.

[killerbush]

3. I used RawStory's words, they are not my words

They said developing, not breaking

[MaineDem]

4. I'm not faulting your words

Sorry to imply that.

It's just that this has been known for ages. I can't imagine why they're making it a developing story.

[Left Coast Lynn]

23. lmao

A headline is born eh?

[zann725]

2. Kerry/Feingold...PLEASE.

They'd politically and 'sound-byte visually' make a great politcal Prez/VP.

We're gonna win this time! Watch...

[still_one]

7. I would vote for that match, but would prefer either gore/feingold

or clark feingold

[KaryninMiami]

8. Gore / Feingold is my first choice too! What a dream ticket...

Of course, if we still vote on electronic machines with no way to verify their accuracy, it won't matter who runs in 08 or in 06. They will just rig it again.

[lojasmo]

15. Gore-feingold! EOM

[hippiechick]

10. Gore/Feingold

:party: :applause: oh yeah. :applause: :party:

[sybylla]

9. Won't happen

I say this not because I most thoroughly believe Kerry doesn't stand a chance but because Russ would not hitch his progressive wagon to someone he would view as a centrist boat anchor.

The job of VP is basically to be a cheerleader for the administration and knowing Russ as I do, (a longtime constituent and campaign steering committee member) he won't vacate his progressive ideals so that he can cheerlead for a centrist administration that does not stand for what he believes in. I doubt even huge concessions on Kerry's part would make a difference. Russ can't lie, he won't lie, and he would never take a job that would put him in the position of having to do so.

And I doubt Kerry would accept someone acting as his VP who didn't wholly support his ideals and his decisions.

[Jackpine Radical]

12. I note that none of these objections apply to Gore-Feingold.

Now, THAT would be a ticket.

Unfortunately, neither of them is Machine-approved, so it's probly a pipe dream.

[sybylla]

17. Yeah, Jack. That would be a great ticket

Gore has shown himself to be a great progressive thinker since 2000 and I have no doubts that our Russ would entertain that possibility.

[sallyseven]

13. You made me think twice about Finegold.

If he is that much of a ninny then I would not want to vote for him. John Kerry is not a centrist. You shoulod temper your remarks snd not say things that might be false.

[sybylla]

16. Methinks thee doth protest too much

I know Feingold very well. He has been my senator for 13 years. I've worked with his campaign staff very closely on his campaigns. I've watched him, cheered him, and supported him. He has the sturdiest spine of any politician I have ever met. He will not forsake his values, our constitution and our country for anything.

And I'm not in the least surprised that someone who supports Kerry would call Feingold a "ninny." I'm happy to help you understand they have nothing in common except a "D" after their names.

[blm]

19. Really - you've compared both their actual records in the Senate and came

to the conclusion that Feingold showed more spine and showed he is far more progressive than Kerry? Show me what evidence led to your conclusion.

It would be a great educational tool for us.

[sybylla]

26. Careful, you could hurt yourself taking such a leap.

I made no mention of what either of them have done in the senate. I made no mention of any evidence other than personal observation.

I have watched them both on the campaign trail. I have watched them cope with terrible attacks from their opponents. I have watched them debate the nastiest opponents. I have watched them address grassroots Republicans. And I have watched John Kerry fail where Russ Feingold has not. I know Russ Feingold is solidly progressive. I know Russ Feingold is the only Dem in my state to get openly vocal support from far right republicans for having a spine and talking straight - one local wingnut even started a Russ for President website two years ago, back when most people here only knew him as the Dem who voted for John Ashcroft.

I'm not so short sighted as to judge a candidate on his record alone. There are loads of reasons why our candidates vote the way they do. Their biggest job in the Senate is to represent the citizens of their state, not another state. Their decisions and their votes must be put in that context. During Kerry's last stand for President, in his speeches, his debates, his answers to reporters and detractors, he made it clear he is definitely not a progressive in the Bob LaFollette tradition. And he made it patently clear that he has little in common with Russ Feingold when it comes to handling political issues and the problems of government. His platform was not a progressive platform. If you disagree, please feel free to show me the areas where I'm wrong. Not to mention the fact that he talked a good game on fighting election day problems and then backed down as if he had never said it. I know. I gave him money to do it when he asked for it. It's something Russ Feingold would never do nor would he stand for being part of a ticket where that could even happen.

But, hey, I'm sure you won't let my years of political observation get in the way of your dream.

[blm]

27. THAT is how you back down from your claim that Kerry is a centrist?

You heard a progressive speaking of progressive issues using moderate language to attract the 10 million more voters than voted for a Dem in 2000. THAT gave you the room to ignore his 21 yr record and call him a centrist that Russ wouldn't find fit to be part of his progressive world.

All that matters is a lawmaker's record and the battles he chooses to lead on or that he supports other Democrats who need back up. Everything else is opinion. Love your guy, love his whole record for it amplifies who he is when he USES the power of his office.

[sybylla]

30. Once again...

opinion: 1. a. a view, judgement, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter. b. Approval, Esteem 2. a belief stronger than an impression and less strong than positive knowledge. b. a generally held view....


It's my opinion - agree with it or not. Clearly your definition of progressive is different from mine. I do not back down from the fact that, in my opinion, Kerry is a CENTRIST. That view may only suffer in that I cannot help but compare him to Feingold and in that comparison, Kerry appears terribly centrist. Still, it is my view.

I haven't ignored "his 21 year record." That is your claim. I haven't said "that Russ wouldn't find fit to be part of his progressive world." To put words in my mouth is just a waste of your time and mine.

What I did say is that Russ isn't a man who could say what he doesn't mean nor will he avoid the truth. For the most part, VP's are required to be yes-men - sycophants. Russ Feingold won't be a yes-man for someone he doesn't agree with 100% thus he would never be a VP for anyone else unless that someone was prepared to tolerate honest criticisms on occasion. But being the stand-up guy Russ is, I have serious doubts that he would take on a VP position even then. He understands the expectations of the job and would not want to jeopardize the success of a Democratic president by being seen to disagree as a VP. Hence, if you read the subtext, Russ Feingold would probably not take on any VP position in deference to the Primary winner.

If you have a problem with that, it truly is your problem.

Had you asked for clarification instead of ranting, putting words in my mouth, assuming I was bashing Kerry and decrying me for it, you could have saved us both a great deal of time.

[blm]

31. Your own words

"I say this not because I most thoroughly believe Kerry doesn't stand a chance but because Russ would not hitch his progressive wagon to someone he would view as a centrist boat anchor.

The job of VP is basically to be a cheerleader for the administration and knowing Russ as I do, (a longtime constituent and campaign steering committee member) he won't vacate his progressive ideals so that he can cheerlead for a centrist administration that does not stand for what he believes in. I doubt even huge concessions on Kerry's part would make a difference. Russ can't lie, he won't lie, and he would never take a job that would put him in the position of having to do so."


You say that Feingold won't vacate progressive ideals for a CENTRIST ADMINISTRATION - in reference to Kerry. Your view that Kerry is a centrist is based on WHAT evidence? People usually come to their opinions based on facts of the record. Yet the record is something you WON'T cite because they BOTH have obvious progressive voting records, with Kerry to the left of Feingold on some, and vice versa. But to claim feingold would have to compromise his progressivism to serve with Kerry is purely opinion based on no logical read of their actual records. What HUGE CONCESSIONS would Kerry have to make to Russ Feingold? What issues are they so far apart on that would make someone think huge concessions need to be made on Kerry's part?

Your post speaks for itself - you know exactly what you meant to convey about Kerry and it was not even close to being accurate.

[blm]

18. HAHAH- can you PROVE what you just said? Feingold was a SILENT Dem

and never took on any major BATTLES during his career. He has been a quiet VOTING Senator and did not choose to lead battles or stand with other Dems when they were leading tough battles. And the record shows he is NOT more progressive than Kerry - Kerry maintained a voting record to Feingold's left over a TWENTY ONE YEAR period compared to Feingold's 13 yr career.

Where in the world do you come off claiming Feingold is some progressive leader while Kerry is a centrist ANCHOR?

Compare the REAL battles each chose during their time in the Senate.

[dionysus]

20. simply because people are allowed to have

their own perceptions and opinions of politicians. Jesus Christ, it's gotten to the point where anytime anyone posts ANYTHING about Kerry, or just about teir preferred candidate, you gotta rush in there with a "HOW DARE YOU NOT WORSHIP KERRY!! EVERY OTHER DEM SUCKS IN COMPARISON TO HIM!!" type of response. Please, get a grip.

On second thought, are you ACTUALLY J.K. himself?

[blm]

22. What I don't allow is someone to make a FALSE CLAIM about Kerry in their

efforts to to promote someone else. I will always speak out when the charge has no basis in reality.

Why can't people just love their choice for their REAL RECORD and not distort it and Kerry's record to do so?

Sorry - I believe in ACCURACY and the REAL RECORD. I am not big on opinions just for the sake of attacking good Democrats.

[sybylla]

28. 2.5 years to election day and it's already starting

Apparently the rules in GD have changed and it's no longer kosher to have an opinion in GD without evidence sufficient to back up a scientific research paper.

[blm]

29. No. But if you are going to push one while making false claims against

another, you should expect a challenge from those familiar with the records of both men.

[ShortnFiery]

21. Kerry / Finegold = Yes! eom

[symbolman]

5. What news service are they getting it from?

Anyone got a valid link?

[Left Coast Lynn]

24. It looks a few weeks old

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Feingold_to_address_New_Hampshire_Democratic_0530.html

It was reported here May 7? WTF?

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=4870380

I think "Raw Story has learned" this a little late.

[Tesha]

6. I'll be at the Feingold breakfast on Saturday...

I'll be at the Feingold breakfast on Saturday, so if anyone
has any burning questions they'd like raised, see...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=166x1169

Tesha

[MaineDem]

11. I'll be at a reception with him on Saturday evening

Betcha we hear the same speech. :)

Enjoy your convention!

[Tesha]

14. Betcha you're right! ;-) (NT)

[LynneSin]

25. I've gotta say this right now - Feingold will be a tough sell for Prez....

Mainly because this guy has been divorce TWICE now. I mean, I know we've had a divorced president (Reagan), but I know how these presidental elections work and they'll find the stupidiest thing about a candidate and play it off to a hilt. And for plenty of folks in this country, divorce is still a big no-no although there is some forgiveness for one I just see that two divorces won't play off well.

It sounds shitty to say but it'll hurt him too