Who saw Russ Feingold on C-Span?

[Hippo_Tron]

I did and now more than ever, I hope that guy runs for President.

[Goldeneye]

1. What did he say?

I was gonna watch and then completely forgot.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. He got asked a lot of questions about campaign finance reform

He described how horrible it was in the 90's before McCain-Feingold, how corporations would drop checks for half a million dollars to both parties in exchange for votes, it was basically bribery. He says that McCain-Feingold fixed the problem significantly and that 527's don't present the same problem of corruption that unlimited campaign contributions did, although they are still a problem and he and McCain have filed a lawsuit to force the FEC to stop unlimited campaign contributions to 527's as well.

He said that he voted against the USA Patriot Act because it involved several provisions that had nothing to do with terrorism and he wanted judges to be able to make sure that there was a legitimate reasoning for the FBI to reviewing records and what not. He also made a comment that he was one of the few senators to actually read the act.

Also, he commented that when he talks to people around Wisconsin, the big issues really are healthcare and jobs, social security isn't as big a deal (he alluded to the fact that Shrub isn't really listening to the American people).

Oh, and he gave the best answer I've heard from a Democrat (Dennis Kucinich aside I guess) on gay marriage. He said that he was raised to belive that marriage was between a man and a woman but that a US Senator it wasn't his place to decide that, it's up to the states to decide. He also commented on something about how society works better when you have loving families (which I take to mean that he believes that gay couples are perfectly capable of raising a family).

[GainesT1958]

2. He's brilliant--and I really admire him...

Though I'm now more convinced than ever if we don't pick someone from outside the states we "usually" carry, we're going to end up carrying those same states--and no other state--yet again. And I am tired of crossing my fingers and hoping for either Ohio or New Mexico to help us win the election by, say, five or six Electoral Votes.

B-)

[FreedomAngel82]

5. He could always do

more campaigning in other states that have higher E.C. votes instead of just a few states here and there.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. We usually win Wisconsin but just BARELY

Gore and Kerry both won it by less than one point. Russ just destroyed his GOP opponent there, meaning that he was able to get the votes of thousands (maybe millions) of Bush voters. Wisconsin isn't really a blue state, it's a purple state where democrats seem to have a VERY slight edge, just like Florida and Ohio except the GOP has a very slight edge.

I read an interesting peace on him on Salon.com about how he had just traveled through Alabama and was amazed at the poverty he saw and despite all of that, the people still voted Republican.

I think that the key thing about Russ is not about where he is from, but who he can connect to. I belive that as the nominee, he will campaign in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennesee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Colorado, Missouri, and other states that Democrats used to win but have recently stopped trying in.

[latteromden]

8. Kerry won in WI by .35%. Feingold won in WI by 11.3%.

Just to add some numbers to what you said. :)

[LittleClarkie]

10. If he can bring his ad agency along it would be great

His ads were absolutely brilliant. Positive, but getting the point across.

But does the rest of America love a maverick as much as we do? Even several Republicans here voted for him, partly because his opponent was absolutely horrendous, even by Republican standards.

[latteromden]

11. I watched them at his campaign site - the entire time, I was wondering WHO

made them. The best I've seen since Wellstone's, I think. I know something of the ins and outs of campaign commercials, and the one thing that really struck me was "Re-hire Russ Feingold," as opposed to re-elect. It sent out a message like, "He's YOUR senator, not Washington's."

Or maybe I just read too much into it. :P

Michels was a really terrible debater. At one point, he said, "We have a war between freedom and democracy." We... do? Which one will win? Can we place bets on this war?

[latteromden]

3. Shameless plug for anyone who shares that sentiment: draftruss.com.

I actually MISSED it. I'm going to go turn off my Rock Against Bush CD and watch it on q-and-a.org right now, though (I've used the internet my entire life, and yet I'm amazed by the things you can find on it...).

[Name removed]

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[LittleClarkie]

9. Your kidding

Please tell me you're kidding.

[American Tragedy]

13. I can just hear it. "That guy's kinda swarthy lookin."

"Oh, name's Russ Feingold, is it? Ohh, he's one of them."

[fujiyama]

16. LOL

I've heard people saying he looks "too Jewish", but this certainly is a new one.

[American Tragedy]

18. I assumed that's what he meant - too Semitic.

[CWebster]

12. I did and I really liked him

He is a decent, upstanding guy who I was pleased to see is getting in gear. Classic Democrat in my book.

[American Tragedy]

14. I didn't see him. Dammit, I never see him anywhere.

He's one of the few relatively prominent Democrats who is almost never around the media. Maybe I just don't tune in at the appropriate times, as in this particular case.

I love the guy, I think he has just about as good a chance as anybody, but I remain extremely skeptical of any members of Congress running for President. My hope is that he can save himself by virtue of having a more consistent voting record through which to explain himself.

[rodeodance]

15. he's my vote for 08--even as I hate to lose him as my Senator--yes, I

saw most of it (missed the beginning).

[Hippo_Tron]

20. Russ, unlike Kerry, has a CLEAR explanation for every one of his votes

He opposes "free" trade and voted against almost every agreement. He opposed the Iraq War and voted against the resolution. He opposes much of the Patriot Act and voted against it. He believes in senatorial courtesy thus he voted for Ashcroft and Condi (Gonzales was SO bad that he couldn't vote for him). He doesn't believe in congressional pay raises until the term is up so he returns his money that he recieves in between terms terms. Trust me, the guy has an explanation for every one of his votes.

[pstans]

21. He explained his votes well in the interview

Now that you say that I could tell that from the interview. He explained himself very well. None of the I am for this, but I am against this part, however I support that stuff that is what Kerry is.

[CWebster]

17. Check out what he has to say about Daschle in this interview:

http://www.progressive.org/May%202002/intv0502.html

[pstans]

19. I saw most of it

I saw most of it and was really impressed. I would definitly support Feingold in 08. At the end he was asked if America was ready for a politician like him in 4 or 8 years and Feingold said that it was take a change in the way America looks at things because he truly is a progressive and he works for real change. That really impressed me. I think Russ is wrong. I am ready for him right now.