Feingold supports Israel...

[cigsandcoffee]

Why?

http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=7/15/2006&id=8593

Platteville - U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold today defended Israel's right to protect itself amid the escalating conflict along its borders, saying, "I don't think any country is going to let their soldiers be kidnapped, transported, killed ... without a serious response."

Feingold said he would not second-guess "whether that response was exactly as it should be."

Said Feingold: "My hope would be that Israel would use as much restraint as possible .... It's in Israel's interest and the interests of peace. But I do think Israel has not only a right but also a responsibility to respond to the Hezbollah attack."

(snip)

Feingold posted a statement on his Web site Friday saying, "I stand firmly with the people of Israel and their government as they defend themselves against these outrageous attacks."

[npincus]

1. I think the Senator explained himself in the article you've posted

[cigsandcoffee]

13. Indeed. This sums it up:

"I stand firmly with the people of Israel and their government as they defend themselves against these outrageous attacks."

[blm]

2. I don't think this poll is fair in any way to Feingold.

There is no black and white answer, and if he were given the opportunity to be involved with the decisions made reMiddle East, you would find his position is as nuanced as most other critical thinkers.

[dogday]

9. Thanks for that nt

[cigsandcoffee]

12. I think his position is pretty clear.

I'd rather go by what he did say rather than what we think he might say in a different position.

[blm]

18. Did say as a quick answer - when we know there are no quick answers.

Some lawmakers are quick answer types, but, he is not one of them, and I say that as someone who has no problem noting when I disagree with Russ.

I may sometimes be tough, but I am always fair.

[cigsandcoffee]

19. If this is his quick answer...

"I stand firmly with the people of Israel and their government as they defend themselves against these outrageous attacks."

...then it's pretty hard to see how a long one would stray far from it.

[blm]

21. In a decisionmaking process he would be more nuanced.

Of that, I am pretty much certain.

[cigsandcoffee]

24. If by "nuanced" you mean "less supportive of Israel,"

..then I would probably disagree.

[Skidmore]

3. Other....

He's a Jewish American? Just guessing.

[madmunchie]

4. Didn't we just have a thread on this very thing a few days ago?

Is the news cycle so slow (not), that we are actually repeating threads and just making them into polls, to make them a little different?

Just cause Feingold supports Israel, doesn't make him a sell out. It just gives gim a differing view then some on this issue.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sybylla]

10. It's about something else because it really is

Feingold has, in the past, been a serious critic of Israel and its actions. But it's real easy to jump to conclusions I guess.

[cigsandcoffee]

11. Are you saying it's because he's a Jew?

[rinsd]

15. I hate the pretense of your appearing nuanced

Just come out and say he's a jew supporting other jews.

At least have the courage to do that.

Now change your target to any other ethnic group and see how ridiculously stupid you sound.

[ClassWarrior]

Feingold "bought and paid for??"

:rofl:

This is the most un-bought individual on Capitol Hill!!

NGU.

[cigsandcoffee]

8. I fully agree.

I answered "A."

[blm]

22. No - that would be those who crafted the Clean Money, Clean Elections bill

in 1997 while Feingold teamed with McCain for a reform bill that did little to stem the corrupt flow of money, but succeeded greatly at undermining the public financing of campaigns debate that some Democrats WANTED to have.

Feingold likely didn't intend for that to happen, but by letting McCain spearhead and control the bill and the debate, that is what happened.

[ClassWarrior]

23. I was speaking in superlative, but I'm sure there are others as...

...honest as Russ. So who, exactly, was it who crafted the Clean Money/Clean Elections bill? (Which I agree is the better alternative.)

NGU.

[blm]

25. Kerry crafted it and then Wellstone added and signed on to it.

There were 3 other senators who supported it at the time.

BTW, Kerry and Wellstone resubmitted the bill in 2001 and Cantwell and Clinton actually signed on to it then. Could be Hillary was trying to inoculate herself after the RW went apeshit over pardons and "Chinese donors" ad nauseum, but it was still a pleasant turn of events. Also shows that it would be a political winner for Dems to push it again TODAY, in the post Enron, post Abramoff, post Cunniingham political climate.

Kerry did succeed in getting an amendment into McCain-Feingold calling for study of the Clean Elections bill's effect on states that adopted it.

[theanarch]

6. it's hard to say...

...because it seems to fall somewhere between being bought and paid for, and being expedient...it can't be because he truly believes Israel is right; if that's the case, then he'd have to support Bush on Iraq, if only to be consistant in one's beliefs.

[cali]

14. That is the very

definition of a logical fallacy.

[theanarch]

26. just asking but...

...whose logical fallicy are you referencing: Feingold's or mine?

[DanCa]

7. This is why our next presidential nominee

should come from outside the senate. Wes Clark in 08.

[jsamuel]

16. Because he really thinks Israel is right

doesn't mean he is though

[peacetalksforall]

17. I would like to see more responsibility and fairness in his words.

Israel is just not infallible.

Sorry, Sen. Feingold just dropped to the bottom of my list along with Sen. Clinton and the others who were already there.

The 100% backing of the Likud Party is intolerable. It is obvious that there are no peacemakers around anywhere.

Let it rip. Let's all die now. Or does someone see some light?

[Behind the Aegis]

20. You do know the Likud is not in power?

[NaturalHigh]

27. He believes Israel to be right.

I would venture to say that the majority of Americans agree.

[Laotra]

28. Ask Cynthia McKinney

if AIPAC is mighty enemy.