NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know if he's really just this kind of guy, or if he's playing the role of the ultimate beltway-contrarian, but at this point I don't care. He was the only Senator to vote against the original PATRIOT Act, he was the first to call for censure of Bush for his many and varied breakings of the law, and now he's come out in support of same sex marriage. (http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/06/04/200604044.html) If he's running for President in 2008, he's breaking every insider rule there is. And good on him for doing it.

Washington, D.C. - Responding to a question posed at his Kenosha County listening session over the weekend, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold said he strongly opposed the proposed civil unions and marriage ban facing Wisconsin voters this November. He also expressed his support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry. Feingold holds listening sessions in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties every year. Later this year, Feingold will hold his 1000th listening session as a U.S. Senator.

“The proposed ban on civil unions and marriage is a mean-spirited attempt to divide Wisconsin and I indicated that it should be defeated,” Feingold said. “It discriminates against thousands of people in our communities – our co-workers, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. It would single out members of a particular group and forever deny them rights and protections granted to all other Wisconsin citizens. It would also outlaw civil unions and jeopardize many legal protections for all unmarried couples, whether of the same or the opposite sex. We shouldn’t enshrine this prejudice in our state’s Constitution.”

At the listening session, held at the Village Hall in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin, Feingold also expressed his support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry.

“As I said at the Kenosha County listening session, gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy,” Feingold added. “Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws, especially in a progressive state like Wisconsin. The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue.”

I don't know if he's really just this kind of guy, or if he's playing the role of the ultimate beltway-contrarian, but at this point I don't care. He was the only Senator to vote against the original PATRIOT Act, he was the first to call for censure of Bush for his many and varied breakings of the law, and now he's come out in support of same sex marriage. (http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/06/04/200604044.html) If he's running for President in 2008, he's breaking every insider rule there is. And good on him for doing it.
If he is not just puting on an act (well not TOO much of one) I say yay for him

I think I just figured out who I'm rooting for in the up comoing elections in a few years. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders.

Maybe he's hoping that the silent majority will have the desire and courage to speak up when it comes to election time. These are definitely not things that would appeal to the very vocal minority.

Sinning bastards!

JEB BUSH for 2008! Woot!

Interesting. I think I will start watching him more........

I like this feingold fellow. Don't know who he is but hes done 2 things I like. well done feinny.

Feingold, my favorite senator, I'm glad I voted for him. A shame I'll have to give up my wisconsin residency soon (seeing as I no longer live in that state).

If it weren't for McCain-Feingold, I'd say this guy was the perfect choice for President. However, McCain-Feingold kinda shows that Feingold is, in fact, putting on a clever act. After all, suspending Free Speech to keep incumbents in office is absolutely nonsensical.

Good! It's about time somebody with those kinds of opportunities actually stood up for something. Something fair and just, that is.

Fiengold's first cousin is a close family friend, and they grew up together. Judging from what I know about my friend's politics and beliefs, I would say that Fiengold is not putting up any type of act and truly believes what he says.

I also once read a quote from him that said something like; The minute I do something for the sake of politics instead of my own beliefs, that is the minute I should quit being a politician.

Thats not the exact quote, but it was something like that. I thought that that was a cool quote.

Finally, SOMEBODY who might get nominated by the democratic party other than Hilary Clinton.

I think Feingold has heard all the criticism of the democratic party that they're overcautious and afraid to take a stand, and is reacting by standing up for his party's alleged convictions for once.

Much respect to him.

Finally, SOMEBODY who might get nominated by the democratic party other than Hilary Clinton.

Frankly, I think many dems would rather vote for a Republican than Hillary (might be less authoritarian). :p

suspending Free Speech

because if the rich can't run the country without constraint then freedom has died

He does have my support to. Most sensible politican and he's been against them for years.

I don't know if he's really just this kind of guy, or if he's playing the role of the ultimate beltway-contrarian, but at this point I don't care. He was the only Senator to vote against the original PATRIOT Act, he was the first to call for censure of Bush for his many and varied breakings of the law, and now he's come out in support of same sex marriage. (http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/06/04/200604044.html) If he's running for President in 2008, he's breaking every insider rule there is. And good on him for doing it.

Why does Feingold have to do things like this? It makes me want to vote for him for President - until I remember that he's an economic protectionist and the bill he cosponsored with McCain is in part a censorship tool. It really irritates me - he has all these positions I like, and than he goes and ruins it. It causes an internal struggle for me, and it sucks.

I don't know if he's really just this kind of guy, or if he's playing the role of the ultimate beltway-contrarian, but at this point I don't care.

as far as i can tell (having lived in wisconsin for most of the time since 1999) he actually just is like that. and for whatever reason he manages to come out ahead in counties here that otherwise vote for fascists (except the belt right near where i am that always votes republican because the party formed there 150 years ago or whatever)

Why does Feingold have to do things like this? It makes me want to vote for him for President - until I remember that he's an economic protectionist and the bill he cosponsored with McCain is in part a censorship tool. It really irritates me - he has all these positions I like, and than he goes and ruins it. It causes an internal struggle for me, and it sucks.

Have you found any politicians that truly and completely represent your viewpoints? I know I haven't. Elections for me usually come down to weighing which agreements/disagreements are more important, when they aren't simply me trying desperately to pick the least of two evils.

Finally, SOMEBODY who might get nominated by the democratic party other than Hilary Clinton.

I think Feingold has heard all the criticism of the democratic party that they're overcautious and afraid to take a stand, and is reacting by standing up for his party's alleged convictions for once.
Hilary Clinton is just a Red person in a Blue Outfit.


I know one thing. No one who ever plays computer games will vote for her.
Hilary Clinton was real smart helping Jack Thompson out.

Hilary Clinton is just a Red person in a Blue Outfit.


I know one thing. No one who ever plays computer games will vote for her.
Hilary Clinton was real smart helping Jack Thompson out.
I hated her before she sided with that asshat

Now I pray to fucking god that she is not the dem nom for the election

I don't know if he's really just this kind of guy, or if he's playing the role of the ultimate beltway-contrarian, but at this point I don't care. He was the only Senator to vote against the original PATRIOT Act, he was the first to call for censure of Bush for his many and varied breakings of the law, and now he's come out in support of same sex marriage. (http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/releases/06/04/200604044.html) If he's running for President in 2008, he's breaking every insider rule there is. And good on him for doing it.

I have yet to regret voting for him in 2004. He's not perfect (what politician is?), but he's a damn sight better than anything else this state has cranked out in quite some time.

I'll never vote for Hillary, and I haven't heard much else in the way of names being floated out as Democratic candidates. Hopefully Feingold can make a decent run in the primaries, and we'll see where it goes from there.

I didn't think that he was going to run for president. I don't know, but I thought I heard that somewhere. And a twice divorced man is going to do miserably in a national election unless he gets really popular in the mainstream about his policies.

I didn't think that he was going to run for president. I don't know, but I thought I heard that somewhere. And a twice divorced man is going to do miserably in a national election unless he gets really popular in the mainstream about his policies.

Actually, I think he could turn that fact into a real strength.

I would think a lot of your run-of-the-mill middle-class Americans might be a little tired of the same manufactured image which First-Couples always seem to project. Feingold's divorces take him down from his politicians pedestal and move him down more to the level of the average voter.

Not a sure thing, but the best way to try and spin it.

because if the rich can't run the country without constraint then freedom has died

How about the gag on all political groups a month before the election? Perhaps you'd like to tell me how that improves the freedom of this nation. Wher e I come from, we call this a violation of people's right to free speech.

Campaign finance law is just fine, but restricting free speech? I call bullshit.

Actually, I think he could turn that fact into a real strength.

I would think a lot of your run-of-the-mill middle-class Americans might be a little tired of the same manufactured image which First-Couples always seem to project. Feingold's divorces take him down from his politicians pedestal and move him down more to the level of the average voter.

Not a sure thing, but the best way to try and spin it.


That would appeal to a certain amount of people, but their are going to be large groups of people, mostly religious zealots, who will never vote for him. Of course, its likely that they wouldn't have voted for him anyway, so maybe he does have a chance if he can get that middle ground about "moral issues". Hopefully he will win the nomination, and I think he will make a great president.

Feingold for President - He isn't the rest of the stupid fucks.

@ Free Soviets -

Why should the rich run the country? Would you really want somebody like Rockefeller running the USA.

It happened in the 20's and look what happened at the end of that decade.

I also once read a quote from him that said something like; The minute I do something for the sake of politics instead of my own beliefs, that is the minute I should quit being a politician.

*cough*mcain-feingold*cough*

How about the gag on all political groups a month before the election?

hyperbole at best