Russ Feingold: Bucking Convention All the Way to the White House?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/06/insider_interview_russ_feingol.html#more

"Cautious" is not a word that comes to mind when writing about Russ Feingold.

The Wisconsin senator was the first member of his party to propose a timeline for withdrawing American troops from Iraq last fall, and when news broke about the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping campaign, Feingold introduced a resolution to censure the president for violating U.S. law.

Political suicide, says the Democratic political establishment. Phooey, responds Feingold.

"I've heard these pundits, they are people that are paid by Democrats, many of them were in the Clinton administration, these are paid political pundits and paid political consultants who make their living coming up the Capitol and telling the Democratic leadership this is a loser," Feingold says. "It is bad advice. It is advice we got in 2002 and 2004. And we lost because we were perceived as unable to take the tough stands that are needed to change the course in the fight against terrorism."

<snip>

First came his "no" vote against the USA Patriot Act in October 2001, becoming the only senator of either party to stand against the measure. Explaining his decision, Feingold cited concerns about the law's potential impact on Americans' privacy. When the act came up for renewal late last year, Feingold sought to rally his colleagues against it. And even after the Senate won concessions from the White House on the bill's scope early this year, Feingold remained an opponent. The law was renewed, but Feingold believes his opposition was a success, saying that 400 communities in seven states have passed resolutions asking for changes in Patriot Act.

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Note to Feingold: :yourock:

Yes she should, as far and as fast as she can, for the Majority Leader spot. With Nancy Pelosi running the House, and Feingold in the Presidency, we might actually get something done right around here.