Some Thoughts on Feingold

I don't know if Feingold can win the Democratic nomination, let alone the White House, but I think he should run. He has a voice that needs to be heard. The (liberal)Girl Next Door has her own thoughts on Feingold:

Now, it’s no secret that I am a big fan of Senator Feingold’s (some have even suggested that I have a crush on the man. I’m not sure that’s true, although I was awfully excited to be sharing cyberspace with him on Smirking Chimp last week, in, I’ll admit, a silly and somewhat girly way) and certainly, conventional wisdom has his chances of winning the Presidency at next to zero, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is the best of the lot of Democratic leaders, at least up to this point. Not only is he willing to stand alone, if necessary, in defense of our constitution and our history as a free and open society, he’s also fighting for our future. I, for one, like the view of America through Feingold’s eyes and I shudder at the future America that John McCain or even Hillary Clinton will usher in if given the chance.

So let’s not be afraid to buck conventional wisdom and instead allow ourselves to consider the best options available to us, whether or not they seem reasonable now. After all, how reasonable was it that a figurehead governor of Texas, with a shady history of substance abuse and a string of failed businesses behind him could not only become President, but could also manage to hold on to the Presidency for a second term? Sure, he did it with a lot of money and family connections (not to mention some suspect political maneuvers), but it can be done without those things as well. Especially if a candidate emerges that really inspires the people, connects with them, speaks to their concerns and who can articulate a positive message and a better future. And just imagine how people would respond if he/she actually believed in the vision being presented. Now that person would be unbeatable.

I’m willing to concede that Senator Feingold has an uphill battle if he does decide to seek the Presidency, as many have pointed out, he’s twice divorced, Jewish, a Senator and has a pretty liberal voting record. But so what? It’s not as if he’s apologizing for any of those things (nor should he, and shame on us for thinking otherwise), and time has proved him to be on the right side of the major issues affecting our country, like the war in Iraq, the overreaching of the Patriot Act and the illegality of Bush’s NSA surveillance program.

There are two things I like about Feingold. First, he has backbone and he knows who he is; you never feel he's anxious to follow the polls closely as so many politicians do these days (don't ever forget that the Bush Administration sometimes ordered our generals to do things based strictly on what Karl Rove thought would help Bush in the polls). Second, Feingold's a very able explainer; compared to most politicians, he's very articulate and gets quickly to the point. These are leadership qualities. These are qualities we like in conservative Democrats like Jack Murtha. This is why Paul Hackett has a following and why poltical consultants are making a mistake ignoring the lessons of Hackett. On the other hand, there's John McCain, who for a conservative Republican, once showed these qualities; it has been embarrassing to watch McCain's reputation unravel in the last two years as he desperately tries once again to run for president but this time as someone we hardly recognize.

If Feingold doesn't get the Democratic nomination in 1988, I think he has a good shot at Vice President; at the very least he will have an impact on the way Democrats conduct business and that will be a good thing.