With friends like these
By John Amato Monday Aug 11, 2008 12:08pm...John McCain will breeze into the White House. I love Russ and understand that he is a wonderful progressive voice that at times stands all alone in the wilderness to battle the BushCo. crime family, but I wish he would wait until after the election to make those observations. They feed into the McCain Media's narrative.
Have we heard any Republicans praise Obama like that? I think not. Their whole strategy is to smear his character and make him appear to be a light weight.
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McCain is Bush video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXRlG_6Bk-8
I know why Feingold is pissed at Obama.
FISA.
Feingold has to be on the take. Nothing else makes any sense.
Have we heard any Republicans praise Obama like that? I think not. Their whole strategy is to smear his character and make him appear to be a light weight.
Well that's easy, they all waddle
The wheeze from the exertion of eating
And have more chins
Than a Chinese phonebook.
They wheeze from the exertion of eating
Nothing like keeping your friends close and your enemy closer. Look Feingold is playing both Parties just in case. If the Republicans pull another scam and still the election Feingold wants in, if Obama get in office Feingolds wants in. He has seen for 7 years his fellow Law Makers get rich off of kick backs and pay offs and now wants in no matter who gets in office.
FISA!
Russ that was then....this is now...mccain is a different
person....that has been pointed out. i appreciate russ but
does he have to reinforce the maverick brand now.
geeze as if obama didn't have enough opposition. the surrogates need to step up soon and get the message to people that this country is on a bad path.
McSame is the corporatists media darling and it wouldn't be shocking if he were our next president. Whatever the lies and slander it takes they will have their man in the White House, Feingold is just helping them out, regrettable at best.
yes...McCain's wings will be lifted on the fragrant gentle wind of Bush's flatulence.
No offense here, but I'm waiting for your post on the most important story of the day thus far: the Mukasey ruling that appeared in Yahoo News this morning - you know, the one wherein Mukasey said there would be no prosecutions in the DoJ hiring/firing scandal?
Can somebody get me a conference call with that moron Chuck Schumer for so loudly and proudly endorsing this a-hole for Attorney General?!!? PLEASE!!!!!
I thought Feingold was one of the very few politicians that had some integrity. I'm thinking again that, no... he's just like all of the other politicians... a self-interested, self-centered conniver who'd do pretty much whatever to make sure he's got the green in his pocket. Politicians = a bunch of pigs at the trough... with apologies to pigs everywhere.
Well, at least he made it clear that he's not voting for McCain.
Murray Rizberg @ 11:
Remember, this is a plutocracy. So if you have a few hundred thousand dollars to give to Chucky for his next election he will talk with you. Otherwise you're SOTL!
He'd probably be more orginal than Obama, who has turned into a DLC talking head. After flip flopping on retroactive immunity Obama may as well have just come completely out and said "lobbyists are people too!"
Perhaps it's time we start voting them all out, and get around to electing people who aren't fracking plutocrats.
Murray Rizberg @ 11:
I don't think I can take it anymore. I hadn't heard this about Mukasey, but right after the Endangered species gutting.....
Is there a study anywhere about how many people commit suicide after reading all that is going on in the U.S.?
Well, I do kinda expect the same, The GOP has been in controll long enough to have a firm grip on the election tallies.
They vote at church where I live, with the federal funding pooring into churches I wonder what might happen at their churches, with the church people and their high moral values, you think they are just gonna let Obama sweep the election free and clear?
right on! @ 12:
I take much offense to this comment. We all know that Russ IS NOT one of those politicians, and just because he praises someone who you are not fond of does not make him this way. Feingold is no Lieberman, let's get that straight! He has always been fond of McCain, get your facts straight.
WisconsinDem @ 19:
i do also...........over the top to say the least. mccain and feingold have a history.
Why the F**K would he say that pissed at the FISA vote or not...we don't need any more lieberman shit! Unity Now or we will sell out again!
I love Russ Feingold, but he sure is willing to criticize Democrats at the drop of a pin while going out of his way to praise Mr. Keating 5 John McCain for the very McCain-Feingold bill that Republicans have decried as the work of the devil. I'm so tired of this bullsh*t reverence for Senate collegiality which only Democratic Senators ever give a sh*t about while Republicans get to say whatever the hell they want about Democratic colleagues and not think twice doing so.
Thanks Russ. Thanks a lot.
And, by the way Senator Feingold, if McCain gets in office, I hope you act all surprised and shocked when President McCain gives you the Big Republican Middle Finger of Unity when you think he's going to work with you on something.
Sometimes you just gotta say, WTF!
I hope he has a good reason for this.
ughhhhhhhhh.
Maybe Russ knows something we don't.
Could Obama be just another sell-out political wolf in sheep's clothing?
Mike covered this yesterday. I like Russ too, and was disappointed by this. I think he just likes McCain personally, but he shouldn't be praising him like this.
Non-issue. They worked together to create McCain-Feingold, so they're friends. Simple as that. (You remember McCain-Feingold, right? The law that McCain is now breaking?) Of course, the question is, since McCain is now trying to paint Obama as the most lib'rul congresscritter EVAR, how is McCain going to be able to use an endorsement from somebody arguably more liberal than Obama has ever been? That would be some spin worth seeing.
McSame is a lock.
Murka proved it wasn't 'racist' by merely NOMINATING Obama. It redeems our image, which is all that matters.
That was the idea. You don't actually have to elect a kneegrow to prove 'racism' is dead in the USofA. This has the additional advantage of silencing any complaints that the campaign against that Kneegrow is racist.
Brilliant!
right on! @ 12:
um, i'm not sure how you connected those dots, but anyways, it seems as though Russ has a nuanced opinion based on his past relationship with McCain that (oh my god) distinguishes him from Newt Gingrich and Bush in a couple of redeeming ways. Feingold is by no means endorsing McCain, and anybody smarter than a Dane Cook fan can read an entire MJS article (5th grade reading level) and see the valid point Feingold is making. I agree with Feingold in that Bush and McCain are certainly very similar on many issues, but they are by no means the same type of candidate, and as much as it pains Obama supporters (me included), McCain does possess a few qualities that distinguish him from neoconservative politicians. Its pretty obvious that just as Obama is pandering to independent/moderate voters, McCain is also pandering to the neoconservative/religious conservative voters for the exact same reason.
Chuck Hagel. (Repub who defends Obama in a similar way)
Although I may agree with at times Obama, Feingold, either of the Clintons...whoever...on certain issues...no one has...nor in my opinion deserves total allegiance.
Politicians are simply that...politicians. They are beholden to their benefactors...and in today's age...the benefactors are corporations...with deep pockets, lobbyists, etc.
The whole system is corrupt, and most times any good that comes out of it comes out by accident or because the political ramifications are too strong to run against the tide...such as opposition to the war.
Hey, Russ? You want anymore of my sheckels for your Democracy Club or whatever?
Then just shut the fuck up. McSame's prob'ly gonna get the nod as #44...But he doesn't need your fucking help. I do not care if he fucking hung the fucking moon. He's a PUKE, a bushevik/corporat loyalist, and a fascist fucker.
So, Russ? Just shut the fuck up!
Jordan @ 28:
Exactly. To imply that Russ is selling himself to McCain is simply not paying attention. Russ has always spoken his mind, even if it isn't popular with everyone.
As to Republicans coming out and saying favorable things about Obama...
Republican Hagel Defends Obama From McCain Criticism
http://www.nysun.com/national/republican-hagel-defends-obama-from-mccain...
If anything, being honest and speaking out when they see something as unjust are qualities Ilook for in a Senator. To say he should have waited to speak his mind after the election isn't the way Russ operates, and it never has been.
i'm at work and the site is blocked
can anyone give me a summary?
god, is there anything more annoying than cute nicknames for mcCain? I wish i lived in a world in which people were too clever to use the word "McSame'.
Making him pay for FISA.
Russ is the man.
woody, tokin librul @ 31:
The last thing we want is to have the Democratic party turn into the Republican party- a group of mindlessly devoted, ignorant, party line toting sycophants. No thanks.
Also, I don't think McCain is who he was. Period. There's something missing in the last 6 years or so where he has shown some, shall we say, tendencies.
I strongly suspect McCain IS a lock. Obama should have had this in the bag by now but he is only ahead by 3% in the polls and the polls are flawed. How many people are saying they are voting for Obama to the pollsters but behind closed doors will do otherwise? Conversely the ones who say they will vote for McCain actually will because he is less popular and is demonized by the media. Finally, how many so called Obama supporters just won't show up at the polls? His biggest supporters are the 18-20 something crowd. Will they be too busy (college classes, parties, frat fun etc.) to go vote? These are all factors that need scrutiny.
srumish @ 33:
I must be getting tired
I thought you were asking for a mammary
I'll have what he's having.
Krisken @ 36:
The last thing we want is to have the Democratic party turn into the Republican party- a group of mindlessly devoted, ignorant, party line toting sycophants. No thanks.
Also, I don't think McCain is who he was. Period. There's something missing in the last 6 years or so where he has shown some, shall we say, tendencies.
A little party discipline would go a long way.I don't trust Obama, for christ's sake. He's too beholden to too many private interests. Even if he's installed, he'll be hamstrung--presuming he'd even want to actually change anything...
Really, are there any Liberal friends out there that think Obama can win? We are going to get are rear ends handed to us again this fall.
Patriot @ 37:
those are questions that are routinely brought up......and nobody knows. i keep hearing that obama" should have this in the bag by now" but i never see and/or hear any referenced proof of that... just conventional wisdom. please provide a link if you have read anything beyond opinion that obama should have a larger lead in the polls please share it thanks.
My Friends.....methinks Mr. Feingold is reveling in his fond memories of the past, He has obviuosly not been paying attention to Mr. McCain's campaign and all of the stupid things he's said and done since winning the primaries to suck up to Bush and the neo-cons and evangelical idiots. Russ need to take some time to review al the tapes.....
Friends like these, eh, Gary?
That's right, Dude...
"I think the guy calls 'em as he sees 'em, and as president would call 'em as he sees 'em, and would make people mad all over the place because it wouldn't fit anybody's playbook"
not to belittle any of russ' work over the years... but this statement is pure bullshit.
mccain does not call 'em as he sees 'em, at all. he would fit 'anyone's playbook' that he needed to (see, agents of intolerance, see allowing CIA to torture, etc.)
i agree w/amato, this just plays into the mccain/msm playbook and is not reflective of reality. sad.
russ might be fond of mccain, but he shouldn't let his warm feelings cloud his judgment.
There, Ifixed that for ya', Jordan.
"McCain
doesDID possess a few qualities that distinguish him from neoconservative politicians."I like Russ a lot and voted for him last two elections. I can't believe he would say this after what McCain's campaign has unleashed. Only thing I can ascertain is that he believes the McCain of 2000 would emerge if he wins the White House. That may or may not be, but how can we even think about taking that chance?
He's a very honorable man and probably just can't find it in himself to bitch slap McCain when he had the chance. That said, he probably cost Obama a few thousand votes in Wisconsin with his comments.
Russ, "no comment" would have been a much better response.
Samson- @ 44:
Or his "team" loyalties. What the hell does he stand to gain by publicly kissing McCain's butt? He can give him a back massage in private, but keep the kissy-face crap out of the discourse while there is, uh, an ELECTORAL race in progress! He only hurts his own party with this stuff. I like Feiny, too, but this is irritating.
Liberals. Sometimes, I swear...
...you know, we don't have to be open-minded to a FAULT. Sheesh!
How is this bad news for Obama? The most liberal Senator praising McCain. The fundies will not like that, at all. They already don't much care for him as is. John Doe doesn't know who Feingold is and doesn't care or if they do know of him would expect him to be nice to him since they worked together on the McCain-Feingold Act. And they only way for McCain to trumpet this would also mean the fundies would hear it and know that he's proud of it. Rather I'd say that for McCain, he'd probably appreciate Feingold shutting his mouth. To those that think this is payback, does that really make any sense? If he hates FISA and is so against it, why would he help McCain get elected knowing there would be zero chance of it being repealed in that case. Furthermore, it's not like McCain was some pillar of Constitutionality in voting against it. Doesn't seem that hard to figure out to me.
Bill M. @ 26:
overall.......much about nothing......for those that insist
maybe it's keeping your (enemy) opposition close to you......type strategy.
Et tu, Russ?
I guess Russ is another McCain leg humper.
Bruce H. @ 40:
My beliefs are heavily moderated by the fact that we've done NOTHING to fix the problems that plagued us in 2000 and 2004. Hell, Dieboldfacedliars (now Premier Fascist, er, Election Systems) maintains that there's no such thing as Evil People Who Would Steal Elections, and that their systems are 100% super-duper ultra-mega-secure, even though they've been cracked.
Feingold is my Senator, and a local radio station had a clip from an interview that they did with him. Russ explained it this way, to paraphrase:
"Yes, I like John McCain, but it comes down to the question of who has a better vision of where they want to lead the country, and in my mind, that person is Barack Obama."
Russ is awesome. And, I am pissed at Obama for FISA as well.
C'mon, it's not devastating to one candidate to have a politician pay a compliment to the other party's candidate. Being open-minded and praising the other guy makes you look bigger rather than smaller.
Today Jim Leach, a Republican from Iowa, endorsed Barack Obama. You don't see a lot of conservative blogs telling him to just STFU, or that he's open-minded to a fault, or that he's wrong for praising him.
People on both sides like and respect McCain because he's earned it. And there are a lot who don't like and respect him. But if Obama has to worry about a compliment like Feingold's and easily overcome it with the political winds at his back already, then quite possibly he doesn't deserve the job.
This is a slam directed at Obama's supporters-those bashing Feingold-far more than Obama himself.
The Feingold bashers need to get a grip.
Especially since Obama backed W's right to outright break the law with the FISA rewrite, seeing as how Obama lied when it came to his promise to filibuster legislation granting immunity to the telecoms which spied on, and datamined, their own customers.
How is Feingold's statement going to hurt Obama MORE than Obama's run to the right since Clinton dropped out of the race?
This whining that Feingold's comments will ensure a McCain victory is so deluded, so if the Democrats lose the White House-AGAIN-when the voters are furious with the GOP and Bush Jr Administration, the Dems should immediately disband as a political entity, as their problems will be far worse than what one Senator said about McCain.
Those Obama backers blasting Feingold need to hold Obama to the same standard they insist on for any of his liberal critics, especially those of us they told to STFU regarding our anger at Obama's FISA hypocrisy.
This outrage at Feingold is elitism in reverse, where his supporters insist everyone BUT Obama is expected to be perfect, and torn apart if they're not.
Man, you guys will turn on a guy awful fast.
Russ Feingold is my Senator as well. There is not a single member of the United States Congress that I respect more than him. Comments here are bordering on insane, equating him to Lieberman status or saying he's selling out his party. When did we stop respecting people who saw the good in their opposition? When did free thinking become a dirty word in the liberal sphere?
I'll never understand the "Do as we say and say what we say" mentality. Russ didn't hurt Obama's chances in Wisconsin, people. I have no doubt that much of Wisconsin will vote Obama (I live in a Republican stronghold county, and I've seen numerous Obama bumper stickers and one McCain sticker) and he will get the electoral votes from here.
I have much respect for this site and the work John Amato puts into it, but I really feel we need to be careful not to become those we despise. There are much more important issues going on than Russ saying he considers McCain a friend.
i decided some time ago that feingold is just another likudnik who thinks mccain is better for israel. and who thinks, sadly, that that's the most important thing.
lot of that out there.
It's no surprise to find out the "McCain equals Bush" meme isn't resonating with Russ Feingold, one of the more objective, progressive and constitutionally sound voices inside the Beltway. Nor is such a simplistic talking point going to make a difference in the mind of any other thinking person, regardless of political leaning or party affiliation.
McSame's strategy is to give every WHITE person in Murka a (spurious, specious, certainly, but also deniably plausible) reason NOT to vote for St. Barry.
It'll work, too...
Sorry, but Feingolds a classic "wolf in sheeps clothing." A pure as an asswipe as there has ever been. Can't ever be trusted in my view of the world.
Shame on you Russ Feingold.
The two parties want you to believe that is all there is.
They are both beholden to the corporations.
Move your mind outside of their box and you will see the manipulation.
Let Ralph Nader into the debates and you will see reality start to set in.
It will also be a three way race.
shame on you russ feingold for having a nuanced opinion based on McCain's political record and not using cute words like 'Mcsame' and 'McLame'
I dunno, maybe Feingold knows something I don't.. Apparently he sees something in the man I just do not see... Maybe this is some overture, some olive branch to the repubs... But given the preferred scorched earth preferences of the RNC and the McCain campaign, I'm just not so sure this is the right time for any dem to be reaching across any ailes......... JD
Some Dems are too nice. We play nice. We don't get down and dirty. There's a reason the GOP has won 7 of the past 10 elections. They are willing to be dishonest and ruthless to paint the opponent as unacceptable. We fight back with honesty. Unfortunately, that's viewed as a weakness by the American people. Feingold is just playing into the GOP playbook with such praise of McCain.
President McCain, here we come! (rolleyes)
There's not one democrat who actually sees what is happening to this nation and who is doing it.
A Maverick who groveled at the feet of Falwell.
He says McCain is "mistaken" - mistaken? WFT? Who does Feingold think McCain would name to Supreme Court? Hillary? Obama likely does not have the sense to purge all these anti american constitution pissing on theocratic freaks Bush has seededd into the government, but does this naive soul, Feingold, think Mccain woudl stop the train of these freaks inot government positions subverting our nation?
Again, not that I think Obama has anymore sense but does Russ think Mccain would foillow up and charge these treasonous bastards with the crimes they DID commit?
How far does Russ think his efforts to pass laws and protect freedoms are going to last when McCian puts another Scallia on the bench?
Is there one, just one democrat who has a clue?
Now when the netroots points out how stupid this is, Russ can tale a slap at them as extremists.
Feingold can bite may ass.
Here is the email sent by me to Feingold. I cannot believe that he could be so capable of betrayal, but he has been bfff with McCain for a long time
"Please refund my $50.00 donation. I did not realise that you would prefer your dishonest Republican buddy to Democrat Barack Obama. I don't need to list the reasons Obama would help bring sanity back to the Executive Branch. The fact that you would publicly endorse a Bush clone for President sickens me. The next time you are up for election I may as well vote Republican."
geez feingold, what part of this don't you understand. "in times of war you don't offer comfort of any kind to the enemy." by saying what he said, it equates to giving mccain supporters some reason to hope for a victory. whaat is feingold thinking to have said such a dumb thing. this is inexcusable, unless of course he wants another four years of bush doctrine.
now i wonder how feingold would feel about lieberman as well. traitors all.
btw, it is not matter of what Feingold's "opinion" of McCain is, it's that he so GD stupid he undercuts his own party's message like this at this time.
Feingold can bite my ass. He's as naive as the rest of them. Obviously his concern for this country is as bogus as any Republicans. If you are going to act like this about the guy who no doubt would put the official end to the great American expirement, then you are either a fool or have been sleeping with the enemy too long to see what you are doing.
no longer a proud american @ 67:
Obious thats what he is after.
I think he Russ wrong on this, and that his judgement is clouded by a long-term personal relationship with McSame, but it will not affect my respect and admiration for him one iota.
he Russ wrong. ooga booga. "I think Russ is wrong on this..."
Don't ask, don't tell!
Everytime someone claims that McLame has the experience to lead and can do so on day one, and that he has foreign policy experience I want to know how.
Everybody I hear and see accepts those statements as positive proof, or as some would say the gospel truth.
I would like to see Feingold ask him just exactly what has given him the experience in those areas.
While at it, also ask him if he understands how Social Security functions, and what the function of the SCOTUS is.
[McLame says it is wrong for current Soc Sec contributors to be paying the benefits of current retirees, and that the SCOTUS is supposed to rule 'considering the wishes of the president, the Congress and of the people', rather than 'constitutionality']
He is a lousy, ignorant lawmaker, and would be even lousier as president.
Feingold is puts honesty and integrity above partisanship.
That is the main reason he will never be President.
The Presidency is no place for an honesty man.
Feingold. He's my Senator and I'm proud of him.
You know, I'm pretty sure now that many of you are just as pants on head retarded as the neo-cons you all hate so much, just in a different direction. First of all, Russ's actions speak as loudly as his words, and those are not the actions of a "sell out." Second, exactly HOW is McCain going to use ANY sort of positive word from somebody as liberal as Russ? If anything, Russ saying what he did may have done more damage to McCain than anything else the Obama campaign has come up with, at least in the eyes of the kind of voters McCain is trying to court.
The shocking short-sightedness and the ability to turn on one of your own at the drop of the hat really makes me wonder about many so called "progressives." How about "more-of-the-samers" only in another direction. Some of you have developed so much hate for the other side that you've BECOME exactly that which you claim to loath.
Anyway, I'm off my soapbox now. Peace.
Allan @ 66:
Allan, I think you embody the worst of what is the current progressive movement. I place ALL blame for EVERYTHING that has gone wrong in the movement on YOUR shoulders. Congratulations, I hope you sleep well at night, baby killer.
*that thought in your mind about "WTF is this idiots problem?" That's the same thought Russ will have after reading your email. You honestly do sicken me though, that you would go turncoat so quickly, as well as actually LIE about what he did, in an email to him no less."
The problem I have with what Feingold says is:
"I think the guy calls 'em as he sees 'em, and as president would call 'em as he sees 'em, and would make people mad all over the place because it wouldn't fit anybody's playbook," said Feingold, who teamed up with McCain to rewrite federal campaign laws.
"He would be very original," Feingold said.
If that isn't Boooosh and his "I'm the decider' and 'Stay the course' then I can't imagine what it is.
If 'as he sees 'em' is mostly wrong, why applaud the statement?
Ken G. @ 64:
The GOP hasn't won because "we" play nice, they win because "we" turn on each other at the drop of a hat over dip**** stuff like this.
Jordan @ 34:
OK, how about McMotherfucking clueless shit heel who even Pat Buchannon said would make Cheney look like Ghandi. And yes, there is something more annoying: referring to that asshole as a maverick. How infuckingcredibly lame is it to praise a presidential candidate by making reference to an ancient B-grade TV show? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050037/ And that's all that these assholes can be doing because he certainly isn't "a person of independent or unorthodox views." http://www.thefreedictionary.com/maverick
Let's hope that Feingold is just so confident that Obama will win that he feels he can make these kinds of comments, most likely in an attempt to gain some kind of future political advantage, and that his confidence will be justified in November.
Russ Feingold would make an awesome president someday.
Vman @ 79:
again, anyone who can read at a 5th grade level can read the entire article and understand feingold is in no way endorsing McCain, and is actually giving a refreshingly honest and nuanced endorsement of obama. His statements really don't help McCain at all. And he's fucking right. The idea that McCain makes Cheney look like Ghandi is just another statement rooted in nothing but idiocy and ignorant ranting. There are plenty of ways to characterize McCain's foreign policy that are actually accurate and based on real information.
in the words of a famous conservative, "What a shithole this is." it takes no more than a few asinine words from one of our own and the conservative element that has been monitoring the site all along now crawl out from under the baseboards. they're trolls only placed here to stir the pot. They perhaps have done one aspect of their jobs because a part of that job is to make us all think that mccain has a shot, that there are still more conservative non-thinkers than we would care to realize and the way they have come out on this issue as pseudo liberals who are fair-minded and are willing to excuse feingold's remarks, then they have accomplished that part of their job. color it any way you would like feingold was wrong in what he said. now is not the time to make nice-nice with the enemy. HOW YOU GOING TO FEEL THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION IF IN FACT MCCAIN WINS THE OFFICE AND WE HAVE FOUR MORE YEARS OF THE SAME POLICY. Guaranteed, the exodus to canada will be explosive. I can't imagine living in a country where the hypocrisy of bush still reigns and there are a people stupid enough to keep buyiing the shitline.
Some of the comments here are absolutely repulsive. Russ Feingold has spent the last 15 years proving himself over and over and over again, and has been the most responsive voice in the senate to liberal causes that entire time. I think he's earned better than what some reactionary tools on this comment thread are affording him. He's been a lonely f*cking hero, he deserves a bit of respect, and has earned the right to voice an honest opinion (and earned the right to expect us to take it for granted that his opinions are honest), no matter how ill-advised his comments seemingly are.
Some people need to relax. This is much ado about nothing.
To answer the question, "have we heard any Republicans praise Obama like that?" We've heard more than that, since there have been Republicans who have actually endorsed Obama.
Feingold remains solidly behind Obama. All he did is offer an honest opinion, based on his years of working with McCain - I would expect nothing different from one of the most principled members of the Senate.
Some here are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
DHSmd @ 83:
Are you fucking kidding me? Feingold calls him a maverick, thus furthering the meme that will allow information-challenged mugwumps, racists, et al to think they would not be voting for the same old shit if they voted for McBullshit. Jesus, "a guy you could have a beer with" seems to have been enough to get our current embarrassment elected. Now, if Feingold is such a "fucking hero" why would his comments not be taken seriously by those who are on the fence.
Look at the polls. Obama SHOULD be ahead by a fucking landslide. But since he isn't, due I think to the moronic nature of those that have fallen for the neocon scam, people with influence shouldn't be fucking around. Principled members of the Senate, along with the rest of us are going to be completely fucked, if McDoesn't-deserve-the-time-of-day-from-Feingold ends up winning.
Vman @ 84:
And I rest my case.
DHSmd @ 85:
You have no case. If Feingold's "honest opinion" is that McCain is a "maverick", he at best hasn't been paying attention, and at worst is clueless. That maverick meme is a lie.
Watch this and learn. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w
Don't you all realize the US Senate is one big "country club" of elites?
Feingold is no different than Lieberman!
Obama is the new kid on the block. The longer he's in the US Senate the more he will be tainted.
Feingold may have meant well, but the public's not going to understand him. It's made mostly of stupid.
I'm a Wisconsinite, and he does well, but those comments were not well considered.
Katharine @ 90:
They also are not going to hear/read/remember/care by November - if they ever did.
Feingold is a colleague of both candidates. He worked closely with McCain to pass reform legislation against considerable odds in a project that involved a lot of work and carried considerable emotional weight with both of them at the time. As a result, he developed considerable personal affection for McCain, and the experience carries more weight with him that McCain's later posturing and pandering to the NeoCon base did. He repeats throughout the statement that he believes Obama is the better candidate by far, but refuses to completely bury his knife in his old friend's back over it.
Big deal.
Does anyone really think that this remote interview from 3-month old WSJ issue is going to be the deciding factor for a significant number of low-information voters?
Does anyone really believe that any informed/involved voters are going to be persuaded to vote for McCain on the basis of this four-month old interview on election day?
Some of you are acting like Feingold has pulled a Lieberman, just because he believes the real McCain is the old McCain, and said so. Furthermore, all the hand-wringing suggests a significance to this that just isn't realistic.
Katherine, I'm not necessarily referring to you in either case - your comment simply provided the best opening to make the statement. Thank you.
Vman @ 87:
I beg to differ. See 91 for my case.
DHSmd @ 92:
OK, you have a case, but like old Swiss cheese, it's full of holes and stinks. First of all, it addresses an argument that I'm not making. I'm not saying Feingold is akin to Lieberman and therfore should be forever shunned, banished, blackballed, or whatever, as Lieberman should. What I'm saying is that on this issue he has shown himself to be either uninformed or complicit in furthering the mendacious meme that McCain is a "maverick." Of course, "any informed/involved voters" would not be duped by that, but if the results of elections were predicated on the judgment of "informed/involved voters," we would not have suffered the last seven years, let alone countless others, of the utter incompetence and even willful criminal intent of our elected officials. Unfortunately, way too many voters are swayed by inane bullshit.
Again, if the polls are to be believed, this presidential race, which should be a landslide for Obama, is too close for comfort. So-called honest opinions, from influential public persona could have a deleterious effect on the outcome and should be stated more carefully. Victory in the Olympics, as we have seen in the swimming relay, can be decided by as little as eight hundredths of a second, but the American presidential election is vastly more important and no less a matter of fractional advantages. So, let's please not have any other Feingolds buoying McCain's false image during these critical pre-election times. Do not underestimate the power of the swift boaters, hate-radio jocks, and even the MSM to use the comments by Feingold to sway the uninformed/uninvolved voters, who obviously had a big say in the last two elections, stolen or not.
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