Blogging Blue » Russ Feingold

Walker Recall an Uphill Battle

Phil Scarr — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:03:43 +0000

Polling numbers from Public Policy Polling show the chances of recalling Governor Walker are slim unless Russ Feingold changes his mind and enters the race. Walker is still unpopular, just not unpopular enough.

PPP, a reputable polling organization, conducted surveys of Wisconsin voters from October 20th to the 23rd and found the state evenly split on whether or not Governor Walker should be recalled. And the only viable candidate they identified who could beat Walker is former Senator Russ Feingold.

Would you support or oppose recalling Scott Walker from office before his term is up?
Support ………………………………………………….. 48%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 49%
Not sure………………………………………………….. 3%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Peter Barca, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 48%
Peter Barca …………………………………………… 42%
Undecided …………………………………………….. 10%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Tom Barrett, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 48%
Tom Barrett …………………………………………….. 46%
Undecided………………………………………………. 6%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Jon Erpenbach, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 47%
Jon Erpenbach………………………………………… 40%
Undecided………………………………………………. 13%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Kathleen Falk, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 49%
Kathleen Falk…………………………………………..41%
Undecided………………………………………………. 10%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Russ Feingold, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 46%
Russ Feingold …………………………………………. 49%
Undecided………………………………………………. 5%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Steve Kagen, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 47%
Steve Kagen …………………………………………… 39%
Undecided………………………………………………. 14%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat Ron Kind, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 47%
Ron Kind…………………………………………………41%
Undecided………………………………………………. 12%

If there was a recall election between Republican Scott Walker and Democrat David Obey, who would you vote for?
Scott Walker …………………………………………… 47%
David Obey …………………………………………….. 42%
Undecided………………………………………………. 10%

The only upside is that a number of these Democrats don’t have great name recognition yet. But it’s surprising to me that Walker has such strong support.

Russ Feingold: “I believe that re-electing President Obama is an absolute imperative”

Zach W — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:01:54 +0000

Last week a group of liberal activists and academics, led by consumer advocate Ralph Nader and scholar Cornel West, announced they were looking for six “recognizable, articulate” liberal candidates to launch primary challenges against President Barack Obama. The point of the six challengers would be to keep President Obama “honest” on issues like civil rights, consumer protections, labor and foreign policy.

In response to the call by Nader and West for primary challengers to President Obama, former United States Senator Russ Feingold made it clear he thinks a primary challenge to President Obama is a bad idea.

“I strongly disagree with Ralph Nader. As I’ve said many times before, I believe that re-electing President Obama is an absolute imperative for our economy, our judicial system, for progressives and for our country,”

Feingold went on to note the difficult circumstances our nation faced when President Obama took office, as well as the accomplishments of President Obama during his first term in office.

President Obama took office in a time of historic challenge for the country. He passed the Recovery Act to bring our economy back from the brink, implemented historic health insurance reform to make health care more affordable and accessible, repealed the discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, and rejected the conventional wisdom in Washington to offer a life-saving loan to the auto industry, saving 1.4 million jobs.

Now, facing Republican candidates that are bought-and-sold by corporate money, and who want to give more tax breaks to the wealthiest and attack the rights of working Americans, the President is fighting to create jobs and provide economic security for middle class families. 2012 will be a close and competitive election, and in an environment after the lawless Citizens United decision, where corporate special interests will be out there fighting for Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, progressives must unite to ensure that the President is reelected.

It goes without saying (at least for most anyone who’s left of center) that despite his shortcomings as a leader, re-electing President Obama is far more palatable than seeing one of the current crop of extremist Republican presidential candidates elected in 2012.

Rep Tammy Baldwin and State Sen Jon Erpenbach

Ed Heinzelman — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:12:31 +0000

My wake up call this morning confirmed not only that Rep. Tammy Baldwin will run for the US Senate seat of Herb Kohl, but that State Sen Jon Erpenbach will run for Rep Baldwin’s WI 2nd Congressional District seat in 2012!

I welcome these two very strong Democratic candidates to their respective races!

Russ is Out

Jeff Simpson — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:25:15 +0000

From my inbox, sad news for Wisconsin:

Jeff,

I am grateful for the friendship and support of so many fellow Wisconsinites who suggested I consider running for statewide office in the coming months. While I may seek elective office again someday, I have decided not to run for public office during 2012.

This was a difficult decision, as I thoroughly enjoyed my tenure in both the State Senate and the U.S. Senate, and I know that progressives are eager to reverse some of the outrageous policies being pursued by corporate interests at both the state and federal levels. I am also well aware that I have a very strong standing in the polls should I choose to run again for the U.S. Senate or in a recall election for governor. After twenty-eight continuous years as an elected official, however, I have found the past eight months to be an opportunity to look at things from a different perspective.

Teaching law during the spring semester at Marquette University Law School was a joy. The Marquette Law School is a thriving academic institution situated in a beautiful new building, Eckstein Hall. I found my time with the dean, staff, faculty, and especially the students at Marquette to be a terrific first experience in teaching law. I am pleased that I have been asked to return to teach full-time this fall and look forward to doing so.

Another different experience for me has been writing a book to be published by Crown Publishing/Random House next February. I am working hard to finish it. It’s about how we have too often lost our way as a nation in responding to the 9/11 attacks and related issues. Entitled “While America Sleeps,” writing it has given me a chance to put down in a sustained way some of my concerns at a time when too many political operatives in the nation try to shift the political discourse away from the fundamental national security and international issues that will determine our futures and those of our children and grandchildren. I intend to make appearances in 2012 in Wisconsin and around the country to discuss this topic.

The one thing many of us did not anticipate at the outset of this year was the extreme assault on the working families of Wisconsin in particular and the nation as a whole. I was happy with some of the results of this year’s Wisconsin State Senate recall elections, and was glad to be able to play a small role in supporting all of the Democratic candidates.

When I said on election night last year that it “was on to 2012,” I meant it. As I said those words I was especially thinking of the need to reelect President Obama. I will be working to reelect him and hope to play a significant role in that effort. But since the aggressive tactics of Governor Walker and the legislature ensued, those words now also mean retaking the state government from these corporate-backed operatives is a special priority. The entire political climate is more infected by the domination of very wealthy individual and corporate interests than perhaps at any time in our nation’s history. That is why I founded Progressives United, an organization devoted not only to overturning the Citizens United decision but to challenging those involved in the political process who, for short-term political gain, are willing to seek and accept unlimited corporate contributions. This practice should be strongly opposed regardless of party and regardless of whether I otherwise support these candidates. In many ways, this is the overriding political struggle of our time. It is more important than whether or when one person runs for office again. That is why, at this time, I am devoting my primary political energy to this cause and this organization.

Political figures often cite wanting to spend time with their loved ones as a reason for not seeking public office when they haven’t a prayer of winning anyway. In my case, I don’t need an excuse and will simply say that the time with family, friends, and loved ones in the past few months have been among the best in my life, and I am not eager to give that up. Let me say again, however, that being your representative was the greatest honor of my life, a fulfillment of a dream. You never let me down. But for now I am thoroughly enjoying the life of a private citizen in this great state of Wisconsin.

Sincerely,

Russ

Russ Feingold: Social Security’s Biggest Threat: The Debt Deal Super Committee

Zach W — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:59:25 +0000

Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold has an excellent op-ed piece over at the Huffington Post explaining how the “super committee” set up as part of the recently enacted debt ceiling “compromise” bill is a threat to Social Security:

[T]he so-called Super Committee, which will be appointed by congressional leaders in both parties to consider additional budget cuts, will enjoy authority that no other entity or special legislative process has ever had: it will have the power to propose Social Security reductions that are guaranteed an up-or-down vote in the Senate, and therefore can be adopted by a simple majority. And unlike most measures in the Senate, the Super Committee’s recommendations related to Social Security will not be subject to unlimited debate – a standard protection against drastic action. Further, no amendments will be allowed. Make no mistake, those who crafted and agreed to the Super Committee were well aware of this and there can be no doubt Republicans plan to take full advantage.

The rest of the op-ed is definitely worth a read!

Russ Feingold addresses Netroots Nation 2011

Zach W — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:32:42 +0000

Watch former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold talk to progressive activists at Netroots Nation 2011, held last week in Minneapolis.

Russ Feingold Speaks at Netroots Nation from Progressives United on Vimeo.

While it’s no secret I’ve long been a supporter of Russ Feingold and the work he did as Wisconsin’s junior U.S. Senator, I’m of the belief that he’ll be able to be a far more forceful advocate on the issues he cares deeply about – issues like civil liberties and campaign finance reform – now that he’s unencumbered by the fact that he’s an office holder. Feingold’s speech to Netroots Nation last week was definitely feisty – far feistier than I’m betting it would have been if Feingold was still Senator Feingold – and I’m thinking we’ll see more of this from Feingold in the future as he advocates for robust campaign finance reform that reduces the influence of corporations on our political system.

Will Russ run?

Zach W — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:54:11 +0000

With Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl’s announcement that he won’t seek reelection in 2012, there’s been no shortage of speculation about who will run for the seat Sen. Kohl currently holds. Names like Rep. Ron Kind and Rep. Tammy Baldwin have been thrown out as possible Democratic contenders for Kohl’s seat, along with former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold.

According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feingold is considering a run for the seat in 2012, saying he’ll make a decision by Labor Day on whether he’ll run or not.

“I am looking at it, but I feel I should take some time to think this through,” said Feingold, the former senator who was defeated last fall for re-election after three terms. “For me the question right now is whether it’s a good idea for me to go back into this sort of life.”

While I’d certainly welcome a run by Russ Feingold, who despite his loss in 2010 would be a formidable candidate in 2012, I’m betting Feingold will decline to run, giving Rep. Tammy Baldwin an opportunity to become Wisconsin’s first female U.S. Senator and Wisconsin’s first openly homosexual U.S. Senator.

You had better agree with me –

Jeff Simpson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:24:23 +0000

Or else I am taking my Gavel and going home. After a few seconds of Leah Vukmir spouting talking points, much to the dismay of their constituents, Sensenbrenner Had enough of the plebes and grabbed his gavel and went home.

Its funny because the people whining about this (see Milwaukee Hate Radio) were the same ones who loved when the retired Wisconsites were yelling at the democrats to “keep their government hands off their medicare”. Here is a quick reminder:

And there is this video of the Honorable Russ Feingold leaving while he was getting yelled at by the Americans for Prosperity crew.

PS: There is no video because Senator Feingold had the class and the courage to deal with ALL of his constituents.

Feingold announces formation of Progressives United

Zach W — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 02:53:35 +0000

Yesterday former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (it still pains me to call him “former”) announced the formation of Progressives United, a political action group meant to promote progressive issues and candidates and to combat corporate influence in politics.

Here’s some video of Feingold announcing the formation of Progressives United:

If you’d like to learn more about Progressives United, you can visit their website.

Feingold statement on Walker move to eviscerate public employee unions

Zach W — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 22:57:35 +0000

Former U.S. Senator issued a statement earlier todayon Gov. Scott Walker’s decision to take away virtually all the collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin’s public employees:

“Governor Walker’s request to the State Legislature to eliminate nearly all of the collective-bargaining rights for thousands of Wisconsin workers is big government at its worst. No private employer can do what the governor proposes, nor should it. For decades, Wisconsin has protected the rights of workers to collectively bargain with their employer on wages, benefits, workplace rules, and many other aspects of their employment. The governor is wrong to suggest that public workers are responsible for the state’s budget woes, and he is wrong to use that bogus excuse to strip them of rights that millions of other American workers have.”