Russ Feingold, former U.S. senator, booted from office by the people of Wisconsin on November 2, 2010, received a Leftist award in Washington on Wednesday.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Making his first speech in Washington, D.C., since he left the Senate, Russ Feingold on Wednesday chastised Democrats for failing to protect civil liberties and Republicans for going after workers' bargaining rights.
Feingold was in Washington to receive the Ridenhour Courage Prize, an award honoring progressive figures and causes that has gone in the past to Daniel Ellsberg, Seymour Hersh, former President Jimmy Carter and Gloria Steinem.
He said at the awards ceremony that the White House was "flat-out wrong" in its recent decision to try suspects in the Sept. 11 attacks before a military commission instead of a civilian court.
"The administration's flip-flop on this issue is a mistake," said Feingold.
He also invoked the budget and labor debate in Wisconsin, saying a "cherished right for generations in my home state was stripped way from thousands of people who work for public agencies."
...Talking to small group of reporters before the awards ceremony, Feingold was unsparing in his criticism of Gov. Scott Walker over the collective bargaining issue.
"All of us in Wisconsin are shocked that somebody decided that, for the purposes of one policy issue, they were going to tear the state apart. And we are suffering from divisions that we've never had before and it's going to take a very long time to repair it," said Feingold. "I can't imagine anything worse than the way (the governor) has conducted himself."
On the recall drives now under way, Feingold stopped short of explicitly advocating the recall of GOP lawmakers or of Walker, saying, "I've never been a fan of recall elections." But he called recalls an appropriate remedy in unusual circumstances, and "this could be such an occasion."
Feingold said as a political matter that timing was a key tactical question for the opposition to Walker, who won't be able to undo his policies without taking control of both legislative chambers and replacing the governor.
"I hope that people who are thinking about recalls are thinking strategically, about when is the best time is to achieve those goals. Because the biggest mistake you could have is to just rush in, and put all your chips out on one recall election and if it doesn't go well, then things sort of go in reverse," said Feingold.
Asked about speculation he might be a candidate for governor in the future, the former senator said, "My plate is very full . . . I have no plans to run for public office."
Feingold says he has no plans to run for public office. His plate is full.
He sounds like Bill Clinton:
"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
Of course, Feingold's future may hold a run for public office.
We know he wants to be president, but I think he'd be willing to settle for a run for governor or trying to get back in the U.S. Senate.
Feingold didn't establish his Progressives United (P.U.) political action committee to fill spare time. I don't think it's a hobby.
Russ has plans, though his chances for success are poor.
We aren't going to get fooled again.
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