I know there may well already be diaries here and elsewhere discussing my decision to continue my important work in the Senate and not run for President in 2008, but I wanted everyone in the online community to hear from me directly.
While many of you have probably already seen my statement, here it is again:
Dear Friends and Supporters,
On Sunday, November 12th in Racine, I will hold my 1000th Listening Session with the people of Wisconsin. Before reaching that milestone, I want you to know that I’ve decided to continue my role as Wisconsin’s Junior Senator in the U.S. Senate and not to seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.
Like many Americans, I am excited by the results of the November 7th election. My fourteen years in the Senate have been the greatest privilege of my life and I am extremely pleased with what we have accomplished. During so much of that time, however, we Democrats have not only been in the minority but have often been so deeply mired there that my role has often been to block bad ideas or to simply dissent. That is a very important role but I relish the thought that in this new Congress we can start, not only to undo much of the damage that one-party rule has done to America, we can actually advance progressive solutions to such major issues as guaranteed healthcare, dependence on oil, and our unbalanced trade policies. The Senate of the 110th Congress could also well be a place of greater bi-partisan opportunities for change; something I am very proud to have been effective at in both Republican and Democratic Senates.
I hope all of you know how much I have appreciated the incredible response you have given me and the efforts of our Progressive Patriots Fund since January, 2005. In addition to all of our work in Wisconsin and D.C., I have traveled to seventeen states trying to promote the election of progressive Democrats in all states. At every stop from Birmingham, Alabama to Burlington, Vermont, to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, to Las Vegas, Nevada, people have agreed with my view that we need to stand up for a strong, principled Democratic party that is willing to replace timidity with taking the risks of promoting a platform of bold solutions to our nation’s problems. Unfailingly, people responded well to my positions: opposition to the Iraq war; calling for a timeline to redeploy our troops from Iraq so we can focus on those who attacked us on September 11th, 2001; my opposition to the flawed provisions of the USA Patriot Act that threaten the freedoms of law-abiding Americans; my call for accountability for the Administration’s arrogant disregard for the law especially with regard to illegal wiretapping; fighting for fiscal responsibility including tough common sense budget rules that will help end the reckless policies that have heaped a mountain of debt on our children and grandchildren; as well as my strong belief in guaranteed healthcare for all Americans and substantial investment in alternative energy sources and technologies.
Yet, while I’ve certainly enjoyed the repeated comments or buttons saying, “Run Russ Run”, or “Russ in ’08”, I often felt that if a piece of Wisconsin swiss cheese had taken the same positions I’ve taken, it would have elicited the same standing ovations. This is because the hunger for progressive change we feel is obviously not about me but about the desire for a genuinely different Democratic Party that is ready to begin to reverse the 25 years of growing extremism we have endured.
I’m sure a campaign for President would have been a great adventure and helpful in advancing a progressive agenda. At this time, however, I believe I can best advance that progressive agenda as a Senator with significant seniority in the new Senate serving on the Foreign Relations, Intelligence, Judiciary and Budget Committees. Although I have given it a lot of thought, I cannot muster the same enthusiasm for a race for President while I am trying simultaneously to advance our agenda in the Senate. In other words, if I really wanted to run for President, regardless of the odds or other possible candidates, I would do so. However, to put my family and all of my friends and supporters through such a process without having a very strong desire to run, seems inappropriate to me. And, yes, while I would strongly prefer that our nominee in 2008 be someone who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq war from the beginning, I am prepared to work as hard as I can through the Progressive Patriots Fund, and consistent with my duties in the Senate, to maintain or increase our gains from November 7 in the Congress and, of course, to elect a Democrat as President in 2008.
Most important, I want to continue my work as a Senator from this wonderful State of Wisconsin. Our fourteen year ongoing conversation that has taken place in hundreds of communities in Wisconsin in the form of open Listening Sessions is the principal reason I have been perceived as “ahead of the curve” on many key issues. Simply listening to the reasoning and passions of Wisconsinites remains the best source of good ideas and common sense I’ve ever encountered.
I love this country very much and am so lucky to be able to serve it in the United States Senate. My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement.
Sincerely,
Russ Feingold
Middleton, Wisconsin
I am extremely pleased and proud of the work Progressives here, and across the country, did leading up to Tuesday’s monumental election. Our victory’s proved that people-powered, netroots, grassroots, 50-state strategy politics works. Now, we have a historic opportunity to get our country back on track and it’s time to get down to work.
And there is much work to be done – from fundamental election reform, to health care for all Americans, to an energy policy that makes sense, to fixing the President’s flawed Iraq policy, to protecting America while also protecting our rights and freedoms.
That’s a full plate, and it’s going to take an effort similar to the one that carried Democrats to victory last Tuesday to get it all done. I’m counting on everyone here to do their part – I promise I will continue to do mine.
(Cross-posted at dailykos.com and MyDD.com)
Thank you, Senator. I am disappointed, and at the same time happy for you. The campaign and the presidency has become a ridiculous burden that we should never expect a single human being to sacrifice his life for.
It’s a pleasure to see people like you find a reasonable way to be of service to us all. I am grateful for all you do and wish you well in your future efforts. You are a true leader.
This decision is an inspiration for the rest of us to learn our priorities.
Sen. Feingold-
Thank you for the courtesy of posting this here. I think you can count on this community to assist you in nearly everything you try to accomplish. And I sincerely hope you are open to accepting a Vice-Presidential bid, should it be offered to you.
I can’t think of a public servant that has been more consistently courageous and steadfast over the last two years (and longer). Whoever wins the 2008 nomination would do well to consider the debt of gratitude and the resulting loyalty the netroots have for you.
As I am sure you know, your name consistently comes out on top in all netroots straw polls. There is a reason for that. And the other candidates should study how you accomplished that.
Thank you and best of luck.
THANK YOU SENATOR! I too am disappointed, but greatly admire your commitment to getting the job done.
Please stay in touch with us as the work proceeds to let us know how we can help and support you. We all stand with you.
Senator,
I’ve always had a great deal of trust in your judgement, even on the rare occasion that I disagreed with it. I accept your judgement now, and am greatful for the integrity and humanity you bring to your service in the Senate.
Keep on fighting the good fight. We’ve got your back.
for your good judgment as always. without your work in the Senate and Progressive Patriots we would not have had 2006! I, for one, am overjoyed (tears!) at your announcment!
I had just read your email this morning and was going to come here and post a diary but you AND StevenD beat me to it.
As everyone here knows Sen. Feingold, I was counting on being your First Lady…lol! All kidding aside, this is a major disappointment for me. Talk here has been seriously in your favor here, especially since the election. You are courageous, stand up for not only what you believe in but what your constituents want too. You are a man of principal and integrity and Wisconsin is one lucky state to have you.
If you ever change your mind Russ, know that we have your back and you have a lot of support here. Keep up the good work. You are one in a million!
Thank You Senator Feingold!!! I was lucky enough to hear you speak in Austin, Texas and was looking forward to you running. I look forward to working with you and other Great Democrats as we repair the damage that has been done in the past 6 years.
Senator Feingold, no doubt, the tasks ahead in the senate are going to be hard. I know that you are most capable along with Senators Leahy, Schumer and new comers, like Tester to undo the Patriot Act, the Military Commission 2006 Act and other laws that undermine our constitution. I thank you for your patriotism and your hard work to keep our America on the course as planned by our founders.
Anytime, anywhere – we will help you. We are honored to have you as a senator who represents all of us Americans.
Dear Senator Feingold,
Words just don’t seem enough at the moment. You see, I was a Democrat but am now an Independent because there weren’t nearly enough of people like you in the Senate and the House. You were the only candidate that I could seriously get behind for ’08, great men like you do not grow on trees these days.
I can only hope when you see the lackluster field of candidates for your Party in 6 months that you will change your mind.
Good morning Senator,
Your principled stands against the deliberate erosion of our rights, the assault on our Constitution, and your efforts to censure the President are just a few of the many reasons I see you as the people’s representative, above all others. Your presence in the Senate is essential to our recovery, and I respect your decision to remain there.
Thank you
Senator,
You have left us without a liberal voice in the 2008 Presidential field. Nothing but apologists for continued military adventurism and slaves to corporate money. While I understand intellectually why you’ve made this decision, I still can’t help but be filled with despair. HOW WILL WE CHANGE THE POLITICAL CONVERSATION IN THIS COUNTRY?
I’m sorry, I shouldn’t shout, but …
How will we change the way we talk about what this country needs when a leftist point-of-view is all-but absent from the national stage? There were more lefties elevated to office last Tuesday, yet the narrative driven by BOTH institutional parties is that it was conservatives who won, that this rejection of the country’s current course was somehow driven from the right. If there are NO strong national voices bringing up the alternative course, how can we change that? How much time must pass, how much damage will be done, before enough time has passed before a strong resistance can be mounted?
I got a link to the Journal Sentinal story this morning in my email, and I was just filled with despair.
If not you, Senator, who will carry our banner? I see a long list of DLC hacks and milktoast Dempublicans, overly careful professionals without vision offering themselves up as potential candidates. Who will be our standard bearer?
There is no one, as the country slides further and further into darkness. Senator Clinton? She stands for nothing but her own ambition, all-to willing to sell out women, sell out civil liberties, to obtain her goals. Gov. Vilsack? Didn’t we already reject Gephardt? Sen. Biden? Just what we need, a President as beholden to the usurers in DE as the current Occupant is to Big Oil. Sen. Obama? A solid liberal voting record in the IL leg that he couldn’t run away from fast enough, and frankly this country DOESN’T need more lectures about God. VP Gore? I don’t know that he’d be anymore willing to go to the mattresses than he was in 2000, and the Republicans are only going to continue to fight dirty. Sen. Edwards? While he holds some promise, I can’t help but think that Elizabeth is the brains of the outfit, and to further think that I wish it was her running. I’m not sure that he has the experience or the vision to be a true leader, and he too is far too willing to remain quiet about the disappearing rights of women, immigrants and GBLT Americans.
There is, now, no one.
I respect you sir. I consider myself a lucky American that I actually have a Senator representing me and my fellow Wisconsonites with honor, integrity and vision. I know rationally that this is probably a smart decision tactically, but strategically I believe that this is a disaster.
The small voice of hope inside that knows that we can be a better people than our current actions indicate has curled up in a corner in despair.
My husband’s position in the Army is one he is committed to (no matter how many kitchen fights we had) because our forces are so drained, we are going to have a hard time getting new enlistments after all this, and someone has to train them……someone who knows what field he is playing has to teach the new. It won’t be the idiocy of the Decider’s Stay the Course that will turn this ship around and fill her sails. It will be the Stay the Course of those who were there long before these hooligans and know how the job is really done and who will know how to restore the Democracy for our future and the future of our children.
I’m sorry to hear you won’t be running, but then, the lure of a Senate where you might actually be able to get something accomplished is probably pretty strong. Good luck to you and kick some butt in the next two years.
Thank you, Senator, for your continued honesty. While I would have loved to see you run for and win the presidency, I also believe that your work in the Senate is vital. I respect your decision.
I also want to thank you for making your position clear now, so the netroots can focus on the next best candidate, though you were by far our favorite.
Okay. <heavy sigh> After crossing my favorite off the top of my list, I now shift down to the next best populist progressive available — John Edwards.
We thank you for your candor, Senator. We will continue to offer you our utmost support in your efforts to right the nation’s course.
Senator Feingold,
We applaud your courage. You can count on us to support your efforts. Yes, we need a strong ‘principled Democratic party that will embrace bold solutions’ including the restoration of our constitutional safeguards.
In a society established on law and good order, torture cannot be sanctioned and habeas corpus cannot be allowed to stand repealed.
Thank you Senator.
Thank you Senator Feingold, for your exemplary leadership style, which shows the importance of listening and communicating. I regretted the lack of party support in Congress for your Censure resolution, but with the mid-term elections behind us, we look forward to making progress on your important goals. You may count on a solid response from your internet supporters, so keep us alerted as the next Congress convenes. Let’s give a shout to the returning and newly-elected Democratic senators – and I trust that several of the latter will continue to fight the good fight, to assist the base, as Sen-elect Webb says.
Thank you, Senator, for posting here. I must say that I am disappointed about your decision not to run for president. I do understand that such an undertaking has many consequences. However, I am heartened that you will continue your good work. Thank you again.
I’m immediately reminded of the words of the late great Douglas Adams
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
Actually, this isn’t the same thing, but it is logically consistent with that notion. The whole running for president process, and the media nonsense that has gotten worse in recent years, is a strong deterrent to running. Many good, qualified people are likely to look at that, weigh their options, and decide there is good they would rather be doing in those 2 years.
On the other hand, if you really really want it, and are willing to do anything to get it, and if you have friends in high places who can help you…
Thank you for your service in tough times, Senator. Please take your majority position and run with it. We must correct so much mess the GOP foisted on America. I am especially concerned about the arrogation of power to the Executive. We need to restore Congressional oversight and fundamental rights and limitations, such as, habeas corpus and posse comitatus. And, while you’re at it, please support Chairman Dean in his efforts to expand the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. As a Midwesterner, I’d like to see decisions about candidates come from the people instead of from the Beltway insider crowd. It’s a new day in DC, Senator. Time to show America what Democrats stand for.
Dear Senator Feingold,
I was both shocked and furious when I read the titles of the other pieces that said you were not running in 2008. But, after reading your letter, I am reminded of an earlier Senator from MI–the late Philip Hart.
I’m disappointed, but, now I understand.
Terri from MI
I understand you decision with regard to your personal life, but without you in the race, I admit I am a ship without a rudder. I agree with Chris Bowers’s piece on being committed to a movement and not a candidate without you in the race. I can’t get worked up over Obama. He is too chummy with “The Hamilton Project”, and Edwards talks a good game but doesn’t come up with any strong proposals in the end.
I do hope you keep posting.
Senator Feingold,
Thanks for letting us know the reasons for your decision. Many would not have the courtesy to do so. As you can see, you have the respect and support of this community. Please come to us when you need help. We are many and growing daily. Thank you, too, for all the work you have done to advance the progressive agenda.
Now go to Washington and get our Constitution back! 😉
Thank you Senator Feingold for all that you have done. I, too, am disappointed that I will not be able to vote for you for President in 2008, but I respect your decision.
As I mentioned in an earlier diary you posted here at Booman Tribune, I consider you to be my adopted Senator, in keeping with my long and necessary tradition of looking outside the state of Mississippi for those who would represent me and my views in the U.S. Senate. I am overjoyed that the voters of Wisconsin have been wise in their support of you. You have been a truly progressive and principled Senator that I and others like me can and will continue to support from afar. Keep up the good work!
Senator,
Would that there were more people like you in this country filling our public offices from dog catcher on up. What a United States of America that would be!
I have confidence that we’ll get there, slowly but surely, and having you as a role model now is an inspiration looking toward the future that can be.
Thank you, sir, and please keep posting.
We need more like you in the Senate.
As disappointing as it may be not to be able to vote for you for president in 2008, it is comforting to know that you will be there in the Senate continuing to do your part to move the progressive cause forward.
We need many more senators like you.
As it is, even with the Democrats in control of the Senate, there are still far too few solid folks like yourself that we progressives know that we can count on in the Senate each and every day.