Feingold: Obama stronger than Edwards and Hillary on Iraq

[obamian]

Feingold offers Obama mixed reviews for his handling of Iraq.

"I've been pleased that his opposition has intensified over time. I was not that happy with his initial opposition to a timeline," Feingold said.

"I regard him as clearly stronger than Sen. Clinton, indeed than Sen. Edwards," Feingold said. "Of all the people I've worked with that are running for president, I think Sen. Obama probably made the proposal that was most helpful in moving the Caucus in the direction I would like to see it go."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-obama_senate_recordjun12,1,3193322.story?page=3

[Phredicles]

1. But has he (or Edwards, or Clinton) specifically said they'd get us the hell out,

and if so when and how?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

6. Edwards has said he would end the war

==When we say complete withdrawal we mean it. No more war. No combat troops in the country. Period. But we're also being honest. If John Edwards is president, we're not going to leave the American Embassy in Iraq as the only undefended embassy in the world, for example. There will be Marine guards there, just like there are at our embassies in London , Riyadh , and Tokyo . And just the same, if American civilians are providing humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people, we're going to protect them. How in good conscience could we refuse to protect them and then allow humanitarian workers to be at risk for their lives or the work not to happen at all? Finally, it's also Senator Edwards' position that we will have troops in the region to prevent the sectarian violence in Iraq from spilling over into other countries, for counter-terrorism, or to prevent a genocide. But in the region means in the region - for example, existing bases like Kuwait , naval presence in the Persian Gulf , and so forth. I hope this helps explain Senator Edwards' position. Thanks for standing up for what we all believe in.==

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/4/11/163117/295

HRC sees a "residual" force remaining in Iraq for an indefinite time to conduct military operations.

==WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If elected president, Sen. Hillary Clinton said, she would likely keep some U.S. forces in Iraq in a supporting role after 2009 because America has "a remaining military as well as a political mission" that requires a presence there.==

=Rather, they would be positioned north of Baghdad to combat terrorists, support the Kurds, counter any Iranian moves into Iraq and provide logistical, air and training support to the Iraqi government "if the Iraqis ever get their act together."==

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/15/clinton.troops/index.html

==She believes we may need a vastly reduced residual force to train Iraqi troops, provide logistical support, and conduct counterterrorism operations.==

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/iraq/

Obama's Iraq plan (sound familiar?):

==Senator Obama introduced legislation in January 2007 to offer a responsible alternative to President Bush's failed escalation policy. The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008 -- a date consistent with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group's expectations. The plan allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces. If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the 13 benchmarks for progress laid out by the Bush Administration, this plan also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met.==

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/

[Tom Joad]

7. Has any of these people opposed the Iraq Oil Law, the law that would grant Exxon/Mobil access to

the Iraqi people's resources?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. Good question. Does anyone have the answer? nt

[waiting for hope]

28. If I could recommend a reply -

this would be it! :)

[Radical Activist]

33. Yes, Obama's plan is to get out of Iraq

by March of next year.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. I just finished reading that. it was fabulous and long. but, you know

Fiengold is fond of Obama and I think he is supporting him 'unofficially' right now.

[Bullet1987]

5. Feingold, like Kerry and some others

are gonna hold out and wait a while before they endorse anyone. Don't forget about the Obama/Feingold bill though that dealt with Lobbyist Reform. Feingold should be the damn Senate majority leader...not Harry Reid!!!

[geek tragedy]

9. Weak Tea Harry does need to be replaced.

I think Feingold works better, though, as the voice of conscience rather than consensus builder.

[blm]

15. heh - Feingold, like Kerry, knows who's been doing the backstabbing over the years

and undermining their legislative efforts on Iraq withdrawal and other issues.

[Colobo]

3. Feingold needs to endorse Obama.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. oh definitely. he probably will when the time is right.

[Ben Masel]

10. He didn't endorse in the 2004 Primaries

and rarely has in contested Wisconsin Primaries, tho he backed Kohl against me last year. (I'm not mad, I can see where Russ figures, since he doesn't play the earmark game, his back is covered by having another Senator who does nothing but.)

[Bullet1987]

11. Obama as cautious is very clear.

By all intents and purposes, I think Obama is running a decent campaign for it to be so early. And if his fundraising numbers come back very high, it'll do more for him. I almost spit up when Tucker suggested Obama's campaign was weak for seeking the advice of Colin Powell. Weak campaigns don't make Obama's money!! Though, there's obviously more that he can be doing...

[cascadiance]

17. I think he might wait for Al Gore to decide... (Gore/Feingold 2008!)

... My gut feeling is given his "measured" comments on each of them, that he'd probably more happily jump behind Al Gore. And if he wants Al Gore to pick him as his running mate, probably wouldn't hurt to hold off on any endorsements just yet! :)

[zulchzulu]

20. A true story about Feingold in Madison

We were setting up our Obama table when Russ was visiting the Capital building.

He was talking to some guy who has set up a stand for him to run in 2008. They posed for a photo and then Russ went up the stairs and walked right by us...shook my hand and others quickly and whispered to someone next to me "ya gotta love it" with a smile and he was off to a meeting.

I'm pretty sure he meant the table adorned with Obama signs...

Someone else who knows him that I've talked to said that if asked to run as a VP would feel obligated to do so and would give it his all.

[Dover]

12. And Kucinich is stronger still. In fact THE strongest candidate on Iraq.. n/t

[obamian]

13. He has the strongest position

But what has he done to move the actual debate?

[Enrique]

14. Obama-Feingold 2008

:bounce:

[Cameron27]

16. Wow, when Feingold offers an opinion, I listen.

Good news for Obama!

[Catchawave]

18. From Sen. Feingold's press secretary:

From Senator Feingold's Press Secretary (3.00 / 4)


This post is from Senator Feingold's press secretary, Zach.

People should know that this interview was done in mid-March and the highlighted quotation reflected Senator Feingold's views at the time.



by Senator Russ Feingold on Tue Jun 12, 2007 at 12:05:18 PM EST

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/6/12/25053/1484

[draft_mario_cuomo]

26. Thanks. So this was before Obama disappeared for weeks after the war funding veto

This is before Obama (like HRC) disappeared after the war funding veto and resurfaced to quietly cast a vote at the last minute. Perhaps Feingold changed his view when he saw this and saw others immediately lead and speak out after the veto (like Feingold himself did).

For one whose main theme is "unity" it is interesting how Obama disappears during controversial moments in the senate. If he has a magic wand that brings people together where is that magic when it is needed most? During debates on Iraq war funding and immigration he was nowhere to be found trying to achieve compromise or bringing sides together. In the latter case he was actually increasing divisiveness, and was called on it by even a repuke senator.

[zulchzulu]

19. Obama/Feingold 2008

It's going to happen!

[ludwigb]

24. That's Almost A Dream-Ticket Right Now

Too good to be true though. A Black and a Jew on the same ticket--it would bring out the haters for sure.

This is coming from someone who would be supporting Feingold if he was running for president--he's the best Senator we have as far as I'm concerned.

[MethuenProgressive]

21. So, Fiengold now wants to be Vice President Fiengold?

Too bad, I thought he had higher ambitions.

[hippiechick]

32. ... if he's VP under President Gore, I'll let him ...

:patriot:

... that'll give him 8 years to become totally undefeatable in 2016.


:applause:

[Harry Monroe]

22. I just want to hear one statement from Hillary..

...before I consider her as a viable candidate. I'll probably vote for her if nominated, of course, but with MUCH reservation. I am also considering voting for an independent in '08 if a viable one emerges. With our current electoral college system, it doesn't make a lot of difference anyway as far as I'm concerned. I live in Mississippi, the most red, racist, hick, backward state in the Union. We are the only state in the union with the Confederate flag as part of our state flag, for chrissakes!! How embarassing!! I am from New Orleans originally and when pressed, I usually tell people I still live there to spare me the embarassment of admitting where I actually live. I'll vote my conscience in '08.

This is the statement I want from Ms. Clinton: "I made a mistake in voting for for the Iraq war. I was wrong".

How hard is that to say??

If she is the Democratic nominee, then we can kiss the White House goodbye in '08.

[calteacherguy]

23. I like to hear Edwards supporters respond to this.

It's one more nail in the coffin of Edwards candidacy, imo.

[Bullet1987]

25. Obama/Feingold wouldn't work...

Because of the haters and mostly they're 2 Senators.

[calteacherguy]

27. I agree that senators are at a disadvantage going in

because of a voting record that can be scutinized and manipulated against them. Also, senators lack executive leadership experience.

We have had strong candidates who were senators, such as JFK, but he was the last one. I this media age, it makes it much more difficult.

I do not agree with you that it is impossible for a black or jewish man to win. I do believe America is ready for a non-white male or female president...IF they are the right one.

[DefenseLawyer]

31. Don't send flowers just yet

Although I am not in the Edwards camp, I'm not sure they are all that concerned. As much as I respect Senator Feingold, it is ridiculous to think that his "endorsement" or lack thereof will have any significant impact in any of the early primary states. Those of us who follow politics closely aside, the average voter couldn't pick him out of a lineup.

[LWolf]

29. And Kucinich is stronger by far than any of them. n/t

[FredfromSpace]

30. Obama is good, Kucinich is better

And Edwards deserves credit for speaking much more eloquently than the others about poverty and economic injustice.

Sometimes I wish we could fuse the three best "progressive" candidates (Obama, Edwards, Kucinich) into a composite uber-candidate.

That would make my OWN decision in the upcoming primaries an easier one.

:shrug:

[mckeown1128]

34. Do I smell an endorsement???

[Ethelk2044]

35. Amen