http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/content/367Russ_Feingold
Welcome and thank you for participating in my first ever national online listening session. I have held over 950 listening sessions in Wisconsin, and also held 4 listening sessions in other states over the last year. These town hall type meetings are one of the favorite parts of my job because they give me the ability to hear first hand about the issues people are concerned about. I’m excited that so many people are here today, so lets get started so I can answer as many questions as time allows. Please feel free to ask a question, say what’s on your mind, or just feel free to read what others are saying.
Alyce_from_Rhode_Island
Will Congress press forward with hearings regarding the NSA Illegal Wiretapping on Americans, apparently there is much more to this than what was told by the media to the American people.
Russ_Feingold
Alyce – I’m very concerned that what began as a series of potentially useful hearings in both the judiciary and intell committees, I’m a member of both, have been disappointing at best. In Intell, they have appeared to make every effort not to tell us anything useful and the administration has refused to allow any key witnesses from the justice department who oppose the wiretapping program to appear before the Judiciary committee. I’m not optimistic that without real pressure from the public, more hearings will be held. That’s why we as Dems must be aggressive in pushing for hearings and especially accountability on this illegal program.
Meryl_From_NYC
do you plan to seek our party’s nomination for President?
Russ_Feingold
Meryl – Thanks for the question. I’m still trying to figure that out. I have truly been so consumed with my work on Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Intelligence and Budget Committees, as well as going to places like Colorado and Vermont to try to elect Dem members of Congress, that I think its best for me to evaluate whether I am the right guy for 2008 sometime after the November elections. I am thoroughly enjoying doing my 72 Listening Sessions in WI but let me assure you that I am absolutely determined to have a Dem President in 2008.
Maggie_from_Wisconsin
Do you think this country needs a universal health care system and what does this look like to you?
Russ_Feingold
Maggie – I support a single payer system, but one idea that has gone over well is the idea that the federal government pass a law guaranteeing health care for all Americans, but give states some flexibility on how to do it, whether it be single payer or some other approach. No one should be allowed to fall through the cracks. This push for guaranteed health care should be central to our 2006 strategy.
Meryl_From_NYC
is the NSA recording this listening session?
Russ_Feingold
I’d like to say howdy to all my buddies at the NSA. Quite seriously I admire and support the work they do to stop terrorism. It’s not their fault that the President ordered an illegal version of their otherwise legal and appropriate activities.
Barb_from_New_Mexico
Will you be coming to NM anytime soon to support Patricia Madrid’s run against Bush rubberstamp Heather Wilson? We just had Amb. Joe Wilson and John Edwards here recently. As you know, this is one of our key races.
Russ_Feingold
Barb – I’m happy to say that Patricia Madrid was one of the first candidates that the PPF helped out with a contribution. She was one of 11 Dem Congressional challengers that participated in our first Pick a Progressive Patriot contest and we will continue to help Patricia in any way we can. By the way, a new Pick a Progressive Patriot contest with new contestants from around the country will be coming up soon.
Vince_in_GA
I believe that the current system of financing political campaigns and basically unregulated lobbying are the fundamental reasons that the public good is so ill served. Do you think it is possible to enact any policy or legislation that would be significantly beneficial to the people of this country without first making major reform to campaign finance and lobbying?
Russ_Feingold
Vince – It would be extremely difficult. McCain-Feingold got rid of the most extreme abuses in the form of 100,000 and million dollar contributions raised my members of congress. That’s now illegal. But the only long term answer across the board is public financing of all campaigns as they have in Maine and Arizona.
Fran_in_MD
Do you believe that we can hold this administration accountable without winning a majority in either house of Congress?
Russ_Feingold
Almost certainly not.
howardpark_from_DC
Russ, over 70 Veterans are running for Congress as Democrats this year, many in Districts where Democrats have not even contested in recent memory. Do you think the party establishment should target just a few swing races or do we need to challenge the GOP almost everywhere?
Russ_Feingold
Howard – Apart for the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Paul Hackett’s getting out of the Senate race in OH, which I regret, I am extremely excited about the many veteran candidates. I met a lot of them recently at a reception here in Washington and the PPF contributed recently to VETSPAC which is helping them. Although I certainly understand the value of targeting certain races, it is too early to start writing off some of these excellent veteran candidates who may come on strong later in the year, even in extremely red states.
Jason_from_Wisconsin
How do feel about public financing of elections?
Russ_Feingold
Jason – As I indicated earlier, not only is this the way to go but it is working like a charm in Arizona and Maine.
Lou_from_VT
Russ, what do you have to say about President Bush signing the extension on the Patriot Act?
Russ_Feingold
Lou – I believe that this battle will ultimately be won. Senator Specter is introducing a bill that includes exactly the changes we’ve called for. All we need to tip the balance is win one house in 06 or get a Dem president in 08, all of which is before the provisions sunset again.
Mary_from_Arizona
Will you continue to push for an investigation of the NSA’s wiretapping activities and air the truth about the illegal "compromise" made by the Senate Intelligence Committee?
Russ_Feingold
Mary – Yes, but we are going to have to take other measures to turn up the temperature as well. I’ll have more to say about this on "This Week" this Sunday with George Stephanopoulos.
Meryl_from_NYC
Senator Finegold, can you hold one of these online listening sessions on a weekEND morning when so many people are not at work?
Russ_Feingold
Yes we can and we will!
ellen_in_il
Are there any plans to amend or impove the medicare drug plan? As it stands, it is little or no help to many seniors.
Russ_Feingold
Ellen – It’s quite a mess. And it is a serious question of if it can be fixed but at a minimum we should allow the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices, allow cheaper medicines to come in from Canada, seriously address the problem of so called "dual eligibles", and come up with a better answer than the huge doughnut whole that people face in their coverage.
Jason_from_Wisconsin
Did you have fun on Bill Maher’s show Real Time?
Russ_Feingold
Jason – I had a great time, even though I had to leave on a plan for Southeast Asia four hours later and didn’t get to sleep in a bed again for 35 hours.
Brian_from_Wisconsin
How do you feel the US should address energy independence?
Russ_Feingold
Brian – The way my constituents usually say it is best, that this country is ready for a Manhattan style project that will achieve energy independence. First and foremost, conservation must be our central concern. President Bush is right when he says we are addicted to oil, though his policies don’t reflect that statement. This not a partisan issue, and there are tons of good ideas out there including the principles in the Apollo project. All kinds of things should be on the table, from renewable energy portfolios, to wind turbines, fuel cells. We jut need to make the investment. It will pay off in the long run in major way.
mike_from_new_york
Someone asked the President this awhile ago, and he turned it into a joke. Just for a comparison- Did you see Brokeback Mountain?
Russ_Feingold
Yes I did. And I thought it was a tremendous, tragic movie that everyone should see.
Ben_from_Wisconsin
I realize these questions are going through a moderator so I realize that this will probably not make it onto the screen but it is with my best regards that it makes it to Senator Feingold. I, being a retired disabled veteran or war am honored that you had the courage to stand alone against this war from the beginning and continue to do so. Despite the media, thousands of our fighting forces do as well. That being said when is enough, enough? When can our brothers and sisters come home?
Russ_Feingold
We did get your post, and thanks for what you said. Democrats need to be firm in advocating the termination of our military presence in Iraq. I have called for the withdrawal of our ground forces by the end of this year, and I regret that too many of my colleagues are timid about talking about redeploying our troops where they would be more effective in the fight against al Qaeda.
Rick_from_Wisconsin
I saw you on Real Time with Bill Maher, is there a chance we might see you on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart?
Russ_Feingold
I’m awaiting an invitation.
Pam_from_Mackinac
Senator Feingold: I admire you very much and hope you will do this again. It has taken me the past half hour to get on here so I’ve missed it all. I hope there’s a transcript. Thank you for being an inspiration.
Russ_Feingold
Yes there will be. A transcript will be posted on the website immediately following this Listening Session.
Peter_from_Michigan
Do you prefer to support the winner of a primary vs endorsing one particular dem in a primary race?
Russ_Feingold
As a general rule, I do.
Andrew_Vermont
I saw you in Vermont a few weeks ago when you visited here. We welcome you back here again soon Senator.
Russ_Feingold
I would love to come back and campaign for Bernie. And we need to win the House seat up there.
Matt_from_Tennessee
Not a question but a suggestion. It would be great if Russ could answer some of the unanswered questions on the next PPF podcast
Russ_Feingold
Good suggestion. The turnout has been tremendous today. It’s great to see so many questions, and I’ll try to answer some of them in a podcast or on the website in the future.
Marty_from_Wisconsin
Let me give this another try. Senator, do you believe that the Dubai ports issue has been solved by Dubai "formally" pulling out, or do you think some behind the scenes action is going on? If you don’t know, I would like to know that too. Thanks.
Russ_Feingold
We’d better continue to inquire given this Administration’s abysmal record on candor.
Joseph_from_Wisconsin
Would you support term limits?
Russ_Feingold
Absolutely not. It’s a good way to make sure that people like George Bush and Dick Cheney are not effectively challenged by experienced legislators.
Enid_from_Connecticut
Senator, can you tell us about your trip to Southeast Asia? (And Happy Birthday! Hope you had a good one.)
Russ_Feingold
A tremendous opportunity to explore the real issues in the fight against al Qaeda and associated groups. Islamic insurgency in southern Thailand could be exploited to broaden the terrorist influence. In Indonesia, there is some hope that the human rights record there could improve which would go a long way in taking away fuel for radical violent elements in the country.
Russ_Feingold
Unfortunately that will have to the final question for today’s listening session. I’ve really enjoyed answering your questions and listening to your concerns and wish my schedule allowed more time to continue this dialogue. Thank all of you again for sharing in the first of what I hope will be many online Listening Sessions. Before I go I want to remind everyone that we will be holding our 2nd "Pick a Progressive Patriot" online voting event starting March 20th, so be sure to check www.progressivepatriotsfund.com so that you can help make recommendations for what candidates we will financially support in the future. Thanks again for being a part of our first ever national online listening session.
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