2006 Prediction - Feingold Leaves Democratic Party

[LeftHander]

And forms a new DEMOCRATIC party and takes all the progressive Democratic caucus with him AND the core of the Democratic Party...AND welcomes the Greens and all other progressive parties. It actually may still be the same party. But Russ and the rest of the progressives will step in and push the moderates elements right out of leadership and party influence as huge numbers of people flock to consolidate the left...or a completely new party will emerge. Leaving the current Democratic party in a situation where thay are FORCED to accept leadership from the left.

He is already laying the foundation for such a venture with his Progressive Patriot Fund.
Any new party needs a national organization infrastructure in place. There certainly seems to be a a excellent start right here:

http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com/

Spend a little time there and think about what is happening inside the Democratic Party.
Think about how many times the Party has caved into the GOP. Many of us here on DU have long been accurate "canaries in the coalmine" when it comes to American politics. There is simply no denying that there is split coming along ideological lines. Many, many democrats simply do not share the same values as our more moderate party members and are tired of trading our votes for values. We have been losing already what makes it worse is to of not voted or values and lost anyway. I personally would rather cast my vote that uphold my values and lose. If we have to we take to the street. We battle in the courts. We mount public information campaigns. But we STOP giving our votes away for EMPTY promises.

2006 and 2008 are not going to be business as usual in American politics. There are no longer any guarenteed Democratic votes waiting for moderate, socially conservative, corporatist candidates.

If The Democrats get behind Russ and start acting a like Democrats instead of GOP it will save the party's tenuous unity.

[Teaser]

1. uh, everyone has one of those funds

they all planning on leaving the party?


I like you dreamers. You remind me of myself, 15 years ago.

[LeftHander]

6. Dreams have a funny way of coming true....

Just look at the people who first sat and drafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

They were dreamers too and damn good ones too.

The big problem with Bush and his cabal is they use hopes and dreams of others to fulfill their own twisted egos and pocketbooks.

[Teaser]

26. Yes, but your dreaming about someone else's motives

And Feingold's is not to leave the Democratic party. It's a PAC designed to increase his influence WITHIN the Democratic party. Like GOPAC did for Newt Gingrich with the Repug party.

[LeftHander]

33. I do mention that....

In a way a "changed" Democratic party would be a NEW party.

It would require cutting off the main sources of influence and bringing many new people into the party with strong leadership.

I would like to see the Democratic party change to better reflect the values of the party. But we first have to get rid of the moderate influence that keeps sinking and splitting the party.

So I still see Russ leading a newparty already....the future democratic party.

What people need to understand is that we can't keep playing the GOP's game. They win...at all costs in any way possible.

We need to write our own game. And forcing the moderates to leave or get on board is one way. So is splitting the party in two. Ultimately the outcome is the same. If we continue to do the same. We lose. If we change we lose...but we lose with honor.

So whatever. All our nightmares have come true under the consistently poor leadership of the Deomcratic party. So...what do YOU plan on doing about it...drink more bile flavored kool-aid and watching more TV?

[ewagner]

2. Interesting

Since Russ announced his intention to introduce this resolution on Sunday, I've been trying (without much success) to interpret his intentions...clearly, he doesn't think the resolution is going to pass....clearly he didn't have the support of the party leadership BEFORE he set off on this venture...

No.

The only logical conclusion I came to is that Russ has a strategy known only to himself and I don't have a clue what it is....

Maybe he was going to expose not only the Republicans for supporting Bush's illegal activity, but also the "Vichy Democrats" who will stand behind Bush.

Maybe he's telling the Democrats in congress to s**t or get off the pot?

I don't know...your theory is as good as any.

[RufusEarl]

19. Russ

was the only dem to support impeachment of Clinton, back in the day. I think you're right, Russ is saying S***t or get off the pot. I support his resolution, because Russ is standing on principal here.

If one believes Bu$h broke the law in the NSA scheme, and i certainly do believe it. Then one has to act on principle, and any senator with principle should vote yea on the censure resolution.

[RagingInMiami]

3. I love the idea of a new progressive party, we sure as hell need it

But it will only divide those who vote against republicans.

[mod mom]

5. There are a lot of people out there not voting because they are tired of

the little difference between the two corporate sponsored parties. This would be a way to re-invigorate the nation.

[RagingInMiami]

8. I would love to see it happen

But how would the party differ from the Green Party as far as ideology?

[BurtWorm]

9. That's what Nader claimed in 2000 and 2004.

I wouldn't call the result "re-invigoration," would you? The nation seems pretty out of gas to me.

[mod mom]

38. Maybe we needed to experience the last 5 years to realize how badly this

is needed.

[BurtWorm]

47. That's what we all said in 2002 and 2004 as well.

I thought we were working on de-marginalizing the left and yanking the center toward us. I'd hate to see the left suddenly pick up and move the goal posts that much further into the margins.

And mind you, I am not in favor of moderating the left's views. The war must be ended. Neo-conservatism must be wiped out. Globalism must be fought. But fragmentation of the left will accomplish exactly none of those goals.

[RagingInMiami]

51. I'm afraid it will have to get worse before it gets better

Most of the country still doesn't care one way or the other, it seems.

[blm]

4. Define progressive. And what makes for a good governance lawmaker?

.

[LeftHander]

18. 11 points to start with...

No Order...

1. Fair Taxation - No more corporate welfare
2. Fully Funded Education - Higher Education for all qualified
3. Universal Healthcare
4. Local Economics
5. Planned Growth at Local Levels
6. Renewable Energy Investment
7. More Public Media Ownership and Access
8. Sane Military Spending
9. Election Reform
10. Campaign Finance Reform
11. Peace Based Policy - Not War.

[blm]

21. Where is Feingold on open government?

When I google CIA drugrunning or other big scandals I never see any reference to his work or the positions he took as senator. I'm pretty sure he was in the senate at the time.

Do you have access to those senate records?

[radio4progressives]

24. right here

Feingold has every position/policy paper he's proposed archived since he's been in the Senate search feature to help research:

http://feingold.senate.gov/

[blm]

29. That's one of the places I checked, but search isn't succeeding

in this area.

[radio4progressives]

49. write a letter to him, i requested something from him and staff sent me

information i requested..

[LWolf]

55. Sounds very similar

to the platform of a primary candidate in '04. One that mainstream dems ridiculed, marginalized, and labeled "unelectable."

Yet those are issues that are closest to voters. :shrug:

[gordianot]

7. Russ is great, but a third party now is not the time.

The next Democratic President (if there is one) will set the agenda for the Democratic party. I doubt Russ Fiengold would ever want to become as irrelevant as Ralph Nader.

[onenote]

10. Prediction: You're wrong

Unless of course you think Feingold and other "progressive" Democratic senators want to remain in the minority in the Senate forever. Do the math.

onenote

[A-Schwarzenegger]

13. Prediction: You're right.

[mattclearing]

14. What other "progressive" Democratic senators?

Boxer?

[onenote]

22. Good question

I was gong to ask that myself. Russ might be able to get himself elected as an independent and then vote with the Democratic caucus, but what exactly would be the point. ANd he'd never get a committee chairmanship

onenote

[LeftHander]

28. Think bigger...

The House Progressive Caucus...has many like minded.

Not many other senators fit the bill...
Maybe Obama...maybe the replacement for when Lieberman loses the primaries...

[jsamuel]

11. no, he knows way better than to do that

[mattclearing]

12. Progressive Patriots Fund is just his '08 PAC, no? n/t

[jarab]

15. Democrats probably need a "new" party, but

the Democratic politicians we have sent to Washington .... do not.

Ninety percent of them are perfectly content being the minority party and all that has gone wrong while they have been in that position.
Most of those there now are the ones who let the majority slip away a dozen years ago, and they seem content with the status quo.

We really need to clean our own house, but that's not feasible at this time (an even smaller minority with a weaker voice - if possible - would be the result).

I disagree that there will be a noticeable split within the broad party. We're screwed. When we were the majority, we didn't want to rock our own boat; as the minority we can't afford to.
jmo

...O...

[bowens43]

16. Oboy!! Another

"Let's shoot ourselves in the ass by not voting for Democrats in the next election" post!!!

This kind of thinking gave 90,000 votes to Nader in 2000 and 8 years of goerge bush hell to the rest of us.

If you don't want to vote for democrats you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[LeftHander]

20. You like the taste of bile then....

I got sick of swallowing it...The Democratic party will change. And it will change to the left or to the right. It is not staying the same....that is the point.

WHich way do you want to go?

[triguy46]

36. Yep, lets split the democratic votes again...

and assure the freepers control of all three branches for perpetuity. But, we'll feel good about our vote. Folks, we have to have big tent if we are going to win the prize. Balkanizing the party is not going to get us anywhere.

[LeftHander]

41. So how many times have you beat W using your strategy....?

Of becoming more accomodating to the right.....ZERO

:::snark:::

[triguy46]

48. Uh, how about 2000? n/t

[A-Schwarzenegger]

17. Keep your day job, Nostradamus.

[Mrspeeker]

23. the 2006 reality

Ive already left the democratic party in pursue of a opposition party not a back rub party for the winners. I have not donated anything to the democratic party since I worked on the Kucinich campaign, and did voter registration all around Santa Cruz County which I had done for years. After I worked at the polls during the california recall, and it was announced that Arnold won before we even opened our ballot boxes to begin counting, I realized that we are being lied to and that elections our now rigged. I'm really a democrat, its just the rest of the party is now sleeping with the neocons. Its not just me either, most of my friends and family are denouncing the democratic party as a roll over party. Its going to take a true opposition party to get us back on track.

[LeftHander]

25. I hear you - and understand....

I'd really like to see the dems change the party from the ground up.

But first we need a leader who stands their ground...if any one can lead change in the party Russ can.

It is really Russ's call. If the Dem leadership shuts him down what choice would he have?

[Mrspeeker]

35. good point

I'm all for the change it just seems to be all for nothing though, I would really love to see the Wellstonian type Democrats take back our party but its just not happening. Don't get me wrong though I love what Russ just did and hope that someone like him can turn this around, it would bring a lot of people out of hiding!

[Teaser]

27. Start a civil war then...

because that's what it took to effect the last new party's emergence.

[Mrspeeker]

30. I could free the slaves

I guess that would be us LOL :)
still have to have some humor here or I'll prolly kill myself or something

[Hardrada]

32. What party was that then?

[Padme Amidala]

31. Doubt it. Not even Kucinich is willing to do that.

Russ backed a great many of Bush's bills and nominees last year. His voting record was better than most but it wasn't that hot. This year he's doing a lot better. However, this might be because he's running for President.

[Mrspeeker]

37. ah logic prevails

I agree 100% with that

[quinnox]

34. I remember all the predictions

that Dean was going to do the same thing way back when, and I didn't believe them then either. Turns out Dean is now Democratic party chairman instead of some renegade ex-Democratic leader. DU predictions in general have a terrible record of not coming true I have found.

[WI_DEM]

40. me too

[WI_DEM]

39. Prediction: No

believe it or not Russ is not the most popular democrat in Wisconsin--Herb Kohl is. Russ will not leave the Democratic party because he will need the parties support to continue in office. He is also someone who believes in working from the inside to improve things.

[name not needed]

42. And if it actually happens,

the Democrats will never win an election again. Awesome dream, shithead :thumbsdown:

[LeftHander]

46. Keep the kool-aid pouring...

I see how many wins you have racked up against the GOP.

The sheeple people follow LEADERS...with conviction, leaders that follow principles or honor, truth and justice.


That is why the DEMS have lost. Americans were duped by GW and supported by right fanatics and the corporate media.

With Bush at 36% and Cheney at 18% it is prime time for the DEMS to show some leadership and stop worring about being "extreme". the fuckheads like Frist, Bush and Cheney are extreme....fucking lawbreakers.

The Dem Party is dead. Killed by the GOP. It will return NEW. It may have the same name it may not but it won't be the party that allowed the Neocons to roll them over and over again.

the American people will take sides with people with real values. People like Russ....

If Russ chooses to form a new Democratic Party and call it something else. That's great...if he smokes out the neocon sympathizers in the Democratic party and helps fund primary campaigns with the Progressive Patriot Fund to kick them out of office....then that is great too.

Out the OLD WEAK WAY and IN WITH THE NEW and STRONG!!!

Leadership is stepping up. Follow or get out of the way,.

[LeftHander]

50. Who wants....WAR? The Patriot Act

Dems did.

Russ didn't...

Wake up and smell the reality. The GOP machine won't be broken by people that lack conviction to stand firm on their beliefs.
But there are enough Status Quo lovers here to make sure that the fight will continue to be waged with marshmellow deals.

"Oh....I'm safe in my SUV and in front of the TV watching American Idol..." :sarcasm:

[SaveElmer]

43. Prediction...George Bush will admit to a mistake...

Before what you say happens...

[ourbluenation]

44. very nice - divide and conquer. the rethugs will be a shoe in in 06/08

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

45. He'd get my vote over the "not as bad" party. But, I doubt he'll leave.

[WildEyedLiberal]

52. LOL ..... no. n/t

[left of center]

53. A far left national party won't win elections. What Dems need is

a party that moves more to the center on a few key issues while keeping many of its progressive ideas. Most importantly, dems need a party that clearly spells out its platform and stops reacting to Republican initatives.

A good example is abortion. The general public has for many years appeared more supportive of how Republicans view this issue simply because the Democratic Party takes the extreme position of unresticted abortion. If the party conceded on certain particulars like banning late term abortion and parental notification, the whole issue would be kicked out from beneath Republicans.

This is not going unoticed by many Republicans who are growing nervous that their extreme pro-lifers may finally be overeaching on this issue.

[LeftHander]

54. A far right party would never win elections...

:sarcasm:

[left of center]

57. Having grown up in a rural community, it does not surprise me

that far right Republicans have been successful. They pander to fear and prejudice, two things that are well rooted in the rural landscape. They tell these people that their tax dollars are supporting minorities on welfare, that minorities are taking their jobs, that their religious beliefs are under attack, that big government is gonna take their guns, that the gays are gonna make their children gay, and so on. Looking at the map from the last two presidential elections, a lot of people live in rural America.

A far left party would likely take positions that would only feed into this paranoia. Yes, these rural people are wrong, but they vote! Therefore, they must be carefully dealt with.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

56. I think the potential for this is hitting critical mass

And the lack of open support for censure is really bringing this to the forefront. I am ready for this. I am one of the mass of disaffected Dems who feel abandoned and ignored by the bulk of their Dry Powder Vichy Dems. Screw timing. If we don't get behind movements like this, then we are modeling the behavior of our DPVD's who are just plain scared to DO THE RIGHT THING because their corporate masters might make them pay their own greens fees.

[zulchzulu]

58. Karl Rove would LOVE the idea!

Imagine the Democratic base splitting off into pieces so we can have a much easier way to have...gulp...

President Frist!


Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!