This was my first opportunity to see Russ Feingold in person and the venue couldn't have been better - a small auditorium at the Fine Arts Complex of the University of North Florida. I'd like to share with you my impressions of the man and his ideas as he presented them.
More on the flip...
As you may know, central and northern Florida are Bush country. We Democratic activists in Jacksonville know that we are in for a long battle to reclaim this part of the state. Visits from key Democratic leaders like Russ Feingold are essential in the 50 State Strategy to contest every state, county and city in America.
We arrived at the venue a few minutes early and took our seats, The auditorium filled quickly and I estimate the crowd at about 150 to 200. No press, but Democratic Party staff were filming the event from several angles. Good organization throughout. After a few preliminary remarks from the local Dem leadership, Feingold took the stage to a long, standing ovation.
The man is a superb speaker. Solid charisma, brilliant presence, smooth delivery and almost constant eye contact with the crowd. His speech was divided into two sections: domestic and international. He garnered lots of applause, and many laughs, too, as he sprinkled his remarks with humor and wit.
Feingold began by raising the importance of Democrats keeping November's races framed on a very few key issues, and noted the success of the Republican's "Contract with America." His version was very short, very sweet:
1. Healthcare. If the Democrats can win one or both houses, they will immediately work to repeal Medicare D, allow the government to negotiate lower drug prices from big pharma, and legalize imports of cheaper drugs from abroad.
2. Universal healthcare. Starting with a pilot program, the Democrats will attempt to offer universal care in three or four test states, and, proving it is possible, take the program nationwide.
3. Energy independence. Immediate Federal funding of alternative energy is critical. He gave examples of biodiesel, wind, and home-based solutions to help Americans get off the grid. If you've read Darksyde's diary today and followed the link to http://lifeaftertheoilcrash.net, you're aware of how important this is.
4. Raise the minimum wage to $7.25. It's the least we can do.
5. Repeal No Child Left Behind.
6. Repeal the worst elements of the Patriot Act.
7. Restore the Rule of Law and restore the traditional balance of powers.
That's it for domestic policy. He proposed tackling these issues in the first 6 months of 2007. Ambitious? Sure. But it's a short and solid, family and America-friendly list. It's doable. And it would help to restore our country back to a semblance of the nation we were before the nightmare of the Bush Adminstration got ahold of us.
On the international front, Russ proposed the following:
1. Finish the job in Afghanistan. Capture bin Laden, crush the Taliban and Al Qaeda. We know who attacked us, and it makes no sense to bog ourselves down in Iraq while the original threat continues to regroup and restrengthen.
2. Declare an Iraq withdrawal timetable. He spoke of a meeting he had in Iraq with a British general who concurred that a clear timetable - of any duration - would gut the insurgency that is fueled primarily by fears we intend a permanent occupation.
3. We would not desert Iraq, but follow a Murtha plan concept of remaining over the horizon and able to support and help rebuild Iraq.
4. Stop using the term "Islamofascism." Russ was, I think, spot-on in his concern that the Bush administration's use of this term is extremely dangerous, attaching the concept of the entire religion of Islam with the extremism of its most radical elements. It's the kind of rhetoric that serves to breed more terrorism.
5. Fight terrorism with smaller, rapid-response forces worldwide - from Spain to Indonesia, the middle east to Europe, with less heavy military power and more police and intelligence work, leveraging financial systems and local populist desires for regional stability. True leadership could accomplish this. "Bring 'em on!" cowboyism is a recipe for failure.
He concluded by noting the importance of pouring effort into a November victory for our side, and stressing that, as in his own case of winning his senate seat by a slim 31-vote margin, that each vote is critical and that with determination, we can determine our own future.
Russ then fielded a number of questions from the crowd, the first of which was "Will you run for President in '08?" He said he might look into it, but not before November. November is everything right now. Everything.
The rest of the questions were quite good, and Russ showed that he can think on his feet and his answers were all good, clear, and sensible. If you get a chance, I strongly recommend seeing him speak. If he runs for President, I'll campaign for him.