Hmm.

I'm all for a Russ presidential run; I claimed to some pollsters in the last election that I was going to write him in. He is one of the few truly progressive politicians, and the only one who's been inspiring for me personally pretty much since I've been able to vote.

The problem with a Russ Feingold presidential campaign is that he's not a particularly inspiring speaker. He's got great self-deprecating humor and a comfortable demeanor, but that's not enough for a national candidate any more. His ideas and positions might inspire but his public persona doesn't (at least not for me). He'll still get my vote if he runs, but I'm worried that he won't do well nationally.

Cori S

Um, is he Jewish?
This country will elect a woman before it elects a Jew, and I see no prospect of the former.

-Carpundit (who will never be President; see above)

the "he's jewish, therefore unelectable" argument is bogus in my estimation. it concedes that the voting electorate in this county is naturally racist and bigoted. there are those who are, to be sure, but to apply those labels to everyone is just plain insulting. joe lieberman, a jew, was almost, some would say was, elected vice-president. john kerry, a catholic, was almost, some again would say was (not me), elected president.

accepting this so-called reality as fact, even when you disagree with its premise, is part of the problem. when someone says a politician can't win because he/she is catholic or jewish or black or a woman, i would respond simply by asking if they agree with that analysis, and if they do, call them out for the obvious bigot they are.

You pose a false dichotomy with [either all the electorate is racist or a Jew could be elected]. It suffices that enough of the electorate is bigoted for it to make the difference.

Please also note that 1) I believe that a liberal, Jewish man will not be elected President; 2) I am not an anti-Semite. I am a Jew, I married a Jew, I fathered little Jews. That throws your "if you agree with that argument, you're a bigot" theory out the window.

As for Lieberman, he is a conservative (small "c") Jewish man who almost won the Vice Presidency. Not the same. As for Catholics, go back a bit and we've already one (kennedy). But Catholics believe Jesus was the Christ. Not Jews.

If I were a right-winger running against a left or center Jew, I would pose one question in the first debate: "Do you believe Jesus is the son of God?" I would then win the election.

Feingold is not only Jewish, I read that he's single and twice-divorced. If this is true, he's cooked.

Hilary Clinton will get slaughtered, if she really does become the nominee. At best, a "moderate," with a crooked past and a nauseating transparently self-serving arrogance.

It's become increasingly obvious to more and more folks that the Democrats do not offer any kind of substantive alternative to the Republicans.

Dean is perceived, rightly or wrongly (I believe "rightly") as off his nut.

Kerry was a pathetic choice.

Biden might be interesting...

I'd like it to be able to work, but it seems difficult. The dems need someone who can articulate progressive positions in a way that ordinary people can relate to... from what I hear, RF is such a person. However, he has a lot of things working against him, including the senators' curse, the divorces, and his religion. I can imagine a charismatic politician transcending one of those handicaps, but all three? He would have to be a real genius... The dems need to get lucky, and find someone with his good qualities but without the handicaps.