March 20, 2011

Netroots Nation invites Russ Feingold to deliver its convention keynote because, like, he's from Wisconsin, and, you know, Wisconsin.

MyD says:
Feingold's direct involvement in protests and push-back against Walker's 'budget' in Wisconsin position him well. Reaction to events in Wisconsin have helped to define a clear narrative for this year's [Netroots] conference on the vigourous [sic] (and organized) GOP attack on unions, mass progressive push-back, and linking it all back to increased coporate [sic] influence through Citizens United.
Huh? Ignore the misspellings and shorthand leftspeak and focus on the factual deficiency: When was Russ Feingold involved — directly or indirectly — in the Wisconsin protests? He's been notably absent. Feingold is an important politico, and he's from Wisconsin, but that's what raises a big question around here: Where has he been? I guess from a distance, it's all just Wisconsin!

Here's FireDogLake trying to connect Feingold to the Wisconsin protests:
With the events in Madison over the past month sparking a new mass movement on the progressive side, Feingold is a good choice. He has involved himself in the Wisconsin labor protests and marched with protesters at one point, and practically every rally in Madison has included some variant of a “Feingold for Governor” sign. 
Hmm. Meade and I have been going to the Capitol for the last month — Meade has skipped, at most, 2 days, possibly 0 days — and he says he's seen "probably 2" "Feingold for Governor" signs. He has seen a few signs with a "Where's Feingold?" theme. Feingold marched with the protesters? When? I didn't notice that. Googling, I see he walked through the Capitol with some firefighters back on February 18th. Has there been a peep out of him since then?

Sorry. To me, Feingold has been a conspicuous no-show. No show, and no talk. The same is true of President Obama, but he's not out of office and living in Wisconsin, so his no show, no talk is less conspicuous. Somehow, the Netroots see Feingold as an embodiment of Wisconsinosity and that looks good enough in their blurry, woozy vision.

58 comments:

soxfan4life said...

Sorry. To me, Feingold has been a conspicuous no-show. No show, and no talk.

Worked for Obama, why wouldn't Feingold run with it?

Peter V. Bella said...

Just because you did not see him does not mean he wasn't there.

Remember, he is a progressive. He was there in spirit and was in metaphysical solidarity with the mass protesters. It's that new agey type of progressiveness.

MayBee said...

Two teachers unions are sponsoring Netroots Nation this year. I bet what we are seeing is their launch of the "Feingold for Governor" campaign.

Carol_Herman said...

Russ Feingold was surprised to learn, in November, that he got kicked out of his senate seat. Just like Tom Daschle. But Tom Daschle still lives in DC. Making lots of money as a lobbyist.

Feingold, however, with his name forever linked to McCain ... In a law I think the Supreme's booted off for illegitimacy ... Is just still licking his wounds.

Ann Althouse said...

"Just because you did not see him does not mean he wasn't there."

I researched it and believe he showed up once, in the first week, and only walked through.

I've been following the news about it, and I am saying that he has kept his distance. Conspicuously.

vbspurs said...

Just another unemployed mofo in America. At least he has 99 weeks of living off of the government cheese.

MisterBuddwing said...

Peter V. Bella:

"Just because you did not see him does not mean he wasn't there."

Professor:

"I researched it and believe he showed up once, in the first week, and only walked through."

Yours truly:

Professor, you missed the irony. (Second paragraph.)

WV: exesso. (Something that would never happen to me, as I don't drink coffee.)

Michael K said...

The left is looking for leaders now that Obama is bombing LIbya. Dennis Kucinich is available but there are not many more they can trust.

Another step in the irony of Obama has been taken. Women are running his administration and we have record deficits and Tomahawk missiles flying. Another myth down the memory hole.

Big Mike said...

Well, isn't that one of the points Orwell was trying to make in Animal Farm?

Orwell had been in Spain fighting Franco, and he was stunned after the battles to see the communists heaping praise on units that had never been anywhere near the fighting, while units that had been in thick of things and fought bravely were denounced as cowards.

So today Russ Feingold ("our Russ" as you called him) being praised for his involvement in the Wisconsin protests, despite the simple little fact that he wasn't there. We also see comparable disinformation campaigns regarding global warming -- which is supposedly a dire threat to mankind despite the tawdry little fact that it isn't happening.

The Crack Emcee said...

My Direct Democracy? The astrology outfit?

I swear, between this and Louis Farrakhan, you're cracking me up today!

bagoh20 said...

The most inbred, backwoods, banjo strumming, weekend militia, trailer dweller in West Virgina makes more sense then these University educated, over-paid, pompous, knee jerk asses.

It's all just random unconnected verbiage, devoid of logical meaning, accuracy or any ideas beyond the singular: "Republicans are bad". Everything they say only intends to send that message, no matter how ridiculous. How weak these minds must be and without the honesty or character to make it forgivable.

Ironically, they have proven so unhinged that I no longer have to consider their viewpoint. I can become a blind partisan and know I'm still making the right choice.

It's like arguing with a severely disturbed patient, you don't really have to pay attention once they have proven they are completely nuts.

But, I am glad that Meadhouse keeps pointing it out because maybe eventually enough shame will build that people will stop yelling and think or listen for a moment.

Lincolntf said...

Oooh, Russ Feingold! So they couldn't get Blago (or Peter Tork)?

roesch-voltaire said...

Recent comment from Feingold who does post on his progressive site: "And in the last two weeks, it’s become clear that Governor Walker isn’t doing his job to represent my state of Wisconsin. Instead, he’s trying to make a national name for himself by pushing the same agenda shared by corporate interests like the Koch brothers - the billionaire captains of industry who just recently opened a lobbying office across the street from the Capitol in Madison" -- I would say this is moe than a no show.

Lukedog said...

Russ Feingold has been to the capitol on at least two occasions.

Immediately following the budget repair bill release he was on Rachel Maddow and was quoted as saying "this budget crisis is phonier than a three dollar bill"

If you want to see what Russ has been up to, check the Progressives United website.


He's always been sort of a low-profile senator (except during campaigns) why would you expect him to be different now?

Lincolntf said...

All he's got is Alex Jones-like references to scary billionaires? For a guy who thought he should control everyone else's right to free expression, he doesn't express himself very well.

prairie wind said...

Walker's 'budget'

Because the 'budget' doesn't use money, it uses 'money'.

DADvocate said...

This Adam Savage quote comes to mind every time I hear of this sort of thing from the lefties, "I reject your reality, and substitute my own!"

somefeller said...

Feingold is popular among the Netroots crowd and his home base is next door to Minnesota. It's not surprising that they'd invite him, any more than it would be surprising for a conservative group having a meeting in Minnesota to invite Gov. Walker to make a speech. It sells tickets.

lemondog said...

Sorry. To me, Feingold has been a conspicuous no-show

Whine, whine, whine. Give the guy a break. Whaddaya want. It's a tough job market out there. Does he even have a job?

Has Feingold ever said how Walker should handle Wisconsins debt?

Lincolntf said...

"It sells tickets."

I know I'll be camping out.

Erik Opsal said...

Just because he only went to the Capitol once doesn't mean he was a no show. Remember, he is a law professor in Milwaukee and he's writing a book, so you can't expect him to show up there every day.

Russ on Rachel Maddow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n3jSAnfTGA

Blog post (2/28) about his march with WI firefighters and a statement about Walker on 3/10.

http://www.progressivesunited.org/blog/

Article about Russ marching with protesters.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/russ-feingold-wisconsin-protests_n_825325.html

Feingold launches online ad campaign about the union bill.

http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/news/digital/e3ib013e0644901821e8c7e7f81e88557fe

http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/03/progressives-pac-launching-online-ads.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Feingold calls on Walker to end his "assault on Wisconsin traditions."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/feingold-calls-on-walker-to-end-his-assault-on-wisconsins-traditions.php?ref=fpb

The Crack Emcee said...

You guys are a trip:

An astrology outfit has grown big enough in Leftist politics to have a convention and you just go on talking like everything's normal.

Let me see if I can break this down for you:

Expose them as an astrology outfit and you can eliminate them from the political discourse.

Eliminate them from the political discourse and their donations dry up.

If their donations dry up then you have fewer of these dumb protests.

Have fewer of these dumb protests and you win more elections.

As Charlie Sheen says:

"Duh! Winning!

Unknown said...

Needless to say, they don't call them The Nutroots for nothing.

Ann Althouse said...

Ignore the misspellings

What? You mean, "vigourous"?

That's not mispelling, that's English.

Like vb speaks. She's allowed to spell stuff like that.

We're not cause we're Amer'cans.

Christopher said...

"We're not cause we're Amer'cans"

Don't fret. Just be glad you're not a merkin

The Crack Emcee said...

Ann started this:

Ignore the misspellings and shorthand leftspeak and focus on the factual deficiency: When was Russ Feingold involved — directly or indirectly — in the Wisconsin protests? He's been notably absent. Feingold is an important politico, and he's from Wisconsin, but that's what raises a big question around here: Where has he been? I guess from a distance, it's all just Wisconsin!

Sorry, Miss Lawyer Lady, but that's not the issue at all. The issue is they're an astrology outfit. Why has that not been exposed more? Why has the Right not attacked their history and credibility? Why haven't their legs been cut out from under them, turning them into a national joke, as Nancy Reagan's name is associated with psychics? I ask again:

What's wrong with you people?

ricpic said...

"Money laundering is bad? Some of my best friends are money launderers. And you, Sir, are no money launderer."

--Feingold launches a withering attack on Walker in the 2012 vice-presidential debate.

Bob_R said...

Meadhouse oozes Wisconsinosity. Better have that checked out.

Automatic_Wing said...

Isn't Feingold supposed to be the Dems best chance to defeat Walker in the recall election?

If so, he'll need to take his message beyond the hyperliberal bubble of MSNBC, Progressives United and Talking Points. Memo. If you confine yourself to that small slice of the media, yes, you're effectively a no-show.

Joe said...

(The Crypto Jew)

Crack our world does not revolve around YOUR world...YOU go on and on about "Astrology" it's like the "Jooos" to Cedraford....

Carol_Herman said...

Learning to stop and smell the roses, has been one of the biggest lessons I've absorbed, here.

I never, for instance, look at people when I'm walking through crowds. Over time, I had learned to be non-observant. So among the benefits has been this new lesson that, yes, you can stop. And, people are interesting.

Now, I'll venture to guess that Russ Feingold has lost this ability. Reagan, when the Alzheimer's robbed him of so much, became very fearful of people just approaching him to shake his hand. (He didn't mind when children did it.) But it unnerved him to the point where "going out" was something Nancy stopped. And, Reagan, because Alzheimer's robbed him of it, no longer felt comfortable with people.

For Russ Feingold NOT to be doing something that looks so good to do in Madison, does befuddle. Unless, of course, all his years in DC, meant he never had to go home.

Good post.

In Rumsfeld's new memoir he goes back to when he was 29 years old. And, running for Congress the first time. Because a seat opened up. The former occupant owned it forever. And, died. Rumsfeld was in a field of 7 contendah's. And, some reporter wrote that he'd come in, in 7th place.

Rumsfeld said public speaking didn't come naturally to him. It's an art form. And, he had to learn how to do it back then.

One of the things we're not seeing by the way is a "retreat" by democraps, where they show you the pain of their loss.

Doesn't mean they're unaware.

Just means we're heading into very nasty competitions. Like the Cold War!

DADvocate said...

...like the Koch brothers

You guys are obsessed with Kochs, especially when the Kochs are big and powerful. You're jealous of the big, powerful Kochs. Sounds as if you suffer from small penis syndrome.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Will WI voters get all tingly in their legs & vote for Our Russ when they know he will just increase taxes so their govt worker neighbors can continue to get long vacations, great benefits and retire at age 60 or even younger?

I mean what else does Russ know how to do but grow govt and spend, spend, spend?

vbspurs said...

DADvocate wrote:

You guys are obsessed with Kochs, especially when the Kochs are big and powerful. You're jealous of the big, powerful Kochs. Sounds as if you suffer from small penis syndrome.

Great penile humour aside, the Left is obsessed with the Kochs because Glenn Beck wouldn't shut his conspiracy trap about George Soros. They had to find an equivalency.

Paco Wové said...

"...the Koch brothers - the billionaire captains of industry..."

Question, R-V: is it possible for the modern American 'liberal' mind to function without the presence of an Emmanuel-Goldstein-like object of fear and hatred?

TosaGuy said...

No one, left or right, in WI has ever confused Russ Feingold with any who has run anything in their life.

The irony about the complaints on the left with regard to citizens united is that the ruling also protected the same free speech rights of unions as it did corporations.

Trooper York said...

Wisconsin has become the Gary Busey of States.

Youse guys need to go see Dr. Drew or something.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Those evil billionaires-- who give to liberal charities.

At least the Koch brothers are charitable. That's more that I can say for the cheap, greedy, uncharitable collective left. (Who only raise money for their own inner circle of left-wing)

Those evil Koch brothers - standing up for freedom, liberty and the American tax payer; Leave it to democrats to vilify that.

The Crack Emcee said...

Joe (The Crypto Jew)

Crack our world does not revolve around YOUR world...YOU go on and on about "Astrology" it's like the "Jooos" to Cedraford....

You also must not like easily winning elections, or sounding credible when discussing politics, because what does Feingold have to do with anything when you can stop MyDD, The Daily Kos, and the Netroots Nation in their tracks by exposing them as astrologers?

You're talking about nothing important, in the scheme of things like the 2012 election, and think you sound smart.

You hold the key to destroying the opposition and you throw it away, why?

DADvocate said...

Great penile humour...

Thank you. I'll try to keep it up.

gadfly said...

Christopher said:

"Don't fret. Just be glad you're not a merkin."

What is that supposed to mean? Why I consider myself just as Amerkin [sic] as the next guy!

From the Urban Dictionary:

a) something george bush is constantly saying he is proud to be

"ah am proud, to be a merkin citezin."

b) A citizen of the United States of America, particularly of the 'flyover states.'

"Ah'm prahd ter be a Merkin."

The Crack Emcee said...

Look at this:

"The genesis for the Netroots movement stems from a fixation on, first the stockmarket, then astrology, and it only found politics, probably, when it was barred from engaging in a previous financial fascination that ultimately led to real trouble with the SEC. Just read this quote from the new wizard, who some think is pre-destined to lead the Democrats to the promised land."

How can you not win by exposing this:

Astrologer Jerome Armstrong notes that Ixion and Quaoar are following close in Pluto's wake in early Sagittarius, and connects the rise of the political version of religious fundamentalism with the astronomical exploration of the Kuiper Belt in 1992. He cites incidences as disparate as the rise of Osama bin Laden onto the world stage and the Republican Revolution of 1994, fueled by Christian fundamentalist voters and culminating now with all three branches of government in Republican control. In addition, he cites the ascendance of political Hinduism in India in 1996 with the election of the BJP. One might add to this list the emergence of Conservative majorities in Israel and the UK. [The author wishes to acknowledge the help and inspiration provided by astrologer and author Jerome Armstrong of AstroWorld.mydd.com for information and links regarding Varuna and Trans-Neptunians which have been vital to the preparation of this article.]

Now, if the Left can make the name Nancy Reagan a laughing stock because of psychics, why would anyone not do the same to the Left over this?

To NOT do it is madness.

Peter V. Bella said...

@Dadvocate

Buffet, Gates are goooooood billionaires. Koch Bros. are badddddd billionaires.

Christopher said...

Gadfly,

And here I thought that a merkin was just a pubic wig.

vbspurs said...

Christopher, I read that merkins are primarily used by poor souls who lost their pubic hair due to scorching cases of STDs.

Hey, has anyone mentioned Charlie Sheen recently?

The Crack Emcee said...

Damn that spam filter - one more time:

Look at this:

"The genesis for the Netroots movement stems from a fixation on, first the stockmarket, then astrology, and it only found politics, probably, when it was barred from engaging in a previous financial fascination that ultimately led to real trouble with the SEC. Just read this quote from the new wizard, who some think is pre-destined to lead the Democrats to the promised land."

How can you not win by exposing this:

Astrologer Jerome Armstrong notes that Ixion and Quaoar are following close in Pluto's wake in early Sagittarius, and connects the rise of the political version of religious fundamentalism with the astronomical exploration of the Kuiper Belt in 1992. He cites incidences as disparate as the rise of Osama bin Laden onto the world stage and the Republican Revolution of 1994, fueled by Christian fundamentalist voters and culminating now with all three branches of government in Republican control. In addition, he cites the ascendance of political Hinduism in India in 1996 with the election of the BJP. One might add to this list the emergence of Conservative majorities in Israel and the UK. [The author wishes to acknowledge the help and inspiration provided by astrologer and author Jerome Armstrong of AstroWorld.mydd.com for information and links regarding Varuna and Trans-Neptunians which have been vital to the preparation of this article.]

Now, if the Left can make the name Nancy Reagan a laughing stock because of psychics, why would anyone not do the same to the Left over this?

The Crack Emcee said...

I don't know what that filter's catching, so in parts:

"The genesis for the Netroots movement stems from a fixation on, first the stockmarket, then astrology, and it only found politics, probably, when it was barred from engaging in a previous financial fascination that ultimately led to real trouble with the SEC. Just read this quote from the new wizard, who some think is pre-destined to lead the Democrats to the promised land."

The Crack Emcee said...

Part II:

Astrologer Jerome Armstrong notes that Ixion and Quaoar are following close in Pluto's wake in early Sagittarius, and connects the rise of the political version of religious fundamentalism with the astronomical exploration of the Kuiper Belt in 1992. He cites incidences as disparate as the rise of Osama bin Laden onto the world stage and the Republican Revolution of 1994, fueled by Christian fundamentalist voters and culminating now with all three branches of government in Republican control. In addition, he cites the ascendance of political Hinduism in India in 1996 with the election of the BJP. One might add to this list the emergence of Conservative majorities in Israel and the UK. [The author wishes to acknowledge the help and inspiration provided by astrologer and author Jerome Armstrong of AstroWorld.mydd.com for information and links regarding Varuna and Trans-Neptunians which have been vital to the preparation of this article.]

The Crack Emcee said...

Now, if the Left can make the name Nancy Reagan a laughing stock because of psychics, why would anyone not do the same to the Netroots Nation over this?

lemondog said...

Buffet, Gates are goooooood billionaires. Koch Bros. are badddddd billionaires.

You overlooked the more critical Soros as a gooooooooood billionaire.

The Crack Emcee said...

Conservatives are stuck with a lame president, and political pushback, based on "Varuna and Trans-Neptunians"?

You guys,...

Lincolntf said...

So I suppose they support subsidizing the high-speed Trans-Neptunian railroad?

lemondog said...

Hey, has anyone mentioned Charlie Sheen recently?
Remorse and shame concepts unknown to the emotionally stunted Sheen.

Anonymous said...

"When was Russ Feingold involved — directly or indirectly — in the Wisconsin protests? He's been notably absent."

Why, Ann ... don't you know that Russ Feingold has always been at war with Eastasia.

Bill said...

I'm guessing Feingold is probably teaching law since, you know, that's what he's paid to do.

Phil 314 said...

Maybe Mr. Feingold has gone the early-post 2000 beard and belly Al Gore route

carrie said...

Feingold did march with the protestors one day along with Soglin. I have a not very clear picture showing the two of them that I will try to dig up and send you. It was one first big weekday marches.

vbspurs said...

Lemondog linked:

Remorse and shame concepts unknown to the emotionally stunted Sheen.

LOL @ Denver's guilty grin!

X said...

you'd think they'd pick someone who tried to override the second amendment.