Not the Usual Politician: One of the Reasons I Love Russ Feingold

Democrats are renewing their vow to impede the annual congressional pay raise until the minimum wage is increased, but their options for a successful block during the lame-duck session likely depend on the outcome of the Nov. 7 midterm election.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who only agrees to accept pay raises after he is newly reelected, is proceeding with his plans to force a vote on the issue. “As I have done in the past, I will look for every opportunity to make senators vote on raising their own pay, and I will support any other efforts that will accomplish the same thing,” Feingold said through a spokesman.

Feingold’s bid to hold down member salaries saw surprising success last year, when senators agreed to forfeit their raises as a symbolic gesture after Hurricane Katrina, but the pay-raise block was stripped during conference talks.

All I've got to say is:

Read the entire article at The Hill.

Feingold: I'm not a pacifist on Iraq war

Some recent statements from Sen. Feingold in regard to using military force:

"I've never been anywhere near one-dimensional on these issues," Feingold said in an interview. "I think that I've become — I hope — a credible spokesman for a muscular view of anti-terrorist activity by the Democrats as well as the country. The fact is, I've never been just an anti-war guy."

"I believe in the right of self-defense" — including the invasion of
Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "I believe what we did in Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with self-defense."

The Most Outrageous Scandal? Bush's Iraq Policy

By Russ Feingold/The Huffington Post

With so much attention focused on the Foley scandal, there's another story that hasn't received enough notice: escalating violence in Iraq has resulted in the reported deaths of 24 U.S. soldiers since Saturday, and the Pentagon just reported that IED attacks in Iraq are at an all-time high.

Serious questions have been raised about Congressman Foley's outrageous conduct, and the actions of senior congressional leaders.

Those questions need answers, but we also need to be focused on the tragic situation in Iraq, and what a mess this Administration has gotten us into. This rise in casualties is a tragedy for the families of these brave soldiers, and it's a reminder of the terrible price this country is paying because of the Administration's failed Iraq policy.

Read the rest at The Huffington Post.

Rally in Johnstown, PA to Support Rep. Jack Murtha

Speaking of Democrats with a Spine . . .

The turnout was impressive last Saturday despite the intermittant rain as Veterans, Democrats and many outraged Americans of all stripes, including top military brass, came from all over the country to Western Pennsylvania to stand up to yet another Swiftboating of a war hero for his Iraq truthtelling.

Many of the same men who smeared John Kerry in 2003 had, in effect, a hate-rally planned for the following day to try to hurt his chances for reelection. Fortunately the chances of that are slim.

Max Cleland, organizer of the rally, was joined by Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey, former NATO commander Gen. Wesley Clark, and flying in from Harrisburg, Gov. Ed Rendell. Gov. Rendell managed to squeeze the appearance into his own busy campaign schedule to pump up the crowd. He declared, "How dare these outsiders come here to Pennsylvania and impugn the patriotism of one of the greatest sons in this commonwealth's history."

My husband and I felt driving the five hours to attend the Murtha rally was not only the least we could do, but an honor and a duty to stand with him and show we 'got his back'.

For more info to support John Murtha visit Veterans for Murtha.

We Got Your Back Jack!

We met Joe, a four campaign WWII vet from Johnstown, standing in the rain to support Jack Murtha.
He and my husband had a nice chat. Two handsome guys.