Feingold willing to stay; protect civil liberties

This is why I revere the man. This is why I wish, desperately at times, that he was my Senator. Senator Feingold is a man of true ethics, and he's representing us... at a time when so many others are either looting, spinning or caving.

While congressional Democrats are caving to the White House right before the break, so as to appear 'tough on terrorism' (and weak on defending the rights of American citizens,) Russ is standing tall. Again. Probably also alone. Again.

Commenting that congressional Democrats and Republicans are moving “awfully quickly” on a White House proposal that will make it easier for (whoever is doing it these days, no doubt outsourced to a corporation) to eavesdrop on, well everyone, Feingold said he is in “no hurry” to leave town for the August recess:

“I don’t feel the need to get out of here. I would much rather stay here than have us make a terrible mistake,” said Feingold, who has made a name for himself as a champion on civil liberties in the Senate. “This is not the kind of thing that should be done on the fly, and I am prepared to stay here as long as it takes to fix it. Or, if they need force this through, I’m not going to make it easy, if they don’t make it better.”

Thank you Russ! I don't use the word often... but you're one of my few heroes in Washington. Somewhere out there, Lincoln is smiling. Somewhere out there, our nation's founders are cheering.

(And someday when you no longer need worry about 'accepting' anything from anyone -- I'm betting Benjamin Franklin is holding a pint of beer for you!)