Feingold / Courage Update

I'd like to say.. (5.00 / 1)

...that throughout the entire process the main complete primary concern of Senator Feingold and his team was how each individual event was going to help John Courage and our campaign. They offered assistance along the way and were incredibly great to work with.

If someone wanted to take a photo, it was no problem, personal or simply for whatever. If they wanted to ask a question, the Senator and John were very accessible. While not everyone got to ask a question at the listening session, anyone who wanted to ask either of them anything could have afterwards as well, as both spent time after the event.

Someone asked today how Feingold was able to be so sensible and down to earth and cool when he had been in D.C. for so long--I believe it was phrased as "How do you keep the D.C. out?"

Feingold pointed to the town meeting concept, and how when he ran in 1992 he promised he would conduct town listening sessions in every one of the 72 counties in Wisconsin. He is coming up on # 1,000. He said that by coming home, talking to the constituents, learning about issues, etc. that he has been able to stay down to earth. That it makes it easy to remember where you came from.

It is incredibly refreshing.

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by: nickDFT @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 00:58:12 AM CDT

I agree (5.00 / 1)

Or maybe it has to do with him being the poorest Senator in terms of personal finances.  Like, he came outside tonight while Matt and I were talking and just came over to shake our hands and thank us for the work we were doing.  He even interrupted one of his staffers who was trying to get him to wrap things up this morning after the listening session so I could ask him another question.  Like, he's in control, not an armada of staffers.

And the fact that he's going around and helping to raise money 100% for locals just is awesome. I know he's also building cred for his run for the White House, but I'll tell ya, it's a hell of a good way to do it.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:11:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

ps (4.00 / 2)

Senator Feingold talked up the 50-state strategy, and put his money where his mouth was, as every dollar raised today stays entirely locally. 100%!

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by: nickDFT @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 00:59:34 AM CDT

Saw both Feingold and Obama (3.00 / 1)

And I must say that I enjoyed hearing Senator Feingold the most.  He was just awesome!  A great man and may I add that John Courage was just on fire. 

Obama was good but he did seem to give us UDems the cold shoulder.  I don't know, maybe he was just rushing and stuff.  But he did seem to leave a bad impression with a lot of us.  Having said that, I did manage to get 2 group pictures with him.

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by: RamonT @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:23:09 AM CDT

Obama...disappointed (2.00 / 1)

I made the hurried drive over to Nuevo Leon in traffic to try and get in as a "photographer" as I am trying to save any money I can.  Also, I'd rather that my $25 benefit a strong candidate here in Texas.

Well, sadly, it was closed to press/photos.  I'll admit that half of me wanted to see Sen. Obama, and half of me just wanted to add him to my collection of political photos.  I quickly decided that if I couldn't take my camera in, then I definitely wasn't going to pay $25.

This event did make me wonder why they were turning press away.  However, were reporters allowed in, just not photographers?  Perhaps I can understand that they didn't want 30 journalists walking around with big cameras, lenses, and bright flashes. 

I think that any good public servant should within reasonable standards allow  press and photographers to be where they are, especially at events such as these.  From experience of being at events and seeing when reporters are told that all comments are off-the-record and when photographers are turned away - they are never too happy and they have good memories. 

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by: jwwalthall @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:54:37 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sen. Edwards... (0.00 / 0)

I certainly don't know who I'll be supporting (or working for) in 2008, but I certainly commend John Edwards for reaching out to local organizations across the country.  There were several hundred people at the event tonight where Edwards spoke to the Young Democrats in Dallas.  The money for the events tonight went to the Dallas County Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign, and the Dallas County Young Democrats.

All politicians will spend time meeeting with donors and raising money for their PACs, but John Edwards showed a commitment tonight to both the Dallas County Democratic Party and the Dallas County Young Democrats that ought to be appreciated.  I don't think it's fair to accuse him of giving the "cold shoulder" to Young Democrats as Karl-Thomas seems to suggest.

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by: Byron LaMasters @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:44:39 AM CDT

wrong guy (0.00 / 0)

that was in reference to Obama only, not Edwards. Grammar doesn't always make things read right so I just took out Edwards to make the point clearer.

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by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:48:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

fair enough (0.00 / 0)

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by: Byron LaMasters @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:50:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yo Byron! (0.00 / 0)

I think he's just pointing out that what both Feingold and Edwards did today/tonight were awesome. We all know they wanna come in to wherever they fundraise, I mean, any politician really, and line their coiffers.

But it's pretty sweet that two Senators who are both likely running for President would come into seperate places in Texas and raise money specifically for locals there. I mean, that really does buy into the 50 state strategy..pretty cool of Edwards too. Maybe we can get him down to Austin.

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by: nickDFT @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:50:35 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

agreed (0.00 / 0)

I'm glad to hear the Courage / Feingold event went well. I hope to see you in Austin on Friday night at the TYD fundraiser at Threadgills.

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by: Byron LaMasters @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 08:58:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sen. Edwards...disappointed (0.00 / 0)

Similar subject as my last post, but for a different reason...

When Senator Edwards came to UT last year, I was happy that I was able to follow him throughout his visit and take photos the whole time.

The senator himself, however, didn't impress me as much.  During the '04 primaries and general election campaign, I strongly supported him and his view on the two Americas.  His speech at UT was along the same lines - he called on our generation to become more active in fighting poverty (among other things as well).  Part of his trip, though, was a visit to a local project associated with his national effort to address poverty and opportunity.  There, with his being at the location and place where action is taken not just spoken about, I didn't see the same passion that he espouses at huge public speeches.  I saw a hint of indifference.  To put it one way - he didn't come across as a Jimmy Carter working at a Habitat site.

Recently I heard about focus groups (admittingly organized by Frank Luntz) commenting on Democratic candidates.  Here was what Chris Matthews said: "I am NOT kidding. They didn't like Edwards -- they thought he was a rich lawyer, pretending to care about poor people..."

Perchance this is ture?

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by: jwwalthall @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 02:08:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I understand your comment, but I don't think it's fair (0.00 / 0)

this is why. We all have talents, we all have our comfort zones, and we all have an obligation to use the talents we have for worthy purposes, we should not feel obligated to be something we are not nor have our contributions marginalized by the fact that we are not Every Man.

It makes perfect sense that someone who is in their element in a large public venue, speaking and persuading would become a trial lawyer.

It also makes sense that someone who has the personality to be a trial lawyer and speak in front of groups, may not be as good "one on one" or may be out of their element in a "construction zone".

This does not make them snobby or unfeelilng, in fact I think we should commend people for haveing a willingness not only to use what talents they have to make change but for being willing to occasionally step outside their comfort zone, and not penalize them for not being perfect in every type of situation.

Prisoner of hope.

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by: comeon @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 12:39:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

In Obama's defense... (0.00 / 0)

That whole setup at Nuevo Leon wasnt the greatest.  They had unpowered speakers in the back, if you were below 6ft you could barely see him from the back.  ANd when he left it was like a mob scene with people swarming him.  I personally didnt try and speak with him, but did speak with his staffers who seemed overwhelmed by how many ppl were swarming him.

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by: Morter Forker @ Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 03:03:09 AM CDT