Who for President in 2008?

Although it's years away, some democrats are surveying the horizon for the presidential candidate of 2008. So many democrats that I talk to have been anxious about the presidential choices we have so far: Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Joe Biden, etc. from the establishment. All of whom supported the use of force resolution concerning Iraq, voted for all of the president's tax cuts, and spoke in favor of invading Iraq, and all voted for the Patriot Act - the most dangerous piece of legislation for american civil liberties since the McCarthy era.

But there's one star that is emerging for the netroots community, Russ Feingold. He single-handedly defeated the bad Patriot Act, by threatening a filibustser, and directed attention to a good Patriot Act which passed unanimously in June 2005. Russ Feingold was the single senator who was right on the Patriot Act in 2001; he voted against the onerous provisions 98-1, being the only candidate to be right on the Patriot Act. On Friday December 16th, 2005, 40+ senators, republican and democrat alike, joined Russ on his position on the Act.

The netroots is the foundation for any future progressive candidate. Howard Dean was propelled for a year and a half by the netroots from obscurity to the unstoppable juggernaut - unstoppable except by a scream. John Kerry adopted the whole kit and kaboodle of the Howard Dean structure and raised as much money as a republican for the first time in memory. The Democratic National Committee, now headed by Howard Dean, is raising money from the netroots at twice the clip of any past Chairman.

Feingold is visiting Iowa and New Hampshire at every opportunity under the auspices of the Progressive Patriots Fund - a sure sign of exploring a run for President. Every state has an email list for Feingold for President, with people watching his every move.

The netroots has learned its lesson from the Howard Dean campaign, and is ready to use its machinery for 2008. Internet activism translates to boots on the ground, now to use the boots smartly.

Right now the netroots is committing itself to electing 15 democrats to congress and taking back the Senate. In 2008 the netroots will reconvene in force, and we'll see if Russell Feingold will be the beneficiary.

Netroot Hubs:
Dailykos
My Due Diligence
BlogforAmerica