Russ Feingold: The only real alternative to Republicans in 2008

This article from AP gives an indication of how the press plans to cover a Russ Feingold presidential candidacy ("the anti-war candidate") with its shades of Howard Dean and accompanying reductio ad absurdum. However, Feingold is so far the only high-profile Democrat with the balls to say, "Damn right we're going to hold this president accountable for his violations of his oath of office":

"We must get out of our political foxholes and be willing to clearly and specifically point out what a strategic error the Iraq invasion has been," Feingold, D-Wis., told a National Press Club audience.

He said some Democrats in Congress gave in to "intimidation" by the Bush administration when they voted to authorize the war in 2002, and warned: "If we do not show both a practical and emotional readiness to lead in the fight against terrorism, we will lose in '06 and we will lose in '08, just like we did in '02 and '04."

In March, Feingold called for the censure of Bush over the administration's warrantless surveillance program. So far, only two Democrats, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barbara Boxer of California, have signed on as co-sponsors.

Feingold, who also has proposed that U.S. troops leave Iraq by the end of the year, rejected criticism that such a move could lead to chaos.

"I believe the situation would probably get better" if U.S. troops left, he said. "The lesson of insurgency is when the occupying power leaves, it tends to lessen, rather than increase, the level of violence."

White House spokesman Alex Conant responded: "We must defeat the terrorists by denying them safe haven and the president will continue to listen to our commanders for what troop levels are needed. The U.S. must stand with the brave citizens of Iraq as their new democracy grows."

Funny how the White House claims that it listens to the commanders as to what troop levels are needed. When the commanders told Rumsfeld before the war the troop levels that were required, those commanders were relieved of command.

2008 is going to determine whether the Democrats are going to offer real change from the Bush Administration's incompetence and corruption, or if the Democrats are going to be "We're just like them -- just as corrupt, just as out-of-touch -- but slightly less crazy."

That's not enough for me.