The nation's leading critic of  Bush Administration domestic conduct in the war on terror, and the first U.S. Senator to propose a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, walked away from the 2008 presidential race this weekend.

Let's hope the conscience and common sense of the national Democratic Party did not walk out of the race with him. 

Sen. Russ Feingold officially dropped his consideration of a presidential run Saturday, saying in a letter to his Progressive Patriots network that he had "decided to continue my role as Wisconsin's Junior Senator in the U.S. Senate and not to seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008."

Feingold said he believed he could accomplish more advancing a progressive agenda in the Senate, where he goes to work in January with 14 years of seniority and for the first time a member of the majority party. His Progressive Patriots Fund will remain active in the efforts to increase the Congressional gains made Nov. 7 and elect a Democratic president, he said.

However, in a not-too-thinly veiled reference to leading Democrats preparing to run at the nomination (Hillary Clinton and John Edwards to name two) Feingold mentioned that he "would strongly prefer that our nominee in 2008 be someone who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq war from the beginning …"

Feingold was one of 23 Senators who voted against going to war in 2002. Clinton and Edwards voted with the Bush Administration, changing their positions as the war dragged on and became increasingly unpopular with the American public. Feingold, unafraid to challenge Bush-Cheney in the shadow of 9/11, cast the only Senate vote against the USA Patriot Act, leading a successful filibuster last year to block its renewal.

Feingold publicized his decision not to run on the eve of his 1,000th listening session with Wisconsin voters, set today in Racine. It's a fitting place to celebrate how much has changed since he took his stands against the Patriot Act and the war. Racine voters overwhelmingly approved Nov. 7 referendums to end the war in Iraq and to provide comprehensive health care reform in Wisconsin. Racine also sent a health care reform Democrat to the state Senate, in Rep. John Lehman.

On the campaign trail across the country this year, Feingold said he found a "hunger for progressive change" and a need for "a strong, principled Democratic party that is willing to replace timidity with taking the risks of promoting a platform of bold solutions to our nation's problems."

But the ovations that greeted him were calls for change in the party, he said, not affirmation of a presidential cult of personality.

"I often felt that if a piece of Wisconsin swiss cheese had taken the same positions I've taken, it would have elicited the same standing ovations," Feingold said.

When the US Senate reconvenes in January, the Democratic majority will appoint new committee chairmanships.  It's likely that Feingold could be appointed chairman of the Senate Judiciary or the Intelligence committees. For Feingold, often found leading Democrats on constitutional law and civil liberties issues, the Judiciary chairmanship would be a plum. He may have hinted at such possibilities in his letter Saturday when he listed his four committee posts, noting that he could best advance the progressive agenda "as a Senator with significant seniority."

Below is Feingold's statement to Progressive Patriots on his decision:

"Like many Americans, I am excited by the results of the November 7^th election. My fourteen years in the Senate have been the greatest privilege of my life and I am extremely pleased with what we have accomplished. During so much of that time, however, we Democrats have not only been in the minority but have often been so deeply mired there that my role has often been to block bad ideas or to simply dissent. That is a very important role but I relish the thought that in this new Congress we can start, not only to undo much of the damage that one-party rule has done to America, we can actually advance progressive solutions to such major issues as guaranteed healthcare, dependence on oil, and our unbalanced trade policies. The Senate of the 110^th Congress could also well be a place of greater bi-partisan opportunities for change; something I am very proud to have been effective at in both Republican and Democratic Senates.

I hope all of you know how much I have appreciated the incredible response you have given me and the efforts of our Progressive Patriots Fund since January, 2005. In addition to all of our work in Wisconsin and D.C., I have traveled to seventeen states trying to promote the election of progressive Democrats in all states. At every stop from Birmingham, Alabama to Burlington, Vermont, to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, to Las Vegas, Nevada, people have agreed with my view that we need to stand up for a strong, principled Democratic party that is willing to replace timidity with taking the risks of promoting a platform of bold solutions to our nation's problems. Unfailingly, people responded well to my positions:  opposition to the Iraq war; calling for a timeline to redeploy our troops from Iraq so we can focus on those who attacked us on September 11^th, 2001; my opposition to the flawed provisions of the USA Patriot Act that threaten the freedoms of law-abiding Americans; my call for accountability for the Administration's arrogant disregard for the law especially with regard to illegal wiretapping; fighting for fiscal responsibility including tough common sense budget rules that will help end the reckless policies that have heaped a mountain of debt on our children and grandchildren; as well as my strong belief in guaranteed healthcare for all Americans and substantial investment in alternative energy sources and technologies.

Yet, while I've certainly enjoyed the repeated comments or buttons saying, "Run Russ Run", or "Russ in '08", I often felt that if a piece of Wisconsin swiss cheese had taken the same positions I've taken, it would have elicited the same standing ovations. This is because the hunger for progressive change we feel is obviously not about me but about the desire for a genuinely different Democratic Party that is ready to begin to reverse the 25 years of growing extremism we have endured.

I'm sure a campaign for President would have been a great adventure and helpful in advancing a progressive agenda. At this time, however, I believe I can best advance that progressive agenda as a Senator with significant seniority in the new Senate serving on the Foreign Relations, Intelligence, Judiciary and Budget Committees. Although I have given it a lot of thought, I cannot muster the same enthusiasm for a race for President while I am trying simultaneously to advance our agenda in the Senate. In other words, if I really wanted to run for President, regardless of the odds or other possible candidates, I would do so. However, to put my family and all of my friends and supporters through such a process without having a very strong desire to run, seems inappropriate to me. And, yes, while I would strongly prefer that our nominee in 2008 be someone who had the judgment to oppose the Iraq war from the beginning, I am prepared to work as hard as I can through the Progressive Patriots Fund, and consistent with my duties in the Senate, to maintain or increase our gains from November 7 in the Congress and, of course, to elect a Democrat as President in 2008.

Most important, I want to continue my work as a Senator from this wonderful State of Wisconsin. Our fourteen year ongoing conversation that has taken place in hundreds of communities in Wisconsin in the form of open Listening Sessions is the principal reason I have been perceived as "ahead of the curve" on many key issues. Simply listening to the reasoning and passions of Wisconsinites remains the best source of good ideas and common sense I've ever encountered.

I love this country very much and am so lucky to be able to serve it in the United States Senate. My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement."