The Senate just lost its most principled member, Russ Feingold. Consider it a beacon of our money- and fearmonger- drenched politics. Feingold was the perfect politician for America as our founders envisioned it. But a terrible politician when seats go to the highest (foreign) bidder or those screaming the loudest about heebie jeebies.
But as with Alan Grayson, I believe Feingold will continue to lead progressives and–especially for Feingold–civil libertarians going forward. Hell, given how corrupt and dysfunctional the Senate his, he may well find a way to be more effective.
But in the meantime, we have lost our biggest check on the assault on civil liberties in this country.