September 3, 2010

"RUSS FEINGOLD IS dodging Obama in Wisconsin."

Instapundit interprets the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's bland report: "A Labor Day schedule released by the staff of U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) indicates that while Feingold will be in Milwaukee for a Laborfest pre-parade on Monday morning, he will not be in town when Obama is expected to arrive."

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Clearly, Feingold is racist.

Hagar said...

I am amazed at the number of otherwise sensible seeming people who keep babbling about Obama "pivoting and governing from the center," as if he was just another politician.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Latest Rasmussen.

A new (August 25, 2010) Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds Johnson earning 47% of the vote, while Feingold, who is seeking a third-term, picks up 46% support. One percent (1%) prefers some other candidate, and five percent (5%) are not sure.

garage mahal said...

Who would know better what Russ Feingold's travel schedule and motivation is than Glenn Reynolds.

Rich B said...

It should be easy for Sen Feingold to make Drudge look bad by telling us when he going to meet with the President this weekend.

tjl said...

Feingold is no fool.
"Scheduling conflict" is just a bland way of expressing "rats deserting a sinking ship."

MadisonMan said...

Probably wants to avoid the traffic jam.

AllenS said...

Feingold: "I can't meet up with Obama, I have to wash my hair."

Hoosier Daddy said...

I think what's pretty amazing is that it took the GOP from 1994 to 2006 to screw things up so bad that the electorate replaced them with the Democrats who in turn mucked things up so bad in 4 years that they're about to get tossed out.

I guess in terms of screwing things up in the most efficient and expeditious manner, Democrats are head and shoulders above Republicans.

Scott M said...

Who would know better what Russ Feingold's travel schedule and motivation is than Glenn Reynolds.

Good point. His, oh, what was the term you used the other day...boot-licking?...staff is the only sure source of itinerary for the hopefully soon-to-be former senator.

Anonymous said...

Garage -- There's no way Feingold would have made room in his schedule to be seen with a president people like.

Besides, Feingold is a racist.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

When Obama was in Menomonee Falls and Milwaukee last month, Feingold greeted the president in Milwaukee and stayed with him the entire day.

"I will stand with the president of the United States anywhere, anytime, no hesitation. I'm proud of what this president has tried to do," Feingold told the Journal Sentinel in an interview last month prior to Obama's visit
.

garage mahal said...

"Sunspots" Johnson, the self made man who started a company from scratch, er, I mean his millionaire father in law, and oh, the tax payer subsidized millions in low interest loans to expand his company. Something he says we now should not do. Another rich bored Republican hypocrite who takes government money and rails against it for everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Garage, then it should be easy for Russ to beat Johnson. Right? Isn't that why he's having such an easy race?

Hoosier Daddy said...

I mean his millionaire father in law, and oh, the tax payer subsidized millions in low interest loans to expand his company.

See this is the kind of evil that needs to be stopped. No government subsidized loans to encourage new business which will employ people, create wealth, expand the tax base and provide opportunity.

No. It. Must. Be. Stopped.

So let it be written. So let it be done.

MadisonMan said...

It has been an interesting race, so far.

Feingold seems to be off his game, and is way too defensive. That is to say, he is letting Johnson dictate the narrative.

Things Feingold should do: Emphasize his expertise in agriculture. That is Johnson's weak link, although I notice he finally has something on his website (last in a list -- it's first on Feingold's). This is the Dairy State, and the Senator better know a lot about it.

Things Johnson should do: Continue to harp on Obama. If Obama is that unpopular in Wisconsin, it'll work just like running against Bush did last time.

If Feingold loses and Boxer and Reid both win, it'll be a depressing day for me. If Boxer and/or Reid lose, I won't care what happens in WI. IOW, I'd much rather see Feingold-ish Democrats in the Senate than Boxer/Reid-ish ones.

Hoosier Daddy said...

MadisonMan you are the voice of sanity and reason in that liberal hotbed up there.

How do you survive? ;-)

Rialby said...

I don't get it. Why would Feingold, a strong Progressive, want to avoid the most Progressive American administration of all time? When do such politicians finally admit that governing this way WILL ALWAYS be a failure?

Oh right, never.

Original Mike said...

Who would know better what Russ Feingold's travel schedule and motivation is than Glenn Reynolds.

Sometimes garage refuses to see the nose on his face.

Original Mike said...

Things Feingold should do: Emphasize his expertise in agriculture.

I didn't know Russ was a farmer.

garage mahal said...

See this is the kind of evil that needs to be stopped. No government subsidized loans to encourage new business which will employ people, create wealth, expand the tax base and provide opportunity.

So you support government helping businesses expand by offering loan packages? Good for you. Sunspots says now that should off the table.

garage mahal said...

Sometimes garage refuses to see the nose on his face.

Maybe Feingold did duck Obama. Maybe he didn't. Seriously, do you think Glenn Reynolds is inside Feingold's camp enough to definitively state he was "ducking" Obama? hah. It's almost like Instapundit is pushing a narrative, or something.

Scott M said...

Government should only offer loan packages to business when government is running at a net profit...which they should never do.

MadisonMan said...

I know a lot of people for whom a Feingold defeat will usher in doom and despair. I would have thought the same a while back -- like when he beat Mark Neumann. But Feingold's been there a long time now.

Curiously, now I think Neumann would be a better Candidate for Governor than Scott Walker, who strikes me as pretty much vacant north of the jawbone (I mean, come on! Walker wants to save money by not filling vacant state positions? Hello? -- Besides, having to choose from two Milwaukee politicians for governor is a lot like having to choose from two Senators for President). Back during his Senatorial run, Neumann was the typical Angry White Man Republican. He no longer has that vibe, and that's a good thing as far as I am concerned. Makes me want to vote in the Republican Primary. I think a Barrett/Neumann race would be far far more interesting than a Barrett/Walker one.

Original Mike said...

Maybe Feingold did duck Obama. Maybe he didn't.

Puhleeze. Even I know you don't believe that, and I'm nowhere near as smart as Glenn.

Unknown said...

Feingold is doing what all the other Demos are doing, so why the debate?

The only reason The Zero's numbers haven't been as disastrous this month as the rest of the summer is that he's taken the month off - except for golf, of course.

Just wait until he gets back in the Oval Office and starts ruling again. Then you'll see him start to slide.

Original Mike said...

I know a lot of people for whom a Feingold defeat will usher in doom and despair.

Yeah, it would be delicious {smirk}. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

garage mahal said...

Puhleeze. Even I know you don't believe that, and I'm nowhere near as smart as Glenn.

Obama is at 49% approval in Wisc, not spectacular, but Barrett is campaigning with Obama on Monday. Bottom line is Instapundit has no earthly clue why Feingold won't be at the rally, but it sure sounds pleasing to the rubes.

kjbe said...

Sheesh, Rialby, O is no progressive when compared to Feingold. Barrett's closer to Obama than Feingold will ever be - my hunch is that's why O is going to Milwaukee - is for Barrett. Feingold's in a no win with this setup from an opposition-setting-the-meme point of view - either go for the photo op (for the national stage) or sit with real voters? Hmmm.

Original Mike said...

Instapundit has no earthly clue why Feingold won't be at the rally

Everybody knows why Feingold won't be at the rally.

garage mahal said...

Does everyone know why Barrett is?

Scott M said...

Does everyone know why Barrett is?

Because a .50 cal sniper rifle is so damned useful in an urban environment?

Danny Vermin: "It shoots through schools."

Oh, you meant the politician...

Tom Barrett: "I shoot through schools"

Phil 314 said...

Another rich bored Republican hypocrite who takes government money and rails against it for everyone else.

As opposed to these "enlightened" wealthy Democrats here, here, here and.....

well you get the idea

Hoosier Daddy said...

So you support government helping businesses expand by offering loan packages? Good for you. Sunspots says now that should off the table.

Yes garage. I support the goverment creating an environment that encourages economic growth and creating wealth. If Sunspots was running in my beautiful state I would posit that question to him but alas, he is not.

See garage you make the mistake of thinking I follow any GOP position in unquestioning lockstep agreement. I don't. I'm a free thinking conservative. You on the other hand have shown that you will defend to the death any Democrat and thier cause even if they say shit doesn't stink.

Original Mike said...

Another rich bored Republican hypocrite who takes government money and rails against it for everyone else.

I have never bought this argument. Only an fool (and we already have enough of those in power) doesn't utilize what's (legally) available to him. There nothing inconsistent with that behavior AND also arguing that those programs are harmful to society as a whole.

Scott M said...

There nothing inconsistent with that behavior AND also arguing that those programs are harmful to society as a whole.

I disagree if the subject is a leader (or wannabe leader). Political leadership tends to be one part action and two parts inspiration. If the leader isn't setting an example, he's not going to get people to do what he wants.

Rialby said...

"O is no progressive when compared to Feingold."

Americans For Democratic Action gave Feingold a 98 percent rating.

Americans for Democratic Action gave Senator Obama a 97.5 percent rating.

This, of course, was before he took over the car companies, passed a massive stimulus bill, passed a massive healthcare bill, etc.

garage mahal said...

I have never bought this argument. Only an fool (and we already have enough of those in power) doesn't utilize what's (legally) available to him. There nothing inconsistent with that behavior AND also arguing that those programs are harmful to society as a whole.

Like I said.

Original Mike said...

I disagree if the subject is a leader (or wannabe leader).

Depends. If the wannabe is currently taking big money from a program he is concurrently campaigning to end, I'd say the criticism has some validity (though I'd want to talk specifics at that point). If the rap is he's availed himself to government programs at anytime in his business career, then my attitude is he's was wisely availing himself to what was available. The government has been distorting the market for so long it's probably impossible to survive, much less prosper, as a business without availing yourself to their handouts.

Scott M said...

I'd say it would very difficult, short of Unibomber isolation, to find someone not in some way participating in a government program of some sort. That, of course, is part of the problem. I suppose what I was getting at was participating in a specific program or even class of programs (like entitlements) while campaigning against them.

Calypso Facto said...

I'm against government agencies picking favorites (read: the politically connected) in the market through loans/grants/tax incentives too, BUT when they are already in existence, a company HAS to consider their use or see the low pricing the state enables in their competitors run them out of business. For Johnson to have ignored the available loans would have been like refusing to drive on a government-built highway out of principal.

I actually like Dave Westlake better than Johnson, but he doesn't seem to getting much traction. Too far outside the Republican establishment, I think.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Barrett is running at the request of Obmaa. No surprise that he would be there to greet him. After all, it isn't like Barrett has a chance of winning. And no one is more aware of that than poor Tom.

traditionalguy said...

There is always the possibility that Feingold will dress up in a disguise, sneak in and prostrate himself before King Obama and kiss his golf glove. Such true loyalty by an Obama lover cannot but be admired.

lemondog said...

Duck Obama

Here a qurack, there a qurack, everywhere a qurack qurack.

roesch-voltaire said...

Madison Man, I agree Neuman/Barrett will make for an interesting race.
On the other hand Ron Johnson's agenda is full of empty cliches, so I think Feingold's record of voting against key bills such as the bailout for Wall Street, and his stance to protect privacy will edge this Wisconsin style independent to one more term.

1775OGG said...

Well, what shall we do without Russ acting the part of an angry old guy, and at his youthful age too!

wv: supre leader he's not!

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

No big surprise that public/government employees from Madison favor Neumann over Walker. Someone who actually has held the line on spending must scare the shit out of these people.

The most interesting thing about Walker is that he consistently wins reelection in Milwaukee County. Not an easy feat for a Republican. I guess even Milwaukee lefties know they can no longer afford Democrats.

Phil 314 said...

He's running for higher office?