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7/23/2010
Feingold-Johnson race may soon be a ‘toss up’
This is the first time I’ve seen it in print – and from a credible source extraordinaire – Jennifer Duffy at the Cook Political Report. Larry Bivins, in Gannett’s Washington Bureau, reports today in the Press Gazette (and most of Gannett’s ten or so other northeast Wisconsin pubs).
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has downgraded its rating of the race from the "solid Democrat" column to "lean Democrat," a significant plunge. Cook Senate analyst Jennifer Duffy said she is leaning toward calling it a tossup.
"When I see some polls I'm comfortable with, I'll move it again," Duffy said.
Duffy said Johnson's campaign seems to be buoyed by an anti-incumbent, anti-Washington mood permeating the country.
"There's definitely something going on in Wisconsin that probably has not as much to do with Feingold as it does overall voter anger," Duffy said, "and Johnson seems to be hitting all the right notes."
This is stunning news. Leaning toward calling the race a tossup. What will it take to move the needle, to move the polls?
Already, the candidates are trading pointed barbs and accusations. Ron Johnson must stick to the tack of pointing to Feingold’s inconsistencies and disingenuity (ok, I won’t call it lying). It’s very very tough in a campaign, especially for a novice campaigner, but Johnson must speak from a foundation of strong policy knowledge – and most importantly, commitment that comes from real world experience – and passion in his heart. Feingold will continue to try to pin the “liar” label on Johnson, but the Johnson campaign must stay above board, again continuously pointing to Feingold inconsistencies – and yes, to his lies. There’s enough black and white stuff on Feingold that neither the Westlake nor Johnson campaigns need stoop to lying about lies.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
It took a long time for term limits to finally come up in reference to the office of the President. Feingold has been in the US Senate for 18 years - 2/3 of my lifetime and the entirety of my adult life. He's one of those rare politicians who manages to act as elitist as he thinks he is, in that he's not slimy - he's clean, intelligent, and usually sticks to what he says (which is more often than not, wrong). All of which make him a difficult guy to unseat.
I'd like to see term limits come up for the US Senate. Herb Kohl's been in there for over two decades. And yes, across the nation there are others who've been in for far longer.
I don't know how many Senate seats are up for grabs this year, but the Senate has got to be recycled along with Congress. After all, these guys can keep pushing their agendas through multiple cycles of congressional seats without near as much concern about re-election, especially if they've held the office for 18 years, a mere 3 terms.
Andrew Ellis (Fri Jul 23 09:19:20 2010)
Feingold recently responded to my vociferous objections to Kagan in the Supreme Court. Part of his canned response:
"On Tuesday, July 20, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Solicitor General Kagan's nomination, with my support. The full Senate must now consider the matter. You may be interested to know that I also voted to confirm John Roberts when President George W. Bush nominated him to be the Court's Chief Justice."
I may be interested to know? What's your point, exactly, Mr. Feingold?
Andrew Ellis (Fri Jul 23 09:23:42 2010)
His point is that he is nonpartisan and votes his conscience, though I don't always agree with him either.
But term limits? So the special interests just change the name on the check and remain in control? The Fat Cats already have divided the community, and you want more?
Better that we implement IRV and give the third parties a chance to compete.
Jack Lohman (Fri Jul 23 09:45:34 2010)
I have little doubt as to Johnson's heart and sincerity. I do suspect his command of the issues however. I hope he revisits his justification for the PATRIOT Act, and have yet to see his stand on foreign policy. It is not likely Johnson or any other Republican can attack Feingold for those few things he does right, and win.
Ken Van Doren (Fri Jul 23 10:30:31 2010)
RE: term limits. I exercise that option every election. Rare is the incumbent who gets my vote. To mandate term limits is to suggest that people who do not have the wherewithal to throw bums out who need to be term limited, will have the wisdom to replace them with better people. No, corruption will prevail as long as we the people remain ignorant or so self interested that we will destroy the country for our piece of the ill gotten piece of the pie taken from someone else. We will have better governments when we become better people, and not before.
Ken Van Doren (Fri Jul 23 10:33:52 2010)
I WILL call Feingold a liar! Any time he's "voted against his party" he knew the bill was going to pass anyway, and he just voted that way for political gain. He is nothing but a political opportunist.
emily matthews (Fri Jul 23 10:35:55 2010)
Emily, anytime a politician votes with the opposition they are taking serious political risk. I give him credit where credit is due.
Jack Lohman (Fri Jul 23 10:47:17 2010)
Jack and Ken, I wholeheartedly agree with you both. I wasn't suggesting term limits as THE solution to anything, just wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea? If there's a two-term limit on the presidency - who is only the executor of the law - it would SEEM some limitation ought to be applied to the people MAKING the law. I could be entirely wrong on this, I haven't thought it through. But there's something fishy about a legislator being able to stay in office for several decades, regardless of the wisdom, or lack thereof, of the people keeping them there (or simply letting them stay, as seems to be more often the case).
But yes - the people voting are responsible, the financing mechanisms are sketchy, and 3rd Parties need to have some means to compete against Republocrats.
Andrew Ellis (Fri Jul 23 11:35:54 2010)
In fairness, Andrew, I've vacillated on term limits. I'd be happy if we had optional public funding of campaigns and imposed term limits on those who opted to continue under the pay-to-play system. But I'm pragmatic enough to know that would never fly politically.
Jack Lohman (Fri Jul 23 15:56:10 2010)
Jo, could you please show what lies Feingold has committed? I tried a google search on it but found nothing but a comment on misleading ads, the great lakes oil drilling ads.
Your own writing seems disingenuous.
"Feingold’s inconsistencies and disingenuity (ok, I won’t call it lying)."
"There’s enough black and white stuff on Feingold that neither the Westlake nor Johnson campaigns need stoop to lying about lies. "
Point out the black and white to me.
Dean Weichmann (Sat Jul 24 06:27:42 2010)
While you're waiting for an answer Dean, let me say that I am very unhappy with Feingold's stance on a single-payer healthcare system. "It doesn't have support" he said, yet he refused to give Bernie Sanders that support by co-sponsoring his bill. He could have started the ball rolling but he didn't. (Actually, the R's should love him for that.)
Jack Lohman (Sat Jul 24 11:55:01 2010)
I applaud Bivens for going beyond simple reporting to seeking and engendering news analysis. I hope he does more of that.
I disagree with the notion of Feingold vulnerability, especially as found by Duffy et al in polls. These are snapshots of angry drunks, raging on a feckless and partisan Congress. Voters will sober and see that Feingold is not part of that. And while he is not a part of anything good about Congress, he is at least not part of the problem.
And independent-minded voters will wonder who the heck is Johnson?
In the end, they will go with the devil they know rather than the devil they don't know.
When this dichotomy is again our choice, can you see why voters are drunken with anger?
timbeaux (Sat Jul 24 12:33:18 2010)
Here's one example on FISA - granted, from a couple of bloggers (Ed Morrissey and Steve Eggleston), but well documented with media sources.
I wasn't too pleased with my experience at this year's Feingold listening session in Outagamie County. My description of Senator Feingold's posture wouldn't necessarily have been 'listening.' Most importantly, Senator Feingold claimed the health care bill saved Americans $187 billion. That's completely in error. His explanation was not accurate.
Here's Senator Feingold on Wisconsin Medicaid funding. The Senator's explanation is not complete. Is that disingenous?
And Senator Feingold's budget cutting smoke screen. It's politics pure and simple. Disingenuous politics.
I'm out of time guys - search at FoxPolitics.net - type Feingold in the Search our Site box. More stuff there.
Jo (Sat Jul 24 13:27:28 2010)
Thanks Jack, but could you elaborate?
As far as I know he is in favor of single-payer.
Dean Weichmann (Sat Jul 24 13:40:48 2010)
He IS in favor of single payer, Dean, or so he says. But he would not lift a finger to pass it in the senate. He could have signed onto the Sanders single-payer bill, but wouldn't! Even after being asked to. He could have refused to sign onto ObamaCare, the biggest boondoggle of Obama's presidency. But he voted for the industry.
Jack Lohman (Sat Jul 24 13:55:26 2010)
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