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Everybody in Wisconsin was all worked up about the presidential primary races a couple of weeks ago and the people who are interested still pay a lot of attention to both the Democratic and Republican primary battles.
But a race that is just as important is right on our doorstep in the contest between Sen. Ron Johnson and former Sen. Russ Feingold. Johnson, who beat Feingold in 2010, is an ultra-conservative Republican, part of the majority in the senate. Feingold is a progressive Democrat who served 18 years before being upset six years ago.
Right now Republicans hold a 54-46 edge in the Senate, giving them the power to thwart almost everything the Obama administration contemplates. The recent pledge by the GOP majority to not even consider the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court is a perfect example.
Democrats have targeted five GOP seats for change, which would put the Democrats in control of the Senate, with, potentially, a Democratic president. The five states are Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Illinois and Wisconsin.
If Cruz were to win, for example, and have a friendly Senate to work with we would see his agenda for America. He wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, repeal Roe v. Wade and appoint Attila the Hun to the Supreme Court.
I talked to Feingold this week to find out whether he has changed his positions since 2010 or whether he’s still the maverick senator he was during his 18-year term in office.
"I don’t think my positions are the most important aspect of being in office," he said during a brief break in a long campaign day. "I think the positions of the people of Wisconsin are the most important.
"As you know I’ve always made it a point to visit all 72 counties in the state and listen to what the citizens of Wisconsin say. What their concerns are. And I think the issues they face now are different than six years ago."
In 2010 the nation was in the grips of economic chaos and the Affordable Care Act had just been passed. Johnson, along with his soft money supporters like Club for Growth, demonized the health care law and Feingold’s support of it. As is so often the case in political campaigns, the Johnson forces preyed on the uneasiness of the electorate to try and build fear. They were successful.
"Right now I hear that one of the big issues facing Wisconsin is the crumbling infrastructure of our state. I feel it every time we are on the road."
More than specific issues, however, Feingold is a force for what used to be great about the state. Next year will mark 100 years since his grandparents immigrated from Russia and Galicia (the western Ukraine) and settled in Janesville.
"Immigrant communities have become a strength of Wisconsin," he said. "They bring a vibrancy to the state and the people of Wisconsin have welcomed immigrants.
"But Scott Walker and the legislature have turned Wisconsin into a divided state. It was never like that before. Somehow we need to get back to the things that made Wisconsin great."
Feingold is a very smart man with one of the best senses of humor I’ve ever seen. He has a warmth and dignity about him that is the kind of politician that Wisconsin always elected in our proud past. Think Senators Bill Proxmire and Gaylord Nelson and Governors Pat Lucey and Lee Sherman Dreyfus.
He was done in six years ago by a combination of events that were outside his control.
Now he and Johnson have a rematch and the latest Marquette Law School poll has Feingold holding a five-point edge. His favorable ratings were almost 10 percent higher than Johnson’s, one of the most important indicators.
One thing working in Feingold’s favor (beside the fact that he knows more about the world than Johnson ever has) is that Johnson has largely been ineffective and unknown. In addition he’s made some horrible public mistakes, like his appearance on a conservative talk show when he made a comment about "idiot inner city kids." He tried to take it back, but he said it.
If there is one strength that Feingold has that is in short supply in the Senate it’s that he is so thoughtful and courageous. He’s not afraid to buck a Democratic administration on something that isn’t good for Wisconsin.
"I don’t think we should elect people who have already decided issues," he said.
Having a senator who actually takes the time to consider all the sides of a particular issue would be a refreshing change in Washington. Maybe some of that might even rub off on some of the others in what some people call the most exclusive club in the world.
Maine's independent Sen. Angus King recently told me that Feingold was the kind of thoughtful senator the Senate needs more of.
Wisconsin voters have a chance to send Feingold back to that club and help restore some sanity in a city not known for it.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
