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5/6/2008
From Lance Burri: Cheese on the Ticket
It sounds like the set-up for a dumb joke. Senator Russ Feingold doesn’t care who wins the Democratic nomination for President. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama: makes no difference to him. Or so he says.
"I'm going to be happy either way, I just want to get it resolved," he told a group over the weekend.
Sure, Russ. Insert punchline here.
This is Russ Feingold, after all. Heir to Bob LaFollette’s progressive legacy – a legacy that Speaks Truth to Power, that cares more about sticking to one's principles than about winning political battles.
Obama is clearly the darling of Leftroots liberals – a group exemplified by Ed Garvey and his Fightin’ Bob crew, and by Feingold himself.
Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, was for the war before she was against it; for NAFTA before she was against it; is as cynical and calculating a politician as her husband ever was; and, worst of all, reached deep into the manure pile for ammo against her rival.
Mr. Garvey is not pleased. Obama, on the other hand, hasn’t been around long enough to become the cynical, self-serving player that the Clintons are. As Sean Connery told us: “If you're afraid of getting a rotten apple, don't get it from the barrel, get it off the tree.”
If the Clintons have been in the barrel too long, Obama’s barely even ripe. Finally, we know what the Left wants in a candidate: as little political experience as possible!
But it isn’t just the radical and pseudo-radical Left that has chosen Obama – career politicians have lent their names and influence to him, as well.
Chris Dodd, Sam Nunn, Bill Richardson, Patrick Leahy, Ted Kennedy, not to mention Wisconsin’s Governor Jim Doyle. These folks have been around the block a few times. They know politics. They know very well the risks and rewards of endorsing one candidate over another. And they’ve all endorsed – officially endorsed – Barack Obama.
True, they’ve all backed off in recent weeks. There hasn’t been a whole lot of stumping. Very little leaping to Obama's defense. As his campaign loses air, his big-name supporters demonstrate why they’ve become big-name: they understand the politics of having backed a (potential) loser.
And they’re worried.
So. Feingold's smart, then. The principled progressive has avoided the political trap.
Instead of choosing to back Obama – or Clinton, for that matter – and possibly ending up on the losing side, Feingold says he's happy either way: he just wants the nomination over and done with, before the bare-knuckle process hurts the Party.
Well, gee, he could help that process along…by picking a side. Campaigning for his chosen candidate. He’s well-known and respected among his Party’s true believers.
Everything says he should’ve endorsed by now, and that he should’ve endorsed Obama. So why hasn’t he? Here's a thought: he's angling for a job.
Secretary of…something. Attorney General. Vice President.
The Blogosphere'o'Cheese was recently abuzz with talk of Rep. Paul Ryan possibly sharing the ticket as John McCain’s Veep. Well, everything conservatives say about Ryan – charismatic, ideologically strong, balancing the ticket, hailing from a battleground state – also applies to Feingold. Plus, Feingold lacks Ryan’s biggest flaw – too much youth. Of course, this is all pure speculation. I have no idea whether Feingold’s even interested in serving under a Clinton administration, much less whether he’s jockeying for it.
Still, it fits what we know: Feingold, a normally outspoken and progressive maverick, has remained silent while other liberals, progressives, and Democrats have chosen up sides. That's not like him. Unless there’s something behind the curtain. Time will tell.
Lance Burri, Badger Blog Alliance and LanceBurri.blogspot.com
COMMENTS
I have to tell you, this is the first time I ever heard Russ Feingold described as "charismatic".
That said, I think Burri asked a good question, "Why hasn't the "maverick" from the Dairy State declared for Obama?" Maybe he's looking even higher than Burri suggests.
C.R. Stevenson (Tue May 06 08:29:15 2008)
Hmmm..., isn't it interesting that just when you thought you'd heard everything someone comes up with a new and workable situation. Think about it: What could be more of a political advantage against McCain than for the Dem candidate to have the flip side of McCain-Feingold on the ticket with him/her?
Duke (Tue May 06 08:42:01 2008)
Having gone to many of Feingold's "listening sessions"--where peole there have about 50 seconds to speak, and he spends 4 MINUTES replying, I have come to the conclusion that he makes "Slick Willie" look like sandpaper.
emily matthews (Tue May 06 15:27:39 2008)
"And they’re worried."
Who's worried? Democrats have two great candidates and most are happy to let it play out confident they will be working together in a Democratic administration.
Mr. Burri has over thought what Senator Feingold might be thinking. I find it amusing.
And Emily, I've also been to many Feingold listening sessions and have always had an opportunity to ask my question, get a thorough answer and receive follow-up information when needed. He also answers every question submitted nearly every time. Is there another legislator you know that has as many listening session or who conducts them in a better way?
Tina Haffeman (Wed May 07 11:18:14 2008)
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