Anybody but Neumann
I’m not quite with Owen Robinson on this, but I understand the sentiment. When asked if he would support former Congressman Mark Neumann in the general election for Senate against Congressman Tammy Baldwin, Robinson replied (comment 10),
No. If Baldwin wins, she will be equally effective in the Senate as she is in the House. In other words, she’ll keep the seat warm. Neumann could do a lot of harm to the conservative cause by acting like a lying jackass while draping himself in the conservative mantle. The media will eat that up.
I’ll agree Baldwin would be pretty ineffective as a senator. Her candidacy will be more a story of identity politics rather than legislative accomplishments.
(Ironically, the identity politics may be the greatest attribute on the resume, but I’m curious if the African-American and Hispanic vote in the Democratic Primary defeats her because she’s a lesbian. I’d like to see the polling on that.)
I’ll also agree that Neumann is, in Robinson’s words, a “lying jackass.” The only way I would vote for Neumann in a Republican Primary is if his opponent is Ron Paul. If former Governor Tommy Thompson decides against running and Neumann ends up running unopposed, I will write in one of the Lorge brothers.
That said, if Neumann wins the primary, Republicans should rally to Neumann to defeat Baldwin. What’s the most important vote any legislator casts? For the leader of the chamber, in this case the Senate Majority Leader.
But I don’t think Neumann wins a primary against Thompson if those are the two candidates. Does anyone really think Thompson isn’t capable of running an effective campaign capable of dismantling Neumann?
Interestingly, the ‘Club for Growth’ is already attempting to lay an Obama-Kiss-of-Death on Thompson…
http://youtu.be/SzCUh41nD74
How long should we hold a vendetta against Neumann for his under-handed campaign against Walker? Owen has apparently taken a blood oath…and I, like you, sympathize. We also need to vote for the best candidate who can win.
James Wigderson Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 12:09 am
I think that the point I raised during the Neumann-Walker primary still holds, that it wasn’t just that Neumann opposed Walker. Neumann ran a campaign that reflected so poorly on his character that I can’t imagine ever voting for Neumann in a primary again.
I understand electability. I preach it. But there comes a point where someone is so irretrievably short of moral stature that to cast a ballot for that person in a primary becomes a matter of personal hygiene – will I ever feel clean again after casting that vote?
Roland Melnick Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 7:41 am
I don’t disagree. What we need is a fresh up-and-comer…not a borrow-and-spend retread or a slash-and-burn narcissist.
That CFG ad represents the single most damaging talking-point to be leveled at Tommy.
I think Paul Ryan should run for everything.
Ineffective in the Senate? Compared to whom? Ron Johnson? The bar is pretty low in Wisconsin these days.
James Wigderson Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Yet Ron Johnson has done more good in his short time in office than Russ Feingold did in 18 years. I guess there is a low standard for Democratic senators.
Sherbert Reply:
August 25th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Really James? Johnson is an empty suit, hyprocrite and is the poster child for the wave of stupid that has infected Wisconsin.
Roland Melnick Reply:
August 24th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Really, Bill? Really? What example did Herb set besides proving that if he didn’t move nobody would see him?
Jeff Christensen Reply:
August 27th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
The talking point that “Senator Kohl doesn’t do anything is so ridiculous”. And comparing Ron Johnson to Senator Kohl is downright insulting to Herb.
Roland Melnick Reply:
August 27th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
In general, I would actually prefer legislators to be more like Kohl. The less they “do”, generally, the better off we are. Assuming you misplaced your quotation marks and you disagree with my statement, perhaps you could edit his Wikipedia page to include a “Political Accomplishments” that currently doesn’t exist.
Jeff Christensen Reply:
August 28th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Just because Senator Kohl doesn’t hold press conferences to crow about his accomplishments doesn’t mean that he’s not busy.
This year alone Senator Kohl has introduced 26 bills in the Senate, Senator Johnson….one. Then add in Senator Kohl’s work on the Special Committee on Aging, and the comparison is insulting.
Let’s hope that RoJo grows into the job, as his only true accomplishment of stalling judical appointments is nothing more than idiotic.
Roland Melnick Reply:
August 30th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
The RoJo comparison wasn’t mine…xoff and the other Libs here brought it up apparently thinking that comparing a 20+ year veteran to a first year freshman appropriate. I merely asked someone to list Kohl’s accomplishments, apparently it was easier to shift the discussion toward RoJo.
While I rarely agree with you, I’ll concede this time. But qualify that with a “anybody but Thompson AND/OR Neuman”. Tommy won’t pass the smell test for most residents because of his history as governor. Anybody challenger with half a brain will run with the fact that TGT but the state in the fiscal mess we are now in. Put up a moderate with more brains than Sunspot Johnson and I may vote for an R.
And Charlie broadly hinted that Kanavas “has baggage” as a Senator, specifying the ‘venture capital’ proposal as one item (suggesting that there are more.)
Well, one more would be his asinine tax-deal for movie-makers. Really, Ted? MOVIES?
Can’t support Thompson under ANY circumstances. There is NO ONE MORE ETHICALLY challenged than that man. Whoever is the strongest candidate in the GOP primary against him gets my vote, after what he and Klauser did with the DNR. Period. If it’s Satan, so be it. A northern Wisconsin perspective.
I don’t know why anyone is concerned about Neumann winning anything. If he’s proven one thing it’s that he’s good at losing elections.