When madness took Congress following the tragedy of Sept. 11 and a rush of patriotism and fear led to the creation and passage of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, ie the USA Patriot Act, Sen. Russ Feingold, was the only senator to oppose it.
\Preserving our freedom is the reason that we are now engaged in this new war on terrorism. We will lose that war without firing a shot if we sacrifice the liberties of the American people,"" Feingold said.
His refusal to vote for the legislation led to some labeling him as unpatriotic, but an increasingly large group now recognizes the Patriot Act as dangerous to our fundamental liberties.
Feingold is best known nationally for his work with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on the McCain-Feingold bill, the strongest effort toward campaign finance reform that has been introduced, put through Congress and made into law. More locally, his reputation for honest politics and uncompromising stands on issues has gotten him twice elected to the U.S. Senate. He is willing to take an unpopular stance if it is what he thinks is right, which can be seen in his voting record. During several votes in the last few years, Feingold has been the single nay in a chorus of ayes, including his lone vote against the Patriot Act.
Today, Feingold's position is at risk. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other Republican leaders have marked him as a target in the upcoming elections-come hell or high water, the Republican Party is determined to bring the fair senator down. Whether his seat is vulnerable or not, they are afraid of the last liberal in the Democratic party.
There are currently three Republican contenders vying for the chance to oppose him in the 2004 elections, a state senator and two millionaire businessmen. There is Senator Bob Welch, R-Redgranite, who is currently making the local tax freeze his pet issue. Tim Michels, part owner of a utility construction company, is focusing his energies on anti-terrorism rhetoric. Finally, there's Russ Darrow, owner of the car dealerships scattered throughout the state, who in initial statements seems to be advancing himself as a businessman and regular guy trying to bring jobs and federal money to Wisconsin. Watching them fight it out in the primaries should be interesting, especially if they remain the only contenders. Given that the winner will be running against the biggest fighter for campaign finance reform in the nation, how they choose to raise and spend money could be a powerful factor in the race.
But in the end, these three are probably not something to worry about. In the last election he ran, Feingold easily defeated Mark Neumann, a man whose campaign threw around money like it was confetti. The people of Wisconsin like Feingold. He's scrupulously honest and many will vote for him for that reason, even if they don't agree with all of his political views.
So who do the people of Wisconsin like more than Feingold? Why, former Governor and current Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, of course.
As the Senate race draws closer to the primaries, if the Republican Party feels that Feingold is not as weak as they hope, or simply that none of the current contenders are strong enough to bring him down, there seems little doubt that Thompson will be brought into the race. He has already announced that he does not intend to serve a second term if President Bush wins reelection and has yet to commit himself to a post-Cabinet trajectory. According to statements, he intends, for the moment, to return to the private sector. He has even named Welch as the likely front runner to face the incumbent Feingold over Michels and Darrow.
But King Tommy is nothing if not a good Republican, and if the party calls, he will step up. As the longest serving governor of Wisconsin, Thompson was an unstoppable force. Democrats were unable to win back the governorship until he left to serve in DC. Facing Thompson could be devastating for Feingold's chances of returning to the Senate. If the Republicans are serious about removing him and increasing their majority in the Senate, Thompson would be the way to do it.
The last liberal Democrat is staring at a tough race next year, because whoever wins the backing of the Republicans will have the full force of the party behind them. As the left organizes to defeat Bush, the same effort must be made to keep good politicians like Feingold in office. Feingold's honesty and reputation will carry him far, but if faced with Thompson and the irrational support that kept him in the governor's mansion, it may not be far enough.
