Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Surprise! Ron Johnson Names Lobbyist As Chief Of Staff

Politico has the story of the appointment of Don Kent, currently a corporate lobbyist and previously a Bush administration legislative aide in the Department of Homeland Security.  Before that Kent was a staffer for Oklahoma Republicans in the Senate and in the House.

Kent counseled corporations and other clients on strategy, policy and communications, particularly on issues related to the Homeland Security Department. He served as a lobbyist for Tyco International, AT&T, Advanced Micro Devices, UPS and other firms, according to Senate records.

Why isn't this surprising?

- Barry Orton

Poetic Justice Proposal: Russ Feingold For SCOTUS

Here's this week's silver lining fantasy scenario: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 77, who is a survivor of both colon and pancreatic cancer, and lost her husband of 56 years to cancer last June, decides to retire next year to enjoy her grandchildren and her remaining years. President Obama appoints Russ Feingold to the seat, and Feingold, a lion of the Constitution in the Senate, wins confirmation in a walk. (I admitted it is a fantasy.)

- Barry Orton

Feingold's Loss Is Wisconsin's Loss

I'm too depressed about the loss of Russ Feingold as Wisconsin's US Senator to write a post about it. Matt Rothschild summarized it as well as anyone in his post for the Progressive:

The old rules of politics no longer apply.

You can win every debate, as Feingold did.

You can get practically every newspaper endorsement in the state, as Feingold did, including some very conservative ones.

You can be a loyal and dutiful servant of your constituents, coming home every weekend and visiting every county every year, as Feingold did.

And you can still lose.

One reason is money, and the hideous Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, which opened the floodgates.

“Common Cause of Wisconsin estimated the total spent at $40 million to $45 million for the senate race, a record amount. Outside groups spent about $5 million, most of that on ads opposing Feingold,” according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

How ironic it is that Feingold, who more than any other Senator tried to limit the poisonous influence of corporate money in politics, succumbed to that very disease.

...Now Feingold leaves with his dignity and his principles intact.

- Barry Orton

Blind Squirrel Finds Acorn: WSJ Endorses Russ Feingold

In spite of wrong-headed editorial endorsements of Scott Walker, Chad Lee, and Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin State Journal managed to get one no-brainer right: they endorsed Russ Feingold over the Fortunate Son-In-Law today.

...Though likeable and impressive on business issues, Johnson was sketchy on most everything else.

He simply didn’t deliver the goods.

...Feingold is still the best candidate for this difficult job. His national prominence, independent streak and careful spending habits make him more likely than Johnson to get things done.   

No joke or zinger today; this is too important. Waxing America readers should do whatever they can in the next two days to prevent the tragedy of losing Russ Feingold as Wisconsin's US Senator.

- Barry Orton

Big Pharma Shill Pat Boone Robocalls Love Letters For Fortunate Son-In-Law

This would be funny if it wasn't so sad: 50's white bread singer Pat Boone, the spokeshill for sleazy Big Pharma sock-puppet group 60 Plus Association, is voicing robocalls for the Fortunate Son-In-Law. The Wisconsin State Journal's Clay Barbour makes a bad joke about it, but doesn't point out Boone's work for groups that have fought health care finance reform for years, or Boone's vile statements on gay rights and on Barack Obama's citizenship.

You can insert your own white suede shoes or Little Richard joke here. I'm too disgusted to even try.

- Barry Orton

 

Ron Johnson Makes Final Pitch To Onion Readers; Wisconsin State Journal Still Not Sure

In the Onion, Ron Johnson's appeal makes sense:'

Ladies and gentlemen, isn't it time you elected someone who only learned five minutes ago that there are three branches of government, not 14?

...While Russ Feingold likes to talk about how he's worked across the aisle and fostered relationships with both John McCain and members of the House of Representatives to pass campaign finance reform, I am proud to say that, as a political outsider, I could not begin to tell you what an aisle is or how the House of Representatives is remotely involved. Furthermore, who the heck is John McCain?

So far no major Wisconsin newspaper has been able to argue that the Fortunate Son-In-Law would be better for Wisconsin in the US Senate than Russ Feingold, not even his hometown Oshkosh Northwestern.  It would be a shame if the Wisconsin State Journal even tried; they would probably be taken as seriously as the Onion.

- Barry Orton

Ron Johnson's Jobs Plan Brainfart Leads to First-Ever Green Bay Press-Gazette Endorsement of Russ Feingold

Ron's Johnson's inability to articulate any plan to grow employment beyond the sound bite of "cut government spending" has led The Green Bay Press-Gazette to endorse Russ Feingold for the first time ever: 

Feingold has a solid jobs plan and detailed, specific proposals for controlling spending and reducing the federal deficit. He is a leading proponent of the pay as you go principle that says government should not cut taxes or add entitlement spending without paying for it elsewhere, and he has joined with Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, in an effort to reduce pork-barrel spending in Washington.

Feingold’s opponent, Oshkosh businessman and political newcomer Ron Johnson, also has voiced his support for spending controls and fiscal responsibility in Washington. His plan for righting the U.S. economy, however, comes across as one-note: establish a hard spending cap, reduce government interference and allow businesses to flourish.

These are principles with which we agree; however, Johnson seemed unable to further articulate his plan for job creation — especially for the middle class — during a recent meeting with the Green Bay Press-Gazette editorial board. Basic principles of restraint are one thing; a detailed proposal to spur job creation and get our economy moving is another.

 

...We think that with time, Johnson could become a viable candidate for national office — but as things stand now, he needs more time to develop and articulate his positions on a range of issues from jobs to foreign policy.

 

Watch the video of the Fortunate Son-In-Law's impression of a deer in headlights:

 

 

 

Now that the Press-Gazette has recognized the yawning chasm between the qualifications of Russ Feingold and those of Ron Johnson, it will be interesting to watch if the Wisconsin State Journal or the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel can find a way to endorse Johnson without insulting their readers' intelligence.

 

- Barry Orton

Ron Johnson AWOL In Oshkosh; Ducks Hometown Newspaper Editorial Board and Debate

Today Senatorial hopeful Ron Johnson is avoiding yet another debate with Senator Russ Feingold. It was to be held at the Oshkosh Grand Opera House, a local landmark in Johnson's adopted hometown, an institution for which Johnson sought some of that evil stimulus money when he was president of the Grand Opera House's board.

Johnson also refused to meet today with the editorial board of his hometown newspaper, the Northwestern. James Fitzhenry, a Northwestern editor, is not happy:

...I'm struck by how little we know about Johnson and where he stands on dozens of issues he may be voting on over the next six years.

...I will be able to look Russ Feingold in the eye and hear his answer to those questions Monday afternoon when he visits The Northwestern's editorial board. Can't say the same for Johnson. His campaign turned down a request for a meeting with the board along with an invitation to debate Feingold at the Grand Opera House.

It's not a phenomenon unique to this newspaper. Johnson's campaign has been careful to keep him under tight wraps, limiting his availability, not releasing his schedule until the last moment, leaving news organizations scrambling to cover events. Most recently, he rejected an interview with Wisconsin Public Television's "Here and Now," which offers thoughtful, if a bit dry, reporting on issues. Fewer interviews, fewer chances for a sunspot or creative destruction gaffe that could endanger the slight lead in the polls.

Democracy won't suffer if Wisconsinites think long and hard, examine and re-examine the case for and against both candidates, and ultimately decide to retire Russ Feingold. Problem is, voters are not being allowed to see beyond the plastic packaging of Ron Johnson. (bolding by Waxing America)

Ouch.

- Barry Orton

Citizens United Case Creates A Monster

Zina Saunders, my favorite political illustrator, has done an animation of the Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case creating life from corporate political spending power. It's over here at the Mother Jones site. Worth a click.

Saunders' newest cover for Mother Jones with Sarah Palin as the modern version of the "Attack of the 50-foot Woman" is here at Zina's new blog and also worth a click, and her book, "Overlooked New York,"  a collection of portraits and interviews with New Yorkers about their joyous obsessions, is the bomb. I especially enjoyed the street performers, rooftop pigeon guys, and the Puerto Rico Schwinn Club.

Her campaign 2008 book, "The Party's Over," is also terrific.  Here's her website, with the many Palins, Obamas, and others that her amazing art has produced.

- Barry Orton

"Atlas Shrugged" - Ron Johnson Is No John Galt

A confession: I could never get through "Atlas Shrugged." Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Clarence Thomas and any number of deep thinkers published in the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal notwithstanding, I found the writing turgid, the political and economic points simplistic, and the characters and plot overblown. (However, it does make "The Fountainhead" seem readable by comparison.)

Why care at this late date? Well, it seems that Ron Johnson has been taking some cues from the "Tea Party" and citing "Atlas Shrugged" as a "driving force in his political philosophy." In last night's debate with Russ Feingold:

Asked by a panelist about the book, Johnson said "Atlas" represents the producers of the world, while "Shrugged" represents how overburdened the producers are with rules, regulations and taxes.

"It's a warning of what could happen to America," Johnson said. "When you hear people talk about a tipping point, that's what we're concerned about. . . . We have more people who are net beneficiaries of government than are actually paying into the system. That's a very serious thing to think about."

"I believe in the community," Feingold responded. "I believe in the community of Wisconsin. . . . You believe the producers are a very special group of people. I guess they're better than the rest of us. When things aren't going their way, you take the position that people shouldn't have unemployment compensation because you have the view they don't want to work."

Screenwriter John Rogers nailed the appeal of "Atlas Shrugged" in his Kung Fu Monkey blog:

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

However, I suspect that Fortunate Son-In-Law Ron Johnson's interest in "Atlas Shrugged" is of more recent origin. Having started married into a company, grown the business without any government help, and become horrified by enamored with the business climate in Communist China, Johnson now identifies with the "Atlas Shrugged" hero, industrial entrepreneur John Galt.

But would John Galt, an anti-religious figure, have argued against the Child Victims Act on behalf of the Green Bay Diocese Finance Council? Would Galt be against embryonic stem cell research on religious grounds, in spite of the negative economic consequences for Wisconsin and the limiting of possible therapy options? Where would Ron Johnson be without Howard Curler's money?

Maybe "Atlas Shrugged" is a "driving force in his political philosophy" only when Ron Johnson finds it convenient.

I bet he couldn't get through that whole mess of a book either.

- Barry Orton