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"Down Goes Sensenbrenner"? Bet that got your attention.
Did you read the
article in the JS on Monday?It was an interesting read, about two challengers to Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner. Jeff Walz, a Democrat, and James Burkee, a Republican, will be running "together" to beat Sensenbrenner.
"We are going to run against each other but with one another, if that makes sense," Burkee said. .. the two say their broader mission is to create a model for "what campaigns ought to look like." The professors will publish a pact laying out their campaign ground rules, from no personal attacks to no money from special interest groups.
"What people want is just a greater sense of decency, a greater sense of cooperation, a greater sense of collaboration," said Walz, who added that the pair represent "a Democrat and Republican joining forces to tackle and address the important issues."
These two challengers, a Dem and a Republican, have set up a website -- horror of horrors -- together! (
http://www.burkeeandwalz.com). Don't they know that Democrats and Republicans aren't supposed to be civil to eachother?
Another quote from the article:
".. when we're through the primary, we're going to give you the campaign you always wanted. It's not going to be run with negative sound bites, and it's not going to be dominated by outside money. Once we're past the primary, we're going to debate every day, across the district, Lincoln-Douglas style."
Can you imagine that? Lincoln-Douglas style debates? Actually talking about issues in a civilized fashion?
Count me in. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with Sensenbrenner. I think he's right on with his immigration views, the Real ID act, Voting Rights Act, and his stance on the Katrina aid package (which brought him a lot of flak that was, in the end, unjustified.) In general, I think he's relatively tough on spending issues, which is very dear to my heart.
But then there's the far right Sensenbrenner.
The guy who introduced legislation to prevent the removing Terri Schiavo's feeding tube.
Or the guy who holds the title as reigning Congressional champ for taking free trips on lobbyists' tabs, e.g., he (and his wife) go on a junket to Lichtenstein each year, among trips to Germany, Norway, Tokyo, etc. (For the curious, you can see
all the trips here.) -- Now all congressmen milk the system, but Sensenbrenner is the #1 milker in the entire congress! Does he represent us, or the guys schmoozing him off to Australia?
Or the guy who is in disbelief of Global Warming, but gets his views heard as the ranking member of the new Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Or how about the Jim Sensenbrenner who
just voted (with a scant 71 other Republicans) to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, i.e., a vote against Bert, Ernie and the gang.Now don't confuse me with a flaming liberal, but come on! I'll bet dollars to donuts the 5th Congressional district is full of PBS watchers. I'm guessing our 5th district generally believes global warming is an issue, too.
Kind of shows how hard right Sensenbrenner is. Are we as red as the districts in Texas, or Alabama? Certainly the North Shore isn't. Too bad the districts have been so gerrymandered that it's a uphill battle for any candidate.
Now, I realize Rolling Stone isn't an unbiased source, but they have our F. James as #2 for
"The 10 Worst Congressmen", throwing him in with the likes of pork lover Don Young and bribe taker William Jefferson.
So, as a moderate, I'm rooting for either of these two new guys to knock Sensenbrenner out of our district.
It's time,
after 28 years, for someone to represent us who isn't so .. reviled.
Here's a few websites for the interested:
Race Tracker: 5th District
Congresspedia Profile of Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner
Bios on Jeff Walz and James Burkee
