From the moment former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said in an e-mail message to supporters of Progressive United, ""While I may seek elective office again someday, I have decided not to run for public office during 2012,"" thousands of hearts across Wisconsin shattered into millions upon billions upon trillions of pieces.
Normally, I would counter the loss of a political heartthrob with a jeering, ""Cry me a river"" remark, as there are plenty of self-serving politicians in the sea, but when it comes to Wisconsin's very own Russ Feingold, I can't help but accept some cheese with my whine.
I have no doubt Feingold is one of Wisconsin's most successful and genuine public servants. And being the ONLY U.S. senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act in 2001, perhaps it's fair to say Feingold is America's finest politician. His accomplishments run deep, and while I'm sad we won't see ""Stomped that Walker clown in the 2012 recall election and became the king of Wisconsin,"" on his CV, it's important to remember that Feingold's influence is still strong.
The current political arena is one giant recall, debt-crisis catalyst that is sure to bring a year full of hair-pulling, governmental drama. It's too easy for lawmakers to get swept in some whirlwind legislation that is likely to die in a kill-shot veto—ultimately forcing politicians to sacrifice valuable time. That said, I don't blame Feingold for slowly tiptoeing away from the tempestuous life of a public servant and instead sprinting toward private citizenry.
But it's important to remember that Feingold hasn't deserted Wisconsin or given up when we need him most. Rather, his new career path presents numerous opportunities that will undoubtedly shift the democratic winds in a more hopeful direction. On top of teaching law at Marquette University and authoring his very own book ""While America Sleeps,"" Feingold's decision not to run in 2012 opens up his time to better support the democratic party in ways that he wouldn't have the time to as a member of office.
Instead of butting heads with U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., for Sen. Herb Kohl's, D-Wis., seat in the primaries, Feingold is given the opportunity to advocate for her election rather than challenge it. By doing this, he is creating a union, rather than an awkward rivalry, between Wisconsin's two most significant liberal figures. Especially in Wisconsin's topsy-turvy political climate, competition between the state's most progressive politicians—even for the Democratic ballot—would do more harm than good. Keeping ties between Baldwin and Feingold strong is good for Baldwin's image among her constituents and ultimately strengthens her chances for a Democratic victory.
Not only is Feingold's absence in the 2012 senatorial race tilting the scale in Baldwin's favor, but Feingold's plans to devote his newfound time to re-elect President Barack Obama give the president's campaign an added edge. And like a magical secret weapon, Feingold won't disappoint. Being a politician who often reached across the aisle during his terms as senator, Feingold's blatant support for Obama may capture the attention of both party supporters across Wisconsin and the United States with Feingold on reserve in the 2012 presidential race, Obama has an even stronger backing, which makes him even more valuable to Obama supporters.
What Feingold supporters need to take from his decision to stay out of the political spotlight is the fact that he is still engrossed in politics. Feingold understands that Wisconsin is in political turmoil and wants to explore new avenues in which to help. Remaining a strong supporter of Progressives United is just one way in which he is working to improve government, and I'm excited to see what else he has up his sleeve.
That said, the loss of Feingold in the Senate, Legislature or even the governor's seat doesn't mean the loss of Feingold in Wisconsin and U.S. politics. He has already inspired Wisconsin with his time in office, and now we get to sit back and watch what he does next. Let's just hope he takes the government by storm after this extremely intriguing hiatus.
Sam Witthuhn is a senior majoring in political science and journalism. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
