Thursday, August 19, 2010

On Feingold's Snub

The Racine Post has a story, read it here, about Senator Feingold's visits to some of Racine's downtown businesses.


From the article: Feingold's staff had been well-briefed: Although he walked Main Street from 3rd Street to 5th, and back, he skipped past Eye-OpenerZ, whose owner, Ken Brown is a TEA Party organizer, and Dimples, whose co-owner, Denis Navratil has a blog that frequently criticises Democrats. (Navratil was on vacation anyway.)

I am not sure how to interpret Feingold's decision not to visit my store. Was he really "well-briefed" by his staff? If he was accurately briefed, he would know that I am a politically active with a principled conservative/libertarian bent. As such, it is true that I frequently criticize Democrats. But I also criticize Republicans. In short, I am critical of bad ideas no matter from whom or what political party they emanate. You could say that this makes me something of a maverick. Hey, isn't that what they call Senator Feingold?

Anyway, it is true I wasn't at my store and it is unlikely he would earn my vote. I vote according to the actions of politicians, not their words or promises. Though I have at times had a grudging respect for Feingold, his vote for Obamacare was something I can't overlook, insofar as it is blatantly unconstitutional and passed only with the help of a corrupt process. It is time for a new senator.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually that is what he calls himself.

Caledonia Unplugged said...

Denis, the irony of this, based on the "things are not dead" storyline from the Post, is that you and Dimple have one of the most booming businesses down there. Wouldn't it have been in Feingold's best interest to highlight that fact, whether you were on vacation or not and despite any political ideologies?

Denis Navratil said...

How's this for irony? I have a letter here from Senator Feingold that thanks me for attending his listening session and that concludes with "I hope you will continue to feel free to share your views with me."

Right back at ya senator.

Sean Cranley said...

There was nothing unconstitutional or corrrupt about the process. Reconciliation is a legit procedure and the GOPsters have used it to pass their trash on numerous ocassions: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/03/did_republicans_use_reconcilia.html

"Here's the recent record: The 1995 Balanced Budget Act was passed in reconciliation. The final vote was 52 to 47. The 2001 Bush Tax Cut was passed in reconciliation. The final vote was 58 to 33. The 2003 Bush Tax Cut was passed in reconciliation. The final vote was 50 to 50, with Dick Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. The 2005 Deficit Reduction Act was also passed in reconciliation with a 50 to 50 vote and a Cheney intervention. The 2006 Tax Relief Extensions Act was passed in reconciliation. The final vote was 54 to 44."

What IS corrupt is the GOPstructionists unprecedented use of the filibuster which forced the issue.