A political experiment in Wisconsin

Posted: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:30 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Perhaps it's fitting that Wisconsin is hosting an intriguing political experiment.

The AP: "Two Concordia University professors are planning an unusual bipartisan campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner. Political scientist Jeff Walz, 40, plans to run against the longtime Republican congressman as a Democrat. Historian James Burkee, 39, will run as a Republican. The two plan to campaign together and combine their promotional efforts. The two have worked together in recent years as speakers and commentators. They said their goal for the campaign is to show what elections should look like."

More: "'What people want is just a greater sense of decency, a greater sense of cooperation, a greater sense of collaboration," Walz said. They hope to provide that by avoiding personal attacks and forgoing donations from special interest groups. They plan to publish a pact laying out ground rules for the campaign."

Sensenbrenner is not someone who regularly appears on vulnerable incumbent lists.

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Comments

"'What people want is just a greater sense of decency, a greater sense of cooperation, a greater sense of collaboration,"

I'll bet NEITHER endorses Hillary !!

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:39 AM)

Horaah. More power to you guys. I bet the mainstream media will cover little or none of this, so I hope Concordia's website will.

RH Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:54 AM)

Take back america one step at a time.

tec-spring -Tx (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:03 AM)

sounds like there was done over a bottle of Irish Whiskey more then a block of cheese.....

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:07 AM)

GREAT IDEA!LOVE IT

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:10 AM)

<<sounds like there was done over a bottle of Irish Whiskey more than a block of cheese>>Say what....Jerry looks like you been drinking more than koolaid this morning.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:14 AM)

Oh my God. Did am I seeing things? Sierra, Jerry, Juan, Tec, and myself agree on something!
Get out the icecube trays, Hell hath froze over...

RH Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:21 AM)

Although I'm not sure about Jerry. But who can argue about good Whiskey & cheese(?).

RH Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:23 AM)

I was about to say RH, I think this was dreamed up by two cheeseheads who had a little too much to drink. I can't believe people in Wisconsin would be that gullible to not see a trick like that.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:36 AM)

"On Wisconsin, On Wisconsin"-Badger song

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:58 AM)

Its the YouTube, DIY, reality TV era of politics...real people replacing actors...it can only improve things. Show 'em, how democracy is done, boys!

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:09 PM)

Maybe they can invite Brett Farve in as the Independant candidate.

RH Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:13 PM)

Dear First Read,
Please keep us informed!

Greg R., Spokane, WA (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:41 PM)

Hey, hey, hey hey!!

Ya'hay der - Careful with the Wisconsin jokes there ay.

The Packers play dem Cowboys in November. We'll see how things work out then dar Jerry. Brett there will be lighting up the Cowboys like a Christmas tree.

And we have to have a little too much to drink. Got to stay warm cause it gets cold here in the winter cause Al Gore hasn't invented Global Warming up here yet.

Charlie Napper Green Bay WI (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:52 PM)

What kind of "history" does Historian James Burkee have? Sounds like a trick by a couple of democrats to try and split what would normally be Republican vote, and let a loser (democrat) win.

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:07 PM)

DID SOMEONE SAY GONZO-GATE ?

Z (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:43 PM)

No they didn't. Go back to sleep Zippy...

still not the blade (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:53 PM)

RH Oregon, I agree with the left about 50% of the time and the right about 40% of the time. I feel that I am a conservative, because I believe in conservation, liberty, states rights, small federal government as designed by the framers of the constitution, fair taxes and equity for all races. I do not believe in state sponsored religion, banned books, restrictions of the press or conservative talk show hosts. If do not like one party government and will promote whatever change is necessary to completely balance the political make up of the government. Stagnant Government is always the result when the legislation is not for the good of the whole country. So at times gridlock is necessary in Washington. I see freedom as the pioneers saw, with wide-open plains, the ability to roam over vast wilderness unencumbered by government and the right to protect your property against all intrusions including the government. If the elected officials do not promote the will of the people, then we need to vote those officials out of office. The founding fathers did not envision career politicians, and were probably naïve in their assumption that people would serve voluntary for the good of their country. Change is good.

TEC-Spring-TX (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:28 PM)

Well, as usual, Dave Tn has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. These two aren't talking about running in a three way race with Sensenbrenner. Its called a primary. In a primary the republicans run against other repubs for their party's nomination while the dems run in their primary. Then the winners of each primary run against each other in the general election, which you may be surprised to learn happens in November of 08. So, these two candidates won't be able to spilt the repub vote. What the republican hopes to do is beat the congressman in the republican primary and then run against the democrat in an honest issue-oriented campaign that allows the voters to choose a new congressman who actually represents the views of the constituants and not the views of the money that normally decides how republicans vote.

J.D, in California (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:29 PM)

gonzo-gate

z (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:39 PM)

Well said, Tec. I tend to lean more left/center on social issues, but lean right on running the economy. Anybody who has locked themselves into a corner right or left usually can not see forest thru the trees.
Wishing people including those in charge would pay attention to what is important for our Nation then the next election.

RH Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:50 PM)

I wish them luck...i think career politicians have largely caused the type of political atmosphere that exists today b/c people do what it takes to keep their jobs. And some pundits are happy to aid them in doing so.

CJ (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:53 PM)

Sounds like dual air bags...

Bush Republican (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:54 PM)

Democrats - party of gimmicks. Pretty soon they'll be running a dead guy for office and try to win on a sympathy vote. Oh wait, they did that with Senator Mel Carnahan in Missouri. Well, at least they didn't switch a candidate that won in the primaries that had no chance to win in the general election. Oh, wait, they did in New Jersey with Latenburg taking over for Robert Torricelli. Well, the Democrats would never let a state be unrepresented for an extended period of time because of an ill Senator. Surely they would do the right thing and ask that Senator to step down. Oh, wait, South Dakota's Tim Johnson. And of course, the Democrats would never get their hands on sealed divorce papers for a Republican Senate candidate and make them public to benefit their candidate. Oh wait, that happened with Republican Jack Ryan in Illinois when it was found out he was having an affair. His opponent? Barack Obama.

Gimmicks. Smoke and Mirrors. The Democrats.

Manny (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 3:00 PM)

Manny, go look in the mirror and see...a brainwashed republican. Smoke and mirrors.Welcome to political science 101.

bb (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 4:06 PM)

Democrat gimmicks? US Attorneygate, Voter Caging lists, Gonzo being called a liar by the Director of the FBI, Gonzo purjuring himself, Monica Goodling, Florida, Ohio, ..it is just ONE SCANDAL AFTER ANOTHER.

If the Dems have to pull a crafty one here and there to keep SOME sense in our Government, the more power to them.

Paul, Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 4:59 PM)

Two responses - Two whiffs.

Talking gimmicks here people. Pay attention and try to keep up. I know its hard for you Democrats. It's the end of the month, and you're probably out of ritalin.

And, who is Monica Goodling? Follow up question, who cares?

Manny (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 7:26 PM)

"Sensenbrenner is not someone who regularly appears on vulnerable incumbent lists." -- not yet

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 9:33 PM)

Monica Goodling was the White House liason to the Justice Department and when called to testify before congress last month, had a little slip up and accidentally spilled the beans on Attorneygate and related voter caging lists.

Our Monica ruined a blue gap dress. Nothing compared to the damage YOUR Monica could do...

Paul, Washington DC (Sent Saturday, August 11, 2007 4:35 AM)

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