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**nofurylike** · 05-14-2011, 01:50 AM

May 14, 2011

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation...23339.html

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The decision by Kohl, 76, came as a surprise to both parties. Now, he joins four other Democrats who plan to retire rather than fight to keep their seats. Two Republican senators have also said they won't run again.

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**sandnsea** · 05-14-2011, 02:10 AM

Oh that's not good. We've got way too many tough races next year.

**nofurylike** · 05-14-2011, 02:15 AM

(05-14-2011 02:10 AM)sandnsea Wrote: Oh that's not good. We've got way too many tough races next year.

it made me nervous too, sandnsea.
i'm just hoping it's a case of their thinking someone else might have a better chance. but then, who? when will we hear? Shrug

hoping!

thank you!

**Dimwitted Fool** · 05-14-2011, 03:08 PM

When I first heard this, and his age, I figured he would like to have a couple of years to enjoy his money in actual retirement-- another term and he would be 82 when it's over. Six more years of DC bullshit isn't the best way to go out.

Bummer for us with yet another seat to deal with, but I could see his point.

**nofurylike** · 05-15-2011, 02:00 AM

(05-14-2011 03:08 PM)Dimwitted Fool Wrote: When I first heard this, and his age, I figured he would like to have a couple of years to enjoy his money in actual retirement-- another term and he would be 82 when it's over. Six more years of DC bullshit isn't the best way to go out.

Bummer for us with yet another seat to deal with, but I could see his point.

thank you for that perspective, Dimwitted Fool. that is a very nice way to look at it.
"Six more years of DC bullshit isn't the best way to go out." i see your point!

**Cha** · 05-14-2011, 03:46 PM

This may actually be beneficial. Senator Kohl is older and certainly deserves retirement..being in the Senate forever isn't for everyone..and Wisconsin may be ripe for a fresh Democratic face to represent them in the Senate.

**nofurylike** · 05-15-2011, 02:06 AM

(05-14-2011 03:46 PM)Cha Wrote: This may actually be beneficial. Senator Kohl is older and certainly deserves retirement..being in the Senate forever isn't for everyone..and Wisconsin may be ripe for a fresh Democratic face to represent them in the Senate.

very good points, Cha. thank you!
Wisconsin does seem to be in political upheaval. so, it probably is a good time for this to happen.

**Cha** · 05-15-2011, 01:47 PM

(05-15-2011 02:06 AM)nofurylike Wrote:
(05-14-2011 03:46 PM)Cha Wrote: This may actually be beneficial. Senator Kohl is older and certainly deserves retirement..being in the Senate forever isn't for everyone..and Wisconsin may be ripe for a fresh Democratic face to represent them in the Senate.

very good points, Cha. thank you!
Wisconsin does seem to be in political upheaval. so, it probably is a good time for this to happen.

Yeah, while the Koch monitored Walker and Fitzgeralds are still fresh in everyone's mind who doesn't like fascism.

**Robconoclast** · 05-15-2011, 11:44 AM

I wonder how many voters will keep SB5 in mind and how the candidates will address it.

**RoyGBiv** · 05-15-2011, 11:56 AM

All the best to him, but ...

Politically, this is bad. This is very, very bad.

**Willinois** · (This post was last modified: 05-15-2011 01:50 PM by Willinois.)

I don't know why people are so worried. Obama won Wisconsin with a comfortable 56.3%. He'll win it again in '12. Unions and the left there are energized and ready to fight next year. We only need a candidate who can harness that enthusiasm. It's a great chance for Feingold to make a comeback or to nominate a progressive-populist rising star.

The biggest mistake would be nominating a candidate that unions and liberals can't get behind. This is the year in WI to take advantage of the Walker backlash. Pushing a corporate moderate that Democrats have to plug their nose to vote for would be a horrible waste of that momentum. I hope the DC crowd understands that.

2012 is the perfect year for Kohl to retire. This is an exciting chance to get an energetic progressive voice in the Senate for the next 6-18 years.

**RoyGBiv** · 05-15-2011, 02:05 PM

(05-15-2011 01:43 PM)Willinois Wrote: I don't know why people are so worried. Obama won Wisconsin with a comfortable 56.3%. He'll win it again in '12. Unions and the left there are energized and ready to fight next year. We only need a candidate who can harness that enthusiasm. It's a great chance for Feingold to make a comeback or to nominate a progressive-populist rising star.

If Feingold steps in, I'm not as worried. Still worried, just not as worried.

Other than that, I'm worried because I'm not convinced this energy maintains itself enough to overcome the very real roadblocks Republicans have put in the way of Democrats in Wisconsin. The power of the union is in the power of its organizational ability. It will lose a significant piece of that if Walker's union busting law goes into effect.

If the DCCC could devote a sizable portion of its resources and energy to Wisconsin, things might be different, but that's not the case. We have a lot of states among which resources will be divided just defending current, questionable seats. The addition of having to fight for seats that were previously safe is not an improvement, no matter how you look at it.