Ben Masel, Herb Kohl, and Choice

Ben Masel

I think Herb Kohl should have to say something before his coronation as Wisconsin's senator.

I think a debate is in order, or perhaps some public appearances. Something.

To date, Kohl has virtually ignored his primary challenger, Ben Masel. He's getting no respect from Kohl.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

[I]f you have a taste for the offbeat in politics, what's not to like in a match between Herb Kohl, an 18-year Senate veteran and a powerhouse in state politics, and Ben Masel, who lists "good hash" as one of his four interests on his MySpace page on the Internet. (And, yes, he's referring to hashish and not potatoes.) His other three interests: "Getting acquitted. Chess . . . Hangin' with my brand new granddaughter."

Not surprisingly, Kohl is favored to win in a landslide. The multimillionaire is a household name and has advertised extensively on television since last winter. Masel says he has collected $770 in $1 donations.

Democratic voters will have to choose between the mild-mannered Kohl and the longtime Madison leftist activist whom some remember for spitting in the face of presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson in 1976 ("it wasn't the smartest thing I ever did," Masel says now) and others recall as the leader of "Weedstock" marijuana festivals more recently.

Masel is running a truly grass roots campaign.

(OK, I know that was stupid and obvious, but I couldn't help myself.)

...In seeking his fourth Senate term, Kohl has made a moderate number of campaign appearances around the state and has not addressed Masel's challenge directly. He is currently not advertising on television.

It still really ticks me off that the Republican Party of Wisconsin failed to field a viable candidate to take on Herb Kohl, especially with the contentious governor's race being waged in Wisconsin.

It was a lost opportunity. Inexcusable.

For his part, Masel says he's trying to run "a relentlessly positive campaign," and he has been restrained in criticizing Kohl. "He's doing the best job he knows how," Masel said of Kohl. "But I just don't think he's really up to speed on the kind of challenges we face in the 21st century."

Masel is a pot-smoking version of Ned Lamont.

...Kohl said he is running his campaign the same way, regardless of who his opponent is.

"I campaign based on who I am, what I've done, what my standards are," he said. Voters seem to like what he's doing, he said.

I'd like to know who Kohl is. After all these years, I still don't really know. What are his standards?

He needs to come out of the closet. He needs to get off the fence.

If you want to learn more about Masel, you'll find all you need to know with a quick google. He's a Daily Kos member in good standing, with tons of posts revealing his views on the issues.

Masel says he hopes the campaign will allow him "to break out of the one-trick pony thing" when it comes to getting his voice heard on issues. The one trick has been his push for the legalization of drugs ("I'm pro-choice on everything," his Web site says), but he says in this race he is promoting his views in favor of more protection from government when it comes to privacy and his opposition to the Patriot Act.

He says the first bill he would introduce would be to change the War Powers Act so American forces could be used only in a way declared by Congress.

If he wins, how will people in Washington, D.C., react? "I don't think they'll be looking at Russ Feingold as the wild-eyed radical from Wisconsin any more because that position will be taken," Masel said.

Masel and Feingold do share many similarities -- the Daily Kos connection, the Patriot Act opposition, the Iraq war retreat and defeat strategy.

Unlike Masel, Feingold isn't "pro-choice on everything."

Feingold is adamantly against choice when it comes to education.

His colleague Kohl claims to be pro-school choice, pro-PUBLIC school choice.

His campaign website says, "Senator Kohl strongly supports public school choice initiatives and charters schools, which strengthen our nation's public school systems."

I think that's somewhat deceptive, an intentional effort to mislead. At first glance, one might think that Kohl is pro-school choice. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Kohl doesn't believe in choice when it comes to school vouchers or allowing voluntary prayer in schools.

Masel says that he's "'pro-choice' on everything."

Kohl isn't.

Yes, there are real differences between the two candidates.

Wisconsinites voting in the Dem primary do have a choice.
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Profiles of the candidates

Herb Kohl
Age: 71

Address: time in district: 929 N. Astor, Milwaukee. Lifelong Milwaukee resident.

Occupation: Senator, owner of Milwaukee Bucks basketball team.

Elective offices: other government experience: Elected to U.S. Senate, 1988, 1994, 2000.

Family: Single.

Ben Masel
Age: 51

Address: time in district: 1214 E. Mifflin St. Lived in Madison, with some interruptions, since 1971.

Occupation: "Civil liberties plaintiff"

Elective offices: other government experience: Has run unsuccessfully for various offices as a Republican, Libertarian and non-partisan

Family: Single; one daughter

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I don't think that Feingold or Kohl have to worry about Masel.

Kohl is guaranteed to retain his seat in the Senate.

Feingold is guaranteed to maintain his position as the "wild-eyed radical from Wisconsin."