Russ Feingold: Envoy to Africa

Russ Feingold, former U.S. senator fired by the people of Wisconsin on November 2, 2010, has a new job.

He's back in the government saddle again.

From the New York Times:

Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday selected a former Senate colleague, Russ Feingold, to serve as a special envoy to the Great Lakes region of Africa, promising to raise the profile of a region torn by conflict and yet largely overshadowed in American foreign policy by other global crises.

Mr. Feingold will oversee policy for a region that includes Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern reaches of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a rebel force known as the March 23 Movement continues to threaten a weak central government. “For the president and for me, this is a high-level priority,” Mr. Kerry said, “and it needs to be met with high-level leadership.”

Mr. Feingold, a liberal Democrat, represented Wisconsin in Congress for 28 years, first as a representative and then for three terms as senator before losing a re-election campaign in 2010 to Ron Johnson, a Republican.

So Feingold, a liberal adrift since we removed him from the Senate, has another government job.

Does the appointment of has-been Feingold really promise "to raise the profile of a region torn by conflict and yet largely overshadowed in American foreign policy by other global crises"?

I doubt it. Feingold is no star. We booted the extremist out of office and replaced him with Ron Johnson.

The only reason this is of any interest to me is because of Feingold's Wisconsin connection. Feingold is not a household name. His presence alone isn't going to "raise the profile" of the troubled African region.

With Feingold in Africa, the Democrats are keeping him occupied. He won't be wandering into Iowa and getting in the way.

He wants to be president. That's no secret. He needs to be sent elsewhere. This position accomplishes that.

Although I am thrilled Feingold no longer represents me in the Senate and I find some of his positions on issues absolutely reprehensible, I certainly don't wish him any harm. I hope he will have adequate security in Africa, unlike Chris Stevens and the three other Americans killed by terrorists in Benghazi.