Posted on 05/27/2010 4:50:38 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
Before what he calls "the jaw-dropping" events of the past 19 months -- TARP, the stimulus, Government Motors, the mistreatment of Chrysler's creditors, Obamacare, etc. -- the idea of running for office never crossed Ron Johnson's mind. He was, however, dry tinder -- he calls Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" his "foundational book" -- and now is ablaze, in an understated, Upper Midwestern way. This 55-year-old manufacturer of plastic products from Oshkosh, Wis., is what the Tea Party looks like.
He is trim, gray-haired and suddenly gray-suited. For years he has worn jeans and running shoes to his office, but now, under spousal duress, he is trying to look senatorial -- "My wife upgraded me to brown shoes." He has been endorsed by the state party and will almost certainly win the September primary for the Republican nomination to run against Russ Feingold, who is seeking a fourth term in a year in which incumbency is considered a character flaw.
Former Republican governor Tommy Thompson led Feingold in polls and froze the race on the Republican side before deciding not to run. But in this season of simmering resentment of the political class, a neophyte such as Johnson might be a stronger candidate than a recycled executive. Johnson can fund himself. Asked how much of his wealth he will spend, if necessary, his answer is as simple as it is swift: "All of it."
The theme of his campaign,
[snip]
"First of all, freedom."
[snip]
What Samuel Johnson said of Milton's "Paradise Lost" -- "None ever wished it longer than it is" -- some readers have said of "Atlas Shrugged." Not Johnson, who thinks it is "too short" at 1,088 pages.
[snip]
... which society's producers are weighed down by parasitic non-producers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
PINGING
Rasmussen today shows Johnson only 2 points behind Foolsgold...http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/wisconsin/election_2010_wisconsin_senate.
This state has been begging for a viable candidate to go against Feingold...we got one who we won’t even have to hold our nose for!
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
-Ayn Rand
It also does not hurt that Paul Ryan is with him. His congressional district is Feingolds old stomping grounds and may not feel too loyal to Feingold anymore.
Both `McShame AND Not-so-Feingold terminated in the same session?? Yay!
BUMP.
Come on, Wisconsin 2010.
I bet an invitation to the Rachel Maddow show is forthcoming. What this guy is saying—a foundational critique of the welfare state—is like Kryptonite for leftists. They will use any trick in the book to try to trip him up.
Our primary is early September, those numbers are going to skyrocket!
I’ve signed up for his campaign. Feingold barely won his other campaigns, “buy” only a couple thousand votes.
You all need to watch Wisconsin, we’re moving and shaking. We’ve never been a Blue state, and we’re sick and tired of the dems running us. We’re awake, and we’re kicking their asses out.
Isn’t it refreshing? And today Wall dropped out. Westlake, as nice as he is, he should run for a more regional race.
Johnson will WIN! Feingold is out! I’m so excited about this race.
Be still my heart! It couldn’t be better. Well, Dashhole was a pretty great defeat a few years ago getting his butt beaten.
Nice. What is so hard for good conservative Repubs is they have to go up against Dem scum with unlimited funds from unions, hollywood billionaires and other scum.
This guy sounds like the real deal. The public just wants honest but strong men and women to say “no more” like Chris Christie.
If he plays it right, he’ll ignore her. I kind of feel he will.
“Rasmussen today shows Johnson only 2 points behind.”
Holy Smokes! Johnson just got in the race!
“Asked how much of his wealth he will spend, if necessary, his answer is as simple as it is swift: “All of it.””
Wow. Talk about conviction. I like this Ron Johnson.
He is, he’s the real deal, a citizen senator. I really believe he’s in the mold of Chris Christie, he’s NOT a Scott Brown. We’re not Mass, we are a conservative state, we’ve been overrun by leftists. And only Milwaukee (Detroit wannabe’s) and the college town, who hold the most population is directing our votes. We’ve had enough of their games. And, their time is done.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!
No kidding. He only announced a week ago Monday.
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