Thompson plans to run for Senate

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Politico

Tommy Thompson, the Republican former Wisconsin governor and George W. Bush’s first secretary of Health and Human Services, has told friends he plans to run for the open Senate seat in Wisconsin, according to top Wisconsin sources.

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said Friday that he won’t seek a fifth term in 2012.

Thompson would give Republicans a popular former two-term governor to seriously challenge for this toss-up seat, which could prove the difference as Senate Democrats struggle to defend their majority with now eight retirements.

Thompson’s entry would even further intensify a race that already seems destined to be one of the most watched in the nation: Wisconsin has been at the center of the national political discussion since Gov. Scott Walker’s showdown with unions over collective bargaining in February that prompted weeks of protests at the state capitol in Madison. In the months since, even what would have almost certainly otherwise been a sleepy race for a state supreme court seat turned into a pitched battle, now in its third week of the recount.

more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55108.html



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55108.html

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Not a 2-term Gubner.

A 4-term Gubner, elected in '86. '90, '94 and '98. He left his 4th term to join the Bush Admin.

I got no idea why people in this state kept voting for Howdy Doody's evil twin, but they did.

[Myrina]

2. Hmmm, a primary between Thompson and Ryan ?

Could be interesting. Does Ryan have to vacate his seat in Congress to run, or just if he wins?

I've heard Feingold's name tossed around and personally, I'd prefer him to take over as Gov when Walker gets the boot.

:shrug:

[lutefisk]

10. "Ryan says he won't seek U.S. Senate seat"

http://www.jsonline.com/business/121996164.html

[Myrina]

11. Bummer.

The mutual immolation could have been fun to watch.

[piggy2000]

6. No More Bushies!

George W. Bush had the most corrupt, incompetent administration in my lifetime. Stop recycling the incompetence. The Repubs like their 'yes' men. So this Thompson guy may probably get support from the party....

I urge everyone to stop voting for these sorry ass candidates.

[Jackpine Radical]

14. Thompson is a corrupt and venal little man, but

not necessarily in a league with the likes of Walker. For one thing, Tommy was a high-speed rail fan,had would not have given away that $800 bil; and for another thing, he made enough back-room deals with the state employees' union that they actually endorsed him in at least one election. He paid off, too--at least better than the nominally pro-union Doyle Admin. Tommy's a schmoozer, not a smasher.

[brooklynite]

3. Isn't he getting on in years?

He's now 70 years old.

[Kolesar]

4. Thompson admitted that many of the terror-alerts he announced were politically motivated

Small stories were released whenever there was bad news about bush.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. I think that you may be confusing him with Tom Ridge

[Kolesar]

9. Oh , you're right!

now we "got" trouble.

[madrchsod]

5. tommy "deer wasting disease fiasco" thompson?

ya, that`s a good pick for wisconsin....not

[woo me with science]

8. Aw, I thought it was gonna be Fred.

:rofl:

[russspeakeasy]

12. I wonder if he got rid of his girlfriend in Wisconsin Dells?

Something the press should follow up on.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Old-time Madison hands in the state gov't tell me

he went through a lot of "upwardly mobile" buxom blondes during his years in office.