From today's Milwaukee J-S:

By CRAIG GILBERT

Washington - If Republican John McCain needs someone to vouch for his independence, he could easily do worse than Senate colleague Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, a liberal Democrat from a key battleground state.

"I think the guy calls 'em as he sees 'em, and as president would call 'em as he sees 'em, and would make people mad all over the place because it wouldn't fit anybody's playbook," said Feingold, who teamed up with McCain to rewrite federal campaign laws.

"He would be very original," Feingold said.

Those are not exactly Democratic talking points.

In fact, while Feingold supports his fellow Democrat Barack Obama for president, he continues to express (when asked) his affection and admiration for McCain, even in ways that deviate from his party's core strategy against the Arizona Republican, which is to paint him as a clone of President Bush, and a "maverick no more."

Feingold calls McCain "very original" and a "maverick by nature." McCain's own TV ads call him the "original maverick."

"..the notion that somehow (McCain) is going to get in there and be some kind of ideological Newt Gingrich right-winger is a joke. There's no way that he would do that," Feingold said.

(snip)

But [though he has worked with both men] Feingold's history with McCain is much richer, especially the six-year bonding experience that was McCain-Feingold, a legislative Long March that annoyed people in both parties before it improbably passed Congress and was signed by President Bush. The two even hit the road together to drum up public support before the final Senate debate, McCain telling one New Orleans audience, "Russ and I are happy warriors."

"He's a very good legislator from my point of view, because when he gets onto something, he doesn't just want to introduce a bill, he likes to move it. And he's fearless," Feingold said of McCain, who once called the Wisconsin Democrat a "philosophical soul mate" on reform issues. (The two partnered on several other bills in addition to campaign finance.)

"People couldn't believe how long we stayed on McCain-Feingold. . . . We'd come to those press conferences (year after year) and you guys would laugh at us, I mean, literally," said Feingold, grinning.

"He's a great guy to fight an uphill battle with legislatively. He keeps his word. . . . I probably shouldn't be saying this stuff, but to be honest about it, it was one of the better professional experiences I've ever had in my life," Feingold said.

(snip)

"It's unfair, because McCain's a blast. He's fun to be around. He's certainly young in spirit. He's actually very young in energy," said Feingold.

Age is not the only rap on McCain that Feingold suggests is unfair. Another is the notion that McCain's too temperamental to be president.

"Yes, he shows temper. But he burns fast, and he doesn't let it cloud his judgment. He would not be a loose cannon in the Oval Office," said Feingold. "It's not like he's going to pick up the red phone in a rage."

As for what kind of Republican McCain is, Feingold makes the argument, not surprisingly, that McCain's vision of where he wants to take the country is "mistaken."

But he doesn't take issue with McCain's presentation of himself as a politician with a deep independent streak.

"He is not a guy who wants to be chummy-chummy with political leaders of the party. He doesn't like that sort of constraint. He's an independent," said Feingold. "So he somehow managed to become the nominee of the Republican Party. But we all know it's not because he was somebody that was kissing up to the Republican establishment, to say the least."

Maybe, just maybe, this is why Obama isn't "crushing" McCain. Maybe, just maybe, racism is little more than a desperate excuse. And maybe, just maybe, Hillary has absolutely nothing to do with Obama's less than stellar numbers.

So, in your universe, there's absolutely, positively no reason whatsoever for any voter to not prefer Obama other than pure racism? Ever occur to you that this sort of, um, thinking is a more than a bit counterproductive? Even disastrous?

Hillary and Bill Clinton actually believe that Obama is not only a really lousy candidate, but one who ran the dirtiest, most dishonorable of campaigns, aimed at reducing his opponent and her husband - a former president from the Democratic party - to racist rubble.

Maybe, like millions of Hillary supporters, the Clintons aren't even voting for Obama. Ever think of that?

The unity pony left the barn many weeks ago (only to wander around in punch drunk circles). But how nice of Lord Obama to finally bless Miss Hillary's name being put in nomination. Too bad it took getting his back up against the wall to force what should have been an automatic, gracious acceptance at the get go. Sorry - a meaningless charade ain't gonna cut it at this late date, no matter how many happy faces the prop department puts out.

Are you related to MoDo by any chance? I've gotta say, your lack of knowledge about and insight into the convention proceedings is exceeded only by your CDS (Clinton Derangement Syndrome: see TalkLeft). Sheesh. Next time, you might want to read a bit (or a lot) before you leap.