Rating a Century of Wisconsin Senators

Rating a Century of Wisconsin Senators

The Scale

100 – legendary
90 – heroic
80 – superb
70 – admirable
60 – adequate
50 – mediocre
40 – pathetic
30 – regrettable
20 – embarrassing
10 – disgraceful
0 – despicable

The Scores

1906–1925 • 97 • Robert M. LaFollette Sr. (R)
1907–1915 • 81 • Isaac Stephenson (R)
1915–1917 • 50 • Paul O. Husting (D)
1918–1927 • 67 • Irvine L. Lenroot (R)
1925–1947 • 62 • Robert M. LaFollette Jr. (R/P)
1927–1933 • 48 • John J. Blaine (R)
1933–1939 • 55 • F. Ryan Duffy (D)
1939–1963 • 30 • Alexander Wiley (R)
1947–1957 •  8 • Joseph R. McCarthy (R)
1957–1989 • 75 • William Proxmire (D)
1963–1981 • 89 • Gaylord A. Nelson (D)
1981–1993 • 17 • Robert W. Kasten Jr. (R)
1989–20__ • __ • Herbert H. Kohl (D)
1993–20__ • 86 • Russell D. Feingold (D)

Herb Kohl claims to be "nobody's senator but yours". His substantial personal wealth means he can basically buy re-election as long as he wants. He doesn't have to take campaign contributions from anyone — trial lawyers, unions, Big Oil, Big Pharma, the NRA, the NBA, the insurance industry, military contractors ... nobody. He's in nobody's pocket.

From this essentially invulnerable, independent position, he could be a leader. He could be a star. He could be a role model. He could qualify for Volume 2 of Profiles in Courage.

A hundred years from now, when historians are updating this list for the 22nd Century, will Herb Kohl be mentioned in the same breath as Young Bob (let's face it, Old Bob is pretty much out of reach for anyone), or will he be ranked somewhere between Paul O. Husting (chair of the Committee on Fisheries) and Alexander Wiley (insert accomplishments here)?

I've left his rating blank above. Feel free to suggest a number.