A case study in GOP cannibalism

Republican incumbent Congressman Tom Petri. (photo: Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images)

By Charles Pierce, Esquire

05 April 14

n Wisconsin's Sixth Congressional District, there's a Republican incumbent named Tom Petri. He seems like an unremarkable sort. He has been in office for 35 years, representing a huge district of rural and suburban voters, with a mix of smallish cities like Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, north of Milwaukee. (He just got some of that federal government cootie-money to build a breakwater for Port Washington. Hurray for constituent service!) This means that Petri was formed as a young congresscritter back before the GOP was afflicted with the prion disease that is currently devouring the higher intellectual functions of the party. This seems to be something of a problem for Petri's attempt to win himself another term. The flying monkeys are circling thick and fast.

The current congressman from the 6th District is a decent, genial person; nevertheless he does not have the sense of urgency which the above statistics should engender. While there are more things to do in Madison, again and again many of the problems require changes in federal law. Whether it be welfare reform, education reform, or fiscal responsibility, we need changes from Washington. The next six years will determine the fate of America. Congress and the nation are at a turning point, and we need a leader that will put America back on the right path.

As is obvious from his statement, Glenn Grothman, quite frankly, is nuttier than a Waldorf salad. (The good folks at Right Wing Watch have been kind enough to provide us with an extended tour of Grothmanalia's greatest hits.) He also doesn't presently live in the Sixth Congressional District, although he does not see this as a hindrance of any kind. Anonymous Republican "sources" already are trying to scare the 73-year old Petri out of running at all. The potential Democratic field is still a muddle, although former state attorney general Peg Lautenschlager would have the most name recognition among the possible challengers.

But one Republican leader, who asked not to be named, said Petri has been rattled by this talk of a possible GOP primary. The source put the odds at only 50-50 that the 73-year-old incumbent will run this fall.

Grothman may not be Petri's only problem. He also may face a state representative and one of the few close associates of Governor Scott Walker who is not spending his spare time talking to grand juries. If you're looking for the last fossilized remains of what used to be called "liberal Republicans," even though Petri has a 73 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union, here's the race to watch.