The more I watch the Senate, the more I realize that I just don’t like many senators. I’m going to start ranking them by how much I like them and see if I can get to ten before I run out of people that I like at all.
1. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island- I like him best not only because he’s a solid liberal, but because he’s super-smart and hard working. I think he’s going to be a star for a long time. (Progressive Punch Rank: 5)
2. Bernie Sanders of Vermont- I like him because he refuses to identify as a Democrat, because he tells it like it is, and because he’s somewhat irascible. (Progressive Punch Rank: 7)
3. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin- Feingold is the strongest civil libertarian in the party. He has principles, and he’s smart. (Progressive Punch Rank: 35)
4. Ron Wyden of Oregon- Wyden is smart, he works hard, and he’s creative. (Progressive Punch Rank: 33)
5. Sherrod Brown of Ohio- He’s a very strong progressive in a difficult state. I also like his gravelly voice and unkempt style. (Progressive Punch Rank: 2).
6. Jack Reed of Rhode Island- He’s the son of a janitor, a former paratrooper, and he’s a solid liberal. I still wish Obama had selected him as his running mate. (Progressive Punch Rank: 6)
7. Patrick Leahy of Vermont- He’s a huge Dead Head and he doesn’t suffer fools lightly. I love the guy and he does a great job chairing the Judiciary Committee. (Progressive Punch Rank: 21)
8. Teddy Kennedy of Massachusetts- He gets a lifetime achievement award. His Progressive Punch score is corrupted by missed votes that are bringing down his score. (Progressive Punch Rank: 13)
9. Barbara Boxer of California- I like Boxer’s big mouth and her passion. I’ll like her better if she can learn to get things done. It’s her job to pass Cap & Trade. (Progressive Punch Rank: 12)
10. Tom Harkin of Iowa- There’s not much I don’t like about Tom Harkin. He’s just an all-around great politician and I wish we could clone him. (Progressive Punch Rank: 20)
Well, I made it to ten. I didn’t choose any Freshmen because they haven’t had enough time to establish a record, yet. But I have a lot of faith in Tom Udall of New Mexico, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Mark Begich of Alaska, and Al Franken of Minnesota.
Of the more established Democrats there are a few I like despite having some political differences. I like Jon Tester and Amy Klobuchar. I wish Dick Durbin would take over as Majority Leader. I have a lot of admiration for Patty Murray and Daniel Akaka. Carl Levin and Chris Dodd are good men that mean right.
The rest of the caucus, though, I find somewhere between ineffective and downright annoying.
As for the Republicans, I find Jeff Sessions and John Cornyn to be the most insufferable, Jim DeMint and Jon Kyl to be the dumbest, Jim Inhofe the craziest, and Tom Coburn the most effective at being a dick.