November 1, 2010

"Russ Feingold received a suspicious package on his doorstep in Middleton Saturday, which police deemed a prank..."

It turned out to be a board game and a letter signed "Thomas Jefferson."
The Dane County Bomb Squad searched the package...

Although the sender of the package has yet to be found, police traced the return address to a postal office in Illinois. The incident came on the heels of the recent interception of explosives headed for Jewish organizations in Chicago....
So it came in the mail? It was on his doorstep because that's where the postal worker left it? Who is supposed to call the bomb squad when an unsolicited package comes in the mail? (I get packages in the mail from addresses I don't recognize. Should I call the police?)

How is it even a prank? Someone sent him a joke gift. If Feingold shouldn't be getting packages delivered to his house, why does the Post Office deliver them? What does this have to do with "the recent interception of explosives"? It wasn't an inception. It was a delivered package. And there were no explosives. 

Is this a nonstory, the sort of non-"incident" that happens all the time, which we're hearing about because of the election? 

By the way, what board game was it? It was supposed to be funny in combination with Thomas Jefferson.

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is my last post and testament.

The Democrats will win it all tomorrow. How do I know? I am the best political analyst.

Why will this happen? Many reasons, such as --

The GOP is a party of the living dead or losers - "take your pick" (as NPR would say),

The GOP are best at self-destructing (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44449.html),

The Democrats are the best,

The Democrats know what the voters want and need,

The Democrats have the vision, &

The Democrats are the patriots.

Tomorrow, watch our victory in Nevada (Leader Reid is back!), Wisconsin
(Welcome back, Feingold!) and Illinois (Alexi, we have world bank in DC!).

What can you do?

Vote for Democrats in all offices and be part of a winning team. Or, you will be a LOSER.

What is next about me? I will be at the White House for 2012 re-election planning
against Palin, Huckabee, Romney, etc. (who cares) on Wed morning. We will plan a national GOP defeat
strategy.

Psota said...

OMG! Terrorists & H8! I'm going to vote Democratic! I just can't handle the pressure!

kent said...

What is next about me? I will be at the White House

"... with my wife, Morgan Fairchild. Yeah... yeah, that's the ticket...!"

Scott M said...

I get packages in the mail from addresses I don't recognize. Should I call the police?

I was going to say no. That Feingold is a very public official and that's a bit different. On second thought, though, you have become a public personality so some caution on your part is simply prudent...at this juncture (lol, couldn't resist that last bit).

What's funny is the thought that the Democrats would be better at handling security matters. This is the crew that thinks happy birthday twitters to antagonists are a swell idea.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Since Russ is gonna be unemployed and have a lot of free time, he could use a "bored" game.

It will be interesting how many of these soon to be out of work pols will be "99ers" in two years.

Anonymous said...

"This is my last post and testament. "

Thank God that's over....

AllenS said...

I smell bullshit. Is this the first package that he's ever received? If not, did he always call the police after the PO left a package? He's panicking.

He must be worried that the only vote he's going to receive, will be from Althouse.

former law student said...

I get packages in the mail from addresses I don't recognize. Should I call the police?

The Unabomber's reign of terror began with a package sent to Northwestern University professor Buckley Crist. So I would say, yes, especially because there was no known connection between the Kaczynski and Crist.

MadisonMan said...

He must be worried that the only vote he's going to receive, will be from Althouse.

Wrong! I know plenty of people voting for Russ.

The Dude said...

Our long national nightmare is finally over. We were made increasingly stupid due to the semi-literate rants of an hdhouse/Titus wannabe. May God have mercy on our souls.

Scott M said...

Wrong! I know plenty of people voting for Russ.

plenty != plurality

ndspinelli said...

"Oliver Stone, let me introduce you to Ann Althouse."

garage mahal said...

Wingers hate Jefferson. I doubt it's them.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Sheesh

If Feingold is so afraid of packages delivered by the US Post Office, I suggest he get a P.O. Box and pick up his mail there.

He must faint when Fed Ex or UPS delivers something from Amazon.

Clyde said...

There was one back in the early '80s called "Lie, Cheat & Steal." Don't know if it's still around, although the basic nature of politicians has not changed in that time.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

I'm guessing it was this game

OK, OK.I admit that has nothing to do with Thomas Jefferson.

traditionalguy said...

Maybe Russ can get a job at the Post Office to run up the years on his Federal retirement benefits. They must need a few more Czars in Russia on the Potomac. Then 2012 and the deluge comes.

garage mahal said...

Not even a prank. Joke-Gift! This has to be a non-story! The post office delivers mail, Russ Feingold lives somewhere!

LOL

former law student said...

If Feingold is so afraid of packages delivered by the US Post Office, I suggest he get a P.O. Box and pick up his mail there.


That won't work in all cases. Consider that Crist received his package not on his doorstep, but at the university. Suspicious, he called campus security. The Northwestern police officer opened the package, which exploded.

Clyde said...

Here is is:

Lie, Cheat & Steal

traditionalguy said...

But obviously this package could be from an evil sex offender who supports Joe Miller in Alaska. And Miller cannot prove it isn't true before Tuesday. I could be a professional Journalist. In fact I already know more anonymous liars than most Journalists need in an entire career.

Scott M said...

Maybe Russ can get a job at the Post Office to run up the years on his Federal retirement benefits.

Can anyone 'splain to me why members of Congress get life-long bennies in the first place?

The Dude said...

Scott M - you are kidding, right? Because they make the freakin' laws.

Scott M said...

Scott M - you are kidding, right? Because they make the freakin' laws.

You are correct, of course. I misspoke (meaning incorrectly spoke, as opposed to the Clinton/Sestak type which is just dishonesty).

I meant to say, why should they get lifetime bennies.

former law student said...

Can anyone 'splain to me why members of Congress get life-long bennies in the first place?

The Congressional Research Service is helpful. Basically, to encourage turnover. Bastards, throw yourselves out!

In 1946, P.L. 79-601 again extended CSRS [Civil Service Retirement Plan] coverage to Congress, at the option of Members, with higher contributions and greater benefits than those applicable to regular federal employees. In reference to that legislation, S.Rept. 79-1400 (May 31, 1946) stated that a retirement plan for Congress: would contribute to independence of thought and action, [be] an inducement for retirement for those of retiring age or with other infirmities, [and] bring into the legislative service a larger number of younger Members with fresh energy and new viewpoints concerning the economic, social, and political problems of the Nation.

The Dude said...

Oh, different question - they should not. But clearly voters are not paying attention, so they will continue to get free top-notch health care, pensions, COLA raises and benefits for their family and, apparently friends, forever. Some animals are more equal than others.

WV: scrupl - seriously !?!?!

Abdul Abulbul Amir said...

The old board game, "Lie. Cheat, and Steal" would be perfect.

Jim said...

This is my last post and testament.

Promise? Forever?

Listen. On your way out, there's a bunch of Democrats who are going to need a ride home. Make sure you stop and pick them up. Think of all the carbon you'll save by carpooling!

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

I bet someone sent him Clue.

kimsch said...

FLS: yeah, that worked. Nobody retires at 62-65 - most of them wait until they're at room temperature or lose an election.

Burris won't get a federal pension however. After being appointed by Blagojevich, and being replaced on Wednesday (as a result of the special election being held tomorrow as well as the general) he doesn't have enough time in the senate. Which is good since he has two state pensions already.

Either Mark Kirk or Alexi Giannoulias will start in the Senate this week.

wv: refarpe

Unknown said...

The possibility of a letter bomb always exists, but, as Psota notes, one can't discount some Demo wanted to stir up some sympathy for him.

America's Politico said...

This is my last post and testament.

Notice he didn't say it was his will...

John Lynch said...

I bet someone sent him Clue.

Don't think he has one.

MadisonMan said...

In reference to that legislation, S.Rept. 79-1400 (May 31, 1946) stated that a retirement plan for Congress: would contribute to independence of thought and action, [be] an inducement for retirement for those of retiring age or with other infirmities, [and] bring into the legislative service a larger number of younger Members with fresh energy and new viewpoints concerning the economic, social, and political problems of the Nation.

It's unfortunate that they didn't build in a revokation of that bill if the predicted benefits didn't occur.

jungatheart said...

It was an ouiji board from Crack.

Drew said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Drew said...

Now I really want to know what boardgame it was. "Founding Fathers"?

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37358/founding-fathers

Big Mike said...

Let's see. Liars Poker isn't a board game. I got on Amazon.com and found some possibilities:

- Sorry

- Smart Ass

- Ticket to Ride

- Take it Easy

- Don't Count on It

- Reversi

- Life (as in he should get one?)

- The Game of Truth (which you could send to any politician)

Surely no one would be crass enough to send him a copy of Hangman, would they?

Trooper York said...

It was an old board game from the fifties called "Miscegenation."

It's where Tom Jefferson got to pick which slave he wanted to impregnate.

It was one of Bobbie Byrd's favorites. A Democratic classic from the company that brought you the Orvil Fabus whiffle ball bat and the George Wallace "Not a Dime's Worth of Difference Monopoly Game."

Paul said...

Seriously now, no one has guessed "Clue"? It was obviously Thomas Jefferson, in the conservatory, with the suspicious package.

holdfast said...

If Feingold or one of his staff had a bad feeling about the package, then calling the cops was the right thing to do. He's a public figure and the world is full of whackos and losers (ok, it's mostly the comments section on Althouse.blogspot.com, but whatever).

How this became a story in the press is another question . . .

traditionalguy said...

I blame Joe Miller. He probably hates Finegold, and doesn't know how to spell his name either...that illiterate Alaskan redneck. Going to West Point and Yale on redneck Affirmative Action fools no one. A real Yale man understands bribery is a part of political life, and all that honor stuff is only for the proles.

campy said...

I get packages in the mail from addresses I don't recognize. Should I call the police?

If you're trying to fabricate a "violent right-wing extremists" meme out of thin gruel, then yes.

former law student said...

If you're trying to fabricate a "violent right-wing extremists" meme out of thin gruel...

Right, because there's no other reason why a Midwestern Jew would fear what would be in an unexpected package this week when explosive packages were shipped to Midwestern Jews.

Fen said...

FLS: Right, because there's no other reason why a Midwestern Jew would fear what would be in an unexpected package this week when explosive packages were shipped to Midwestern Jews.

ie. its only "racist" when Juan Williams fears it.

former law student said...

fen, the package was wearing Muslim garb?

Scott M said...

fen, the package was wearing Muslim garb?

If the return address was Yemen, I would say that would have to qualify these days.

Phil 314 said...

The Unabomber's reign of terror began with a package sent to Northwestern University professor Buckley Crist. So I would say, yes, especially because there was no known connection between the Kaczynski and Crist.

I'm struggling to keep up with the narrative. I thought conservatives and neo-cons had created an unnecessary atmosphere of fear and that we needed to "restore sanity".

David said...

The game was Candyland.

That's where Russ has been for most of his adult life.

former law student said...

I thought conservatives and neo-cons had created an unnecessary atmosphere of fear

They wear only No Fear sportswear at the Meadhouse.

pdug said...

my suggestions are on Boardgamegeek.

http://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/60614/what-game-did-russ-feingold-receive-from-thomas-je