• John McCain's temper is "not what people make it out to be," and "I don't think it would affect his ability to run the country. "
• McCain would "be a good president."
• The New York Times' report last week suggesting McCain might have had an inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist years ago was "a bad piece of journalism. "

Do these pleasant opinions about the Republican near-nominee belong to:

A. Paul Ryan, the GOP congressman from Janesville who 's mentioned as a possible running-mate for McCain.

B. Russ Feingold, the Democratic senator from Middleton who worked with McCain to pass campaign finance reform.

The correct answer is Feingold, who had plenty of good things to say about McCain -- "an older buddy of mine " -- during a meeting with the State Journal editorial board Friday.

Feingold is not endorsing the Arizona senator for president. Feingold is just one of those rare politicians in Washington D.C. who goes out of his way to cooperate with political opponents to get things done -- regardless of what his own party leaders might think.

When I asked Feingold if he ever considered, even for a split second, backing McCain for president, he mused: "When you're on a bridge, you imagine what it would feel like to jump off."

In other words, absolutely not.

Feingold says McCain is wrong on Iraq. It 's not the McCain-backed surge that 's been key to reducing violence there, he argues. It 's radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr 's cease-fire.

Feingold wants out of Iraq. McCain wants to stay in to try to win.

On trade, Feingold is a protectionist compared to McCain's free-market views. The two differ on social issues such as abortion.

Feingold has all but endorsed Democratic front-runner Barack Obama for president. Obama has "exceptional analytical ability." Obama would be a "young, charismatic president" with "enormous historical opportunity" to build support and respect for America around the world, Feingold says.

Despite run-ins with Hillary Clinton of New York in the past, Feingold made it perfectly clear he would support her over McCain if she became the Democratic nominee.

Still, it's refreshing to hear such a prominent Democrat and darling of the far left refusing to engage in political trench warfare during a presidential election year.

You can judge both men -- McCain and Feingold -- by the friendship they keep.

Milfred is editorial page editor for the Wisconsin State Journal; smilfred@madison.com or 608-252-6110.