Why Did Tommy Thompson's Presidential Campaign Go Nowhere?

There are a few reasons that are obvious to all, but here are our less obvious thoughts.

1. Tommy was a bad fundraiser.

'What?' you say, 'Tommy was famous for his campaign's mastery of raking in campaign cash when he was governor!' ... Sure but he had guys for that. Tommy hadn't had to personally ask anyone for money since 1986. He sucked at it. We're in Milwaukee, there are easily a dozen CEOs here who got calls from Tommy. The calls were worse than bad. When an old donor got a call, if the donor hesitated to open their wallets Tommy went batshit. He probably destroyed more relationships in 4 months than he had built in 8 years.

2. He didn't put his own money into it.

'Sure he did, I read it somewhere.' Well you're right he did put his own money in. He put enough in to fund half of a competitive Wisconsin State Senate race, not enough to begin to be credible in a Presidential. And god knows that (according to his presidential financial disclosure forms) he had more than enough to drop in, if he had wanted to.

3. He didn't give up his day job. (Too lucrative)

4. He refused to follow his owns campaign plan.

5. Tommy started too late.

6. He announced too early.

7. He refuses to acknowledge that his hair color is goofy. (O.K. That is an obvious reason, sorry.)

8. He didn't do opposition research on himself, or if he did he didn't figure out what that meant to the viability of his run.

BUDGET HOLE DISCUSSIONS PROGRESS

Key Senate Democrats are looking at fixes to the $300 million budget hole recently created by the State Supreme Court. One "fix" that has not been ruled out is a surtax on gambling winnings. It is impermissable, apparently, for the state to tax the state's profitable tribal casinos directly. Taxing an individual's personal gambling winnings is entirely fair game though. A 40% to 60% rate has been thrown about.

The fat casino profits and tight financial constraints of the state are promting some to eye gaming as a fiscal target. One northern Democratic Senator reportedly strongly objects to the premise. Others say that even if it wouldn't bring in enough new funds directly from individual consumers, it would force tribes (especially the Ho Chunk) back to the compact negotiating table.

$300 million does tend to focus the mind.

Can't we all just get along?

State Capitol Basement Flooded

Nothing important was lost in the flooding, although Sec. of State LaFollette is missing.

JB VAN HOLLEN HATES GOD!

Yes, Its true!

Prayer nixed at rite for victims
Associated Press — 9/22/2007 9:17 am
The Wisconsin Department of Justice (i.e. JB Van Hollen) has removed religious content from a memorial service for murder victims planned for next week after a
watchdog (read: godless athiests) group complained.
A religious hymn called "This Too Shall Pass" and a closing prayer by a Lutheran
pastor will not be included in the ceremony as initially planned, department
spokesman Kevin St. John said Friday.
...

Pastor Charles Peterson, who had been scheduled to deliver the closing
prayer, said he believed other ceremonies would include prayer. He said
prayer can help mourners discover their spirituality."That's what people are
looking for when they take part in a remembrance like this," he said. "I don't think they are looking for liberal politics." As for the state's (Van Hollen's)
decision to cancel his prayer, he said: "That's fine with me. That's their loss,
not mine."

So, in his first 'at-bat' as Attorney General, JB Van Hollen sides with the
lefty athiests against the mourning families of murder victims. Nice.

But why? Could it be a conspiracy? Hmmmm.:

Eric Petersen Watch

Today the young go-getter and man-about-town seemed to have put on either a shirt that was too small or had shrunk in the wash.

"Okay, you've convinced me. Now go out there and bring pressure on me." President Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin

Here's a question if you move from Executive Assistant at DOA to Deputy Secretary at DNR is is a promotion?

Possibly. Probably.

It is a question though.

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In other news
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Speaker of the Assembly Mike Huebsch needs 24 Dem votes to pass the budget if it includes ANY TAX INCREASE. (i.e. any budget)

Think about this when you ponder why the budget deliberations drag on. The freshman and "no-tax ever" Republicans have delivered control of the budget into the hands of any Democrat that can give the Speaker the votes he needs to pass the budget.

What irony.

So it appears that the Senate Democrats have embarassed the Governor by proposing the largest, most over ambitious universal health proposal in the nation. They did it with no input from the Governor's office, over his staff's objections.

Because the Senators are members of his own party, the Governor has kept silent.

It is a grim and terrible silence.

Apparently, Sen. Erpenbach (the leader in all but name) has forgotten that the Governor has unparalleled veto power.


Hmmm.

BROYDRICK REVISITED:

Thank you for all the disgusting stories about Mr Broydrick that were sent to the comment section. This is certainly why "comment moderation" technology was invented.

If you'd like to add value to this uniquely lame blog (instead of sending in potentially libelous third-party accounts of questionable accuracy) please participate in our NEW GAME!!!

The game is called SPOTTED IN WISCONSIN!
In the comments you may submit a spotting of any notable figure in Wisconsin, when and where that legislative leader or nattering nabob was spotted and we'll post it.

The best 'spotter' will be dubbed Brilliant Detective of the Week! (and will also receive all the benefits associated with that illustious title!)

Go on, anyone can play.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY LEGISLATORS FAIL THIS:

Intelligence test!

DC Madame Has Friends in Wisconsin

We here are convinced that the calls to Bill Broydrick's cell [414 719-1399] are completely innocent.

Other, more cynical, people may have a different view.

Today Eric Petersen's client Equis had their senior Wisconsin executive indicted for corruption related to the sale of a State of Wisconsin building.

Hmmmmm.

This week Tommy Thompson decided to run for President!!!

Don't laugh.

Crazy UW Madison Lecturer

Jessica McBride at WTMJ has a story about the UW hiring some loon who believes the US Government plannned and executed 9/11. He also believes that Osama Bin Laden is dead and his occasional public statements are forgeries by the CIA, which he asserts runs Al-Queda.

Who cares? There is yet another loon in Madison, big whoop. Well this idiot is teaching about 9/11 at both Edgewood and UW Madison to freshman.

Our tax-dollars are being used to mis-educate a generation of students. He is being paid by us to slander America. That's more than stupid, its plain wrong.

There's an article at Badger Blog Alliance that compares Jim Doyle to Tony Earl.

Actually it is apparently a link to an article in the Journal.

Doyle is clearly doomed.


Or not...

FATHERS DAY

George Washington earned the title "Father of the Nation". It is interesting to learn that the Governor of Wisconsin now presides over roughly the same number of people that George Washinton did as our first President.

HERO OF THE AGE

Brian Blanchard's campaign was at the Farmers Market this morning. They were out in force.

It was not immediately apparent if the "volunteers" were still Assembly Democratic legislative staff.

You may recall that Blanchard has convicted Scott Jensen (a Republican) of felonies for the same activities that Blanchard engaged in. You may think that odd, but it is true. Blanchard used state employees to create and run his first campaign. Blanchard is a lawyer but defended his actions by saying he didn't know it was wrong.
He then indicted and convicted Scott Jensen (not a lawyer) for using state employees to campaign. Jensen defended his actions by using much the same defense as Blanchard had.

It didn't carry much weight with Blanchard. Jensen is looking at the end of his career and professional life.

This is not rank hypocrisy. No, this is enlightened, even "progressive" public service on Blanchard's part. The fact that he had even more evidence, including personal knowledge, of the same activities by Assembly Democrats must be ignored.

All hail Brian Blanchard "Hero of the Age"! Never ever whisper "hypocrite and corrupt politician" he might indict.