Republicans inch toward the middle

They’d like to win statewide again!

Good to get out of town Saturday 06-17-23. Drove from Madison to La Crosse for the Wisconsin Republican Convention. Beautiful city of 55,000 amidst the bluffs guarding the Mississippi River. Convention center nestles against a late 19th Century downtown full of boutiques, boîtes, ice creameries, and eateries — quaint and walkable.  

Convention registration desk said there had been drive-by shootings nearby the night before. Mayor is a Democrat, they explained.

This delegate tries to extract themes from these events. We’ll offer this:  Republicans got to go where the voters are. Newly elected party chairman Brian Schimming reminded convention goers that next year’s presidential election runs through five states — especially Wisconsin. Milwaukee is the site of the first debate in August and the national convention next summer.

Accordingly, Ron Johnson gave the most remarkable speech — not for its soaring rhetoric; his address was more of a disquisition on reuniting America. From Ron Johnson, the pol the mainstream press loves to hate almost as much as a certain former president and present candidate. Which brings to mind another take: Did not hear the name “Trump” invoked except when it was time to air the various pre-recorded welcomes from the candidates. His was good — dairy farmers, apparently, owe him, big time. Went toe to toe with Trudeau on exports.  

Bring voters your way when you can; go to them when you must.

Republican speaker Vos did not get booed!

Trump had the only swag concession of the announced candidates. Other recordings from Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Tim Scott. The one from Vivek Ramaswamy absolutely wowed. Got lots of applause. He really brought it, in a controlled, intellectual way.

Another take: No one booed Robin Vos this time. Delegates appreciated the millions he leveraged for school choice. Won hearts and minds with his war on Woke. His intent to defund UW diversity, equity, and inclusion race baiting — “burrowing like a tick into the university system” — is catnip to Republicans. Weaponized by the recent turn to transgenderism, men in the women’s locker room, puberty blockers, etc. Independents and standard-issue Democrats are tired of being pushed into that corner, as well. Go where the voters are.

The party’s circular firing squad failed to get a resolution on the floor condemning Vos for firing Mike Gableman and bad-mouthing Trump. As if these self-described Patriots never deride Trump skeptics as RINOs! (Blaska gave the Bronx cheer to the candidate from Mar-a-Lago. When his supporters chanted four more years, this delegate shouted “In Prison!” God bless the First Amendment. While we can.)

53% of delegates who volunteered for a straw poll conducted by WisPolitics.com preferred Trump; DeSantis came in second with about 34% of the vote.

Back to RoJo’s speech 

Ron wants to host a series of public debates: pit advocates for abortion versus pro-lifers. Hold referenda in each of the congressional districts: at what month do you ban abortion from conception to the moment of birth?

“We have to have a conversation about this. Talk honestly and with compassion. Maybe the other side has some points.”

— Sen. Ron Johnson

The Senator recognizes the absolute no-exceptions ban is a vote loser. Case in evidence: the April victory of pro-abortion Janet Protasiewicz for state supreme court. But RoJo is not a cold political calculator, he’s sincere about bridging the cultural divide. At that, delegates voted a hard-line pro-life plank, but not without significant dissent. This party has wiggle room. 

Another plank went down to defeat thanks to a youth rebellion; old townies wanted to make it more difficult for college students to vote in their campus precincts; would hurt on-campus recruitment, Milwaukee County’s chairman argued. He and Dane County’s GOP chairman are barely out of college themselves. 

Speaking of recruiting new Republicans: keynote speaker was [Correction} U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores. Born in Mexico and a legal immigrant, she is first Republican to win her Texas district. Another convention booth: the Frederick Douglass Project run by black Republicans.

Odds and ends

• Who gave the best speech? Brian Schimming. A real fighter, personable, and well known throughout the state. This happy warrior is our best shot for reclaiming the governor’s mansion in three years. 

• Party leaders like Schimming pushed early voting, although delegates resolved that voting should be held on election day, only.

• Big emphasis on grass roots — electing conservative school boards and city councils.

• Eric Hovde is running for U.S. senator against Tammy Baldwin. Not officially, but why else would he host a hospitality room? Convention goers who took the WisPolitics poll favor Tom Tiffany.

• RoJo praised Robert Kennedy Jr., “whom I’ve gotten to know well. He has an open mind.” The Werkes thinks Bobby Junior is Gene McCarthy to Biden’s LBJ.

Blaska’s Bottom Line: Joe Biden gets re-elected if Wisconsin Republicans insist on purity purges instead of making room in the tent. Convention goers, in our experience, tend to be the heavy breathers in both political parties. Independent voters don’t do political conventions.

What is YOUR bottom line?