and lived to tell about it!
So far, so good. A certain delegate took out a vendor booth at the Republican state convention here in Rothschild WI, which is just south of Wausau, apparently. You can see Rib Mountain from here, the second highest point in our lovely state.
The booth at Central Wisconsin Convention and Expo Center cost $250, which we are splitting with two others, one of whom chairs Sawyer County Republicans. The other is from Madison and likes to remain anonymous. He has to do business in Madison.
We’re right across from the Turning Point USA booth and down the line from the Trump paraphernalia booth offering gaudiness for sale — caps, various tchotchkes, and T-shirts that read “Trump 2028.” Doing a brisk business. A talkative fellow who bills himself as Wisco Rolf opened up shop next to us. His table is laden with books, including a bio of Adlai Stevenson which, at this writing, has gone unclaimed even though Rolf’s entire inventory is free for the taking. No limits.
Our booth consists of the five posters displayed here. Taking pride of place in the center is the by now-iconic photograph of the QAnon Shaman in mid-rebel yell. If President #45 and #47 has his way, America will soon see that image on a postage stamp. Forever. The legend on this poster reads, “It wasn’t stolen, we just lost! Quit blaming Nancy for January 6.“
It’s a simple truth that my Republican Party must accept if it wants to enlarge its tent.
‘It wasn’t stolen’
These are not words otherwise heard at a Republican convention— not even whispered over the third free cup of wine at the Bill Berrien for Governor hospitality suite. Wanted to introduce myself but the unofficially announced candidate was chatting with Derrick Van Orden. They’re both former Navy Seals and I didn’t want to be a buttinsky amidst that kind of testosterone. Although, it must be said, that is the why of these hospitality rooms. These candidates need foot soldiers like us, even if some of the delegates are RINOs. (Ahem.)
The lone actually announced candidate is Josh Shoemann, exec of Washington County. His hospitality suite was next door. The state congressional delegation hosted the third suite. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany was speaking to the chair of Pierce County (a very sensible lady) as your irascible blogger brushed past. “BLASKA!” the congressman interjected. Turns out Tom reads this blog (Hi, Tom!) Earlier in the day, we had left blank the Wisconsin State Journal’s straw poll under the governor line. (Nikki Haley was our choice for President.) If we can get that ballot back we’ll check Tiffany. He is interested. Spoke at our Second District Caucus in Pine Bluff. Blow in Blaska’s ear and he will follow.
Back to the posters
He may not have commissioned it but the current President disseminated a likeness of himself as the new Pope. Most of these delegates would tell Blaska to Get Over It. But we cannot. Reagan would not have beclowned himself like that. He was comfortable enough in his own skin not to reach for such cheap aggrandizement.
Maybe the second-most controversial of our posters praises Robin Vos, Speaker of the Assembly. A Republican! Vos and his majority bedevil Democrats every day of the week and twice on Sunday. But the Speaker is loathed by a significant number of Cultists who will never forgive him for refusing to overturn 45’s defeat in 2020 and — to compound his iniquity — firing Michael Gableman when that former state Supreme Court justice showed himself to be a nut case.
The two other posters can explain themselves. We have speeches to hear this Saturday and resolutions to enact, for what little difference they will make. We’ll see if Turning Point and the Cultists mount an effort to defenestrate our hard working and engaged state chairman, Brian Schimming. Back in Dane County, we will have a chairman and vice chairman to replace, since both have quit.
Speaking of resolutions, one of them demands an end to same-day voter registration. Another bid to placate the election deniers. We are comme-ci, comme-ça on that one but did notice that the party is offering same-day registration for the convention.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: A good sign. No one has trashed our Truth booth, but the convention has one more day to go. The party can’t win without Nikki Haley Republicans. Don’t piss us off.
6 responses to “Blaska took out a booth at the Republican convention”
I appreciate, and respect your courage, for focusing on how essential it is for the Republican Party to go forward in the future to reject Mr. Trump’s claims of a stolen election in 2020, for which, in 61 court cases, he presented not one shred of credible evidence.
But I would urge you to add to that the need to reject Mr. Trump’s blatant and terrifying transformation of prosecution into a naked weapon of personal vindictiveness on top of political abuse.
Both are equally a threat to democratic government.
Now your turn to opine on what the left needs to atone for going forward.
Do NOT irritate either one of the Nikki Haley Republicans.
She did receive 76,752 votes in last April’s GOP Wisconsin primary, yours truly included.
Since you asked who is blowing in my ear, I say no one. However I do get a lot in the mail. I don’t like phone calls.
“Reagan would not have beclowned himself like that. He was comfortable enough in his own skin not to reach for such cheap aggrandizement.”
You’re speaking of the man who costarred with a chimp (bechimped himself?), put shoe polish in his hair and married Nancy “chrome off a trailer hitch” Davis. Likely had dementia during his presidency, dutifully covered up by Nancy (not nearly as bad as Joe).
Lighten up on the hero worship.
Read his diary. Perspicacious right up to the final day. You want moral clarity? “Tear Down This Wall!”