Is it great to be a Republican?

Tommy Thompson thinks so!

Buzz went through the room at Republican pints & politics, held at the Dorf Haus in rural Roxbury WI Wednesday night 01-7-26, ably emceed by WiscoRolf.

Tommy Thompson was in the house! No one works a room like Tommy. The living legend hugs and chortles his way from diner to diner — even former Dane County exec Jonathan Barry, who fought TGT for the GOP nomination 40 years ago. Threw up his hands when he espied the Head Groundskeeper, his nose deep in a flagon of Hacker Pschorr. That’s when Tommy does his shake and bake: grabs you by both shoulders, gives you a good shake, and demands to know HOW THE HELL ARE YOU?! Nobody does that! Retail politics!

Wasn’t on the agenda. Didn’t have a speaking role. At age 84, the man just needs to press the flesh because, well, he truly loves people. (We, on the other hand, just put up with them.) One can disagree with Tommy, but he’s probably more loved than ever these days of double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Tommy led the nation in reforming welfare and giving poor parents school choice — the foundation of any conservative platform — sometimes despite a Democrat(ic) legislature. He predicted Rose Bowls and Super Bowls when Wisconsin football was fumbling the coin toss. Spoke small town Wisconsin. His little bit of sugar helped the medicine go down.

Is Josh Shoemann the answer? 

Might be, if the question is: How do Republicans recapture the governor’s office? We like Tom Tiffany, who just about owns “the base,” but do his bright-red politics translate south of Highway 8? General agreement that Dane County, accounting for the third-most Republican votes, must do better than the anemic 20.7% it gave Tim Michels four years ago. (Turns out he could not buy the election, after all.)

If it’s time for something completely different, Josh Shoemann is pretty different. (Name is pronounced “Show Man.”) Said Roxbury was his 29th visit to Dane County — the Republican primary is way off in August! Has executive experience running Washington County (think West Bend). Got that Billy Bob Thornton / Landman thing going with enough John Denver to take the edge off — in contrast to the over-consulted “out-of-state” millionaires the party keeps running.

This guy has quiet star power.

From Baghdad to Princeton to Washington County, I’ve served — in uniform, in government, and in the community. I’ve seen what works, and I know what doesn’t. Wisconsin doesn’t need more politics. We need more neighbors. That means fighting for working families, cutting red tape, restoring faith in our institutions, and building a state where our kids and retirees want to stay — and can afford to. If you believe Wisconsin’s best days are still ahead, you’re in the right place. — Josh Shoemann

BONUS PLATINUM SUBSCRIBER FILLER: Eleven conservative/moderates running for Dane County supervisor — not bad. Of course, Paul Fanlund’s uniparty is fielding a progressive to challenge the 37-member board’s lone conservative, Jeff Weigand.

Used to it by now

Barbara Dittrich represents deeply Republican Oconomowoc in the state Assembly. Pointing to MacIver Institute data, she says:

THIS is what all of the Republican in-fighting has cost us: A 6% slide to the left [Democrats] in Waukesha County [in eight years], a 6.9% slide to the left in Ozaukee County, and a 4% slide to the left in Washington County! STOP THE INSANITY! Can we all see now that labeling people as “RINOs” … is repugnant to the average voter who just wants the government out of their life, lower taxes, and schools that … turn out kids that can read and do math?!

Elon Musk’s MAGA approval hurt Brad Schimel for state supreme court last year. Morning Consult’s December 2025 numbers say the President is underwater in all seven battleground states, most notably in Wisconsin, where 54% disapprove.

Blaska’s Bottom Line: Back to Josh Shoemann. No vitriol, no name calling, no score settling. We kind of like him anyway.

Will it be great to be a WI Republicans this year?