Notes from the WI Republican convention.
If we had to summarize the mood coming out of the state Republican convention at the Kalahari Resorts last weekend (we must! we must!) in one word it would be: giddy!
Thank the luck of the draw. Donald Trump would never have been President had it not been for two of the weakest opponents since Alf Landon. That’s how Republicans feel about Francesca Hong and Mandela Barnes, the two leading Democrats. Anyone else think Barnes drops out and Hong takes his supporters?
Ron Johnson always gives a meaty speech; few platitudes, no soaring rhetoric, not even a bottle rocket. More like a TED talk. Warned “If we are going to win, we’ve got to unify now.” The convention did that, which is a credit to party chairman Brian Schimming. “There is no room for division.”
Nothing unifies a political party like the prospect of success. Does that mean RINOs are welcome again? Even Robin Vos?
Laid out all the virtues of the cloture rule requiring 60 votes to pass meaningful legislation: usually requires working across the partisan aisle, assures more lasting legislation. RoJo is ready to axe it in order to pass the Save America Act, written to stop America’s supposedly crooked elections by requiring proof of citizenship. Wisconsin already has photo I.D. but doesn’t stop the anti-Vos crowd from imagining otherwise.
Speaking of whom, the Speaker and Senate leader Devin LeMahieu were no shows. Both are retiring, leaving a void at the top three leadership positions, including governor. Should have been given an ovation for their efforts.
As wonderful as the cloture rule may be, RoJo continued, he’ll vote to kill it in order to enact Save America. Figures that Democrats will do it when they take over the Senate, given that only two of them voted to keep it: Kristen Sinema and Joe Manchin and both are gone. So get there first, we suppose, is the strategy. Not convinced.
No socialists in sight
At political events, Blaska tries to sit at the banquet table with strangers. Sat with delegates from Trempealeau and Langlade Counties. Joined later by national committeeman Terry Dittrich who also chairs the largest county delegation, Waukesha. Wouldn’t you think this pompous stuffed suit would introduce himself to the rest of the table? But NO-ooo!
Engaged with a delegate from Antigo who asserts that the British Empire represented an existential threat to the USA. Blaska parried that the British don’t have an empire any more, a fact that did not relieve Antigo’s paranoia. An election denier, of course. That is this party’s achilles heel or original sin. Tiffany will keep trying to bat down those questions.
Dittrich was after Schimming’s hide until Sen. Johnson shut him down. Second district chairman Billie Johnson tells us he thought better of trying to depose Brian Schimming and withdrew his signature from the six required to call a special meeting.
The endorsement vote for lieutenant governor, which ultimately went to Will Martin over Dave Varnam, was displayed on the big screen in front of the hall. Was hoping the top of the screen had read “Dominion Voting Machines.” In Venezuelan Spanish.
Outside on the Wisconsin Dells Parkway, every manner of motor vehicle growled and roared night and day. The Automotion Classic Car show was in town — “Muscle cars, pony cars, trailer queens, land yachts, lead sleds, and dropheads.” City streets lit up red and blue from squad cars of every nearby jurisdiction issuing tickets for driving while American and all night long, from our hotel room, we could hear the leg pipes roar.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Sure enough, Tom Tiffany did some campaigning among the motorheads. Never miss an opportunity to meet with real people.
Would Hong have hung with the burn rubber crowd?
Leave a Reply