OK, Cheeseheads--A question:

[Jackpine Radical]

Who the hell we gonna run against Scott Wanker in the recall?

Rumor has it that Kohl would reluctantly accept the interim osition with the understanding that he wouldn't run for re-election.

That would be a less-than-ideal situation; I should think we would want someone who would continue for at least one full term.

Tom Barrett is an obvious candidate. Another might be John Erpenbach.

What are your ideas?

[mojowork_n]

1. Sen. Herb would be near the very, very bottom of my list.

If I had a list.

Which isn't to say anything at all against Herb. I've been on his Christmas Card list for how long? He's a great guy.

But for something like this, a "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" fresh-faced outsider would be far more likely to
get across the message that needs to be spread. ....Something along the lines of "enough of this corrupt, crony,
self-serving B.S., already."

I don't have a name or a suggestion, but that's my take on it.

[HereSince1628]

2. If we're going oldies but goodies, why not Doug LaFolette?

Barrett would not be on my list.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I hadn't thought of Doug; a weird idea maybe, but he sure has

(family) name recognition in the state.

[mojowork_n]

4. The other day...

... a friend of mine received a fund-raising letter from the Wanker campaign.

It included a postage-prepaid return envelope, so I convinced him to return the form
with "NONE, Zero, Nothing" for the "amount of contribution," just so that the cost of
the postage would go to waste, plus whatever time and motion were expended to open
the empty envelope. (With a few extra hand written, bubble-printed choice comments.)

But it was interesting to see how they were pitching their brand. Wanker was touted
as the anti-"business as usual" candidate. Representing the best interests of the ordinary
tax payer against the "status quo."

If that kind of 'rockin' the boat to help you cope' message is something that the
marketing geniuses on the Republican side expect to play up if there is a recall, it would be
better if our side didn't run the Coelacanthe of Wisconsin State politics, in opposition.



I'm not suggesting any names, but I just think a fresh face, a relative newcomer, would
be best.

I mean, who the hell knew or was familiar with Senator DumbAss, Ron Johnson,
before he threw his millions -- an accountant, he married the boss's daughter --
into the campaign against Feingold?

The candidate's important, but as Feingold himself showed -- when he first ran --
the platform and message and the right sort of believable pedigree might be more
important than name recognition.

[undeterred]

5. I'm hoping it will be Jon Erpenbach for the long haul.

Jon had already said he would run for Congress a few months ago. But this week two people from the Assembly- Mark Pocan and Kelda Helen Roys - both have said they will run for Tammy's seat. Either one would make a fine representative. Mark has a big mouth, in a good way, and I think he would represent our district very well. Mark and Kelda have to give up their seats to run.

I think it would be a waste of Democratic money and energy for these two and Erpenbach to battle it out with each other for a year. They are all good people. Jon is the best. I wrote Jon and asked him to think about running for Governor or Senator. Well, I don't think he'll run against Tammy. But I really think Jon is ready to be Governor and not just to finish Walker's term.

He is supposed to make an announcement soon about whether he is running for the Congressional seat. It wouldn't hurt to drop him a line and encourage him to run. Although Miller was the lead, I think Erpenbach was really the spokesman during the Exodus in February and March. He's smart and wellspoken and people remember him.

[sybylla]

9. I thought Erp was already in on running for Baldwin's seat.

At least one person I spoke with yesterday (who should know) feels he's already in, even if he hasn't made it official.

I like Erp a lot. I heard him speak at the Chippewa Dem's Dinner this spring (and several times before that) and have always been very impressed with how he can work a room and speak to the average Joe and Jane.

But then I hear (admittedly this is totally a rumor, YMMV) from people who have worked with him in Madison that he has an unabashed temper that might not suit him well on the campaign trail or in the Governor's office. I didn't see any sign of it while the Fab 14 were in Illinois. But if it's true and it comes with a vengeful streak (like Doyle's did), I'm not sure I want to go down that road again no matter how great a candidate and Governor I think he might be.

[undeterred]

11. He has not announced yet.

I'm not sure that he knew about Pocan and Roys. I think he would probably beat them for the seat but he could win the governors seat if he wants it.

[HelenWheels]

6. I'd go with Erpenbach

He has the energy needed to be a good candidate.

[Sportsguy]

7. I Like Kohl Better Than Barrett

Barrett doesn't seem to have that "fire in the belly".

[sybylla]

8. I hear Dave Obey's and Ron Kind's names touted about

I bet Dave Obey would take the same "just until next election" position on running and he'd be way better than Kohl in that at least he's not afraid to show everyone he has balls. And he's far to old to take any shit.

Kind might be more likely to run in a recall than run in a general, simply because he wouldn't have to give up his congressional seat to do it. I think he would stand a great chance with voters outside Madison and Milwaukee. I think it will all depend on the timing, whether he actually gets in.

Those two men aside, there are a ton of rumors running round about lots of people who might, just maybe, kinda, wanna think about it.

Whew. The speculation is getting crazy.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Well, if temper would count against Erpenbach, what about Obey?

He's not exactly lacking in volatility, ya know.

Hi, Sybylla. :hug:

[sybylla]

13. Yep, it should.

The lesser of evils is always a sliding scale.

Aside from the pure entertainment value of seeing Walker go up against Obey, he is far from my first choice. My gut says we shouldn't be running a place-holder candidate. We should have someone who's committed to the job and to turning Wisconsin blue for the long term (because the long term is what it will take to right this ship).

But I can see the advantages of a place holder - someone who can get in there and do all the things we'll need to do to repair Walker's damage without thinking about the next election. If the choice is Obey or Kohl, then I pick Obey. Kohl just doesn't have the fire in his belly.

Obey vs. Erp, Erp wins in my book. I know Obey's temper. Erp's is just a rumor at the moment.

:hug: Back at you, Jack. It's been too long. I wish I could say I'd see you at Bob Fest next weekend, but it looks like we're probably not going.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. Between Obey & Kohl there's no contest in my mind.

Obey for sure. Kohl just isn't dynamic, as you say, and I much prefer Obey's feistiness. He IS pissed enough at Walker & Co. to go for the throat.

Sadly, I probably won't make B-Fest either. I just got a fairly complicated forensic case dropped on me that will probably require me to work through both this weekend & next.

[undeterred]

12. What about Barbara Lawton?

(who should have been on the ticket in the first place...)

[midnight]

15. I like her too... I've heard she is truely caring and was helpful to some during the flooding

that happened two summers ago.. She showed up to their flooded out home and helped them out....

[midnight]

14. I like the idea of Tom Barret... He knows how to balance a budget and attract business...

[undeterred]

18. Walker beat Barrett.

It just seems like a bad idea to run the same race again.

[HelenWheels]

17. Obey won't do it

I don't believe he has another campaign in his future. I do like Barb Lawton.