Tommy Distracted

While I was watching Mark Green accept the GOP endorsement Jenna at Right off the Shore was watching Tommy Thompson:

After his speech, he sat on the bleachers behind Green, and proceeded to ignore every word Green said. At one point, someone said he saw him check his Blackberry, and he slumped, holding his head in his hands. It looked a tad disrespectful. But whatever--he did want the job.

"My Day-Late Notes"

Recuperating

Running around a political convention for a day and a half is exhausting. A 28-hour pause from the computer was a good thing. Seeing the MSM working the same beat always impresses me. They've got better stamina than me.

Straw Poll Results

WisPolitics.com held a straw poll at the GOP convention:

GOP activists voting in the annual WisPolitics.com Straw Poll this weekend favored JB Van Hollen for attorney general, Tommy Thompson for U.S. Senate and George Allen for president.

Van Hollen and Thompson were heavily favored by official convention attendees as the picks to represent Republicans on the November ballot, while Allen, with 61 votes, narrowly edged Rudy Giuliani (60), Newt Gingrich (53) and Condi Rice (50) as the current choice for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008.

Van Hollen continues to do well among activists. However his opponent Waukesha District Attorney Paul Bucher should do well in populous Southeast Wisconsin. I'm still neutral in the race (despite the Van Hollen ad you see to the left). Both appear to be good replacements for Peg Lautenschlager.

Tommy winning hands down means he still has tremendous Republican support. But the convention would have been an ideal time to annouce he was challenging Sen. Kohl. Tommy likes to be the man in charge instead of one voice among 100. I don't see him running.

Sen. George Allen edging out Rudy Giuliani shows the GOP Presidential race is wide open. No one has an edge or seems to be getting activists to support them early. I'm not surprised the top two have executive experience. In war time people will want someone who they feel has experience making tough decisions.

Sen. McCain was a distant sixth. He can try all he wants by speaking at Jerry Fallwell's Liberty University he's burn too many bridges to have conservatives support him in the primary season. Now, in a general election against say Hillary Clinton? That's a different story.

"Allen, Thompson & Van Hollen Favored in WisPolitics GOP Convo Straw Poll"

Green Sits Down With Webloggers

After accepting his party's endorsement for governor Congressman Mark Green sat down with Boots & Sabers, Lakeshore Laments, and The American Mind. We talked about the conservative divide, stem cells, and the UW System.

On mending the wounds from the Taxpayers Protection Amendment debacle Green acknowledges the problem. "They're clearly has been a fracture" in the Republican Party. "We've got to pull it together" in order to have a "governing conservative majority." He told us, "The legislature is missing a Republican governor. They need someone who can carry the message to every part of the state. The one person who has the big megaphone, the bully pulpit." He wants to make Republicans comfortable to know "they are running with a guy who supports lowering the tax burden" and limiting government. Green's solution to uniting conservatives is to hammer on taxes. "You would think that lowering the tax burden is about the best issue to unite the party."

On stem cells Green finds it "terrible that the governor would take an issue that is pretty sensitive" and use it as a "political sledgehammer." Green doesn't "believe that any research should be persued without some idea of there being ethics and morality to it." In contrast Gov. Doyle "apparently believes that any research is fair game." Green is "thrilled about the biotech explosion down in Madison" but doesn't think we "have to leave our moral compass behind."

I asked Green about what could be done to make UW-Milwaukee a regional center for economic growth. I mentioned the possibility of a name change. While not offering an opinion about a name change he did stress the importance of the university. Because graduates of that university are likely to remain in the Milwaukee area Green sees investment there as very important. "Everything that we invest in UW-Milwaukee... is going to pay off so much for our state. Because we know these folks are staying," said Green.

A second question I asked Green was whether he thought there were too many UW campuses. Should some be closed? I mentioned the three schools so close to each other in Western Wisconsin. Green doesn't want to close any schools. He joked that while going to college in Eau Claire there were three colleges within one hour of his apartment. Each school had its own "deputy vice-assistant chancellor." He offered the idea of "regionalize administrative services." The savings "would go back into access, back into affordability."

My questions allowed Green to go off on how disaffected he was with the UW System. He called it "burearucratically out of control." "Too much of the money that is getting spent in my estimation is getting eaten up in that bureaucracy, and that has to change." As a product of the UW System he remains loyal to it. He just wants reforms. "They're great. I just don't think they've been led very well."

Here's the audio.

Perking Up Petri

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Craig Gilbert made Congressman Tom Petri's valium-like droning seem like something semi-exciting. That, my friends, takes talent.

"Sleeping With the Enemy"

Up Coming

Paul Bucher's whistle-blowing supporters (I'm blaming Jessica McBride for the idea) chased me out of the convention hall. Since neither Bucher nor J.B. Van Hollen will get the party's endorsement there's no need for me to be in the ballroom.

I recorded both Tommy Thompson's and Mark Green's speeches. Both were pretty good. I was impressed with Green's. I also recorded Green's press conference. As a bonus Green gave webloggers a few minutes to ask him questions. I'm working on writing those up and will try to get some audio posted.

Tommy Was Here

The rumor of Tommy Thompson ditching the convention was false. He showed up, delivered the ra-ra speech he's good at, beat up Gov. Doyle, told everyone to support Mark Green, then promptly left town. Greg Bump guesses Tommy was in Appleton all of two hours.

Mark Green on Ethics

A big issue in the governor's race will be ethics. Here are excerpts from Mark Green's upcoming speech:

Excerpts from Green's acceptance speech:
"Jim Doyle is so addicted . he's so addicted . to special interest cash that
when I asked him to agree to run a clean campaign and limit spending to $1
per Wisconsinite - that's five and a half million dollars - he wanted no
part of it.

"He's selling the soul of our state, and we're not going to stand for it
anymore!

"Jim Doyle and his crew say they want to keep Wisconsin moving forward, but
they just can't seem to grasp the fundamentals of what makes us different .
what makes us special . what makes us Wisconsin.

"They're stuck in the Madison mindset of minutiae and maneuvering.

"You are going to hear a lot from me in the coming months about what I think
is wrong about the Doyle administration . but it comes directly from a
deep-seated belief in what is right about Wisconsin.

"I believe we need to respect and fight for the values that made us what we
are. Values like faith and family, hard work, love of country, devotion to
the outdoor life.

"My friends, we will run with an agenda this is not only worthy of election,
but worthy of Wisconsin.

"I want to tap into the strength and character and ingenuity of our people.

"I want us thinking big again - not big government - but big ideas, big
dreams."

Walker Nominates Green

Scott Walker nominated Mark Green and received a standing ovation. The rank-and-file love Scott for bowing out of the Governor's race. Walker told the convention, "Jim Doyle is fundamentaly wrong for Wisconsin." "Jim Doyle doesn't beleive in anything except getting re-elected." Mark Green has an "uncommon level of common sense" and "has a plan to move our state forward."

Tommy Rumor

The current rumor floating around the convention is "Will Tommy Thompson will show up?" A Green staffer told me Tommy would be introducing Mark Green then they would do a joint press conference after Mark's speech. An hour later the rumor was Tommy wasn't in Appleton and wouldn't be coming. Tommy not showing up would be the first surprise at the convention, and it would be a big one with political watchers wondering. If Tommy shows up I wonder how fast he will leave. Word has it he has a flight scheduled late this afternoon.

Mark Green on Taxes

Along with education taxes will play a prominent part in Mark Green's acceptance speech:

"We must stand strong for lowering the tax burden - because it's robbing families of their dreams and sapping this state of her strength.

"Wisconsin's tax burden is the 7th highest in the country. Our state and local taxes are nearly 10% more than the national average.

"Jim Doyle had his chance to help our taxpayers, and he failed.

"He failed by vetoing a property tax freeze three times in just three years, and now those taxes have risen another $600 million.

"He failed because our state's tax burden is tying an anchor to every entrepreneur, every senior, every graduate, every family. When they find the ladder of opportunity, big government is right there to hold them back and hold them down.

"But you and I are going to toss that weight aside - we won't stand for it any more.

"I support constitutional limits on taxes and spending on all levels of government; it's time we empower taxpayers with the right to simply say,
"no more!"

"It all boils down to this: I began this campaign with this simple pledge: Elect me as your governor, and Wisconsin's tax burden will improve, or I won't run for re-election. I'll keep my promise or step aside for someone who will."

Excerpts from Mark Green's Acceptance Speech

Around 2:30 p.m today, Tommy Thompson will introduce Mark Green. After the speech both will do a press conference.

Before that is the endorsement process. Scott Walker will nominate Green.

The Green campaign has released some excerpts from is acceptance speech. Mark will be pushing hard on education:

Excerpts from Green's acceptance speech:

"Under Governor Green, our schools will serve the needs of our families, not just the wish list of WEAC.

"Some of you know that Sue and I spent a year as volunteer teachers in Africa just after finishing college. Where we taught, education wasn't compulsory and it wasn't free.

"In our village, families had to pay a school fee for their children to attend. From time to time, the headmaster would appear in our classrooms and call out the names of the kids who hadn't paid, and they would have to leave. It was a heartbreaking thing to watch, but then something inspiring would happen . the same children who were removed from the classroom actually would quietly sneak back in.

"They were desperate to learn . all of our kids want to learn. I believe there is an innate desire in young people to learn. Unleashing their potential should be the goal of our schools - not just protecting tenure and fringe benefits for employees.

"Education funding will always be a top priority, but we'll also demand accountability. Good teachers, and there are lots of them, should have their pay based on merit - not on how long they occupy a chair.

"And our education dollars should actually reach our classrooms - not get lost in the bureaucracy.

"I know there are some out there who would wish away our education challenges, or sweep them under the rug. That won't happen on my watch.

"In Milwaukee Public Schools, only about one of out three African American children will graduate. And Wisconsin's achievement gap between white and minority students is among the worst in the nation.

"Jim Doyle is standing in the schoolhouse door, blocking thousands of families from their dreams. But you and I are going to kick the door in.

"We'll support charters, we'll support choice and we'll support home schooling . and we'll never settle for second best when it comes to our kids' education.

Congressmen Speak

Elected officials get their moment to speak before the convention. Here are a few thoughts from the Congressmen.

Congressman Paul Ryan divided politicians into "doers" and "be-ers." The doers get elected because they want to push ideas and policies. The be-ers just like the power, perks, and privileges of power. Ryan admitted there were be-ers in the Republican Party. The 1st district Congressman went on to chide members of his party for their big-spending, pork barrel ways.

Congressman James Sensenbrenner received warm applause for his illegal immigration efforts. He gave the audience a little history lesson about a previous attempt to deal with illegal immigrants and warned Republicans who wanted to deal with Massachusetts' senior Senator. "When you go to bed with Ted Kennedy you get more than a good night's sleep." Sensenbrenner reiterated his illegal immigration points: demanding a secure border with a 700-mile fence; give local law enforcement in border states money to fight crime resulting from illegal immigrants and be well-armed to combat coyote smugglers. Sensenbrenner eagerly awaits the Senate to pass an immigration bill and considers the future conference to be the toughtest thing he's done in Congress.

Congressman Tom Petri: Zzzzzz.

Judging the Hospitality Suites

Campaign hospitality suites are about offering food, drink (hard and soft), entertainment, and well hospitality. Some suites accomplished their mission better than others. Here are the first (and possibly only) TAM Hospitality Suite Awards.

Congressman Mark Green gets the overall award. It was called a "Tailgate Party" playing off the Green Bay Packers in Green's backyard and his "Green Team" of supporters. There was beer and soda but only some cheese, crackers, and pretzels. Hey, the guy needs to save his cash to beat the tar out of Gov. Jim Doyle. Charcoal grills filled with Green Team footballs were consistent with the tailgate theme. Bonus points were given for having a television on showing the Milwaukee Brewers game.

Congressman Paul Ryan claims the best food award. His spread had veggies, cheese, mini egg rolls, meatballs, and full cans of soda. When you don't have much competition in the fall you can afford some good eats at the convention.

Honorable mention goes to State Treasurer Jack Voight who was "sweet" enough to offer his guests a chocolate fountain. Chocolate-covered pineapple. Yum! Yum!

Paul Bucher takes the award for best entertainment. He had a three piece band jamming in his suite. Jean Hundertmark gets an honorable mention for having a Frank Sinatra impersonator. She also gets major props for serving Leinie's Honey Weiss.

I'm sorry to say Terri McCormick lost major points for having karaoke.

In the all-important campaign knick-knack category we have a tie between Mark Green's little footballs

and Jean Hundertmark's plastic beer mugs

Mark and Jean are running on the same ticket so it's fitting.

Congratulations, winners. For the rest of you better luck next year...if you still have political careers that require hospitality suites.

Michels Doesn't Announce Senate Run

Tim Michels gave a few remarks during Friday night's GOP convention banquet. After offering a few jokes he mentioned the "elephant in the living room" i.e. the possibility of Michels challenging Sen. Herb Kohl. Instead of announcing he was running he wanted convention goers to focus and appreciate all the hard work the state-wide candidates are doing. It appears he isn't running. The state GOP's search continues.

Romney Cancels Wisconsin Trip

Possible GOP Presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney canceled his keynote address at the Wisconsin GOP convention Friday night. Flooding in Massachusettes prevents him from attending. GOP national chairman Ken Mehlman will replace him Friday night.

"Romney Cancels State GOP Visit to Appleton"