Mordecai Lee, a UW-Milwaukee political science professor and former Democratic state lawmaker who served with the former governor, said Thompson believed in using government to achieve conservative goals.Old Tommy. He's 70. He's got opposition in the Republican primary, but he's leading in the polls. Whoever wins the Republican primary is, I think, very likely to win the Senate seat, because the the opponent is probably going to be Tammy Baldwin, who currently serves in the House, representing the district that is dominated by Madison. She's never had to appeal to the people of the entire state, and from what I've seen of her, she's not really that good at glad-handing folks. Which is to say, Republicans should pick the candidate they really want, because he is going to win. No reason to go for the one who seems most electable. That's what I think.
"That is a marked departure from modern Republican dogma," he said. "Now, they want to kill the beast. They believe government is the problem. Compare old Tommy to Sen. Ron Johnson. They are as different as the North and South pole."
March 18, 2012
"Is Tommy [Thompson] nimble enough to pivot to the right and position himself as a staunch conservative?"
Asks Marquette polisci prof Charles Franklin.
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What's a staunch conservative? There are plenty of stanchions in Wisconsin, I guess.
Thompson doesn't have to prove himself "staunch"-- so long as he's not a flaming lib and will survive the term.
All the polling has it basically a toss up. Last PPP poll showed Baldwin leading all Repubs. Carry on.
Flaming lib: Someone that wants to preserve Tommy Thompson's initiatives.
"Thompson believed in using government to achieve conservative goals" - we tried big government Conservatism and all it got us was Barack Hussein Obama, mm, mm, mm.
PS Garage needs to stop relying on KosKidz polls and at least go to Gallup, if not Rasmussen.
...[he] said Thompson believed in using government to achieve conservative goals.
"That is a marked departure from modern Republican dogma," he said. "Now, they want to kill the beast.
Actually, "starve" the beast, which would be the case if government went back to the levels when TT was governor and would result in Democrats like Franklin screaming in high dudgeon.
So, whose expectations of the size and scope of government actually changed more over time?
Tommy Thompson is too old, Baldwin is wildly popular, no contest.
Republicans should pick the candidate they really want, because he is going to win. No reason to go for the one who seems most electable. That's what I think.
But-but-but, when it comes to Mitt, everyone insists the opposite metric applies.
Incredible.
I simply cannot keep up with the leaps of logic I encounter here,...
Wisconsin also needs to elect a younger person who might live to gain some seniority.
PS Garage needs to stop relying on KosKidz polls and at least go to Gallup, if not Rasmussen
Meaning: "Stop spreading accurate polling results that butts up against my inaccurate wingnut talking points".
Baldwin is wildly popular...
"...with all of my friends. So there."
With the Wisconsinites who signed the recall petitions. Seems there were quite a few of them.
Seems a little early to be crowing about polls - how many people outside Madison know anything about Tammy Baldwin right now? What would make her a stronger candidate against the Repubs than Feingold was?
"PS Garage needs to stop relying on KosKidz polls and at least go to Gallup, if not Rasmussen."
Nah. He's a weak, insecure creature and he needs to live in his comfortable little bubble. Honesty requires a modicum of courage and in his case that is simply not in the cards. There is no making bones for a jelleyfish.
Seems a little early to be crowing about polls - how many people outside Madison know anything about Tammy Baldwin right now
Polling voters might be a good way to find that out?
I hope Republicans take the Althouse advice. But here is that poll
Baldwin would be a nominal favorite against either of the other Republican Senate candidates. She leads Mark Neumann 47-41 and Jeff Fitzgerald 47-39. Neither Neumann (23/34) not Fitzgerald (19/38) has very good favorability ratings.
Maguro, I don't live in Madison. I live in Walkershaw county. What has changed since 2010 is that independant Wisconsinites have had their eyes opened. It's not what average income working Wisconsinites want.
I don't understand this notion that those outside of Madison aren't familiar with Tammy Baldwin. It's simply not accurate.
"I simply cannot keep up with the leaps of logic I encounter here,..."
Tammy is not Barack, nor is she an incumbent.
Obama is an extremely talented campaigner. Tammy is not.
"AllieOop said...
Tommy Thompson is too old, Baldwin is wildly popular, no contest."
At Greenbush after 10PM maybe...
Nah. He's a weak, insecure creature and he needs to live in his comfortable little bubble. Honesty requires a modicum of courage and in his case that is simply not in the cards. There is no making bones for a jelleyfish.
Nice bit of projection there, "Paul". And posting as "Paul" on the internet, not THAT takes balls.
"Which is to say, Republicans should pick the candidate they really want, because he is going to win. No reason to go for the one who seems most electable. That's what I think."
The same can be said of the office of President, but the republican party doesn't seem to understand that and now look what we'll get.
Allie if Baldwin is so electable then why did Feingold pass on this coming election?
@garage - From your link:
Voters are mixed on Baldwin as well, although she is not as well known
Which is exactly my point. How will the people who don't know anything about Baldwin break once they find out more about her, as they inevitably will if she's the nominee?
Eureka! Nominate Santorum for the Senate. That solves the problems among Mitt'sRINOs and independents nationwidem, and gives the Wisconsin folks someone who thinks like they do.
enActually we just want to starve the beast and let it die on its' own.
Cubanbob, who knows? Maybe he likes what he's doing now.
Allie have you considered the thought that Feingold being a veteran politician knows which way the wind is blowing?
"Nice bit of projection there, "Paul". And posting as "Paul" on the internet, not THAT takes balls."
LOL!! As opposed to ripping off the name of a band and using it for your own moniker? Too funny little man!
Cubanbob, yes I've considered it and come to the conclusion that it is not the reason he won't run for Governor.
I don't understand this notion that those outside of Madison aren't familiar with Tammy Baldwin. It's simply not accurate.
Yeah, of course you're familiar with her since you're a political junkie, but most voters don't really know a whole lot about state senators from other districts. That's reflected in polling data that garage linked to - voters are far more familiar with Thompson than they are with Baldwin or the other Republican candidates. I can't believe you're actually disputing this.
Balwin won't even get the black vote in Milwaukee once they find out she's a lesbian.
Sorun, Milwaukee voters would never vote for Tommy Thompson, they will not care that she is a lesbian. I lived and worked in Milwaukee for many years. Tommy Thompson is not a popular figure in the inner city .
Ann Althouse,
Obama is an extremely talented campaigner.
Is not - in 2008 he was a guy without much of a record and a media willing to cover for him.
Now he's this.
Are you EVER going to leave the cult or do you think this self-delusion, regarding Obama's omnipotence, will last right up to election day?
In an election year when Obamacare will be front and center, and approx. 60% of voters favor its repeal, remember that Tammy Baldwin supports not only Obamacare, but single-payer nationalized health insurance. Once the people of WI find this out - and they will, in spades - she's toast.
I'm surprised the Dems don't run La Follette in what will be a name recognition battle.
Baldwin can keep on representing Madison at the national level. Eventually she can aspire to DWS stature if she plays her cards right.
She has zero people skills--remember that video Althouse posted of her with Jesse jackson? She looked mortified even being close to children.
Doesn't.play.well.with.others
All these posts and not one about GOP Senate candidate, Eric Hovde.
I am still probably for Tommy, but am strongly thinking of shifting to Hovde. Really impressive guy.
Frankly, I wish Mark Neumann and Fitzgerald would drop out and we could go Hovde v. Thompson one on one.
I think Tommy wins over Baldwin easily. I'd like to see if Hovde though can get traction statewide as a legit alternative to Tommy.
Go for the so-called "most electable" and you are likely to get a bunch of people who will skip over that part of the ballot and not cast a vote at all.
The likes of "Tommy" have gotten people's votes enough already. Even if he was conservative, it is time for the dinosaurs to go away, far, far away. This is not an oligarchy.
Go get a life of your own Tommy, and quit inserting yourself into everyone else's lives.
Here on Barsoom, John Carter is seen as a bit of a carpet-bagger, but he can jump higher than old Tommy, so he's the favorite.
I saw one of Tommy's ads this past weekend. He looks dreadful. Sure, his hair isn't shoeblack any more, but his teeth are blindingly blindingly white. He just looks old.
Wisconsin needs a viable third Candidate. Someone with Baldwin's (relative) youth, Thompson's ace political glad-handing abilities, and fiscally conservative. They'd never make it through either of the party primaries, but they'd waltz through the General.
Thompson v Baldwin is just blah. I don't think either candidate will light a fire -- except the Gays will love Baldwin, but that's what -- 100K votes? BFD.
I also am enamored of Hovde because he is NOT a career politician. Don't we have enough of those?
The last Rasmussen had Tommy up on the Tamster by double digits. It's hard to imagine how the Dems could have ended up with a worse candidate. We should send Herb a thank you note for the senate seat.
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