What's happened to Wisconsin? Here's the L.A. Times trying to figure it out:
Four years ago, it might have sounded preposterous that Wisconsin, a state that preferred Barack Obama to John McCain by 14 points, would become a wellspring of successful GOP candidates and leaders.The Republican Party was founded as an anti-slavery party in Wisconsin. Interesting to see that highlighted, especially with the L.A. Times failing even to mention Joe McCarthy.
But the impossible has happened. The state features three prominent speakers during the GOP convention -- RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, Gov. Scott Walker and vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan, who hopes to wow the nation with a speech Wednesday night. In 2008, the state’s two U.S. senators were from the Democratic Party. Polls indicate that after Nov. 6, both will be Republican.
Red isn’t necessarily a strange color for Wisconsin – after all, the Republican Party was founded as an anti-slavery party in the state in 1854. But what may be surprising is the strong conservative bent of the politicians who have come out of a state that has not chosen a Republican for the White House since 1984.
Why isn't the Democratic convention treating the Wisconsin delegates better? When I look at the Electoral College maps, I can easily see how our 10 electoral votes could make the difference for Obama in this tight race. Perhaps the Dems think they're doing enough by giving Tammy Baldwin a prime-time speaking spot. (Tammy is the congresswoman from Madison's district who is all but doomed to lose to Tommy Thompson in the Senate race in November.)
"We've seen Paul Ryan and Scott Walker on the national stage. I'm going to talk about the Wisconsin I know," Baldwin said in an interview, emphasizing fairness and hard work over influence and wealth.The Wisconsin I know... i.e., Madison. Do tell!
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Interesting to see that highlighted, especially with the L.A. Times failing even to mention Joe McCarthy.
Maybe it's because the Venona Papers have proven that McCarthy was right about communist agents' infiltration into the highest offices of government in the 1940s and 1950s?
Good God, Priebus, Johnson, Ryan, and Walker. What an embarrassment to a great state.
Troll said...
"What an embarrassment to a great state."
Freely elected by the electorate of a great state.
"Maybe it's because the Venona Papers have proven that McCarthy was right about communist agents' infiltration into the highest offices of government in the 1940s and 1950s?"
Could be. They did vindicate him (and Nixon re: Alger Hiss).
More likely, the writer and the editor simply don't know about Joe McCarthy, or that he was from Wisconsin.
Journalists are stupid that way these days.
Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell: If The Hill Poll saying 52% think we're worse off than we were in 2008 is correct, "Obama will lose".
Great state = Tammy Baldwin? I don't think so.
I wonder why they would give Baldwin a prime time spot when they know she's probably going to lose.
America's Politico told me this is all because the trolls here at Althouse have done such a terrible job. Apparently Axelrod told the Wisconsin DNC they attacked Republican positions in such a slipshod way they've actually increased Romney's support in Wisconsin. So the Wisconsin delegates are personas-non-grata until they find better Althouse trolls.
The meme of the Republicans being the party of wealthy privilege opposed by the Democrats as champions of the poor puzzles me more than somewhat when I run over in my mind the lists of prominent Democrats and Republicans and their relative wealth and privileged status.
I also shudder when I see a bill - Federal, State, or local - with the word "fair" in the title. It is a dead give-away that somebody is angling for an anything but "fair" advantage.
"over influence and wealth"
We;;, that'll be interesting. Like Obama isn't backed by extremely wealthy people and influential special interest groups.
Like Democrats don't have John Kerry, John Edwards, Pelosi, Move-On, the SEIU - and a gazillion like them.
Yeah.
Right. Errr.... wrong!
I wonder why they would give Baldwin a prime time spot when they know she's probably going to lose.
She's a lesbian. Last night, one of the Madison news shows noted that unions are going to have to compete against race, gender, and sexual orientation identity groups at the DNC. Maybe that's what it's all about in Charlotte.
Why are they not treated better? It's dogshaming. The union steamroller was supposed to be full speed ahead at this point. WI dem leadership put a stop to that. Simple as that..
And while its true WI electoral votes will be meaningful, more so for Republicans. There are bigger fish to fry for dems in swing states they cant afford to lose...
Tammy, does the Wisconsin you know include the voters who rejected Democrat Tom Barrett - by a larger margin than in they did in 2010 - and reelected Governor Scott Walker?
Tammy as marionette with her manipulators
Hey, Allen S, it's nice to see you smiling.
If by some miracle Romney takes Wisconsin, Obama is in deep trouble.
She's a lesbian.
I don't know one non-lesbian who cares that she's a lesbian.
They're treated the same way the trolls treat Ann and for the same reason:
It's OK to be a traitor as long as you're not betraying Glorious World Socialist Revolution.
Colonel Angus said...
"If by some miracle Romney takes Wisconsin, Obama is in deep trouble."
Miracles do happen. And North Carolina voting red could be an even bigger miracle than Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa were treated like royalty.
As they should have been, seeing as they had to win the same elections (gov's mansion, courts and Senate) over and over and over again.
"I don't know one non-lesbian who cares that she's a lesbian."
Same here. I do, however, know several lesbians who care a great deal.
Meade: And North Carolina voting red could be an even bigger miracle than Wisconsin.
Speaking of which, who knew Chicago was located in North Carolina?
The Wisconsin delegation was treated like royalty because of the unions and the idiots who are the "leaders" of the Democrat Party of Wisconsin.
They created a rock star aura for Walker when he won the recall election. They caused the Republican base to become mobilized and energized.
Nice job, Mikey and Graeme. We 'preciate you!
Plus, Walker, Preibus, Ryan, Johnson, Ribble, Duffy, et. al. are the new generation.
Interesting to see that highlighted, especially with the L.A. Times failing even to mention Joe McCarthy.
Could be they refrained from taking a cheap shot.
Perhaps the common thread in WI is populism. How else could you group senators like La Follette, McCarthy and Proxmire together?
Well yes most of us are employed and working in this "fair" city called Madison, and I do not think that makes us an exception in Wisconsin which have all has been fair to the likes of Nelson and Thompson. And I think it is better to be manipulated by the voters then the Koch Brothers.
As to NC, it's been noted that, if 1% of the blacks who went for Choom last time vote Republican or stay home, that would be all it took to swing the state back to red.
And I think it is better to be manipulated by the voters then the Koch Brothers.
Oh, my God!
You're really that wacky?
That explains a lot.
Same here. I do, however, know several lesbians who care a great deal.
Yes. Madison's Lesbian community as I have observed it is pretty small and everyone knows everyone. Most of the Madison Lesbians (I'm assuming) what her elected because they actually know her. Who wouldn't want to know a US Senator?
If by some miracle Romney takes Wisconsin...
Miracle?! As Meade just pointed out, Scott Walker won by a landslide a few months ago. Seems that Wisconsin should be in the bag for the GOP.
As the GOP has been crowing about for quite a while, Wisconsin taken some hard steps to the right the past few years. Not just with these recall elections, but other issues as well...keep in mind that we were the first state in the Midwest to ban gay marriages.
If Walker's recall election was really a referendum on the tack to starboard that this state has been on, then there should be no doubt Romney carries Wisconsin.
our years ago, it might have sounded preposterous that Wisconsin, a state that preferred Barack Obama to John McCain by 14 points, would become a wellspring of successful GOP candidates and leaders.
You can only screw the populace so often before they wise up.
garage mahal said...
Good God, Priebus, Johnson, Ryan, and Walker. What an embarrassment to a great state.
Of course some of the populace you can screw forever and they'll keep asking you not to stop.
"Who wouldn't want to know a US Senator?"
You don't know any U.S. Senators, do you?
Thanks, Professor. The first picture was from my passport. This one is from my VA identification card. I'm happy when I get free stuff.
emphasizing fairness and hard work over influence and wealth
Errr ... isn't Walker the guy who didn't graduate from college?
Because he was so rich he bought is seat, clearly. /s
@MM I don't know one non-lesbian who cares that she's a lesbian.
The who is it that cares?
Ahhh hhh h .....
@ Meade And North Carolina voting red could be an even bigger miracle than Wisconsin.
No, it would not.
Historically NC has had Republican governors on a regular basis, as well as Senators.
In 2010 however, for the first time since.... well, a very looooong time ago -- both the NC house and Senate went red.
This Charlotte thing was a reach for the Dems to keep NC on the plantation.
We will see. After all, among other things, Occupy is there, and they are not known for their good behavior.
Good God, Priebus, Johnson, Ryan, and Walker.
Who are five entities not welcome at this week's convention?
North Carolina voting red could be an even bigger miracle
North Carolina voting could be a miracle. Last year their dopey Dem governor wanted to cancel the 2012 election in her state.
The dopey NC governor somehow got the insight not to run for re-election this year.
Why on earth not?
NC politics are almost as interesting as Chicago or Boston or NY.
But at least we have some politicians in jail as I write.
"garage mahal said...
Good God, Priebus, Johnson, Ryan, and Walker."
Name five things that liberal Madisonians hate.
bgates at 11:27 - Thread winner
Douglas MacArthur went to West Point from Wisconsin. His father, Arthur, becoming the youngest Brevet Colonel in the Union Army, went to war with the 24th Wisconsin Volunteers, whom he famously rallied at Missionary Ridge with the regimental colors and the battle cry, "On Wisconsin!"
On Wisconsin!
PS: Only father and son, so far, to be awarded the CMOH. Arthur had an appointment to West Point but volunteered with the regiment instead.
Ah, but it's Fauxcahontas speaking to remind us all that "you didn't build that."
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