September 17, 2020

"Evers, a longtime school administrator who’s prone to peppering his speech with 'by golly' and 'holy mackerel' — and who voters chose in part for his no-drama approach to politics — has been thrust into a cauldron of racial tension and violence."

"It’s an awkward fit for the subdued 68-year-old, and the reviews of his response to the turmoil in Kenosha — among other facets of his job performance — aren’t encouraging.... [W]hile Evers is still above water in polls, his approval rating slid 6 points after his handling of the Kenosha unrest. Democrats say it’s obviously better to have Evers at the helm than Walker heading into November.... But interviews with more than two dozen activists, strategists, local officials and voters surfaced serious concern that in such a pivotal year, in such a pivotal state, Evers is diminishing what should be a significant advantage for the party. Rather than act as an attack dog or savvy politico who helps amplify Joe Biden’s message to combat President Donald Trump, they say, Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective.... Numerous Democrats complained in interviews that Republicans are running roughshod over Evers, including during the Covid-19 crisis. 'Is he governing? Because it doesn’t feel like it,' said one Democratic party activist, who requested anonymity to express his frustrations with Evers candidly.... Former Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, recounted in an interview how his political machine helped John Kerry and Barack Obama carry the state in 2004 and 2008, respectively. 'In both of those elections it was really my political organization that was kind of at the heart of where most of the work was done — most of it was ground work,' Doyle said. That’s not going to happen this time...."

From "Dems fear Wisconsin governor is becoming a liability for Biden/Tony Evers' performance — especially his response to the Kenosha riots — is diminishing what should be a significant edge for the party" (Politico).

81 comments:

MadisonMan said...

Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective
If it swims like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it is a duck, Democrats.

Expat(ish) said...

"Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective"

Republicans POUNCE!

-XC

MadisonMan said...

And Doyle claiming Democratic Presidents owe him something for winning. Oh brother.

Dave Begley said...

Why haven't the people of CA, WI, MN and MI started recall campaigns against their governors.

By any objective standard, they've all failed miserably.

JB71-AZ said...

'Cast him as weak and ineffective'?

No, no... I think he's earned that all on his own.

whitney said...

"Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective..."

My guess is he is weak and ineffective. We have the worst political class in history. They are corrupt and incompetent and are openly putting a man with dementia up for the presidency so the technocrats can install a bitter Bindi as president. Harris is the Silicon Valley choice. her mother was Brahmin too. High caste

mikeski said...

Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective[...]

Republicans allowed to pounce!

WisRich said...

Sounds like they've found their sacrificial lamb in case Trump wins.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The bottom of the party want antifa for governor.

Mike Sylwester said...

Walker could be the US President now if he weren't such a squish on immigration issues.

Gojuplyr831@gmail.com said...

"....helps amplify Joe Biden's message."

What message? Do hey expect Evers to hide in the basement with Biden?

DarkHelmet said...

Wisconsin Dems put a non-entity into the governor's chair and are now shocked to find that their governor is a non-entity.

Evers is a political neutrino: all but undetectable.

Dave Begley said...

"Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective..."

He is weak and ineffective! That's not just spin.

Mark said...

Making up excuses not to send the nominee, who like Hillary is not to be blamed for avoiding events in the state.

History repeats itself ... blaming Evers for tepid Joe whose primary bus had 'no malarkey' on its side and who epitomizes Evers folksy style is hilarious.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

George Soros spends millions installing leftwing DA's all over the nation. The White Left commit crimes, then walk.

Coincidence?

MD Greene said...

"Rather than act as an attack dog or savvy politico who helps amplify Joe Biden’s message to combat President Donald Trump ...."

Joe Biden has a message?

Nonapod said...

It seems like most Democrat governors and mayors have either done nothing to stop the chaos or actively encouraged it. They've been sowing wind for months and months. We'll see what happens in November.

Marshall Rose said...

Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective

It has to be that Republucans 'cast' him as weak.... just admit that he IS weak and ineffective.
Republucans Pounce...

Garbage media.

Temujin said...

Let's face it- amplifying a message from Joe Biden is pretty hard when the only words out of Joe Biden these days are very few and mostly indecipherable. The only message I got last week was that it is now the Harris/Biden ticket.

So maybe he should be looking at Kamala's message to amplify. One can only rub their hands with delight waiting to hear what that message will be.

tim in vermont said...

Didn’t the rioters show him to be weak and ineffective?

ga6 said...

OT Ms A, would you be up for this is you were still teaching?

https://www.thecollegefix.com/northwestern-law-faculty-refuse-to-explain-why-they-introduced-themselves-as-racists/

Northwestern University law school faculty called themselves racists as they introduced themselves in an online town-hall recently, according to a screenshot of the event.

gspencer said...

"by golly"

"holy mackerel"

Sounds like some of the malarkey he learned at the Ned Flanders School of Good Manners.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

Evers, a longtime school administrator [ who has | who is | who was ] prone to peppering....

[ It has | it was | it is ] an awkward fit ....


Decisions, decisions, decisions! Aisle go finda righter hoo dozen rite likee tox.

Yancey Ward said...

"Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective...."

He allowed it by being weak and ineffective.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

A schoolmarm is a bad choice for governor.

Jersey Fled said...

Rather than act as an attack dog or savvy politico who helps amplify Joe Biden’s message to combat President Donald Trump, they say, Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective

Maybe that's because he's been weak and ineffective.

Gusty Winds said...

Well Duh! Evers gave the green light to burn Kenosha, and then acted 72 hrs too late when there was still a chance to prevent it. Everyone knows that except Mark Ruffalo (Kenosha native, Avengers Hulk). Evers was taking orders from party central and following his Chief of Staff who is the one actually running the State.

GatorNavy said...

Governor Evers is a living embodiment of the Peter Principle

Big Mike said...

Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective.

That wouldn’t happen to be because Evers really is weak and ineffectual, would it? During the time Evers was Superintendent of Public Education the state of Wisconsin had the worst black/white educational achievement gap in the whole freaking country. Even worse than Alabama, Arkansas, or Mississippi. Democrats are the party of failing upward.

Mary Beth said...

Evers instead has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective.... Numerous Democrats complained in interviews that Republicans are running roughshod over Evers, including during the Covid-19 crisis. 'Is he governing? Because it doesn’t feel like it,' said one Democratic party activist

It sounds like the Republicans and Democrats are saying the same things about him. Both parties are concerned, the difference is the focus of that concern.

donald said...

He IS weak and ineffective so there’s that.

donald said...

Unless the goal is to destroy as much of Wisconsin And get as many people killed or maimed as possible, at which he’s doing ok I suppose.

madAsHell said...

Numerous Democrats complained in interviews that Republicans are running roughshod over Evers, including during the Covid-19 crisis. 'Is he governing?

All these Democrat governors that jumped on a crisis too good too waste.....and too big too manage!!

The credibility of the press has been diminished as well.

Swede said...

He fucked things up so fast and waited so long to react that he had to get National Guardsmen from Michigan, Arizona, and Alabama to come in fix things in Kenosha.

He can "by golly" and "holy mackerel" his timid ass right into retirement.

He's no leader.

rcocean said...

Evers strikes this "foreigner" as a terrible Governor. His handling of the riots AND CV-19 has been atrocious. But I assume the 45% of the electorate that's "yellow dog democrat" will vote to re-elect no matter what he does.

Lucid-Ideas said...

Not property damage, businesses lost never to return, injured and dead, homes destroyed, morale cratering, but rather 'how does the governor's ability to deal with this situation' affect Biden's ability to beat Trump.

Death to these people.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Evers is a liability for everyone, period.

Anyway, no big deal. MSM assures me the election is over despite their ever growing list of hysterical revelations that undermine their predictions.

n.n said...

Then they came for Evers... Some people are better able to navigate the insidious progress of diversity dogma than others. Diversity breeds adversity.

DavidUW said...

Most of it was voter fraud in Milwaukee, Doyle. I remember all the vans carting around homeless people and giving them cartons of cigarettes to vote in different precincts using same day voter registration.

What he's saying is Evers is not as good at Milwaukee voter fraud.

"A newly-released report by police investigators says there were widespread problems with voting in the 2004 general election in Milwaukee, including voters casting multiple ballots.

The Milwaukee Police Department's Special Investigations Unit says those problems also included discrepancies involving students and the homeless.

The report says the problems could continue in the upcoming 2008 elections.

Investigators said voter fraud in Milwaukee could be curbed by eliminating on-site voter registration."

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

"Democrats say it’s obviously better to have Evers at the helm than Walker heading into November"

Oh, "obviously."

Evers reminds me of the hapless substitute teacher kids run roughshod over. He's got the personality and presence of a dead mackerel.

Doyle was worse though. Doyle was an extremely corrupt machine pol. Evers is just a doofus.

Jupiter said...

There's a lamppost with Evers name on it.

jeremyabrams said...

Evers Tinkered and lost his Chance.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The left do not want law and order, they want total destruction.
The collective left look at any cooperation with Trump as negative.. Even if it means restoring law and order to cities and neighborhoods ravaged by the White Left.

So if Evers cooperates with law and order (or Trump) - the left define that as weakness.

The left support Antifa Nazi brownshirts burning it all down. #Media stamp of approval, too.

clint said...

Is there an argument that he's been strong and effective?

AlbertAnonymous said...

Love these comments... great minds think alike!

Finally, Unity! The MSM and the left (BIRM) suck in their spin.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

"it was really my political organization that was kind of at the heart of where most of the work was done — most of it was ground work."

Like slashing tires.

Pillage Idiot said...

Everyone keeps saying Evers is weak and ineffective. I DON'T think that is the case.

These protesters were clearly on the same "team" for most Democrat politician, and supported in all of their goals. (Any obvious Marxist proclivities are always overlooked.)

As they have transitioned from protesters to violent rioters - they are still on the same team.

The BLM/Antifa people have clearly gone too far, but it is very difficult for Evers, Biden, etc. to rein in their own team. Evers has NO good options at this point. Let it burn, is hurting Democrats (and all of the actual people living in the riot zones). Impose law and order - and you are being a big racist meanie to BLM and Antifa.



TreeJoe said...

I just heard Trump is campaigning in Wisconsin twice in two weeks. Once in Kenosha, I didn't catch where for this second visit.

See, this is why this article came out. Trump won in 2016 not by national polls but by actually playing the electoral college game.

Now it'll be Evers fault if Biden loses Wisconsin, even though Biden could actually try leading and taking tough positions.

tim maguire said...

Sounds bit like Trump--even his own party officials hate him because he's doing the job he was elected to do.

Jeff Weimer said...

It seems that even though this article declares the GOP "cast him as weak and ineffectual," the discussion is that of Democrats complaining that he is.

YoungHegelian said...

Democrats have this bad habit of picking these anemic figureheads (see Biden, Joseph as Exhibit A) because the figurehead then allows the various interest groups who could never ever get approval for their programs past the voters to then set policy & line their pockets. President Obama & his two administrations fit this mold much more than is commonly realized (e.g. HRC's private complaint to her friends at a NY party that "there's no hand at the till").

Figureheads can work out in calm times, but in a crisis when they must publicly not only stand and deliver, but ruthlessly throttle errant members of their own political coalition, they will always fail.

Tom T. said...

What is the advantage they were supposed to have? It's not clear from the excerpt.

Kevin said...

When you throw your vote away to virtue-signal, you shouldn't be surprised when virtue signaling is all your vote returns.

Narayanan said...

Dave Begley said...
Why haven't the people of CA, WI, MN and MI started recall campaigns against their governors.

By any objective standard, they've all failed miserably.
----------==========
because the people are as weak and ineffective as Governors they elected!

jaydub said...

Imagine being considered to be so weak that it diminishes Joe Biden! Is there a greater insult?

Skeptical Voter said...

Sometimes what you see is what you get. If you see that Evers is weak and ineffective, why that's just what you get. It's not a question of being "allowed" to see that.

The Dems need a better donkey if they want to avoid the "weak and ineffective" charge.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"Dems fear Wisconsin governor is becoming a liability for Biden/Tony Evers' performance — especially his response to the Kenosha riots — is diminishing what should be a significant edge for the party" (Politico).

I question the "significant edge" thing, Evers or no Evers. Having shit the bed, the Democrats are now busy complaining about being forced to lie in it.

Rusty said...

Gojuplyr831@gmail.com said...
""....helps amplify Joe Biden's message."

What message? Do hey expect Evers to hide in the basement with Biden?"
My question too.

Stephen said...

From the vantage point of California, it appears that the locus of effective partisanship for Wisconsin Democrats is Ben Wikler and his organization, which has raised a lot of money nationally. Also there are a bunch of terrific local organizations that rocked the judicial election, including Voces de la Fronter and BLOC, out of Milwaukee. They did a great job in last spring, in very difficult circumstances. Any reason to think they won't do the same over the next two months?

I'm Full of Soup said...

MSM always wrings its hands and writes about the challenges facing DEMS to retake control. Yet it never does same for Repubs.

walter said...

"He doesn’t have a forceful personality. He doesn’t have, in my view, the qualities of a great leader and that’s what we need now,” said Terry Rose, a former county supervisor and Democratic Party chair in Kenosha County. “We need a Winston Churchill, not a Neville Chamberlain.”

Greg The Class Traitor said...

From "Dems fear Wisconsin governor is becoming a liability for Biden/Tony Evers' performance — especially his response to the Kenosha riots — is diminishing what should be a significant edge for the party" (Politico).

Yes, he's a liability. Because he followed the Democrat Party playbook of "let the thugs burn the city down."

And gee, but for some reason WI voters don't like that.

Shocking, I know

BUMBLE BEE said...

I'm Joe Biden and I forgot this message...

Wilbur said...

"Evers Tinkered and lost his Chance."

Ha! And Frank Chance's nickname? The Peerless Leader. Evers? Crab.

walter said...

“I would not change anything that I did,” Evers said at a Milwaukee Press Club event in which CBS 58 was featured on a panel of journalists. The governor said his administration fulfilled every request made from Kenosha area leaders during the unrest. Evers initially declined assistance from the White House but eventually accepted it a day later.

“I have no regrets because the only thing I said ‘no’ to was Homeland Security and I knew that would not work out in Kenosha because of what I saw in Portland,” Evers said.

During the event, the governor was also asked about issues surrounding the pandemic, including the distribution of unemployment benefits by the state where – months after the coronavirus first impacted the Wisconsin economy – hundreds have yet to receive funds from the state.

“That is unacceptable from my vantage point,” Evers said on the topic. He pointed to an outdated computer system at the Department of Workforce Development and an overwhelming amount of claims, but said he is hopeful the issue does not continue into next year.

“I hope in the near future to say definitively when we can solve all the problems we have,” Evers told a panel of reporters.

https://www.cbs58.com/news/evers-on-kenosha-unrest-i-would-not-change-anything-that-i-did

Leland said...

I don't live in Wisconsin, but if I did; I'd look at what happened in Minnesota, realize Democrats were trying to do the same in my state via the Kenosha event, and I'd vote accordingly as well. There is a liability but it probably isn't Evers, at least he's not the biggest.

rehajm said...

Evers is diminishing what should be a significant advantage for the party

It was supposed to be- THAT WAS THE PLAN! the Democrats need the Obama's black vote so all the Soros funded Das and Mayors gave paid rioters the green light to burn the cites0 not to worry, Nancy and Joe...er...the player to be named later will cut a check for hundreds of billions to rebuild- all the segregated bike lanes you want!!!

Instead- what a surprise! Americans don't seem to like violence as much as you thought...

...well, it worked for a time. All those plywood murals were fun for some for a time. Hell, it still might work...

Rory said...

"The Peerless Leader."

This was so deeply ingrained in his persona that news accounts often referred to him as "PL Chance," without irony.

walter said...

He really should get more credit for illegally enacting the mask mandate, scaring Vos into inaction.

Whiskeybum said...

Dave Begley said... Why haven't the people of CA, WI, MN and MI started recall campaigns against their governors. By any objective standard, they've all failed miserably.

Well, point #1 - I can't speak for CA, MN or MI, but there ARE recall petition drives in WI to recall Evers; I just drove past one at a nearby public library earlier this week. I said to my wife "should we go in and sign?". But it only took a couple of seconds of reflection for us to decide 'no'. Under the current circumstances, that's actually a really bad idea.

Remember what us conservatives were saying during the Walker recall attempt? We were saying that recalls should not be used because the Governor governs in a way that we just don't like, and should be reserved only for cases of illegal activity or gross negligence (you may argue that Evers is guilty of the latter, but one could also argue that he addressed the situation the way that Democrats see fit). Keep in mind this is what blue cities like Kenosha voted for, so in the spirit of what's going on all over the country, let's let them feel the full impact of their decisions. Also, with the upcoming presidential election, is this a good use of effort for conservatives to spend their limited time on? I'd much rather see organizing positive rallies, etc., than going down the recall rat-hole at this critical time.

So, my assessment of trying a recall under current circumstances: bad idea.

Jim at said...

has allowed Republicans to cast him as weak and ineffective

How dare! those Republicans point out the obvious.

Gk1 said...

Do democrats ever think at least one move ahead? Of course voters will remember what a huge flop blue state governors have been since they fell down on their jobs managing riots and covid. They are an election liability at this point. Evers is a text book example of fecklessness. Of course republicans will "pounce" and feast on that. How could they not?

The democrats can pretend all they want Trump is responsible but he wasn't the one watching cities burn while the D.A's let rioters off with impunity. That is a stench that just won't go away no matter what their lickspittles in the press think. There is a reason why "popular" Mich.Gov. Witmer needs to have 24/7 security and a new wall erected around the governor's mansion and it's not because people blame trump over covid.

minnesota farm guy said...

Let's blame everyone, but Biden, Harris and the DNC who put Biden in the race. Evers struck me as a Casper Milquetoast from the get go. Clearly the voters of WI were trying to get in touch with their more feminine side when they elected him. Apparently the Dems are not happy with the way things are trendin in WI.

walter said...

Jason Church
@JasonChurchWI
·
21h
This is disgusting, disrespectful and in everyway of the word intolerable.

Governor Evers and Mayor Rhodes-Conway told police to STAND DOWN today when people began to spray obscene words and symbols all over the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Whiskeybum said...
So, my assessment of trying a recall under current circumstances: bad idea.

Letting Kenosha burn was more than just "politics as usual".

Doing all his Coronavirus rules via executive order, rather than by negotiating with the Legislature was also beyond the pale.

Assuming that Trump wins, and that the GOP keeps control of teh State Legislature, recall him early next year. That way the GOP can gerrymander the hell out of the State for another decade

WhoKnew said...

A friend of mine is a staunch Democrat. He's held elective office as a democrat and is very active in the party. Over beer and brats in August (before the Kenosha riots), he told me that if the election was now, he wouldn't vote for Evers. If Evers is losing his support, Evers is toast. And I second all of those who say Evers isn't being cast as weak and ineffective, he is weak and ineffective. In fact, that was my democrat friend's reasoning for not supporting the Governor.

walter said...


Governor Evers’ Task Force On Climate Change Proposes “Trillions” Worth Of Taxes And Spending

Greg The Class Traitor said...

Gk1 said...
Do democrats ever think at least one move ahead?

No, they don't. Which is why they're constantly in panic mode whenever a Republican gets a bit of power. Because they keep on setting precedents, then getting really upset when the precedent comes back to bite them

JAORE said...

See the riots, burnt out businesses, undermining the cops, ruined lives, none of that matters. Sure the weak kneed response from the Gov led to a lot of that.

But, by golly, the only REAL tragedy is that this might help Trump.

Lord these people are despicable.

mikee said...

"more than two dozen activists, strategists, local officials and voters"

Well, your sampling certainly sucks a large statist donkey thing. Activists, strategists, officials, oh my! and even some voters. Why, that group will never fail to support the idea that a non-totalitarian elected official is bad for Democrats. But I bet they'd love every Dem mayor to be as "competent" as deBlasio, right?