A report from the Vukmir/ Sensenbrenner town hall

by folkbum

I remember when citizen complaints at town halls were all the rage! From a faithful correspondent:

It started at 6:38PM and ended abruptly at 7:02PM when Senator Vukmir said, "we are not taking away your collective bargaining rights..." uproar, uproar, "the tools...blah, blah" more uproar and then the meeting was called off do to lack of control in the room. Excellent questions were asked and the politicians talked, but didn't answer.

Remarkable!

Also in my inbox, from a different correspondent, a few towns west:

I can report from outside the Sykes event a big, boisterous crowd including firefighters. I would estimate at least 500??? As they entered the doors, Charlie scooped up Scott and carried him in his arms over the threshold.

The veracity of that last part is in question, until I see photos.

Republicans invade socialist library staffed by public employee thugs

by folkbum

The invasion is planned, anyway, as Republican State Senator Leah Vukmir and Republican US Representative F. Jim Sensenbrenner have planned a town hall meeting at the Wauwatosa Public Library, 76th St. and North Ave., at 7PM Monday, March 7. If you would like to bear witness to this invasion, or perhaps ask a polite question of the Republican invasion force, get there early to make sure you have a seat.

Fixing the Internets

by folkbum

Since some people seem to want honesty in political ads ...


(Click the ad for an explanation.)

Sullivan-Vukmir 2010 race: Just like 2006?

by folkbum

When Jim Sullivan ran against then-incumbent State Senator Tom Reynolds in 2006, Reynolds's bizarre personal behavior and ability to alienate his Republican colleagues allowed Sullivan to win a squeaker in a fairly conservative district. I think most observers agreed back then that had Rep. Leah Vukmir challenged Reynolds in a primary, she would have won and made the Senate contest a little tighter.

But in the three years since then, Vukmir has managed to damage her reputation among members of her party, just like Reynolds. From Milwaukee Magazine's best and worst leggies story (the "worst" section, that is):

Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa): Her champions rank this former nurse and educational reform advocate among the Legislature’s best. “Very, very bright and really bones up on the issues,” says a conservative lobbyist. A Republican operative credits Vukmir, 50, for making her case “in a more appealing way than some of the other archconservative troglodytes.” He even sees her as poised for a leadership position.

But this is the minority view. “Vukmir should be a star but is an absolute dud,” says another Republican. By withholding her vote and claiming the “more conservative than thou” pose, Vukmir forced her caucus to cut deals with the Democrats and give up more ground. “She just has no strategic sense,” he despairs, adding that Vukmir is despised by most fellow Republicans.

“It’s all about Leah,” grumbles a current Republican staffer. “Given the choice of reaching a compromise or having an issue to campaign on, she will choose the latter.”

There are also pretty persistent rumors from multiple sources about Vukmir's personal life as well. (Heck, given how far out of the loop I tend to be, you've probably heard them, too--and you know it is the kind of thing that might have a bearing on her job were she elected to the State Senate.)

So we might well be looking at a kind of replay of 2006 once Vukmir makes it official later this morning. Sullivan, well liked in his district (and now a successful incumbent with a solid track record), up against a Republican who can alienate her party and whose personal behavior may become a distraction in the campaign. In that case, I'd put my money on Sullivan again. (And you can, too, literally, through my ActBlue page.)