Both in my blog posts and last week in front of the Madison Downtown Rotary, I’ve been calling on moderate Republicans to step up and make their voices heard in an effort to help us solve the budget impasse that has now entered its third week.
I marched with the teaching assistants on the first day after the Governor introduced his budget "repair" bill. I’ve been at the Capitol every day since. I’ve made my position clear: this bill has horrendous consequences for public employees, for seniors, for people with disabilities, for the environment, for cities and counties.
But the crisis in Wisconsin today is not simply about the budget and its terrible effects: it is a crisis created, exacerbated and perpetuated by the way in which the Walker administration handled the legislative process to date.
This bill, preceded by his decision to kill high speed rail, offers all the evidence we need that Governor Walker genuinely believes in what he is doing. He is not going to back down. The brave voices of the hundreds of thousands of citizens who have marched, sung, protested and slept at the Capitol won’t change his mind. He is going to need motivation coming from his own supporters.
What we have to do right now is reach out, change the equation, expand the arena in which this fight is being waged and find people to whom Governor Walker will respond. They must be Wisconsin residents who voted for him, who publicly supported him. People who contributed to his campaign. People who have done all that, and yet disagree with what he is trying to do and how he has done it. People like former Governor Tommy Thompson, for example.
The time has come for people of good will from all political outlooks to make it clear to Governor Walker that more discussion is needed as well as a serious discussion of alternative plans. It is particularly important that this message is delivered by Wisconsin’s moderate Republican leaders in both the private and public sectors who know the importance of education, workforce development, and a trained workforce. Those Republicans who believe that leadership and political power is best exercised through reasoned, respectful, principled compromise and discussion need to step "Forward."
Should your suggestion actually come to fruition, with moderate Republicans (privately) urging Walker to listen, converse, and....perhaps even compromise......it would give him (Walker) a chance to back away from his intransigent hard-line stance without the appearance of "caving in". He could say that in his discussions with party faithful, a new consensus was reached. That would allow him to display "leadership" qualities in forging a new outlook.
There's so much anger and hatred in this. I can't imagine either of the Fitzgeralds going along with this, but I think a concerted effort from their peers who don't take such a draconian stance might push this whole thing off dead center.
Excellent suggestion, Paul. I hope they're listening, but I'm afraid they're not.
Posted by: Tim M. | March 09, 2011 at 08:02 AM
I've heard that Tommy is saying in private that he is fed up with Walker. He needs to say that publicly.
Posted by: Steve Vokers | March 09, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Other than Dale Schultz, do these fabled moderate Republicans even exist any more in significant numbers?
Assuming they do, one would have to assume that these moderate Republicans are capable of bucking the tide of their party establishment, which apparently is now top heavy with folks who prefer to wage political jihad instead of engaging in the give and take of practical politics.
I'd love to be proved wrong...
Posted by: Ex Alderman Steve | March 09, 2011 at 08:39 AM
I hope those moderates (are they just stealthy or really imaginary? It's hard to tell from here), will summon the courage to act on the wisdom of these suggestions but, like commenter TimM, I'm not sanguine about the likelihood of that happening.
Mr. Walker hopes his stubbornness is being taken for steadfastness. It is not. It is being taken as evidence he isn't his own man, and that he fears the ultra-right, the bunch thrown in with, will dispose of him like a dead mouse if he wavers, let alone caves.
He could rehabilitate that shabby image by showing some statesmanship, but I don't think he's got it in him.
Posted by: Hieronymous Knickerbocker | March 09, 2011 at 01:15 PM
Since we all know that everyone gets everything they want in life, I think it is reasonable for state Republicans to stand steadfast behind the Governor. Just because the latest polls show that Wisconsinites heavily favor a rework of this social bill--it is not reason enough to back down now.
In my opinion, another week or two of stalemate will not be percieved by anyone as a silly political charade. No one in the state or nation is starting to see this as "a colossal waste of time" by a man in denial.
Governor Walker, stick to your guns, because the people don't really believe that a gradual and sustained effort to solve the state's financial problems is the answer. The people of Wisconsin are not tough enough to make that sustained effort, especially if they sense that all citizens and businesses in the state are willing to take on their fair share. Don't be concerned about defections to your cause, your supporters will not throw you under the train.
Your friend,
The Tooth Fairy
p.s. Even if things don't turn in your favor right away, it should be
much easier for you to compromise a couple weeks from now.
Posted by: Baron Automatic | March 09, 2011 at 03:13 PM
Hi Paul. I met tonight at the Capitol and asked you the question about the passage tonight of the collective bargaining portion of the bill and if there was a way to ignore or circumvent this bill at the mayoral or local level. I will be working as a volunteer for your election campaign. I have also sent you a "friend" request on Facebook under the profile Cml Home. I have a large Page with a lot of very active people that can mobilize quickly. It seems we also share 18 mutual friends. I hope to share some ideas and provide some politically active spirit and legwork in your upcoming campaign.
Facebook = Cml Home
Posted by: Cody Larson | March 09, 2011 at 08:29 PM
"Moderate Wisconsin Republicans" is an oxymoron. After yesterday's disgraceful performance by the GOP majority, any Wisconsinite who identifies him/herself as a Republican is ipso facto endorsing these extreme antidemocratic moves. It is futile to try to reason with such people.
Posted by: Jay Gold | March 10, 2011 at 08:13 AM
I think I am one of the last of the moderate Republicans in the state, and - yes I gave up Walker once he went after collective bargaining. If he wanted to balance the budget so badly why not something simple like raise the state sales tax 0.25% so it affected everyone - including out of towners and his beloved businesses?
Posted by: blueboy714 | March 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM
I was one of the last moderate Republicans in the state, but your behavior has moved me completely to the RIGHT! Are you still smoking POT Pauli boy? You must be to insult local business! Remember that these PRIVATE companies pay for the PUBLIC sector!? Not smart enough to know that Pauli boy? SHAME ON YOU! We will unite against Madison… just keep it up PB!
Posted by: PaulsNemesis | March 15, 2011 at 06:49 PM
Hahaha, you said 'moderate'... like there really any left out there!
Posted by: Steve Decker | March 16, 2011 at 07:21 AM