Run, Kathleen Falk, run – for governor.
A feeding frenzy for cannibals
By
Tom Hermann
Apparently the recent record of the Assembly Democrats is so stellar that the minority leadership can afford to waste time and energy on writing a public letter to persuade Kathleen Falk to run for Attorney General.
The minority leader was heard to say that primaries are a fact of life. This is brave talk considering that both he and the assistant minority leader were in uncontested races in 2004. Perhaps it is time for Democrats in their districts to mount a primary challenge. Let the best candidate win!
I would agree that primary races can sometimes be a good thing. I would also agree that Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk would be an excellent candidate in a statewide primary. For governor!
It is time for Democrats such as Jim Krueser and John Richards (and the other eight who signed that letter) to face a few facts.
First of all neither Kreuser or Richards were exactly balls of fire when it came to working to gain Assembly seats for Democrats in 2004. Governor Jim Doyle was not exactly Mr. Enthusiasm either. If that is their record then where the hell do they get off trying to cock the AG race?
Of course, Governor Doyle is one of the biggest sore winners this state has ever seen. For a man with all the charisma of a building inspector to try and convince the voters that Peg Lautenschlager is bad for the party is a joke.
Peg Lautenschlager has gone about her professional duties with dignity and aplomb. She got dairy farmers in northwestern Wisconsin 80 cents on the dollar in a co-op rip off scheme that was inflicted upon them. She has quietly, but efficiently, stood up for consumers time after time and won decisions in their favor. She has taken on polluters and won. Her handling of the mass murder trial in northwestern Wisconsin was professional and effective and done in as dignified manner as possible for someone who will face an election. Maybe that is the complaint. She does not grandstand enough for these guys.
Doyle may be jealous. After all, when he was AG he came to the conclusion that the tribes did not have the right to control water quality on their own lands. (That finding was tossed out by George W. Bush's solicitor general Ted Olson!) Now, as governor, we have seen questionable deals over Indian gaming, a "Travelgate" investigation, and now some sauce over a "Road Builders Barbecue." Of course none of these questionable activities have been found to be illegal. But there sure is a stink hanging about them.
Sorry guys, but your behavior is that of sharks feeding on your own just because there is some blood in the water. It seems that every time the Democrats cannot win elections that count they go after their own. This is just another sad example. If being in the minority gives you enough time to pull stunts like this then maybe you should leave. Your job is to put more Democrats back into the Assembly. Forget the AG race; win the ones you can have some control over.
As for Falk all I can say is that I think she is fine person. She has a lot of executive experience. She knows how to build bipartisan coalitions and still keep her base intact. I think she should run for statewide office.
Just not for Attorney General.
November 6, 2005
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Tom Hermann lives in Egg Harbor, is the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Door County, is a two-time candidate for the Wisconsin Assembly, and is no longer associated with any political party.
