July 23, 2008
June 30
I must have had 20 calls from incumbents, challengers, and professional fundraisers in mid-June telling me that June 30 "is the crucial date." Send your check today! Why? The candidate financial reports are due. The argument is the same: "I must demonstrate to the media that I'm a serious candidate"; "I must convince the Democrats that I will be the stronger candidate for the general, and I can only do that if I show lots of money in the bank."
And so it goes. Calls from Florida, Illinois, Georgia, and Minnesota, 15 or so from our own in Wisconsin, not to mention all the non-profits that are in the hunt for contributions. It is gawd awful.
You feel guilty if you ignore the Farmworkers or a good Assembly candidate, but you feel broke if you respond to all of them. And I get angry when I see that those who are buying the Court spent millions to defeat Louis Butler.
Few candidates call about issues. The only issue is money. You have it and they need it.
Problem--money fatigue. Answer--public financing. By my quick count, incumbents and challengers,in the eight Wisconsin congressional districts, have raised more than $7 million and the Governor raised a million bucks.
Can't fault the candidates, at least not those challenging incumbents. The system is broken. Frankly, the governor and legislative incumbents should hang their heads. I feel guilt when I don't send a contribution. They should feel guilty when they ask for one. It is a system of their making.
Advice to Assembly and Senate candidates from the leaders? Knock on doors, avoid divisive issues like ethanol, and raise money. Imagine that while thousands of our kids are hungry, our schools in crisis, gasoline is straining all budgets, and the cost of food is forcing many people to choose--food or shelter. C'mon. Time to take back our elections from the private sector.
State Journal: And "they" said it couldn't get worse absent competition from the Capital Times. They were wrong. Scott Milfred has come unglued. Catch this line: If Doyle goes to Washington with Obama, "Lawton could steer the statehouse (how does one "steer" a house?) on a hard left turn into big-government programs, policies and taxation..." Whoa Nelly! Someone should edit his stuff.
McCain is shouting a little early. He can't stand it. Barack wows the troops, the Iraqi Prime Minister endorses his timeline, and then he makes a 3-point basket. Damn him. "I'm stuck in this golf cart with Poppy Bush, who opposed the war, and Obama is getting all the attention and the credit." McCain had his Dukakis-in-a-tank moment.
post a letter about this blog »
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003