January 24, 2009
Open government?
Susan Goodwin has superb credentials to be Governor Doyle's Chief of Staff. Worked for Tom Loftus when he was Speaker, managed Attorney General Doyle's 1998 campaign for re-election, Executive Assistant for Attorney General Doyle, managed his very contentious gubernatorial campaign in 2002, and has been the Governor's Chief of Staff from the get-go.
To quote a friend, "Susan knows where all the bodies are buried and that is her greatest strength and her greatest weakness." Cross Jim Doyle and he might forget but Susan will take note and never forget. She is a devoted member of the "get even" school of politics.
More to the point, she is no fan of open government. The governor has claimed for two months that Wisconsin's budget will be $5.4 billion in the red. Yesterday we learned that Susan and the Governor have been busy. Looks like between 3 and 4 billion dollars will come our way to stimulate the economy.(No idea if this will help the budget hole or not.)
Where will the money go and who will decide? A new state agency has been created with the awful title "Office of Recovery and Reinvestment."
This happened behind closed doors. Madison Gas & Electric president Gary Wolter will head the agency along with his deputy, who happens to be Susan Goodwin's husband, Al Fish, but, we were told, the "ultimate decision-makers" (I am not making this up)will be Mike Morgan, Secretary DOA, Frank Busalacchi, Secretary of DOT (a/k/a/ "Pave it to save it.") and Susan's boss, the governor.
One sentence in the Goodwin approved news release said a lot. (Nothing goes out unless she approves.)Jim Doyle asked Wolter to head this agency in December when none of us had even heard of a new agency. Yikes! Catch this: Wolter might have a conflict or two but not to worry because the governor talked to him about this possibility and Wolter will be ever watchful. If he sees a conflict he will step aside from that project. (Sort of like the Supreme Court on pornography-"you know it when you see it". "Whoa Nelly!
Why did we go to four-year terms? I forget.
post a letter about this blog »
In regard to Doyle and his crew. Maybe there is a reason why Blagojovich wants Jim Doyle to be a character witness in any impeachment trial. I suspect they are two sides of the same coin. The only difference is that Doyle is a little sharper about legalities and has evaded capture. At least so far.
When, or when, will the ninnyhammer Dems wake up and realize that Jim Doyle is for Jim Doyle first, last, and always. World without end, Amen.
I say Dump Doyle and do it quick.
-Tom Hermann | Egg Harbor, WI | January 24, 2009
I'm sure it's been said before, but it is a kindness that Governor Doyle's parents are not around to watch the sorry job their son is doing.
-Oliver Steinberg | St. Paul, MN | January 25, 2009
current
--------
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