August 16, 2009
Go figure
The news spread like wild fire--"Doyle isn't running!" None of the callers was in tears, none listed his favorite to replace him, everyone asked why Doyle and Barrett would take on the most controversial, ill-conceived--behind closed doors program in recent memory on Friday--the takeover of MPS--and drop out of the 2010 race for governor on Monday.
One seasoned observer suggested Barrett must be downing Tums by the handful. He might go to something stronger. I would! It looks like this is one more pay-back from Doyle to Barrett for running against him eight years ago. Doyle just eliminated Barrett from the governor's mansion. There is no way, he went on, for Barrett to push through a mayoral take-over of Milwaukee schools, called "racist" by the president of the Milwaukee School Board Michael Bonds, deal with incredible unemployment, homelessness, and a host of other economic problems in Milwaukee while campaigning full time around the state. Suicidal.
So what is the reclusive governor up to? Yes, his poll numbers are down, and yes, he is tired of dealing with deficits, and, yes, battles with the Legislature ain't fun anymore, but the school take-over announcement just days before he lip-synced Roberto Duran's famous "no mas, no mas!" makes no sense. Unless he was floating the idea as a trial balloon. (If so, it floated like a Baby Ruth in Caddy Shack with everyone jumping out of the pool.)
Or could it be that Doyle will join Arne in the Department of Education--special adviser on urban schools?
Back to the timing. He has picked fights with Barbara Lawton all the time, left Barrett in the swamp, and now what? "Blue Dog" Ron Kind? What's the deal, Governor?
One note: Alan Borsuk apparently is no longer a "reporter" on MJS staff. The pro-voucher Bradley Foundation favorite was described in JS on Sunday this way: "Alan Borsuk is a longtime Milwaukee education reporter. His pieces looking at education issues will run regularly in the JS. Whoa Nelly!(At least his pieces will now be labeled opinion. That's an improvement.)
We will add a breakout at Bob Fest on the MPS school take-over. Should be a hot one.
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Just to clarify, Ron Kind is not a member of the Blue Dogs. He is a member of the New Democrats; but Blue Dogs are New Democrats are not one and the same. And to be clear, I think both caucuses are wrong in their general approach and ideological orientation.
-Peter | Madison, WI | August 16, 2009
Say what you will about Ron Kind, the man has nice teeth.
Any hope a darkhorse or third party candidate might rise up out of the muck and take the governor's seat in 2010?
-Mark Berglund | Medford, WI | August 17, 2009
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