Fresh off the heels of President-elect Barack Obama’s surprisingly easy win in Wisconsin, which has long been considered a swing state, as well Democrats gaining control of the State Assembly, former Governor Tommy Thompson is shocked:
“I’m sort of shell shocked,” a bleary Tommy Thompson said when we caught up with the former GOP governor today. “I can’t believe we got clobbered that badly. The whole thing is blue! Wisconsin is the bluest of the blue!”
Thompson said that “Obama ignited a following in Wisconsin like I haven’t seen before,” a following he said carried over from his sweeping victory in the state’s presidential primary last February all the way to Tuesday’s election, which was the most lopsided presidential contest in Wisconsin in 44 years.
Asked if Wisconsin will be a battleground again in the short term, Thompson said it would depend on the candidates on the ballot and on the GOP’s ability to revitalize itself as a “party of ideas … you can’t just be the party of ‘no.'” Thompson went on to add, “I definitely have decided I’m going to play a role” in the process of revitalizing the GOP in Wisconsin.
Personally, I find the notion of Tommy Thompson riding into Wisconsin to “save” the Wisconsin Republican Party to be more than a little amusing, and I can’t help but wonder if Tommy’s ideas for revitalizing the Wisconsin GOP include a run of his own for an office like Governor or U.S. Senator.
Well, Tommy helped turn the state blue. He should be proud. Obviously the R’s ceased representing Wisconsinites, and the little people voted them out.
“Tommy has sold out to big government.” Ed Thompson.
In a nutshell you have the reason why WI is now blue. Tommy led the Republicans down a largely Democrat path. Reps. lost both locally and nationally because of failed Democrat policies executed by Republicans. For Tommy to help save what he helped destroy is in no way progress.
There is a movement afoot to help “save’ the Republicans by returning to their claimed policies of constitutional government, defense of individual rights, including those of property, and limited government. While I agree these are worthy goals, it remains to be seen if the Republican party is redeemable, or even if it is worth the effort.
BTW, at about 55% to 46%, a change of one vote in 20 would have won it for the Republican nominee. And as McCain was among the least “Republcan’ of the R candidates, a better candidate alone might have made the difference. Republicans needed to point out the failures of fellow republicans in order to win, and few seemed willing or able to do that. I was actually surprised that the vote was as close as it was both in WI and nationwide.
There is hope in that the Obama admin is doomed to failure because the policies they will pursue are philosophically bankrupt. What Republicans do with that opportunity remains to be seen. If they stay creatures of Big Government, they will deserve to lose again, and they will.
I want to first tell you a bit about me so you can put my comment into context. I am a far left active progressive.
You wrote:
Personally, I find the notion of Tommy Thompson riding into Wisconsin to “save” the Wisconsin Republican Party to be more than a little amusing, and I can’t help but wonder if Tommy’s ideas for revitalizing the Wisconsin GOP include a run of his own for an office like Governor or U.S. Senator.
My reply:
You are obviously not from Wisconsin. Tommy (which is what everyone calls him) is one of the most beloved politicians in Wisconsin. He served as Governor for many years, and was never defeated in an election. His brother ran for Governor on the Libertarian ticket, and got much farther than expected just due to the family name. If Tommy comes back her to “save” our state republican party he will do exactly that. If anyone can succeed, he will. You vastly underestimate him. The idea is totally scary.
Linda, hate to break it to you, but I am from Wisconsin, and while Tommy may be beloved by folks on the right, that doesn’t mean he’s beloved by the general populace. As for Thompson not being defeated in an election, I’ll note that current Governor Jim Doyle hasn’t been defeated in an election either. By your logic, that must make Jim Doyle one of our state’s most beloved politicians, since he’s never lost an election.
Personally, I hope Tommy Thompson does come back to Wisconsin, because it’s inevitable his idea of “saving” the Wisconsin GOP will involve him running for some elected office, and I personally would love to see him lose a statewide election and then slink back into retirement.
Tommy did do some minor bratwurst-based appearances for small-time candidates in Wisconsin in the last month or so.
The correct way to refer to the drunken one is TOMMY!!!
That aside, even the Repubs are turning their backs to him. He’s burned too many bridges.