State Senator Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) should face a primary challenge from within the Democratic Party, at least according to the Primary Plale blog. The author of the blog, which is “[d]edicate [sic] to encouraging a Democrat to challenge Jeff Plale in a primary!” believes Plale “talks like a Dem during the campaign season but spends the rest of his time raising money from utilities, telecoms and other corporations and votes like a Republican” and thus deserves a primary challenge from within the Democratic Party.
One of the author’s main complaints against Sen. Plale is Plale’s role in preventing the the revised Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) from being considered in the State Senate, despite the fact that Sen. Plale was one of the lawmakers who introduced CEJA in the State Senate. At the time, Sen. Plale noted the main issue with CEJA was the price tag, saying, “The problem with the bill isn’t Russ Decker or Jeff Plale. The problem with the bill is it’s expensive,” adding, “there are a lot of people in this caucus who have concerns about what it will do to rates.” While Sen. Plale blamed the bill’s cost as the main reason it had stalled in the State Senate, a study released by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission found that an amended version of CEJA would save Wisconsin electricity customers at least $1.2 billion over the next 15 years and could save Wisconsin electricity customers up to $6.4 billion over that period, as opposed to doing nothing.
In 2006, Sen. Plale had a Democratic challenger in the primaries in the form of Donovan Riley, who was later convicted (if I’m not mistaken) of election fraud, and while an individual by the name of Bradley McManus announced a primary challenge to Sen. Plale this year, McManus has admitted his candidacy wasn’t intended to be serious. So here’s the question: will a Democrat – perhaps someone like Marina Dimitrijevic – step up and challenge Sen. Plale in 2010?
Oh you did mention Riley. Good, was wondering if Democrats could find a Plale primary opponent who doesn’t vote in multiple states on a single day?
I think we’ll have an answer to that soon.
Well, a decision would have to be made soon, because we’re running out of time.
What I think would be great is him getting knocked out in a primary. I’d love to see that happen.
As I’ve said before, I like Sen. Plale on a personal level, but I’ve often disagreed with his politics, concealed carry being a perfect example.
Just cause you like someone doesn’t mean you have to vote for them. See also: Dave Westlake.
Of course George Dubya was supposed to be a approachable, likable guy. And we saw how well that turned out!
Oh, don’t get me wrong; I’d vote for a more progressive Democrat over Sen. Plale in a Democratic primary, but the problem is that no good Democrats seem to want to run against him.
<cryptic>Not all things are as they seem.
</cryptic>
Ooooooooh….that’s so cryptic!
Doesn’t this make you guilty of the same thing you criticize more conservative Republicans of doing? Cannibalizing moderate/common-sense moderates in an effort to take the party in a more radical direction? The only difference here is that you want it to go far Left.
I don’t want the party to go too far to the left; I just want a State Senator who’s more representative of my ideals.
Thanks for the plug Zack. For more information see my blog Primarily Plale. http://primarilyplale.blogspot.com/
You’re welcome.
CEJA could have passed but the version that was advanced by the authors was a very heavy lift for all legislators including democrats. Wisconsin democrats are not all progressive and many were just elected in districts that previously been represented by a GOPPER. The blame can be spread throughout the legislature on why CEJA didn’t pass and it is silly to have a democrat run against an incumbent dem when around the state dems are under assult by republicans in dozens of races.
I’m sure primarilyplale is channeling Palin…
Palin Backs Challenge to Murkowski
Wrote Palin: “Contested primaries are so good for America’s political process! Competition makes everyone work harder, be more efficient, debate clearer, and produce more… Though the media has tried to portray some sort of feud or bad blood between Lisa and myself, such is not the case. I’ve always wished her well, but it is my firm belief that we need a bold reformer who is not afraid to stand up to special interests and take on the tough challenges of our time. Joe Miller has stepped forward. I am thankful for his willingness to serve.”