Posted on 05/22/2006 9:24:12 AM PDT by bordergal
Think about all the retired service people and law enforcement men and women with anti illegal organizations who our government calls "vigilantes". It's bad enough having them ignore the American citizens, on this issue, but its a slap in the face of everyone who has put their life on the line for this country, to have their government side with the invaders.
WISCONSIN
Despite national problems, state GOP sees 'outstanding' situation
(Published Monday, May 22, 2006 08:59:39 AM CDT)
By Ryan J. Foley
Associated Press
APPLETON, Wis. - An unpopular Republican president. A conservative base divided over spending and immigration. Corruption scandals in Washington and Madison.
Democrats hope that will be a recipe for a landslide in November but Republicans said this weekend they doubted any national disillusionment with the GOP would carry over to the races for governor and attorney general.
"I've read all about the doom and gloom predictions for our party nationally," state Republican Party Chairman Rick Graber said in an interview at the state GOP convention, which concluded on Sunday. "But when I look at Wisconsin, I think the political environment is outstanding."
He and other Republicans argued that polls show Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager were incumbents that could be knocked off and that Republicans had strong candidates in both races.
Statewide referendums on gay marriage and the death penalty on the Nov. 7 ballot will also work in Republicans' favor by increasing turnout, conservatives predicted.
But U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, laid out the challenges facing Republicans - the unpopular war in Iraq, rising gas prices, unease about the economy and a party divided over how to deal with illegal immigration.
"It's not going to be a cakewalk," he said of the elections. "We have our work cut out for us."
While some conservatives are unhappy with President Bush and the party's failure to control spending in the state and nationally, Republicans glossed over differences during the three-day convention as they endorsed U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay as their gubernatorial candidate.
Former prosecutor J.B. Van Hollen and Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher worked the convention to win Republican backing in their bid to oust Lautenschlager, who has been hobbled by a drunken driving conviction in her state car.
Lautenschlager is also facing a strong challenge in her own party's September primary by Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. Graber said the prospect of Republicans winning back the attorney general's office after 16 years of Democratic control energized the party.
Both races are expected to be close in a politically divided state where Republicans dominate the state Senate and Assembly but Democrats have carried the last five presidential elections.
Rick Wiley, the executive director of the state Republican Party, said Wisconsin voters were not as disillusioned with the Republicans as are voters in other states.
"I don't feel it seeping into Wisconsin," he said. "I've looked at some polling numbers and people still have faith in the system. I don't see that playing a huge role."
Still, Democrats are hoping to tap into anger with the GOP by painting Green as a rubber stamp for Bush's failed policies and trying to link him to scandals in Congress and at the Capitol.
"Mark Green has stood with President Bush, the corrupt GOP leadership, and the wealthy special interests instead of Wisconsin families every step of the way," state Democratic Chairman Joe Wineke said earlier this month.
Green's name also surfaced during the felony misconduct trial of former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, who was sentenced earlier this month to 15 months in prison.
Green was one of many Republicans who may have benefited from campaign work by state employees, according to testimony, a fact that has already been raised against him in television ads by a Democratic-leaning issue group.
But Republicans said the ethics issue will also work against Doyle. Green noted that a state employee has been federally indicted for allegedly steering a state travel contract to one of his campaign donors.
"Clearly on all levels of government both parties have to work to restore people's faith and confidence," Green said.
Republicans argue the election will be a referendum on Doyle's handling of pocketbook issues such as rising property taxes, tuition and health care costs.
"The average person looking at the issues will say, 'my life isn't better under Governor Doyle and it's time for a change'," said Michael Monson, former mayor of Antigo and a Langlade County delegate to the GOP convention. "This will have nothing to do with George W. Bush, Iraq or Dick Cheney."
http://www.gazetteextra.com/gopoutlook052206.asp
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