Isn’t This How We Got Obama?

For some inexplicable reason, the delegates at the GOP convention endorsed Ron Johnson for Senate, a candidate who had been a candidate for only slightly longer than five minutes (6 days, I believe it was). People I trust tell me he is the real deal, but other than from a few awesome speeches, what do we know about him? He’s a businessman, a millionaire, a tea party activist,... and what else?

The other candidates for Senate have been out there for awhile, and we’ve had time to see what they are about. We’ve had time to see that Terrance Wall is a conservative. He has loads of money to pour into his campaign, has been flooding our mailboxes with literature, but his tax issues might be a problem. We know that Westlake is right on when it comes to issues but is about as good at raising money as my 9 year old is at making her bed—their hearts are in the right place, but it ain’t gonna happen.  We had only a short time with Dick Leinenkugel, but we were able to learn his ideas from his failure to distance himself from Doyle’s business-killing policies. But what do we know about Ron Johnson? And do we know enough about him to endorse him above all the other candidates in the race?

I want Ron Johnson to be the real deal. I really, really, really, really do. But I think that we are so desperate to come up with a candidate to go up against Russ Feingold that we are subconsciously (or even consciously) each projecting our own wishes for a candidate onto Ron Johnson and crowning him without really knowing what he is about. I hope that we don’t find out after the election (or before!) that he is all speeches and no substance.

Prove me wrong, Ron Johnson. Please.

1. Exactly right on Johnson.

   I keep hoping that Westlake’s integrity and ideas, combined with people being Fed up with being offered the same schmutz in a different colored suit, will allow him to pull the rabbit out of the hat.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1203 hrs




2. True…the difference being is the the Dems et. al. knew Obama was psychotic before he was nominated.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1216 hrs




3. It’s fairly obvious that Ron Johnson was endorsed by RPW because he is willing to self-fund his campaign with 10 to 15 million of his own money.  He thought about running after he got positive feedback on ONE tea party speech. As far as his policy positions go; they are still being “developed”.  By who?

   Dave Westlake has been out there for months, speaking at tea parties, meet & greets, and one on one with the people he wants to represent.  He has very specific policy positions and is very willing to talk to anyone about them. He will not be just another arrogant, rich, politician who will say one thing around election time and then completely ignore his constituents the rest of the time.  He embodies the phrase, “Duty Honor Country”.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1225 hrs




4. As far as I am concerned anyone who has made millions of dollars thru running a buisness has to be better than all the democrates put together.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1300 hrs




5. REAPER- you are a Herb Kohl supporter?

   While running a business is positive- see what Wendy said.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1320 hrs




6. While he is somewhat of an unknown (though I’ve heard from folks I trust that he’s reasonably fiscally conservative) Ron Johnson is really the only electable candidate out there right now.

   His having no track record does bother me, but I compare that to the lengthy track record of the leftist loon who he will be running against and I come to the conclusion that even if he turns out to be the wishiest McCain of the washiest Olympia Snowe moderate Republican… his decisions would be far better than the ones Russ Feingold would make.

   If there was a better candidate willing to run, I’d think twice about Ron Johnson… but sometimes you have to fight the battle with the army you have instead of the army you wish you had.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1321 hrs




7. I agree with post #6 - this is more about electability than anything else. 

   T. Wall is a trust fund baby with little personality and a lot of “rich, white guy, tax problem” baggage.

   Westlake is a one-dimensional goof who thinks donning a blaze-orange t-shirt and discharging a weapon in the middle of the woods makes him a “man of the people”. 

   And although I know very little about Johnson, he’s going to have enough money and ability to use that money to let me know who he is and where he stands without having to explain a nefarious pumpkin patch or putting on an ugly shirt.

   Honestly, I don’t like any of the choices.  They’re mediocre, at best.  The only one who would ever have a serious chance of taking out Feingold is Paul Ryan.  End of story.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1449 hrs




8. If you haven’t talked to Dave Westlake, then you have no idea who Dave Westlake is.  Dave Westlake is electable because he is genuine.  Dave Westlake has told us what he stands for and has shown us he is a principled man. 

   Have you not heard - “follow the money?”  Why do we want someone just because they have money?  I want someone with a solid character.  I do want someone who is not afraid of showing what they stand for especially if it means they are not afraid to show they respect the 2nd Amendment.

   I am tired of the “old” saying that Dave is not electable.  If you say that often enough will it be true?  If every conservative follows their own values and supports Dave, he will be elected!  We must be vigilent in our duty as Americans.

   “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”—Patrick Henry, speech at the Virginia Convention, 1775

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1633 hrs




9. Johnson isn’t Obama. The only thing Obama ever did was be a community organizer. Johnson has actually run a business and had to make a payroll. He is way better suited for office than a no nothing like Mr. O.

   Look at all the academics O has in the white house. And you wonder why everything is so screwed up. These people have never actually managed anything.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1638 hrs




10. If you haven’t talked to Dave Westlake, then you have no idea who Dave Westlake is. 

    The idea I have is that Westlake is a guy with no money, no exposure, and no plan to get either. Orange shirts aren’t going to win an election and I highly doubt that Westlake will have time to talk to everyone personally. Perhaps he should start off by running for city council… oh wait….. maybe not.

    Let’s just go with what we have and hope for the best. The US won WW2 with the Sherman tank… and it was certainly far from an ideal candidate in the world of tanks. Unless he’s got some skeletons in his closet, I suspect Johnson will do at least as well as the Shermans did. <sorry for the odd and arcane historical reference>

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1701 hrs




11. Ditto to what Annette said.

    Posted by hsgbdmama on May 26, 2010 at 1708 hrs




12. ”...you have no idea who Dave Westlake is.”

    Yes I do.  He’s a guy with no name recognition, no experience, and no money who thinks wearing a blaze orange shirt and producing YouTube videos showing him fire a pistol makes him look like “the common man” and relatable to the average Wisconsin voter.

    Sorry Dave, but I don’t hunt, don’t own a firearm, and don’t particularly care for blaze orange. 

    I do golf though, and I’m quite certain there are more golfers in Wisconsin than hunters.  So why not put on a pair of loud, plaid pants and show us your putting technique?  To me, that’s more common than trying to pretend to be the “Joe Six Pack, I’m Just Like You” candidate.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1714 hrs




13. Well, this just in: looks like T. Wall is throwing in the towel, so maybe the blaze orange brigade has a chance!

    Nah…nevermind.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1720 hrs




14. They engage in nonsensical and tangential argument to muddy the waters….

    Let’s just go with what we have and hope for the best. The US won WW2 with the Sherman tank… and it was certainly far from an ideal candidate in the world of tanks. Unless he’s got some skeletons in his closet, I suspect Johnson will do at least as well as the Shermans did. <sorry for the odd and arcane historical reference>

    Get a clue?

    Annette, you are exactly right.

    Personally, I don’t agree with Westlake on everything, BUT he is not the same revolving door of con men and bs artists that we have been offered in the past.

    I wish he would have run for Governor.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1724 hrs




15. For every body who thinks he is just about blaze orange and guns take a peek.

    http://www.davewestlake.org/

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1733 hrs




16. Well, all I see is a bunch of blaze orange and a slogan that reads, “Blaze Orange Means Accountability”

    So, it appears he IS just about blaze orange.  Thanks for helping me make my point.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1822 hrs




17. I think that we are so desperate to come up with a candidate to go up against Russ Feingold that we are subconsciously (or even consciously) each projecting our own wishes for a candidate onto Ron Johnson and crowning him without really knowing what he is about.

    Well said, Wendy. And I think that happens a lot in politics.

    I hope that we don’t find out after the election (or before!) that he is all speeches and no substance.

    If accurate, he won’t think for himself, and will be content to be led around by the party bosses, the party’s platform as his only compass.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1948 hrs




18. Johnson has actually run a business and had to make a payroll. He is way better suited for office than a no nothing like Mr. O.

    Then in that case Neumann is a better deal then Walker.  A person who has actually done something in his adult life versus someone who has been on the government dole most his.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 2015 hrs




19. If every conservative follows their own values and supports Dave, he will be elected!

    Having read some of his positions, I can now say that I really don’t care for Westlake a bit. The idea that people who have kids in private school should be partially exempted from school tax is a bit odd, as is his statement that primary and secondary education is a responsibility of the federal government. He is overdoing the orange shirt and hunting stuff too. Almost overcompensation.

    No money is bad enough (I doubt he has enough cash to buy ice cream for his staff), but when most of the press items on your website come from your own press secretary, that’s not good. Westlake is a non-starter.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 2104 hrs




20. And then there were two:

    From WisPolitics.com ...

    —Terrence Wall is expected to soon announce that he is dropping out the race for the U.S. Senate, sources tell WisPolitics.

    The GOP sources said Ryan Murray is out as Wall’s campaign manager, two of the the Madison-area developer’s top supporters are ready to back rival Ron Johnson and an announcement on his departure was “imminent.”

    Wall, his campaign and a campaign spokesman didn’t return calls from WisPolitics.com late this afternoon.

    The sources indicated Wall’s honorary campaign co-chairs—Mary Buestrin and Jim Klauser—are expected to switch their support to Johnson, who overwhelmed Wall in the GOP’s endorsement vote at this weekend’s convention to win the party’s backing. The sources said Buestrin, the party’s national committeewoman, is obligated as a party official to back the endorsed candidate.

    The moves come on the heels of a disappointing showing for Wall at the state GOP convention. After putting a significant effort into wooing convention delegates, Wall finished a distant second to Johnson, the Oshkosh businessman.

    Johnson won the support of nearly 64 percent of delegates on the final ballot, while Wall won just 18 percent.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 2233 hrs




21. Yea…see post #13.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 0700 hrs




22. Wall was going to have a tough time overcoming his tax record. Granted it was all legal, but the average guy struggling to pay the gauntlet of taxes and fees he faces will not see eye to eye with a wealthy developer who paid none. Wall’s whole campaign would have been spent explaining that to avail. Image is part of politics, like it or not… and Wall didn’t consider what the image he crafted was going to look like to others.

    It’ll be good to see the party unified against Feingold. In past political times, I’d have said that a good primary contest would offer us a good candidate, but times have changed.

    The US faces a dangerous road ahead with mounting debt, insane and out of control government spending, the repeal of budget busting Obamacare, and the Obama-fed Great Recession looming large as issues. I’ll take a less than perfect candidate (though I can’t really say that Johnson is less than perfect… we’ll see soon enough) over a continuation of the socialist schemers currently in DC.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 0754 hrs




23. Having read some of his positions, I can now say that I really don’t care for Westlake a bit.

    What a relief.

    It’ll be good to see the party unified against Feingold. In past political times, I’d have said that a good primary contest would offer us a good candidate, but times have changed.

    Keep telling yourself that eventually you will believe it yourself.

    The sources indicated Wall’s honorary campaign co-chairs—Mary Buestrin and Jim Klauser—are expected to switch their support to Johnson, who overwhelmed Wall in the GOP’s endorsement vote at this weekend’s convention to win the party’s backing. The sources said Buestrin, the party’s national committeewoman, is obligated as a party official to back the endorsed candidate.

    Johnson is looking like more of the same everyday.

    Where’s Tommy on this or have they muzzled him for the duration?

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 0916 hrs




24. I am with you.  I do not kiss on the first date.  To be sure, it did seem very premature to endorse Johnson.  That said, I agree with all that I have read of him.  But do I know enough?  And if I, a political junkie do not, how could those at the convention, who probably knew less?  I fear that to those not at the convention, the endorsements mean less, except perhaps in a negative sense.

    On Obama tho, I did my homework, and not ONE thing that he has done surprised me.  He is totally living down to my expectations.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1045 hrs




25. I think this is how Massachusetts got Scott Brown as well.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 27, 2010 at 1311 hrs




26. I think this is how Massachusetts got Scott Brown as well

    Of course, for Massachusetts sensibilities, Scott Brown is a far right wing zealot. I don’t suspect anyone more than solidly moderate would stand a chance there. They elected that rotund drunkard and unrepentant murderer for decades in a row after all.

    Sad thing is that the swimmer was actually more moderate than most of the folks that the Democrat party sends to DC nowadays. Maybe moderation is their passion in Massachusetts.

    Hopefully the sensibilities of Wisconsinites (and of Ron Johnson) are somewhat farther into the conservative camp than Scott Brown is.

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1327 hrs




27. I am consistently interested in what Wendy has to say.

    Would like to see more of your comments from time to time

    Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 1512 hrs