Kohl Loses - 6.3% Probability

The odds of U.S. Senator Herb Kohl losing reelection next year has been tabulated at 6.3%.

Statisticians say Kohl owns the geographic base where 72% of all Wisconsin voters reside. Partisans say Kohl appeals to both sides of the aisle. Financial planners say Kohl has the wherewithal to spend the kids’ inheritance and still replenish those trust funds with nothing but the interest his passbook savings yields. If only he had kids.

And pundits say Kohl is unbeatable. But is he?

Kohl’s chance at missing reelection is exactly the same as his Milwaukee Bucks had at winning the #1 draft pick in the NBA lottery. Perhaps serendipity is raising an eyebrow in the direction of Republicans.

The last time the Bucks won the draft lottery was 1994. What an historic year. The Bucks won Glenn Robinson, and the Republicans won everything else.

The Bucks followed the franchise Big Dog to several NBA titles, right? No?

The promise of NBA titles worked in 1994 and Kohl was reelected to his second term. But as he moves toward a 4th term, the magic is gone. Like his record of accomplishments in the U.S. Senate, the Bucks have been unremarkable for too long now.

It may be only 6.3% probable, but Kohl can be beat. Unless, he drafts the next Michael Jordan-esque franchise savior, re-signs Michael Redd, and brings back Ray Allen. Then, odds drop to about the same likelihood of me being brought off the bench to spell Toni Kukoc.

Hot Wheels

Watch-out NASCAR. Open wheel racing (hope open leather bodices soon follow) is back with the emergence of Danica Patrick.

For the first time in probably 10+ years, I was anxious to see the start of the Indy 500. Which, according to TV ratings, coincided with the rest of America. ABC reported its highest ratings for Indy in nearly a decade.

Among the 33 drivers, only 14 were American. Some say the increasingly Latin American and European drivers have pushed U.S. race fans from open wheel to NASCAR and their American-made Chevys, Dodges and Fords.

Maybe. But the CART v. IRL feud did more harm to the sport than guys named Andretti or Fittapaldi, or Honda engines.

As for Danica what can you say. She makes two major mistakes during the course of the race, survives a wheel bump and almost wins the race after falling back to 16th after the stall. Just amazing (and her photo session in FHM ain't bad either).



The other nice thing about Indy race fans is that there aren't many liberals in the crowd of 300,000-plus. It is a very patriotic event with a meaningful remembrance of those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of the liberties all too many Americans take for granted.

Fly the Flag Memorial Day Weekend!

If you display the American flag next to other flags or pennants, place it on the right side of a single flag or at the center of a group and slightly higher than the other flags

Do not allow the flag to touch the ground, floor, water, or anything else beneath it.

Whether the flag hangs from an angled or horizontal staff, be sure the union or canton (the rectangle with the stars) is at the peak. (Hanging the flag with the union down signals extreme distress.) When our President declares the flag to be flown at half-staff, it is acceptable to hang the flag from a horizontal staff with the union down, though your neighbors may not understand why you're doing this.

When the flag is displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be at the top and to your left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be hung so that the union is on the left when you see it from the street.

Though it is customary to fly the flag from sunrise to sunset, the U.S. Code says that "when a patriotic effect is desired," you can display it around the clock. If you do, you should illuminate it with a light.

If you wear a lapel flag, pin it on the left side, near your heart.

When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.

The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. By "half-staff" is meant lowering the flag to one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff. Crepe streamers may be affixed to spear heads or flagstaffs in a parade only by order of the President of the United States.

By Executive Order, the flag flies 24 hours a day at the following locations:
• The Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• The White House, Washington, D.C.
• U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
• Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.
• Iwo Jima Memorial to U.S. Marines, Arlington, Virginia
• Battleground in Lexington, MA (site of first shots in the Revolutionary War)
• Winter encampment cabins, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
• Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland (a flag flying over Fort McHenry after a battle during the War of 1812 provided the inspiration for The Star-Spangled Banner
• The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, Baltimore, Maryland (site where the famed flag over Fort McHenry was sewn)
• Jenny Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Jenny Wade was the only civilian killed at the battle of Gettysburg)
• U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• All custom points and points of entry into the United States

a. The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on
o New Year's Day, January 1
o Inauguration Day, January 20
o Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, third Monday in January
o Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
o Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February
o Easter Sunday (variable)
o Mother's Day, second Sunday in May
o Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May
o Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May
o Flag Day, June 14
o Independence Day, July 4
o Labor Day, first Monday in September
o Constitution Day, September 17
o Columbus Day, second Monday in October
o Navy Day, October 27
o Veterans Day, November 11
o Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
o Christmas Day, December 25
o and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States
o the birthdays of States (date of admission)
o and on State holidays.

A Filibuster Response

How is this a win for any of them? The nominating base of the party, the conservatives, will not trust McCain. This fiasco only hurts him more. The conservatives will remember Frist's leadership failure to control and use a 56 member majority to advance their cause. And the President (if the reports in National review are accurate)loses four nominees without a fight: Saad, Myers, Kavanaugh and Haynes.

Point taken; but you underestimate John McCain. McCain would have won the nomination in 2000, had it not been for the misleading/negative/deceitful telemarketing calls into South Carolina that was bolstered by Bush's high profile visit to Robert Jones University. This is not a criticism of Bush, but the strategy back then was clear; Bush was losing the nomination and needed to throw some vicious attacks at McCain.

Besides, as 1992 indicated, the country may be ready for a 3rd Party President. McCain will run as a Republican, but do not underestimate his popularity with non-affiliated voters. If he loses the GOP nomination (likely), then he will run as an independent (likely), and possibly win (debatable).

As for Bill Frist, the nomination will be his if FL Governor Jeb Bush stays true to his word and does not run (unlikely).

As a conservative, I am a bit perplexed why our fellow Republicans/conservatives race to amend the constitution, or propose to change 200 years of rules, to fit the issue of the day?

As for the 4 abandoned judicial nominees? It is called governing, and conservatives need to prove we can govern if we expect to impact both our culture and the economy.

Debi Towns For LG

After more reflection, Rep. Debi Towns should consider a bid for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. Unlike the last Republican occupant of the office, the Lieutenant Governor need not be an empty office of empty ideas.

Republicans should accept the fact we will never, ever, never win the Department of Public Instruction election. The "nonpartisan" election is held in the spring, when voter turnout is light, which maximizes the potency of 90,000 teachers who march lock-step with WEAC.

Conservative coalitions such as school choicers and Republican business associations such as WMC view the DPI race as not worth the expense of corralling campaign donations for an office they would rather see eliminated.

And attempts to replace/eliminate DPI with an appointed, cabinet level Education Secretary was tried on GOP icon Tommy Thompson's watch. If TGT couldn't punch it into the end zone, then don't expect future GOP governors to have much stomach for it.

The office of Lieutenant Governor should be reshaped and recast as a shadow government to DPI.

No changes are needed to state statutes, no constitutional amendments, no legislation. All that is needed is a personality with the credentials to counter the current DPI Superintendent, challenge WEAC, and exploit relationships with a Republican legislature as bills are needed to improve elements of education.

DPI is a proven puppet of WEAC. And as the legislature struggles to fulfill their 2/3rds funding commitment to schools, the executive branch needs an equal voice with a full-time dedication to reforming the current system.

Rep. Debi Towns campaigning with either Mark Green or Scott Walker would balance the ticket and compliment the future governor as a strong voice for both the rural community and education excellence in Wisconsin.

Filibusters and Positioning

The battle line for thematic control of the US Senate has been drawn. It’s Bill Frist vs. John McCain and the one of them will win the Republican nomination in 2008.

For the casual observer, the recent McCain-led compromise to avert the Nuclear Option proposed by Bill Frist – changing Senate rules on filibustering judicial nominees – might seem as a rational move towards comity. As recent polls indicate more than half the country has a negative opinion of Congress, 7 Republicans joined with 7 Democrats to demonstrate that the people’s business can get done in Washington.

What a crock.

The real story is how the Republican presidential primaries have begun; not in cornfields or snow drifts but rather, in the comfy confines of the US Senate Chambers.

The coalition of middle-of-the-road US Senators was a deliberate strategy by McCain to wrestle the leadership mantel from Frist. McCain is keenly aware who his audience is – the Mainstream Media – and he exploits it to maximum success.

Frist could press forward for the social conservatives he has been religiously courting by ignoring the media love-fest for McCain -- simply keep calling for an up-or-down vote on all judicial nominees.

Ignoring the sound bite of the day and fighting the good fight was the hallmark of Newt (another 2008 Presidential aspirant). But Frist has term-limited himself and as his Senate tenure ends in 2006, he needs to exploit his bully-pulpit during the days he has left.

The final analysis is the agreement is a win, win, win;

Win for McCain;
He continues to stroke the persona of being partinsanly ambiguous.
Win for Frist;
He collects chips among the social conservatives for his 2008 White House run.
Win for the White House;
Bush gets the 3 most conservative judges of the 7 nominees.

Debi Towns

In just her second term serving in the WI Legislature, Rep. Debi Towns has established herself as a genuine leader for Republicans on all things Education (story).

Most legislators want to be viewed as being whole – someone who can move in and out of issues ranging from energy distribution to environmental equity. But in reality, legislators who enjoy a successful tenure are often identified with a specific issue. The private sector calls this branding. And, as voter apathy increases, it becomes exponentially important that voters connect to a phrase and associate it with a given candidate or incumbent.

Increasingly, think of Debi Towns, and voters will recall school, education, local control.

Even though Debi is a farmer, married to a farmer, and her extended family farms (father-in-law Dick Towns is a Rock County Board Supervisor), she has branded herself not as a land-use, agriculture legislator, but rather, she has elevated herself to the intellectual superior of current Department of Public Instruction Superintendent, Elizabeth Burmaster.

Burmaster, on a good day, might be allowed to have an original thought, but on most days, she receives her daily talking points from WEAC - the state teachers union.

Debi is more than a Republican holding the Democrat-leaning 43rd Assembly District; Rep. Towns is an emerging treasure for our state’s education system.

And the thing is, most classroom teachers agree with Towns, though Burmaster wears the crown.

No Honor Among Thieves

Just when we thought everyone who could be indicted in Illinois was already indicted in Illinois, another shoe drops. So many shoes have dropped that the sound of all that thumping is causing migraines across the state line here in Wisconsin. (story)

The former IL House Minority Leader’s ex-Chief of Staff was indicted on charges of using state employees for campaign work on state time and steering $1.3 million in taxpayer dollars to benefit a political insider's real estate project.

Why is this latest indictment significant in Wisconsin?

Sidebar; The U.S. Attorney in Chicago has issued more than 60 indictments that began with the Safe Roads Investigation; a CDL-For-Sale scandal that made headlines when 6 children were killed in a tragic crash caused by a trucker who illegally obtained his license from then-Secretary of State George Ryan.

The crash occurred in Wisconsin – more ironic than significant.

The significance is how government corruption in Illinois is reaching into Wisconsin with the indictment of Nick Hurtgen.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has notched more than 50 convictions; a batting average of .833 for a guy who, not being a native, cannot be accused of hidden agendas or political pay-backs.

Fitzgerald has been fearless and bold at leveraging the politicians’ love for power. His use of wire-taps and cooperation agreements from those indicted and/or convicted will reach deep into Wisconsin’s political culture.

Hurtgen was nabbed by uber-insider colleague Don Udsten, ex-head of the IL Medical Society, who agreed to wear a body wire. Udsten himself was nabbed by a body wire worn by fellow super-insider Roger The Hog Stanley.

That’s an ugly image of spent duct tape and back hair.

The significance is, super-insiders are rolling on each other like alley balls at the local Drink and Bowl.

The significance is, what will Tristano corroborate against Hurtgen, to save himself?

The significance is, who is being targeted in Wisconsin, in exchange for Hurtgen saving himself?

Will the Illinois case cross the border?

The thing is WisPolitics, the Hurtgen caper has already crossed the state line from Illinois into Wisconsin.

In Rock Couty, Mercy Health Care is shocked that wheelin' dealin' benefitted their efforts to build in Crystal Lake. In Milwaukee County, the County Board is making allegations of a cozy bonding contract. And in Kenosha County, casino developers pay $2m to connected spouses with a flair for decorating.

The Hurtgen caper will spawn new dislosures like Spring dandelions.

The question is, not whether this becomes a Wisconsin story, it already is. The real question is, which politician's lawn becomes riddled with dandelions once the deals to stay out of jail are proffered?

Nick Hurtgen:
The Tommy Thompson confidante and former Bear Stearns deal-maker is indicted by the feds for allegedly participating in a hospital building scam. He's got one of the best defense lawyers anywhere in Madison's Steve Hurley, but even friends admit this is a tough atmosphere as prosecutors from New York to Milwaukee are emboldened by high-profile successes.

Legal beagles and politicos wonder if Hurtgen may have to give up somebody in an act of self-preservation. Bear Stearns has been an active player in government bond deals in Wisconsin, from Thompson through Doyle.

See the Department of Justice press release
See the federal indictment
See a statement from Hurley

A Day for Lefse and Lutefisk

GOD MORN (Norwegian = good morning)

SYTTENDE MAI - Today is the 17th of May and I have received word that if I retract my attack on the Royal Norwegian government from April 9th, I may regain access to Norway.

I do hereby, like Newsweek, retract my error!

Let me be sure that you, poor non-Norwegian descendents, know truth about Syttende mai today. The translation of syttende mai is: 17th of May. Yes, it is, purely and simply, the date. Just like we talk about the 4th of July.

That is a date, but does not provide the meaning.

The meaning of Syttende mai is that it is Constitution Day in Norway. On May 17, 1814, the Constitution of Norway was signed in Eidsvoll. That Constitution set up a separate Norwegian government with a parliament, but the monarch was the King of Sweden. Norway was given to Sweden by Denmark as part of the spoils of the Napoleonic Wars. Denmark was on the losing side and Sweden on the winning side.

Norway's independence came, at long last, on June 7, 1905. That is when Norway unilaterally declared its independence from Sweden and called its own king. The Norwegians tout the fact that this was a peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden.

This is the centennial year for Norway's independence coming June 7. There are many celebrations throughout Norway, the USA, and the world (events).

On this Syttende mai, I acknowledge and openly declare my Norwegian genealogy with pride.

Ha det bra! (Norwegian = have it good)

From The Dan Rather School of Journalism

It cost Dan Rather his anchorship. CBS execs then fired a few producers. No doubt a few B-level researchers left the network to pursue their dreams of publishing novels.

So when will the keyboards drop at Newsweek? Already, the editor, Mark Whittaker, has taken to cable TV to defend/explain/spin his magazine’s irresponsible and inaccurate reporting of Muslim prisoner abuse by American soldiers.

Hey, Newsweek, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, third-rate magazine editor?

You have the luxury of not knowing what the Pentagon knows. That prisoner interrogation, while tragic, probably saves lives. And that President Bush’s existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't report the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want Bush on that wall, you need Bush on that wall.

Network news, and now, weekly magazine reporters, are losing their audiences to cable, talk radio, and internet sites. Mainstream media is sinking like dinosaurs in a tar pit.

Perhaps the big wheels at Viacom, Disney and others should redistribute a percentage of their profits from those clichéd reality shows to their news divisions. Then, CBS and Newsweek could hire more researchers and reintroduce accuracy into their reporting.

For Sale: the UN Security Council

Only now, 3+ years after President Bush and SoS Colin Powell implored the United Nations to enforce sanctions against Saddam Hussein, is it revealed why the their pleas fell to the marble floor; Saddam had the building in his back pocket.

The back pocket of his military costume, not the back pocket of his desert robes.

Testimony to a US Senate committee last week Friday confirmed diplomats at all levels, including government leaders, were bribed by Saddam in exchange for opposing or easing sanctions against Iraq. (story)

The United Nations is an incompetent den of thieves. No wonder the diplomatic corp. is dreading John Bolton’s confirmation as U.N. Ambassador. He knows where the money trails lead.

The Post Gets It Right

From the newspaper that inspired the Watergate-based movie, All The President’s Men, the Washington Post is endorsing John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador (editorial)

This should be enough cover for Ohio Senator George Voinovich to vote if favor, with reservations of course, in the Foreign Relations Committee today.

Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, a Powell ally and 2008 presidential candidate, may feel just enough emboldened to soften his conservative credentials by voting against Bolton.

Ambassador Bolton

Before voting begins sometime later today in committee on the confirmation of John Bolton, once on the floor of the Senate, I'll predict Bolton is confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Although I am quietly rooting against Bolton for purely selfish reasons -- our family friend Rich Williamson (former Reagan and Bush 43 appointee) is on a short list to be nominated if Bolton is rejected -- I can't see the conservatives bailing on a former American Enterprise Institute scholar.

The rest of the Republican majority should also stick with Bush, except perhaps those wacky Republicans in Maine and Rhode Island (both states where I have worked campaigns).

Last time Bolton faced a confirmation vote 43 Senators opposed him; more than those who opposed John Ashcroft as Attorney General. But this time, Tom Daschle is not whipping favors from his caucus, and the lack of leadership among Senate Democrats is telling.

So the math seems to indicate a few New England Republicans will pair their opposition votes with support from a few Southern Democrats who are closer in philosophy to former N.C. Senator Jesse Helms, who once said;

Bolton is the kind of man with whom I would want to stand at Armageddon.

Bolton will be confirmed with 53 votes.

Vote Fraud - Walker Wins

The confirmation that voter fraud occurred in Milwaukee has winner and loser implications for 2006. It's great material for 30 second TV ads -- think of ballots being cast by illegal immigrants, criminals on furlough, names from grave-site headstones. Then, juxtopose those images with a somber whisky voice claiming votes cast from Iraq War Veterans are cheapened by those who oppose safeguarding our electoral process.

Governor Doyle's campaign might have been able to fight this one to a draw, until newspapers gave Rep. Mark Green and Milw. County Executive Scott Walker a headline confirming fraud. What's the 30-second Doyle camp response? Score this issue as a loser for Doyle.

As much as it is a loser for Doyle, it's a winner for Scott Walker. He fought Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's request for a gazillion pre-printed ballots leading-up to the Novermber 2004 election.

Barrett's ballot request exceeded the number of eligible voters in the city. Never mind how many names appeared on the registration lists, which Walker had already covered (and then some). Barrett wanted enough ballots to cover his city's rapid population growth since the last election (sarcasm added to highlight Milwaukee's population loss and the subsequent loss of a congressional seat following the 2000 Census).

Polling suggests the photo ID requirement to vote is a 90%-10% slam dunk, so gravity pulls both Green and Walker into the win column. However, geography and history gives Walker the bigger checkmark.

Oh, yes, and Barrett was embarrassed to return a gazillion unused ballots.

Vote Fraud -- More than Nothing

It’s not the stuff that determines election winners, but the voter fraud headlines in every daily newspaper will serve Republicans well.

Come fall, 2006, no one will remember the nuances of what the content said, whether the fraud debate was more “errors of record-keeping,” or a systematic scheme to steal an election.

Rather, the hit to Governor Doyle is one of simple math; Republicans have repeatedly claimed fraud, and passed bills requiring a photo ID to vote. Doyle’s response has been disbelief and cited his mother’s lack of a driver’s license as his justification in vetoing those same bills. Republicans played the values card -- identifying our reverence for honest elections. Doyle played the emotion card -- we all love moms.

The math, perhaps, was a draw until newspapers placed fraud and elections in the same headline.

Headlines served to confirm the Republican claims, and bet voters will be reminded that Doyle was one the wrong side of our Wisconsin values.

Straw Polls

Now what?

The theatrics of the 2005 GOP Convention have been played. The stump speeches have been heard. The t-shirt/lapel-sticker/cookie crews have demonstrated their dedication on the convention floor and hospitality suites.

Jeesh, with 490-some days until the primaries, these candidates will struggle for attention like a Milwaukee Admirals hockey game.

Republicans still have another one of these shows to produce before the real thing starts.

Which means, when the low-hanging fruit is picked, when hard-earned campaign donations are spent on overhead, when campaign RVs are racking up miles at $2.29 gallon, when staff throw knock-out punches and the candidates are choking from another round of Lincoln Day Dinners and County Caucuses, when those same candidates are melting from a second summer of parades, fairs and festivals, only then, will the real thing start.

And about that time, a Tim Michels or a Mark Neumann jumps-in and scrambles the math -- a real possibility if either Green or Walker let-up on intensity.

It’s not called paranoia if you are truly being followed.

National Day of Prayer

Today is National Day of Prayer, and I waited throughout the day to hear from Freedom from Religion's Annie Laurie Gaylor on what wacky lawsuit she would bring to oppose this day of distinction.

Gaylor is currently bringing some sort of action against Edgerton, for granting city employees a paid holiday on Good Friday. Her anti-religious cause has also brought lawsuits against many communities for displaying nativity scenes on public grounds at Christmas.

Gaylor lives way-out on the fringe of religious intolerance. Her soul must be as empty as her head.

All of the great social changes in this country were inspired by people of faith. And the public square was the venue where radical notions espoused by abolishionists, suffragettes, and pastors of the civil rights movement changed humanity.

In Rock County, we are fortunate to have a non-Gannett-owned daily newspaper that each week prints a section titled, Faith. Thanks to the Janesville Gazette for protecting free speech against anti-religious whack-jobs.

Today, I will keep this verse in mind, as I wait for Gaylor to attack people of faith and the roots of our democracy;

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.
I Thessalonians 5:16-19

I may even say a quiet prayer for Gaylor -- in the rotunda of the state capitol.

Conservative Irony

Oh, the irony, it burns...

The Republican majorities in the House and U.S. Senate are accusing minority Democrats of legislating through the judiciary.

Meanwhile...

Republican majorities in the WI Legislature are threatening to re-route yet another vetoed bill by Democrat Governor Doyle as amendments to the state constitution.

Disclosure-Disclosure-Disclosure

The key ingredient to any campaign finance reform must include disclosing who is funding the effort.

Here in WI, associations have fought against this element, suggesting constitutional Freedom of Speech issues pre-empt disclosure requirements. What a crock.

But in DC, House Republicans are rightfully offering a transparency provision to those IRS Code 527 campaign assassin groups that McCain-Feingold gave birth to.

As someone who is employed in the business of politics, campaigns have morphed into a 3rd party exercise; candidates today have very little control over their own destiny.

Organizations camouflage themselves to mislead, period. They hide their donors from campaign finance reporting to avoid explanations, period.

If someone like, oh, Herb Kohl, spends $20 million of his own inheritance on a US Senate campaign, then we all know it's his money. But, if some organization like, oh, MoveOn.org, spends $20 million to defeat Kohl's opponent, then I want to know where the funding is coming from.

Give voters more information, not less. Let the source of the funding be a factor in determining whether voters believe it should be a consideration in who they vote for...or against.

Gubernatorial Fatigue Factor

Now that Wisconsin Congressman Mark Green has formally entered the race for governor, how long before the media begins to measure the horserace, and then appoint themselves the arbitrator of our GOP Primary?

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and Green have established a record start date for gubernatorial campaigns. Whoever said the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step had a leisurely walk compared to a campaign manager with 500 days until the Primary.

Walker and Green will struggle with keeping their campaigns fresh, their supporters motivated, their campaign coffers full and the pundits off their backs. When either candidate has something important to say, bet the media will ignore it. When an insignificant event, such as a fundraising letter mailed to a rented list of magazine suscribers is delivered to the home of your Primary opponent, count on being ridiculed for ineptness.

We are now officially engaged in a GOP Primary for Governor; nothing is fair, and nothing makes sense. Walker and Green will scrutinize each other's finance reports and find the same people donating to both their campaigns. Gee-whiz, they'll find their own donors have also contributed to Democrat Jim Doyle's reelection!

It's all a game of expectations; who is leading in the polls, in fundraising, in endorsements. It's all a game of artificial threshholds; is someone falling behind, is someone surging ahead?

And to think, just 14 months until nomination papers are due, marking the hour that the Walker and Green campaigns are officially official -- assuming the media has not written-off one by then.