Badger InstituteBadger Institute
  • Home
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest news and updates from Badger Institute.

What's New

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023

If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility

March 9, 2023
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
TRENDING:
  • Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband
  • The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling
  • If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility
  • Assembly Speaker calls for tolling to fund Wisconsin infrastructure
  • Foreseeing the Future of Wisconsin’s Flat Tax
  • Wisconsin voters will be asked about welfare work requirements
  • A state without convictions
  • Why Wisconsin Needs a Flat Tax and Education Reform
  • Donate
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
DONATE
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
Home » Can the GOP Strike Again?
Culture/Politics

Can the GOP Strike Again?

By Badger InstituteMarch 5, 2009
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

Dispatch: The Capitol

Can the GOP Strike Again?

By Deb Jordahl

Wisconsin Republicans found solace in November’s election results. Despite a Democratic tsunami that gave Barack Obama a whopping 13% percentage-point lead in Wisconsin, Assembly Republicans held their losses to five seats, while their Senate colleagues nearly gained one.

That means Republicans only need to pick up four seats in the Assembly and two seats in the Senate to reclaim majority control in 2010.

While a GOP victory is clearly within striking distance, striking is not the Grand Old Party’s strong suit, and since there’s no such thing as a bloodless coup in politics, this deficiency represents a serious liability.

Whatever happened to the voice of fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, less government and more personal freedom? It was replaced by GOP leaders increasingly beholden to a lobbying corps burgeoning with their former colleagues and staff that pushed just about every cause the GOP base loves to hate, from subsidizing ethanol to raising gas taxes.

Republicans’ reluctance to throw (or land) a punch is the result of being in charge of government for so long; they literally can’t remember how they got there.

To wit: Only three of the 46 Assembly Republicans have experience serving in the minority party. In one way or another, Wisconsin Republicans have held power since 1986, when the Assembly Republican Minority leader, Tommy Thompson, was elected governor.

Does anybody remember Tommy’s Assembly reign as “Dr. No,” fighting back tax increases, government regulation and the welfare state?

Over the last seven years, Gov. Jim Doyle has left a long and winding trail of broken promises: to reduce the size of government, balance the budget without raising taxes and run a clean, competent and open government.

But the GOP has yet to find its voice as the loyal opposition, and it seems every time it comes close to rising up, it is dragged down by those back-scratching friends in Madison.

It’s tough to take on the establishment when you become the establishment. The good news is that the GOP can no longer make that claim. The bad news is that they need to find new friends. My recommendation: Get a dog.

Deb Jordahl is a conservative strategist and consultant. She blogs at www.wpri.org.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
Badger Institute

Related Posts

Assembly Speaker calls for tolling to fund Wisconsin infrastructure

March 2, 2023

Those who pay for pavement set the width

January 26, 2023

Economic Trends Fact Sheet

January 23, 2023
Categories
Top Posts

Local pols filling old budget holes with massive COVID aid

December 8, 20221,449

This is not four years ago

November 10, 20221,287

A state without convictions

January 12, 2023644

Billions in federal spending in Wisconsin unaudited; results never measured

November 9, 2022488
Archives

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

Connect with Badger Institute
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
About Us
About Us

The Badger Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institute established in 1987 working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity.

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

What’s New

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023

If we don’t pay for roads, we don’t get mobility

March 9, 2023

Assembly Speaker calls for tolling to fund Wisconsin infrastructure

March 2, 2023
© 2023 Badger Institute | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience.

Privacy settings

Privacy Settings

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit.

NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.

CRM Software

Customer Relationship Management Software

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.

You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.

For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

Powered by Cookie Information