WASHINGTON -- Republicans in Wisconsin's La Crosse County recently discussed the possibility of finding a spoiler candidate to run against Democrat Jennifer Schilling in the race to recall state Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse), a scenario they say would cost Democrats more money and delay the entire election. The revelation, first published by the La Crosse Tribune, came from a secret recording made during the party's general membership meeting on May 25.
On the recording, which was obtained by The Huffington Post, La Crosse County Republican Party Vice Chairman Julian Bradley is heard recounting a conversation he had with Mark Jefferson, the executive director of the state party. "[W]e are actively keeping our ears to the ground and if anybody knows anybody for a candidate that would be interested on the Democratic side in running in the primary against Jennifer Shilling ... if anybody knows any Democrats who would be interested, please let us know," he said.
Kapanke is one of Democrats' top targets in the effort to recall the Republican senators who voted for a controversial measure stripping collective bargaining from the state's public workers. So far, his only challenger is state Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse), and the La Crosse Tribune recently reported that neither were expected to have any primary competitors.
Later in the recording, one of the other members in the room seems to express some nervousness about the discussions taking place: "I just hope that these meeting are not public. Or the minutes aren’t public?"
"The minutes for our meetings are not public," responded Bradley. "There are no recording devices that should be on except for our own -- that’s our own -- this is for our party only."
Kapanke also showed up to the meeting -- although after the conversation about a spoiler candidate had ended -- and said he hopes public employees don't show up to vote on the day of his recall election.
"So, we're going with our campaign, we're doing whatever we can," said Kapanke. "But we've got tons of government workers in my district -- tons, from La Crosse to Prairie du Chien and to Viroqua and to Ontario and to Hillsboro, you can go on and on and on. We have to overcome that. We gotta hope that they, kind of, are sleeping on July 12th, or whenever the date is."
Sounds pretty smart to me. Remember the Alvin Greene campaign in the Carolinas where the dummy Dem actually won the primary? Hopefully Alvin will run for President versus Barack.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
So let me see if I got this straight. The Democrats planted a spoiler inside the Republican meeting hoping to get something that will help them win the recall election and then rail against the Republicans planning to plant a spoiler in the race to help their candidate win the recall election. Have I got that right so far? My my - sounds like the parties, both of them, are trying to find a way to win elections by hook or by crook. Whoda thunk it.......
All the more reason to take the power of choosing a single candidate for inclusion on the ballot away from the parties IMNTBHO. I like the format for the Denver Mayor and think it should be the way all elections are held. Let anyone who wants the office campaign. If one candidate gets over 50%, they get the office. If not, then the top two square off in a final. We don't need that for the national executive since that has already been covered in the Constitution, but I think we'd be much better off overall if we started taking some of the power away from the parties and returning it to the people. Do away with the primaries and caucuses and open up the ballot to anyone who obtains the necessary number of signatures. We'll have less corruption and less special interest control over the eventual winners that way.
PS, interesting idea, but I have been talking with a Dem involved in numerous Denver campaigns and he is a little upset to find out how many of the candidates have no shot. And this isn't based on their qualifications, but their political power. It is like you have to earn your stripes to get the party behind you in order to have a chance.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Except there is nothing that states that the Dems planted a spoiler, more likely a Republican horrified at the actions of the ethically challenged leadership of the the Republican party.
"Remember to always be yourself. Unless you can be batman. Then always be batman." Unknown
Something the Dog Said wrote: Except there is nothing that states that the Dems planted a spoiler, more likely a Republican horrified at the actions of the ethically challenged leadership of the the Republican party.
There was nothing in the article that indicated it was taped by a Democrat...
A Republican with a conscience? Scruples? Ethics? rofllol
SS109 wrote: PS, interesting idea, but I have been talking with a Dem involved in numerous Denver campaigns and he is a little upset to find out how many of the candidates have no shot. And this isn't based on their qualifications, but their political power. It is like you have to earn your stripes to get the party behind you in order to have a chance.
There wasn't a single Republican in the field and both of the finalists are card carrying Demoncrats, which is to be expected in a district that sends DeGette, and before her Schroeder, to the national Congress year after year. What would happen if the party didn't have the power to limit the choice on the ballot to DeGette? She might still win, she might not, but at least the Democrat addled city would have an opportunity to choose among a number of Democrats and pick the one they would best serve their interests at the national Congress instead of being limited to only a single Democrat on the ballot.
