Revisions/extensions (11:37 am 8/27/2008) – As noted below, WisPolitics was there, and filed this report. They also rolled video (yes, the sound quality isn’t the greatest, but my low-budget equpiment wouldn’t have done any better, and I don’t see anything up at WISN-TV’s site) –
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIqJG5DXhUI[/youtube]
Due to poor timing on my part, I was a bit too late for the meat of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s press conference on Gov. Jim Doyle’s speech before the Democratic National Convention, so I don’t have audio. WISN-TV and WisPolitics were there on-time, the former with a camera, so they’ll have more extensive coverage.
First, allow me to post Walker’s pre-buttal, with an additional note from something from Doyle’s 2003 State of the State address that Walker stressed at the press conference:
"Jim Doyle will address the Democratic National Convention today with the theme of Renewing America’s Promise. Let’s take a look at Jim Doyle’s promises.
Before the last election, Jim Doyle told the people of Wisconsin in his State of the State address that, "˜We should not – we must not – and I will not – raise taxes.’ After the last election, he introduced a state budget that raised taxes and fees by more than $3 billion.
Now he’s pushing Senator Barak Obama for president. In his three short years in the United States Senate, Senator Obama has voted against tax cuts and for tax increases 94 times.
He says he’s for the middle class, but Senator Obama voted to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 per year. He wants higher taxes on income, investments, savings, businesses, Social Security and energy. He promises a better economy but taxing our way to prosperity just doesn’t work.
Jim Doyle’s failed slogans and broken promises have not worked for Wisconsin. Voters should remember that when they hear Senator Obama’s promises as well."
Walker also contrasted the following statement from Doyle’s 2003 State of the State address with the actions of both Doyle and Obama – “Obviously, raising taxes is not the answer. Holding the line on taxes helps our businesses grow, makes us more competitive with other states, and creates job opportunities for our families.” (emphasis in the original)
I did get to talk with Walker a few minutes on both Democratic Vice Presidential nominee (presumptive) Sen. Joe Biden and the field for the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Repeating a theme that I first noted with Asian Badger, Walker called the choice of Biden “manna”. We shared stories of gaffes on Biden’s part, from the plagiarism that forced him out of the 1988 Democratic Presidential primary race, to the multitude of attempts to appease Iran. During an interview with the WisPolitics reporter I overheard, Walker was thinking that Obama would choose Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (I won’t go further than that; it wasn’t my interview).
On the Republican side, Walker believes that Governors Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney would make a good fit for Sen. John McCain, as they’re both outside of the Washington power structure, and both have executive experience. Indeed, he sees little chance that McCain can mess up the choice as badly as Obama did.
