This came into Charlie Sykes’ mailbox a while ago from former Thompson-era Department of Administration secretary James Klauser:
7. December, 2009
Dear Friend:
Jim Doyle, after 8 years, will leave Wisconsin state and local finances in a shambles. In his first term he spent and borrowed; in his second term he spent more, borrowed more, raised taxes and used the Obama stimulus dollars to cover the deficit. Those Obama dollars will soon be gone. Jim Doyle prudently decided not to seek re-election. Instead he handpicked the Mayor of Milwaukee, a former liberal Democrat Congressman, Tom Barrett to run instead. The Doyle team managed to intimidate out of the race any potential serious challenger.
Tom Barrett is a decent, pleasant fellow. He can accurately be characterized as being indecisive and uncreative…sort of bland. However he is very liberal. He makes Doyle’s liberalism pale. Barrett has a record in every public office he has held of increasing spending and raising taxes. The Doyle-Barrett team is hostile to school choice and charter schools; they are opposed to the reforms to welfare initiated by Governor Thompson. The Doyle-Barrett team would continue to allow our transportation infrastructure to erode. After 7 years Doyle-Barrett figured out there are problems with the Milwaukee school system….duh! Their solution…double duh!
Initially Doyle blamed the fiscal mess on the previous administration; now he excuses it because of the national economy. The truth of the matter is it relates to his profligacy and spending/borrowing patterns. The Doyle-Barrett taxes are impeding our economic recovery. Their social policies such as climate change programs are killing jobs.
The Doyle-Barrett team is already working on sustaining liberals in office. Left-wing liberal groups such as Acorn, One Wisconsin and a variety of other front groups are today working in Wisconsin to keep these liberals in power. Obama needs Wisconsin for his re-election. He will be in this with both feet.
While the election is months away it is forcefully underway. 2009 saw the Conservative/Republican candidates compete. Now is the time to come together and support the strongest candidate who has the best chance to win.
I have been impressed with the growth and effort of Scott Walker this past year. He has truly earned his spurs. He is working hard; he has built a great organization; his campaign is drawing more people to it every day. He has sharpened his message. He has maintained his principles and integrity. We can expect the same in Madison.
This campaign will not be easy. The liberal other side is not above fallacious exaggeration and distortion. Scott needs our support to carry forward and win the election in November (which is not that far away). If you have not already committed, I encourage you to join me in endorsing and supporting Scott Walker for Governor. Let’s straighten out the Doyle-Barrett messes. We can believe in Wisconsin again.
Back in April, just before Walker announced he was running, Klauser endorsed Neumann. Last month, after Neumann gained no real traction with the right-of-center crowd, Klauser pulled his support and his wife resigned as the treasurer of the Neumann campaign.
While I am relieved that Walker won’t have to face a serious challenger, I am saddened that the Neumann campaign has flamed out so spectacularily.
I’m not so much disappointed as slack-jaw surprised at Neumann’s complete idiocy.
It was obvious that his real concern was his homebuilding business, no matter how much he talked about being Governor.