I AM THE FORCE

The "Greater Wisconsin Campaign" has fired the first salvo in the independent spending war that will be such a big part of gubernatorial campaign 2006. Doyle, Wineke and company obviously fear Mark Green and think their only strategy to deal with Administration crookedness is to try and muddy the waters.

I think the entire thing is a grand sign for Republicans in general and Mark Green in particular. The Dems should be concerned if this is the best their independent spenders can do. It also represents poor strategy to begin the campaign with exactly the kind of shady money that Doyle is in trouble for accepting in the past. I like your aggressiveness, Wineke, but your smarts may leave something to be desired.

I also wonder where the condemnatory press releases are from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Common Cause. You guys hate this kind of stuff, right? Or are issue advocacy groups okay if they support your team or your cause? If the Republicans had fired the first volley, I guarantee you that McCabe, Heck et al would have held a flag-burning press conference by now. Hypocrite punks is all you are, and you should be forced to share a jail cell with Chuck Chvala.

I won't join in the shocked outrage from Republicans on this one, as I happen to believe that issue advocacy is constitutionally protected speech. The more speech the better as far as I'm concerned and the people will sort it out and make their decisions. If I want to spend a million dollars educating people about Jim Doyle's corruption, then I should be able to do just that. And if the Dems want to waste their money on ineffective attack ads on Mark Green then I'm fine with that as well.

And I'll tell you guys a secret... the Republican independent spending is going to be much more effective and consequential.

Democrats, your arterial bleeding is becoming more obvious every day. The Greater Wisconsin Campaign is a sign that Republicans might soon rule all branches of the Wisconsin political universe. Wisconsin Governor Mark Green -- now that would indeed mean a greater Wisconsin.