The JSOnline's All Politics Watch watch blog has been running a new item called "Four years ago...", described as an "occasional series of what candidates for governor and their aides were saying, and doing, four years ago." So far, as far as the Brawler can tell, three installments have run (10/3, 9/29 and 9/28).
So far one recalls Ed Thompson eating venision to show he wasn't afraid of no deer-wasting disease. Two are knocks on Jim Doyle. Foaming at the mouth Dem attack dog Bill Christofferson characterized the series as "another platform to take potshots at Gov. Jim Doyle for things he said on the campaign trail in 2002 that either have not come to fruition or, in hindsight, turned out to be wrong."
Given that Steven Walters has penned all the ones to date, that is not an unreasonable assumption.
Now, the Brawler is all about public servants being accountable for what they say. It's perfectly legitimate for Doyle to be called to account. But it would make sense for Mark Green to be called to account as well. So if Walters is too focused on Ed Thompson's venision eating for that, he'll take it upon himself.
And this one is even fits in with current events!
"Four years ago, Mark Green said it was right for Trent Lott to step down as Senate leader after making remarks praising Strom Thurmond's past presidential run on a segregationist ticket."
From the 12/21/02 AP story:
Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis., said Lott's resignation "sends a clear message that our nation has left its divided past behind and is now ready to move forward together."
From the 12/21/02 JS story:
Republican congressman Mark Green said he had been repeatedly buttonholed by constituents over the issue.
"People have to feel pretty strongly to stop you in the store and want to talk about an issue," said Green. "I've heard over and over again people felt Lott's comments were idiotic and they saw it as a distraction, when they have to turn on the TV in the morning and see it as the lead story and then open the newspaper and see it as the headline. I think that was frustrating to a lot of Republicans."
Added Green:
"I think it's the right decision for the Republican Party. It sends a message that there's no room in our party for those kinds of comments or beliefs."
It might be worth contrasting Green's moral clarity here with his milquetoast position on Dennis Hastert, who knew about the emails in which Mark Foley asked a teen boy for a photograph and his chief of staff was previously told about Mark Foley paying a drunken call to the page living quarters.
From the 10/4 JS:
In a statement, Green Bay Republican Mark Green said: "I'm glad there's an investigation into what leadership knew. Anyone who was involved in a coverup of Mark Foley's despicable behavior should resign their position."
But Green, who is running for governor, did not comment directly on Hastert's handling of the matter.
I'm sure the fact Hastert gave Mark Green 17 large has nothing to do with this.
It will be interesting to see what the children have to say on talk radio this morning.
Of course they will continue to trash Clinton and will demand more toughness, though toughness is what led to this test in the first place.
The question is will the dry drunk in the White House find a way to save face and do what needs to be done, or will see more incompetence that has marked the careers of everyone in this administration.
At any rate, it is time for the Democrats to lay wood on this line of foreign policy, strongly and cogently so the American people get it.
Posted by: kr | October 09, 2006 at 05:40 AM
Frothing at the mouth? Rabid, maybe, but that's different.
Posted by: Xoff | October 09, 2006 at 05:41 AM