I’ve just returned from the annual Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention, where we’ve completed endorsements for 5 major state/national races. While I plan on writing up more details about the convention itself and speakers like Tim Pawlenty, Paul Ryan and Karl Rove, I wanted to highlight what was a bit of a shock earlier today in the U.S. Senate endorsement.
EPU had a post on Friday about 2 of the Senate candidates here in Wisconsin on Friday, Dave Westlake and Terrance Wall. He covered those two accurately, but there were two other candidates in the race: Dick Leinenkugel of the Leinenkugel brewing family (mostly midwest I think, but maybe some of you coasters have seen it – Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss, Leinie’s Red, etc), and an OshKosh businessman names Ron Johnson. Ron Johnson only got in the race last Monday, but has seen his star skyrocketing since he’s spoke recently at some of the Tea Party rallies. I was completely unfamiliar with him before this morning, except to know that he’s been generating buzz. Now we know why.
The first surprise during the endorsement process was when our third candidate/speaker, Dick Leinenkugel, gave his speech, and towards the end of it abruptly dropped out of the race. He then wholeheartedly endorsed Ron Johnson, who was the 4th candidate to speak. And speak he did.
Ron Johnson wowed us. He spoke of familiar themes, of the ridiculous attacks on American businesses and the worship of big government. He spoke about the erosion of our freedoms and losing our liberties. He spoke about how for the first time in his life, he’s scared of the direction we’re heading.
These are all common themes, but he spoke in such a way that resonated, that got you excited, and that you felt was genuine. And this was the difference between him and Dave Westlake. I liked *everything* Westlake had to say. He was passionate, conservative, intelligent, honorable, you name the adjective. But whatever “it” is…the “it” that gives you momentum and pushes you over the edge and makes it clear that this job is yours…Dave never had it. He’s been in the campaign since 2009, and he still doesn’t have it. And that’s why Dave Westlake was eliminated in the first round of balloting at convention, that’s why he wouldn’t beat Russ Feingold, and that’s why he won’t even be our nominee come September when our primary takes place.
Ron Johnson won the state party endorsement in the second round of balloting with 63.9% of the vote (you need 60%). Of course, at the end of the day, we all know convention endorsements don’t mean much. They all have to continue to campaign, and someone has to make it through the primary. To be honest, I would be happy with any of the 3. But I think we’ll see in the coming weeks and months that Ron Johnson has the momentum and has the best chance of beating Russ Feingold. I’m not 100% sold on Johnson yet – a ten minute speech, while leaving a good impression, does not a final decision make. But the first impression was a good one, he’s got the backing of the state party, and I think he may be our man.
I’ll write up more in the future, as I sort out all the details. In any event, it was an exciting weekend for Conservatives in Wisconsin.
- Jon
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
Yet to be determined
RottDawg (Diary) Sunday, May 23rd at 6:24PM EST (link)I too was at the convention, I just got the computer fired up and my first email was a link to this diary. It seems to me, the fix was in and that the established (R) that only popped up a week ago out of nowhere comes out on top. More on this later I’m sure. I also hope the establishment that helped get him the endorsement knows him. If they don’t, I suspect Fiengold and others will getting to know him themselves very well. I know nothing of the man and seriously doubt many of the others that voted for him did either. After all, he just showed up a few days ago…
Man is not free unless government is limited.
Ronald Reagan
Nice speeches are nice
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Sunday, May 23rd at 10:35PM EST (link)First, he is an unknown latecomer, and I’m sorry but the people on the floor who endorsed him are suckers and fools. He might be great. He might have all sorts of bodies buried in his basement. The ‘Leinenkugel ‘ maneuver is very, very smelly.
I do not support this, and I certainly do not endorse Ronny Come Lately. Your personal reliance on the speeches to say Dave does not have it and Ronny does – very nice. What about ground game? What about organization? What are his stated stands? What in his background says he has ethics and integrity, and that he can believed? If you’ll recall, Terrence Wall’s web site looks great. His stated positions look great. Then there are the land deals and the campaign donations. What do you know about Ron Johnson?
Barack’s coming out in 2004 was a pretty nice speech too, and to the exclusion of anything resembling brain wattage, Americans followed that left-wing poltroon off a cliff.
We’ll see, Jon. But I ain’t impressed with this 5-day buzz machine and shady convention maneuver. As it stands right now, I’m working full bore to get David Westlake nominated and elected, because that guy is the man with the demonstrated conservatism and energy.
This other guy, I don’t know anything about him that impresses me, and rather a decent bit to the contrary.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
I reco because it's good onsite coverage of conservative business
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Sunday, May 23rd at 10:53PM EST (link)and because I do not doubt your own credentials and your intentions – getting the best guy there.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Suckers and fools might be a bit disingenuous...
Jon E. Schultz II (IlliniJon) (Diary) Monday, May 24th at 12:26AM EST (link)EPU,
I appreciate your enthusiasm for Dave Westlake – like I said, there’s nothing I could knock about what I heard from him this weekend and what I’ve heard over the past couple months. All I can say is he doesn’t have the buzz and he isn’t closing the deal. He hasn’t been able to shake Wall, and the fact that he’s left the door open for someone like Johnson doesn’t really instill confidence that he can seal the deal. Then again, it’s only May, and like they say in sports, come September, this is why they play the game. This weekend wasn’t a coronation – there’s a tough battle ahead for all 3 of them.
Again, I want to be clear, I have no idea who I’m going to support for Senate, I was just trying to give you an indication of the feeling on the ground (if not just for the day). I would clarify, however, that while Ron Johnson did just officially enter the race, it’s not like he came out of nowhere. He’s the founder of the Oshkosh WI Tea Party, and he gave speeches at both their Tea Party in Oct 2009 and the Tax Day Tea Party in Madison in April. He’s been the talk of AM radio for the last month, talk of the blogosphere, and like I said, of the 3 remaining candidates, he’s the one with the buzz right now. Doesn’t mean Westlake won’t have it in a month, but don’t think that the delegates today were simply fools and suckers. I think the situation on the ground here is a little more dynamic than that. And just because Wall and Westlake have been running since 2009 doesn’t mean one of the two of them are entitled to the seat.
You asked what I personally know about Ron Johnson – not much – which is why I’m not officially behind anyone yet. We’ll see how it plays in the next month and what we learn about the candidates. I imagine that by July, we’ll start to have a much better idea of who has the momentum. I think polling will start soon too.
I’m glad you’re supporting Westlake – all the candidates need good people behind them. At the end of the day, we want the strongest candidate that most represents our values, who has a chance to knock off Feingold. And I know all of us will unequivocally support whoever makes it through the primary in September.
- Jon
Big money talks in WI
awillems9 (Diary) Monday, May 24th at 6:48AM EST (link)I also was at the WI Republican state convention. I am a Westlake man, too.
That said, I believe the 63% endorsement on the second ballot, for a man in the race 5 days is rather odd. It seems as if there was “plenty” of time for all 3,500 delegates Friday night to go to Mr. Johnson’s hospitality suite and look him in the eye and see his character and integrity. There was “plenty” of time for all 3,500 to ask Mr. Johnson about a position near and dear to their hearts. There was “plenty” of time to hear a 10 minute speech by Mr. Johnson and give away the most prized possession anyone has–your vote. There was “plenty” of time to hear a Republican party organized “TEA” party speech by Mr. Johnson on April 15th. There was “plenty” of time for Mr. Johnson to travel to each of WI 72 counties and LISTEN to the people.
There is plenty of time left in this race!!
Here's a link to some of the news coverage
Jon E. Schultz II (IlliniJon) (Diary) Monday, May 24th at 8:51AM EST (link)http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/video/?bcpid=13960335001&bctid=87574207001
Sorry, don’t know how to embed, just click it.
Selling out
kazma Monday, May 24th at 11:21AM EST (link)I was at the covention as well. You certainly don’t need to be a rocket scientist figure out what went on here. We know the players, we are connecting the dots, and the truth will come out.
HAVE
Leinenkugel exits Senate race, backs Johnson State GOP endorsement follows in bombshell's wake
kazma Monday, May 24th at 9:58PM EST (link)Ronald H. Johnson
* Age: 55
* Residence: Town of Oshkosh
* Raised: In Minnesota
* Occupation: President, Pacur LLC, a 100-employee manufacturing firm in Oshkosh named after Pat Curler, Johnson’s brother-in-law and company founder. Johnson began his business career as an accountant.
* Previous runs for office: None
* Political history: Campaign donor to Republicans; self-described conservative not active in politics; made his mark speaking at tea party events.
* Entered the race: May 17
* Key stand: Repeal federal health care reform legislation, lower U.S. debt. Johnson said he is still developing positions on major issues.
* Family: Wife, Jane, and three children
Got this bio from a JSOnline. So he gets the endorsement of the party and he is still developing positions on major issues??
Have we learned nothing??? The GOP has been given the gift of a second chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of the American people. If we don’t send the right people to Washington now all will be lost. The Republican party will be DONE. The American people are don’t trust politicians as it is. Stunts like this will not help.
Ron Johnson might be a nice guy with a lot of money, but he just sold his soul, and sold out the hard working people of Wisconsin. I hope he can live with that.
The RPW touts electing candidates of their word. What a joke. When candidates are bought, their word means NOTHING. There is no Honor or Integrity behind it.
This is about as “politics as usual” as you can get.
Rasmussen
Brian_Roastbeef (Diary) Thursday, May 27th at 4:46PM EST (link)In case anybody hasn’t seen it: Feingold 46, Johnson 44.
Westlake trails by about 9. Wall by 6, though I hear that he is dropping out.
I suppose I’m still behind Westlake right now, but Johnson might be worth a wait and see. If he is a phony, he’ll out himself or something will be dug up, in which case he’ll lose conservative/Tea Party support and his numbers will fade.
If he is for real though, then it may be worthwhile backing him. “For real though,” means that he does some hard work showing Wisconsin that he is a true conservative, touring the state, establishing and committing himself to some firm plans that back up his strong words. Johnson is still an unknown, and there has to be a time for an unknown to become a known. Normally it would be as a state senator or city mayor or something, but Johnson will just have to prove himself here and now. Taking our new leaders from the business world isn’t the worst idea in my eyes, although I’d expect these leaders to be firm enough that positions on major issues come easily to them.
Whomever you support, this still backs up the long-term fact of this race, which is that Feingold really is vulnerable. He has money though, so we need a candidate who is willing to get out there and work hard for it over the next few months.