Disgruntled Dems should recognize Doyle is their last, best & only defense

As Wisconsin Democrats gear up for their state convention in Oshkosh this weekend, there are, as usual, some who are disgruntled over Gov. Jim Doyle's record and performance. Mostly, it's that he has not been liberal enough to suit them, especially on taxes/spending (the budget, in other words) and environmental issues.

"After all these years of waiting," the refrain goes, "we finally elect a Democrat as governor and then we're still disappointed. What's the difference?"

Whether it was by design or accident, a recent Doyle letter to his supporters and donors took on that very question.

Let's allow Doyle a little space to make his own case:

"And just what difference does it make that today I am Governor of Wisconsin?

"As you are painfully aware, Republicans who control both houses of our Legislature have a dramatically different set of priorities.

"Allow me to give you just a few quick examples.

"In the past session Republicans passed and sent to my desk legislation that would allow almost anyone to carry concealed weapons almost anywhere -- in shopping malls, playgrounds, crowded theaters or county fairs.

"I was proud to stand with our law enforcement professionals when I vetoed this dangerous assault on public safety.

"The Republican majorities also passed vindictive legislation to undermine collective bargaining rights and tilt the scales against working people. They tried to eliminate 4-year-old kindergarten and reverse our commitment to smaller class sizes.

"And ignoring the wisdom of past leaders of both parties, they tried to slash Stewardship land preservation by $245 million and force the state to sell off land it currently protects for future generations.

"Each time I vetoed these assaults on Wisconsin values and common sense.

"But each of these threats remains active today, as do cynical attempts to distract voters from real issues by redefining marriage again or confusing our Constitution with reckless fiscal policy like the so-called Taxpayers Bill of Rights.

"Time and again, I have simply had to stand firm on principle -- despite the political costs.

"I've stopped their cynical efforts to force my mother to produce a photo I.D. to exercise her right to vote -- despite the bumper sticker appeal and talk-radio obsession with new voting hurdles.

"Instead, I've laid out a comprehensive program to improve the way our elections are conducted top to bottom -- through improved voter lists, better technology, better training and additional resources to guarantee that nobody will be forced to wait hours in line.

"And instead of their so-called property tax "freeze" that would devastate our schools and local services, I've crafted a responsible freeze to contain property taxes while continuing to invest in the cornerstones of our civic life.

"In contrast to their bumper sticker posturing, I've provided balanced budgets and a balanced approach to getting our economy moving again.

"Of course, their ability to pander on poll-tested fads is matched only by GOP eagerness to cater to powerful patrons or fringe zealots far outside the mainstream.

"For example, zealots in the Legislature also are trying to surrender Wisconsin's place at the forefront of stem cell research, crushing hope for those who need cures while driving away some of the best jobs of the future.

"And while lawmakers have increased their own pay seven times and $6,500 since the last increase in the minimum wage, Republicans played games for months to delay or prevent a meaningful increase in the minimum wage.

"Clearly, there are two very different visions of where we go from here.

"I know you understand what a very different place Wisconsin would be right now if we didn't have a Democratic governor with the power to block this radical agenda."

That's quite a list. Education. Stewardship. Collective bargaining rights. Guns. Minimum Wage. Voting rights. Stem cell research. Voting rights. Gay partnerships. TABOR.

The list will get longer when the Republicans have finished their work on the state budget, and Doyle's veto is the only thing to prevent dozens of other bad ideas from becoming law. He's had to do some heavy lifting and spend political capital -- and there's more to come.

Yes, most of it is playing defense. His detractors complain that he hasn't introduced a lot of progressive legislation, like restoring the public intervenor, that would go straight to some legislative committee's bottom drawer.

But before Democrats talk of sitting on their hands in 2006, or half-heartedly supporting Doyle, or even flirting with a third-party candidate, they need a reality check.

For now and for the foreseeable future, Doyle is all they've got.

Like him or not, Jim Doyle is the only thing standing in the way of a total takeover of this state by the right-wing extremists who control both houses of the legislature.

There is a remote chance the Dems could pick up four seats and take control of the State Senate, but that is a monumental undertaking and everything would have to fall into place. The Assembly, where the GOP margin is 60-39, is a long-term project.

So we've got the governorship, if we can keep it. Those who think there would be no difference between Governor Doyle and a Governor Walker or Governor Green should hope they never get to find out. It would not be pretty, and it would take a long, long time to undo the damage.