The old double standard at work

The other day, when Republicans were hoping they could exploit bad feelings between two Dems -- Gov. Jim Doyle and Atty. Gen. Peg Lautenschlager -- WTMJ radio talker Charlie Sykes was outraged -- outraged! -- that Doyle said Lautenschlager's opinion wouldn't really affect his vetoes.

Sykes wrote:

ARROGANCE

Jim Doyle yesterday gave us a glimpse at what may turn out to be his fatal weakness: his arrogance and his contempt for the law.

Maple Bluff - Gov. Jim Doyle said Friday that Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager's review of his controversial state budget vetoes will not influence his fight with Republican legislators, who argue that his changes exceeded his authority.

"It isn't going to have an effect - the vetoes are there, the vetoes are in place," Doyle said....

"It isn't like she can undo a veto," Doyle added.

In other words: I don't care what she she says because it doesn't matter what the law actually is and she can't stop me. Whatever the constitution says, nobody can stop me.

This from a guy who used to be Attorney General himself. Unfortunately, this is the same attitude he had toward the Supreme Court decisions on his illegal gaming compacts -- he simply ignored them. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but his arrogance could come back to bite him in the butt.

Friday, Lautenschlager disappointed the Republicans by saying she believes Doyle's vetoes were constitutional and would be upheld in court.

How did the Republicans react? The AP reports:

[State Sen. Alan] Lasee and fellow GOP leaders said Friday they would ignore Lautenschlager's opinion as they decided whether to go to court and pledged to move forward with plans to pass a constitutional amendment that would rein in his veto authority.

In other words: The Repubs don't care what the law is, nobody can stop them if they want to go to court. They don't care what the constitution or the AG say.

And Sykes? Not a peep so far. Want to bet that when he does pipe up it will be to criticize Lautenschlager, not Lasee?