The Great Ethanol Debate (Huh?)

More evidence the right wingers need to get a life. Charlie Sykes:

DOES SCHULTZ HAVE A CLUE...

(A) How badly passing an ethanol mandate will split the Republican base in Southeastern Wisconsin? Clue: your base is not the ethanol lobby. (You'll realize this when you see how much cash they spread around to Doyle and the Dems this fall.)

(B) How badly this will hurt Mark Green, who will now find himself on the wrong side of an issue that will fester for months (as opposed to one that could have been shelved and largely forgotten by September)?

(C) How badly this reflects on the backbone and principles of the GOP legislature?

(D) That even though he's playing this as an insider game of massaging lobbyists and kowtowing to vulnerable senators like Kapanke and Brown the ethanol issue has become very much an outsider issue with the public watching every move?

(D) How badly this reflects on his own sorry leadership skills. If the ethanol vote passes with Democratic votes, not even TPA will save Schultz's hide.

Does Dale Schultz understand any of this? Probably not.

Split the base? Long-lasting effects? Cost Schultz his leadership post?

Biggest issue since light rail, apparently, and I had no clue. Schultz, who represents a rural district, is probably representing the people who sent him to Madison.

Wonder how it plays elsewhere in the state. If I were Mark Green (what am I saying?), I'd run a spot on the state's farm radio network, explaining how this Milwaukee guy, Scott Walker, doesn't get it, doesn't care about farmers, and thinks corn comes in a can.

I must say, it is entertaining to see the Repubs tear themselves apart over meaningless stuff.

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UPDATE: I guess Green didn't get my memo in time. He has decided to go after Walker on mandates. Yawn. From the Green Sheet:

Scott Walker doesn't support the ethanol mandate, but he sure has supported plenty of mandates during his time in the legislature. Here's just a sample of a few:

1999 Senate Bill 206
MANDATE: Mandates that bread can only be sold by weight in Wisconsin.

2001 Assembly Bill 202
MANDATE: Prohibits drivers with instructional permits or probationary licenses from using a cell phone while driving.

2001 Assembly Bill 802
MANADATE: Mandates that nursing homes must have a certain number of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse's assistants.

2001 Senate Bill 250
MANDATE: Mandates that health insurance providers must cover equipment and supplies for certain diabetes treatments.

Now, we're not saying Mark opposes any of these bills – he doesn't. The point we're making is that Walker has supported plenty of mandates throughout his career, and that makes him no less a conservative Republican than all the good conservatives who support ethanol – and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.