Rumble on the right over Tommy

UPDATE: Well, it was certainly fun while it lasted.

UPDATE 2: Tommy's ego trip was a wild ride for GOP.

Tommy Thompson's threat to run for governor has Wisconsin Republicans in some turmoil. Even the party's neocon wing is divided.

While Mark Belling would welcome Tommy into the race, Charlie Sykes continues to bash him and promote Mark Green. The latest from Sykes:

FRIDAY, May 12, 2006, 4:49 p.m.
CHALLENGE

Let me repost this:

This is addressed to members of the conservative blogosphere who think that Mark Green is insufficiently conservative and so are dazzled at the prospect of a TT candidacy:

(1) Name one issue on which Thompson is more conservative than Green? Anybody? Anybody? Stem cells? Entitlements? Taxes? Mass transit? (For a bonus point explain why Green's support of an ethanol mandate would lead you to support Tommy....who is ADM's #1 fan in Wisconsin.)

(2) Explain how TT would be more fiscally conservative than Green Compare TT's record on spending with Green's record.

(3) Explain Mark Belling's double-standard on RINOs. (See here.)

As you're working through that, here are some notes to keep in mind:

* Green helped pass the largest tax cuts in both state and federal history.

* He sponsored a bill that would scrap the IRS code.

* Green voted against 75% of the appropriations laws during his time in Congress – those are the ones usually stuffed full of earmarks and bloated spending.

* Green supports constitutional limits on state and local government spending. (TT opposed them.)

* Green has said his first budget will cap state tax revenue at the previous year’s level and that he’ll put a freeze on property taxes. (Did TT ever do that?)

* Green supports conceal-carry legislation into law.

* He has a 100% pro-life voting record.

* He voted against McCain-Feingold.

* He’s a member of the Republican Study Committee (formerly the Conservative Action Team) in the House and the National Journal judged his voting record the most conservative on the Wisconsin congressional delegation – even more so than Sensenbrenner.

* Green has been a strong proponent of border security legislation – and actually authored legislation that would require proof of legal residency to obtain a driver’s license before Sensenbrenner did.

* Green received awards from conservative groups like Americans for Tax Reform, NRA, Tax Limitation Committee, Right to Life and Citizens Against Government Waste.

I disagree with Green on ethanol and wish he had been more aggressive backing the TPA, but the suggestion that he is in any way a RINO is, frankly, ludicrous.

All of which should certainly help mobilize Democrats, even the ones who are not enamored of Jim Doyle.

Another country heard from: Peter DiGaudio disagreed when I called Green a hard-line conservative in an earlier post, but agrees Green is to the right of Thompson and says Tommy should get out of the way. He also offers a list of Green positions that should make Dems' hair stand on end.

Earlier post: Tommy: I know you love me, but do I love you?

UPDATE: Deb Jordahl joins the Belling-bashing. Some fun now, eh?

MORE: Kevin Binversie at Lakeshore Laments says: Belling having a hard time going Green.

THE GREEN SPIN: Green's campaign manager stands by his man.