If I were to mention the word “Waukesha” while yakking with political friends, it wouldn’t take too long for somebody to mention “Kathy Nickolaus” – the Waukesha county clerk who rather infamously discovered about 7,500 votes following the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
But after reading Scott Wittkopf’s article “Blame Waukesha” in the Madison weekly The Isthmus I’m wondering why nobody talks about Don Taylor?
As Scott Wittkopf makes apparent, Taylor is the Waukesha County Republican Party Chair and a key Wisconsin fund raiser for all GOP candidates who hope to win a statewide election. His ascent to power has brought a hard right political agenda with it. Writes Wittkopf: “In 1977, Taylor was considered so radical a conservative in Waukesha County he could not even receive delegate status to the state GOP Convention.” But by now a political conduit fund managed by Taylor is, “so successful that most significant state GOP campaigns maintain a staffed office in Waukesha County to be close to Don Taylor and the fund” according to Scott Jensen.
Yes, he even interviewed infamous Scooter Jensen, one of the key figures in the caucus scandal. Jensen is now a key figure in an effort I find just about as distasteful- the push to route public dollars to private charter schools. I’m not alone in my concern. The responses that a couple of other Waukesha figures Wittkopf speaks with make me wonder if Walker’s attack on public education isn’t the last straw for many Republicans.
Wittkopf’s article also delves into Waukesha County’s socioeconomics, its voting stats, the ultra-conservative lawmakers Taylor grooms for success, and more.
Read on at Blame Waukesha: The GOP’s answer to liberal Dane County swings elections to the right
Scott Wittkopf writes at Badger Democracy
blue cheddar 
Well we had a fantastic turnout last night! 35 people braved the dark streets of Mordor… er, Waukesha, to celebrate diversity and progressive politics. We heard from Sly who was totally impressed with the turnout and we ended up taking over the whole restaurant. It was wonderful.
We’re meeting again on Saturday, November 12th at 6:30pm at Sprizzo in a special session to hear from Scott Wittkopf, the author of Blame Waukesha.
Our next regular meeting will be December 5th at 6:30pm at Sprizzo when we’ll welcome Mike McCabe from The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Join us in the heart of darkness where we’ve kindled a little light.
Very nice. I will come by if I can catch a ride w. Mike McCabe.