Republican Party of Wisconsin:
The Next Generation
June 15th, 2006
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Rick Graber may be heading to a new job.
According to Spivak and Bice:
Sources tell us that popular state Republican Party Chairman Rick Graber is under consideration for a job with the Bush administration. Late Wednesday, Graber passed on the news that he might be moving on to a select group of Republicans and law partners at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, where he is the president and chief executive officer.
Sources say the White House job is not a done deal and that if it falls through, Graber would be expected to stay at Reinhart, one of the five largest firms in the state.
“I can’t confirm nor deny it,” Robert Bellin, Reinhart chairman, said Wednesday evening. Asked whether Graber let his partners in on the secret, Bellin feigned ignorance: “I wasn’t in the office this afternoon.”
Political and business sources say President Bush’s team has been looking at Graber - who did not return repeated calls Tuesday and Wednesday - for several months. Graber has been playing his cards extremely close to the vest, and even some very close to him said they did not know what job he is up for.
Speculation has run the gamut from a deputy cabinet secretary to an ambassadorship.
“Nothing is imminent, and a Senate confirmation is involved,” said one GOP source. “I have no idea how long that would take.”
His departure would create a bit of insider intrigue within the state Republican Party apparatus.
Early scuttlebutt is that Party Treasurer Reince Priebus and Party First Vice-Chair Brad Courtney will explore pursuing the post.
Both are good men and good Republicans. My support, such as it is, would go to the one who would raise a little hell, shake the dust out of the apparatus and come up with a plan to bridge the widening gap between the grassroots and the party ‘leadership.’
I have tremendous respect for those who have spent decades helping the party. But it’s time for new blood, new ideas.
Of course, fundraising is vitally important, but the state party needs to listen to the people who cut the $50 checks, too. People in both camps should consider this post an open invitation to leave comments in support of their guy.
I may blog on this more in days to come.
The future of the party rests more in the hands of its members than in its chairman, but this is an important post nonetheless.
June 15th, 2006 at 11:09 am
I understand there’s a very qualified person looking at the Chairman’s position. That is of course IF Rick heads to Washington.
The current RPW treasure Reince Priebus. He would be a great replacement for Rick.
He is a true conservative and lead the party in that direction. He has been tireless with raising monies and recruiting candidates for the party.
Skuttlebutt is an intersting thing.
June 15th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Reince would be my choice. He’s a decent guy who is incredibly intelligent, politically sharp, and most importantly, is a *mainstream* conservative.
Brad Courtney is fine, but the problem is that he is tied in to that whole Dohnal / Blonien / Reynolds coven of moonbats in metro Milwaukee. Despite the fact that Dohnal seems to have some firm ideas on how to run the state party (into the ground), I would NOT like to see that crowd gain any additional influence on a state level.
It’s Reince for me!
June 15th, 2006 at 1:12 pm
I can assure you that Brad courney is not tied into Dohnal/Blonien in any way. Have not seen him since March, nor talked to him. I know one thing from working with Brad when I was Milwaukee County GOP chair that Brad has some understanding of the grass roots and people other than the country club clique.
Do I think that Brad is the best choice? No, I would pick Mark graul as he really understands grass roots organization and has been farily successful while “Popular” Graber has been a total disaster.
Graber is 0-12 in big elections, has ruined the base units, has reduced the amount of money the state has collectedand generally is the worst state chair I have seen in 40 years.
Special note to “Hey You” we win elections, how many have run and won? I have some ideas, the state party hs already been run into the ground, count the members, count the money check to see how many big elections they have won.
June 15th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Ok Bob, I’ll bite: how many “big elections” have you won?
I bet Rick’s problem with not winning enough big elections was that they didn’t have enough yard, right? We all know the person with the most yard signs wins. haha
June 15th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Hey, “Hey you”…careful when using Dohnal’s name.
He’s prone to explode and then starts to say incoherent things. (actually it is kind of fun to watch sometimes. As long as no one really takes him seriously) He also thinks he is the only one in the state that has ever run a successful campaign.
I won’t disagree with him, however…Graber has not been a very effective leader.
June 15th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Reince would be a good choice. He’s a true believer.
June 15th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Mary Panzer, baby!
June 15th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Fraley: so you want an A$$ clown like wineke?
The GOP is better than that
June 15th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
I agree with Bob Dohnal that Mark Graul would be a fantastic State Party Leader. First things first, let’s get Mark Green elected Governor!
June 15th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Reince is a corporate lawyer at one of the State’s biggest, most expensive firms. You think he’d change things so the party will “listen to the people who cut the $50 checks, too?”
Please.
June 15th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Known Reince for years. First one out to do yard signs, last one in from the lit drop.
June 16th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Anonymous,
First you sure picked a name that I guess reflects your views. LOL
I don’t care what a man does to provide for his family. I care what is in his heart. Reinces heart is big and in the right place. He is a true conservative no matter what his job.
BTW I know personally he loves $50.00 checks. Even $25.00 checks. And $1,000.00 checks.
Right on Milwaukke R as Reince is indeed the first one out and the last one in. That’s a LEADER
June 17th, 2006 at 9:41 am
You can’t do much better than Reince. Lets all remember who the enemy is and not make it us!
June 28th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
Reince Priebus would be the best choice. No doubt a true believer and can speak very well and raise a boatload of money. Oh and by the way, he can’t stand RINOS.
July 3rd, 2006 at 2:52 pm
“Reince is a corporate lawyer,” says Anonymous. Is it me or does he sound a lot like Bob Wirch? Yeah, let’s take THAT guy;s advice. Reince has the fundraising prowess like no other candidate for this position, period. I don’t care if it’s a million $10 checks or 10,000 $1,000 checks, the guy can raise money as evidenced in his run two years ago. He will be a hands-on kind of guy and will hold those elected officials purporting to be conservatives accountable.