We talk with Mike McCabe about running for governor

A letter of support has been circulating for Mike McCabe of Blue Jean Nation to run for the governorship in 2018.  I spoke today to Mike on the phone about this letter.

WISCONSINITES UNITE TO DRAFT
MIKE McCABE FOR GOVERNOR

Dear Mike,
We strongly urge you to run for governor. Our reason is obvious: the levers of political power have been seized and are being manipulated by those interested primarily in self-enrichment and personal power. The actions of those who currently control the Capitol are extremely short-sighted as well as morally and ethically corrupt, and sap our state of its underlying strength and vitality.

The people sense this, and are hungry for a different kind of leadership. You are the right answer. You are an upright man, not interested in self-enrichment or power for power’s sake, with a feeling for the needs of others and your country. We are aware that you would rather not run for office. With the landscape littered with professional politicians and career office holders, your understandable and admirable reluctance to run only makes you more appealing to us and enhances your viability as a candidate. Added to that, you are a natural leader, with a vision of what is right, a rare gift for putting that vision into words, along with uncommon sense about how to turn words into actions. Also, the timing is right.

We need you to run because of who you are and where you are from. Rural Wisconsin is in crisis, and the rural-urban divide is growing disturbingly wide. You are farm raised and have deep rural roots, so you have what so few of today’s politicians have, namely an understanding of rural life and the challenges small-town residents face and an ability to speak their language.

We need you to run because the major parties are broken and you belong to no political party. You are a true independent and have been speaking truth to power for decades as a nonpartisan government watchdog. For decades you have shined light on the misdeeds of Republicans and Democrats alike, and have blown the whistle on them without fear or favor. That makes you a public servant in the truest sense. That’s what Wisconsin needs now more than ever.

We need you to run because Wisconsin politics has grown corrupt and there is no one in our state who has worked harder for a longer time and done more to fight political corruption than you. Truth is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in our society, and no one in our state has demonstrated a greater devotion to truth telling than you and been more willing than you to speak the truth even when few want to hear it and some actively seek to silence it.

Because of who you are, where you are from and what you stand for, we believe you will find a deep vein of support across the state. We know running would be a huge sacrifice for you and your family. But now is the time. Your state and country are crying out for the kind of leadership you would provide. Politics and government are fouled up, and Wisconsin has lost its way. We need a jolt to the system. Wisconsin needs you.

Paul Linzmeyer, business leader, De Pere
Rick Adamski, farmer, Seymour
Mark Neumann, physician, La Crosse
Joe Mastalski, retired pharmacist, Hazelhurst
Ed Gorell, farmer, Eleva
Matthew Wiltzius, cook, Stevens Point
Rhonda Sitnikau, stylist, Green Bay
Phil Blazkowski, regional planner, Janesville
Stephanie Ortiz, domestic abuse prevention coordinator & Black Lives United, Green Bay
Brian Gronski, farmer, Suamico
Masood Akhtar, entrepreneur, Middleton
Cory Schneider, insurance salesman, Stevens Point
Catherine Parker, librarian & town board member,
Lake Tomahawk
Corina Norrbom, physician, Rothschild
Casey Hicks, student, Green Bay
Jeanne and Dan Patenaude, Butternut
Ellen Johnson, nurse, La Crosse
Geraldine Hamm, wellness coordinator, Waupaca
Dr. Paul Summerside, retired health care CEO, De Pere
Roger Schnitzler, publishing company owner,
Wisconsin Dells
Ed Busby, IT technician & retired educator, Park Falls
Nick Dutton, insurance agent, La Crosse
Monica Hofmann, nurse practitioner, La Crosse
Avery Van Gaard, landscaper, La Crosse
Avrum Lank, author & retired journalist, Whitefish Bay
Ben Welch, animator, Hortonville
Jay Graff, military veteran & chauffeur service owner, Waupun
Paul Ahrens, student, Green Bay
Dr. Thomas Wiltzius, psychologist, Appleton
Monica and Ken Golomski, retired educators, De Pere
Katie Groves, Sparta
Jennie Black, resort owner, Hazelhurst
Ralph Knudson, retired family practice physician, La Crosse
Dave Pauly, insurance executive, Madison
Mary Oldenburg, student, La Crosse
Hiroshi Kanno, retired farmer & World War II internment camp survivor, Wisconsin Dells
Arlene Kanno, retired science teacher, Wisconsin Dells
Kathy and Chuck Ivey, La Crosse
Mark Scheffler, financial services manager, Appleton
Ake Stroede, Wausau
Mike Ouimette, bartender, Hazelhurst
Rich Langan, Green Bay
Chuck Young, retired college professor, La Crosse
Lynn and Nancy Utesch, farmers, Kewaunee
Steven Goschey, contractor, Random Lake
Ann Tyndall, chaplain, La Crosse
Nino Amato, senior citizen group leader & former utility executive, Middleton
Paul Willems, military veteran & publishing business owner,
Green Bay
Joan Hauer, registered nurse, Minocqua
Kathy Lefevre, county supervisor, Green Bay
Tanner Klein, student, Stevens Point
Stephen Minnema, minister, La Crosse
Jim Snyder, realtor, Arbor Vitae
Jennie Kleven, physician, La Crosse
Judd Van De Hei, business owner, De Pere
Sara Bell, health care educator, Fond du Lac
Hank Roessell, retired police detective, Hazelhurst
Peter Gorski, grocery co-op employee, La Crosse
Deborah and Jim Kinder, Wisconsin Dells
Laura Grovogel, health care professional, Allouez
Michael and Nancy Slattery, farmers, Maribel
Samuel Birenbaum, student, Eau Claire
Kris Edwards, project manager, La Crosse
Jeff Kane, gas station service, Hazelhurst
Phillip Marquart, data manager, La Crosse
Peggy Snyder, office secretary, Woodruff
Jenny Chevalier, independent business owner, Green Bay
Adriel Denae, musician & arts organization leader, Appleton
Curt Christianson, retired teacher, Mercer
Kris Molinaro, speech therapist, Minocqua
Cathy and Gary Simmons, retired teachers, Arbor Vitae
Charlie Frisk, retired science teacher, Green Bay
Courtney Zambon, student, Green Bay
Jim and Jeannie Groskreutz, La Crosse
Jane Jacobi, registered nurse, Minocqua
Russ Kopp, tile setter, Lac du Flambeau
Jeannie Linzmeyer, arts business operator, De Pere
Richard and Lisbeth Reynertson, La Crosse
Debra Kopp, housewife, Lac du Flambeau
Dmitri Martin, Waupaca
Dr. Robert Pyne, college administrator, De Pere
Mary Kubinet, customer service representative, Woodruff
Deborah Buffton, college professor, La Crosse
Joe Augitto, architect, Hazelhurst
Pete Angilello, school librarian, Green Bay
Vic Ouimette, chamber of commerce & county board member, Mercer
Joy Olson, La Crosse
Kim Hilliker, retired radiologist, Wausau
Kyle Schneider, student, Green Bay
Kirsten Margitan, Spanish teacher, Minocqua
Mary Hilliker, registered nurse & yoga instructor, Wausau
Sam Prahl, electrician, New London
Cole Piechowski, student, Green Bay
Dave Maki, insurance agent, Lac du Flambeau
Christine Rasmussen, accounting administrative assistant, Weyauwega
Katie Schierl, Neenah
Vicki Vohs, Janesville
Margie Jessup, programmer analyst, Milton
James Crisco, Wild Rose
Thomas McGrath, Wausau
Chuck Johnston, Fitchburg
Marsha Gerlach, retired food service manager, Waupaca
Larry Sleznikow, instructional technologist, La Crosse
Carolyn Sleznikow, registered nurse, La Crosse
Rachel Teske, physician, Onalaska
Lowell Wickman, veterinarian, Oshkosh
Jill Wenzel, New London
Sharon Locklin, health training manager, Green Bay
ILah Hartung, retired human services case manager, Janesville
Maria Jenquine, Waupaca
Connie Weeks, retired teacher, Milton
Bruce LaRose, retired school administrator, Hazelhurst
Dave Kropilnicki, retired school custodian, Waupaca
Jim Crist, Madison
Dawn Broderick, Waupaca
Betty Kossik, Green Bay
Elizabeth Feil, continuing education seminar planner, Altoona
Nicolette Collier, New London
Ursula Armstrong-Neisius, self-employed former truck driver & postal worker, Redgranite
Cliff and Carol Claus, Woodruff
Harvey Skjerven, forestry service director, Minocqua
Colleen Skjerven, dog grooming service owner, Minocqua
Rebecca Thieme-Baeseman, Waupaca
Vern Gosdeck, math teacher, Sun Prairie
Andy Teichmiller, business owner, Woodruff
Sharon Gosdeck, dental hygienist, Sun Prairie
Sue Teichmiller, physician assistant, Woodruff
Mary Dunphy, clinical lab specialist, Minocqua
Erv Teichmiller, minister, business owner & county board member, Woodruff
Lewis Kuhlman, city planner, La Crosse
Kevin Hundt, student, La Crosse
Tom Neubauer, retired business owner, Whitefish Bay
Greg Bassett, handyman & retired optician, Hazelhurst
Wendy Bassett, speech pathologist, Hazelhurst
Bart Hebert, physical therapist, Woodruff
Mary Hebert, secretary, Woodruff
Phil Carey, Madison
Chuck Bohmert, retired teacher, Arbor Vitae
Larry Caldwell, pharmacist, Minocqua
Pam Caldwell, church secretary, Minocqua
Richard Gee, retired power plant supervisor, Minocqua
Donna Gee, retired teacher, Minocqua
Fred Locher, retired orthopedic surgeon, St. Germain
Laura Locher, artist, St. Germain
Lori Mastalski, paralegal, Amery
Ken Mastalski, industrial quality control specialist, Amery
Paul Fankhauser, farmer & former meat inspector, Madison
Sharon Fankhauser, business owner, Madison
John Margitan, retired surveyor, Minocqua
Bonnie Margitan, retired teacher, Minocqua
Obbie King, web developer, La Crosse
Jim Jorstad, IT director, Stoddard
Jane Jorstad, retired elementary school teacher, Stoddard
Mark Strohsahl, retired social worker, Hazelhurst
Barb Strohsahl, nursing educator, Hazelhurst
Dave Burton, assistant school principal & former corrections officer, Arbor Vitae
Kathy Burton, small business owner, Arbor Vitae
Kay and Mel Hoff, Lake Tomahawk
Andy Binder, retired salesman, Minocqua
Julie Clark, retired realtor, Woodruff
Darlene Buraczewski, accountant, Maribel
Mike Buraczewski, nuclear power procedure writer and operator, Maribel
Dorothy Buraczewski, retired retail sales clerk, Minocqua
David Asman, New London
Dan Stephens, Madison
Allen Pruitt, financial services representative, La Crosse
John Small, village president & county supervisor, Marathon
P.J. Early, administrative coordinator, St. Francis
Jerry Stepaniak, Wauwatosa
Charles Lee, retired professor, La Crosse
Dannette Lank, community volunteer, Whitefish Bay
Doug Chapman, business training administrator, Eleva
Jacki Kossik, Eureka
Bradley Butterfield, English professor, La Crosse
Susan Crutchfield, professor, La Crosse
Rosie Brooks, stay-at-home cook and artist, La Crosse
Robert Hughes, Onalaska
Nancy Heerens-Knudson, retired physician assistant,
La Crosse
Jessica Thill, educator, La Crosse
Carol McKy, business services, Middleton