I shouldn’t be surprised Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed the bill allowing farmers to legally sell raw milk. He’s been going after the little guy ever since he was the state attorney general raiding mom and pop  taverns across the state because they had a video poker machine or two  in them to make a little money for themselves. And I’m not surprised he flipped-flopped on the issue, telling one and all he would sign the bill and then vetoing as soon as Big Ag got to him along with nanny state bureaucrats. He did the same thing on the issue of re-establishing the appointment of the DNR Secretary by the state’s Natural Resources Board. No, I’m not surprised at all at his actions. They’re perfect Diamond Jim’s profile.

The coalition that supports raw milk which I had written about “Free Soil, Free Men, Free Milk” predominates in the western part of the state where I live. Nearly 800 or so pro-raw milk activists showed up at a hearing on the bill in Eau Claire, traditionally the center of the state’s (and once upon a time the nation’s ) dairy industry. The Republicans have been hemorrhaging voter support in this part of Wisconsin since 2006. Here’s a great way to get it back running on a freedom issues that unites a diverse group of voters and broadened a shrinking party’s base. Gubernatorial candidate, former Congressman Mark Neumann has siezed upon the issue and anounnced his support. Will Milwaukee County Exec Scott Walker do the same or will he be a prisoner of his eastern Wisconsin backers, the part of the state where Big Ag reigns. We’ll see.