DOYLE'S GRACEFUL INAUGURAL DANCE

As if being the first re-elected Democratic governor in 30-plus years
wasn't enough to get fans attending Gov. Jim Doyle's Inaugural Ball on
Wednesday night excited, Doyle riled up the crowd with Wisconsin sports.

"Can you imagine, what a weekend to follow!" said Doyle to formally
dressed partiers imbibing champagne at Monona Terrace. "Badger
basketball, Packer football, Badger football!"

The crowd was smaller than four years ago, despite a performance by
Taj Mahal, but revelers remained buoyed by the excitement that began
Nov. 7 for Democrats when they kept the governor's office and took
over the state Senate.

And this inauguration gala, when Jim and Jessica Doyle took the floor
for their first dance (to the Beatles' "In My Life," sung by Willy
Porter), no one was heard commenting that they looked stiff. But
attendees did gossip about the enthusiasm Doyle showed toward Lt. Gov.
Barbara Lawton, indicating any rift that existed four years ago has
healed. "We have a great lieutenant governor in this state," was
Doyle's first comment at his inaugural breakfast.

While most partygoers reveled in moment, at least one looked toward a
future race. Asking Ben Masel, the well-known marijuana law reform
advocate, if he was on hand to celebrate Doyle's re-election, he
commented, "I'm here to work the crowd." Masel, who recently became a
grandfather, explained, "I've filed to run for the Senate in 2012. I
think this is the earliest on record."