This screencap says it all when it come to life in Fitzwalkerstan:
No other comment needed.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Life In Fitzwalkerstan Caught In One Picture
They say one picture speaks a thousand words.
This screencap says it all when it come to life in Fitzwalkerstan:
Yup, that's it.
No other comment needed.
This screencap says it all when it come to life in Fitzwalkerstan:
No other comment needed.
Alberta Darling: Voucher School Drop Out
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| You wouldn't smile either if you just got caught in yet another lie. |
One of the myriad of turds she was trying to polish was the one of voucher schools. Starting at about the 11:30 mark, you can hear Darling trying to justify selling out the education and the future of the state's children with this statement (emphasis mine):
“Well you know, if you look at two of the areas the Governor targeted – Beloit and Green Bay – most people will say, ‘No, Green Bay doesn’t have a problem like Milwaukee.’ Well, the graduation rate is the same as or similar to Beloit – like 40%. So there are a lot of ah school districts around the state that are not far behind Milwaukee in terms of need of great improvement and need of the state’s attention. So we’re gonna see a compromise on the voucher program and it’s gonna be a good one.”So Darling is saying that the graduation rate in Green Bay is around 40%.
As the PolitiFarce guys would say, let's check those numbers.
The DPI issued their numbers, and as the gentle reader can plainly see, the graduation rate for the Green Bay School District in the 2011-12 school year is 80%, up two points from the previous year:
And for kids that stay at the same high school for all four years, the graduation rate jumps up to 95%.
That's a far cry from the 40% that Darling is claiming.
Now, it could be that Darling, who is an avid golfer, has been spending too much time on the links. More likely, she's been spending too much time at the 19th hole.
But no matter how you look at it, Darling's accuracy was grossly sub par.
We rate Darling as golfing knickers on fire.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Republicans Celebrate Governor Doyle's Job Numbers
On Thursday, Scott Walker and the Republicans and the corporate media were celebrating the job numbers that came out:
The spin they are trying to put on this is as utterly ridiculous as when the MacIver Institute (for the Criminally Insane) tried to tell us that Walker had surpassed the halfway point to his 250,000 job creation promise.
To understand what I am getting at, look at the first half of the first sentence I cited above:
Secondly, look at the actual job numbers for all of 2011:
As the gentle reader can plainly see, job growth was indeed growing at a healthy clip during the first six months of Walker's term. But this was all before Walker's policies and budget were in place or had a chance to take effect.
The job growth during the time that Doyle's budget and policies were still in effect is around 30,000 jobs - about half of the total Walker is claiming to have created.
Or to put it in other words, it's taken Walker three times as long to create the same amount of jobs that Doyle did in the last six months that his budget and policies were in place.
Even if one were so gullible as to take the Republican's claims at face value, when Wisconsin's jobs numbers are compared to the rest of the Midwest or the rest of the country, the growing job growth gap is horribly depressing:
As the gentle reader will note, the gap really started growing as first Act 10 kicked in and then exploded again as Walker's first budget took effect.
It should also be noted that the numbers that Walker and the Republicans are including do not include the more than 10,000 public sector jobs lost during this period.
Once you figure in the public sector job loss and take out the jobs that Governor Doyle brought in, that leaves the Republicans touting about 20,000 to 25,000 job gain in an 18 month time period. That number is worse than what they projected if Walker and his Republican cronies had done nothing.
This horrifically poor job growth and the further lagging behind our neighbors are what the Republicans are celebrating.
Ah, but with this lot of miscreants, the one thing we should always remember is that there is more. There is always more.
The reason that the Republicans are trying to force their spin on the job numbers so much is that the real news is even much worse:
In summary, the truth of the matter is that Walker cannot claim to have created 62,000 jobs in two years. He actually could take credit for only half of that number and then it still took him 18 months to do even that little. Even worse, that paltry number is grossly inflated if one only considers family-supporting jobs.
When all the true data is considered, Walker is much shorter of his promise than even what their spin would have us believe.
Instead of celebrating and bragging about these numbers, the Republicans should be groveling and begging for our forgiveness.
Wisconsin gained 62,072 private-sector jobs between December 2010 and December 2012, the state Department of Workforce Development said Thursday.
The count, based on a set of employment data considered to be the most reliable, had Republicans applauding the performance of Gov. Scott Walker.My own gerrymandered state representative, Mike Kuglitsch, whose only claims to fame are running a bowling alley in the middle of nowhere and being a good little Teapublican, had this to say:
Earlier this week, the United States Department of labor released its quarterly jobs numbers. The report showed that Wisconsin has gained over 60,000 jobs since Governor Scott Walker took office in 2011. This is a major step in the right direction as Wisconsin lost nearly 134,000 jobs under Governor Jim Doyle's last session.
We have seen increased revenue projections and Wisconsin is really starting to it turn around. Our state was recently rated the 17th best state to do business in, which is up three spots from last year. I happy to see our reforms working and the thought of constant job loss is a thing of the past.
Although this report is positive, there is still much work to be done. We must ensure that Wisconsinites keep as much as their hard earned money in their pockets, while expanding a workforce that can continue to put Wisconsin on the forefront of economic development.
All I can say is that I hope they didn't break out the expensive bubbly and I hope they all sent former Governor Jim Doyle a big thank you card.
The spin they are trying to put on this is as utterly ridiculous as when the MacIver Institute (for the Criminally Insane) tried to tell us that Walker had surpassed the halfway point to his 250,000 job creation promise.
To understand what I am getting at, look at the first half of the first sentence I cited above:
Wisconsin gained 62,072 private-sector jobs between December 2010 and December 2012...Walker wasn't even sworn into office until January 2011, so already they are using a month of data from the Doyle era.
Secondly, look at the actual job numbers for all of 2011:
As the gentle reader can plainly see, job growth was indeed growing at a healthy clip during the first six months of Walker's term. But this was all before Walker's policies and budget were in place or had a chance to take effect.
The job growth during the time that Doyle's budget and policies were still in effect is around 30,000 jobs - about half of the total Walker is claiming to have created.
Or to put it in other words, it's taken Walker three times as long to create the same amount of jobs that Doyle did in the last six months that his budget and policies were in place.
Even if one were so gullible as to take the Republican's claims at face value, when Wisconsin's jobs numbers are compared to the rest of the Midwest or the rest of the country, the growing job growth gap is horribly depressing:
As the gentle reader will note, the gap really started growing as first Act 10 kicked in and then exploded again as Walker's first budget took effect.
It should also be noted that the numbers that Walker and the Republicans are including do not include the more than 10,000 public sector jobs lost during this period.
Once you figure in the public sector job loss and take out the jobs that Governor Doyle brought in, that leaves the Republicans touting about 20,000 to 25,000 job gain in an 18 month time period. That number is worse than what they projected if Walker and his Republican cronies had done nothing.
This horrifically poor job growth and the further lagging behind our neighbors are what the Republicans are celebrating.
Ah, but with this lot of miscreants, the one thing we should always remember is that there is more. There is always more.
The reason that the Republicans are trying to force their spin on the job numbers so much is that the real news is even much worse:
But the numbers, while showing growth, leave Walker well behind pace on fulfilling his much-discussed promise to create 250,000 private-sector jobs during his four-year term.
And another set of employment data - this one preliminary and subject to revision - showed Wisconsin losing an estimated 22,600 private-sector jobs during April of this year.I can see why Walker and his allies are trying to draw the public's eye away from these numbers. The only thing with a higher loss number would be the hairs on top of Walker's head.
In summary, the truth of the matter is that Walker cannot claim to have created 62,000 jobs in two years. He actually could take credit for only half of that number and then it still took him 18 months to do even that little. Even worse, that paltry number is grossly inflated if one only considers family-supporting jobs.When all the true data is considered, Walker is much shorter of his promise than even what their spin would have us believe.
Instead of celebrating and bragging about these numbers, the Republicans should be groveling and begging for our forgiveness.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
IRS Quote Of The Day!
By Jeff Simpson
The fake selective outrage of the right is very tiresome, especially in this fake IRS issue. When Karl Rove and the Bush Administration was actually using the IRS for political purposes we got a collective yawn.
The fake selective outrage of the right is very tiresome, especially in this fake IRS issue. When Karl Rove and the Bush Administration was actually using the IRS for political purposes we got a collective yawn.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Monday called for any investigation into the IRS not only under President Barack Obama but stretching back to the George W. Bush administration, while he also saying Obama should fire any staffers involved in inappropriately targeting conservative groups.
“If the IRS was selectively enforcing the law, then, yeah, absolutely heads need to roll,” Schiff said on MSNBC. “I wish there was more GOP interest when I raised the same issue during the Bush administration, where they audited a progressive church in my district in what look liked a very selective way. I found only one Republican, [Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C)], that would join me in calling for an investigation during the Bush administration. I’m glad now that the GOP has found interest in this issue and it ought to be a bipartisan concern. The IRS absolutely should not be picking winners and losers or picking political ideology. It ought to neutrally enforce regulations.”
Abercrombie & Fitch
By Jeff Simpson
Abercrombie & Fitch has been in the news lately when their CEO said:
Well that gave filmmaker Greg Karber an idea:
outstanding! Follow Greg @gregkarber and use hashtag #fitchthehomeless
Abercrombie & Fitch has been in the news lately when their CEO said:
“He doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people,” Lewis said. “He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”
Well that gave filmmaker Greg Karber an idea:
outstanding! Follow Greg @gregkarber and use hashtag #fitchthehomeless
Bauman Battles For Milwaukee Roads
A recent ruling by Federal Judge Lynn Adelman has put the whole plan to
reconstruct the Zoo Interchange and rebuilding and expanding I-94 between Downtown Milwaukee and the Zoo Interchange in limbo. The reason was the state's haste to get it done no matter what attitude:
Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman jumped on this ruling to make a money saving suggestion on how to redistribute the money:
I would, however, make one change to Bauman's proposal, which is to split the savings in two ways instead of three. The money should be split in a 60%-40% or 65%-45% ratio. The major amount would be redirected to road repair and/or reconstruction. I do a lot of driving within Milwaukee County due to my job, and let me tell you, these roads are in very rough shape. Even the potholes have potholes.
The remainder could be spent on expansion of the street car. I would also drop the expansion to Miller Park and have it elongated to include the Bay View area. A streetcar system going through Bay View would probably prove to be a lot more viable and popular.
It would also help serve in picking up the slack in Milwaukee's Transit System, which will only get worse with the greater transit budget cuts coming up.
All of this would go the extra mile in making Milwaukee into a better place for economic development and revitalization. Much more than Scott Walker paying back the road builders Chris Abele's desire to cater to only his plutocratic pals.
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| Ald. Robert Bauman |
Federal Judge Lynn Adelman, in a May 10 order, wrote the state is not considering the regional effects of the Zoo Interchange and other highway expansion projects, and instead is only looking at a smaller area around the interchange itself. He also faults the DOT for not considering the long-term, regional affects of the growth of regional highways and a shrinkage of public transit.The gentle reader can get more detail on the issue here.
The lawsuit filed in August 2012 challenged the $1.7 billion Zoo Interchange reconstruction plan, alleging it does not meet federal requirements for consideration of alternatives, or to ensure all ethnic populations would benefit equally. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin filed the lawsuit on Monday on behalf of Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope and the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman jumped on this ruling to make a money saving suggestion on how to redistribute the money:
The alderman said the DOT should immediately suspend the environmental review process for the I-94 project and cancel public information meetings scheduled for May 21 and 22, 2013, so that the impact of Judge Adelman’s decision on this project can be fully assessed.Well, I'm not entirely sure how Bauman's proposal fits into the court ruling. But regardless of that, Bauman's proposal does merit serious consideration.
In the meantime, Alderman Bauman is recommending the DOT immediately consider a new alternative. That alternative would spend $370 million to reconstruct I-94 from 25th St. to 70th St. and allocate the savings between this option and the expansion option -- as much as $830 million -- to three other infrastructure investments. Specifically, the state should spend 1/3 of the savings on repairing and reconstructing local roads and streets which, especially in Milwaukee,are in badly deteriorated condition; spend 1/3 on repairing other state highways and bridges; and spend 1/3 on expanding the Milwaukee Streetcar to UW-Milwaukee on the east side, Miller Park on the west side, the 30th Street Corridor on the north side, and to Walker’s Point on the south side.
I would, however, make one change to Bauman's proposal, which is to split the savings in two ways instead of three. The money should be split in a 60%-40% or 65%-45% ratio. The major amount would be redirected to road repair and/or reconstruction. I do a lot of driving within Milwaukee County due to my job, and let me tell you, these roads are in very rough shape. Even the potholes have potholes.
The remainder could be spent on expansion of the street car. I would also drop the expansion to Miller Park and have it elongated to include the Bay View area. A streetcar system going through Bay View would probably prove to be a lot more viable and popular.
It would also help serve in picking up the slack in Milwaukee's Transit System, which will only get worse with the greater transit budget cuts coming up.
All of this would go the extra mile in making Milwaukee into a better place for economic development and revitalization. Much more than Scott Walker paying back the road builders Chris Abele's desire to cater to only his plutocratic pals.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Corporate Tax Breaks: The US Government's Secret Subsidy Revealed
From AFSCME:
The fact is, this spending vs. taxes debate is largely meaningless. Watch our explainer video to learn about corporate tax breaks, the U.S. Government's secret subsidy program that some in Congress want to gut vital programs -- like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security -- to keep in place for their wealthy donors. Then, take action: http://www.afscme.org/stop-the-giveaways
The fact is, this spending vs. taxes debate is largely meaningless. Watch our explainer video to learn about corporate tax breaks, the U.S. Government's secret subsidy program that some in Congress want to gut vital programs -- like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security -- to keep in place for their wealthy donors. Then, take action: http://www.afscme.org/stop-the-giveaways
Sideshow Clarke
By Jeff Simpson
After watching the clownish antics of Sheriff David Clarke in Milwaukee, I am very glad to be in Dane County where we have a Sheriff who cares about the rule of law and actually doing his job!
Sheriff Clarke in Milwaukee is at it again.
How cute, a sheriff happily accepting an award from a hate group. Sheriff Clarke must be so proud. That would look very well next to a John Birch "Man of the Year" award and the Joseph McCarthy Advancing Democracy Award!
Milwaukee, it is time to end the circus and elect someone who actually wants to be the Sheriff of Milwaukee!
Chris Moews - Show up here to support Mr. Moews!
After watching the clownish antics of Sheriff David Clarke in Milwaukee, I am very glad to be in Dane County where we have a Sheriff who cares about the rule of law and actually doing his job!
Sheriff Clarke in Milwaukee is at it again.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. recently announced that he had been named the "sheriff of the year" for 2013 by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.
Clarke put out a press release saying he was "both honored and humbled" by the award, which will be given out at a convention later this month.
What the sheriff doesn't disclose, however, is anything about the little-known group behind the award.
Perhaps with good reason.
Founded in 2011, the sheriffs association is the brainchild of Richard Mack, a former Arizona lawman who says he wants to organize sheriffs who understand their primary duty is to protect local citizens from the tyranny of the federal government.
His association, he says, will be "the army to set our nation free" -- albeit a non-violent army, he adds.
"The greatest threat we face today is not terrorists; it is our own federal government," Mack says on his personal website. "If America is conquered or ruined it will be from within, not a foreign enemy."
In a 15-minute chat this week, Mack -- or "Sheriff Mack," as he prefers to be called -- reaffirmed these sentiments and went even further. He voiced his support for states to nullify federal laws they deem unconstitutional. He also called the U.S. government "universally corrupt."
In other words, Mack's group is not your typical trade association.
The Southern Poverty Law Center-- an Alabama-based nonprofit that tracks hate groups -- has accused Mack of espousing "radical-right" views and trying to create a "nation of county sheriffs who believe the government is the enemy." Mack's group got some media attention when it compiled a list for more than 400 sheriffs who vowed not to enforce President Barack Obama's gun control measures.
How cute, a sheriff happily accepting an award from a hate group. Sheriff Clarke must be so proud. That would look very well next to a John Birch "Man of the Year" award and the Joseph McCarthy Advancing Democracy Award!
Milwaukee, it is time to end the circus and elect someone who actually wants to be the Sheriff of Milwaukee!
Chris Moews - Show up here to support Mr. Moews!
Clarke Embraces His Inner Madness
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke has been going around tooting his own horn about an award he is going to be receiving later this month. The problem is that the award is coming from an anti-goverment group that makes Michele Bachmann look sane:Founded in 2011, the sheriffs association is the brainchild of Richard Mack, a former Arizona lawman who says he wants to organize sheriffs who understand their primary duty is to protect local citizens from the tyranny of the federal government.When Dan Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Clarke out about this, Clarke came back with this really odd (even for him) reply:
His association, he says, will be "the army to set our nation free" -- albeit a non-violent army, he adds.
"The greatest threat we face today is not terrorists; it is our own federal government," Mack says on his personal website. "If America is conquered or ruined it will be from within, not a foreign enemy."
In a 15-minute chat this week, Mack -- or "Sheriff Mack," as he prefers to be called -- reaffirmed these sentiments and went even further. He voiced his support for states to nullify federal laws they deem unconstitutional. He also called the U.S. government "universally corrupt."
"I am extremely proud and humbled at the same time for this recognition by an association of my peers," Clarke said in a statement.Would someone please by the sheriff a dictionary so that he knows that one cannot be proud and humbled at the same time?
"Have you ever been recognized by an association of writers as Journalist of the Year? If you ever are, and I read about it, I will congratulate you, not try to poop on your recognition."
But at least Clarke is admitting that these whackadoodles are his peers.
For this I applaud Clarke. Admitting that he has a problem is the first step to getting better.
Postscript: The word in the Courthouse is that Milwaukee County Emperor Chris "Little Walker" Abele is insanely jealous of his friend Clarke being honored by this group. He's vowed he's going to be similarly honored, no matter what it's going to cost the taxpayers.
ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thanks to our friends at One Wisconsin Now -
Here is Republican Travis Tranel while His Holiness, the Dalai Lama Spoke yesterday!
Rep. Tranel busy working hard on taxpayer dollars. I wonder if he claimed his $88 per diem this day?
In case you want to call him and ask him if all public workers should be allowed to sleep on the job:
Here is Republican Travis Tranel while His Holiness, the Dalai Lama Spoke yesterday!
Rep. Tranel busy working hard on taxpayer dollars. I wonder if he claimed his $88 per diem this day?
In case you want to call him and ask him if all public workers should be allowed to sleep on the job:
- Madison Office
- Room 308 NorthState CapitolP.O. Box 8953Madison, WI 53708
- Telephone
- (608) 266-1170(888) 872-0049
- Fax
- (608) 282-3649
- Voting Address
- 2231 Louisburg Rd.Cuba City, WI 53807
Groundhog's Day on the Left!
By Jeff Simpson
- It is hard to sit back and watch someone you care about continue to keep screwing up! You know that they need to change and they refuse. They keep making the same mistake over and over and over and you try and stop it but you can't. Despite the fact that all of the warning signs are there, and the right thing to do is obvious, the people you care about keep making the same mistakes.
"We all make mistakes, but if we keep making the same mistakes, it becomes a habit then a lifestyle." Unkown
Welcome to the 2013 Wisconsin Democratic party!
We know many democrats buckled and decided that throwing the poor under the bus was a great issue to campaign on in 2014!
The Democratic party has a new 72 county strategy which appears to mean we want everyone in the state to know that we are the party of US TOO when it comes down screwing the poor, 858,000 Wisconsinites are expected to not be able to purchase Ketchup and Mustard but are expected to vote for the democrats!
We can see their ineffectiveness by the way the republicans gained seats in the 2012 election despite wisconsinites turning out in force to support them. We saw it in the failed candidate and message they conveyed in the recall election.
We are now seeing it again in the approval ratings of Governor Scott Walker:
A Marquette university poll conducted about a week ago shows Scott Walker's job approval rating is at 51 percent. That’s up one point since a similar poll in March. Marquette pollster Charles Franklin says over the last year or so, the public's view of Scott Walker has been steady.
“You have a situation in which the governor has commanded something at or slightly above half support or approval, but [also] a pretty steady 44-45 percent disapproval rating. That’s also been quite steady.”But slightly-above-50 job approval ratings for the governor doesn't mean most people like his entire record. Professor Franklin says his polling team also asked whether Wisconsin is ahead or behind other states in job creation.
“Only 9 percent thought we were creating them faster than other states. 35 percent the same and 49 percent — not quite half — said we were lagging behind. This comes in the wake of reports based on the census of labor that showed us ranked 44th, I believe, in the country in job creation. So there are certainly some real-world implications here.”Franklin says Walker also remains well behind pace of his promise to create 250,000 jobs during his first term as governor.
While the democrats and politicians employ expensive pollsters, consultants etc... Let us read these tea leaves for free!
Scott Walker has been a train wreck of a Governor and has done absolutely nothing for the state of Wisconsin. We know he has been an Epic fail in his signature promise, and we do not see a future in him ever being successful. However he beats nothing since we have no alternative!
The Democratic Party(By Democratic party, I include the WI Dem party and all elected Democratic representatives), needs to get a candidate(s) out there so we can show the people of Wisconsin what an actual alternative looks like. The Democratic party also needs to have a consistent message of ACTUALLY standing up for the people of Wisconsin. Give the people a reason to vote for them instead of against the republicans. Show Wisconsin that you are willing to fight for Wisconsin!
Here are some suggestions:
1. Draft and Introduce an Amendment to overturn our ridiculous anti gay marriage amendment that we passed a few years ago. Are we willing to be the last state that allows equal rights to all despite the overwhelming public support?
2. Draft and Introduce some jobs bills. When the republicans block them( we know they have no idea how or interest in creating jobs), then we put a countdown clock somewhere in high visibility area that is the jobs countdown. XXX many days since Scott Walker has been in office and a jobs bill has been passed.
3. Get all Democratic politicians, staff, candidates etc... to spend a day in the public schools. Come back with stories when your fighting for local control and public education. We all know that the people who most want to cut public education(Nass, Grothman, Pridemore, et al) have NOT been in a public school since they were 18. They have no idea what actually happens there so immerse yourself in one of your locals and come back and educate them!
4. How about if "you want to keep the conversation going" about FoodShare why not try and live on what they have to live on a month with groceries using the SAME ruls that you just forced upon them? Or at least try it for a week! Americans overall are sick of the "do as I tell you not as I do' attitude of politicians. See the actual real world consequences of your actions!
You get the idea!
We get that the mainstream media is beholding to the right wing(anyone that employs Christian Schneider as a writer is not serious about the news, or reality), The point is though, we get that. You are not going to change that with random press releases from Peter Barca's office. The media does not care what is truly happening in Wisconsin, the hard questions go unasked much less unanswered. So instead of doing the same thing and hoping for different results lets do something different. I do not care that the republicans will block every bill we put forth, do it anyway! Give the media a story that they have to cover! One that will turn heads and people will pay attention too.
The republicans, in all of their ignorance, keep teeing up stories for us to hit out of the park and instead we act like Rickie Weeks in the batter box!
There are hundreds of thousands of people in Wisconsin who will NOT be attending the Democratic convention, who do not know who Mike Tate is, and who have never heard of Peter Barca, but espouse the same ideals that the Democratic Party SHOULD stand for. Let's give them a reason to show up at the polls and vote Democratic!
This stuff is not rocket science and it doesn't take Velma to solve the mystery, although we could use some more input from those meddling kids!
This is What Austerity Looks Like!
By Jeff Simpson
A couple things to pay attention to before watching this video:
1. Is it surprising the color of the kids affected in a state run by republicans?
2. Our old friend Paul Ryan (R- Wall St.) makes a special guest appearance speaking of morals(seriously)!
3. The emergency manager law was all ready to be rolled out in WI, until the people occupied the Capitol two years ago!
A couple things to pay attention to before watching this video:
1. Is it surprising the color of the kids affected in a state run by republicans?
2. Our old friend Paul Ryan (R- Wall St.) makes a special guest appearance speaking of morals(seriously)!
3. The emergency manager law was all ready to be rolled out in WI, until the people occupied the Capitol two years ago!
Hey, Reince, How's That Rebranding Going?
Remember when Reince Priebus, Grand Wizard Chairman of the Republican National Committee said he wanted to rebrand the GOP and make it much more tolerant, compassionate and humane? He seemed to be having problems getting that off the ground then.It appears he is still having problems with it today as well:
The GOP’s attempts to reach out to minorities so far have been an abysmal failure. That failure is highlighted by Pablo Pantoja, who was the State Director of Florida Hispanic Outreach for the Republican National Committee, that is, until he changed his voter registration to become a Democrat on Monday, via a letter published on Tampa Bay Times.”
Pantoia wrote Monday, “It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today. I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others. Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them.”
Pantoja then points to Heritage Foundation’s Jason Richwine, who just resigned, “Studies geared towards making – human beings – viewed as less because of their immigrant status to outright unacceptable claims, are at the center of the immigration debate. Without going too deep on everything surrounding immigration today, the more resounding example this past week was reported by several media outlets.
A researcher included as part of a past dissertation his theory that “the totality of the evidence suggests a genetic component to group differences in IQ.” The researcher reinforces these views by saying “No one knows whether Hispanics will ever reach IQ parity with whites, but the prediction that new Hispanic immigrants will have low-IQ children and grandchildren is difficult to argue against.
Then again, to be fair, we can blame Priebus for all the racism in the GOP. A lot of it just comes naturally.
Scott Walker: Defender of Free Speech! (Not Applicable in the State of Wisconsin)
The Teapublicans are still throwing everything they can at the Obama to see if anything will stick long enough to get their base into a frenzy.
One of the most recent conniptions is the accusation that the IRS was unfairly targeting the teahadists and other Koch front groups. The only problems with their accusations is that the IRS was also targeting liberal groups and that they right wing front groups were, indeed, breaking the law.
This prompted the Koch's sock puppets of Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal to write almost duplicate letters blasting the IRS and demanding people get fired.
My colleague Jeff Simpson touched on this earlier, pointing out that when it comes to corruption, Walker would be best off keeping his weasel mouth shut.
Jeff was also kind enough to duplicate Walker's letter. There was one part that caused me to almost do a spit take (emphasis mine):
My jaw hit the keyboard when I saw that.
Walker has much to say about Free Speech as Charlie Sykes has to say about race relations, Rush Limbaugh about the sanctity of marriage or Robin Vos on fidelity. I mean, come one, even after two and a half years in office, Walker still won't show up anywhere unless the scene is very secure and very controlled.
But the hypocrisy doesn't end there.
I can point out to the time that Walker tried to shut up a certain blogger up for speaking truth to power as the beginning of Walkergate was starting to come out.
I could also point to the way Walker and his minions went after Professor William Cronon, who peeled back the mask on ALEC.
And it would be irresponsible to point out the way that Walker is sending his stormtroopers to the private homes of the Solidarity Singers in the dark of night to intimidate and harass people for making a joyous noise against evil.
Most recently, they have finally gotten one of those horrible outlaws that actually go and draw pictures with chalk!
Walker's all for free speech alright...as long as its a word from his corporate sponsors. For anyone else, not so much.
One of the most recent conniptions is the accusation that the IRS was unfairly targeting the teahadists and other Koch front groups. The only problems with their accusations is that the IRS was also targeting liberal groups and that they right wing front groups were, indeed, breaking the law.This prompted the Koch's sock puppets of Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal to write almost duplicate letters blasting the IRS and demanding people get fired.
My colleague Jeff Simpson touched on this earlier, pointing out that when it comes to corruption, Walker would be best off keeping his weasel mouth shut.
Jeff was also kind enough to duplicate Walker's letter. There was one part that caused me to almost do a spit take (emphasis mine):
We write to you today disturbed after learning that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been unfairly targeting and applying added scrutiny to applicants for tax-exempt status based on their conservative beliefs. To be blunt, this is Big Brother come to life and a witch hunt to prevent Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights.
The First Amendment gives Americans the ability to freely express their opinions regardless of their political beliefs. The actions of the IRS are an attempt to gag the voices of Americans who may disagree with the policies and left-leaning ideology of your administration. Quite frankly, this is un-American.
My jaw hit the keyboard when I saw that.
Walker has much to say about Free Speech as Charlie Sykes has to say about race relations, Rush Limbaugh about the sanctity of marriage or Robin Vos on fidelity. I mean, come one, even after two and a half years in office, Walker still won't show up anywhere unless the scene is very secure and very controlled.
But the hypocrisy doesn't end there.
I can point out to the time that Walker tried to shut up a certain blogger up for speaking truth to power as the beginning of Walkergate was starting to come out.
I could also point to the way Walker and his minions went after Professor William Cronon, who peeled back the mask on ALEC.
And it would be irresponsible to point out the way that Walker is sending his stormtroopers to the private homes of the Solidarity Singers in the dark of night to intimidate and harass people for making a joyous noise against evil.
Most recently, they have finally gotten one of those horrible outlaws that actually go and draw pictures with chalk!
Walker's all for free speech alright...as long as its a word from his corporate sponsors. For anyone else, not so much.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Now This IS Ironic!
By Jeff Simpson
On the same day that Scott Walker wrote this in a letter to the President:
The First Amendment gives Americans the ability to freely express their opinions regardless of their political beliefs. The actions of the IRS are an attempt to gag the voices of Americans who may disagree with the policies and left-leaning ideology of your administration. Quite frankly, this is un-American.
This is a subversion of American liberty and a secret but direct attack against the U.S. Constitution. Immediate action must be taken to ensure this never happens again. Here are two steps that should be taken:
1. Fire any and all employees responsible for this situation.2. Appoint a Special Prosecutor now to find out if laws were broken and if anyone committed crimes.
This happened:
Jason Huberty was found guilty of violating a state administrative code for writing with chalk on a sidewalk on the grounds of the Wisconsin Capitol.
The six-person jury delivered the unanimous verdict after the one-day trial ended early afternoon Tuesday.
Dane County Judge Julie Genovese ordered Huberty, who regularly attends the Solidarity Sing-Along at the Capitol, to pay a $50 forfeiture and court costs.
The state Department of Justice has dismissed dozens of tickets issued for Capitol violations since Capitol Police Chief David Erwin took over in August 2012, and this is the first time the state has taken one of the cases to trial.
Huberty, who has been cited 21 times while protesting at the Capitol, was ticketed Nov. 16 for writing "OMG GOP WTF" on a sidewalk near the State Street side of the Capitol. Both Huberty, a Ph.D. student in geology at UW-Madison, and Andrew Wyatt of the Capitol Police department testified that Wyatt asked Huberty to stop and warned him that he would be cited if he continued to write on the sidewalk.
Huberty said that he asked Wyatt whether he was on a public sidewalk, but Wyatt said he wasn't going to debate the matter.
I kid you not! Apparently washable sidewalk chalk is now more of a crime than cheating on your taxes. Somewhere Al Capone is rolling in his grave!
If that is the way it is then we must all abide by it.
See Something, Say Something!
If you have seen your neighbors, your neighbors kids, a local business, your own kids etc... playing with sidewalk chalk recently, Please call the Capitol police NON emergency line (608)266-8797 and turn them in! Ask for Chief Erwin!
Wisconsin is a state with laws and we will NOT tolerate dissent!
Space Oddity From Space
Now for something non-political.
A revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station:
The shots are beautiful.
A revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station:
The shots are beautiful.
County Board Creates Jobs, Helps Local Economy Even As Abele Usurps Power
As I write this, the state assembly is taking up AB 85 again to add some amendments from the Senate. Then the hostile takeover from Chris "Little Walker" Abele and his plutocratic pals at the Greater Milwaukee Committee will be all but complete.Undoubtedly, Abele and his minions will celebrate the moment and make empty statements about "efficiency" and some inane comment about "working together."
What he won't mention is that his form of efficiency has already cost taxpayers over $10 million dollars (and counting). He also won't mention the corruption that has already been tainting his office or the fact that he had to buy, lie and cheat his way to get the hostile takeover accomplished.
But before any of the Abele lackeys and kiss ups pop open their bubbly, look at what the County Board's been doing.
In April, we learned that Abele was willing to screw over a couple that spent 16 years of their lives and bent over backwards in order to build their business of renting paddleboats at Veterans Park. He was ready to throw these people to the side in favor of a larger company from California.
This was, needless to say, rather unpopular. The County Board, who listened to the people and not the plutocrats, on the same day that Abele's takeover was being passed, acted with quiet dignity by restoring the contract with the local vendors.
As Supervisor Jason Haas put it so well in his press release (emphasis mine):
The move, which passed on a vote of 4-2, means that the committee is recommending that Juneau Park Paddleboat, a Milwaukee-based company, retain the right to operate paddleboat rentals at Veterans Park. The company is the original operator of paddleboat rentals at Veterans Park. The Milwaukee County Parks Department had recommended that a California-based firm be awarded the contract, but the committee denied that recommendation.
“With this move, the committee chose to support a local jobs provider,” said Haas, vice chair of the committee. “We would have lost a treasured gem of the community had the original recommendation gone through. I, for one, am not interested in trading gems for pennies.”
But it's not just the small things that the Board has been doing for the County and its citizens.
A much larger matter which has a much bigger impact is the Ready to Work Initiative which was originally proposed two years ago by Supervisor Theo Lipscomb and former Supervisor Eyon Biddle.
Although it would have meant jobs for thousands of citizens in Milwaukee County, Abele vetoed 90% of the funding out of the Initiative, leaving it heavily balanced in the favor of businesses over people.
Thankfully, the Board overrode Abele's veto. In an update by Supervisor David Bowen, who succeeded Biddle, the program is working well and people are getting family supporting jobs - averaging $17 per hour - that they wouldn't have had if Abele had is way.
As you can see, directly due to Abele and his plutocratic ploys, we are not only losing our representative government, our civil rights as voters and our quality of life. We are going to lose family supporting jobs and the gems that made Milwaukee County unique and special.
But if Milwaukee County Emperor Chris Abele thinks he will now be able to exercise his will upon his
Unbelievable!
By Jeff Simpson
The last two plus years have been challenging in WI. We have dropped over 30 slots in job creation all the way down to 44th/50 in job creation. Our job "creation" agency has burned through millions of dollars of taxpayer money, broken the law, handed out loans to board members, and have no jobs on the books to show for it. The republican controlled Legislature has not advanced one single jobs bill in three years but have focused their efforts on social engineering.
All of the problems and the help we need in WI and our Governor decides to spend his time writing a letter to the White House trying to advance a non-story.
Directly from Charlie Sykes and WhiteWisconsin. John Doe himself, wrote a letter to the President demanding there be an investigation!
Whats hilarious is that they think the Obama administration is "left leaning". They are so extreme to the right they do not truly know what "left leaning" looks like.
Apparently we should just leave the hate groups alone, what harm could come of that anyway?
The last two plus years have been challenging in WI. We have dropped over 30 slots in job creation all the way down to 44th/50 in job creation. Our job "creation" agency has burned through millions of dollars of taxpayer money, broken the law, handed out loans to board members, and have no jobs on the books to show for it. The republican controlled Legislature has not advanced one single jobs bill in three years but have focused their efforts on social engineering.
All of the problems and the help we need in WI and our Governor decides to spend his time writing a letter to the White House trying to advance a non-story.
Directly from Charlie Sykes and WhiteWisconsin. John Doe himself, wrote a letter to the President demanding there be an investigation!
Mr. President,
We write to you today disturbed after learning that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been unfairly targeting and applying added scrutiny to applicants for tax-exempt status based on their conservative beliefs. To be blunt, this is Big Brother come to life and a witch hunt to prevent Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights.
The First Amendment gives Americans the ability to freely express their opinions regardless of their political beliefs. The actions of the IRS are an attempt to gag the voices of Americans who may disagree with the policies and left-leaning ideology of your administration. Quite frankly, this is un-American.
This is a subversion of American liberty and a secret but direct attack against the U.S. Constitution. Immediate action must be taken to ensure this never happens again. Here are two steps that should be taken:
1. Fire any and all employees responsible for this situation.2. Appoint a Special Prosecutor now to find out if laws were broken and if anyone committed crimes.
The bottom line is that regardless of one’s political beliefs, conservatives and liberals alike must be able to exercise their First Amendment rights without fear that the federal government will abuse them for having differing opinions.
Whats hilarious is that they think the Obama administration is "left leaning". They are so extreme to the right they do not truly know what "left leaning" looks like.
Apparently we should just leave the hate groups alone, what harm could come of that anyway?
To Save The Constitution, They Must Destroy It
The corporate media is reporting that the state Senate will be taking up Chris "Little Walker" Abele's Plutocracy Power Grab bill today.
Given the Republican's war on Milwaukee and against local control, I would be surprised if it didn't pass.
But for the political party that claims to be so pro-Constitution, they sure are setting about to destroying it. Perhaps a tutorial in pictures will help Little Walker and his Republican friends figure out just how far astray they have gone:
Abele and the Greater Milwaukee Committee should have remembered the old adage about being careful what they wish for because they just might get it. Abele will have no more scapegoats for his screw ups. And he will have no one to attack in an effort to distract the people from his own ethical issues.
Unless Abele and his plutocratic pals have way in mind to completely remove the county board in the next two years, they won't be given a second chance to destroy the rest of the county either.
Given the Republican's war on Milwaukee and against local control, I would be surprised if it didn't pass.
But for the political party that claims to be so pro-Constitution, they sure are setting about to destroying it. Perhaps a tutorial in pictures will help Little Walker and his Republican friends figure out just how far astray they have gone:
Abele and the Greater Milwaukee Committee should have remembered the old adage about being careful what they wish for because they just might get it. Abele will have no more scapegoats for his screw ups. And he will have no one to attack in an effort to distract the people from his own ethical issues.
Unless Abele and his plutocratic pals have way in mind to completely remove the county board in the next two years, they won't be given a second chance to destroy the rest of the county either.
No One Expects The Benghazi Inquisition!
Tune in to any radio squawker, turn on Faux News Network (Motto: Now with more palm trees!), click on any conservative blog or pick up any other corporate media source and one would think that the only thing happening in the world is....Benghazi!
The Republicans are on a witch hunt unlike any seen since Bill Clinton couldn't keep his fly zipped up.
For the unfamiliar, the "investigation" into Benghazi has to do with the tragic death of four Americans in Libya. Make no mistake about it - anytime people die needlessly, it is a tragedy and should be investigated.
However, I don't recall Republicans going quite so crazy to get to the bottom of the lies told by the Bush/Cheney administration that led to thousands of Americans in Iraq. I also don't recall them ever even mentioning the dozens of attacks of Americans under the Reagan/Bush/Bush years. And did they ever even bring up the fact that Dubya had been warned months before 9/11?
Nope. Not once.
So why are they suddenly focused on Benghazi?
Well, there are a number of reasons.
True to their nature. the Republicans aren't going to let a crisis go to waste. Thus, they want to keep it in the news while they are fundraising on it.
There are some who think that the Teapublicans are using this tragedy as a political weapon to issue their fifteenth call for Obama's impeachment. (It's funny how I don't hear any of the usual suspects cry that this is just an attempt to redo the election, like they did during the attempt to recall Scott Walker.)
But the primary reason that the Republicans suddenly find Benghazi to be a national crisis is not because of what happened in Benghazi. In fact, it has nothing to do with anything that has happened in the past.
The real reason for the selective outrage over Benghazi is because they are afraid of the future:
Rand Paul gave it away already by declaring Clinton unfit for higher office.
And in warped, sick kind of way, it makes sense.
We've seen how bent out of shape they had with a black man leading the country for not just one, but two terms.
But at least Obama is a man. The thought of having a woman president, sad to say, is enough for some Republican heads to explode.
They had better get used the possibility of it though. Despite the frenzied attacks on Hillary, they haven't been able to put a dent in her popularity.
The Republicans are on a witch hunt unlike any seen since Bill Clinton couldn't keep his fly zipped up.
For the unfamiliar, the "investigation" into Benghazi has to do with the tragic death of four Americans in Libya. Make no mistake about it - anytime people die needlessly, it is a tragedy and should be investigated.
However, I don't recall Republicans going quite so crazy to get to the bottom of the lies told by the Bush/Cheney administration that led to thousands of Americans in Iraq. I also don't recall them ever even mentioning the dozens of attacks of Americans under the Reagan/Bush/Bush years. And did they ever even bring up the fact that Dubya had been warned months before 9/11?
Nope. Not once.
So why are they suddenly focused on Benghazi?
Well, there are a number of reasons.
True to their nature. the Republicans aren't going to let a crisis go to waste. Thus, they want to keep it in the news while they are fundraising on it.
There are some who think that the Teapublicans are using this tragedy as a political weapon to issue their fifteenth call for Obama's impeachment. (It's funny how I don't hear any of the usual suspects cry that this is just an attempt to redo the election, like they did during the attempt to recall Scott Walker.)
But the primary reason that the Republicans suddenly find Benghazi to be a national crisis is not because of what happened in Benghazi. In fact, it has nothing to do with anything that has happened in the past.
The real reason for the selective outrage over Benghazi is because they are afraid of the future:
Rand Paul gave it away already by declaring Clinton unfit for higher office.
And in warped, sick kind of way, it makes sense.
We've seen how bent out of shape they had with a black man leading the country for not just one, but two terms.
But at least Obama is a man. The thought of having a woman president, sad to say, is enough for some Republican heads to explode.
They had better get used the possibility of it though. Despite the frenzied attacks on Hillary, they haven't been able to put a dent in her popularity.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Representative Melissa Sargent Takes It To WEDC
When I first interviewed then Dane County Supervisor Melissa Sargent two years
ago, I sensed she was a special person. I was interviewing her regarding her being arrested because her sons held up a banner in the Capitol. I could hear the resolve in her voice, the steel of her will, the thought behind her words and the justice in her decision making.
It was my pleasure to see her run for state assembly last fall. I thought she would be a wonderful representative.
And as usual, I was correct.
For proof, watch the way Sargent takes it to the WEDC's Reed Hall as he tries to defend their absolute failure.
It was my pleasure to see her run for state assembly last fall. I thought she would be a wonderful representative.
And as usual, I was correct.
For proof, watch the way Sargent takes it to the WEDC's Reed Hall as he tries to defend their absolute failure.
Save Mercedes. Kill the Lemon Law.
Lemon law expert Vince Megna is back at what he does best next to winning lawsuits - making great videos:
Those poor corporate CEOs.
Those poor corporate CEOs.
NASA
By Jeff Simpson
I recently had one of my "conservative" friends tell me it is time to get serious about cutting the Federal Budget. He then listed off a bunch of programs( the usual) that we need to get rid of completely. One of those was NASA.
We need to get rid of such short term, austerity, paul ryan type thinking if we are ever going to make America the Superpower and leader of the world we once were!
Let's let Neil deGrasse Tyson explain it:
I recently had one of my "conservative" friends tell me it is time to get serious about cutting the Federal Budget. He then listed off a bunch of programs( the usual) that we need to get rid of completely. One of those was NASA.
We need to get rid of such short term, austerity, paul ryan type thinking if we are ever going to make America the Superpower and leader of the world we once were!
Let's let Neil deGrasse Tyson explain it:
Mother's Day In Fitzwalkerstan
As you know, Sunday was Mother's Day.
Like many holidays, I find it to be bittersweet and a bit hypocritical. I've always felt that mothers deserved to be honored every day and not just one arbitrarily set date. And those feelings have only grown stronger since I lost my mother nearly 14 years ago.
And this year, in Fitzwalkerstan, never has Mother's Day been any more ironic or bittersweet.
Even has Scott Walker's campaign sent out no less than two email blasts praising
Tonette and his mother and how wonderful all mothers are, Walker and his Republican cronies in the legislature has been actively attacking mothers.
Walker and company, in their rush to take control of whether and when a woman can start a family, also removed funding for them to have life-saving screenings.
They have also kept up their pro-rape attitude, more than willing to blame the victims, and force them to have the child, whether the woman wants it or not.
To add to the outrage, if a woman is single and has a child, she is labeled as a child abuser. They even went so far as to say women need men in their lives so much that they should stay in an abusive relationship, y'know, for the sake of the child. I'm still waiting for someone to arrest Don Pridemore for saying that. That is nothing more than enabling child abuse.
Not satisfied that they added enough injury to insult, they are now proposing cutting funding to impoverished pregnant women and new mothers:
And then to top it all off, once the mother has her child(ren), whether they were planned or not, and if they make it through with or without health care coverage, Walker and fiends make sure it's impossible to for the mother to earn enough money to support her family.
And don't even think that they would allow the woman a paid day off to tend to her sick child. That is strictly verboten too!
I don't even think that they are capable of the irony when they call themselves pro-life.
It's not only our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our daughters or the other women in our lives that are being maltreated by Walker and fiends.
The grandest mother of them all, Mother Nature, is also being repeatedly victimized by them.
The Republicans have opened the door for irresponsible mining, uncontrolled polluting, destruction of wetlands, putting more of her creatures in the hunters' scope, and squandering her resources. That is no way to treat one's mother. And the Republicans have apparently forgotten that Mother Nature, unlike their own forbearing mothers, is not a tolerant lady and will make us pay for our poor treatment of her.
What I find the hardest to believe is that utter their misogynistic comments and vote for these laws are actually using the same mouths that they kiss their mothers with.
Like many holidays, I find it to be bittersweet and a bit hypocritical. I've always felt that mothers deserved to be honored every day and not just one arbitrarily set date. And those feelings have only grown stronger since I lost my mother nearly 14 years ago.
And this year, in Fitzwalkerstan, never has Mother's Day been any more ironic or bittersweet.
Even has Scott Walker's campaign sent out no less than two email blasts praising
Walker and company, in their rush to take control of whether and when a woman can start a family, also removed funding for them to have life-saving screenings.
They have also kept up their pro-rape attitude, more than willing to blame the victims, and force them to have the child, whether the woman wants it or not.
To add to the outrage, if a woman is single and has a child, she is labeled as a child abuser. They even went so far as to say women need men in their lives so much that they should stay in an abusive relationship, y'know, for the sake of the child. I'm still waiting for someone to arrest Don Pridemore for saying that. That is nothing more than enabling child abuse.
Not satisfied that they added enough injury to insult, they are now proposing cutting funding to impoverished pregnant women and new mothers:
The governor's budget bill contains a provision that would end BadgerCare coverage of pregnant women with incomes over 133% of the federal poverty level - which for an individual is as little as $15,000 a year and for a two-person household is about $20,000 a year. Let's celebrate this Mother's Day and National Women's Health Week by removing this unintended, ill-considered change from the budget.
[...]
As currently written, the governor's budget bill would make these pregnant women making as little as $15,000 a year only eligible for a limited benefit plan called BadgerCare + Prenatal (BC+ Prenatal). Unfortunately, this BC+ Prenatal program relies on fee-for-service care, which is generally more expensive for the state, and women in some areas of Wisconsin would have trouble finding an obstetrician who will take new Medicaid patients under this plan.
BC+ Prenatal has several other shortcomings. It has a slower eligibility determination process, which could prevent women from receiving timely prenatal care. It also causes problems with continuous eligibility since BC+ Prenatal coverage can end any time a woman's circumstances change, leaving her without health insurance during a portion of her pregnancy. Alternatively, under BadgerCare Plus, a woman is covered throughout her entire pregnancy. The list of shortcoming with BC+ Prenatal goes on and the costs go up - both in health outcomes and associated pregnancy-related medical costs.
The prenatal care a woman receives is one of the most important factors in the health of her child. We should be thinking of ways for more pregnant women to gain access to health care services, not creating barriers that will result in fewer women seeing a doctor during pregnancy.
And then to top it all off, once the mother has her child(ren), whether they were planned or not, and if they make it through with or without health care coverage, Walker and fiends make sure it's impossible to for the mother to earn enough money to support her family.
And don't even think that they would allow the woman a paid day off to tend to her sick child. That is strictly verboten too!
I don't even think that they are capable of the irony when they call themselves pro-life.
It's not only our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our daughters or the other women in our lives that are being maltreated by Walker and fiends.
The grandest mother of them all, Mother Nature, is also being repeatedly victimized by them.
The Republicans have opened the door for irresponsible mining, uncontrolled polluting, destruction of wetlands, putting more of her creatures in the hunters' scope, and squandering her resources. That is no way to treat one's mother. And the Republicans have apparently forgotten that Mother Nature, unlike their own forbearing mothers, is not a tolerant lady and will make us pay for our poor treatment of her.
What I find the hardest to believe is that utter their misogynistic comments and vote for these laws are actually using the same mouths that they kiss their mothers with.
Marco Rubio Puts His Foot Down!
By Jeff Simpson
The Right Wing's Thirsty Golden Boy, Marco Rubio, let everyone know he was serious today. After hearing that the IRS had targeted right wing hate groups to see if they were actually following their 501c4 rules, he was very upset.
Rubio was so upset, that he took the time to fire off a letter to treasury Secretary Jack Lew demanding that the head of the IRS be fired immediately.
“Furthermore, it is clear the IRS cannot operate with even a shred of the American people’s confidence under the current leadership. Therefore, I strongly urge that you and President Obama demand the IRS Commissioner’s resignation, effectively (sic) immediately. No government agency that has behaved in such a manner can possibly instill any faith and respect from the American public.”
The problem? There is no IRS Commissioner!
Douglas H. Shulman used to be the acting commissioner. He was appointed by the Bush administration in 2008. He already resigned this past November, showing us that Rubio is either unaware of what's going down in the IRS, or his demand for Shulman's resignation is so filled with outrage that it resonated into the past. Like a Flux Capacitor of anger.
Shulman's successor has yet to be appointed.
OOPS! There is the rising star of the right doesn't have any idea what is happening at the IRS. Might I suggest some quick research before he speaks next time?
Our inside sources tell us at CogDis that Rubio will also soon be asking for the resignation of the tooth fairy, the Great Pumpkin and the Kid President in order to fully revamp the office!
I Was A Lakefly
As advertised, I attended the Lakefly Literary Conference this past weekend.
I had the distinct pleasure of being co-panelists with the ever charming Lisa Muxworthy, world famous blogger at Waukesha Wonk, and John DeDakis, CNN writer turned novelist.
I won't bore the gentle reader with all the details. But I will say that it's a hard act to follow when DeDakis does his introduction by discussing how he interviewed Alfred Hitchcock as a young man in his early 20s.
The discussion was mainly regarding the relationship between the mainstream media and citizen journalists. But as inevitable, the discussion would dip into politics, but it all remained fairly civil.
Some of the more interesting questions were:
As is the case for me in these type of events, the best part was not the panel discussion, which was lively and entertaining, but the stuff outside of the formal discussions.
I got to see some old friends, meet some cyberfriends in real life for the first time and make some new friends. One of the new friends that stands out the most is Lisa's sister. She has the same kindness and charm as Lisa, but with a cynical streak that rivals mine. But the poor kid doesn't know the difference between asparagus and green beans. (Yes, that's an inside joke.)
If one wants to see more images from the event, please visit the Lakefly Literary Conferences Facebook page.
 |
| Image courtesy of Lisa Muxworthy. |
I won't bore the gentle reader with all the details. But I will say that it's a hard act to follow when DeDakis does his introduction by discussing how he interviewed Alfred Hitchcock as a young man in his early 20s.
The discussion was mainly regarding the relationship between the mainstream media and citizen journalists. But as inevitable, the discussion would dip into politics, but it all remained fairly civil.
Some of the more interesting questions were:
- Is mainstream media dead? (Not dead, but the hard copy version is probably on its way out.)
- Have you ever made a mistake in your reporting? (Hell yes, but I've always corrected them and learned from them.)
- How do I attract readers? (Get established sites to add you to their blogrolls, use social media to promote your site.)
One of the more interesting people in the audience was former Republican State Representative Gregg Underheim. I didn't know if I should have felt sorry for him or just laughed at him. He tried to claim that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Editorial page never posted a conservative point of view. He must not have known that Christian Schneider, Mike Nichols, Aaron Rodriguez and Rick Esenberg are nothing more than paid shills for the corporate special interests. He also took great umbrage that a statement was made that there was a dearth of independent conservative voices in Wisconsin.
Interestingly, he took great efforts to avoid me but would go after Lisa constantly. I don't know if it was that he mistook her kindness for weakness or if he's just a misogynist or both.
As is the case for me in these type of events, the best part was not the panel discussion, which was lively and entertaining, but the stuff outside of the formal discussions.
I got to see some old friends, meet some cyberfriends in real life for the first time and make some new friends. One of the new friends that stands out the most is Lisa's sister. She has the same kindness and charm as Lisa, but with a cynical streak that rivals mine. But the poor kid doesn't know the difference between asparagus and green beans. (Yes, that's an inside joke.)
If one wants to see more images from the event, please visit the Lakefly Literary Conferences Facebook page.
Joe Kallas
I offered all candidates for Wisconsin State Democratic Party Chair a chance to write up why you should vote for them at the upcoming State Democratic Convention. This is from Joe Kallas(and not an endorsement):
Kallas for State Party Chair
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin(DPW) is at a crossroads. We can continue with the misguided policies of the last four years or elect a new chairperson and change course. When Mike Tate was elected in an uncontested race four years ago he had virtually no experience in running anything much less a state wide organization like the DPW. Fresh out of college he seemed to be the leader that we were all looking for. I admit, I supported him then and believed he would at the very least maintain the status quo. I and many others were wrong. Four years ago the state was blue. The Democrats controlled everything. In four short years we lost the Assembly, State Senate, Governor’s office, one US Senate seat, the recall of Walker, and two Supreme Court races. Not exactly a record of success. Now he asks for another term. I believe that would be a big mistake. We have to defeat Governor Walker in 2014 and a vote for Tate, in my judgment, is a vote for Walker.I am running for DPW Chair because I believe I have the knowledge, skills and experience to change the political climate and begin anew the long, tedious process of electing Democrats at all levels. I have over 40 years experience in Democratic Party politics. I campaigned for Robert Kennedy in the Indiana primary before he was killed. I have been chair of Green Lake Co.(now I’m vice-chair), been on the local Town and County Boards and ran for the Assembly in 1988. Most recently I challenged Congressman Petri in 2010 and 2012. I have been a farmer and small business operator in my father’s tavern in Princeton. I have 12 years of supervisory experience working for the county and a community action agency. I have managed budgets, hired and fired staff, and consider myself to be a problem solver. I recently retired from a teaching position at Fox Lake Correctional. On a personal note, I have three adult daughters and live on the family farm where I built a log home in 1980.Mike Tate will brag about the 19 million he raised last year but when you ask how he spent it, the details are sketchy at best. He says he spent almost 13 million on the recall but that still leaves 6 million for the 2012 elections. Why then didn’t the DPW support all Democrats running for office? They certainly had the money to do it. Not only didn’t the DPW give money to many of the campaigns, including mine, they wanted me to pay $40,000 for the voter list(VAN). There was no way I could afford it. The practice of supporting only the candidates whom they decide have an excellent chance of winning has to end. I believe more Democrats would have been elected in 2012 if the DPW had supported them. Anyone who makes the time and effort to run for office should have the unconditional support of the party. I never want to hear anyone say, “It’s nice you are running, but you don’t have a chance.” There are many good people who have run over the years, received no party support, never ran again and in a lot of cases are no longer members of the Democratic Party. If I am elected Chairman, I will work to make the DPW a party of inclusion where everyone has a voice. How many times have you thought, I wish someone would listen to me? As Chairman, I will listen to everyone. Many good ideas have been lost because the current chairman, Mike Tate, does not listen to the membership. All he does is ask for money.Finally, we should not be electing the DPW Chair at the convention. The convention is the place to unite the party and an election by its very nature causes dissention. The election should be held a month before the convention and should be conducted by mail or secure email. Currently only the delegates at the convention have a say in the selection of the Chair. I believe all dues paying members should be allowed to vote for Party Officers. With the election behind us, we can come to the convention and rally around our candidates and set our party platform for the next two years.I will end with my favorite quote from Robert Kennedy whom I considered to be a true champion of the people. “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.” Why can’t the DPW be inclusive regardless of a person’s station in life? Why can’t the DPW support all Democrats running for office? Why don’t we have the message that resonates with the voters of Wisconsin? Why can’t we elect a Democratic Governor in 2014? The answer, of course, to all these questions is, we can. But in order for this to happen the DPW needs new leadership. I ask for your support to bring about the changes that will put a new face on the DPW. With new leadership we will be positioned to replace Governor Walker and renew Wisconsin’s Progressive tradition.
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