Janesville - Rock County

Zerban Picks Up Feingold Endorsement - Makes Granholm's "Race To Watch"

2012-02-10T00:01:00.003-06:00

Along with the race for the White House, Elizabeth Warren vs Scott Brown and Tammy Baldwin's run for the open senate seat, Jennifer Granholm of The War Room also picks the Rob Zerban/Paul Ryan House race among the top twelve political match-ups to watch this year.

The War Room Excerpt:
As a bonus, let’s add one House race to the list—it’s one that is already drawing national interest—the run for Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district, currently held by chairman of the House Budget Committee Republican Paul Ryan. Since introducing a radical federal budget and ... more>>>

Also, Rob Zerban earned an endorsement from Sen. Russ Feingold...

Feingold:
"Rob Zerban understands the struggles of working and middle class families here in Wisconsin, and across the country.

Rob Zerban shares my priorities of helping working families, honoring our commitment to our seniors by protecting Social Security and Medicare, safeguarding women's rights, our natural resources, and our rights and freedoms. Most importantly, Rob Zerban shares my commitment to making the economy work for every American, not just the wealthiest among us. That's why I am proud to endorse Rob Zerban in his challenge to Congressman Paul Ryan."

Walker's Act Takes Away Basic Freedoms From Public Employees

2012-02-09T00:01:00.004-06:00

Most of us knew that Walker's class war Act 10 budget bill banned labor unions from member's VOLUNTARILY paying their dues through the system. But unless you were a public employee, how many knew that employees can voluntarily earmark amounts from their paychecks for hundreds of organizations of their choosing ...EXCEPT their union?

Since I'm not a public employee, I did not know this.
H/T Uppity Wisconsin

Uppity Wisconsin Excerpt:
That's right, the union-busting Act 10, specifically (and unconstitutionally) said that of all the hundreds you can give-to with automatic withdrawal, you can't give to your union.

Seriously. Even if you hate labor unions or the concept of public employee unions …I mean literally hate something that others want to participate in, you've at least got to stand up for one of our most basic fundamental rights. To be a true American who believes in free will and choice, how could anyone support legislation designed specifically to discriminate against and disable one group?

They’re saying, "because we don’t think that organization can be of much value to you, we’ll make the decision for you and ban the use of the automatic-withdrawal utility that previously enabled you to voluntarily support them."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich nailed Walker about this policy in the video below. Walker said taking away employees right to voluntarily pay dues is, "to give workers the right to choose." Not only did Walker steal their right of choice away, but the state did not save one penny either.

Watch it:

Limbaugh Rages Over Eastwood's Half-time Ad

2012-02-08T18:00:00.001-06:00

Talking about the Clint Eastwood Chrysler half-Time ad, Rush Limbaugh rambles... "It's a parody...he got suckered ... predictable and so typical."

But then the truth comes out ...“We need to have something like this... ready to go next August-September when college football kicks up."

Transcript

Full Disclosure Only Required When Participating In Democracy

2012-02-08T00:02:00.001-06:00

For some reason, I found these three unrelated articles - related.

#1. The process to draw political district maps was kept secret and public comments were to be ignored, GOP memo shows.

#2. Republican proposes legislation to eliminate full disclosure for political campaign donors based on unfounded concerns for safety.

#3. Signatures on petitions are subject to public scrutiny because ...any concerns regarding personal safety and privacy may not have been considered when signing.

Personal safety won't be taken into consideration for public disclosure when signing petitions, unless of course it concerns the safety of campaign contributors? So, not only are we dealing with the spectre of a bought politician, the contribution also bought some protection from full public disclosure.

MacIver - Grothman Calls for Ending Campaign Contributors Disclose Their Employers

JS Online - Lawmakers were made to pledge secrecy over redistricting

GAB - Personal safety not an issue when participating in the public process

Video: Recall Half-Time In Wisconsin

2012-02-06T21:43:00.001-06:00

I slapped this mash-up of Chrysler's popular "Half-time In America" super bowl ad together and fully expect Youtube to take it down soon. Enjoy it while it lasts, but I also think there will be many more remixes of this ad to follow in the coming weeks.

* For educational and discussion purposes only, of course *

Federal Reserve Shows Continued Decline For Walker's Wisconsin

2012-02-06T00:28:00.000-06:00

With most of the country expecting gains in the economic coincident index, Walker's Wisconsin is ranked with five other states the Philadelphia Federal Reserve predicts will remain flat at best or in decline for the next six months.

Source

Liebert Joins Democratic Primary Field In 44th Assembly District

2012-02-04T01:22:00.000-06:00

Four Democrats are now vying for position to take on Walker rubber stamp and traitor to his district, Joe Knilans. They are: Janesville City Council member Sam Liebert, Janesville School Board member, Deb Kolste, Council member Yuri Rashkin and current member of Janesville's School Board, Kevin Murray.

Wisconsin Act 43 Assembly Redistricting Map.

Yuri Rashkin's State Assembly Facebook here.

Kevin Murray's State Assembly Facebook here.

Deb Kolste's State Assembly Facebook here.

Sam Liebert's Facebook here.

Is Romney The Only Truthful Republican?

2012-02-03T16:19:00.000-06:00

Video: The People's Legislature

2012-02-03T00:04:00.026-06:00

The People's Legislature wants a Walker opponent not beholden to big money.

Cap Times Excerpt:
Democrats beware. Progressives will not settle for the lesser of two evils. Or so claimed the many featured guests -- including one gubernatorial candidate and several likely ones -- who spoke before roughly 200 activists at the "People's Legislature" on Wednesday.
More>>>

Part 1
Speakers include: Ed Garvey, Ruth Conniff, and Mike McCabe

Video: Part 2 here.

Speakers include:
Peter Barca
Doug La Follette
Kathleen Vinehout
Kathleen Falk

Video: Part 3 here.

Speakers Include:
John Nichols
Mahlon Mitchell

Can verifytherecall Hurry It Up And Verify the Recall?

2012-02-02T16:51:00.000-06:00

Quote From The Intertubes:
I can't wait for the stooges at verifytherecall to verify the recall. The best part is they are working for free! Hurry it up and verify those 540,208 signatures, you can do want you want with the rest. We have a new governor to elect and a state to restore. Time is of the essence!

Recall Candidates Better Understand This Is a War

2012-02-02T14:58:00.004-06:00

I was miffed when I first heard Tim Cullen was throwing his hat in the ring to run as a recall candidate against Scott Walker. I immediately thought it was a little premature and seemed to lack the structural groundwork necessary to create the stage and social network that will be absolutely crucial to win this enormous battle.

On the other hand, I also felt this is precisely the kind of person we need to run against Walker. No outside moneyed interests, a moderate and an acclaimed pragmatist. Those are three huge pluses.

And now, I'm equally perplexed that he would prematurely bow out. But this tells me I was right the first time.

Cap Times Excerpt:
Democratic state Sen. Tim Cullen bowed out of the governor's race Wednesday, saying he can't raise the money to compete with better-known opponents and he has no desire to participate in what he said was going to be a "political war."

I don't know if not raising the money is the big issue at this time. Make no mistake, our governor has been bought by outside moneyed interests, so how are we supposed to be any different if we are the same? I do respect that Cullen said he has no desire to participate in a "political war," but that should not be a recent discovery for any recall candidate, particularly for Cullen who served on the frontlines.

Cap Times Excerpt:
"The person who comes out of that race is going to be in a terrible position to bring this state together," the 67-year-old Cullen said. "I came to Madison as a centrist and I discovered there was no center."

We need a leader and I'm really sorry to see Cullen use that sort of "personal surrender" language, even on exit. No man is an island and no one is bigger than the problem or the process. Anyone expecting that money and support will naturally gravitate to them without reaching out is in for a rude awakening.

If anything, this shows me that Cullen lacked even a minimal strategist and advisor at the beginning and at the end. That's a shame because I know with a little extra effort, Tim Cullen had the potential to win hearts and minds and contend for this job.

Maybe there's more to this story than the Senator has led on. But for some reason this entire episode doesn't add up. Not for me.

Additional:

Caffeinated Politics - Problem With Sen. Tim Cullen's Withdrawal Announcement

What Happens If You Can't Find Your Name On The Petition?

2012-02-01T12:27:00.001-06:00

Now that the recall signatures are posted online, there is much ado about anti-recall folks who claim they are scouring the documents just to make sure no one wrongly signed their name.

MacIver Excerpt:
In addition to the recruiting volunteers to data enter signatures, Brown’s group created a ‘no sign’ list, for which individuals could sign up to be notified if their names fraudulently appeared on the Walker recall petitions.

“Over 50,000 Wisconsinites have protected their name and address against fraudulent petition use by signing up for our “No Sign Registration List,” Brown told MacIver News Service.

But with earlier claims from Walker's recall saboteurs that they will gather signatures under false pretense and destroy them, what recourse do we have to re-affirm our patriotic duty if our signature is not found on the petition?

We don't know how many have been destroyed - we could gather another 100,000. Has anyone started a re-affirmation recall petition drive?

State Should Build Wall Monument For Recall Signers At Capital

2012-01-31T18:03:00.002-06:00

With the debate going on about whether to post the recall petition names online, I think public notice would be best served by erecting a wall monument to the Recall Petitioners and also a reading out loud of names every day at noon for one hour on the Capital steps until Scott Walker is finally deposed.

As they say, not everyone owns a computer.

Paul Ryan On Values: If It's Legal It's Moral

2012-01-31T00:01:00.002-06:00

No, it's not one my photoshops. The Faux News cable crew celebrated the moneyed politician's birthday on Sunday with a cake decorated with a giant dollar sign! How appropos! What? No Chateau d'Yquem? Hee-hee. Video of celebration here

Speaking of noble rot, in defense of vulture capitalism Ryan suggested that anything corporations do is moral as long as they follow the law.

"We need to defend the morality of a system in America that says you are free to take risks, to make money, to create jobs and to do it however you want to so long as it's legal."
-- Paul Ryan

Legality trumps morality -- this from the "values" crowd.

Crook and Liars Comment:
You forget they don't just follow the laws, they pay for those laws that they want to follow, that they know will enrich them while those laws impoverish everyone else. Mitt Romney and Bain capital were the assholes who paid for deregulation so that they could exploit the chaos that ensued, basically a criminal conspiracy from start to finish.

This is what you call Psychopath Inc

Are Campaign Election Laws Really Unenforceable?

2012-01-30T00:01:00.006-06:00

One candidate running for Rock County judge seems to have a rather novel approach to seeking public office that could, during a time of high unemployment, catch on for many folks seeking a steady job.

The problem stems from a challenge of constitutional law regarding the candidate who appears to come up 15 days short of the five year attorney licensee requirement necessary for election, but is pushing forward with his candidacy anyways. The Wisconsin Constitution sets out criteria for people who seek judgeships, it reads...

"To be eligible for the office of supreme court justice or judge of any court of record, a person must be an attorney licensed to practice law in this state and have been so licensed for 5 years immediately prior to election or appointment."

According to this article in the Janesville Gazette, the state's Government Accountability Board appears either unable or unprepared to answer the constitutional question about campaign law and seems more willing to let the voters decide the issue.

Now, whatever the GAB might eventually decide on regarding this particular candidate's election status is not part of my focus. What I find very interesting up to this point in time is the candidate's defense to move forward...

JG Excerpt: (Jan. 29, 2012)
When an election law is unclear it gives way to "the will of the electorate," McDonald said. In other words, if McDonald were to win, the electorate would have made the decision in his favor.

Of course an individual's perception about an election law being "clear" or "unclear" is purely subjective. But what this means, from initial statements and direction from the GAB and the candidate, is that any person can run for any office with total disregard of campaign laws based on any incongruity they so choose. If they win election, the "will of the electorate" issued their verdict on any issues of eligibility that may arise.

I find that concept both fascinating and a mockery of law if the GAB leaves this open ended. Given that call, there is no reason why anybody would be deemed unqualified or exempt from seeking any office they so choose.

There should be dozens of people running for Rock County judge.

Walker "the cathouse pianist"

2012-01-28T13:38:00.001-06:00

Star Tribune Excerpt:
Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski said Friday that it is unbelievable for Walker to say he didn't know about the illegal campaign activity going on in the county executive's office as alleged in the complaints.

"Clearly Scott Walker would have you believe that he's the cathouse pianist who doesn't know what's going on upstairs," Zielinski said on a conference call.

Perhaps it's time to start wondering who the Republicans will pick to run for their candidate in the recall election.

Paul Ryan Pushing For Tax Hikes On The Middle-Class

2012-01-27T15:42:00.001-06:00

Politiscoop Excerpt: (Sept. 2011)
MADISON-Paul Ryan, author of the plan to end Medicare, went on Fox News this weekend to advocate for tax hikes on the middle class.

Ryan, proponent of tax cuts for billionaires, opposes payroll tax cuts for middle class workers and told his Fox News cheerleaders that it was "class warfare" to suggest his advocacy for only the richest Americans was unfair.

Huff Post Excerpt:
(Sept. 2011)
He also said he opposes the president's proposal to require millionaires to pay the same tax rate as the middle class, known as the Buffett plan. "Class warfare might make for good politics, but it makes for rotten economics," Ryan said.

Quote
"If Paul Ryan wants to claim class warfare, we certainly know which class he's signed up to serve." -- Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate

Video: Rep. ALEC Authored Undermining Bill

2012-01-27T11:46:00.000-06:00

Video: State Republicans Hold Caucus At Tavern

2012-01-26T15:46:00.002-06:00

Politiscoop Excerpt:
Last night at Best Western PLUS Inn on the Park Hotel Rep. Robin Vos, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, Sen. Mike Ellis and Sen. Glenn Grothman sat down at the hotel's bar and decided to hold an open caucus.The group of republicans started speaking loudly. What was being discussed prompted a citizen to turn on their cellphone.

The issue of school vouchers came up and Robin Vos states "Well, there is a way to find $200 million in venture capital" with Sen. Mike Ellis responding "I'd like to hear this". But wait a minute, he can find $200 million for school vouchers but can't find money for public education? The duo continued in the conversation which included a pronouncement that Jeff Fitzgerald and Scott Fitzgerald are basically inept. Neither Vos nor Ellis appeared to be concerned where they were discussing political strategies. Perhaps they believe they live in a bubble or are surrounded by an invisible Cone of Silence. more>>>

Beyond the mocking of poor children in this video, it sounds like the voice of either Glenn Grothman or Mike Ellis in the background at 1:10: "the Fitzgerald Brothers...[unintelligible]...are two of the biggest grifters in the West...they play one against the other...and then they blame each other.."

Watch it:

Rep. Peter Barca Delivers The Democratic SOTS Response

2012-01-26T00:01:00.001-06:00

Just ...in case you missed it, Assembly Minority Leader (D-Kenosha), gave his formal response to Walker's speech at the state Capitol prior to the SOTS.

You can view it here at Wisconsin Eye.

Mitch Daniels Knocks Walker's Class War "Have and Have Nots" Rhetoric

2012-01-25T17:48:00.004-06:00

NY Times Excerpt:
“We can no longer live in a society where the public employees are the haves and taxpayers who foot the bills are the have-nots,” Mr. Walker, a Republican, said in a speech.

The Daily Beast Excerpt:
“We do not accept that ours will ever be a nation of haves and have-nots; we must always be a nation of haves and soon-to-haves,” Daniels said after the speech.

I agree with Daniel's on this one, but only in context. Why did Walker label taxpayers as the have-nots and then proceed to tear down the "haves" other than to create a toxic divide?

Also, Daniels actions against the "haves" aren't much better than Walker's. Two hypocrites.

What I'd Like To See At Walker's State-Of-The-State Address

2012-01-25T00:01:00.003-06:00

FACT: On Dec. 29, 2011, the Walker administration sent a letter to federal health secretary Kathleen Sebelius certifying that Wisconsin will have a budget deficit through June 30, 2013.

Video: Invisible Hand Authors Mining Bill

2012-01-24T21:36:00.000-06:00

Assembly jobs committee approves mining bill with no authors or co-sponsors.

Berserko Thompson Looking To Put a Hurt On Recall Supporters

2012-01-24T12:17:00.000-06:00

During an event touted as 'Celebrate Walker' at Wauwatosa's Hart Park in Walkersha County over the weekend, four-term deficit developer and quitter Tommy Thompson rambled on early and showed the tea party crowd that he's still as unstable and nuts as ever with an angry speech that began at a shouting level as he bitterly stalked around the stage.

Referring to recall supporters as blue versus republican red, the rage-baiting terrible Tommy foamed over, "when we get done they're gonna be black and blue!" The thuggish crowd, hungry for confrontation and violence, went delirious over the thought of physically pummeling the opposition answered back with a roar of approval.

Blogging Blue Video - 2012-01 Walker Rally - Tommy Thompson Red Meat

Democurmudgeon - Walker Rally Losers Gather to Pound Chest, Look Stupid!!! With additional video and commentary

DailyKos - 'Moderate' Fmr. Gov. Tommy Thompson Threatens To Make Recall Supporters "Black And Blue!

Janesville City Council Member Announces Exploration To Run For State Assembly

2012-01-24T00:01:00.001-06:00

Janesville City Council Member, Sam Liebert, announced that he is considering a possible run for the 44th Assembly District to challenge Republican Joe Knilans, the Walker rubber stamp currently occupying the district seat.

If he enters the race, Liebert would be on the ballot for the August 14th Democratic primary facing at least three other candidates. They are Kevin Murray, Yuri Rashkin and Deb Kolste.

According to his blog, Sam is in the exploratory phase of deciding whether to officially jump in the race. “I’m meeting with friends and family to discuss this decision. Deciding whether or not to run is the hardest decision any candidate can make, and you have to make sure your family and closest friends are right there with you every step of the way.” Liebert said.

If you know Sam or just want to learn more about his candidacy, please visit his blog here to weigh in with your thoughts or support.

Oh What a Tangled Web Walker Weaves

2012-01-23T00:01:00.005-06:00

Last week I received four campaign placards in the mail from the Republican Party of Wisconsin pushing Scott Walker's misdeeds. The cards were loaded with all the common bumper sticker slogans and half-truth platitudes that most of us have come to expect from the party of ghouls. One falsehood however stuck out a little more than the rest...

Republican Party Campaign Placard For Scott Walker:
FACT - A $3.6 billion budget deficit was eliminated, without raising our taxes.

Well, I guess whether Walker really wiped out a deficit or not depends on if you're poor or a supporter of Obama's health care reform. Because if that's the case - then everything changes.

Richards Press Release excerpt:
Contradicting repeated claims by Gov. Walker that he has balanced the state budget, his administration told federal health officials late last month in writing that Wisconsin has a budget deficit so it could drop health care for Wisconsin families. That’s according to documents released today by Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee).

On Dec. 29, Walker administration secretary Mike Huebsch sent a letter to federal health secretary Kathleen Sebelius certifying that Wisconsin will have a budget deficit through June 30, 2013. By certifying that its budget isn’t balanced, the Walker administration can now dodge a federal law requiring it to continue providing health care for up to 53,000 residents. The Walker Administration letter contrasts starkly with public comments by Walker, who has claimed repeatedly since June that his budget is balanced.

That's right. When it comes to playing politics with the poor and our health care in Wisconsin, the state has a massive budget deficit according to the Walker Administration. But when it comes to playing politics with re-election campaign rhetoric and his own career, the state has a balanced budget and surplus.

Somebody is lying.

Note: Walker is cleaning up the tangled web related to his support and policy outline for the Office of Free Market Health Care. Soon after I posted this link to Walker's Web Site, the page was removed.

Related Reading:

Rock Netroots - Walker Plays Politics, Turns Down Millions For State Health Care Exchanges

Free Wisconsin Walker is TOLD - Drop $36 million Grant

Rock County Progressives Build Web Site

2012-01-22T00:01:00.002-06:00

The group "Rock County Progressives" have recently been playing a larger role in promoting education and activism around progressive issues including hosting citizen forums in the Janesville/Rock county area.

They've had a Facebook page for some time now and I've been posting their activities on my bulletin board as fast as I get them. You can check out their newly launched dot-org Website here.

Obey Warns of Recall Overconfidence and Elitist Money Men

2012-01-21T00:01:00.003-06:00

David Obey Facebook Excerpt:
“Powerful right wing, elitist money men all across this country will spend whatever they think it takes to keep control of Wisconsin’s government,” Obey warned. “If we do not think this through and support the candidate with the broadest possible appeal, we will waste the effort of thousands of volunteers who stood in the snow, sleet and cold to gather an incredible one million signatures because they felt they were part of a cause bigger than themselves. That would be a tragedy. So much is at stake that we owe it to them to simply not allow that to happen.”

I think everybody can agree that Obey's words, like those given from Russ Feingold, are built on a lifetime of experience battling the usurpers of good government inside the political arena. He's got a good handle on what's happening and this timely advice should not be taken lightly.

Read Obey's full statement here.

Walker Counting On Outside Money To Bag Recall Election

2012-01-20T00:01:00.005-06:00

Ed Garvey Excerpt:
Prediction by two potential Democratic candidates: "This will be a one-hundred-million-dollar campaign." I am not making this up. If Walker gets $30-40 million from Koch, and the Dems are trying to raise enough to poke the tiger in the eye, Walker wins.

... Let me try again to persuade you to support the Tin Cup society idea. more>>>

That's what this was all really about from the beginning. The Recall Election should be about the grassroots Wisconsin little man and little woman against Scott Walker's Big Money Machine from outside interests, the Koch Brothers, Wall Street, Americans for Prosperity and Texas billionaires. Of course the Democratic candidates will have to raise money, and in a hurry. But if Dems draw on the homegrown dynamics of the one million Wisconsinites who signed petitions and NOT the big money from anywhere, USA like Scott Walker has, the Democrats will win.

Recall Petition Center - LiveCam

Related Reading:

Free Wisconsin - Walker Brings Bail-Out Money To Wisconsin

Walker Plays Politics, Turns Down Millions For State Health Care Exchanges

2012-01-19T00:01:00.007-06:00

WEAU Excerpt:
Gov. Scott Walker says he will turn down $37 million from the federal government that had been awarded to help implement health care exchanges under President Barack Obama's health care reform law.

What is really troubling yet telling about Walker turning down millions to implement state health care collaboration and exchanges is that nearly all of the health care proposals floated around for the past several years call for the implementation of state health care exchanges, even Republican models. This can only mean Walker intends on breaking any possibility of health care security and stability the people of Wisconsin would otherwise gain from Obama's health care reform just to build a wedge of public opinion against the President. Walker is playing politics while the people lose the chance for health care reform. What does Walker care?

Jan. 28, 2011
Governor Walker signs executive order to create Office of Free Market Health Care

Jan. 18, 2012
Governor Walker repeals his executive order that created the Office of Free Market Health Care.

It begs the question: Did Walker demolish the Office of Free Market Health Care, only one year after he signed it into law, out of spite for the people of Wisconsin because of the wildly popular and highly successful recall effort?

In the meantime, Walker has no problem traveling across the country begging for money from wealthy out-of-state donors while painting the people-powered state recall drive up as an out-of-state campaign. Got to hand to him, at least he's looking out for his own health.

The Ed Show Video Clip - Democurmudgeon

Side note: Has anyone noticed that many newspapers and television stations released statements from Scott Walker about the recall and other issues over the past few days without mentioning his whereabouts?

Over a Million. How Sweet It Is!

2012-01-17T15:30:00.002-06:00

This people-powered recall movement is, per capita, the most successful in our nation’s history.

TPM Excerpt:
As a percentage of the electorate, it also surpasses the 32% that Ohio Democrats collected last year to trigger a referendum against Gov. John Kasich’s similar anti-public employee union bill — and in the previous two gubernatorial recalls in American history, the 23.4% collected against Gov. Gray Davis in California in 2003, and the 31.8& against Gov. Lynn Joseph Frazier in North Dakota in 1921.

We shall overcome.

Cap Times - Texas Billionaires Buy In On Walker

DailyKos - Scott Walker begs New Yorkers to protect him from out-of-state forces

News 8000 - Organizers collect 1 million signatures to recall Walker

Wisconsin State Journal - Fitzgerald Recall easily blows past minimum required

Wisconsin Rising - Documentary Closing In On Pledge Deadline

2012-01-16T10:13:00.000-06:00

Kickstarter Excerpts:
Following Governor Scott Walker’s announcement of his controversial 'Budget Repair Bill,' the people of Wisconsin rose up, occupied their state capitol and took to the streets as rarely seen in American History.

While Wisconsin Rising highlights one state's rejection of a conservative take-over, it is a microcosm of what is at stake in America today, at a time of fiscal crisis and ideologically-driven budgets and social reforms. As we hear from economists, lawyers, labor activists and those most affected by the bill, we learn that Walker’s agenda is not unique.

At a time when millions of families are feeling the crush of debt and joblessness, and while large corporations are seeing record profits, Badger State residents are demonstrating the strength that comes from a shared sense of identity and pride, and that these bonds can shake even the most powerful political machines.

This film will be a testimony to the value of people rising up in the face of injustice and corporate greed. more>>>

Help support Wisconsin Rising - Click here.

Prohibiting Employees From Signing Petitions Should be a Crime

2012-01-14T00:57:00.005-06:00

The November 27, 2011 Janesville Gazette print newspaper contained an editorial titled "Sacrificing some rights come with the territory," where the editor went on to explain that the company's policy forbids them from signing the recall petition.

JG editorial excerpt:
More important, we're professionals who leave our politics at the door when we come to work. That said, several newsroom employees asked me if our ethics policy prohibited them from signing the recall petition.

Without hesitation, I answered yes.

Here's what our policy says about political activities: Staffers may not be involved in political campaigns or activities. Avoid outward demonstrations of support for candidates or causes, such as yard signs or buttons.

Okay, I'm going to stray here for a bit. "We're professionals who leave our politics at the door when we come to work," BUT can they pick up their politics off the coat hanger when they walk out the door? Apparently not.

Though the editor thinks his journalists can set their politics aside, his biggest worry seems to come from concerns over us dumb clucks in the public and our obviously wrong perception of media bias. I mean, my God. What would the world think if someone found out that Janesville Gazette employees signed the Recall Walker petition?

The editorial finishes...

JG editorial excerpt:
Our credibility is our most cherished asset and we need to protect it with every decision we make.

Whoa! THAT coming from a newspaper that proudly published political endorsements of McCain/Palin, Scott Walker, Ron Johnson, Paul Ryan, JB Van Hollen, Tyler August, Evan Wynn, Amy Loudenbeck and David Prosser AND whose boss is on the board of directors of the WMC. In addition, immediately to the right of this particular "concern over credibility" editorial in the newsprint copy was the paper's twice-a-week "Sound off" column of politically charged statements, claims and rants, all vetted to be officially "anonymous."

And, he's worried about the perception of media bias and credibility?

But far more important is the idea that if a media company is within their legal rights to forbid their employees from signing petitions, any company can do the same. This is a democratic republic right? Land of the free, home of the brave and all that jazz. Oh never mind.

Of equal interest now is a bill authored by Rep. Evan Wynn that would make it a felony to induce someone to sign a recall petition by offering anything of value in exchange for a signature. "Mind-boggling is the only word to describe this legalized bribery," Wynn writes.

What about inducements not to sign? How about when a private entity, business or individual, either by written policy or verbal command, prohibits a person against their own free will from signing a petition by holding something of value like their job, paycheck or the fear of a written reprimand in the employment record over their heads? That too is mind-boggling and legalized blackmail. It is un-American.

DeMint: Safety Nets Subsidize Poverty

2012-01-13T00:00:00.002-06:00

Jon Stewart was joined by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-Regressive) on the Daily Show.

Think Progress Excerpt:
Noting DeMint’s penchant to blindly hack at the federal budget, Stewart said Republicans offer “no differentiation between money that is squandered and invested.” Sen. Jim DeMint: ‘We Don’t Cure Poverty, We Subsidize It’ With The Social Safety Net.

"When we politically manage the programs, the money is not distributed well and there’s no evidence — I mean we spent trillions trying to help poverty in America. But we don’t cure poverty, we subsidize it when we make people dependent on the government and make it harder for them to get up the ladder." -- Sen. Jim DeMint

Not so fast. That's like saying we're subsidizing disease because we allow sick people to become dependent on health care and that after decades of spending trillions of dollars on care, cures and medicine, we still have disease, cancers and death. Therefore we need to shut it all down because it hasn't worked.

Watch it:

In another interview on Morning Joe, DeMint said the nation needs a leader like our state-splitting jobs-killing Governor Scott Walker for president, someone who will "take the pain to save the whole state." Who took the pain?? People in unions, school teachers, public employees, seniors, the working poor, the disabled, students, average wage earners and Wisconsin families took the pain. Walker dished it out. It's amazing how disconnected these batshit crazy politicians are and how they ever get elected. The Democurmudgeon picks up on this with Ed Shultz dismantling Demint's psycho talk. With video and commentary.

GOP and Media Come Out To Defend Vulture Capitalism

2012-01-12T00:17:00.005-06:00

What is Vulture Capitalism?

A fraudulent investment scheme to invest in companies, leverage them up with debt, and then sell them off for scrap, allowing investors to walk away with borrowed money while the companies wind up in bankruptcy, laying off workers and reneging on benefits. Many right-wing hardliners, Conservatives and Wall Street boosters consider this a normal, honorable way to conduct business.

If you don't agree, you're a socialist.

Think Progress Excerpt:
Gingrich said Romney’s firm consisted of “rich people figuring out clever, legal ways to loot out a company;” Huntsman claimed Romney liked “firing people;” Perry said that Romney must’ve been worried that he would “run out of pink slips” to give people.

John Sununu Calls Gingrich and Perry's Attacks on Mitt Romney 'Socialist.'

Vulture capitalist media defend Romney, claims they'll all pay for their criticisms of the party's frontrunner.

Ron Johnson Among Top Koch Stars

2012-01-11T21:30:00.002-06:00

Think progress Excerpt:
Five senators and 39 representatives received a perfect 100 percent score from the Koch brothers’ Astroturf group Americans For Prosperity for the first half of the 112th Congress. [...]The Kochs were the top contributors to Ron Johnson’s successful campaign to unseat Russ Feingold in 2010.

Johnson ranks in the Top 5 senators in contributions from the Koch empire and returns the favor in votes on Koch-approved legislation, picking up an "A+" grade. Surprisingly, Rep. Paul Ryan picked up only a "B" grade on legislation from Koch despite his proposal to end Medicare among Koch's top priorities. Most Democrats got either D's or F's.

Buffett Offers To Match GOP Dollar For Dollar In Debt-Reducing Contributions

2012-01-11T20:06:00.003-06:00

Seattle Times Excerpt:
Billionaire Warren Buffett said Wednesday he's willing to match any contributions that Republican members of Congress make to help reduce the national debt.

Buffett told Time magazine about his offer in a conversation about why he's optimistic about the nation's future.

For years Buffett has said he doesn't believe it is right that he is taxed at a lower rate than his secretary. And he says most of the mega-rich people he knows wouldn't mind paying more in taxes.

Republicans figure; why pay yesterday's bills? Just let the children pay.

State Republicans: Sponsors of Smear

2012-01-11T12:39:00.000-06:00

With no tangible evidence of any wrongdoing and riding on nothing but hearsay from a constituent, Evan Wynn proposes a law to make it a felony for offering anything of value in exchange for a signature on petitions.

Cap Times Excerpt:
Assembly Bill 472, authored by Rep. Evan Wynn, R-Whitewater, was introduced with 21 GOP co-sponsors in the Assembly and Senate. It would make the penalty for inducing someone to sign a petition the same as the penalty for inducing a person to vote or refrain from casting a vote.

Knowing the law could not be passed in time for the Recall or have any real effect on gathering signatures for petitions, Wynn nevertheless pushes the narrative for a full smear effect in the media. That's all it's good for.

Wisconsin Democratic spokesman Graeme Zielinski nailed it calling the proposals "more sour grapes."

"They're trying to feed a narrative favorable to Scott Walker supporters that this recall lacks some legitimacy even though it enjoys widespread support," he says.

Another Recall Petitioner Assaulted

2012-01-10T12:15:00.001-06:00

Walker thugs, known for their might-makes-right assaults on those they disagree with, struck yet again. This time a Brookfield woman throws a left uppercut on a recall petitioner for ...well, for no reason.

Scolding the man afterwards with, "You can't video tape me without my permission, what is wrong with you." This coming after she gets out of her VW and walks up to the man operating her own camera while saying, "I want a picture (of us) together." It's scary to think what the Walker supporter could have alleged to police had he not had his camera on.

Watch it:

Additional story at Democurmudgeon.

Republicans Want Single Class, Single Party Rule

2012-01-09T12:26:00.005-06:00

When Rick Santorum said "there are no classes in America," was it just a ploy to neutralize the truth about Republicans? That they really don't care if there is a middle class left in America with their policies that do nothing but protect the upper one percent and their richest donors?

I see plenty of similarities in the backward thinking of Rick Santorum and that of our Congressman Paul Ryan. Ryan wants to end corruption in government by drowning government in a bathtub, so there is no government to corrupt. Similarly, Santorum wants to end class warfare by destroying or at least pretending that there "is no middle class." No classes to go to war. This comes after I heard one of Ryan's supporters at the recent Janesville townhall say that it's not right for taxpayers to pay better wages and benefits to others than they get themselves. (Regarding Walker's war on public employees) Paul Ryan completely agreed. What they seem to be striving for is a single wage and benefit class for the 99. No more middle class. Sound far out? When the rhetoric used around small town Janesville is the same as on the national stage, I don't think it's by chance. This is beginning to sound more like their economic platform and less like rhetoric of convenience.

Watch it:

Janesville Gazette Champions Governors Journal Faux Award

2012-01-06T00:23:00.014-06:00

JG editorial:
(Titled: Why Walker was named Governor of the Year)
As 2011 ended, United Wisconsin was closing in on the signatures needed to trigger a recall of Gov. Scott Walker. No doubt, it mattered little to his critics and the union-led recall drive that Walker was named Governor of the Year.

The editor insinuates that because so few bothered to recognize this award, there must be something more to it and he was going to do something about it by gum, yes he was. But not to expose the disinformation of the Governors Journal and its empty award for the cheap trick GOP "crisis publishing" gimmick that it is - but to expound upon and defend it's distortions, cover-ups and false equivalencies in order to save Walker's failed career.

JG editorial:
(Titled: Why Walker was named Governor of the Year)
Note, however, how the Governors Journal concluded its story: "Even if Walker is removed from office, he still wins the debate. Any setback will be temporary. Pensions reforms are a reality."

The editor then concludes, "Consider that if you're still contemplating whether to sign the petition."

This "Walker wins either way" frame of reasoning is the hottest form of false equivalency rhetoric being used by Republicans and their media enablers to deflate their opponent's enthusiasm and momentum, and to soften the contrast between party platforms and candidates. Another recent example of this false equivalency was written by AP writer, Ricardo Alonso-Zalvidar.

In that article, Alonso-Zalvidar attempts to soften comparisons of Rep. Paul Ryan's brutal privatization proposals on Medicare and Social Security to alternatives offered by democrats that merely make running adjustments to keep the programs solvent. The message is if you would only dial down the partisan rhetoric, the competing proposals and their sponsors are surprisingly similar. So, according to Alonso-Zalvidar, the future of Medicare is the same no matter who wins the White House. Believe me - it's not the same - not at all. It's like night and day.

The Governors' Journal tries to pull the same stunt several different times in their editorial, including the claim that the difference between Scott Walker and many Democratic governors is only a matter of degrees. No question, the GOP party and their well-funded supporters and media enablers know their top candidates and policies are ghoulishly brutal. They are in full crisis DefCon 5 media mode with heavily fortified articles and slapped-up Website gimmicks constructed intentionally to neutralize those stark contrasts.

It's sort of like saying, "it really doesn't matter who is elected because they're all the same, but always vote Republican."

Subscribers and ad buyers to the Janesville Gazette really need to start asking themselves some serious questions about the newspaper's intentions, agenda, journalistic integrity and value to the community. I can understand supporters of the right-wing, GOP and Walker supporting the newspaper, but if you're a paycheck earner who strives for a good government fair market democracy based on the highest morals and Wisconsin values of trust, compassion and compromise - you're trading your hard-earned money with an entity that is out to defeat you through deception.

Editorial not available on Web. Editor's brief blog entry on Governor's Journal here.

Can We Get Walker Before The FBI Does?

2012-01-05T12:48:00.001-06:00

With the latest news of another former aide to Scott Walker being arrested, we can only hope that Walker is recalled and gone before the FBI gets him. The last thing Wisconsin needs is a "blago" event with a sitting governor being handcuffed and carried out of our governor's mansion. Wisconsin has suffered enough already under his tyranny.

Twin CitiesExcerpt:
A former aide to Gov. Scott Walker when he was Milwaukee County executive was arrested today and accused of taking thousands of dollars from a business.

Online court records show Tim Russell, 48, was charged with one misdemeanor and two felony theft charges for taking more than $10,000 from a business. The most serious felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

What I'd Like To See In Janesville 2012

2012-01-04T14:03:00.000-06:00

Why not?

Video: Wisconsin Lit a Fire Seen Clear Down To The Swamplands In Georgia

2012-01-03T23:11:00.000-06:00

Can a Person Be Too Random?

2012-01-03T01:19:00.002-06:00

It's only been a little more than a month since I wrote a simple pledge asking members of Congress if they would reaffirm their oath to the Constitution. So far, no one has obliged to take up the offer which leads me to believe the author of such a pledge has to be a lot more than just some "random person" as House Speaker John Boehner implied Grover Norquist was.

So I can easily imagine a conversation something like this ...

Me) Hello Congressman, I wrote a pledge asking members of congress to reaffirm their Oath of Office including to the Powers of Congress as described in the U.S. Constitution. It also contains a short passage asking that you would never allow a constituent, special interest or ideology come above or between you and the Constitution while carrying out the duties of elected office. Would you please sign this reaffirmation?

Congressman) Why Should I? Who are you?

M) I’m an American citizen, a voter and a taxpayer. That’s all.

C) That’s not enough. Are you a lobbyist?

M) No.

C) Are you a corporate executive or CEO?

M) No.

C) Are you a member of a political party?

M) No.

C) Are you a hedge fund manager?

M) No.

C) Are you a banker?

M) No.

C) Are you a union boss or member?

M) No.

C) Are you a public employee?

M) No.

C) Are you a school teacher?

M) No.

C) Have you contributed to my re-election campaign?

M) Probably not.

C) Are you a member of a think tank?

M) No.

C) Are you a member of the clergy?

M) No.

C) Are you a community organizer?

M) No, but I guess you could think of me as a random person.

C) Oh, so you’re like that Norquist fella. Haven’t you people done enough harm to this country? I will not sign your stupid pledge – now go away before I have you arrested!

M) But you've signed Norquist's pledge and I'm not asking you to do anything outside of your oath of office ... it’s the Constitution!

C) GO AWAY.

M) * sigh *

Corporations, Wealthy Want More Than Ever

2012-01-02T00:12:00.001-06:00

Money News Excerpt:
Huge U.S. corporations are forming lobbying groups to try to influence what could become the hottest congressional debate over comprehensive tax reform in a generation.

The newest organization calls itself the Tax Reform Coalition. Backed by companies including American Express and Xerox, it filed paperwork with Congress last week to register as a lobbying group.

By forming broad alliances, companies are able to pull together research, consulting staffs and other resources, said Jim McCrery, a former Republican congressman who now lobbies for WIN America and others. more>>>

Money News: Companies Lobby to Influence US Tax Reform

CBS News: A Taxing Debate

NY Times: A Family's Billions, Artfully Sheltered

Reuters: Thirty Companies Paid No U.S. Income Tax

The Hill: The Buffett Rule

Dow Jones: Small Business Coalition Opposes Plan They Say Rewards U.S. Multinationals

Rob Zerban 'Ask Me Anything' Session at Reddit

2011-12-31T17:09:00.001-06:00

Check this page out. It's two days old, but there are over 2,000 comments posted during the open discussion with Rob Zerban, challenger to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) in 2012. Thumbs Up!!

Reddit Excerpt:
Twoodeep: So can you state a few of your positions on these for us now?

Rob Zerban: Here are some core issues for me: Ending the money in politics by supporting the Move to Amend, publicly financed elections, and any other vehicle to end the corrupting influence of money. Enhancing health care reform with a public option or Medicare for all. Job creation by investing in infrastructure and any other programs to employ the unemployed, and ending free trade deals and replacing them with fair trade deals that will protect manufacturing jobs in the district. Investing in education and research to create innovation for the future. Shifting our tax code to benefit small and medium-size businesses, not large corporations with large lobbying firms. Enhancing financial reform and protecting consumers. Finally, protecting Social Security and Medicare from Republican attempts at privatization.

I think any and all of these ideas would help Wisconsin and this district, but my focus in the campaign will be on the more generally popular issues including manufacturing jobs and economic recovery, Paul Ryan's corrupt funding sources, stopping the wasteful tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, and the need to defend seniors programs. These are the issues I think the electorate will be most responsive to.

Twoodeep: I wasn't expecting such a thorough and honest answer. I'm not in Wisconsin, so the best vote I can give you is up.

Additional:

Democurmudgeon - Ryan Challenger Rob Zerban gets Noticed ...Big Time!!!

Walker Chums For Support By Throwing Family Care To The Sharks

2011-12-30T00:44:00.006-06:00

There's a lot of meat to Walker's announcement to lift the cap from Family Care. Of course the most suspicious was his bold-faced grandstanding of the decision as his own without mentioning that federal authorities two weeks ago told his administration it had to take that step. The announcement to lift the cap was met with general approval from democrats and advocates for the elderly and disabled who contend that Family Care is less costly than nursing homes.

But the story doesn't end there. Walker's supporters claim he intended on lifting the cap at some point in time. That's true, the day after Walker imposed the cap when he signed Act 10 into law, he spoke to the Journal Sentinel about possibly raising the cap or modifying it later in the year, but that means he was willing to punish elder folks simply because he was supposedly looking for efficiencies in the system to find extra money. In defense of Walker, his spokesman on Thursday said the governor had been planning to lift the cap for months, but that only adds to the callous nature and questionable intentions when he imposed the cap in the first place considering many on the waiting list are in their late 80s, 90s and even 100's. None of this of course changes the fact that Walker held a news conference announcing he's lifting the cap on Family Care while making no mention of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' ordering him to do so.

But now we get to the gristle. In order for Walker to take credit for lifting the cap from Family Care, he would have had to never propose $554 million in service cuts over the next year and a half in other Medicaid health care programs. It doesn't jibe with that. It also doesn't jibe because the announcement came less than a week after his administration announced separate planned cuts across state agencies totaling $123 million. Expanding the state’s long term care program sounds too good to be true, particularly coming from a governor who views long term care as an expensive entitlement.

For Walker to impose a cap with the full intention of eventually lifting it or expanding it also has the appearance of "stick and carrot" politics. This is where politicians take a strong position to wield as a stick, usually counter to popular demand, in order to drum up the old guard support base for a much larger ideologically driven agenda, like his class war budget Act 10. Later on, when needed either as a legislative bargaining chip or to shift public opinion, he presents the carrot - lifting the cap on Family Care. I would contend Walker might not have planned it this way from the beginning, but that he saw the carrot opportunity and used it to his advantage.

This scenario meshes well with the Democurmudgeon's angle where Walker has cornered the extremist fringe base in Robin Vos, who is now playing the worser to Scott Walker's worse - if anyone thought that was possible.

No matter what happens now, if the old "heart of stone" republican guard does not pass Walker's newly adopted Family Care plan, it would force a showdown with CMS. At that stage, even if Family Care was fully dismantled, Walker would still come out looking like the nice guy.

He's banking on it.

Paul Ryan Picks Up Coveted Award

2011-12-29T00:52:00.000-06:00

Madison Cap Times bestows Ryan with "Scam Artist of the Year!" Not much room to add to this one...

Cap Times Excerpt:

Paul Ryan is a hustler. The Republican congressman from Janesville has gotten very good at fooling political and media elites into thinking that his schemes to steer federal money into the accounts of Wall Street speculators (by taking steps to privatize Social Security) and for-profit insurance companies (by turning Medicare and Medicaid into voucher programs) would balance budgets or in some other way improve the circumstances of working families.

But Ryan’s having a harder time fooling Americans who take fiscal matters and the future of the republic seriously.

...The fact is that millions of Americans are actively protesting against the political corruption that floods corporate cash into the campaign accounts of pliable congressmen like Paul Ryan. The American people are furious with the pay-to-play politics that has tipped the balance in Washington away from the best interests of people in communities such as Janesville and toward the special interests on Wall Street.

Get more here>>>

Newspaper Editor Defends Politifact Lie Against False Balance Accusation

2011-12-28T00:01:00.008-06:00

The editor of the Janesville Gazette recently wrote about his take on Politifact's outrageously wrong choice for "Lie of the Year" when they chose democrat's correct portrayal characterizing Paul Ryan's proposals as ending Medicare, for the award.

Although the editor played it safe by refusing to state his position on the choice, he seemed offended by PolitiFact's critics and wrote that he found Politifact's original position convincing and sided against those who surmised that the fact-checking outfit was playing a game of false balance. One of the leading critics accusing the outfit of false balance is economist Paul Krugman.

Janesville Gazette Editor's View: (Dec. 25, 2011)
(Titled: Fact is, Politifact plays Important Role)

I won't get into the argument of for or against the choice. I did, however, find Politifact's original position convincing and it's subsequent defense more so. Here is a telling passage from that response...
"Others portrayed it as a case of false balance where we put our thumb on the scale for a Democratic falsehood. This too, is a sad byproduct of our polarized discourse, from people who are sure their side is always right."

I immediately thought, how is it that the editor of the Janesville Gazette would relate to a statement about false balance, and yet seem so indifferent to it? Why does that sound so familiar? Or, where in the world would anybody get the idea that editors and journalists are bias sensitive and consciously work to balance coverage and rebalance negative perceptions (about a group or issue) with positive stories in a deliberate effort to provide a perception of fairness?

Well, look no further than the editor's own words when he wrote this two years ago...

Rock Netroots (Dec. 2009)
Gazette Editorial Excerpt:
We are frequently criticized for singling out these groups, and we are sensitive to the perception that we are unfair to them. While we're comfortable with our decision making, we consciously work to balance our coverage by providing positive stories about GM workers, teachers and police officers.

No wonder why it struck a chord.

If you like analogies, you might enjoy this one comparing reality to a wheel, with the media spin balancing reality by applying weights to change its speed, shape and momentum to fit their political model.

Newspaper Injects Partisan Politics into Local Non-Partisan Elections

2011-12-27T00:00:00.006-06:00

Today, much like over the past 10 years or so, the only party politics openly exhibited in local non-partisan races in Janesville and Rock County has been created and disseminated by one source ...the Janesville Gazette. No doubt they think of themselves as the innocent messengers, but I believe it's important not to confuse the Janesville Gazette and their anonymous publishing "Sound Off" column gimmick with innocent bystanders who are merely reporting on local partisanship.

On the other hand, in no way am I trying to prove that political partisanship does not exist between candidates or in non-partisan offices. That is not the case here. My main point is it's the newspaper that is the guilty party for projecting accusations of partisanship on candidates simply for their friendships and affiliations, and then pushing an attack campaign against them for being transparent.

Predictably, the very first partisan attacks on local candidates this season did not come from political parties, special interests or from the candidates themselves. Not at all. Instead, they came in the form of anonymous comments published by the Janesville Gazette.

Janesville Gazette "Sound Off"
(anonymous column, Dec. 21)
On city council:
Check out the candidates. It appears there are a couple of hard-core political activists running. We don't need more politicians running for a nonpartisan council.

Janesville Gazette "Sound Off"
(anonymous column, Dec. 18)
On Democrats:
Regarding Democrats elect officers, Page 10A Wednesday, people of Janesville and Rock County beware. If you want the city and county to be the same financial mess that Gov. Doyle and President Obama have led us into, allow all of these people running for council and Rock County Board to get elected. Educate yourselves.

Of course the above flame-throwing comments were not posted where they could be challenged, like on a political blog or called into a radio show. Instead, they were published "anonymously" in the print edition of the Janesville Gazette! This is outrageous stuff.

Just for comparison, the Gazette editors recently refused to print a signed letter sourced from a Janesville resident because they claimed the core premise of the writer's letter was deemed false by Politifact. Unbelievable. But the newspaper prints this other unsourced cockamamie bullshit?

Yet, the editor claims to publish the best or most representative comments (in their view) of the community in their "Sound Off" anonymous column. So do they really believe the basis on what those comments are founded on to be true? Were they Politifact vetted?

If you happen not to like the comments published in their anonymous column, the editor laments, "well, they're not pretty." Which tends to say that the published anonymous comments really are more representative of what the editors think, without them actually saying it, OR what they want you to believe are representative of the community. At the same time, they admit to eliminating comments that are out of bounds or in bad taste, comments that actually could be representative of the community. But we'll never know. The question to ask is why in the world are they publishing an anonymous column at all?

Make no mistake. It is a powerful publishing tool and a political weapon to help shape public opinion.

So, after the above false and bigoted statements were published in print, the newspaper then does their usual "follow-up" a few days later by conjuring up a faux news article with statements from unassuming candidates that the newspaper purposely reframes against their newly invented partisan backdrop. The paper even digs into certain candidate's backgrounds further by pointing out their friendships and where their mom's have worked. They are way out of bounds, but we can expect a supporting editorial blasting away at the candidate's partisanship and the sad state of politics within the next week or so.

Since I began blogging here in 2006, all of the candidates and incumbents running for local non-partisan offices in Rock County, whether they referred to themselves as Democrats, Republicans, Independents or whatever have done a good job of keeping partisan politics out of their campaigns. They rarely if ever used true partisan differences against one another. The truth is, it's only the Janesville Gazette that feeds on the partisan distinctions and reshapes them into ad hominem attacks against targeted candidates.

As typical of the Gazette, the newspaper frames Democrats and unions as the subject partisans throughout the article and then attempts to "balance" their hit job with a few statements from a counter source, this time the local Republican party, but not until they limit and reconstruct the Republican position as a concluding response to the democrats "obvious" partisan infractions. They've been doing this for years.

Older Posts Related To Gazette's Partisan Attacks On Local Candidates:

Anti-Partisan Crusader's Selective Rage Targets Labor Unions (April, 2011)

When Phony Non-partisans Come Home (May, 2008)

Phony Non-Partisans Complaining About Open Advocacy (April, 2008)

Non-Partisan Elections Like Throwing Darts (March, 2007)

Video: Walker Blames His War On Unions On Unions

2011-12-24T11:53:00.001-06:00

In this interview with Greg Neumann of WKOW, Scott Walker reinforces statements made by the Fitzgerald brothers earlier in the year that everything he's doing is to defund and dismantle unions. Asked if he's personally responsible for the differences and division in the state. Walker obliviously says, "no."

Story

Sensenbrenner Is All Crass

2011-12-23T13:27:00.000-06:00

Cap Times Excerpt:
During a Christmas event at St. Aiden’s Episcopal Church in Hartford, Sensenbrenner announced to the assembled celebrants, “And Michelle Obama, her project is obesity. And look at her big butt.”

This is apparently a constant fascination for the congressman. He was reportedly heard ranting and raving at Washington’s Reagan National Airport about how the first lady “lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself.”

All Wisconsin Republicans Voted To Raise Taxes On Middle Class

2011-12-22T14:57:00.008-06:00

In the House, all Wisconsin Republicans voted to reject extending unemployment benefits and a payroll tax cut for the working poor and middle class. Duffy, Petri, Ribble, Ryan and Sensenbrenner all voted to raise taxes on middle class families by an average of $1,000. Soon afterwards they then voted to take a vacation.

The Senate however, overwhelmingly voted to extend the tax cut by a margin of 89 - 10, with Ron Johnson among the rotten ten voting to increase taxes.

We've seen Republicans take a stand against working poor and middle-class Americans hundreds of times during the past decade and people still vote for them. For some reason, I don't see how this one will be much different.

* UPDATE *

House Republicans cave. They're angry taxes won't be going up on the middle-class.

NY Times Excerpt:
“It may not have been politically the smartest thing in the world,’’ Mr. Boehner said. “But let me tell you what: I think our members waged a good fight.Though the agreement extricated House Republicans from a political box, Mr. Boehner said: “I don’t think it’s any time for celebration."

Yep! Republicans fought to raise our taxes and lost. Boehner actually sounds genuinely sad. Never forget.

Old Batch Of Youtube Videos On Forward Janesville/Walker Dinner Protest

2011-12-22T00:04:00.000-06:00

Here's a batch of hardly viewed short-length videos from the Forward Janesville Dinner protest event held outside the Holiday Inn way back on March 29th. I found these recently while surfing Youtube and was surprised to see most them have less than 10 views. One is posted below and you can view more on the FJ protest from this videographer here

The owner of this channel has over 400 videos posted, with mostly Janesville-only content. Youtube Augmuse Video Channel

Too Much Computer Leads To Bad Computer

2011-12-21T00:12:00.002-06:00

Too much government inherently leads to bad government because there’s more of it to exploit and corrupt, according to Paul Ryan.

I've heard Ryan's big bad government speech several times before. It's the same old story and projections about how government naturally corrupts because crony capitalists always gravitate to where power is concentrated, etc., etc. But Ryan doesn’t see the obvious paradox, that by shrinking government for no other reason than to make it smaller, he would concentrate power in even fewer hands. We’re seeing this on a local scale in Wisconsin with county boards being whittled down from 30 supervisors to 7, 9 or 11. Fewer supervisors to influence makes it easier for those who naturally gravitate to power, but it also means more duties and more power in fewer hands.

I get a better understanding of his delinquent logic through my computer analogy. If Paul Ryan had a powerful 1000 trigabyte computer that became unstable after it was infected by a nasty virus, he'd scrap the entire computer and replace it with a much smaller one because there would be fewer trigabytes and registry keys to exploit and corrupt next time the system got infected, rather than legislate a remedy to remove and destroy the infection in order to restore the efficient 1000 trigabyte system. So, according to Paul Ryan and Tea Party ideologues - It's the size of government, not the alien corruption wreaking havoc inside that's the destabilizing problem.

That's a scary concept.

Watch Paul Ryan in his own words talk about the size of government and then make untrue and presumptuously skewed statements toward Barney Frank about the function of military. After being dismantled by Frank and Reich, Ryan then scrambles for the class war strawman saying how dangerous it is to talk about class division. He clearly does not play well with others:

"I never heard a poor person complain that it was dangerous to talk about economic equality" -- Rep. Barney Frank

Also, more pespective and videos on this story over the size of government at the Democurmudgeon.

Walker Cuts Off Women's Cancer Screening Program For Political Gain

2011-12-20T00:16:00.000-06:00

Forbes Excerpt:
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has set his sights on ending the availability of cervical and breast cancer screening — along with multiple sclerosis detection — for Wisconsin women who have insufficient health insurance to pay for these critical procedures.

It’s not about money or budgets or unions or any of the usual ideologically driven nonsense we’ve come to expect from Scott Walker. This time, it’s just all about politics. More>>>

Having Some Fun With Time and Their "Prophet"

2011-12-19T00:02:00.005-06:00

After I read the first page of Time Magazine's The Prophet, I had to scroll back up to make sure it was Time magazine and not some beta version of a Web based Mad magazine, in no disrespect to Mad magazine.

First thing I thought was, where in the world did they get their information from? The editorial staff of Ryan's hometown Janesville Gazette? The rest of the fluff and fill appears to be regurgitated generalizations from Ryan's public resume and GOP party talking points. God help us. There was no mention of Ryan's rubber stamping of $6 trillion in national deficits during the Bush era. No mention of spending billions on wars without paying for them. No mention of Ryan wanting tax cuts to lessen projected surpluses and no mention of wanting tax cuts to lessen projected deficits. And, the big kahuna of them all, no mention of Ryan's inspiration and reason to enter public office in the first place - Ayn Rand. I guess that's all too negative. His history that is.

Before reading Time's article, I left open the chance that there might be some redeeming quality about Paul Ryan. You know, that somehow they could articulate that possibility in their summary when choosing him among runner-ups in their highly pretentious "Person of the Year" gimmick. But after reading their summary, I now have to wonder whether they were paid a commission to rank him and write the profile because afterall, we are now in an era of corporate media and Ryan does have some big name billionaires in his contribution corner who will do anything to protect their interests.

So lets get this off the ground, it begins...

Time Excerpt:
Here's a curious fact: in a year of political gridlock, when Congress could get nothing done — not even pass a budget — the most influential American politician was House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan.

Let's revisit that curious fact. That during a time of political gridlock when Congress could get nothing done, Paul Ryan was the most influential politician. See any correlation there? You think by chance he had something to do with it all? By chance? Hey, no argument here but, why not give him the "gridlocker" of the year award instead?

Time then brings up when Newt Gingrich denounced Ryan's proposal as "right-wing social engineering."

But it was Ryan who watched with satisfaction as his fellow Republicans forced Gingrich to eat his words...

Is that how Ryan felt? A very strange statement indeed.

But this is a hot topic right now. We all know what happened after they made Gingrich eat his words. Soon afterwards, Gingrich's popularity began to steadily climb and looked almost unbeatable ...until they all caught on and ditched Ryan from the topics of the GOP presidential debates.

I might be the only political blogger (forgive me if I'm wrong) who linked Newt Gingrich's ascent to GOP presidential front-runner status when GOP skeletons like bluster-pus John Sununu (former New Hampshire Gov) came out of the crypt defending Ryan against Gingrich over the "Right-wing social engineering" comment. I surmised that if they continue to use Ryan's toxic proposals on the national stage to draw a contrast against Gingrich, Newtie would probably capture 50% of the GOP support base and become unstoppable in the GOP primary. I was right, but they also caught on.

Some bloggers on the Left and Right confidently insisted Romney didn’t make Gingrich’s "mistake." Instead, Romney wholeheartedly embraced Ryan’s plan ...only to find his polling numbers plummet. The fact is, Paul Ryan and his proposals are so politically toxic that they had to eventually ditch him to defend him. Ryan too saw the handwriting on the wall and found himself cravenly scrambling to "Newter" his Kill Medicare proposal to provide political cover for himself and his duped party members.

Soon after the republican party dropped Ryan and his Kill Medicare proposal from the national GOP debates, the obvious happened next. Establishment webloids like Politico giddily started writing Gingrich's obituary. Hey, it's the end of Newt-mentum! Other GOP presidential contenders caught on quickly about the negative effects of the Ryan factor and went through detox immediately. Suddenly, they all want to focus on their one common enemy - Barack Obama. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

Just two days ago, this USA Today article described how GOP criticism of Gingrich continues to mount. However, it's also very telling that in their attacks against him, Ryan's name and his GOP cornerstone proposals are not mentioned even once.

But now, Paul "progressives are a cancer" Ryan has enlisted Democratic Senator Ron Wyden among his victims in an effort to stop the free fall. Think. If Ryan's original budget plan is so good and the cornerstone of Republican policy, why would he suddenly want to change it? Why hide all that award winning success? It's the Holy Grail, right? But why wasn't Romney the front-runner soon after embracing it? My other point here is these establishment politicos and MSM outlets (phony non-partisans) seriously believe Ryan's ideological class war budget proposal will be the political conversation of the 2012 presidential debates. It's still possible, but NOT if Paul Ryan can help it.

Ryan's strange pariah-like popularity is now in free fall, and with a serious democratic contender challenging him on the district home front, he is running in fear and twisting in the winds to remain on the government dole. Don't forget that he's got billionaires seeking their salvation behind him, so the only thing left for him to do is draw in sympathetic democratic dupes to help form a bi-partisan support group for the GOP's cornerstone legislation, proposals that even top GOP presidential candidates had to ditch in order to save. Sen. Ron Wyden should be ashamed of himself for participating in Ryan's senior baiting Medicare killing phony make-over.

Time Excerpt:
What Ryan had this year was the courage to look the future in the eye. It is a seer's work to glimpse around the corner and sound an alarm. And in a democratic republic, it is the job of voters to choose a path away from danger. Ryan would say that all he has done is sound the alarm.

Did Ryan sound the alarm? Let's turn to 2008 when he first introduced his right-wing engineered class war proposal "Roadmap for America's Future." In August of that year, Ryan took questions at an African American Community forum held in Racine, Wisconsin, and in the middle of the forum, he was asked about Racine’s economy. The congressman said he thought the economy will remain in trouble, but that the answer goes back to fuel. He suggested lowering gas prices and reducing inflation as ways to fix the country’s apparent recession. Again, this forecast from The Prophet Paul came just one month before the housing market crashed and Wall Street imploded. He was clueless, partisan and pandering, just like he is today.

Time Excerpt:
He brought an ugly issue out of the foggy realm of think tanks and blue-ribbon panels and dropped it into the middle of the national debate in time to define the next presidential election.

Great. So it was Ryan who courageously brought it out, ...to define the next presidential election. Are you sure?

"I don't think there's anything courageous," Obama charged, "about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it." It was at about that moment, Ryan realized, that he and his plan had become a central issue in the 2012 elections. "That's when the lightbulb went off," Ryan explains. "They were constructing a political plan."

Of course! When Obama speaks the truth in one quick and easy to understand sentence, Ryan builds a conspiracy, "they were constructing a political plan" to make his plan a central issue in the 2012 elections. But we thought Ryan already made his plan the central theme for 2012...courageously I should add.

But I'm confused now. If a Democrat brings an ugly issue out from the foggy realm of our political landscape and drops it into the middle of the national debate, it's a political plot - a conspiracy. But when Ryan does it, it's courage? So, tell me. Was making Ryan's budget proposal a central issue in the 2012 elections Ryan's idea or Obama's? Is it an act of demagoguery and a conspiracy, or an act of courage? Does any of this matter? You bet it does ...for one, Ryan's recent announcement with Wyden gutted the establishment media who have been fawning over Ryan's "courage." They are now left with egg on their faces.

Time Excerpt:
And in a democratic republic, it is the job of voters to choose a path away from danger. Ryan would say that all he has done is sound the alarm.

No doubt, that is what the humble prophet would say. Of course he wouldn't want you to know that he was also the arsonist before he sounded the alarm. That's frivolous non-relevant information and we certainly don't want to confuse the voters when they try to pick the arsonist out from a group of suspects dripping in petrol and sulfur. But that Paul Ryan, "he's the guy," is how Adrian Monk would put it.

The Prophet Paul Ryan. Youze guys are a real hoot. But what could possibly be the sequel to that? The Catholic Church issuing him a "Compassion in Christ" award for his social legislation defending the poor and the weak? That would not surprise me all now.

If Only Scott Walker Did Nothing

2011-12-17T17:31:00.001-06:00

One year ago ...

Channel 3000 Excerpt:
One forecast shows that even if Walker does nothing the state will add 190,000 jobs over the next four years. Another forecast shows there will be nearly 290,000 new jobs.

Today ...

Video: Trickle-Down Economics Is a Vicious Fraud

2011-12-17T12:48:00.002-06:00

By Robert Reich, watch it:

Rip Rap

2011-12-16T00:31:00.002-06:00

Census shows 1 in 2 people are poor or low-income

Excerpt:
The latest census data depict a middle class that's shrinking as unemployment stays high and the government's safety net frays. "The reality is that prospects for the poor and the near poor are dismal," he said. "If Congress and the states make further cuts, we can expect the number of poor and low-income families to rise for the next several years."

Fierce Critic Of Obama Apologizes Now That She Has Cancer

Care2 Excerpt:
“If you are fortunate enough to still be employed and have insurance through your employers, you may feel insulated from the sufferings of people like me right now,” Ward wrote. “But things can change abruptly. If you still have a good job with insurance, that doesn’t mean that you’re better than me, more deserving than me or smarter than me. It just means that you are luckier. And access to healthcare shouldn’t depend on luck.”

If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed. -- Mark Twain

Paul Ryan Stuffing Ballots on PolitiFact's Big Lie

Politifact, the quasi-non-partisan opinion editorial outfit masquerading as the all-seeing-eye-wizard-of-Oz, recently listed Democrat's claim that "Paul Ryan wants to end Medicare" among their finalists in it's "Lie of the Year" gimmick, even though the claim is absolutely 100% true. After hearing that Paul Ryan is attempting to stuff PolitiFact's online ballot box, Xoff from Uppity Wisconsin offers, "You'd think he would have better things to do..."

The Crisis Of Capitalism

Take this 13 Question News IQ Test - Pews Research

No tricks here - just a simple test to see if you are current on your information, then be ready to shudder when you see how others did!

Remember When Wisconsin Republicans bragged About How they turned the State Red?

Click the above map To find out what that means.

Ryan and Obama like water and oil when it comes to reasons why they entered public office

A couple weeks ago, President Obama Got Mic Checked. The crowd quickly drowned the protesters out with chants of “Obama,” but a few minutes later, Obama said “families like yours, young people like the ones here today — including the ones who were just chanting at me — you’re the reason that I ran for office in the first place.” Watch it:

Compare Obama's reason to our Congressman Paul Ryan who claimed Ayn Rand is the reason why he entered politics and came to Washington.

Thanks To Walker, Janesville Schools Face Huge Budget Shortfall

2011-12-15T19:11:00.002-06:00

By John Peterson

The sad thing is many in Wisconsin will not be exposed to these random local news pieces, sad stories that expose "It's Working" as nothing more than a campaign marketing gimmick and lie.

Like all the school stories I've blogged here, class sizes have increased and district budgets will be dramatically short next year. In fact, under Scott Walker's plan, school funding will continue to ratchet down. By the summer of next year, Walker will be facing more than recall ads ripping him a new one. He will be exposed as a fraud. This story from Janesville is even more outrageous when you consider the state just gave Spectrum Brands $4 million to do absolutely nothing...

....classrooms could be filled to capacity in the 2012-2013 school year as the district looks for ways to plug a projected $8 million to $10 million budget shortfall.

Channel3000:

Added Note: One important aspect to add is the fact that Janesville recently completed a school expansion that included new classroom additions and gymnasiums to give students more elbow room. The $70.8 million school expansion referendum passed during a media blackout of projected enrollment decline.

Enthusiasm High - New Goal Set For Recall

2011-12-15T16:14:00.001-06:00

From United Wisconsin:

Over 507,000 signatures in the first 28 days!

We have two new numbers to share and celebrate with you:

507,533 and 720,277

We are proud to announce that just four weeks into the recall campaign, 507,533 people have signed a petition to recall Scott Walker! And because of the overwhelming support for the movement to recall Walker, and your amazing drive and dedication, we are also setting a new signature collection goal of 720,277 – nearly 200,000 more than needed to trigger a recall.

Reminder: On Saturday, December 17th, volunteers across the state will be hosting a massive petition drive to collect recall signatures. Click here to find a Total Recall Event near you. Counties are organized into six regions. Recall Offices will be open throughout the state for petition signing as well.

This was an amazing start, but our work is far from over.

We Have Been Named Time's Person Of the Year!!

2011-12-14T17:14:00.002-06:00

That's right! Time's Person of the Year is The Protester.

Coming in second place was Admiral William McRaven, head of U.S. Special Operations Command and overall commander of the secret U.S. mission that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, followed by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, whose 81 day secret detention by authorities earlier this year sparked an international outcry.

Coming in fourth believe it or not, was the person most likely to be protested. Paul Ryan!! Although in Wisconsin, Scott Walker has claimed that mantle for the time being.

But Ryan is considered one of the most influential politicians of the year for his ridiculous pseudo-intellectual class war budget that also includes the end of Medicare as we know it, his willingness to kick the can down the road, to destabilize government, drive up the debt, and of course punish the poor in the name of "upward mobility" for not being rich. If you're a member of the One Percent, Paul Ryan is your guy.

Time maintains that the designation is "not an honor" but rather a way to recognize "the most powerful individuals and forces shaping the world." In that case, perhaps Ayn Rand should have been runner-up instead of her loyal subject and worldly messenger Ryan. Ahh well, Paul Ryan ... Ayn Rand. What's the difference?

Recall Patriots: Beware Of Hostile, Delusional Walker Supporters

2011-12-14T00:01:00.002-06:00

I know, I know. "Hostile delusional Walker supporters" really doesn't help to draw much of a distinction from other Walker supporters.

Now yet another Waukesha man lost his hinge pins and went crazy train on a couple of diligent, peaceful recall petition patriots. This time the incident ocurred at the Brookfield Fashion center this past Saturday morning where a man identified as 59 year-old Fred Frisby of Brookfield got out of his pick-up truck and went on the attack.

Watch uncut video:

Remember, no hugs for these clowns when they become this combative.

Additional Stories:

Democurmudgeon - Another Walker Thug Attacks Recall Petitioners with Cliche's and Physical Force

Brookfield Patch - Man cited for disorderly conduct

How to Annoy Your Neighbors ...Or Best Christmas Light Display Ever!

2011-12-13T01:21:00.000-06:00

A friend sent me a shortened version of this video. It's an amazing set-up and sequence of "Holiday" lights dancing to music.

Watch it:

Walker Supporter Verifies Recall Signature With Creepy Phone Call

2011-12-11T00:01:00.041-06:00

Wow. It seems Walker's supporters lay awake at night thinking of new ways to stalk, frighten and intimidate the good people of Wisconsin. One of them, Kevin Stoll from Waukesha County (no surprise), went so far as to extract a phone number from a recall petition making a cameo appearance on a news program, and then made it his business to give the person a call.

Democurmudgeon Excerpt:
Take Kevin Stoll in Hartland, who decided to ask a few petition signers why they wanted to recall Scott Walker...at 10:30 at night to complete strangers. He tried to come across "undecided," but cliche'd talking points are hard to ignore. WKOW 27's Tony Galli has this stunning story of what could be illegal political intimidation.

According to Galli, Stoll later offered that he will be involved in the Verify Recall campaign which would now, thanks to Stoll's admission, appear to be little more than a phone number and ID collection data base for Tea Party and GOP operatives to mull over and target for harassment. These creeps are hoping they can creep us out.

Watch it:

Related Stories:

Cognitive Dissidence - Was Stalker Inspired By Media Trackers?

WQOW - Petition Stalker Cited In Madison

Blogging Blue - Unhinged I tell you ...they're coming unhinged!

After Criticizing Ryan's Proposals - Gingrich Surges In Polls

2011-12-10T00:01:00.015-06:00

Remember when Newt Gingrich let his guard down and called Paul Ryan’s budget proposal and plan to end Medicare exactly what it is - "right-wing social engineering?"

Union Leader Excerpt:
Sununu told reporters that when Gingrich earlier this year called U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan's entitlement reform provisions of the Republican budget plan “right-wing social engineering,” it was “an effort of self-aggrandizement” that undercut Ryan and was “the most self-serving, anti-conservative thing one can imagine.”

That's funny. Against all odds since then, Gingrich has been slowly gaining on the other so-called conservatives running for the gold in the GOP presidential primary. Actually, Gingrich is now considered the front-running candidate among the pack of ghouls that speak in favor of Ryan's backdoor attack on seniors, even pulling way ahead of Mitt Romney.

Union Leader Excerpt:
Sununu said, “What he did to Paul Ryan is just the latest in a pattern of anti-principled actions that really irritated his own leadership and produced 88 percent of the Republicans voting for his reprimand” in 1997.

The above statements from the bombastic Sununu says it all. Why should Newt Gingrich or any presidential candidate care a rat's ass about Paul Ryan? Think about it. Who is Ryan? Second and even more telling, how could criticizing Ryan's proposal be self-aggrandizement if it's so good?

The truth is, they all know Ryan's budget proposals are fictional, unworkable, radical and vicious - you have to be a goose-stepping single-file Randroid to believe in them. You have to be trained and "principled." They're sympathetic to Ryan and defend him because he was the only one evil enough to propose such a dastardly plan. They wouldn't dare propose the same so they translate Ryan's ideologically engineered insanity as courage. I'm guessing here that Gingrich isn't one of them.

Union LeaderExcerpt:
He said Gingrich's occasional “off-the-cuff” comments are “a reflection of the off-the-cuff thinking that he goes through to deal with the issues and that is not what you want in the commander-in-chief.”

People want to hear the truth and they know the truth when they hear it. Gingrich spoke the truth when he called Ryan's proposals "right-wing social engineering." Everyone knows that. When a politician like Sununu thinks telling the truth is not what people want in a commander-in-chief, I highly doubt it. But that statement should give pause and further thought about the truthfulness of the GOP candidates Sununu did not direct that statement at. Sununu should back-fire in their faces.

The best part is Romney, Sununu and rest of the cast of Ryan defenders don't know what to do next. They were going to bombard Gingrich with more garbage and venom aimed at drawing a greater contrast between themselves and the former House Speaker. But the
latest report out of Politico shows somebody may have connected Newt's surge to his criticism of Ryan so Romney skipped several chances to attack Newt Gingrich on Friday — an abrupt change to his campaign’s aggressive approach to draw that contrast.

But this is funny. They’re trying to undermine Newt Gingrich, not that I care, but the fact that Gingrich has surged past Romney seems to have gotten their underwear all bunched up. THEY were the ones preparing to aggrandize themselves by resurrecting Paul Ryan's proposals, but now they're not so sure. Yet, they accuse Newt of self-aggrandizement because he derided Ryan's proposals.

In the meantime, Gingrich surges ahead. Beauuutiful.

Sidenote: The Janesville Gazette, Ryan's hometown newspaper, published a mainstream media version of this story in the local section of the print copy. As of this posting, they have not opened the article to the Web for open commenting. Are they worried about self-aggrandizing constituents or protecting their political endorsement?

Voting Since 1948, Senior Faces Major Hurdles Under Walker Voter ID

2011-12-09T00:05:00.000-06:00

In the video below, Keith Olbermann describes the major difficulties one senior in Wisconsin is facing in order for her to acquire the mandatory voter State ID card. Olbermann also reports that over 177,000 seniors in Wisconsin do not have the required Walker state ID to vote.

Watch it:

Walker Pledge To Norquist Combined With Class War Budget Will Devastate Wisconsin

2011-12-08T00:04:00.006-06:00

This has been on my radar for a few weeks since I developed a Reaffirmation Pledge to the Constitution for members of Congress to sign. I'm now working on a similar page for state governors and legislators to consider.

On the federal budget side, Norquist's ominous taxpayer pledge acts as a catalyst forcing Republicans in Congress to borrow for budget and spending needs instead of laying taxes to raise the revenue as prescribed in the U.S. Constitution. This has resulted in a long string of annual deficits eventually accumulating into a massive $15 trillion mountain of debt.

The Pledge to Norquist however has a slightly different effect on governors and state legislators since states cannot print money or operate continuously on borrowed debt. Instead, it forces those governors to raid any source of revenue under governor or state control.

An astute letter writer to the Leader Telegram recently picked up on Gov. Scott Walker's "we're broke" mantra and tied it into his pledge to Grover Norquist to justify decimating public services and public education.

Leader Telegram Letter Excerpt:
The beauty of this strategy is that it works. When public services are underfunded, the public is angry that services aren't provided and they demand further cuts or privatization. When public schools are underfunded, quality of education suffers and parents put their kids in private schools, which are now receiving taxpayer assistance through vouchers.

Meanwhile, Walker flies, at taxpayer expense, around the state touting his budget cuts while receiving his health care and pension on the taxpayers' dime. Occasionally, he lands in the state Capitol and signs into law legislation that funnels more government giveaways to his corporate cronies, while the poor schmucks teaching our kids and the snowplow driver clearing our streets are one budget cut away from losing their jobs. It's time to close the Norquistian bathroom door by recalling Walker.

E.W. from Eau Claire

So, what the Norquist Pledge means to Wisconsin to put it another way, is that any time Walker needs additional revenue for his WEDC slush fund, campaign contributors, ideological projects or any additional state spending, whether legitimate, emergency or otherwise, is that he will never have to raise that revenue the old-fashioned way by raising taxes. Norquist forbids it. Instead, he will loot education treasuries, anti-poverty programs and public employee's pensions and benefits just like he did the first time with his class war budget act, cut state aid to communities and then tell them they could fill their budget hole with unnegotiated-for (stolen) employee capital compensation (tools). This is also another reason why Walker applies for every dime from the federal government the state is eligible for - the federal government is just another source of revenue to raid in his view.

State budget dollar amounts will likely never be cut, instead they will grow from inflation and increased costs and made to balance using government service's funds and public employee wage and benefit compensation to refill the kitty. This means no program or employee is sacred unless deemed absolutely necessary to fulfill their ideological mission.

Locally, we will be be paying more because local school boards and municipalities wanting to maintain the same level of service will have to find the revenue Walker extracted from them OR make the choice for a controlled decline. Either way, the public will only grow angrier and local officials will be the bogeyman. This is the scheme in a nutshell.

The ramifications of Act 10 combined with Norquist's irresponsible and anti-constitutional pledge makes for a devastating weapon for unprincipled opponents to defeat. This I believe is the right-wing's ideological calculator designed to mismanage and destabilize government enough to drown it in a bath tub. While this is happening, an uninformed public will only grow angrier demanding more tax cuts, government vouchers and privatization.

This I believe could feed onto itself and bring the entire U.S. government down ushering in a long era of single-class serfdom and fascist-run capitalism.

Video: The Truth About Paul Ryan

2011-12-07T12:00:00.003-06:00

I consider this short video about Paul Ryan near the top for explaining how he wants the potential and future of the wage earning class to pay for all the spending and debt he borrowed for during his time in Congress. Simpy put, Ryan wants to punish the poor in the name of “upward mobility” for not being rich. Dick Cheney, who worships the ground Ryan walks on, once said, "deficits don't matter." The best part of course is there is a clear and solid alternative to this scourge. His name is Rob Zerban.

Watch it:

Please go to Rob Zerban for Congress to contribute and volunteer.

Former Janesville School Board Member Running For 44th State Assembly

2011-12-07T00:05:00.000-06:00

A former Janesville School Board member, Deb Kolste, announced her candidacy for the 44th District Assembly. This brings the number to three of locally well known and qualified candidates stepping up to challenge Republican Joe Knilans, the Walker rubber stamp currently occupying the district seat.

A current member of Janesville's School Board, Kevin Murray, was the first to throw his hat in the ring followed by Janesville City Council Member Yuri Rashkin. They are the other two democratic candidates now joined by Kolste.

Wisconsin Act 43 Assembly Redistricting Map.

Yuri Rashkin's State Assembly Facebook here.

Kevin Murray's Election Webpage unavailable.

Deb Kolste's Election Webpage unavailable.

Video: Obama, "Trickle-Down Hasn't Worked, Never Worked"

2011-12-06T22:27:00.000-06:00

Signature Collection in Janesville

2011-12-06T13:03:00.001-06:00

*SIGNATURE COLLECTION: Inside at Basics Food Co-op in the Community Room.
Tuesday 12/06: 4-8pm, 1711 Lodge Drive, Janesville (Behind Ground Round)

*ROCK FORWARD: EAT, DRINK, AND LIBERAL CONVERSATION for ALL of ROCK CO!
Wednesday 12/08: 6:30 Ground Round, 2753 Milton Avenue Janesville
No speakers. No agenda. Just fun! Come with your best Recall signing story!
AND...VOLUNTEER TO RECALL!

Janesville Gazette Checks Readers Letters With Politifact

2011-12-05T00:01:00.037-06:00

I really haven't been paying as much attention as I'd like to our area's local media monopoly, the Janesville Gazette. They were one of several reasons why I started this blog in the first place, but because of the serious threats our state and nation faces from the likes of Rep. Paul Ryan and Scott Walker, I've taken my eyes off of their little game. Besides, I thought I've seen it all about the Gazette and posted what needed to be posted here on my blog over the years. Well I was wrong.

Sunday, the Gazette posted an editorial titled, "Let's Pause Political Rhetoric For Civil Debate" where the the editor writes a story about the National Conference of Editorial Writers starting a Civility Project in an effort to raise the bar on political conversations.

The newspaper (editorial) eventually moves on to explain they're trying to do their part. For example...

Gazette Editorial:
... we won't run a letter from a Janesville woman who compared union protesters to murderous Mexican drug cartels.

If it was a signed letter from a genuine citizen entity in Janesville and did not contain obviously explicit language - why not publish it? That's her opinion. Besides, labor unions have heard it all so letters to newspaper editors won't change the temperature a whole lot.

I'm sure there was nothing new in the letter but the same old lies and smears anyways. But how about the time when their own endorsed Congressman Paul Ryan likened labor unions to Saddam's Hussein's strong-arm Ba'ath Party? Where was the Gazette's quest for civility then? What about the time during a radio interview when the toxic Ryan agreed with Glenn Beck's outrageous statement that "Progressives are a cancer?" How's that for poisoning the well of civil discourse? Or when the ever alarmist Ryan called the protest events in Madison, riots. Oh well, that's different I suppose, why he's a rising star.

But it gets better.

Gazette Editorial:
We wouldn't let another writer suggest Walker accepted a raise.

As we all know, Scott Walker's salary as governor is $7,000 more than the previous governor. Was it technically a raise? Well no, but it was an increase in the governor's annual salary at a time when Walker was cutting compensation for public employees and asked everyone to join him in his "Brown Bag" campaign. It's box wine for everyone!! Except himself of course.

The point is, Walker could have easily rejected the increase in salary by saying the state cannot afford it and that there is nothing to negotiate about it. You know, like he did with public employees. We're broke! Remember? But the fact that the editor rejected a signed letter from someone expressing their opinion without any apparent vulgarity or personal attack is an outrage. This is pure partisan censorship.

But it gets even better about why they rejected that particular citizen's letter.

Gazette Editorial:
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Politifact project debunked that argument, saying it's only a "raise" if you start at one rate and increase to another.

That's why!?? So the editor qualifies readers signed letters, statements and opinions with Politifact. Unbelievable!! But using their logic, I suppose when Walker increased state spending by $1.1 billion, it really wasn't an increase because Walker was not the governor of the previous budget. Walker's starting from a neutral baseline, huh?

Many of the Journal's Politifact editorials have been debunked by several different opinion sources enough times to change their name to PolitiFarce. Plus, they are little more than an opinion editorial themselves. But oh well, if Politifact says so, it must be true or whatever. Sunday funnies!

In the past, the Gazette rebutted reader's letters criticizing Paul Ryan's ideological budget manifestos by issuing an "editor's note" regurgitating Ryan's talking points from his roadmap plan. In a later blog post, the editor explained he thought it was appropriate to post Ryan’s policy statements "to balance the letter writer's right to express himself with our desire to provide accurate information and perspective." No kidding.

The "Civility" editorial continued on about two other PolitiFact statements as if those opinions were the ultimate and irrefutable truth. But the fact that Janesville Gazette editors reject signed letters from local readers by vetting the letter writer's opinions through Politifact is just too bizarre and downright funny. How do we write in cyberspeak? LOL!!

BUT, BUT while the newspaper is now doing Politifact vetting of signed letters from their readers, they have for over the past decade fueled up for twice-a-week bombing raids of random rants, slurs and anonymous hit jobs on public officials, Democrats, school teachers and labor unions and have recently ramped it up during the recall petition drive.

In the past two weeks alone, the Gazette published dozens of dubious individual statements in their anonymous "Sound Off" column about the Walker Recall. These called-in comments were running 5 to 1 against the Recall and were loaded with attacks of mindless, worthless grunts and gurgles against Democrats, Recall petitioners, protesters and anyone opposed to Scott Walker. You'd read worn-out garbage such as, "malcontents demand recalls," "greedy and selfish teachers, "Do these fanatics know," "Democrats belong to unions and they are bought and paid for by Socialist agendas," "don't let the unions intimidate you," "recall Walker means putting unions back in charge," and of course "Unions are not your friend," just to mention a few. The main point is, the Gazette has been running an anti-union marketing agenda and social incivility messaging campaign for years under the guise of anonymity and with zero PolitiFact vetting. The editors have also pompously claimed their newspaper product best reflects the area's political persuasion, when in truth it is exactly the opposite. But they're proud of it. They're professionals.

Lastly, the editor tries to smooth over their obvious authoritarian bias and partisanship by stating that no one, conservatives or liberals, has the fear and rhetoric market cornered. That's true, but why state the obvious unless you're looking for an excuse or equivalency to your own bias?

The truth is, the Janesville Gazette and the mainstream media at-large have had the incivility market cornered all to themselves and they are beginning to lose some of that control. Isn't it time their subscribers demand they practice what they preach? But you can bet they're going to keep their tools of incivility like the Gazette's anonymous "Sound Off" column no matter what, it's YOU who have to give up yours.

Related:

Bliss Com, True Colors

Janesville newspaper rips through Unions with anonymity

Newspaper's Anonymous Column: A place To Offend

If you haven't yet seen this, check out the latest episode of Civil Discourse Podomatic!

Think You're Just Another Pretty Face In a Big Crowd?

2011-12-03T21:43:00.000-06:00

Nice crowd. But do you think someone could get easily lost in it? Think Again.

Click the photo to load the gigapixal.com Web Page. Pick a face and zoom in. Make sure you have a back on your chair.

This photo was taken by Port Moody photographer Ronnie Miranda that appeared in Tri-City News (24-June).

Another Unholy Alliance With Paul Ryan. When Will Some Democrats Learn?

2011-12-02T00:01:00.003-06:00

Politico Excerpt:
It was a rare moment on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon when Reps. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) united to promote an initiative that they said proves that “we don’t always go at each other’s throats around here.”

In a joint TV interview, the odd couple on the House Budget Committee rallied support for the line-item veto legislation, which they had introduced earlier in the day.

President Obama on line-item veto, "I think there's not a President out there that wouldn't love to have it."

Of course! Heh, heh, heh.

This is eerily similar to the time when Russ Feingold teamed up with Paul "Progressives are a cancer" Ryan on the same legislation.

As far as I'm concerned, Paul Ryan was the kiss of death for Russ Feingold and given the heightened sensitivity to Wall Street sell-out politicians like Paul Ryan among the electorate, Chris Van Hollen sold out the 99% with this terrible, terrible move. We're watching.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm crazy about Feingold but that was one of two times in the past twelve years I was embarrassed by his position. Not a bad record, but if there's one thing about fundamental freedom-loving Wisconsinites and true blue Progressives, it's that we never blindly follow our champions when they steer off the path and we're not afraid to tell them that. The blog Down With Tyranny had harsh words for the Ryan/Van Hollen unholy alliance, I completely agree, and also noticed that Wisconsinites don't sell out our independence for a smile and a wink.

Down With tyranny Excerpt:
I always like a Democrat willing to stand up for the 99%-- even if that means standing up to the craven power structure inside of his own party. People in Wisconsin are pretty independent-minded.

Down With Tyranny was referring to Democratic candidate for the 1st congressional District of Wisconsin, Rob Zerban.

According to this article in the Janesville Gazette, Zerban doesn't feel comfortable with the line-item veto because he believes it is unconstitutional. That's good reason enough to oppose it.

But the political blogger at the newspaper poked and scolded Zerban on his position and suggested Zerban needs a refresher course in American Government & Politics.

The blogger implied Zerban's "unconstitutional" position was a poor reason to oppose the legislation since the bill must become law first and only afterwards then proceed through the judicial review process. But if I recall, the entire GOP caucus voted against Obama's Health Care Reform Act ...because ...they thought it to be unconstitutional. So, is Rob Zerban the only one not entitled to form an opinion against legislation because he thinks it might not pass constitutional muster? Is it okay for members of Congress to oppose legislation before it goes through the judicial process? You bet it's okay. Zerban was right to issue his opposition in that context. This attack on Zerban was totally uncalled for and without merit.

Rob Zerban is exactly the kind of thinking we need in Congress to stop the wholesale selling out of America. If you'd like to help Zerban's campaign, check out the Stop Paul Ryan ActBlue page - it's open 24/7.

I've written fairly extensively about the Janesville line-item veto in the past and, only with the assumption it is constitutional, find it to be an abhorrent expansion of executive powers that will politicize the pork barrel earmark process more than it already is - as if anyone thought THAT was more possible. Look no further than this legislation.

Older stuff on the line-item veto

March, 2009 - Line Item Veto a Trap For Obama

April, 2007 - If Bush Had The Janesville Veto

April, 2007 - Feingold/Ryan Veto Act Surrenders Purse

After Looting Communities, Walker Gives Away $4 Million Just for Asking

2011-12-01T00:02:00.005-06:00

Wisbusiness Excerpt:
Governor Scott Walker announced today that Spectrum Brands Holdings has received a $4,000,000 award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to maintain jobs at its corporate headquarters in the Madison area and make capital investments at its Wisconsin operations.

That's not quite exactly the real story here, at least not according to new media investigative sources.

The story about Spectrum Brands winning a $4 million dollar hand-out seems to revolve around the idea that Spectrum was gearing up to make about $40 million worth of capital investments in its Wisconsin operations and hire up to 60 persons to fill key positions at their Madison headquarters, all on their own. Which means that Scott Walker was either first left out of the "economic expansion" publicity loop, but was able to buy his way into "saving" jobs after the fact for a cool $4 million dollars OR handed out the money simply for the asking.

Blue Cheddar Excerpt:
When asked by a local radio reporter if the company had planned to leave, a Spectrum spokesman answered “No, not really.” They got the money because they asked for it. Jobs were not threatened. They were paid for promising to do what they had already planned to do. The WEDC press release gives details of the “award”: “This award has been provided to preserve jobs at Spectrum Brands headquarters as part of the company’s investment in its operations,” according to Paul Jadin, CEO of the WEDC. The terms of the award require Spectrum Brands to maintain up to 470 existing full-time [...]

At this point, that there are "conditions" to the forgivable loan award is irrelevant if not somewhat comical. But I don't blame Spectrum Brands at all for jumping at ridiculously easy money. This is the dawn of new era of reverse robin hood taxpayer funded ransom package entitlements where only the wealthiest "job creators" can qualify.

Audio: Sly Radio Show Excerpt

Sly in the Morning - Full Radio Show Audio

Democurmudgeon - Walker gives away $4 million for the heck of it

Blue Cheddar - 4 million? For what??

Checklist: Recall Petitioners Rights

2011-11-30T00:20:00.000-06:00

From One Wisconsin Now

Excerpt:
• You do not need a government-issued photo identification to circulate or sign a recall petition (but you will need a photo ID to vote in the next election).

• You do not need to be a registered voter to circulate or sign a recall petition.

• As long as you are a qualified elector in Wisconsin, you can sign a recall petition whether or not you have ever voted in Wisconsin.

Check out the full list of rights here.

Project: Random Person Creates New Pledge For Congress

2011-11-28T00:02:00.026-06:00

For the past two decades, many Senators and House members of the United States Congress have signed a pledge that intentionally ties the hands of legislative power, making it practically impossible for Congress to exercise full fiscal authority as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

This pledge, commonly known as the Taxpayer Protection Pledge (TPP), prevents Congress from meeting its fiscal obligation as prescribed in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. The signers of the TPP have in effect pledged to abandon their fiduciary responsibility to the Federal Government, and in doing so have guaranteed insufficient funds to pay the nation’s bills.

Instead of fulfilling this important fiscal obligation as prescribed in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the TPP has taken on the form of an ideological based conspiracy forcing the government to borrow from third party lenders and even hostile sources, driving us deeper into an unsustainable debt spiral which in turn has weakened our government's promise to keep its obligations and ability to perform, thus endangering the American people and our nation's future. Sadly, the consequences resulting from the signers action appear to be fully intentional.

Unlike the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, this New Pledge to the Constitution is not a got'cha document designed to trap lawmakers or to drown government in a bathtub. This reaffirmation is not about whether to borrow or spend, balanced budgets or lowering or increasing taxes. The multitude of issues surrounding those decisions are far too complex to address with a simple pledge or amendment.

Also, reaffirming and adhering to powers granted in the Constitution is not about partisan politics or social and economic philosophies, or ideological principles. But reaffirming your oath to office as outlined in Article VI - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths is an American hallmark of responsibility and patriotism our Founding Fathers recognized immediately and deemed absolutely necessary for its leaders to commit to in order for our nation to survive. This new pledge is not to constituents as the author of the TPP claims his to be, instead it's to the Constitution. It must be solemn and sincere and have no superior. In short, swearing allegiance to the U.S. Constitution is not a conspiracy.

I strongly believe that the signers of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge nullified orders of function set forth in the Constitution and broke their oath of office, and by doing so have committed an impeachable offense if not treasonous act. If you agree, contact your Senator and House Representative and ask them to clarify their oath and reaffirm the Constitutional Powers of Congress they were elected to exercise by sending them this petition for signing. Your help on this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
Louis Kaye, a real random person
(Not a lobbyist. Not a member of a political party or special interest group.)

Will your elected official sign this pledge?

I, _______________________, of the (______ district of the) state of _______________, with my Constituents as my witness, pledge that I will: ONE, reaffirm my Constitutional Oath of Office and abide to all duties and responsibilities as described there-in; TWO, that I will NEVER pledge or act to circumvent or obstruct constitutional powers of Congress including but not limited to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution; ”The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States and THREE, that no person, special interest, constituent or other, shall interfere, come above or between those powers of which I am duly elected and duty bound to exercise.

So help me God.

Original text published - November 16, 2011
Dedicated Web Page with sample opening letter.

Please send all signed petitions and responses to reaffirmationoath@gmail.com.

It's Bloody Friday For Wal-Mart Shoppers

2011-11-26T15:24:00.001-06:00

I'm amazed that they are cracking heads and using pepper spray on shoppers INSIDE the stores while outside the stores, shoppers are being robbed at gunpoint. Have we reached the point where police no longer serve the public but are instead protecting only the private registers of the wealthy?

Grandfather Roughed Up in Walmart *Language Warning*

Don't Let Republicans Tilt The Poll Workers

2011-11-25T00:48:00.004-06:00

I have to hand to Wisconsin Republicans, they've thought of just about everything under the Sun to rig the game and appear fully geared to neutralize Democratic majorities by diluting districts to steal elections from majority rule. Now, Republicans want to resurrect a little used state law that allows political parties to choose the poll workers. That's right.

WKOW Excerpt:
That law dates back to the 1970s, but Andrusz told 27 News she has never received a list from either political party since she started at the clerk's office ten years ago.

When we asked the Republican Party of Wisconsin why its choosing to submit names at this time, Spokesperson Nicole Larson responded in an emailed statement.

"In regard to the poll watchers, the Republican Party of Wisconsin is committed to a fair election process and we are in complete compliance with Government Accountability Board rules," the statement read.

Under those rules, if Republicans and Democrats both supplied names to a local municipality, election officials there would have to make sure the party which received the largest number of votes in the last presidential or gubernatorial election is entitled to one more inspector than the other party.

If the Democrats didn't supply a list of their own, the remaining workers would be appointed by local election officials.

That would be a mistake. Imagine having an army of trained Kathy Nickolauses, J.B. Van Hollens and David Prossers "poll workers" overseeing official polling places during the Recall Election. That would be the ultimate mockery of democracy in Wisconsin. Volunteers collecting signatures for the recall petitions deserve the assurance that their hard work was not in vain. I would prefer non-party officials at the polling places, but Democrats will have no recourse but to match them if the Republican party follows through on this outrageous plan.

Walker Ad Reality Checked

Giving Thanks This Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T00:34:00.000-06:00

I'm thankful that we have recalls in Wisconsin and that the people will have a chance to move forward and take back this great state. The more people learn about Scott Walker, the angrier they get. Obviously, there are a lot of reasons to be angry but many realize there's too much at stake to not get involved. People refuse to give up or move out and instead are standing up shoulder-to-shoulder and neighbor-to-neighbor, many coming out and getting involved for the first time to recall Scott Walker. It's phenomenal! I'm grateful to those wonderful people working the front lines in our struggle. God bless them and ours in this glorious effort to restore those high moral values we cherish in Wisconsin. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Fitzwalkerstan Pulling Down National Economy With Job Losses

2011-11-23T08:35:00.000-06:00

Wisconsin had the most October job losses of any state.

TMJ4 Excerpt:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates fell in three-quarters of U.S. states last month, a sign that many parts of the country are experiencing modest job gains.

Unemployment rates fell in 36 states in October and rose in only 5, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Rates were unchanged in 9 states. That's the best showing since April, when rates fell in 39 states.[...]Wisconsin reported the biggest job loss, a drop of 9,700, followed by New York, which shed 8,300.

We need to stop this madness and recall Walker.

Rewrite: Gazette Opinion Editor Writes Effectionately For Buying Local

2011-11-23T00:21:00.003-06:00

I couldn't let this blog entry by the Janesville Gazette "Opinion" editor get past me without setting their record straight.

Asking, "Will you be trying to “buy local” this holiday season," he writes inquisitively and with a fair level of effection about a promotion for shoppers to start buying local. He rehashes, it's the "Birth of a New Tradition!" "A conservative friend sent it" and "this piece originated from the tea party folks" and "It’s time to think outside the box, people!!" and asks, "What ideas would you suggest?"

Pretty harmless stuff, right?

Yeah. Except there's a big problem with this. When it comes to "local" ideas in Rock County, Wisconsin and encouraging people to buy local, few compare to our lil' former State Senator Judy Robson, and she ain't no Tea Party. But she was way ahead of her time on this.

See, in the recent past, the anti-social, anti-union Gazette regularly bashed and ridiculed Robson for her "too liberal" ideas, and when she proposed a "Buy Local" state-wide campaign back in 2007, they offered no kind or supportive words like, "thinking outside the box," or "hey, one of our local leaders proposed this common sense idea!" Not even close. As usual for the time, the Gazette editorial staff mocked and whipped the State Senator in their editorial for her buy local proposal. Yeah, she's a Democrat and a liberal I suppose was reason enough. But they're either brazen GOP-paid political propagandists masquerading as a legitimate newspaper ... or nuts. If you're a regular reader here, you'll know the answer to that one.

Unfortunately, I do not have excerpts of the newspaper's editorial from 2007 attacking Robson's "Buy Local" in my archives.

Super Committee Was Doomed To Fail

2011-11-22T00:23:00.003-06:00

Regardless of where you might stand on the lack of a deal from the Super Congress Committee, they were doomed to fail from the very start. Again, that might be a good thing depending on your view. Much has also been speculated on how Obama set this up to fail in order to gain some political capital and blame it on Republicans. I'd actually like to think that was true, that he gave them a taste of their own medicine. But I highly doubt it since Republicans chose their own six members to sit on the committee. They were the ones to set it up to fail. Here's why.

Immediately before all the members of the super committee were appointed, I recall Lawrence O'Donnell on his MSNBC Show suggesting that the only way the committee can operate as intended and negotiate in good faith with all the marbles on the table, was to make sure none of the appointees were Norquist pledge signers. Afterall, this was a debt commission and without the willingness to raise revenue to pay the bills there was no way a balanced deal could be reached.

Soon after O'Donnell's sharp observation, I wrote here that our worst fears have come true. All six Republicans appointed to the Super Congress Committee were pathetic Norquist pledgers.

On the flip side, it's worth to note how different the paid politicos and corporate talking heads viewed those chosen to serve on the committee. They predictably and laughably suggested the membership lineup on the super committee gave hope for a deal. Yeaaa rrright.

No doubt about it. For good or for bad, it was fated to happen. Republicans doomed it to fail.

Anti-American Norquist Unrepentant For Nation's Massive Debt

2011-11-21T00:06:00.004-06:00

Grover Norquist is the guy who collected signatures from many Republicans pledging that they will not vote to raise revenue under any circumstances. He brags that Republicans haven't voted for a income tax increase since 1990.

Believe me. We've noticed.

Politico Excerpt:
“The tax issue is the most powerful issue in American politics” Norquist said to Kroft.

Here I always thought our annual national deficits and snowballing debt was the most powerful issue in American politics.

Politico Excerpt:
“I intend to win. I intend to be part of the whole effort to crush the other team,” Norquist said.

There's something wonderfully compassionate, all inclusive and apple pie about a person wanting to crush the other team, idd'in it?

But don't worry Grover, you are not only a part of the whole effort to crush the U.S. Government and put our economic future in grave danger, you are easily ranked in the top of our nation's worst domestic enemies.

Although Dems tend to blame you for complicating the supercommittee's process, you would be little more than a unknown random person had not those foolishly misguided elected officials signed your idiotic pledge to abandon their fiscal responsibility as outlined in the U.S. Constitution. I blame them first. Without them making that leap, you would be nowhere and America for the past 20 years would have been raising the revenue and paying its bills without saddling our children and grandchildren with this huge mountain of debt. But you did it Grover and we will hold you and those traitors accountable.

You won't have to worry about that.

Video: Feingold Signs Petition

2011-11-20T00:02:00.000-06:00

A little more from the DailyKos.

JS Online - Recall Demonstration Photo Album

Palin Rips Millionaires In Congress For a Life Of Entrenched Corruption

2011-11-19T15:39:00.001-06:00

Mail Online News Excerpt:
Nearly half of Congress are millionaires - a status shared by only one per cent of Americans. According to a new study, at least 249 out of Congress’ 535 members are millionaires.

The analysis — released by the Center for Responsive Politics — is based on the average value of each lawmaker’s assets and liabilities, which members are required by law to report every year.

Granted, some members of Congress were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Others were millionaires in their own right before they were elected. But in a recent op-ed column in The Wall Street Journal, Sarah Palin took exception to those elected officials who arrived under modest means and now find themselves to be in the 1 percent. That is a select group.

NewsMax Excerpt:
“How do politicians who arrive in Washington, D.C. as men and women of modest means leave as millionaires?” Palin asks in her column. “How do they miraculously accumulate wealth at a rate faster than the rest of us? How do politicians’ stock portfolios outperform even the best hedge fund managers?”

Palin’s answer: “Politicians derive power from the authority of their office and their access to our tax dollars, and they use that power to enrich and shield themselves.”

Who pray tell would fit that description? Why none other than our very own Paul Ryan.

No question, when Paul Ryan arrived in Washington, D.C., he was considered a young man of modest means from a solid middle-class family from Janesville, Wisconsin. His earlier story at the time was that his mom was worried he would be a lifetime beach bum. Until age 18, he collected Social Security survivor's benefits, which he put away for college. Later, he started out working as a restaurant waiter and with insider connections, moved up to office staffer for politicians such as Sen. Sam Brownback before being elected in 1998. In 2004, Ryan pointed out that since entering Congress he has had no ties to a cousin's firm, Ryan Central Inc., a construction and earth-moving company headquartered in Janesville.

Yet according to the latest report on wealth in Congress from the Center For Responsive Politics, Paul Ryan is listed in the millionaires club with an average net worth of $2,068,050.

So how did Paul Ryan become a millionaire while collecting a government paycheck?

Well, at least Sarah Palin knows.

Center For Responsive Politics - Members of Congress Enjoy Robust Financial Status, Despite Nation's Sluggish Economic Recovery

Download the full list of disclosed wealth on all current members of Congress here.

Walker's Plan: Locals Save Millions, But Lose Thousands of Jobs

2011-11-18T00:01:00.007-06:00

Another month, thousands more jobs lost.

Money msn Excerpt:
The public sector, including federal, state and local governments, lost 400 jobs. Local governments reported lost 1,900 positions, the federal government in the state lost 300 jobs and state government added 1,800 jobs.

Wow. It couldn't be more clearer than this. Walker withheld hundreds of millions in state aid from local governments and kept the money for his own administration, forcing many local communities to cut hundreds of employees from their payrolls. However, with millions more shifted to Walker's moneybag, he was able to hire 1,800 at the state level while local taxpaying jurisdictions lost almost the same number, job-for-job and dollar-for-dollar. So we're still paying the same budget bill to keep Walker's state patronage army well funded while we have thousands more out of work paying into local general funds.

This can't last long.

In the meantime, you can bet Walker will swear local communities and school district budgets "saved" millions by using his scalpel cutting "tools."

Well THAT didn't take long. In this video, Walker is interviewed by Faux News serial liar Sean Hannity and talks about all the local jobs he saved in municipalities because ...they were going bankrupt.

Of some local interest here in Janesville, near the start of this video a Waukesha school board member (supposed to be non-partisan) appears in a political ad supporting Scott Walker. You might recall the dust-up that happened in Janesville when a city council member quietly and almost unnoticed, walked out of an auditorium dinner engagement when Walker walked on stage to speak. Some of the local GOP whackjobs including the Janesville Gazette and another (non-partisan?) city council member went bazooka over his departure from the dinner.

Obviously, the Janesville incident doesn't come close to the militant Waukesha school board hack appearing in and speaking in a full blown political campaign ad for Republican Scott Walker. But it's worth the irony.

Democurmudgeon - More on the Waukesha School Board Member Featured in Walker Ad

Man Who Ripped Up Recall Petition Could Face Felony Charge

2011-11-17T23:01:00.000-06:00

They got his vehicle plate number so it should be only a matter of time. But this is Fitzwalkerstan.

Channel 3000 Excerpt: Madison police said a man suspected of ripping up a petition to recall Gov. Scott Walker could face a felony charge.

Citizens soliciting recall signatures contacted Madison police about 10:30 a.m. Thursday after a man ripped up one of their petitions, according to the Madison Police Department.

Police said the citizens were holding signs and having vehicles pull over into a parking lane in the 800 block of Midvale Boulevard around 10 a.m. Thursday.

A driver in a red pickup truck was one of those who stopped. When the driver was given a petition to sign, he instead ripped up the document, police said.

Janesville - Sign and Drive Recall Petition Today

2011-11-17T11:37:00.002-06:00

4-8 PM * Sign and Drive Today! Labor Temple Parking lot.

Corner of Center Avenue (S. Hwy 51) & Joliet Street.

You may pull in and sign to RECALL WALKER & KLEEFISCH without getting out of your car!!!

Olbermann: NYC Mayor Bloomberg Becoming Accelerant For OWS

2011-11-17T00:01:00.001-06:00

Keith Olbermann said almost every American protest and historical movement for change had authority figures step in at the middle of the game and throw fuel on the simmering fires. This time, Olbermann suggests Mayor Bloomberg is it.

Rip Rap

2011-11-16T00:01:00.008-06:00

OccupyNYC Livestream

Ten Reasons The Occupy Movement Changes Everything

"Before the Occupy Wall Street movement, there was little discussion of the outsized power of Wall Street and the diminishing fortunes of the middle class... Occupy Wall Street changed that. In fact, it may represent the best hope in years that 'we the people' will step up to take on the critical challenges of our time. Here’s how the Occupy movement is already changing everything."

Ten Top Stories Of People Moving Their Money Out of Big Banks

Banks are shrugging off the 700,000 accounts they've lost the last six weeks and claim they don't want your business. That's right. 700,000 accounts is nothing to them. That's why we should aim to close out 2 million.

Check out the Top Ten Stories here.

Five reasons Why Veterans Are Part Of Occupy Wall Street

Story About Wisconsin Soldier Scott Olsen - Veterans Occupy Wall Street

When it comes to Women in the Workplace, Herman Cain Always Stood Up For Equal Opportunity Jobs

America Haters Bash OWS As UnAmerican

Businesses Got Every Favor and Incentive, It's Never Enough To Bring Back Jobs When Competing Against Devalued Currency

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Explains:

Dylan Ratigan's Take Money Out is teaming up with a group called United Republic, who noticed the same thing we all did – our government is bought.

12 Fish You Should Never Eat

Brave New Foundation Asks: Who are the Worst of the 1%. You decide. So far the Walton Family Tops the Charts Followed by The Koch Brothers.

Janesville Rally Planned For Walker Recall Kickoff

2011-11-14T00:01:00.003-06:00

PLEASE COME: JANESVILLE RALLY TO KICKOFF THE RECALL !!!

Tuesday, November 15 · 4:30pm - 7:30pm

Location IN FRONT OF ROCK COUNTY JOB CENTER
1900 CENTER AVENUE
JANESVILLE, WI

More Info Facebook

THE PEOPLE SPEAK!!!

WHY DO YOU WANT TO RECALL WALKER?

BRING FRIENDS!!!

6 PM VOLUNTEER TRAINING UAW HALL TO FOLLOW

Reminder

Potluck, Training and Brainstorming Scheduled for Today!

Odds and ends

Wisconsin State Journal Massive Recall Effort's Humble Start

Wichita - Walker Dodges Protesters In Kansas

Politiscoop - Tea Party Plans Premeditated Felony

Need a one-of-a-kind, locally hand knit Recall or Occupy cap?

Visit the SnB Warm Up Your Winter Sale at Basics, 1711 Lodge Drive, Janesville, Saturday (11/12 or 11/19) from 10-2 where you'll find these unique caps as well as other items including socks, hats, scarves, mittens, fingerless mitts, and more to keep you warm while you collect petition signatures. Thank you volunteers!!!! Facebook

Buffoon Congressman Walsh Shouts Down, Heckles Constituents

2011-11-11T00:01:00.002-06:00

The only difference between Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Reprobate) and our own Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Randroid) is presentation. The talking points and message are exactly the same.

In the video below, watch Walsh spew the same old nonsense about how government regulations and arm twisting caused the mortgage crisis meltdown. Question is: What is stopping Big Banks from lending to people today despite tremendous arm twisting from the government to do so? Same as it always was before ...

Later on, Walsh offered a phony apology (blamed his empty head on an empty stomach) for his moronic behavior but still sticks to his retarded political views.

Check out another view on Walsh's comments at the Democurmudgeon with additional supporting videos.

Catholics: Looking For a Christmas Gift Idea?

2011-11-10T00:10:00.007-06:00

Here's an old idea from Rep. Paul Ryan sure to be a hit today.

There’s nothing more Christian-like about a devout Roman Catholic celebrating that newborn baby laying in the manger than by snuggling up to a warm fireplace early Christmas morning and sharing precious moments from Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” with the entire family. You'll be able to discuss and enjoy such timeless passages like ...

"When one acts on pity against justice, it is the good whom one punishes for the sake of the evil; when one saves the guilty from suffering, it is the innocent whom one forces to suffer."
-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Ch. 6

and...

"I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."
-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 1

and...

By the grace of reality and the nature of life, man–every man– is an end in himself, he exists for his own sake, and the achievement of his own happiness is his highest moral purpose."
-Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Ch. 7

Reviews

About Jesus Christ and Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand and Jesus Don't Mix

Frum Forum - Rand Crashing The Tea party

"The reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand." - Cong. Paul Ryan,

Janesville City Council President Resigns After Altercation With Police

2011-11-09T13:42:00.000-06:00

George Brunner, former police chief and current president of the Janesville City Council resigned from his council post. Brunner was arrested Friday at his home on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after striking a police officer.

Read resignation statement here.

Ohio Voters Reject GOP's Class War Assault

2011-11-09T00:02:00.004-06:00

Woo - woo!

Ohio's collective bargaining law was resoundedly defeated Tuesday after the Koch-backed GOP-party campaign failed to derail the will of the people. The people have had enough! It's game on!

We know Ohio isn’t Wisconsin and Wisconsin isn’t Ohio, but the similarities abound when it comes to the ALEC written Koch-sponsored nation-wide budget scheme to fuel wage and benefit envy between everyday middle-class wage earners and taxpayers. Both states passed their class war budget bills on GOP party-line votes. The main difference is the people of each state decided to take different routes to solve what is basically the same problem.

Ohioans chose to repeal their budget law through referendum. We’re doing it by recall. Wisconsin state republicans and Scott Walker, like their counterparts in Ohio, balanced the state budget selectively on the backs of public employees. Instead of allowing them a seat at the table to help shore up the state's budget, they were attacked from behind with a baseball bat. Instead of dealing with his own state budget directly, Walker found his revenue by simply choosing to shortchange local governments millions of dollars in state aid and then giving those tax paying local communities "tools" to cannibalize their own to offset the difference.

Even worse, after balancing his budget on the backs of state employees and school teachers in a publicized "Brown Bag campaign," Walker took those savings and increased spending by $1.1 billion and later accepted a scheduled pay hike for himself without showing any sign of remorse.

The jig is up. It's Recall Walker Time - Onward Wisconsin!

Toledo Blade Excerpt:
With nearly 89 percent of the vote reporting, 61 percent of voters rejected Issue 2, the referendum on Senate Bill 5, compared to 39 percent who supported the law passed solely with Republican votes.

The "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" Bill

2011-11-08T00:13:00.001-06:00

A bill has passed both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature that would allow municipal governments and union employees to reopen and renegotiate contracts. Walker is expected to sign the budget flexibility bill.