He and Mike Tate have led the charge in reducing Wisconsin Democratic Party credibility to near zero. What an embarrassment to what was once a proud organization.

@Don Jacobs -

Dead on assessment! Those two have turned the DPW into nothing but a joke a divisive element of our great state!

@morninmist -

What do any of your postings on this board have to do with Walker and Thompson leading in the polls?

Are you just displaying the infamous liberal strategy of attempting to shift the discussion and change the issue when the facts don't suit your purposes, because all of us are already familiar with that one, so you really don't need to do it for our benefit.

I know that this will probably be a BIG change for you, but you may want to try actually reading the article associated with this board, and then making a comment in regards to what was actually covered by the article.

Hmmm…, then again, that might be too much, too soon. I think we need to try baby steps here. Maybe, if you just read the article and forget about commenting all together until you're able to comprehend that which is contained in the article. Only after you're able to do this should you even begin to think about commenting.

Just trying to help you out here!

Adding a link for the Repug thrash bar talk!

......During the conversation Ellis states "I know what you are doing and you're going to live with me long time after he is gone" in which Vos replies tersely "I know!". Who where they talking about? The soon to be recalled Scott Walker or does Walker have other plans? Then Ellis begins to pat Vos on the back, "I'm impressed with you and I respect you and I need you", Ellis continues on after some unintelligible audio to say "Your orders, my orders, Scott Walkers orders where effed up so we voted for a bill that we didn't like, or I didn't like". Vos responds "I know you didn't" with Ellis continuing "But we voted to get it through, then we scrapped it, but it's still languishing, but uh, Michelle Litchens is on board.

Vos replies "mmhmm", with Ellis continuing "So, you know why I'm not afraid? You are going to move on (Unintelligible)...and if you need to use the Democrats, use them" Robin Vos replies "I'm okay with that, but not everyone is okay with that". After that exchange you'll see in the video of Ellis talking about the year 1993 when he bullied a finance chair into doing what he wanted and gave Robin Vos advice about sending someone home. Vos can be seen shaking his head in affirmation......

http://politiscoop.com/us-politics/wisconsin-politics/692-wisconsin-senator-ellis-calls-school-a-sewer-exclusive-video.html

It is a shame that our state is wasting so much money on a recall. The state of Wisconsin has the best leadership it's had in many years. Governor Walker won office by doing exactly what he said he would do. It's just that many of our residents "can't handle the truth". Desperate times call for positive action which Governor Walker took as soon as he entered the statehouse. If we only had this type of leadership in Washington the nation would be much stronger and finacially better off.

Really STAY? And it turns out with good reason, because the poll is garbage, with fixed numbers and bad samples. The Marquette people even admit they fiddling with the figures on their "methodology" page.

Be sure to let the Unions know how much you are against out of state dollars being used to 'buy' Wisconsin votes. If you want to practice what you preach, perhaps you should abstain from voting for any candidate that is supported by these propaganda ads funded by out of state sources...

Bren,
If Walker was born in our state you would be OK with him? You guys keep reaching for one moronic issue after another.
We don't want or need you on the Walker bandwagon.

That poll must sting a little when you pee

The more time that passes the better Walker looks as it is working.

@Bren -

OK, now you've given us something upon which we can judge your consistency and alleged 'independent' nature.

So, which candidate did you vote for in 2010 that was NOT the recipient of out-of-state dollars? Same question regarding last spring's Supreme Court race.

You must have written-in someone in both circumstances, correct?

At least confirm this much for us and be honest about it. We're waiting to hear your response on this Bren!

Cow, Greg, Steve, Mr. Hoffa--I think you have missed my point. The pundits are saying that this recall election is going see some of the highest fundraising $$$ ever (thanks in good part to Citizens United). My heart yearns for in-state politics to remain in-state.

It doesn't matter where the money is coming from, it's being spent trying to sway our opinions one way or the other. Scott Walker's raised about $12m since his $2,500/plate NY luncheon and more is coming for certain. So it stands to reason the fundraising's going to escalate on both sides.

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but attack ads annoy me-Democratic or Republican. I'm insulted that anyone would think that I would just accept what I'm being told at face value. And I don't like being lied to. I'll do my own research, and vote my own way. There's my Independent Manifesto and I'm sticking to it.

Concerning Tommy Thompson, I just don't even know why he's throwing his hat in the senatorial ring. Friends near the Kickapoo River weren't fans of his crony construction projects. And there was no reason the Banking Commission could provide for Tommy to remove the cap on credit card interests rates except "now the competition can begin." Yes, who could lift them the highest and most quickly.

Yes, Democrats also fundraise, have cronies, and sponsor ads.

Bren:

It may have been easier to see your point if you actually presented the balanced criticism of out of state campaign funding that one would expect from a self proclaimed political independent like yourself...

@Bren -

As elaborated by CowDung, myself, and others here on Patch - we already know that you are definitely no independent, so why don't you drop it already. Your constant reminders to us about the Koch Bros or how Stephen Colbert says that 'truth has a liberal bias,' is clearly indicative of this. So why don't you just admit that your a lefty liberal Democrat already? Why you apparently have so much shame in doing so is simply beyond me.

BTW - Way to dodge my question to you. From your response, we all know that you voted for both Barrett and Kloppenburg, who both received out-of-state money the same as Walker, which makes you no better than those you were attempting to deride in your original post. You're nothing but a hypocrite Bren unless you were writing candidates in, which you obviously weren't doing because you couldn't stand to be one of the few counted in the often discarded 'scattering' column.

What good is having convictions and spouting them off here on Patch if you don't actually exercise them yourself?

@ steve, for you to make the comment about bren about peeing just goes to show the mentallity of the right wing conservatives! no respect for workers and women are just supposed to put up with your bullshit because your the big fat money man right?
if my daughter worked for you and you said some crap like that to her, i would beat the living hell out of you! women are not objects steve! i thought your side was supposed to have morals , but by your comments i see that your just hypocrytes!

Agreed BREN: And I'm sure this'll stun you, but if you look on Page 2 of the methodology, you'll find the people they asked were disproportionately conservative, from the Walker-supporting 262, old, and on landlines. For example, 76.4% of those who answered the phone were 45 or older, and over 40% were past 60, so Marquette had to change its numbers by changing the raw totals for both these groups, and the ones under 45. In addition, 77% of the respondees answered on their landlines, and the Marquette people only deflated that down to 73.2% weight. Now do you really believe that 3/4 of the people in Wisconsin answer their land line first, and talk to complete strangers? Well, maybe if they're shut-ins, elderly, or live way out in the sticks, but not most people with jobs, lives and interests in metro areas with size.

If 1 million people signed a paper to recall walker that blows ANY poll out of the water.

*******************

Not really. There's no relationship whatsoever, since you're not asking those who don't want him recalled to sign forms indicating their preference.

I just love the way you folks go all ape-poopy anytime anything pops up that suggests that there's a possibility that the election, where both sides get to weigh in, might not go in the direction you automatically assume it should - because you got a million signatures.

Fact: Walker received 1,128,159 votes in the 11/2/10 election.
Fact: There will not be over a milliion verified names on the recall petitions

Let's see, Walker was elected to do what he said.
He does what he said
And you are confused why poll after poll is in support of Walker?

If you believe 1 mil individual WI citizens signed a piece of paper I believe is Santa still

And yet, this "biased" Law School saw fit to hire the revered Russ Feingold to teach law at it's campus.......hmmmm........

Marquette has only produced one poll. This is their first shot as polling, granted LMK did most of the data collection, never the less it was Marquette that produced it. What other “polls” are you referring to? They have never had a poll before, minus internal student polls.

@JL -

And the alleged '1 million signatures' are not biased? Your conclusion is premised upon faulty logic, as pointed out by the others that have responded to your comment.

Don't the 1,128,159 votes majority that Walker received in the 2010 general election blow your alleged '1 million signatures' out of the water?

Start thinking for yourself before commenting instead of buying into Tate's and Zielinski's self-serving crap!

JL, with Walker winning in '10, and Prosser and Darling ( the highest profile recall contest) last year, of course, any poll that was correct leaned towards the Repubs. Duh!

You call it bias, I say the polls got it right. If being correct is showing bias, you have a strange set of standards !

Yes, and if Walker is so much loved why does he feel the need to raise so much money to fight the recall ? Does he think the Dems will try to buy the election and he needs to buy the people first ? Will dollars spent on television adds buy your vote ? Will signs and billboards buy your vote ? My vote is not for sale. And I'am sick of political adds.

Make sure you note the closing sentence of the USA article:
".... costly do-overs, permanent campaigns and endless elections are more than the state, or voters anywhere, should have to bear."

Looks like USA Today got it right!

@patchreader 123 -

Most interesting are the comments to both the piece you linked to as well as the opposing view, as 80% or more of those comments are actually pro-Walker! Given that USA Today in a national publication, this is most interesting indeed.

Obama had better watch out, as the conservative wave isn't over yet!

Bewildered, patch's link is an opinion piece...

USA TODAY= News porn

“…if each candidate has a 3.8 moe, then one could be up and the other down by 3.8 each, suggesting a 2×3.8 MOE for the DIFFERENCE between the two. The actual formula makes a result a little less than that because there are also other candidates or “don’t know” or undecided and taking them into account reduces the moe for a difference to a bit less than twice the moe for individual percentages. Most pollsters don’t report the MOE for a difference, no doubt because it is hard to explain. But I felt that since the Walker lead over the top 3 dems was just a bit inside the MOE it was important to point that out to clarify that while he led it wasn’t quite statistically significant. That was the last sentence of the 2nd paragraph of the release but hasn’t been much noticed.”

skinny. Whiners. Entitlements. Unions. Mob rule. Liberal Zombies. Union member.
More talking points. I form my own opinions.

I support the recall effort. I am not on "entitlements." I am not a union leader or member. I am not a liberal zombie (whatever that may be) or the leader of a mob.

Once again, I am familiar with Walker's unreasoned budgeting practices as CE and did not approve. I did not approve of many of his decisions as CE. My life takes me to the Courthouse at times and I appreciated the security provided by the county employees who were illegally fired and fortunately reinstated. I was not as comfortable with the private, Danish firm Wackenhut. Why were we contracting with a foreign firm. I did not vote for him for these reasons. That issue alone cost the county $750m+.

Now we learn that Walker's CE workers took a page from the George Walker Bush administration and created an independent email system to circumvent public record and facilitate partisan activities while on the job. It has yet to be learned if Walker was aware of the wireless router stationed 25 feet from his office. If he did not, it at least suggests that the man has a habit of surrounding himself with the wrong people (which I already surmised) and made me more glad I didn't vote for him. If he did know, I'm gladder still I didn't vote for him.

Bren unfortunately like most liberals you know what you are aagainst, but you don't know what you are for. I am for Walker . I agree with a Reform agenda. I hate to break it to you , but alot f teachers send emails about political activites via theyre school accounts . During School hours. Should they all be fired? If so we should check all those accounts for conspiring about skipping work for a rally. Etc...
I don't sweat the small stuff. I don't think you are a big thinker . Which is ok. Even a chess game has plenty of pawns. But someone must be smart enough to tackle real issues and make a viable budget. Its a big job and one that previous goVernor Doyle failed at WHILE illegally raided funds. You view is too get Walker .....and not to improve the state . That's a sad reality .My view was to vote the crook Doyle out and find someone who could improve the state. Stay small and angry and the Dems will always love you .

skinny, did you read my post?

The first point of interest is the Margin of Error (MoE). The margin of error for the overall poll is 3.8%, based on the sample size and respondents. What the  Journal Sentinel’s Craig Gilbert, and other media, failed to report is the difference in the margin of error for the head-to-head presumed Gubernatorial race. That MoE is higher – anywhere from 7.0% to 7.2%. This difference was cited in the Marquette University press release, but ignored by media and conservative pundits. According to Professor Franklin, as explained in an email to Badger Democracy, this detail is not uncommon, and leads to ”confusion” in poll reporting:

**LIKE** LOL ; )

haha
The other Scooter needs to campaign also.
Seems Sen Elis does not take too kindly to the Fitz's!

badgerfans4fair badgerfans4fairplay
@
@SpudLovr Quoth MIke Ellis at (1:10 of the video): "Those Fitzgeralds are the two biggest grifters." #truth #recallfitz #wiunion

scott? are you on a personal level with him? or are you just living in your own little fantasy?

Bren, I hope you can hear the standing ovation I am giving you. I know your outnumbered on this board but not in the state.

Perhaps he's saving for some expensive lawyers! I think Nate is extremely dellusional.

@Pamela -

It really is unfair all of the free media attention the left and the Dems have gotten out of their temper-tantrum. But Walker's resolve and unwillingness to lower himself to their level will prevail and end up carrying the day. I just can't wait to see what the Dems and the left will do next after losing once again - maybe a permanent exile to Illinois?

Actually it is the other way around. As more schools are able to take advantage of the Walker fixes, they TOO will save money. The districts whom found it a good idea to ratify contracts too soon are the ones suffering,

@ the donny
Did you look at the link I included with the long list of school districts with huge shortfalls next year?

Tell me how many ratified contracts too soon please.
That argument may have worked last budget year but not this upcoming one.

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/7126ec513f66440e67bfd72aa/files/Schools_Shortages.pdf

More pure partisan pap, moronmist. Schools have less money because tax collections in Wisconsin were down a total of $1.4 billion in 2009 and 2010. You have to lack critical thinking skills to believe the economic downturn of 2008-2009 was caused by "the policies of Governor Walker and legislative Republicans." At the same time tax revenues were falling former Governor Doyle and the democrats were burning through $3.4 billion in one time federal stimulus money and actually increasing state spending.

Tough budget decisions had to be made and without Walker's reforms school districts would have been forced to lay off teachers and cut even more. Do the low seniority teachers know how lucky they are? Your grasp on the fiscal realities is tentative at best.

morninmist, if education is and always has been a high value to Wisconsinites then why weren't the teachers in school teaching instead of being in Madison protesting and getting phony doctor excuses? Seems like thats not the kind of teaching we as parents are looking for.

Declining enrollment in public schools is an issue nationwide. Districts receive Fed funds based on enrollment. Charter schools draw funds away. In MPS for example, many parents can't afford to replace activities lost in schools. A new category of displaced workers is creating low-income situations even in affluent districts.

Students are entering the job market without the academic and social skills earlier generations did. (I can't speak for anyone else, but shared art and music experiences are the #1 and #2 ice breakers in social and employment encounters for me, closely followed by gardening, foreign travel and other. Without life experience, students lose competitiveness and potentially opportunity.)

Instead of drawing money away from public school education we should be finding ways to increase academic and life/cultural opportunities for children and youth. Not cutting $1.2 billion. It's a travesty.

"Instead of drawing money away from public school education we should be finding ways to increase academic and life/cultural opportunities for children and youth. Not cutting $1.2 billion. It's a travesty." (Bren)

We all can put our favorite institution in the same light. We need more resources (money) for X or Y or whatever. Yes I agree than we need to fund education, most could use some help. The question is what program would you cut to reallocate resources to Education? Bottom line is where do you go to get the cash you want to infuse into the education system? The reality of the situation is just like that of your own home, do I spend cash for a new car or do I spend that on repairs. Do I go out on the town or do I stay at home? Do I pay the rent or do I go out and party ( college student).
Here the choice was made to allocate those resources into other programs. You and I may not like that choice, but it was the choice made. Personally I would have cut the Badger Care program totally out first, but that would be my choice. You might have said cut the transportation budget and use it in Education instead. The only hard part of this is what do you cut? As governor it really does not matter what he cut, there is going to be a bus load of folks who don’t like that choice

$10-20 million buys a lot of books, badger care, and food stamps
Why do democrats hate the children, uninsured and poor?

Again, without a candidate selected. Hoff must wait and see, same as the rest of us!

I'll take a stab at it.

First the charges of cheating, naturally, then anything they can throw at the wall in the courts - attempts to force recounts, etc. Perhaps some job actions - I doubt the protesting will stop.

One thing is for sure. They won't accept this defeat (should it go that way) any more gracefully than they did last one. Not getting their way is not an acceptable option.

Bren, you must be looking at a diff poll than the rest of us. "without a candidate selected" you say. The MU poll clearly asks the question:w hich would you vote for: Walker vs a specific democrat ...vs Barrett, vs Falk or vs any of the other seven dwarfs.

@Bob -

I'm afraid that you're probably right, and once again their favorite target will be good 'ol Waukesha County and Kathy Nicholaus. Zielinski gets all wild eyed and giddy with joy every chance he has to throw her name out, even though the last time he did it he ended up with his foot in his mouth!

Bewildered, has the recall effort named a candidate to run against Walker yet? No.

The recall campaign does not "name a candidate." People have to decide to run for the spot and the voters decide.

@morninmist -
Yeah, let's take a look at both of those seats:

Randy Hopper. In 2008 he got 41,852 votes. In 2011 King got 28,188. Difference of 13,664.

Dan Kapanke. In 2008 he got 45,154. In 2011 Schilling got 33,192. Difference of 11,962.

In both cases, a significantly smaller electorate decided the winner in those recall elections vs the general election. If that's what your side means when they say 'this is what democracy looks like,' then all I can say is WOW. Apparently, according to the left, democracy = taking into account less voices when deciding the direction of government. And you're proud of that morninmist? WOW!!!

Not to mention that Kapanke's district is largely Democratic to begin with, has been trending that way for quiet some time even before the 2010 election, was inundated with out-of-state unionistas from Minnesota, and yet Kapanke still managed to give Schilling a pretty good run for her union dollar.

Hopper, despite having personal problems that even his own party and conservatives in general condemned, ran a very close race with King - far closer than it should have been considering everything that Hopper had going against him. Not a very comfortable victory in all honesty. If the Repubs would have pushed Hopper out and put up someone else, chances are that seat would still be red.

I'm sorry, I know that you guys don't like hard facts, so I'll stop and let you ponder the dose of reality I already served up on this point!

James, can you drill that down to 140 characters or less, including a hash-marked topic of your choosing?

If it ain't in a tweet, it's sheet.

@morninmist, thanks for that post. i saw the video of vos and ellis. there is definitaly some infight in the wisconsin gop! and , if vos and ellis felt that way, they should never have voted for act 10.

As regarding the polls, Walker vs. whoever, maybe we are waiting to see which Dem will win and then rally to their support. Kinda of like the rep. candidates for president our saying.

gus, save your breathe til after you file your wisconsin income tax! changes were made to the code by walker, and you'll all be sharing in that pain real soon!

Also we should be aware of WEA Trust screwing the school districts in other ways. The attorneys will be fighting for the taxpayor on this one.
http://www.menomoneefallsnow.com/news/falls-joins-action-against-wea-jl3u3e6-137990458.html

the maciver institute is nothing more then a sham supported by citezens united!

Welcome to Craig, scared low information right-wing voter...

When I say "his" I'm referring to Governor Walker. Yes I said Governor because I respect the office. It is deeply disturbing to me that many people refer to our President without addressing his title showing a lack of respect to that office.

john, thankyou for being a person who can think for himself! i have been saying the same thing for days now. and when they counter with the bull that walker overall created 13,500 jobs, they are counting many jobs that aren't even filled yet, and they are not counting any losses in the public sector due to the thousands that retired due to act 10 and weren't replaced!

I know it is hard for many of your entitlement personalities to accept but:
Respect is something that is earned.

You are correct, respect is something to be earned. Can you explain to me how Governor walker has earned respect while holding the office of governor which is supposed to represent ALL of the people in the state? He has represented a cross section of the state which aligns with his own beliefs and nothing more. That is not a leader. It is an exemplification of a puppet fueled by broader self interests.

here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J725eoxAYos

Nice. I like how you pulled the 6th grade move there. I rubber, you're glue!! hahahaha, that is so good.

brian, i actually agree with your wanting to cut waste in rusd, but i must say, it's the management that needs to be cut. way too much overhead there! but when you knock corey mason, you are just showing your partisened politics, and giving reason not to vote for you for school board!

brian, you were on the rusd board inthe past, why is it that rusd is over 2/3rds of the tax bills is racine? how is it that the county highway dept, sheriffs dept, and local municipalities can do more combined for 1/3rd then rusd can do with 2/3rds?
it's because of wasted by upper management and the board itself! unions are not the problem here!

Would that be the federal investigation that Walker himself called for? Amazing how many people seem to gloss over that fact when it suits them.

The timing of it is indeed questionable, if you are referring to the 18 months that Chisholm sat on this, only to "wrap it up" on the eve of the recall. This was an unheard of amount of time to string a john doe investigation along.

You guys must be pretty irritated at Chisholm for not holding out another few months to make it easier to fling unsubstantiated accusations right up to the election. Guess two years would have been a bit much for even him to stomach.

@terry, 18 months would have put that right in themiddle of the original campaign! scotty couldn't have that! and he knew that these people were blogging and campaigning on milwaukee counties dime! story isn't over yet!

Yea... the story pretty much is over. Not for those that are unhinged about Walker, of course, but for the average voter, he still holds the trump card that is so far uncontested even by Chisholm.

And that it was himself that called for the investigation. To those that don't have a horse in the race, that makes him look more honest, not less.

I've said this before, if you want to mount a successful recall of Walker, the negative approach is not going to get it done. You have to present an electable candidate, and sell the middle that you have a better plan. You sell me on how you will hold the line on taxes, spending, and put my friends and family back to work, and you will get my vote.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/10653-federal-workers-owe-1-billion-in-unpaid-taxes Since you brought up taxes check out the above link. Its about the lack of tax paying at the fed. level.

Zelda you moron, Walker was the one that put a stop to the FEW e-mails/posts that were made. If you had eyes you could find Barrett staff doing worse as we speak.

Yup, you sure broke a huge scandal about Marquette. Who woulda thunk MU was such a tea party, ultra right wing, conservative bastion. They sure hide it well. Thank goodness you're an expert on polling and figured out that MU rigged their poll. Oh course, why would MU care about their credibility to the public?

By the way, go Warriors!

@Bewildered
I did not break the story below--but the investigation is ongoing.

Darlene Winks is plea bargaining to get a light sentence. It will be very interesting to hear her testimonies.

Cheers.
.....................

gr8goldengirl gr8goldengirl
Wisconsin 'John Doe' Probe: What Did Walker Know? When Did He Know It? | The Nation #wirecall thenation.com/blog/165896/wi…
57 minutes ago

It's funny isn't it. How polls work, or the news, when the "cover" a story. If it is a poll that favors the left it is rock solid and devoid of bias. When it favors the right it is weak or fraudulent. The news, when they covered the protests at Madison, the numbers of people there kept climbing every news cast. When the support Walker event happened, the news est. the numbers at around 1000. A clear shot from a vantage point above the crowd showed those numbers a bit low. The people there actually numbered closer to 3500. I'm sure that is biased too. I know, I know, 3500 v. 60000-100000 people at madison isn't a contest, but it is doubtful that the Walker folks "were sick" and couldn't go to work just to attend the event. Maybe they should've found the doctors who wrote excuses for the teachers at Madison.
The polls are going to change time and time again. The commercials will be non-stop. Outside money will try to win the day. Bottom line though, it will be up to us to decide, and when Walker wins the recall, I look forward to having my TV back without the biased commercials.

Oh, now I get it. Anyone who has a diff. opinion than you is a paid right wing troll. Thx for sharing with us your brillant indepth wisdom. Kinda upset you left me off the list. If you only knew the thousands of dollars I get paid to spend all day, carefully reading ever post on Patch. I have been specificly assigned your account to comment on. Keep it up. I have a car payment due.

@jt
Seems you forgot widdle Bewildered. Its feelings are hurt.

I guess you can fool some of the people all of the time. Misty, did we forget our sense of humor when we woke up? I guess with all your dire and dour predictions of the future, you've forgotten how to have a little fun. By the way, in your reply post to me on MU poll validity , what does Winks have with my post? Maybe you should revert to your "tweet" style of communicating so people can actualy follow what you are trying to write.

I do it for free, I love chatting with such nice people.

Sorry John, or I mean jt. My opinion is my own (and I am sure the others you insulted would say the same). As a public employee like yourself I understand why you are afraid, the day may come where you will actually have to do a job for the pay. Sitting on your arse riding around in a plow trusck is not rocket science, so yeah you should be worried. Talk about an easy job to outsource ( if only we could send it to China )
Regarding Walker- time will tell. How many of your union pals are going to vote for him and not tell his brotherhood? THAT is not public record.
With the lack of snow this year, have you been laid off or have you bent a few shovel handles leaning on them?

Misty hasn't woke up. Misty has spent WAY too much time in the Magic Kingdom with Mr. Rogers.

craig, you sure talk a lot of crap for someone who knows nothing about my job. wasn't it you that told me you were disabled? i guess it's easy for you to talk about people sitting on their ass when you know a lot about that! just this morning i saw a story about a guy who fixes cell phones with his feet because he has no hands! now go get a damn job! it should be easy if walkers claims are true!

jt: Blow it out your ass you jerk.
FYI I have not taken a damn dime of entitlement money and am living off of my life savings, that is why I am concerned about taxes being wasted by wingnuts like you who get paid to do nothing. It has been 2 1/2 years since I earned an income. The cause of my health issue is likely from 20 years ago when I broke my neck and "toughed it out", causing permanent cord damage. I was self employed so I do not qualify for unemployment compensation.
As for me not knowing a real job, I worked in a foundry for 19 years before going into a consulting business prior to my illness.
Driving down the road with a damn salt shaker doesn't make you a working man, but I doubt you have the intelligence to understand that.

so craig, whats keeping you from consulting? you can obviously type! lots of holes in your story there craog!

If you ever grow a brain I'll 'splain it to you.

@jt....aka Johnboy:
Actually we both know that you never will grow any grey matter. But even if by some miracle you did...I don't take any assistance of any kind, so my early retirement is really NOYFB. Now if I was living on the back of the taxpayor, you might have a right to ask. That being said, you are living on the blood sweat and tears of the taxpayor.
They have a right to question your work ethic and benefit package, and speak out when they feel they are being screwed.

@craig. let me explain it for you! your a talker, i'm a doer.
you sit on your ass, i get things done!
you wouldn't have the skill set to be a public worker, fix watermains, sewers, buildings, heavy equipment, i do!

Seeing as you brought it up Mr. Doer, I know how watermains get fixed. 5 guys show up and look at the situation. Take coffe break. One guy determines where to dig. Take coffee break. One guy operates backhoe while the other 4 watch leaning an handles. Take coffee break. Another guy goes into the slop to drop sludge pump. Take one hour break while water is pumped. Next guy goes in hole and snaps off bad pipe. Break. New guy drops coupling into hole. Break. Coupling is installed while other 4 watch. Break until.... Truck arrives with gravel by ANOTHER guy to fill hole. All break while Bobcat operator thinks about how to grade hole. Break. Barricades are put up aroung hole. All 7 employees return to garage and punch out. 6 months later the gravel is patched with asphalt by another 7 guys. Yeah it takes a lot of skill to do so little work. And you have the balls to bitch about paying your fair share for benefits?
Just saying....you brought it up.

@Craig Haha! Awesome! You just said what thousands of others were thinking.

@wtf, so you think craig is funny ha. i dare you to go down in a muddy hole and fix a watermain in 0 degree weather! but oh, that's right, you think your above the working people in this state! so you wouldn't have the gonads!

jt: You just proved YOU never fixed a watermain. In zero degree temperatures the trench is the warmest place there is with the ground below the frostline at 55 degrees.
I guess when watermains break YOUR job is to make the coffee.
Boy if you had a REAL job, would you get a rude awakening.

@john -

I think you just got schooled by Craig!

@jt re: Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Actually, I've got this thing called a life that keeps cutting into my post count.

I couldn';t have said it better Brian. Have a nice day. Go Walker

He also said he is creating jobs, and has the WORST record of any state in the country. He combined state offices. stripped the staff to bare bones and made them much less efficient. He also said he was responsible and going to lift the cap on Family Crae; the truth is the Federal Government told him he had to lift the cap because he had overstepped his bounds. Yes Walker is reliable; myou can rely on him to screw things up every time.

@ Brian D

"As Governor, he has balanced the budget without raising taxes,"

Regarding your comment above--Walker is either lying to the people of WI or to the Federal Governament.
And yes, he DID raise taxes on the working poor. Do some research. I have already posted the needed information. Of course you can continue to LIE like your leader.

Brian Dey: 100% correct!
Only a single digit idiot would disagree with you.

Then I refresh the page and see Mourningmist's post....
I rest my case!

the jig is up, walker turned in his own staff who he knew were doing his dirty work.
he is like a snake that will turn on anyone to get what he wants . and now his fellow reps know it and they will help take him down. unrest because of contreversy is never good for the economy . and we need to get this contreversial governor out of there before he ruins the state, his own party, and wisconsin's image.
the only reason he ever got his foot in the door is because he took on ament who he knew was even more crooked then himself. and remember that line he used? i'll do the job for 1/2 the pay! well did he? maybe not when considering he had people campaigning for his run for governor on milwaukee counties dime.

Brian, Bruce Murphy broke the pension scandal, not Walker. What Walker did as a state legislator is push our incredibly expensive prison system and learn corruption at the feet of Scott Jensen and Tommy Thompson.

Walker simply got on the horse saddled by CRG when guess what, they threatened a recall over the scandal.

Keith, you're right. I read the Milwaukee Magazine story when the scandal hit and don't remember reading Scott Walker's name as whistle blower. I found a 2009 JSOnline article that provides a nice overview of the scandal's timeline and key players. It states Scott Walker had nothing to do with the pension scandal [either as participant or whistleblower].

Care to correct your post, Brian?

Post to JSOnline pension scandal article here: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/44156882.html

I take it you haven't read the report on MU's poll. All the"facts" are there. And if you, as you appear to claim, are such an expert on polls, you would know that the sample size is large enough to be statistically correct. Understand your " facts" before you attempt to discredit them.

You must be a Badger fan. Go Warriors.

The team is the Golden Eagles.

Keith, I'll give you the benifit you were just bringing me up to speed that MU is the Golden Eagles. Wouldn't want to accuse you of having NO idea what MU's longtime prior nickname was ( starts with W).. Would I ?

It's not that now.

Snappy comeback there, Keith.

“…if each candidate has a 3.8 moe, then one could be up and the other down by 3.8 each, suggesting a 2×3.8 MOE for the DIFFERENCE between the two. The actual formula makes a result a little less than that because there are also other candidates or “don’t know” or undecided and taking them into account reduces the moe for a difference to a bit less than twice the moe for individual percentages. Most pollsters don’t report the MOE for a difference, no doubt because it is hard to explain. But I felt that since the Walker lead over the top 3 dems was just a bit inside the MOE it was important to point that out to clarify that while he led it wasn’t quite statistically significant. That was the last sentence of the 2nd paragraph of the release but hasn’t been much noticed.”

@Bren -

You really want to talk head games? Your side is the champion of head games - union boycott threats, running to IL and not being clear about when you're coming back, death threats against Walker and Republican legislators, signs depicting conservative leaders as Hitler, blowing horns and banging drums when others with opposing views are trying to exercise their constitutional rights to speech, ... need I go on?

BTW - Par for the course that you watch Olbermann. I suppose he's a part of your so-called 'independent' sources of information, right? And Current TV in general definitely doesn't have a predisposed political leaning, does it? You may as well start watching RT as well - definitely no bias over there!

Ah yes, Bren the lefty liberal Democrat that parades as an independent. What a SHAM!!!

Mr. Hoffa. Someone with a fringe viewpoint makes a sign with Hitler and that's what gets the focus. What if the face of the pro-Walker movement became the Racine County Republican Party Treasurer who was documented trying to back his vanity-plated Lexus SUV into a group of signature collectors? Come on.

And thank you that it's par for the course that I watch Countdown (Olbermann was actually off that night). I also watch Hannity, other Fox programs, CNN, and all of the Sunday morning shows (thank god for DVR). I also read a number of newspapers in print and online-NYT, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Guardian U.K., etc. I take politics very seriously.

@Bren -

"What if the face of the pro-Walker movement became the Racine County Republican Party Treasurer who was documented trying to back his vanity-plated Lexus SUV into a group of signature collectors?"

Apparently, you've chosen to believe the recall signature collectors over the Treasurer, despite there being no independent unbiased corroboration to support either side's story of what actually went down. The Treasurer admitted that his actions weren't acceptable, but also made clear that at no time did he try and back anyone over with his vehicle.

A real independent, such as myself, wouldn't take a side in such a story until there was independent and unbiased corroboration. I pushed Patch on this, but those that could either confirm or deny what really happened were unwilling to speak about it for whatever reason. So, I can't believe either side on this issue. You see Bren, that's what a real independent does.

And there were several signs depicting Walker as Hitler or even worse - not just one. Just take a look at the names the recall people are calling Walker on this board, let alone the rest of Patch. Watch the videos of the protestors trying to shout down every one of Walker's speeches and what they are saying. Clearly, this kind of behavior is indicative of the movement as whole as opposed to a fringe element. That's the kind of conclusion an independent would make based on the sheer evidence.

Obviously, you are not very independent, are you Bren?

Mr. Hoffa, I googled the Racine incident and a host of blogs/citizen reports popped up. In your honor I share a link from your "favorite" website DailyKos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/30/1041200/-Walkers-Wisconsin:-Driver-Who-Attempts-to-Hit-Recallers-Might-Be-a-GOP-Official!-

According to the blog, Tom Bode was photo-documented (by a retired police officer?) and charges have been filed. That's documentation enough for me. So again. Is Tom Bode the face of the pro-Walker supporter? About as much as the guy with the Hitler sign represents the recall movement. People with issues take politics to the wrong place, like the guy who shot Gabby Giffords and murdered others, including a child.

So you're an independent? Guess we lean on opposite ends on this one!

If I hadn't had the dubious opportunity to personally observe Scott Walker and sit in on some of his budget antics while CE perhaps I wouldn't feel quite as strongly as I do about recalling him.

@Bren -

True independents would not take sides premised on clearly biased blogs and inconclusive photos. I can take pictures of a car littered with liberal bumper stickers, post them online, and then claim that the driver tried to run me over - would you believe it? I guess you would, because no where in any of the 'sources' of information surrounding this incident do I see a photo of the car actually trying to run someone down, do you? Also, if the evidence was so conclusive to one side vs the other, then don't you think that the county DA's office would have been pursuing attempted vehicular manslaughter charges by now? Or the cop would have at least filed civil assault charges against Bode, right? Funny, but neither of those things show up on CCAP? Hmmm… I guess their computer systems must be broken, right?

Come on Bren - if you're really an independent, then start using your noggin and perform a better analysis other than to rely on photos posted on biased blogs!

In fact, I'm pretty sure that it was JoAnne Kloppenburg that tried running me down in her mother's Buick. I'll have some photos along with conservative witness testimony that I'll post on a conservative blog later, cause then you'll actually believe it!

Honestly Bren, give us a break!

And a few tweets that went with that lovely bar talk.

Badgitator Isaac Carmichael
Drunken Ellis, Vos, Harsdorf & Glen "El Slobo" Grothman babble abt how they hate Walker, Fitz, students youtu.be/FqnpUAfirg8 #wigop #wiunion

Drunken Ellis, Vos, Harsdorf & "El Slobo" Grothman babble how they hate Walker, Fitz, students youtu.be/FqnpUAfirg8 #wigop

Coginwi C Right
In vino veritas -- Bar Talk from Ellis and Vos! - Exclusive Video politiscoop.com/us-politics/wi… via @PolitiScoop #wiunion #wearewi #wirecall #wivote

@badgerfans4fair badgerfans4fairplay
WI Senate Pres. Mike Ellis: "These Fitzgeralds are the two biggest grifters." 1:12 mark of video @ politiscoop.com/us-politics/wi… #wiunion #wirecall
scottwalkerwtch scottwalkerwatch
This video is going to the media. Calling the Fitz Brothers Grifters! LOL! Grothman/Vos... youtu.be/FqnpUAfirg8 #wiunion #wirecall

@Thurston Howell III -

And what hypocrisy have I displayed exactly? Free speech, in case you didn't realize, is limited to time, place, and manner restrictions. Who's side was it that just recently snuck into a private rally and tried to uncoil a 'Recall Walker' banner when they were specifically asked not to do such things? I'll give you a hint - it wasn't Walker supporters. And what's so wrong with keeping signs out of the Assembly gallery? There's a time and place for them, and it's not in the gallery. It's not like only anti-conservative signs are banned from the gallery, but rather every sign regardless of the stance it's abdicating.

Try again.

Uber-conservative university? Is that where uber-conservative Russ Fiengold works?
It's a poll, one of many. Don't get so bent over a poll, wait until you lose the recall.

Yeah, you can argue that Marquette runs the range, from Daniel McQuire to John MacMadman. But you cannot deny that Charles Franklin, the professor who ran the poll, is on the Bradley Foundation payroll.

Ah yes, more divisive rhetoric and false rumor mongering from Keith Schmitz. Way to stay true to your mo Schmitz!

Ah yes, listen to the lemmings repeating every word of their self-declared leader - one voice but many faces. I believe the traditional definition of this kind of following is a 'cult,' or 'dictatorship.'

Again Thurston, time, place, and manner. Their constant shouting and banging on drums is disturbing the peace of other taxpayers that would actually like to enjoy a trip to their Capitol without all of the shenanigans. Aren't those taxpayers just as entitled to a peaceful experience at their Capitol as your side is to a chaotic experience?

Ah, but you guys on the left don't recognize other's rights when they don't line up with your agenda or point of view. That's pretty selfish of you and the rest of the lemmings, don't you think Thurston?

Try again.

Ah, but you guys on the left don't recognize other's rights when they don't line up with your agenda or point of view? Are you serious? Sounds like what happened a year ago...

@John Feia -

And what exactly are you referring to that happened a year ago?

Maybe Governor Walker's total disdain for the rights of the many people who spoke up with a message that didn't line up with his agenda.

@John Fiea -

What rights did Governor Walker deprive anyone of exactly? Sorry, but you live in a democratic republic. You have a right to have your voice heard, which you've successfully accomplished for almost a year now, but the majority voted for Walker and they have a right to see him make good on and deliver the platform he campaigned on, of which he's doing a pretty darn good job of thus far.

I'm sorry that you don't like what he's doing, but a majority do, and that's the way our government is setup to work. If you don't like it, you're free to move someplace else, as no one is forcing you to stay here, are they?

The government is also set up to allow for the people in Wisconsin to recall their elected officials if they feel that an elected official has not served them. They have to follow certain protocols as specified by law. This has been accomplished. Why are you so averse to the application of the law with this recall?

Could it be because it doesn't align with your political agenda?

@John Feia -

When did I ever say that I was "averse to the application of the law with this recall"? I never did. Apparently, you like putting words in people's mouth just to suit your political ideologies and agendas, don't you?

In fact, I welcome this recall as quickly as possible - bring it on. I only ask that when you guys lose and Walker is safely re-elected that you guys respect the majority's decision and knock off all of the shenanigans that are dividing the state. I realize that's a pipe dream on my part, but really, when will you guys finally grow up?

Wisconsin found 47% of likely voters label themselves a conservative, compared to 20% for liberal and 33% for moderate.

More like self-identified. When it comes down to questions on individual issues, people come out being more progressive than they think. For example, an overwhelming number of people would rather see upper income tax increases over budget cuts.

Smart people these Americans.

@racine progressive, don't forget walker is also getting rid of the eic or earned income credit on wisconsin income taxes! there will be a lot of folks singing a different tune when they figure that one out!

jt

Also Walker increased taxes by dramatically cutting on the Homestead Credit deductions. Many folks depended on that deduction for a refund.

Shame on Walker and the TeaGOP for doing that!

Progressive & jt & mist - Don't forget Walker took away DDFR. What a horrible thing to do especially in a time like this. The DDFR was the gold standard for years taking it away shows how sick of a man he truly is.

Taking away Democrat Donor Free Ride was my last straw. Shame shame shame

http://www.revenue.wi.gov/taxpro/fact/eic.pdf
Don't fall for statements that are blatantly wrong- propaganda!

http://www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/ise/home.html
Homestead Credit facts here.
Prior post was for EIC.
Again, we have posts made by people who don't know the facts, but claim to know everything. Even after proving them wrong they still speak the union propaganda. (wonder if they think we are that stupid, or if they are stupid enough to believe everything they hear from unionistas)

read it and weep craig!http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/article/2011/dec/12/inside-walker-tax-debate-ws-budget-increase-or-cut/

jt or John or whoever you might be at the moment:
I trust the State of Wisconsin's tax site much more than a propaganda site.
If you notice I used the Dept of Revenue site. I highly doubt that is false information, as it is what you will use when doing your taxes.

jt, I think you owe everyone here on this thread an expaination. Were you lying or mistaken when you wrote "don't forget walker is getting rid of the eic or earned income credit on wisconsin income taxes"...?
Either you are a liar or stupid, I am guessing on the latter. (based on previous statements you have had to be schooled on)

i have also talked to many republcans who signed. walker is owned by the dying tea party. those are the words coming straight from the republicans i've talked to.

good question GD!

Do less drugs GD, or at least less when on those leftie sites.

@Thurston Howell III -

"Rated G for God I hate these ( Blankety Blank ... I think she means YOU! )"

Wow, your 'lemming friends' are so intelligent, self-composed, and mature, aren't they?

Apparently, their argument is that it's OK for them to disrespect other's rights because in doing so, they're serving a noble purpose. There's only one problem with that - a majority of the people in the state don't see things the way they do, otherwise Barrett would be the Governor right now, and not Walker, right?

In fact, you guys declared the Kloppenburg v Prosser election and last summer's attempted senate flip a 'referendum' on Walker and his policies - and you guys lost on both of those 'referendums,' remember?

By attempting to constantly subvert the will of the majority, you guys are clearly being nothing but selfish. But by all means, please continue on with your temper-tantrum. The more you guys kick, scream, disrupt, bang on drums, and blow horns, the more people are starting to realize the reality of the situation, thus accounting for Walker's upward trend and momentum.

So please, thank your friends for me from the bottom of my heart, will you?

BTW - I guess one of the contrasts between our sides is that conservatives love, while liberals hate, as was made abundantly clear by your 'lemming friend' at the Capitol.

Cheers!

keep dreaming and hoping for a corrupt process mike. won't happen. the recall goes on! that's why walker is out selling his soul for campaign money right now!

I think it would be grand if we did not have to have a recall and instead Scooter gets handcuffs.

DefeatVos DefeatVos
Questions about the Scott Walker John Doe investigation are piling up faster than he can weasel-word answers. #wiunion

There really is little point arguing about the recall signatures; there’s too many and the recall election will take place. And then again, given the ongoing investigations into Walker’s staff while he was running Milwaukee County, a recall might be beside the point. Walker could be in jail and the conversation will have moved on.

Andrew Martin
9:12 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012

There really is little point arguing about the recall signatures; there’s too many and the recall election will take place. And then again, given the ongoing investigations into Walker’s staff while he was running Milwaukee County, a recall might be beside the point. Walker could be in jail and the conversation will have moved on.

I really don’t think anyone can argue the recall is valid and the union organizers have done their job. We will have a recall, the issue I have is the reason for the recall. And secondly what the outcome will be is all but academic.
Even if the democrats get all the seats they still will not have control over the legislative branch. As such nothing will change. I suppose one could argue gridlock could be a good thing. In any case it will all have to wait until the next election to have any meaningful change.
As a side note we could be in a perpetual annual election cycle!!!

if some guy publicly said on the news that he signed 80 times, he should have been arraested for tampering, and that would meen that he was from your side

Ever stop and think how ridiculous that charge of the 80 signatures is? Someone would have to sign and seek out a new petitioner, which could take up to an hour, meaning that some nut on a quest would be wasting from 40 to 80 hours, not to mention the gas.

If you believe this fanciful idea bear in mind that the recall campaign was looking for dupe signatures. In all 72 counties the primary effort was to make sure we were submitting petitions that were as clean as they could be. I know of people who were called in four times to fix inadvertent errors on the petition sheets.

@Keith Schmitz -

"I know of people who were called in four times to fix inadvertent errors on the petition sheets."

So, all the forgery's looked too much alike so you had to redo them so that they at least looked convincing. Very interesting indeed!

Thank you for pulling up the testimony. OMG I hadn't seen it before. Every WI citizen should watch this Utube video that shows an election tape from Waukesha County with the wrong date on it and no one could explain it. Not only that the poll observers did not have a chance to look at everything like they had a chance to do in Milwaukee. The voting machines they use are from Accenture, the same company that screwed up the voting list in Florida during the 2000 election. They've since conveniently changed their name. Have you been keeping up with Judge Gableman's refusal to recuse himself in cases? He has a history of this as well as Judge Ziegler who didn't recuse herself in a case involving her husband's bank. Had Kloppenberg won the election, Republican plans for the takeover would have been in the toilet. With the Prosser win they have complete power - the governor, both houses, the supreme court and attorney general. They have been such good stewards of our state, haven't they? Well, two more arrests of Walker cronies this week. Walker - they're getting closer...

@Thurston -

Funny how you guys were so concerned about Waukesha County, which brought the scrutiny of a GAB investigation that completely cleared Waukesha County of any kind of fraud.

What was never investigated were all of the irregularities such as undated election forms, a disproportionate number of votes received for only the Supreme Court race despite a hotly contested local election for mayor in Madison, and the un-signed by poll worker ballot bags that were found wide open in Dane County, but you guys apparently had no problems with that kind of 'election fraud,' did you?

Nice try, but seriously, can't you come up with anything better?

@morninmist -

Levie is a lackey for government fiscal irresponsibility and selfish and self-serving special interests!

Apparently, this guy has a problem with keeping politics out of his professional life. And the public schools are no place for political/ideological indoctrination tactics by unprofessional teachers such as Levie. By virtue of his position, Levie was representing RUSD on that stage, and instead of bringing dignity and honor to the district, he brought disgrace. Honestly, what parent would feel comfortable allowing this guy to teach their children after this little stunt?

A true professional would have realized that Ryan was there representing the Congressional Office, and not his own personal ideologies and politics. Obviously, Levie is nothing but an unprofessional hack and has no business teaching in our public schools.

Because he couldn't keep politics out of it, he should have been awarded with a pink slip!

Mornimist I saw that story too. Paul Ryan is a hypocrite.

How many unions are in this state ? How many members ? The way you people talk union membership is about 3/1 over the other state residents. Didn't I hear somewhere that union membership across the country was only about 6-7 percent ? So all the bad union scum are concentrated in Wisconsin ? Get Real.

Walker's buddy was 25 ft down the hall from him while all this was going on.

http://uppitywis.org/blogarticle/walker-ally-county-board-compares-scandal-watergate

Walker ally on county board compares scandal to Watergate

Sat, 01/28/2012
WITI-TV, Milwaukee's Fox6 news, reports:

Milwaukee County Supervisor Mark Borkowski (pictured) has at times, considered himself an ally of Scott Walker. They often voted together on conservative issues when Walker was the Milwaukee County Executive.

But Borkowski says he is extremely disappointed with the latest allegations of two more Milwaukee County staff members, all in Walker’s cabinet, being accused of working on his or other campaigns, while also working on taxpayer dime.

Borkowski says, “When you start putting in a different communications line with the sole purpose that the public doesn’t know what’s going on, I’m sorry but this is very Watergate like.”

Full story and video here.

@Thurston & morninmist -

It's you guys that are causing the divisiveness, just in case you didn't realize it. When Doyle was illegally raiding funds, spending borrowed federal dollars like it was going out of style, and raising taxes, did you see a bunch of conservatives occupying the Capitol, banging on drums, blowing on horns, threatening boycotts, making death threats against the Governor and Dem legislators, kicking, screaming, and crying, etc?

I'll answer that one for you, as I don't want you to work your brains too hard - NO!

However, that's exactly what you guys have been doing ever since Walker took office. So I ask, in all honesty, who's side is being divisive here?

Unless the message you're trying to send is that you won't be content unless and until you get your way, which means that we can expect more selfish behavior, antics, and shenanigans from you guys throughout the remaining three years of Walker's term and probably even all throughout his re-election.

Is the new liberal mantra the majority be damned?

BTW - Apparently 1.2M+ votes didn't send a loud enough message to you guys, did it? So what makes your 1M signatures so much more important than 1.2M+ cast votes?

If indeed he did all of that---and you just sat on your duffs--then shame on YOU and other conservatives. But there is hope for you--your group learned how to do the SHAME chant last weekend at your rally.
Yes, there is hope.

Cheers.

..........
James R Hoffa

12:42 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012

@Thurston & morninmist -

It's you guys that are causing the divisiveness, just in case you didn't realize it. When Doyle was illegally raiding funds, spending borrowed federal dollars like it was going out of style, and raising taxes, did you see a bunch of conservatives occupying the Capitol, banging on drums, blowing on horns, threatening boycotts, making death threats against the Governor and Dem legislators, kicking, screaming, and crying, etc?

I'll answer that one for you, as I don't want you to work your brains too hard - NO!.

@morninmist -

Everything Doyle did was legal, except for the fund raids, which we challenged in court and won. Just like everything Walker is doing is legal - and need I remind that you guys lost your court challenge.

Fact was a majority elected Doyle and you guys apparently liked what he was doing, so the conservatives respected our system of government and your guy's turn to run the show. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for what your side is presently doing, can it?

BTW - When our side was saying SHAME, SHAME, SHAME, it was for unlawful activity that some of your side's protestors had committed in trespassing at a private event. Your side does the SHAME chant at completely lawful activity. Big difference. Not to mention that it's your side that apparently likes to dump beers on lawmaker's heads, thus committing a misdemeanor assault on a public official.

Show me one conservative that's assaulted a Democratic lawmaker. Oh that's right, you can't because we don't act that way. Get the point?

At some point we will have to elect him President. At least we get him for at least another 4 1/2 years.

Is this about Doyle or Walker ? Whenever you right wingers get stumped for something to say you always yell, " Doyle or Thompson did it too". This isn't about them.

Elect Walker President? If you mean president of his cell block, you might be right.

What makes you think that?

I, I just don't know what to say. I think "if Jesus was still around" says a lot about the political beliefs of "the silent majority".

Well, since you brought it up....the right wingers seem be the least tolerant and least like Jesus I have ever seen. They seem to ignore Jesus' teachings about helping the sick and poor. Remember the "eye of the needle" parable and compare it to the policies of Republicans. Their every legislative move over the past 50 years has helped the very very rich and left the middle class and poor to struggle. BTW, I can't really see Jesus packing a loaded concealed pistol either. What would Jesus say to cutting off thousands of poor children off Badgercare? What would Jesus say about capping state funding for the elderly until someone dies? What would Jesus say about a governor whose top aids are getting arrested for illegal activities? What would he say about cutting one billion dollars from schools? What would he say about the governor of Pennsylvania cutting public school funding so drastically that teachers are working for free? He would have a lot to say about the teachers though and make is a current parable. I bet that if Jesus was walking here now, he would be in the homes of those hurting the most, walking with people who are seeking to bring justice to those without power and kicking over the Walker's money tables.

i don't think jesus would!

Thank you Diva, enjoy your retirement, you deserve it!!! This whole recall situation is a legal process instituted by legislators who felt the option necessary. Let's let it happen and see what the results are. It does show that the people do still have a voice!

Instead of spewing snark you should be praying Walker's reforms are not overturned. If big labor turns Wisconsin into a socialist paradise and chases out its most successful companies and people we could end up going the way of Rhode Island where they were recently compelled to cut benefits for current retiree's. Things are so bad there aren't enough evil rich folk to tax the bejesus out of and continue paying exorbitant benefits. Enjoy it while it lasts.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/business/pension-deal-in-rhode-island-could-set-a-trend.html?pagewanted=all

Turning $3 billion deficits into $300 million surpluses (using the government standard "cash accounting" method for you quibblers) is not sustainable? So what you want is a return to the budget gimmicks of the Doyle administration including illegal raids on the medical malpractice and transportation funds, massive tax increases and more spending on things like domestic partner benefits and therapists for prisoners?

Old Cue-ball (have you seen him?) used cash from the highway fund for his liberal spending initiatives and replaced it with bonds to be paid back (principal and interest) by future taxpayers adding to the states $3 billion long term structural deficit.

Those are exactly the kind of irresponsible fiscal manipulations a majority of taxpayers rejected in 2010 and will vote against this year. It must be very troubling to you that Walker's reforms are actually working.

Adam, there was no $3 billion deficit. Every governor by law has to balance the budget.

It's all on how you do it. Other governors preferred to not do it on the backs of public employees, the poor, disabled and other dependents. How did someone put it? The least among us?

Walker has also done it on long term debt and a house of cards, which will tumble this year when the chickens come home to roost in the form of no federal subsidies, reserve funds or public employee give backs, plus sagging tax revenues because his economic policies just happen to suck.

Where in the world you have this faith in Walker's ability (or lack of it) to figure this out. What precedent would lead you to believe that.

Walker's "fix" is the economic equivalent of eating a bunch of Hersey bars. Nice buzz for sure but the come down will be a bitch, as it will be for all of you when the people if Wisconsin rise up against this corrupt incompetent.

Nice, I'm sure there's no crime in Wisconsin either because it's illegal. Before the 2010 election made the budget deficit a political football it was estimated at $2.7 billion.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/102748564.html

So did Walker balance the budget by cutting spending or creating new debt? A link proving the latter would be interesting. It almost sounds like you don't think he's cut spending enough (or is it that taxes are just too low?)

How is "no federal subsidies" a Walker chicken coming home to roost; are you talking about the choo-choo? You blame Governor Walker who has been in office 1 year for low tax revenues resulting from his economic policies; do you blame former Governor Doyle for the $6.6 billion shortfall in 2008 and the 161,000 jobs lost between 2008 and 2010?

Always happy to educate.

The subsidies were going to municipal governments and school boards. Funny, the President that many of you hate so much is making Walker look so good is only to lead to his downfall because Congress is cutting off the money.

As a matter of fact the number of new jobs were going up after Walker took office and did so until his budget went in to effect. Then they went the opposite direction.

What was happening to Doyle was happening all across the country. The problem for Walker, and us, is that the rest of the country is seeing jobs rise but not here in Wisconsin. Our state right now ranks 47th in job creation. Doing a heck of a job Scotty.

Choo choo? What are you? Three years old?

The education has been underwhelming so far Keith. Wisconsin got over $2 billion in one time stimulus funds from the feds to stimulate government at all levels and now that money is gone. How is that Scott Walker's fault or the "chickens coming home to roost?" It does explain the 11,500 drop in public sector employment among city, county and state employees in September, 2011.

After 1 year in office Walker has created 13,500 net private sector jobs which includes (wrongly) backing out those 11,500 public sector job losses that actually help the state in the long run. The unemployment rate in Wisconsin is 7.1 percent vs 8.5 percent nationally. Show me a credible, specific link (not some cut n' paste from the Puffington Host) that shows Wisconsin was 47th in job creation last year.

Good thing I'm patient.

It's logical and simple. Walker is crediting his "tools" (I don't mean you people) for preventing property tax increases -- in some cases mind you -- but it was the federal subsidies that made this happen by covering local expenses.

Are you with me so far? So this year, 2012, those subsidies will be gone and, lo and behold, either property taxes will have to go up or services drastically slashed -- none of which will be pretty.

This is all so delicious because it Walker's GOP buddies in trying to make Obama look bad by stopping federal aid that they in fact my kack Walker. Too bad, soooooo sad.

At least Doyle was smart enough not to promise miracles. Walker did. I hate to disappoint you, but except for you true believers Wisconsin voters will turn on Walker like a pack of mad dogs when the house of cards falls apart this year.

So here's our choice. Dump him out now or go through the agony of having him stink up the joint until the voters unload him in 2014, but then Wisconsin is shot to hell.

But maybe our friend John Doe will do it for us http://tinyurl.com/7yv9grh. And even if the John Doe doesn't do him in, the swirling mess won't look good going into the recall election.

Doesn't look good for your boy. Looks good for the rest of us though.

The 2012 budget year started July 1, 2011, and runs to June 30, 2013. Federal stimulus funds have been gone for 6 months. Still no links to prove your claims about Walker taking on substantial new debt or that Wisconsin is 47th in the country for job creation? Your credibility is crumbling my friend.

It was because of reduced tax revenues caused by the 2008 recession and the end of those one time porkulus funds (borrowed from the Chinese at 42 cents on the dollar) that Scott Walker and the legislature produced the spending cuts and collective bargaining reforms of public employee unions that empowered us to balance the budget without drastically cutting services or raising taxes.

Good luck peddling your house of cards theory to voters who have seen Walker's policies working to avoid huge property tax increases and massive layoffs of teachers. My guess is next time, an even larger majority than in 2010 will pick Scott Walker over a tax and spend big union stooge.

Indeed, Walker 'balanced' his budget by raising taxes on the working poor.

But also he now tells the Federal Government that his budget is NOT balanced-that we have a deficit. Who is he lying to?--the Feds or the people of Wisconsin?

http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_e25ede58-b707-5876-9735-ecf0aa178e6d.html

Walker's budget slashes tax credits that aid poor

March 6, 2011 6:00 am

Low-income taxpayers in Wisconsin would lose hundreds of dollars in tax credits a year under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget — at the same time the governor wants tax cuts for businesses and investors to boost jobs.

Walker proposes cutting about $16 million a year from the program, which in 2009 paid 273,939 low-income Wisconsin residents a total of $133 million.

Under Walker’s proposed biennial budget, a single mother with two children earning about minimum wage — $15,000 a year — would lose $302 of her $704 Earned Income Tax Credit next year, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. A two-parent household with two children earning $30,000 a year would see its tax credit cut by $194 to $258, the alliance said.

Huh, crazy thought here moronist, maybe if our tax policies towards employers encouraged job creation we wouldn't need to give people who pay no taxes a refund.

Crazy thought here, Adam, but maybe we don't need MORE minimum wage jobs like the one that single mom has? Maybe we should encourage employers to pay their workers mare and then the workers wouldn't need the tax credit?

Randy here's a nutty thought take all your savings open up a biz( what ever your good at) and start paying all your people a wage that you say they need I mean that's a good person would do.

Greg,
Funny you should mention wages. My brother-in-law has a retail business and he starts all adult workers at $12/hr. High school, $9/hr. He has a sense of the difference between profits and good business, although he doesn't seem to have a problem with profits.

Tell me about it jt. You're AFSME, city or county municipal works? How did Scott Walker and the budget reform bill hit you in the pocketbook?

@adam, first off i'm not afsme. secondly it costed me $220 monthly plus an hourly cut, plus eliminating double time for work done on sundays . plus eliminating any scheduled overtime. which means service duts to residents that want to get rid of grass and leaves during the summer. not to mention indefinite wage freezes. and no cost of living increases in sight. you ask a lot of questions for someone who does not state how he makes a living! either tell us how you make your living or shut your mouth! no transparency on your part here and i'm stating facts. not all municipal employees are in afsme or weac. you have very limited knowledge of municipal contracts and it shows! walker's vision for wisconsin is $8.00 an hour jobs in which case we'll all be working two jobs or the real estate market will be full of even more foreclosures! it won't stop with just the pblic sector. be a man and tell us your job details smart guy! i'll bet you won't! because your full of hot air!

so adam, why won't you tells us what you do for a living? when you shoot your mouth off, you should be able to be out front about yourself! and craig, your the biggest chimp on here!

"You're AFSME, city or county municipal works? How did Scott Walker and the budget reform bill hit you in the pocketbook?"

That just defined a total ignorance of the situation.

Proving that older is not always wiser here's something else you don't understand, Mr Schmitz. When the economy is expanding like it did between 2002 and 2007 spending by the states increased 50 percent faster than inflation. Politicians love to play Santa Claus and the dramatic increases in state payrolls proved it.

But when the economy contracts like it did in 2008-2009 democrats and public employee unions like AFSME accuse anyone who says state spending should shrink to meet the new fiscal reality of balancing the budget on the backs of the least among us, selling out to moneyed interests, attacking women's health, turning Wisconsin into a confederate state, etc you know the drill Keith.

We have finally elevated government spending and control to the point that it sucks enough oxygen out of the economy to give us sclerotic levels of growth in GDP and employment. Yet all we hear from tax and spend liberals is that the goose laying the golden eggs is the problem (corporate greed, pushing their own agenda to the detriment of us all, that sort of thing.) Senate democrats led by Harry Reid have failed to pass a budget for the third year in a row at a time when we borrow 42 cents of every dollar we spend from communist China.

We need more fiscally responsible leaders like Scott Walker who are capable of telling our public employee unions that things have changed and they are not immune to fiscal reality.

Yep - seen BM do that several times.

You are absolutely right Dude. If Democrats fail to do this we deserve to lose.

But don't worry, there will be a message. Lot's of them and they just won't be about the FUBAR Walker administration.

I think the message is very clear. They want to take the state back to what we had during the last administration - and then some. They want their special interests catered to, they want a reversal of everything Walker and the Republicans have done so far. They want no further cuts to the public sector. They want taxes increased on those they feel aren't paying enough. They want more money poured into the public school and university system. They want Badgercare expanded. They don't want mining. They want high speed rail. They want tougher environmental restrictions. They want less money put into the prison system. They want businesses to make jobs available in highly unemployed areas. The want an end to school choice.

I don't understand exactly why they have such a problem articulating that. But perhaps it's because they're afraid that if they do, the same folks who put Walker in office in the last election will do so again this time around.

Beats taking the state back to 1891, or further. If Jim Ott had his choice, it would 1591.

Typical Democrat. Snotty remark. Wait for someone to do your work for you. Then another snotty remark.

And actually, it's the Democrats who want to take us back to 1891, to the tune of $54MM (plus infrastructure relocation costs):

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2012/01/30/milwaukee-streetcar-receives-federal.html?ed=2012-01-30&s=article_du&ana=e_du_pub

Snotty remark? LOL! Got a mirror?

Thanks for being so entertaining.

Yup! I'm done doing your work for your here, Keith. So those will have to do for you, I guess.

Look, there are a lot of progressive forward moving cities that have that kind of surface transportation (getting the discussion back on track).

My libertarian buddies would point to the Tabor paradise of Denver. Guess what. They have a trolley that people jump on and off of and it gets them to the various neighborhoods, something we need with our great tourist attractions that happen to be too disconnected for tourism.

I know this thing was built back when the people of Colorado dabbled in the Tabor nonsense until the smart people of the state realized it was snake oil and they cast it off.

When I refer to taking us back to 1891, I am talking about the pre-LaFollette period of the Robber Barons in Wisconsin.

BTW, if that point is still too snobby, I will endeavor, endeavor, to not hurt your feelings.

I always try to bridge cultural differences and as a practicing liberal, I certainly don't lack sensitivity to easily bruised feelings.

So you're good with the trolley I take it? 2-1/2 miles to nowhere, another $60MM out of the taxpayer's pocket to move some wires and pipeline around. We've got nothing else to spend the money on, everyone in the central city is employed and fat and happy, so yeah, a trolley sounds like a good idea. And just think, the guy spearheading this brilliant plan could have been our governor...if only...

If you're sincere in desire for a forward looking, progressive state, Keith, Walker and the Republicans should be the least of your concerns. We came that close to having a guy in office who's, literally, interested in taking us back to 1891, or further.

I fricken' give up.

A smarter man would have given up long ago.

well, your still here craig! guess your not that smart either.

jt: I am still waiting for you to answer my question from the middle part of this thread. You know the one, where you got schooled.

jt, aka Johnboy:
I am not smart enough for you? Let's discuss. You called me a blowhard. I proved that you were the blowhard. I did not do it to attack you personally, I did it because you attacked me personally. I only pointed out what you said on multiple occassions was completely wrong.
I have asked you if you were a liar or a moron- but you refuse to answer.
But you go ahead and hang onto the idea that you know what you are talking about. Hang onto that job too. If you ever lose that one, you will have to learn to say, "would you like fries with that?"

Well My point is Walker has state wide name recognition and 45 percent of the vote is a lock for him. The unknown Democratic opponent clearly will have to support the union causes as they are the main financer on the right as well as its members. That will be a minority driven platform . Plus they wont really be able to say much about the reforms Walker has done that have clear support in the polls. The strategy to go back to put the state in worst financial shape is a tough sell. The left has a sure cut of the vote but its clearly less than Walker going in . Given the task they face and where they want to go it is a much tougher sell than Walker promoting what he fells are his successes in just 1 year.

sorry craig, but i can go back to construction if needed. you greatly underestimate me. and i never called you a blow hard. you told me to "blow it out my ass" because i called you out for being a disabled person whinning about working people! and the answer to your question is neither. i have a disabled neighbor who's just like you! he goes walking around the neighborhood all day so he's not that disabled. and he gets energy assistance and foodstamps plus ssi .yet he does nothing and then complains that i get paid a decent wage for working!

John, your blowhard comment came in an earlier article...truth is we both are more alike than either would admit.
I would be pissed to see someone beating the system like your neighbor. Maybe I am the fool by living off of life savings and not looking for handouts, but I always thought this was a temporary problem. By law I HAD to apply for SSI after a year, and was advised by an attorney that these cases take years to settle. The average person doesn't have years of savings to live on, so they take whatever work they can do and lose their claim. Funny how those who aren't really disabled are collecting- a sign of how screwed up the Government really is. For the record; I repect the work you do. I wouldn't want to do it everyday. I know it is not that easy.
Hatchet buried?

craig, hatchet buried,

SkinnyDude: Here's a clear message for you. He's in prison. We can do better!!

@morninmist -

An analysis done by a biased liberal blogger doesn't prove anything other than your clearly partisan hack nature.

Questions 8, 15 - The Scott Walker approval and favorability ratings, as mentioned above, is reported as 51%-46% (favorable), 50%-45 (approval). The 3.8% MoE, coupled with a 4% Republican lean in the poll eliminates any positive for Walker.

Questions 16-20 - Opinion of potential Democratic  Candidates – Only Tom Barrett has a “haven’t heard enough about” rating under 50%. All potential Democratic candidates “favorable” ratings are within the MoE save one – Kathleen Falk at 19%-25%, 6% being outside the 3.8% Moe; although 51% of respondents felt they haven’t heard of Falk enough to respond.

Oh my!