@Bob McBride II...Bob, what did she say that you find so arrogant? I guess I don't see it your way.

Maybe the fact that Pasch expected Darling to agree to debate her before the primary win that named her as Darling's opponent in the general election?

@CowDung...Pasch is only playing politics and trying to make Darling look resistant. We're going to see a lot of posturing out of the two of them. It's Alberta's turn now, anybody want to speculate what she'll counter with?

Arrogant Bob II?

@Ellie Pearson...Alberta knows that it's hard to hit a moving target. It's the same tactic she has used for the last six months. She'll talk to you if she is the one seeks you out, but don't try to talk to her and I will bet that she will be just too busy to schedule a debate and if she does it will be right before the election. Alberta knows Sandy is a much sharper knife than she is.

If Pasch is truly the 'sharper knife', then why hasn't she presented any ideas or plans for what she plans to do should she be elected?

Her campaign has consisted entirely of misrepresentations and overdramatized versions of the positions of Darling, Walker and even Ryan, along with a statement that falls along the lines of 'I'm not them, vote for me'.

From what I understand that would be for one year. There are no provisions for inflation or practically anything else.

@jay Sykes...I disagree. I think it will be high on Sandy's agenda and Alberta will want to use TV6's report to defend her actions.

Alberta can use the TV6 report, along with the budget proposals of al the schools in her district to demonstrate the positive effects of the BRB. I think it's going to be hard for Sandy to expand on her 'attack on working families' and 'gutting our schools' talking points--particularly since the current cuts in state aid are nowhere near as severe as the cuts we had under Doyle.

@Keith Schmitz & Lyle Ruble.... So, exactly what is under dispute, as the school business managers in the 8th senate district have prepared their budgets; we know the student / teacher ratios and the programs they will offer compared to the previous fiscal year; other than Milwaukee, they are nearly unchanged. Sure, there other issues to dispute, but on this one your answers read as ' Don’t Confuse Me With the Facts — My Mind’s Made Up!'

Mr. Sykes - Before posting this reply, I viewed your link to fox6 and think it lacks facts and depth. I know, from speaking with Whitefish Bay School District Administrators, that School District representatives are reluctant to offer projections regarding the impact of the 2011-2013 State Budget on the 2012 School District Budget. Public school administrators should want to maintain the appearance of public schools being in good shape in order to prevent a decline in student enrollment and the subsequent decline in state funding. Our public schools are in a tough spot. If public school representatives publicize the negative impact of state budget cuts to education they risk declining enrollment, but if they don't, we risks losing the high quality education we currently enjoy in the North Shore (good teachers, small class size, and advanced placement classes). Senator Darling's efforts to expand the school voucher program puts even greater pressure on our public school administrators to keep up appearances. I can see why Senator Darling declined the Advocates for Education debate invitation. Senator Darling's voting record on public education seems indefensible. I welcome factual in depth information on the future of our public schools.

@Desiree Erickson... I concur with and reiterate the very last line of your post, 'I welcome factual in depth information on the future of our public schools.'

Actually I would but it more like a robot -- monotone, no emotion.

So Prosser-cuter? - you approve of creating political gerrymandering so that there is no competition? Is this the kind of democracy you want.

Time for the spa Berta.

@William..."Lap Dancer", come on; get with the 21st century and knock off the misogynistic rhetoric. Don't forget that Doyle started off with a budget deficit left by Thompson and McCallum. Sandy hasn't been in office long enough to cause the kind of damage that you describe.

You forgot to mention Walker, Ryan, the Koch brothers and ALEC--did you not see page 2 of this morning's talking points e-mail from the DNC?

Now Dung- is that your best retort? So when you lack credible debating points, you resort to blaming it on DNC talking points. Deflecting won't work Dung. FYI- There is something very satisfying about using your username in responding to you.

Have you mentioned anything worthy of credible debate?

These attacks on Darling by way of wealth are getting a bit stale, aren't they? Instead, try talking about Pasch's ideas, proposals or anything she has put forward as an alternative to what Darling has been doing, then we might have a chance at having a credible debate...

@CowDung...I think issues for debate would be to justify cutting government spending and then giving tax breaks for corporations and the extremely wealthy.

Alberta is at risk from her social position and wealth. If you are attempting to connect with middle class working people, then she has a credibility problem. If I were Sandy I would challenge her on public education and point out her children never attended public schools and graduated from University School of Milwaukee. I would also point out that she is a past president of the Milwaukee Junior League, not a middle class organization; you must be invited to join. Darling has also served on the board of the Children's Service Society, which is now owned by Children's Hospital. CCS was one of the responsible parties for privatization of foster care. Poor supervision of foster care services resulted in further child abuse and child deaths. She was a very strong advocated for Planned Parenthood of WI and sat on their board until she made such a drastic turn to the right. Alberta isn't middle class either in thinking or lifestyle. She is definitely part of the country club set.

"Alberta is at risk from her social position and wealth."

I disagree. Most politicians tend to be above average in the wealth department. Being wealthy doess't mean that one cannot addres the issues that are important to all of us.

Providing tax incentives for corporations to move to Wisconsin sounds like an idea that everyone should support. Those corporations will bring more middle class jobs to our state.

Framing this election as 'class warfare' is a misrepresentation of what Darling (and Walker) stands for.

Let's celebrate mediocrity! It's the liberal way. Anyone that has met with some success should be brought down to our level! If you've had success in life then it had to be all luck; we need to take that away from you! Our role models should be mouth breathing knuckle draggers that could barely graduate high school. They are the "real people" and the role model you should emulate! You gave your kids a great education by sending them to Univ School? Shame on you! Oy, the American dream surely is dead. Liberals want us all to wallow in mediocrity, it makes them feel better about themselves.

@235301...Our role models should be those who achieve wealth? Is wealth the only thing that counts?

The diaper rash you liberals keep whining about is that wealth is evil. It's not the only thing to life, but why are rich people so despised by you people? Because you're jealous, why else? Some are greedy sure, but many donate a hell of a lot to a number of causes, and not just republican candidates like you insist.

The only people that Pasch wants to speak with are those who already support her and will give to her campaign. She hasn't been interested in listening to me so far, why should she change her MO?

If Sandy isn't smart enough to charge people to attend her fundraisers, I'm not sure that I want her representing me in Madison...

Which of those pubs would I have to visit to have my 'free' chat with Sandy?

Vicki: From a self preservation standpoint what do you think happens to these University employees when the govt spigot is turned down? Why their pay is cut. So it's in their best interest to support oversized govt spending. To them, who cares if we run a deficit as long as "I got mine".

Further, it's just liberal smugness, "I'm smarter than you thus your opinion doesn't matter." Being a university professor makes you more intelligent than the rest of us? Come now. We all know the old adage those that can do, those that can't teach. This is no more truer than at the University level. My best university professors were folks that didn't do it on a full time basis and were industry professionals that were gracious enough to pass their knowledge on by teaching classes from time to time. Most full time university professors are so disconnected from reality they would need a GPS and seeing eye dog to find their way.

And when was the last time we had a coup in the US? Stop with the silly arguments.

@235301...Wow, a business school graduate? Where you a member of a frat too?

Lyle: Wrong and wrong. Not business school and I couldn't hate the whole frat boy mentality any more than I do. Never understood people that subjected themselves to humiliation(hazing) just to be a part of the club.

FYI: I work with academics all the time and find them for the most part to be nice people but very disconnected from reality. Academia shelters them. And bends over backwards to tell them how smart they are. In this context it's easy to understand that they cannot fathom an opinion different than theirs or "gasp", that their's might be completely wrong.

@235301...Thank you for clarifying that you actually have an education. However, discounting academics doesn't help in their isolation from what you refer to as the real world. Academia provides valuable resources to the rest of society and we shouldn't be rejecting them or their ideas just because they are academics.

Lyle: absolutely agree that academics have a very important role in our society, particularly with their research and bringing new technologies to industry.

However, to hold academics up as some beacon of truth when it comes to how we should spend tax dollars and redistribute wealth is just absurd. The original poster, Vicki, was saying we should follow the lead of academics because they spend more time studying the issues and anyone in conflict with their position is just plain wrong. Academics are far less capable of providing an opinion on these issues because they are too far removed from reality and the real pressures the rest of us have to deal with on a day to day basis. They should simply have one vote like the rest of us and no bigger voice.

Nah, actually I think letting you crawl into bed with your ideological cohorts in the 4th district is exactly the right thing to do. You're never going to be satisfied with anything Darling has to say anyways - this will be better for you. Go talk to Lena Taylor - while it's not an interstate call. You never know when she's gonna make another run for the border

Bob McBride II--By this comment, you just proved my point. If we don't agree, why debate. Just throw us out. You're closed minded and the reason that I have trouble with the views of the far right. Everything in life is NOT business. It is caring for each other and about each other. If you agree with Darling, you'd sell you soul for the almighty dollar. You'd also flip-flop for your own gain. Perhaps I wouldn't be swayed by her point of view, but I deserve to hear hers and BE HEARD. Unfortunately, she's only allowing us to express ourselves on this blog. Interesting how she has her minions monitoring Patch.

Vicki:

Since when are debates between candidates an opportunity for people like you to 'be heard'? By your use of all caps, it seems that you care more about being heard by Darling than listening to anything she has to say...

@Bob McBride II... you're right, it's not an interstate call to talk to Lena Taylor, but it is a toll call. The number you have reached has been disconnected; No further information is available.

Vicki,

After all the buffoonery your side has participated in since the start of this year, it's impossible to take you seriously anymore. You've been heard, you're ridiculous. Lena Taylor is a symbol of all you support. Go to her. You'll be much happier there. The Republicans have done you a big favor by uniting you with your comrades in progressivism. Thank them, and thank me for helping to put them in office in the first place.

@Bob McBride II & Jay Sykes...There's nothing wrong with being in the 4th. What's disconcerting is getting banished out of the "North Shore" because I don't agree with the king and the king's tyranny. Bob, as you have said; "elections have consequences". Who would have ever 'thunk' that this is the result of exercising our first amendment rights of free speech. Funny thing, even if my vote doesn't count in the 8th, I'll probably keep pointing out the 8th's blemishes.

Lyle,

This entire ridiculous episode, courtesy of your side, has been about trying to undo my vote in the last election because you guys don't agree with me. I'm not particularly sympathetic. If you didn't want this to turn into a 3 ring circus, you guys should have thought of that before you all got in the clown car and headed up to Madison to put on the Greatest Show in Earthshoes. It's too little, too late at this point.

@Lyle Ruble.... You know what they say....Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced.

So Pasch is allowing Darling to dictate the release of her budget bill alternative? That makes sense, Ike. You folks really know how the challenge the elasticity of an argument to the extreme, that's for sure.

Here's Pasch's "alternative" to the BRB according to her 'SandyforSenate' website:

"The choices being made in the Darling and Walker budget will threaten the quality of our schools, services within our local communities, and programs provided to some of our most vulnerable populations."

http://sandyforsenate.com/content/sample-issue

Considering that the budget repair bill was the reason for the Darling recall (and Pasch's run for the Senate), it's pretty bad that Pasch can't even put together two sentences to express an actual position on the state budget...

Bob McBride II - And you folks sure know how to twist and mince words to make yourselves look favorably. Pasch is not allowing Darling to do anything, not sure where you got that from. I speculated that Pasch may want to unveil her plan during the debate. Since Darling is refusing to tackle an political debate, Pasch will probably unveil her plans in other ways like with actions. For starters:

http://www.jsonline.com/business/124324829.html

also... I like your use of the word "dictate" in your reply. So fitting for Walker et al.'s administration. Very clever Bob!

i was working under the assumption that the monies would be given out to company's that thrive and subsequently pay it back, but you're right, Joe. if they're grants or if the companies can't pay it back, we're on the hook for the principal as well.