Here’s an interesting nugget of information:
No Child Left Behind: 280,000+ words
House version of health care reform legislation: 319,145 words
Senate version of health care reform legislation: 318,512 words
I wonder if those same conservatives who are decrying how big the health care reform bill were singing the same tune [...]
Remember when Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker criticized Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett for imposing two furlough days on Milwaukee Police officers as part of Barrett’s most recent City of Milwaukee budget? I do, and that’s why I found it so amusing that Walker himself actually imposed eight unpaid furlough [...]
Yesterday Senator Russ Feingold, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, announced the launch of his “Spotlight on Spending” series to highlight actions Congress can take to reduce the deficit. The actions highlighted by Sen. Feingold are also included in the Control Spending Now Act Sen. Feingold authored, and the [...]
Gone are the days when the Republican Party was home to conservatives of all varieties, from the far-right conservatives like Barry Goldwater to the center-right like Nelson Rockefeller, as some within the Republican National Committee want to take the Republican Party even further to the right than it [...]
According to the Providence Journal, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat from Rhode Island, has said the Roman Catholic bishop of Providence has forbidden him from receiving communion due to his support for abortion rights:
Kennedy said Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin “instructed me not to take communion and [...]
Just a few random thoughts to start the week:
I haven’t chimed in at any great length on the MPS reform plan being pushed by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Governor Jim Doyle, but I believe the plan has positives and negatives. While I certainly think the mayor should have [...]As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama promised to change Washington, D.C., but as president, Obama hasn’t changed one Washington tradition: giving prized ambassadorships to big political donors:
Of the nearly 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations since Obama’s Inauguration, 56 percent were given to political appointees and 44 percent have [...]
Did Illinois Governor Pat Quinn fall asleep during a recent event?
You decide:
To debate or not to debate the Senate’s health care reform bill; that is the question.
The legislative body on Saturday is expected to vote on whether to begin debate — also known as invoking cloture — on its version of the health care bill, which was introduced Wednesday [...]
Shortly after jobless claims numbers were released, Sen. Russ Feingold issued a statement announcing the introduction of a jobs tax credit bill:
“Today’s jobs report clearly shows we need to do more to help people get back to work. With the unemployment rate at 10.2 percent, the highest since the [...]
As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, former Waukesha County District Attorney (and current jilted spouse) Paul Bucher is alleging Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn has continued his extramarital affair with Jessica McBride, a journalist and lecturer at UWM. Chief Flynn has denied that the affair has continued, saying, [...]
From my emailbox comes news Greg Kowalski, a blogger and community leader, has announced his candidacy for the 1st District Aldermanic seat in Franklin. Here’s the text of his press release:
COMMUNITY LEADER GREG KOWALSKI JUMPS INTO RACE FOR 1ST DISTRICT ALDERMAN
PROMISES TO MAKE FRANKLIN GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT
(Franklin, WI)—As families [...]
The Milwaukee County budget process for 2010 is officially finished, as the County Board of Supervisors voted on Wednesday to override 21 of Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s 34 vetoes of the 2010 budget. The board’s veto overrides will increase the property tax levy by $5.6 million, which equates [...]
I came across an article in yesterday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding the 2010 U.S. Senate election here in Wisconsin, and what caught my eye (besides the fact that Senator Russ Feingold has alotta money) is the fact that Dave Westlake and Terrence Wall, the Republican candidates seeking [...]
Listen closely to this video:
Did you hear it? At about 10 or 11 seconds into the video, the woman says, “I am Dave Westlake because I want what’s best for my community, my state, my country….what’s best for everybody.”
Take a moment to let that sink in….Dave Westlake wants what’s best [...]
This week’s edition of Thursday Music features Bon Iver, a group hailing from right here in Wisconsin.
Enjoy!
First up is “The Wolves”:
Next up is “Blindsided,” which happens to be my personal favorite:
And finally, here’s a live version of “Skinny Love”:
Says the disclaimer at the top of “Real Debate” Wisconsin:
This is primarily a conservative blog but we always welcome input from all points of view. Things get heated upon occasion but we ask that our readers do their best to keep things civil and respect all participants.
As I’ve [...]
Considering Terrence Wall is a multimillionaire, you’d think he could at least buy a U.S. Senate website that actually worked properly.
After all, how does he expect to gain support if his “Join Us” button doesn’t work?
[...]Perhaps it’s because I’m a big fan of getting great deals on flat screen TV’s, but I actually agree with James Wigderson that Wisconsin’s minimum markup law is due for some serious changes. I certainly understand the reasoning behind the law being put into effect seventy years ago, but [...]
Listen to a 10 year-old boy from Arkansas 10-year-old explain why he won’t pledge the flag until gays and lesbians have equal rights:
[...]Did you ever notice how remarkably similar the speeches given by lawmakers on the issue of health care reform happened to sound? While it would be easy to chalk the similarities up to the use of talking points issued by each side, the similarities may in fact stem from the [...]
union thug [un⋅ion thug]
- noun Any labor union member who dares to voice an opinion which may run contrary to any belief held by conservatives. [...]Lefties from across Milwaukee, it’s just about time for Drinking Liberally. Let’s get together, have a drink, and talk about that kinds of things lefties talk about when we get together.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 18th, 2009: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
WHERE: Sugar Maple
441 E Lincoln Avenue
Milwaukee, WI, 53207
United States
See you [...]
Reacting to the news of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s candidacy for governor, Scott Walker said, “Tom Barrett is a nice guy, but in the end he’s spent his entire career in the Legislature, in the Congress and now as mayor raising taxes.”
That’s ironic and more than a little hypocritical [...]
As my friend capper says, there are numbers, and there are stats:
Scott Walker was bragging about winning the GOP’s 8th District straw poll by a whopping 92%.
Very impressive, even I will admit.
What is not so impressive is what they don’t report.
According to the local paper from that part [...]
Though not surprising, Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto of a bill that would strip future governors of the power to name the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources is truly disappointing. In explaining his veto, Gov. Doyle said:
“The major environmental measures we’ve taken in the past seven years, [...]
Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana, infamous for having $90,000 in bribe money hidden in his freezer, was sentenced to 13 years in prison yesterday after being convicted on a myriad of federal corruption charges. This is a well-deserved sentence, given the extent of Jefferson’s corruption. Jefferson received [...]
A second Milwaukee Democrat who has firsthand knowledge of Barrett’s plans also [...]
Yesterday afternoon Senator Russ Feingold Russ sat downwith Mike Gousha for a discussion at Marquette University Law School.
You can listen to the audio here.
[...]Take a look at what passes for “real debate” over at “Real Debate” Wisconsin:
Cramps, Gableman is fit to be a SC Justice, and you are not fit for anything except to be the next Daniel Pearl.
In case you forgot who Daniel Pearl was…
[...]I’ve written a little about the news that two groups have formed to recall Milwaukee County Supervisors Pat Jursik and Theo Lipscomb, and in the interest of transparency, here’s copies of the registration documents filed by each group:
The “Glendale Residents for Honest Representation” group [...]
I know it’s hard to believe, but apparently Sean Hannity of Fox “News” passed off footage from a rally in September as being from last week’s health care protest in Washington, D.C. Watch for yourself:
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Uses [...]
“Career Politician Mark Neumann off-base with his attack towards Scott Walker”
That’s the title of a recent blog entry by Kyle Maichle of the North Shore Exponent blog. Maichle, a die-hard Scott Walker supporter, seems to think Mark Neumann is a career politician, and when confronted with the fact [...]
Not content to support a possible recall of Milwaukee County Supervisor Pat Jursik, the Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) are now making noise about a possible recall of Supervisor Theo Lipscomb, in conjunction with “Glendale Residents for Honest Representation,” a political action committee registered by Toni [...]
…and it has for 18 years:
The Republican National Committee’s health insurance plan covers elective abortion – a procedure the party’s own platform calls “a fundamental assault on innocent human life.”
Federal Election Commission Records show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna. Two sales agents for the company said [...]
Grumps over at The Happy Circumstance has a deep thought:
You wouldn’t take your dog to a vet who hated animals or trust your child to pediatrician who hated kids.
So why would you elect a Governor who hates government?
[...]Since their successful effort to recall former County Executive Tom Ament and much of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, the Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) haven’t had much success with their assorted recall efforts. Their effort to get Gov. Jim Doyle recalled was a failure, as were efforts to [...]
….and it’s affecting more families than ever:
Each day they search, hoping to find a nearby shelter with room for them but are turned away.
“Every time you call them, they’re all full already,” Neal said.
“It’s full. Every shelter is full,” said Nancy Szudzik, the director of the Salvation Army’s [...]
Happy Thursday! Here’s some music to start your day out right.
First up is “Wheels” by the Foo Fighters:
Next here’s “Funhouse” by Pink:
And finally, here’s “Electric Feel” by MGMT:
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold issued a statement today honoring veterans:
“Today, I join all Wisconsinites in honoring our veterans. I also extend my deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those service members whose lives were tragically taken at Fort Hood Army base. I am particularly saddened by the loss of [...]
Just ask Republic Airlines:
The corporate parent of Midwest Airlines plans to add up to 800 jobs over the next year in Milwaukee and Oak Creek, including 400 positions that are being consolidated from outside Wisconsin, rebuilding Midwest’s hub at Mitchell International Airport and doubling the local workforce.
Indianapolis-based Republic [...]
Tommy Thompson for governor in 2010? Say it ain’t so!
Talk around political campfires this weekend is that Thompson is being asked often and is seriously considering a 2010 run for governor, no matter what any declared candidate says.
Clean it up. Tom Barrett gets that, though he seems a [...]
Today I honor all veterans, but most especially my grandfather, who served this country with pride and distinction as a member of the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves for over 40 years.
[...]Have you heard? Terrence Wall is holding a fundraiser, and he wants you to be there! To have a little fun, I thought I’d take a minute (nothing more and nothing less) to dissect T. Wall’s fundraiser invitation, because there’s some things in it that really caught my eye.
Let’s [...]
The Tea Party is coming to Florida in 2010, and they’re promising to run candidates against Democrats and Republicans in state and national races:
“The current system has become mired in the sludge of special interest money that seeks to control the leadership of both parties. It’s time for [...]
There’s a reason I’m a fan of Rep. Alan Grayson, and this is it:
H/T to Down With Tyranny!.
[...]I guess Tom Tancredo didn’t appreciate being called out as a chickenhawk by Kos:
[...]One common conservative talking point posits that a government-run health care system would lead to a rationing of care, as was suggested in an editorial in Investors Business Daily, which used world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking as “proof” of their point:
People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn’t have a chance [...]
While it’s certainly not time to celebrate yet, health care reform legislation did take a big step forward yesterday, passing the House by a vote of 220-215. However, despite passing the House, Senate Republicans were quick to announce the bipartisan health care reform legislation as being dead on arrival, [...]
According to a new report issued by the Center for Responsive Politics, two hundred and thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. If you’re doing the math at home, that’s 44 percent of Congress, compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall. The CRP’s report noted California [...]
According to McClatchy, President Barack Obama is nearing a decision to send more than 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan next year.
As I’ve written before, I think sending additional U.S. military forces to Afghanistan is a terrible idea. In focusing our time, money, and military might [...]
Republicans in Washington have a health care reform plan. Really, they do!
The only problem with the GOP’s health care reform plan? it won’t actually do much to fix the current system (emphasis mine):
By 2019, CBO and JCT estimate, the number of nonelderly people without health insurance would be reduced [...]
It’s been a long time coming, but on Thursday the Legislature approved a bill that would strip authority of future governors to appoint the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources. The bill gives the authority to appoint the secretary of the DNR to the seven-member Natural Resources Board. [...]
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, State Sen. Lena Taylor testified today in a secret John Doe proceeding at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. During a previous appearance at the John Doe proceeding, Sen. Taylor refused to answer questions, citing her right against self-incrimination, however she testified today under a [...]
There’s been a lot written about the efforts undertaken by Madison-area real estate developer Terrence Wall to avoid paying taxes on properties he own in the Madison area, and as a result of what’s been written, Wall sent an email to Capital Times reporter Mike Ivey [...]
U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will be the next guest for “On the Issues” with Mike Gousha at Marquette University Law School Friday, Nov. 13. The event will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Sensenbrenner Hall, room 307, located at 1103 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, [...]
Over at Eye on Wisconsin, Cory Liebmann has some interesting number regarding the budgets submitted by Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker during his time in office:
SPENDING Walker Proposed Spending in HIS BUDGET for 2003: $1,100,274,125 Walker Proposed Spending in HIS BUDGET for 2010: $1,481,577,120That’s a 35% increase in spending since Walker [...]
It goes without saying, but our thoughts and prayers go out to those killed and wounded at the hands of the gunman in Fort Hood.
[...]In the next few weeks, we’ll be interviewing Jared Christiansen, the lone announced Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
Keep your eyes peeled!
[...]Tea party supporters descended on Washington, D.C. today* to voice their disapproval of Democratic health care reform legislation, and during the festivities, House Minority Leader John Boehner got the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence confused, while Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri managed to botch the Pledge [...]
It’s been one year since Barack Obama was elected president, and here’s a statement from President Obama about the progress we’ve made and the challenges we still face:
Speaking at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the Nomination of Justice Louis B. Butler, Jr. to be to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, Sen. Russ Feingold issued the following statement:
“Louis Butler, a former justice on Wisconsin’s highest court, has been appointed by [...]
Someone ought to tell Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker that threatening to put county employees out of work is not a political “strategy:”
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker tells a Madison radio talk show host he pulled the trigger on county employee layoffs briefly last week as a strategy [...]
This week’s edition of Thursday Music features the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
First up is “I Feel Good”:
Next up is “Living in America”:
And finally, here’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”:
Yesterday Senator Russ Feingold announced he recently returned $269,209.41 allocated to him as part of his office budget to the U.S. Treasury as part of his commitment to fiscal responsibility and curbing the deficit. Returning a portion of his office budget is a longstanding practice for Sen. Feingold, who over [...]
In order to keep track of all the tax loopholes Terrence Wall has used to his advantage, I’ve come up with the Terrence Wall Tax Loophole Tracker. No more will you have to wonder just how many tax dollars Terrence Wall has cost taxpayers through his creative use [...]
Watch as Chris Hayes of The Nation and Rachel Maddow discuss the Republican Party’s burgeoning purge of moderates:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
[...]Scott Walker’s made it clear that if he’s elected governor, he’ll work hard to gut state government (after all, Walker never met a government employee he didn’t loathe), and Marty Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union has a little something to say about the thought [...]
Watch as conservative nutjob Doug Hoffman, running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New York’s 23rd Congressional district, folds like a lawn chair while talking to Glenn Beck:
While I’d ordinarily root for a Democrat to win over a far right fringe conservative like Doug Hoffman, I’m inclined [...]
Speaking on “UpFront with Mike Gousha” on Sunday, former Wisconsin governor (and windbag extraordinaire) Tommy Thompson said he’s not ruling out another run for elected office in Wisconsin:
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson (left) says he’s still weighing his political options and hasn’t ruled out a possible run [...]
…and on that farm he “grew” some pumpkins.
Oh, and he also exploited some tax loopholes too.
Two weeks ago, it came to light multi-millionaire real estate developer Terrence “Old Mac T.” Wall reclassified $2 million in prime Dane County commercial real estate into “agriculture” property, which allowed his [...]
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union today, House Minority Leader John Boehner said the Republican Party really is welcoming to moderates:
“We accept moderates in our party. We want moderates in our party. We cover a wide range of Americans,” the Ohio Republican told King.
“What we need [...]
State Treasurer candidate Dan Bohrod, who’s running against incumbent Dawn Marie Sass, issued a statement urging the passage of AB135, which would repair an omission in the current Edvest Savings College Program that disallows tax deductions by divorced and separated parents:
Bohrod, who recently announced his candidacy for the 2010 [...]
For all those conservatives who are making a big deal of the fact that President Barack Obama’s approval rating isn’t quite as robust as it was shortly after he was inaugurated, just remember former President Bill Clinton’s first-term approval rating was 50%. What’s more, Clinton’s approval rating at the [...]
AP Photo/Jim Mone
Today’s the day. Brett Favre makes his first trip back to Lambeau Field as a member of the hated Minnesota Vikings. Last time the Vikings and Packers met, the Vikings beat the Packers 30-23, although the game certainly didn’t seem as close as [...]
State Rep. Brett Davis, a Republican running for Lt. Governor, has a big problem with the state giving the H1N1 vaccine to high-risk female prisoners at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. Forty-five doses of the H1N1 vaccine were given to pregnant female inmates, who are included as one of the vulnerable [...]
Earlier this week, President Barack Obama declared the H1N1 outbreak a national emergency, a move that gives health care officials more freedom to treat the v>irus. The National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates millions of Americans have already had the swine flu, more specifically known as H1N1, and [...]
Last week, I had an opportunity to sit down and chat with Kevin Fech, one of a number of individuals running to become Cudahy’s next mayor. During our conversation, we touched on a number of topics, including his personal background and qualifications, the personal strengths he’d bring to the table [...]
Remember when County Executive Scott Walker first ran for County Executive? Remember how he promised to give back $60,000 annually during his time in office? I remember, and I also remember Walker reneging on that promise last year. Walker’s yearly salary is somewhere in the area of $119,611, and [...]
Let’s not forget David Clarke is the same guy who ran an epic failure of a mayoral campaign in 2004, and he’s done nothing since then to prove a gubernatorial campaign would be anything but another epic failure.
[...]
Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Yeah, this just about sums up Sen. Joe Lieberman:
Joe Lieberman has become the Balloon Boy dad of the Senate Democratic caucus, a fame-whore so addicted to media attention that he hatches ever-more-desperate and risky schemes that sell out his “family” to [...]
This is a perfect example of what constitutes “criminal masterminds”:
Police received a call Friday night that two men with hooded sweatshirts and painted faces had tried to break into a man’s home in Carroll, Iowa.
When police stopped a vehicle matching the caller’s description blocks away, they were stunned by [...]
Jerry Bader is a class act.
No really, he is!
After all, it would take someone as classy as Jerry Bader to propagate a slanderous rumor about Lt. Gov. Barb Lawton without any type of fact-checking or verification*, opening up the possibility of legal action against WTAQ, [...]
Here’s three songs to start out your Thursday. First up is “Hallelujah” by Rufus Wainwright:
Next up is “Colorful” by Rocco Deluca and The Burden:
And finally, here’s “Hey Lover” by LL Cool J:
….because I’m certainly missing out on hilarity:
The Colbert Report
Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word – Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor
Religion
H/T to Cory Liebmann.
[...]On the 6-month anniversary of the decision by Sen. Arlen Specter (”D” – PA) to switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, Pat Toomey, the likely Republican U.S. Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, released a video congratulating Sen. Specter:
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave Westlake appeared on Vicki McKenna’s radio show yesterday, and during his appearance, the conversation turned to the entry of Madison-area real estate developer Terrence Wall into the 2010 U.S. Senate race. Asked about Wall, Westlake responded with this (emphasis mine):
Westlake: Well, you know, I don’t [...]
Absolutely disgusting:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
[...]Now that he’s an official U.S. Senate candidate, Terrence Wall should really brush up on some basic American history, seeing as how he seems to think Franklin D. Rooseveltwas responsible for the Great Depression, despite the fact that most historians agree the Great Depression started with the sudden and [...]
Back in March, I wrote about Governor Jim Doyle’s flip-flop on AB 138, which would return control over the appointment of the Secretary of the Wisconsin DNR to a seven-member Natural Resources Board, instead of leaving the appointment of that position to the governor. For many years, the [...]
