Scott Walker - Jack of No Trades

By Jeff Simpson

Scott Walker. in one of his patented invite only chat sessions, where coincidentally, he hears over and over again how great he is, said something so ridiculous recently that once again left everyone scratching their heads!

When asked whether he would encourage a relative with a teaching degree to seek employment in Wisconsin or Minnesota, Walker said Wisconsin.
“They don’t have to wait 20 years to be able to succeed,” Walker said. “If they’re a great teacher and they’ve got great incentive to perform they can get a high-quality teaching job anywhere in the state of Wisconsin and they can get rewarded for that and not have to wait to build years of seniority.”
Walker said school districts can set pay based on performance and hire based on merit.
“It’s about putting the best and the brightest in the classroom,” Walker said. “If someone is an exceptional talent and wants to go into education, they can be rewarded for that.”
When asked whether he thought such incentive-driven salary programs would be a hindrance to allowing school districts to keep quality teachers, Walker compared teaching to being a player in the NFL.
“If the Green Bay Packers pay people to perform and if they perform well on their team, (the Packers) pay them to do that,” Walker said. “They don’t pay them for how many years they’ve been on the football team. They pay them whether or not they help (the Packers) win football games.”

Actually NFL Players, under a strong union and collective bargaining agreement, had to sue to get the right to free agency, which has evolved over the years.     The National Football League Players Association also has negotiated a minimum salary, yearly raises and a salary table based on (wait for it) experience.

Each year the NFL minimum salaries increase by $15,000, up to $450,000 for a rookie in 2016. A player’s minimum salary is determined by his years of experience (YOE), ranging from 0 to 10 or more.

D'OH

Like the lap dog he is, Kevin Binversie, used his wing nut welfare position to try and cover for Scotty Walker, and like Walker miserably failed

The funny thing is Binversie, used two sources to try and block for Walker but was less effective than Tony Mandarich!  

The first source he used was a WILL report that said post ACT10 things are great in WI and teacher salaries are down an average of $2000 but can not figure out why for the life of them.   .   I guess when you have people with zero education experience writing a report on education, you will get zero use out of it.  

Secondly. and this is the best, KB used an article from Madison.com to tell us about a teacher's marketplace thanks to Scott Walker and ACT10.  The problem with that, is the people quoted are from the Board of Education I reside on, and no one in the article has said that ACT10 or Scott Walker has been good for public education or teachers.  

With so many veteran teachers leaving the profession and so few collage students entering teaching there is a huge teacher shortage.  This means that it is a teacher shortage for hard to fill positions, like advanced physics and teach ed.   Those teachers are coming in at a premium.  

This article was also written two years ago and the facts on the ground are, we had to ask for and be granted (overwhelmingly) for an additional  $2.6 Million dollars a year from the taxpayers to pay our teachers and keep the doors open and the lights on.

It would help if Kevin Binversie would read the links before using them as a source,

I always like to look for the silver lining though and there is definitely one here.   With Scott Walker showing how clueless he is about the NFL(for a small price of $90 Paul Chryst will help tutor him), I bet he and Trumps Servant (Chris Christie) have quite the stimulating conversations, in the luxury suite at the Packers game!

Chris Christie Can Sure Eat and Drink!

By Jeff Simpson 

In New Jersey, like in Wisconsin, the Republican Legislature is very adamant on drug testing anyone who receives public assistance.

In New Jersey, bills have been introduced in the Assembly and the Senate to require random drug testing for anyone on public assistance. Is this because there’s evidence these people are significantly more likely to abuse drugs? No.
“I don’t need a study,” said Republican Gary Chiusano of Sussex County, sponsor of the Assembly bill.
“They’re spending taxpayers’ money on drugs,” he maintained of many people on public assistance. “This is common knowledge.”

The one thing that New Jersey has is the perfect example of Gluttony.

New Jersey Governor and head of the Republican Governor's Association.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spent more than $80,000 of taxpayer money on snacks at NFL games between 2010 and 2011, according to a report from New Jersey Watchdog. Christie used his government debit card 58 times at MetLife Stadium, and his office “did not provide any receipts, business reasons or names of individuals entertained, but defended the expense.”
Christie’s office has defended his use of the expense account, but were clearly embarrassed by the revelation that the governor was expensing quite a few beers while watching the Giants and Jets play because it reimbursed the costs associated with the games.
My first response was shock, of course. Christie averaged $1,500 in concessions at each game and didn’t bother keeping receipts to explain the expenses. But my second response was total envy. Spending $82,000 on snacks is an actual dream of mine. I mean, not the exact amount but the idea of spending the cost of a down payment on a home on queso and hot dogs has always been very appealing to me.

With all of the beers that the NJ taxpayers have had to pay for, a drug test of the piggish Christie is more than in order!



What else could you buy for $82000? 

 

Sean Duffy Values Deadly Diseases

BY Jeff Simpson

Sean Duffy who rode his dancing skills

and notoriety of being a reality TV star participant,

embarrasses WI yet again!

This time Sean uses his vast knowledge from his mail order law school to weigh in on the Vaccination debate:

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) became the latest Republican on Tuesday to speak out against vaccine mandates, saying: "We should not have an oppressive state telling us what to do."
"I want that to be my choice as a parent," Duffy, a father of seven, said said during an appearance on MSNBC's "The Rundown With José Díaz-Balart." "I know my kids best. I know what morals and values are right for my children. I think we should not have an oppressive state telling us what to do."
Duffy's remarks came as an outbreak of measles — a potentially fatal disease thought to be eradicated from the U.S. just 15 years ago thanks to safe and effective vaccination — had sickened more than 100 Americans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie(R) came under heavy criticism Monday for appearing to align themselves with the anti-vaccine movement.

And Duffy personally:

Duffy, a former attorney, said that he prefers to "pick and choose" which vaccines his children receive.
"I vaccinate my kids on most things, but then there are some things where I'm like, 'This may not work for me and my values and my family,'" he said

Who knew that welcoming certain deadly diseases(and plaid) was a family value?  

Football Politics: Showdown at the Lambeau - K Corral

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the wind chill is a biting 30 below zero and there is plenty of snow on the ground. However, as the Green Bay Packers are getting ready to host (and defeat) the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, things are heating up in the smash-mouth political football game known as the 2016 GOP presidential primary.

When the Cowboys come to Lambeau Field, they will be probably bringing along their biggest - and I do mean biggest - fan, Chris Christie, otherwise known as the Outlaw Jersey Whale.

Christie is out to show that he is the toughest, meanest and most corrupt Republican Governor around. Not only does he verbally abuse teachers for fun, he has gotten himself inescapably entangled in Bridgegate, the scandal that won't go away.

But even Bridgegate wasn't enough for Christie's insatiable appetite, so he got himself tied up in yet another scandal, but faces yet another possible investigation for taking gifts from Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, after allowing the Port Authority enter into a business relationship with Jones.

But Christie isn't going to be throwing his weight around Green Bay without a challenge.

He's going to be on the turf of Scott Walker, Tosa Ranger, aka Desperado. Walker is the only governor to be a person of interest in not just one, but two, John Doe investigations. Six of Walker's aides and friends have already been convicted of illegal politicking, embezzling money from a veterans fund and other sordid affairs and more than a score of others have been granted immunity for their testimony. The only reason Walker has escaped the long arm of the law is the millions of dollars of dark money thrown at his legal defense cooperation fund.

Walker, like Christie, thinks he should be president. Or at least the voices in his head that he mistakes for God are telling him he should be governor.

Walker believes this so much that he has rehired a consultant with experience running national campaigns while he is busy explaining that he doesn't really need a college degree to be president, as long as he can follow orders from the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson and the Bradley Foundation.

Walker hasn't waited for Christie to get to Wisconsin to take some potshots at him. After Christie's embarrassing attempt at hugging last weekend, Walker sent out this almost as embarrassing tweet:

Walker, Tosa Ranger and the Outlaw Jersey Whale have tangled before, with Walker feeling that Christie wasn't supportive enough during the gubernatorial election.

But that will be small potatoes as these two knuckleheads try to out-conservative and out-corrupt each other as the primary moves on.

The Arrogance of Chris Christie

By Jeff Simpson

H/T David Sirota   Scott Walker's good friend and campaigner, fellow Republican Governor and head of the Republican Governor's Association, openly defies ethics rule.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s ticket and travel to the Dallas Cowboys playoff game on Sunday was paid for by team owner Jerry Jones, according to a spokesman for the governor. The gifts from the NFL team owner follow the Christie administration giving millions of dollars worth of tax subsidies to the NFL.
The announcement from the governor’s office followed International Business Times first reportingtoday on Christie appearing in the NFL owner's box despite strict New Jersey ethics rules. Those rules subject public officials to “a zero tolerance policy for acceptance of gifts ... that are related in any way to [an officeholder’s] official duties.” As governor, Christie has overseen the state’s business with the NFL, most prominently during the 2014 Super Bowl.
Christie has cited those same ethics rules in barring other New Jersey officials from getting special access to tickets to events at state-owned arenas. 

Even though its impossible for Christie to hide anywhere, our political class has pretty much decided to not even hide their flaws or their open defiance of the law.  As long as we keep voting for people because of the letter after their name and do not hold them accountable for their actions, this will only get worse.

Scott Walker Welcomes Chris Christie

By Jeff Simpson

"I don't need people from outside of this state.  This is about me and the people of the state of Wisconsin." — comments by Governor Scott Walker reported by WisPolitics.com during a campaign stop in Pewaukee this week.

Who knew that Chris Christie lived in Wisconsin?  Is it that hard to tell the truth?  

 

Compare/Contrast Wi Visitor Edition

By Jeff Simpson

We have had no shortage of political celebrities visiting WI to GOTV for the upcoming Gubernatorial race lately.  The company we keep says alot about us, and I think we have the perfect example.  

Governor Scott Walker who has run a divide and conquer strategy to perfection:

   

Mr. Walker has had his good friend Chris Christie come to campaign with him a few times.  here is Mr. Christie responding to a "heckler" who is actually a Hurricane Sandy victim who wants to know why the Governor is still sitting on 80% of the funds used for Hurricane relief. 

 

Mary Burke has actually had President Obama here and let's see how he handles protestors:

 

That pretty much says it all, one party, one candidate respects all points of view and one doesnt.   Which one do you want running our state for the next 4 years?  

I think the choice is clear!

Is Chris Christie Leaving Scott Walker Down And Out?

On Thursday, The Weekly Standard raised the question whether New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and thus the Republican Governors Association, is pulling back from Scott Walker in the final days of his campaign, citing a decrease in spending by the RGA in Wisconsin:

Is New Jersey governor and Republican Governors Association chairman Chris Christie undercutting Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's reelection effort? That's a question a number of influential Wisconsin Republicans have been asking behind the scenes over the past week after an October 16 Associated Press report indicated that Walker and his allies were being outspent by Democratic challenger Mary Burke and her allies.

"The Center for Public Integrity reported Thursday that Walker and his backers spent nearly $6.1 million on ads through Monday, while Burke and her supporters ran nearly $6.6 million," the AP reported on Thursday. On Sunday, Walker told the Washington Post's Robert Costa: "We are always looking for more help. Our main help has to be the RGA." But according to the Center for Public Integrity, the Republican Governors Association has spent $5.9 million on TV ads in Michigan, where Governor Rick Snyder is up for reelection, and just $801,000 on TV ads in Wisconsin.

The article goes on to say how a "GOP source with knowledge of RGA spending" denied this was so and claimed that they are spending lots of money and plan on doing a massive ad buy in the few remaining days.

However, The Weekly Standard followed up on this and found that their source was all wet and that the RGA is indeed backing off from Walker:

After our story ran, Robert Costa of the Washington Post reported that RGA officials told him “their original plan had been to spend about $900,000 on the Wisconsin airwaves in the campaign’s closing days. But after internal deliberations and tightening polls, that amount has been increased to $2 million.”

That’s pretty close to the opposite of what we were told.

Our “GOP source with knowledge of RGA spending” told us: “We have another $4-5 million in TV ad time reserved for these last two weeks.” So if the RGA is committing to just $2 million now – that’s not an increase over their original amount, as RGA officials told the Post, it would appear to be a significant reduction.

What's more, Wisconsin GOP sources dispute the RGA's claim to have spent $6 million to date, putting the figure at closer to $3 million.

The author questions why the RGA would be putting more money into the race in Michigan, where Governor Rick Snyder has a small but consistent lead over his opponent, as opposed to the race in Wisconsin, where it's a dead heat.

The answer to that is simple. Snyder doesn't have any known plans to run for president in 2016, whereas Governor Bridgegate and Governor Walkergate both do. If Walker would happen to lose his bid for reelection, that would mean one less competitor for Christie.

One just has to remember that there is no honor among thieves and/or Republicans, but I repeat myself.

H/T Crooks and Liars

The Company He Keeps

By Jeff Simpson

“Governors should be defined not just by what they do and say, but who they surround themselves with, making sure to have the smartest person for a particular task or to head a specific agency. They should be judged on that basis and who they take advice from.” Scott Walker

It is interesting that someone with that kind of attitude, would then be campaigning with New Jersey republican Chris Christie.  

There was a time when Chris Christie's biggest problems were his weight and not being able to tell the truth.   That and his incredible anger and bitterness towards the middle class.   Not to mention his lack of people skills:

That was Christie version 1.0, then like a good republican, he turned his anger and hatred away from public workers and focused it on Democrats in New Jersey that would dare oppose him.   Christie, or one of his underlings, ordered some traffic lanes closed off, to hurt a small town who had a Democratic Mayor who  refused to endorse him.    In Wisconsin we have grown used to the Governor punishing those who disagree with him, in New Jersey someone actually died as a direct result of Bridgegate.  

We also know that when you get away with one scandal the sky is the limit.   That led to even more scandals as Mr. Christie has played fast and loose with the public pensions, costing taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars!  

Its an age old political game, give the pension to your friends, who in turn give huge donations to you and in the process mismanage the pension.  This helps you get reelected on the fact that the pensions are killing the state financially and need to be reformed.   

Lather - rinse - repeat!   

While Christie brings with him the stench of scandal to Wisconsin to help Scandal plagued Scott Walker campaign, look for the media to really focus today on Michelle Obama's(who will also be in Wisconsin campaigning today) attempt to help our children eat better food!    

Since no reporter will dare ask Scott Walker or Chris Christie about their scandals or their lack of respect for public workers, maybe they can ask Scott Walker this question - 

Mr. Walker, how many times today while talking to Mr. Christie did you say "Why didn't I think of that?", so we know exactly how scared we should be for a second Walker term. 

 

The Walker Camoflage

By Jeff Simpson

The GOP Governor's Association, led by Chris Christie, has made an appearance in WI, attacking Democratic candidate Mary Burke(not promoting their righty darling Scott Walker's policies).  

Of course this ad spend of deep into 6 figures, entitled "backwards" was authorized by Chris Christie who apparently thought it was titled  "backup".

Internal emails released Wednesday strongly suggest that a top aide to New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie orchestrated massive traffic problems in Fort Lee, New Jersey, last fall as an act of political retribution against the city's Democratic mayor.

What is most telling is that the criticisms labeled at Mary Burke, still make Scott Walker look bad since his record is one of massive failure, even compared to Jim Doyle and the global recession of 2008.

 The 30-second TV ad blasts Burke, a former Wisconsin commerce secretary, for job losses during the administration of former Gov. Jim Doyle.

*  No chance to even come close to Scott Walker's 250,000 jobs promise.  

*  Wisconsin leads the nation in jobless claims(so proud).

*  In what has become an almost daily story, another WI institution is closing their doors! 

Did I mention the job creation promise?

It also accuses Trek, the family company for which Burke served as an executive, of outsourcing jobs to China.

*  At least she has experience in the business world and the private sector unlike career politician Scott Walker.   

*  Under Scott Walker's reign, WI leads the country in jobs outsourced to China! 

* Then of course there is this! 



   

Mary Burke has flaws, and is running a horrendous campaign but there is a reason no one will bring in outside money to tout the competence and record of Scott Walker.  Walker's record needs to be covered up! 


Here is Scott Walker with Communist China's president Xi Jinping:

 

Is It Wrong That I'm Smiling?

By Jeff Simpson

"Today we must make a pact with each other to end this reckless conduct with the people's government." New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. 

 In case you have not seen, New Jersey republican Governor Chris Christie is knee deep in a scandal!  

The George Washington Bridge is among the world's busiest, carrying some 300,000 vehicles on a typical day. The abrupt and unexpected lane closures, which lasted four days in September, badly snarled traffic in the borough of Fort Lee at the New Jersey end of the bridge.
Critics say the shutdown was retribution against the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, who did not endorse the governor's re-election efforts. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the bridge, said it was the result of a last-minute traffic study.

The problem for Christie?  As the emails clearly show from Christie's top staffers. the facts say it was shut down for retribution and there was no "traffic study": 

"Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," his aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, wrote to a Port Authority executive in August.
The executive, David Wildstein, replied in an email: "Got it."
The emails do not give a specific reason for the closings, which left furious commuters trapped in traffic jams for hours. The closings began on the first day of school in Fort Lee.
In another message sent amid the gridlock, an unidentified author wrote: "Is it wrong that I'm smiling," and Wildstein responded: "No."

 As we say here, but wait there's more!  Is it wrong that your smiling?  well someone actually died because of your political maneuver, so yes it actually is!

A local New Jersey paper reported that, as a result of the lane closures, emergency responders were delayed in attending to four medical situations. One involved an unconscious 91-year-old woman who later died of cardiac arrest and another a car accident in which four people were injured.

Well whats a few deaths if it means advancing his political career right?

What does the tough talking Governor have to say?  Exactly what you thought he would say.  

It wasn't him.  

 “What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable," Christie said. "I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge."

Now where have I heard that before?  

The Republican strategy seems to be, anything at all good that happens in the state is their accomplishment and anything bad that happens within their office  - Instant Sgt. Schultz!  

Today, Chris Christie will hold a press conference where he will parade some staffers out to throw under the bus, then he will turn his attention on the real problem with America and yell at a female teacher to do her job!   Then he will hop on the state run helicopter to head to his son's baseball game! 




 



On the bright side, his good friend can offer him suggestions on some good criminal defense law firms! Uppity Wisconsin explains why this story matters to Wisconsinites!  

 

Chris Christie Is Schooled!

 

By Jeff Simpson

By now you may have heard that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, recently exhibited some sexist and savage behavior when he was asked a question by a local teacher. The question that set him off?

"Why do you portray New Jersey Public Schools as 'failure factories?'"

 The only thing Chris Christie enjoys more than donuts, is yelling at female teachers, so he jumped at this chance:

Everyone knows Chris Christie loves to be rude and shout at people. Shouting at public school teachers is a 'thing' of his that he enjoys. 99% of the time the people he chews out are women.
The teacher who was bold enough to ask Christie this question admits she was shaking when he jabbed his finger in her face and shouted at her, but she's still proud of what she did. We're proud of her too.
It's a shame Christie will most likely be relected governor on Tuesday, which is probably why he felt it was no big deal to be photographed shouting at a single woman who dared to ask him a question. So nice to see what he really thinks of his constituents and how he treats them.

 

As Washington Post put it:

  Christie answered in his trademark Christie way: by yelling at her. He pointed a finger at her, as this picture shows, and shouted:

“Because they are!”

He also said:

“I am tired of you people. What do you want?”

Tomlinson’s question seems like a fair one, given that New Jersey public schools overall have long done extremely well on the  metric that school reformers like Christie believe are the most telling about academic achievement: standardized test scores. You can take a look here at some of the stats. By this standard, it seems that most New Jersey teachers are doing their jobs — despite severe education budget cuts of at least $1 billion by the Christie administration (according to this Star-Ledger piece). That of course hasn’t stopped Christie, as Jersey Jazzman notes here on his useful education blog, from repeatedly attacking teachers and their unions.

Of course, Ms. Tomlinson, has to understand to stop complaining.  If you are going to have republican rule,  hatred of local people and crumbling infrastructure are sure to follow!

Besides, if anyone understands efficiency and results, its politicians!   

Ms. Tomlinson, also did something that was unheard of to Christie........she thought before she spoke and composed this letter:

 Dear Governor Christie, Yesterday I took the opportunity to come hear you speak on your campaign trail. I have never really heard you speak before except for sound bytes that I get on my computer. I don't have cable, I don't read newspapers. I don't have enough time. I am a public school teacher that works an average of 60 hours a week in my building. Yes, you can check with my principal. I run the after-school program along with my my classroom position. I do even more work when I am at home. For verification of this, just ask my children. I asked you one simple question yesterday. I wanted to know why you portray NJ Public Schools as failure factories. Apparently that question struck a nerve. When you swung around at me and raised your voice, asking me what I wanted, my first response “I want more money for my students.” Notice, I did not ask for more money for me. I did not ask for my health benefits, my pension, a raise, my tenure, or even my contract that I have not had for nearly three years. We got into a small debate about how much money has been spent on education. Too me, there is never enough money that is spent on education. To invest in education is to invest in our future. We cannot keep short-changing our children and taking away opportunities for them to explore and learn. As more money is required for state-mandated curriculum changes and high-stakes standardized testing, it is our children that are losing. Programs are being cut all over the state as budget changes are forcing districts to cut music, art, after-school transportation, and youth-centered clubs. But let's put money aside for a moment. What do I want? What do 'we people' want? We want to be allowed to teach. Do you know that the past two months has been spent of our time preparing and completing paperwork for the Student Growth Objectives? Assessments were created and administered to our students on material that we have not even taught yet. Can you imagine how that made us feel? The students felt like they were worthless for not having any clue how to complete the assessments. The teachers felt like horrible monsters for having to make the students endure this. How is that helping the development of a child? How will that help them see the value in their own self-worth. This futile exercise took time away from planning and preparing meaningful lessons as well as the time spent in class actually completing the assessments. The evaluations have no statistical worth and has even been recognized as such by the NJ Department of Education. I am all for evaluation of a teacher. I recognize that I should be held accountable for my job. This does not worry me, as long as I am evaluated on my methods of teaching. I can not be held wholly accountable for the learning growth of a student when I am not accountable for all of the factors that influence this growth. Are you aware that poverty is the biggest determination of a child's educational success. If not, I suggest you read Diane Ravitch's new book Reign of Error. Take a moment and become enlightened. Getting back to the issue of money. I am fully aware of our educational budget. Where is all of this money? To me it seems like it is being siphoned right off into the hands of private companies as they reap the benefits of the charter schools and voucher programs that you have put into place. It certainly hasn't gone to improve school conditions in urban areas such as Jersey City. The conditions that these students and teachers are forced to be in are horrifying. Yet you are not allowing the funds needed to improve these conditions. Are you hoping that these schools get closed down and more students are forced to go to private charter schools while the districts are being forced to pay their tuition? I know for a fact that this is what has happened in Camden and Newark. Yet these charter schools are not held to the same accountability as our public schools. Why is that? Because deep down you know that you are not really dealing with the issues that influence a child's education. You are simply putting a temporary band-aid into place. Unfortunately that temporary fix is already starting to be exposed as Charter Schools are showing that they actually are not able to do better than public schools. You are setting up teachers to take the blame for all of this. You have portrayed us as greedy, lazy money-draining public servants that do nothing. I invite you to come do my job for one week Governor Christie. I invite you to come see my students, see how little they really have during the school day as they are being forced to keep learning for a single snapshot of their educational worth. For that one end-all, be-all test, the NJASK. The one that the future of my job and my life is now based upon. Why do you portray schools as failure factories? What benefit do you reap from this? Have you acquired financial promises for your future campaigns as you eye the presidential nomination? Has there been back-room meetings as you agree to divert public funds to private companies that are seeking to take over our public educational system? This is my theory. To accomplish all of this, you are setting up the teachers to take the blame. Unfortunately, you are not the only governor in our country that has this agenda. What do “we people' want, Governor Christie? We want our schools back. We want to teach. We want to be allowed to help these children to grow, educationally, socially, and emotionally. We want to be respected as we do this, not bullied. BadAss Teacher, Melissa Tomlinson