The Mighty Text Battle Of 2017

By Jeff Simpson

JSonline recently broke a story of a text message battle between Governor Scott Walker and Republican Assembly speaker Robin Vos.

The tension took on a bitter tone in text messages between the two last week that were released Friday under the state's open records law. The raw private exchange between the governor and Assembly speaker — in which both men blamed the other for infighting over the state budget — underscores how the top Republicans have been at odds in recent actions.

Blind ambition can do strange things to people.  Both career politicians have started to believe their own hype.   The fight stems from both wanting more.  Vos and Walker, based on their winning previous elections (massive amount of dark money and unethically gerrymandered lines not withstanding) the two evil twins had an agenda.  

Scott Walker was certain to be President now and Robin Vos would be getting ready to unseat Rebecca Kleefisch as Governor of Wisconsin.   With Reince playing a major role in GOP politics and Paul Ryan Speaker of the House, the Four Horsemen would ride again.  

A huge wrench was thrown into those plans though when Scott Walker, after running for President for four straight years was soundly and thoroughly rejected by the base of the Republican party for an overweight, bad haired, TV reality "star".  

That left Walker without a path forward and since he has done nothing but suck off the public teat, he has no intentions of going anywhere.   While Scott holds the Governor's office, Robin can not run for it.   It is not looked upon very well if someone within a party challenges an incumbent(See Nehlen, Paul) without express consent of the party leaders(See Marklein , Howard).  

At the moment Walker can not be President and Vos can not be Governor.   That means there is conflict between the two and it boiled over in a series of text messages.  You would think that since they both are paid full time wages to work, they could just have sat down together in the Capitol and ironed it out.   That would of course mean that they would have to actually be working and in the Capitol.  Which we know is a rarity.

Now that we have the background out of the way, there was a text that was given some attention but not in context and not enough.

Robin Vos asked Scott Walker :

"do you think it's responsible not to make any interest or debt service payments (on) transportation over the next couple of years?"

Anyone who knows and has followed Scott Walkers career, knows that he is absolutely ok with it.  When your plan is to move on quickly, then he can blame his predecessor on all problems.   The problem is while Walker might have assumed it to be a Democrat, Robin Vos is certain he is that predecessor.   That is the ONLY reason Robin Vos would ask that question.  

The most telling text though, that has been completely ignored in all news stories is Scott Walkers answer:

Scott Walker: I believe we will have decent growth in the future. 

500 bonus points to anyone who can say where they have heard that one before:

  4/30/2012: Once June 5 hits and Gov. Scott Walker is securely re-elected, “our economy is going to take off like a rocket,” state Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said Monday during a meeting with The Journal Times Editorial Board.

Ouch,  he actually had people believing that and now we have dropped to 37th in the nation in job creation and are carrying more long term debt than we ever have.  

Dueling Legislators who are hoping for pie in the sky economics, while legislating from a position of ignorance and personal ambition.

Heaven help us!  

**PS:  We at CogDis have confirmed that no pocket protectors were injured in this battle!  

Will Williams Testimony

By Jeff Simpson

American Hero and Wisconsin Treasure, Will Williams spoke up against the RTW bill yesterday:

Thank you Mr. Williams for your service when you were active duty and beyond!  It is unfortunate none of the Republicans on the panel cared what you had to say.  

Be On The Lookout!

 

By Jeff Simpson

While the Cancer Treatment Bill passed yesterday in the Senate 30-2(with the coward Scott Fitzgerald voting for it - Leah Vukmir and Paul Farrow casting votes against(and should be severly punished the next time their name is on a ballot).  

Now it goes to the Assembly where thrice divorced and dating a lobbyist speaker Robin Vos has taken enough campaign donations from Big pharma to block this bill from coming to a vote.  

Mike McCabe wrote the following on Facebook this morning.
The cancer drug bill is being blocked in the state Assembly too, despite the fact the legislation is supported by at least 61 of the Assembly’s 99 members, including all 39 Democrats and 22 Republicans.
Assembly Republicans have received nearly $287,000 in political donations from interests opposing the legislation. The top recipient is the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee ($43,700), the leadership PAC controlled by Speaker Robin Vos. Vos himself is fourth on the list of leading recipients, with $16,400 in donations from bill opponents to his personal campaign committee. Another opponent of the cancer drug bill, Representative John Nygren, who is co-chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, is second on the list of recipients

There you go Cancer victims from WI.  Robin Vos has officially valued your life at less than $16,400.  People in the 63rd District must be so very proud of their rep.   

The rest of the republicans in the Assembly are such cowards, that they refuse to state publicly if they support the bill or not!  

When asked in the Capitol Tuesday, here's a sampling of those who wouldn't say if they were for or against the bill.
Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin): "I really don't have an opinion."
Rep. Daniel LeMahieu (R-Cascade): "I'm not saying anything about oral chemo."
Rep. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville): "We're still working that out."
Rep. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green): "We'll talk about it Thursday."
Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield): "I'm still discerning it."
Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford): "Uh, I'm not going to talk to you."
Rep. Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva): "I have to take a look at it."
Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander): "I'm going to wait for caucus on Thursday."

Nothing says conviction and backbone like "I am going to wait for caucus."   Swearingen needs to be told how to think behind closed doors apparently.

One person notably absent(I wonder if Vos is threatening to hold his paycheck or sending State troopers to his house?) is the face of the republican party, former majority leader, Wild Bill Kramer (R-Waukesha).   

Kramer is AWOL and collecting taxpayer money and benefits!   Must be nice to not have to show up to work and still get full pay and benefits! 

Seriously though, just in case there is something seriously wrong with Mr. Kramer beyond the normal republican sense of entitlement and lack of personal responsibility, we at CogDis want to help.  

We will be rolling these out statewide soon(H/T Phill Scarr): 

If you see republican representative Kramer, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND OR CONVERSE WITH, as he is known to be drunk and dangerous.


Please call republican moral leader Robin Vos:

Toll Free:  888-534-0063

Madison Office:  608-266-3387

Home Phone:  262-514-2597

 

 

 

 

 

Waukesha-based Campaigns!

 

By Jeff Simpson

A Democrat threw his hat in the ring to take on Republican Moderate Senator Dale Schultz. 

Madison -- Former state transportation budget director Ernie Wittwer announced Tuesday he is running as a Democrat for the seat held by state Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center).
His announcement alters the dynamic of the closely watched race. Schultz has not decided whether he will seek re-election and has not ruled out running as an independent if he does run.
Rep. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) is seeking the seat, so Schultz will face a primary challenge if he runs as a Republican.
Schultz has frustrated his fellow Republicans by voting against them on legislation to limit collective bargaining for public workers and to streamline mining regulation.
In a news conference in the state Capitol, Wittwer praised Schultz for taking some courageous votes but said he votes with Republicans the vast majority of the time. Wittwer said he was in the race no matter what Schultz does.
"Dale hasn't made up his mind," Wittwer said. "I'll be running in either case."

 What is interesting about this story is how Schultzs chief of staff, Todd Allbaugh, had to say when asked about this:

He said Wittwer appeared to be "a Dale Schultz Republican," but reserved most of his criticism for Marklein.
"This is a Waukesha-based campaign," he said of Marklein's campaign for a seat on the other side of the state. "Howard Marklein is the tea party candidate, who absolutely is being bought and paid for by the far right wing of the party."

Now we have party bosses in Waukesha trying to decide every race in the state and punishing those who disagree.

Its up to you if that is ok!

 

 

 

Let the Punishment Commence!

By Jeff Simpson

Representative Howard Marklein has decided he has had enough of Dale Schultz's moderation and has announced his intention to primary Schultz! 

 SPRING GREEN…Representative Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) announced his candidacy for Wisconsin’s 17th State Senate District today. Marklein, a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, is currently serving his second term as State Representative for the 51st Assembly District in southwestern Wisconsin

The 17th Senate District is currently held by Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center). Schultz, a long-time incumbent, has been in office since 1982. Senator Schultz’s current four year term is up in November 2014. Schultz has not yet announced his re-election plans.

“I am extremely humbled by the support and encouragement I’ve received from supporters to run for the Senate. I am announcing my campaign to ensure that we are able to continue to build on the good work we have done,” Marklein said. “After growing up on a dairy farm in the district, I believe I will bring a fresh, common-sense perspective to the Senate. As a CPA with extensive private sector experience, I will continue to advance the belief that government’s role is to provide the tools private businesses need to grow, rather than create road blocks to economic growth. I will also continue to advocate for policies that benefit our communities by allowing the private sector to create good jobs for our hard working people.”

 Marklein,  who vastly outspent his opponent, in a heavily gerrymandered district and still only won by 1000 votes has decided that moderation must be punished and he is the one person with a mandate to do it. 

Dissent, free thinking, alternate opinions, rational discussion and reaching across the aisle will NOT be tolerated in 2013 Wisconsin. Brad Courtney,  Howard Marklein, Robin Vos, Scott Fitzgerald, Scott Walker and the rest of the party have decided that they have had enough of Dale Schultz thinking for himself.   We are 44th and sinking in jobs created, public education is being attacked and our budget is being "balanced" by going deeper in debt than ever!  To the republicans, this constitutes "working".

Dale Schulz has seen first hand the massive fail and has tried to hit the brakes during the Walker administration's race to the bottom, and that is unacceptable. 

And Ladies and gentlemen, that is your 2013 Wisconsin republican party!