If you want to know why the Democratic Party has went from controlling the legislature and the Governors office to being irrelevant in the state, I can sum it up in two words.
Gordon Hintz.
I am not talking about when he threatened Michelle Litjens with violence, thus allowing the Republicans to switch the debate from the horrors of ACT10 to the violence of the Dems. I am also not talking about the fact that he likes to drive without license or insurance. I am not even talking about the fact that in a state where sexual trafficing is a major problem was arrested for visiting prostitutes. I mean come on, in Wisconsin even Robin Vos can get dates(they are usually married but still dates) without paying.
I am actually referring to his latest hot headed rant.
It seems that someone has decided that they want to perform their civic duty in America and run for office. Apparently, they did not get the permission of Mr. Hintz and it does not sit well with him.
From Jessie Opoien and the Cap Times:
This is such a distraction," said Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh. "Think about this. Hopefully all 35 of us (Democrats in the Assembly) are going to come out strongly for Robb. Every dollar and every door that we do for our colleague is another dollar and another door that we’re not doing in a Republican district that we can win. When we pick up a seat or two fewer in the fall, I’m going to think about these so-called progressive hypocrites that went after this unnecessary seat to make themselves happy or to high-five their friends at the co-op."Let's take a look at this statement:
There are 35(out of 99 seats) in the assembly that are democrats, That means they have lost 64 seats to Republicans. I am not sure how many doors and dollars they have spent trying to win some of the 64 Republican seats but it is not working.
* "Progressive Hypocrites" like the vast majority of elected Democratic elected officials who came out strong for Hillary Clinton despite her poor record on Human rights and middle class job?
* He has managed so far to completely rip on the part of the Democratic base that belongs to Co-Ops. Now we know why they voted for Nader.
There is more:
Hintz, who has served in the Assembly since 2007, called Anderson's move shortsighted.
He also noted that Anderson's campaign is staffed by current and former members of the League of Conservation Voters and Fair Wisconsin, groups that have endorsed Republicans as recently as 2014.
* why stop at Co-Ops, now Hintz has offended the League of Conservation Voters AND Fair Wisconsin.
There is even more:
Hintz said he generally has mixed feelings about primary challenges in safe districts, adding that it's not enough for the incumbent to have voted with the party. Kahl, he said, has been a team player who works to get Democrats elected throughout the state.That's the kind of attitude progressives should want in a candidate, Hintz argued.
"I'm in the business of trying to elect more Democrats, not trying to increase the size of the Solidarity Singers," Hintz said.
* As for the working to get more Democrats elected, see above. there are 35/99. They are not working that hard.
* So now Mr. Hintz has made fun of the Solidarity Singers. The only people who Hintz seems not have ripped on as part of the Democratic base are a few lobbyists.
But wait there is so much more:, Robb Kahl jumps in:
The incumbent, Kahl, hasn't decided whether he'll seek re-election — but he talks like a candidate looking toward a future campaign.
Kahl said the delay is more personal than anything — he and his family are moving to a new home and haven't had much time to discuss it together. He said he'll make his decision known within the next few weeks out of courtesy to anyone else who might be considering a run.
The deadline to turn in signatures is June 1. It is the end of APril, if Mr, Kahl decides to not run and lets us know that "in a few weeks" who can turn it around in a few days?
In response to Anderson's suggestions that Kahl isn't representing the interests of his party or his constituents, Kahl challenged him to point to a vote demonstrating that.
Anderson cited a 2013 bill that prohibits people from trafficking food stamp benefits. The measure, signed into law by Walker in July 2013,passed the Assembly on a bipartisan 73-24 vote. Kahl was one of 13 Democrats to support it.
He also cited a bill that would have made it easier for private, out-of-state companies to buy municipal water systems. That bill passed the Assembly on a voice vote, which means no roll call was taken. The Senate did not take it up.
Challenge offered and Challenge accepted. Unfortunately there is more:
"He (Anderson), like a lot of, frankly, extremists on the far end of the spectrum, cannot seem to get past this fascination or obsession with Scott Walker," Kahl said.
So true, except for the fact that our schools have been devastated, major companies have closed down, we have record debt, hundreds of thousands of workers have taken majkor pay cuts, and we have given millions to donors via the scam of WEDC, Except for that one would hardly know that Scott Walker was Governor. Move along nothing to see here.
"This whole fascination with whether or not I’ve been a Democrat since birth is frankly nauseating, and the voters are sick of it, too," Kahl said. "My journey here has not been a straight line, but I also do not apologize for that fact ... I think the majority of voters in this state don’t simply live by this strict ideology of politics that is really only being dictated to us by the extremists on both sides."
WIll someone send that memo to the Democratic party and Hillary Clinton they did not seem to get it.
"People like Jimmy Anderson don’t understand that reality," Kahl said. "It’s clear he just wants to come out and take this hard stance on the far end of the spectrum. That’s his prerogative, but I can assure you, if he is elected, the people of the 47th will not be served, because he will get nothing done."
Nobody works as hard as the current group of Dems, I mean without them we would not have been able to give the billionaire Bucks owners 500 million dollars of our money to build a new arena. When you have a solid record like the current Wisdems, it makes sense that you would speculate as to how hard others would work. '
Also nothing drives up turnout on election day like sitting legislators rip[ping on their base.
Besides the person who these two are skewering for wanting to be involved in our democracy?
Jimmie Anderson:
Anderson said his desire to serve in public office stems from personal tragedy. In 2010, he and his family were hit by a drunk driver in California. The crash left Anderson paralyzed from the chest down and killed his parents and younger brother.
A California native, Anderson and his wife decided to stay in Dane County after finishing their law and veterinary degrees in Madison. He founded a nonprofit, Drive Clear, aimed at preventing drunk driving and helping its victims. With that organization established, Anderson started looking for his next move.
Having benefited from the highly politicized Affordable Care Act in the treatment of his injuries, Anderson was inspired to run for office. The provision of the law prohibiting health insurance policies from placing lifetime limits on most benefits kicked in just as Anderson had learned he was close to reaching his plan's lifetime limit.
"It was a wake-up call," he said. "I had been kind of cynical about politics, and it made me realize I needed to do something."
The nerve of Mr. Anderson surviving a horrible tragedy and wanting to give back to the public with his life that has been forever changed.
Gordon Hintz owes Mr. Anderson and the Democratic base an apology.
He owes it immediately and publicly.
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