What Senator Shilling Should Say

By Jeff Simpson

Today on the Devils Advocate Radio show, Michael Crute played an interview with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jen Shilling where she said she expected this election to go very well for the Democrats and they should pick up a Senate seat or two.  

Well not sure if anyone told Ms. Shilling what is happening lately in WI but someone needs to clue her in.   First off the Democrats need to win three seats to retake the majority.  Secondly, Donald Trump, the racist, misogynist, sexist, petty, babied billionaire will be om the top of the ticket.  Third, the Walker administration and the WISGOP, have run our state into the ground with the largest debt and the most spending in our history(among other problems).

If the Democratic party can come out of this once in a lifetime election with only gaining one seat it might be the biggest colossal failure in electoral history  

As a "leader" (Ms. Shilling is not the first Democrat to talk about how few seats they are going to win) that is not very inspiring to the "troops",

Can you imagine how quickly Paul Chryst would be fired, if he pointed out that "because they are playing Ohio State, they should be able to get a first down or two. That it would be a great day if they only lost by two touchdowns"?  

I get it though, the Democrats have been getting a beat down since Mike Tate rose to prominence.   The party also has a a history of hiring professional political class consultants who are very good at increasing their bank accounts and decreasing the seats that Democrats hold.  

With such a long history of being down, I am going to offer some free advice.  

==============================================================

Q.  Senator Shilling, how do you see the election cycle going for your party in November?

A. Senator Shilling:   Very good question.  We are very excited this election cycle.  We have been out knocking on doors, meeting voters and Wisconsin citizens and they have been very receptive of our positive message.   

The voters know that our Governor has been so busy campaigning for President that he has greatly ignored our state   The voters are also aware that his allies in the Senate, like Senator Fitzgerald, have given him a blank check to run our state and he has written it for vast sums of money.  Our last budget was the biggest budget in state history and they have also burdened us with a record amount of debt that our children will bare the burden for.    

For example, in Senate District 14, we see that the King Nursing home is in the news often because it has been so incompetently run.   That is right in Luther Olson's back yard and he decided to go eat pies(literally) than take steps to solve the problem and treat our Veteran heroes with the respect and dignity they deserve.   The voters there are anxious to be represented by Brian Smith, a true public servant.  

In Senate District 18, our challenger Mark Harris so scares Senator Fitzgerald that they had to pass a bill that strictly targets Mr. Harris.   He is currently the Winnebago County Executive and Scott Fitzgerald playing petty politics, passed a bill that specifically said that County Executives can not also serve in the Senate.  Well there are mayors, school board members. county board members etc... that are serving in, or running for the State Senate.   However, there is only one county executive that fits that description - Mark Harris.   Mark will make a great Senator when the people in his district send him to Madison!   

in the 12th district, Incumbent Tom Tiffany has been a firebrand for the Republicans.  Not in a good way of course, but more so in a, this guy makes Donald Trump seem fair and open minded, kind of way.  

The Democratic challenger there is Bryan Van Stippen.   The people of the 12th district finally have someone that wants to represent the people of the 12th and not whatever company comes in and throws a few hundred dollars in his campaign fund.  Bryan Van Stippen is someone who wants to restore local control back to our communities and rebuilding Wisconsin.

I know I forgot a couple people off the top of my head but I am certain that November 8th will be a very good day for the Democrats in WI!


We have to start talking about winning before we can actually start winning!

Petty Politics

By Jeff Simpson

One of the key takeaways for anyone following Wisconsin politics these last few years, has noticed how petty the Republicans can be in Wisconsin.   One of the pettiest of all, is Senate majority leader Scott Fitzgerald, and his latest stunt might have taken the cake.

Scott Fitzgerald recently came up with the idea, which he then fast tracked in the Senate, where he came up with and fast tracked a bill that says you can not serve in the Assembly and also be a county executive.  

Full disclosure, I actually think its a good idea, not sure how someone can serve two full time elected positions(although I still believe that the WI legislature should be a part time job), but that is up to the voters to decide.  If they feel so little of the job you are doing as a County executive, and want to also send you to the legislature in Madison also, so be it.

My problem with the bill however, is that it falls into the main category of governing that the Wisconsin legislature has worked under for 6 years - punish your enemies.

Fitzy served over 6 years with Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer and never had a problem with Mr. Z collecting two paychecks or serving both positions. Just last year, Paul Farrow served as Waukesha County Executive and in the Assembly for three month concurrently, to no complaints from Fitzgerald.    

Now that Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris is the front runner for Senate District 18, Fitzgerald passed a law making it illegal to hold both positions.  

 On a 19-13 vote, senators approved SB 707, which would bar anyone from simultaneously serving as a legislator and county executive. That measure is aimed at a Senate run by Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, a Democrat seeking the seat being given up by Sen. Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac).

At least Fitzgerald is in such a gerrymandered district that he admits he is doing it just to be petty.

 Fitzgerald said Harris' run brought such questions to the forefront."I know people are going to say there is a political piece to this, and there is," he said.

Ziegelbauer even weighed in on how ridiculous this is:

Ziegelbauer often sided with Republicans and quit the Democratic Party near the end of his Assembly tenure but was harsh in his assessment of the GOP-backed bill.

"It's for partisan purposes and it's a cheap shot for one particular candidate," Ziegelbauer said.

 Even Republican friendly Wisconsin State Journal weighed in against it:

Fitzgerald’s real motive is preserving his political power. He wants to continue to run the state Senate with a comfortable GOP majority. And the Democrats’ best shot at gaining a seat is the 18th District, though the Democrats would need to pick up a total of three seats to claim majority control.
Fitzgerald’s argument that there ought to be a law is weak for a conservative who, in theory, should favor limited government intervention. Fitzgerald should wait until a problem actually exists before worrying about a top-down solution

The best part of this whole bill though, is that after spending the majority of the year campaigning for President, and blowing $7 MILLION dollars doing so, Scott Walker weighed in with incredible irony deficiency

 Gov. Scott Walker, a former Milwaukee County executive, was noncommittal about the bill when asked about it last week, but he brought up points raised by supporters.“Whether there’s a bill or not, I think it’s a legitimate question to ask how someone could possibly serve in both,” Walker said.

Real Glenn Grothman

The REAL Glenn Grothman! 

VOTE FOR MARK HARRIS!

Glenn Grothman - Lady Hero!

   

The Colbert Report
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My Endorsements for Tuesday August 12th!

By Jeff Simpson

For What Its Worth, Here are some of my endorsements:

Governor -

I do not endorse, but I voted for Bret Hulsey as a protest vote to let the powers that be know that how they have handled this race is wrong, damaging in the short term and destructive in the long term.  Do I want Scott Walker to win again?  Absolutely not!   Do I think Brett Hulsey would be a better Governor than Scott Walker -  By leaps and bounds yes!

Lieutenant Governor- 

I do endorse Mary Jo Walters!!   I think the work she has done gathering signatures, engaging people and talking actual issues should be rewarded.  I appreciate what John Lehman has done in the past but his time has past.  When he ducked a debate he showed me his time has come and gone.  

The 63rd Assembly district - 

Bryn Biemeck -  Anytime you have a chance to knock Robin Vos from an elected position you need to take it.   Redistricting has made it almost impossible in many seats for the opposing party to make a difference.   With no real Democratic race on the ballot(I dont care who wins the AG, they are all head and shoulders better than JBVH or the his little twin replacement), now is your chance to show up on Tuesday and make a huge difference in the state of WI politics.

 In an off year primary, you can make a difference here!!

Senate District 21 -

Jonathan Steitz -  Triple dipper and former senate loser, Van Wanggaard, was being rewarded by the republican party for turning on the union he belonged to his whole career by having a distrcit redrawn for him where he might be able to win.  Then extremist Steitz stepped in to run and Van was screwed.  He does not have the appeal to the moderates or the left and the far right is now behind Steitz who strong believes in secession.    As the above race, you can make a difference here and watch the crazy Jonathan Steitz win and then all of the sane people in the district can get behind Randy Bryce who is a much much better candidate than both of them combined.  

6th Congressional District:

Glenn Grothman.   Here is another race that l would love to see the local Democrats cross over and support Grothman.   Democratic candidate Mark Harris will win in November anyway, and I am a firm believer that the bigger stage that Glenn Grothman has the better it is for everyone on the left!  

Wisconsin 72nd Assembly district.   

Scott Krug has to go!  He really really has to go.  Dana Duncan is the one to send him packing and represent the 72nd Assembly District like it should be represented - intelligently!    First he has to win the Democratic primary against a long time party machine backed candidate.   Please help him get through the primary and lets go about beating Scott Krug.    

Senate District 17:

This is a race where every democratic vote will matter.   There is long time local resident Ernie Wittwer running against political insider Pat Bomhack.  Bohmack will be more of the same vanilla, center right,m kowtow to the republican candidate that we have way too much of in Madison, WI.   Wittwer is the one to keep the tradition of independent thought, well spoken and carefully considered positions that District 17 is used to.   I recommend  Wittwer!

Glenn Grothman Has No Mirrors

By Jeff Simpson



Glenn Grothman, who for some reason feels he has done enough in his time as an elected representative to warrant a promotion, made a pledge recently and even managed to do so with a straight face!

“Over the last three months as I’ve traveled throughout the 6^th District meeting voters, I’ve heard a great deal of concern that they will get another Congressman who will be in Washington for 35 years like Congressman Petri.
“I, therefore, pledge to serve in Congress for a maximum of ten years, or five terms. The issues facing America are so pressing that we need to act now or we might lose our country altogether.

 So says the person who has been living off the taxpayers in WI and heading to Madison(for $88/day since 1993(for the voucher school alumni in the audience, that is 22 years).

Truth is truly stranger than fiction.

Unfortunately for our friends on the right, they really are left without a choice as Joe Leibham, who also incredibly feels he is deserving of a promotion, threw a temper tantrum and refuses to participate(Glenn followed closely behind in the boycott) in any voter forum that is affiliated with the non partisan League of Women Voters!   

Joe and Glenn have made it perfectly clear that no woman should ever question their authority!

Election season is silly season anyway, but made even worse when you throw in West Bend, and we are just getting warmed up! 

Please vote Mark Harris for Congress!  The rest of the world will thank you! 

Grover Norquist Wants to Own the 6th

By Jeff Simpson

The extremist in Wisconsin have had much success this year in flushing anyone from the party who has a history of compromise with the left.    One of their victims was Tom Petri, the long serving republican Congressman from the 6th District.  

With moderation out the door, the far right republicans in the area all ran to get a crack at his seat.  The anti-Government right wing, for some reason, can not ever seem to leave the Government.  This would be a significant pay increase, so three people who would starve in the private sector, are all working hard to be the next Congressman from WI.   All wanting to go to give Steve King and Louie Gohmert a run for their money in crazy talk. 

The three Wisconsinites running on the right for this seat are Joe Leibham, Glenn Grothman and Duey Stroebel(intelligent talent is seriously lacking on the right side of the aisle).    Intra party primaries can bring some tension and this one is no different.   

All three of these far right wingers are fighting over who was the first to sign Grover Norquist's blood oath.   

  On Monday, Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) issued a press release saying he was the first candidate to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge from Americans for Tax Reform.

It tells you how far to the right that these people are that they actually brag about signing their own free thoughts and votes away to Pennsylvania resident Norquist.  Announcing to the Wisconsin residents of the 6th district that they are bit players in the "I need more taxpayer money" roulette that these three are playing. 

For those of you wondering who Grover Norquist is, he is of these famous quotes:

" Our goal is to shrink government to the size where we can drown it in a bathtub".

Grover Norquist

• Our goal is to inflict pain. It is not good enough to win; it has to be a painful and devastating defeat. We're sending a message here. It is like when the king would take his opponent's head and spike it on a pole for everyone to see.

  • from the National Review, quoted in The Republican Noise Machine by David Brock, Crown Publishers 2004, pg. 50

[Democrats] will only become acceptable once they are comfortable in their minority status. Any farmer will tell you that certain animals run around and are unpleasant, but when they've been fixed, then they are happy and sedate.

• Grover Norquist cited in "The Great Revulsion" at nytimes.com, 10 November, 2002

  
  Norquist used to be one of the main power brokers in the republican party, then people found out what a vile human being he is and started to back off in droves.    However, as we know, the republican party of Wisconsin has their clocks set back 120 years, so they have not received the memo.  
  
  As for the actual pledge, it is one he wrote in 7th grade(which is why Leibham was actually able to read it) and is here:
  
  
  “I _____ pledge to the taxpayers of the __________ district, of the state of __________, and to all the people of this state, that I will oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”
  
  
  
  The problem with the pledge though, is that no where does it describe who is going to pay for the record debt that Leibham/Strobel/Grothman have left us? 
  
  Americans for Tax Reform
  722 12th ST NW
  Suite 400
  Washington DC 20005
  202.785.0266 (P)
  202.785.0261 (F)
  info@atr.org
  
  @taxreformer
  
  
  Luckily for the people of the 6th district you have an actual intelligent fiscal conservative running for office - Mark Harris!
   
  Support Mark with as much money, time and word of mouth as you can!!  
  
  
  

Scott Walker's Re-election!

By Jeff Simpson

It looks like all of the back door dealings by Mary Burke and her friends on the inside, have been successful!  


Winnebago County Exec Mark Harris announced this morning he will not run for guv next year.

Would he have been the best candidate?  I have no idea and now we will never know.  The party choked him out of the race before anyone had a chance to find out.  

Looks like everyone is clearing the way for Mary Burke to be the next victim of the Scott Walker political machine.  

 “If (Burke) were to run she’d be an instant frontrunner and an exceedingly difficult opponent for Scott Walker,” Tate said, adding that she has put in more work than other potential candidates by traveling the state talking with local activists, business leaders and voters.

 Can you name me one person who she has "talked too" that is not a party insider?    Interview with local press?  a voting record to be proud of?   

My suggestion to you and everyone else in WI.  If her path is to only talk to party insiders to push everyone else out of the race, then she does not need you to win.    I would highly suggest that you hold all donations, or money that you had planned on giving the democratic party in protest of your voice not being heard.   

I would suggest you save your donations to give to a local candidate of your choice, or save it because when Scott Walker gets elected again, you will need it!   


Apparently their new 72 county strategy, means the democrats will now follow the republicans lead and pick all candidates for us.   I don't remember the choosing of the candidates being on the platform of the Democratic Party Platform.  

 ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. - Timothy 6:10

 

 

Welcome to Oceania - 2013

FYI- Dem Party Here is your 2014 AD  Campaign

By Jeff Simpson

 By now you have heard that Mike Huebsch, Scott Walker and Chief Erwin made a show of force today and arrested some of the Solidarity singers for doing what they do daily ----- sing!

Two Democratic legislators denounced this crackdown by Scott Walker’s handpicked police chief, David Erwin.

“Chief Erwin and Governor Scott Walker’s militant handling of the daily peaceful singing has escalated this situation unnecessarily,” said Rep. Chris Taylor. “The Capitol rotunda would have been much safer today had Governor Walker given Chief Erwin a little red rubber ball to play with in the corner instead of control of the entire police force. . . . This is the kind of heavy-handed police government you would expect to see in a Third World country, not here in Wisconsin. It must stop.”

State Sen. Bob Jauch was equally indignant.

“It’s just so unnecessary,” he said. “There are more important issues in the state of Wisconsin than as to whether people are singing. Since when is that threatening? You can bring in a gun in the capitol if it’s concealed but you can’t come into your capitol if you’re singing?”

H/T Rebecca Kemble for the video and pics.  She Deserves a Pulitzer!

Apparently Scott Walker's plan is working!   He truly is "Unintimidated"! 

Scott Walker and his divisive, ALEC infused politics is SOLELY responsible for the huge divide in our state.  ONLY two people can stop this now and bring our state back together - 1;. Scott Walker himself(not likely) and 2.  The Voters in WI in 2014!  

This is not my Wisconsin.  

PS:  Now would be a good time for the Mary Burke's, Mark Harris's and anyone else considering a run for Governor,  to step up and weigh.  This is NOT a left/right issue it is a Common Sense issue!