Red Speech, Blue Speech, GOP Speech or No Speech!

By Jeff Simpson

The WisGop are once again doing what they do best.  Copying extreme far right legislation as if it was their own.  The latest version of lunacy is aimed at ending the First Amendment in college campuses across the state.  A quick refresher course on the 1st:

The amendment as adopted in 1791 reads as follows:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.^[1]

 There have been a few incidences of violence erupting during some speakers at college campuses lately(which we will address later).  To put it in perspective, there are 9048 colleges and universities in the United States, and a handful of high profile incidences and new legislation needs to be written that circumvents the Constitution to make sure that no matter how hateful, or ridiculous your viewpoint is allowed to present to a large audience unchallenged.  

Which is the definition of Big Government.

The current reasoning behind this bill, which isn't very reasonable:

University of Wisconsin System students who disrupt speeches on campus could face expulsion under a bill circulated Thursday by Republican lawmakers.
The bill would also require universities to stay neutral on public policy controversies. The intent of that provision is to bar universities from forcing faculty or students to take a particular viewpoint, an aide to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said.  

Or as Robin Vos explains:

 "I think we should have more speech on campus," Vos told reporters. "If they want to bring in very liberal activists to be able to tell their story of why they believe in what believe or they want to bring in conservative folks to do the exact same thing, we should allow them the opportunity to be heard, questioned, debated at the appropriate time — but not just having somebody stand up and try to shout them down or block access to the event."
The goal is to allow the "maximum amount of free speech that we possibly can" so students can "hear from all sides and make up their own minds," Vos said.

Ok first before we address the ridiculousness of this, we need to address Republican hypocrisy.

A quick walk down memory lane and we remember after 9/11 that there was a rebel professor from Colorado named Ward Churchill, who made some very controversial statements about the people who work at the WTC and our Government.  When he was booked to speak at the UW System, the GOP legislators stepped up, led by none other than steve nASS who wanted to punish anyone in the system who dared disagree with the WISGOP:

Explaining Nass' 2005 push to make faculty follow codes of conduct, including not making "anti-American" statements, Mikalsen says, "Part of the issue is we have foreign-born professors. Those professors say things."

While Robin Vos is busy telling us: 

 "I think we should have more speech on campus," Vos told reporters. "If they want to bring in very liberal activists to be able to tell their story of why they believe in what believe or they want to bring in conservative folks to do the exact same thing, we should allow them the opportunity to be heard, questioned, debated at the appropriate time — but not just having somebody stand up and try to shout them down or block access to the event."

The reality is,  they mean that anyone they agree with should be allowed to speak no questions asked., As Steve nASS pointed out:

In 2005, Nass wanted the Board of Regents to order UW-Whitewater to rescind a speaking invitation to Ward Churchill, a Colorado professor who had compared the World Trade Center victims to Nazi Adolf Eichmann. And last year, Nass pressured UW-Madison to fire Kevin Barrett, an instructor on Islam who believes the U.S. government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. Nass even went on Bill O'Reilly's Fox News show to vent his outrage over Barrett.When the university refused to purge Barrett, Nass responded by threatening to cut its budget. And this year, he came up with a slew of targeted budget cuts. These include eliminating funding for the Havens Center - which sponsored a talk by Barrett - and the UW's School for Workers, which educates union activists. 

Fast forward ten years and Steve nASS is still at it:

State Sen. Steve Nass blasted a UW-Madison economics professor in a scathing email ... calling the academic's report on right-to-work legislation and economic performance "partisan, garbage research."
The email, sent to Senate and Assembly Republicans and UW System officials with the subject line "UW-Madison Professor Steven Deller Uses State Resources to Trash Right to Work," cites a two-page fact sheet written by a Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics faculty member.

So publicly elected officials can shut down any speech that they disagree with and punish anyone who would attempt to want to have them speak.  

But wait there is more:

Robin Vos, Captain of free speech, skinny dipping and erotica, as head of the assembly, has set rules such as: 


1. Lean over or put any object over the balcony.
2. Use a laptop or other computer device.
3. Stand except for prayer or pledge of allegiance or as otherwise permitted by the presiding officer
4. Use recording devices of any kind 
5. Use cell phones or pagers.
6. Read newspapers or other printed materials.
7. Eat any food or drink any beverages.
8. Exhibit public displays or demonstrations.
9. Display signs or placards.
10. Possess bags or briefcases.
11. Wear hats.

Certain publicly funded buildings, run by publicly funded staff, is allowed to shut down any speech they desire.  

But Wait there is even more!  

After the massive hypocrisy of nASS and Vos, then we head to the kingpin of hypocrisy, our very own Governor - Scott Walker!

Scott Walker was given a forum on the Mike Gousha Show where he said this(with a straight face):

"But the minute you shut down a speaker, no matter whether they are liberal or conservative or somewhere in between, I just think that's wrong,"  Scott Walker said.

One more time just to make sure this was a real quote:

"But the minute you shut down a speaker, no matter whether they are liberal or conservative or somewhere in between, I just think that's wrong,"  Scott Walker said.

Scott Walker was the guy who had hundreds of people arrested for SINGING in the publicly funded state Capitol rotunda.  

A quick snapshot, of what the guy who thinks that shutting down speakers is wrong, has done:

Then never forget this, the perfect pictures from the Walker Era:

Ok! This really needs to be shared one more time.  Ladies and Gentlemen of Wisconsin, your Governor:'

"But the minute you shut down a speaker, no matter whether they are liberal or conservative or somewhere in between, I just think that's wrong,"  Scott Walker said.

By the way, it would not hurt someone from the Wisconsin Media to ask him about his blatant hypocrisy instead of let him mumble on about his love of free speech.

By the way, in case you forgot, what happened to the hundreds of Wisconsinites that Scott Walker had arrested for singing in the Capitol?   Not a thing, the arrests were UnConstitutional.  

 Now my take on the subject:

Yes as a blogger, elected official and lover of free speech, I think everyone should be allowed to speak anytime anywhere.  The First Amendment allows for you to have free speech, it does not allow for you to be free of consequences from your speech and it also does not mean that you have to be allowed a public, huge, forum to speak.  

As I pointed out early there are 9048 universities and colleges and there have been a handful of incidences around the country.   In each instance, it was a hate filled racist speaker that students shut down from speaking at their university.    It is the ultimate form of form of self policing and local control.
If you feel that someone outting a transgender student publicly, or lecturing that African Americans are inferior, or someone who is an avowed racist, should not be allowed a prime spot speaking at your university, no matter how much money he has backing him, then it is your responsibility to speak up and speak out!

Besides the law as they are trying to pass, is so vague that it is meant to punish anyone who would dare speak up at a public platform.  

a section of the bill that listed types of speech that would be prohibited. The legislation bars “violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, obscene, unreasonably loud or other disorderly conduct that interferes with the free expression of others.”
Cohn said profane and boisterous speech are protected under the First Amendment, and that the description of “abusive” speech is too broad.

Can you get suspended for speaking up in class, yelling at the Ohio State Football Team, Tom Izzo, a disagreement at Babcock Ice Cream over a flavor, complaints about poor service at the Memorial union, or is it being written to make sure that all Professors stay in line and make sure to know that they can are being watched and will be punished?

Either way, there can be no greater example of Big Government that you could find, and they are just now getting empowered.  

#TBT - Free Speech For Me And Not For Thee

By Jeff Simpson

I am not sure if our friends on the right have a really bad memory, think we are stupid or just have a need to perpetually play the victim.

Let's dig a little deeper into their perpetual whining about the John Doe Investigation and free speech rights.  

I pointed out yesterday about how the Right Wing Speech police targeted me when I was part of the Purple Wisconsin forum.   They never tried to argue policy philosophy or facts, they just had a coordinated email campaign to get me removed after every one of my posts.

As Collin Roth wrote on Right Wisconsin pay website:

 3.) Cutting Off Debate - The political left is constantly looking for ways to cut off debate. It starts in the political and cultural realm where issues are determined to be “settled.” Once a consensus is reached, voices try to discredit and delegitimize those holding different viewpoints and dissenters are dealt with like pariahs or worse - criminals.

Lets go back to the early 2000's after the horribel acts of 9/11 when a controversial Professor from the University of Colorado Boulder named Ward Churchill was out and about telling people that he felt the attacks of 9/11 were a consequence of US foreign policy.  

Well we know that at that time, Fox News made it perfectly clear that if you aren't with us(or a Saudi) you were against us.   

Mr. Churchill received an invitation to speak at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and that made Steve nASS, at the time, chair of the Assembly's Colleges and Universities Committee, head explode:

 In 2005, Nass wanted the Board of Regents to order UW-Whitewater to rescind a speaking invitation to Ward Churchill, a Colorado professor who had compared the World Trade Center victims to Nazi Adolf Eichmann. And last year, Nass pressured UW-Madison to fire Kevin Barrett, an instructor on Islam who believes the U.S. government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. Nass even went on Bill O'Reilly's Fox News show to vent his outrage over Barrett.When the university refused to purge Barrett, Nass responded by threatening to cut its budget. And this year, he came up with a slew of targeted budget cuts. These include eliminating funding for the Havens Center - which sponsored a talk by Barrett - and the UW's School for Workers, which educates union activists. (The Assembly version of the budget would also cut all state support to the UW Law School, end the Wisconsin GI bill that pays the tuition of state veterans and mostly eliminate state spending on Wisconsin Public Radio and Public Television, affiliated with the UW-Extension.)

As a matter of fact nASS, even had his staffer threaten legislation to set up a Republican written "code of conduct" for faculty:. 

Mikalsen, who has worked in the Legislature for 16 years, including 12 with Nass, behaves like Nass' critics might expect him to. He sputters and growls and waves his arms. His tone ranges from mild disgust to infinite disdain as he describes the UW's various transgressions.
He also makes more inflammatory comments than his boss. Explaining Nass' 2005 push to make faculty follow codes of conduct, including not making "anti-American" statements, Mikalsen says, "Part of the issue is we have foreign-born professors. Those professors say things."

Free speech is important as long as the words you are saying are approved ahead of time by the Big Government Republicans.  

But wait - There is more!   

The two Republican stooges mentioned above never stop.   During the Act10 protests, the UW School of Workers wanted to have an art show based on the works of local editorail cartoonist Mike Konopacki.   Konopacki, as one would expect, was not very kind , via his medium, to the Republicans in WI.     

This did not sit well with nASSalsen and he threatened to pull funding from UW Madison if they went ahead with this exhibit.   The UW School of workers did go ahead with it but had to find a different venue.  (edit note -full run down here). 

One ironic side note, Konopacki, being an editorialist and satirist, issued a press release that made it look like it came from Steve nASS himself.   

In true sharia law fashion, nASSalsen immediately tried to get Konopacki arrested and sent to jail for teasing them.  

Seriously.   

While we do have some problems in America today with the lack of anyone wanting to hear the "other side", lets not pretend that our Republican friends are the victims and realize they started the whole process and it has gotten so it affects them and they do not know how to handle it.  

 

Republican Racial Mindset

On the 6/19 Mitch Henck Show on 92.1FM in Madison, Steve nASS staffer, Mike Mikalsen was on a roundtable discussion with Bret Hulsey.

The debate turned to race, where Bret Hulsey called him out on Republicans trying to put obstacles in the way of minorities voting and called Republican policies, at their core racist.

Mike Mikalsen, had this response(at the 1:40 mark of the podcast):

 " For Those people, they couldnt have a checking account, they cant conduct daily life, they couldn't get on an airplane. What you would want us to believe, is there is this huge group of people, and they happen to be in your argument, African Americans, who apparently dont participate in society in any way, shape or form.  when they go sign up for welfare they have to bring identification of some kind.  When they sign up for services, or when they run their own lives in terms of checking accounts.  You would have us believe that all of these folks who operate in society, and happen to be of one race, are incapable of having ID's" 

Thanks to Mr. Mikalsen, for showing the true colors of the party.  Why would the ONE example that he would use when discussing minorities and ID's be - Welfare? Could it be that is what the Republicans think when they think of African Americans?  Could it be that  they truly believe all African Americans are a drain on the system?  Is that why the Republicans in Wisconsin have given up trying to create jobs and instead spend their time punishing the poor with waste of resources drug tests and telling them what foods they can and cant buy?

Did Mr. Mikalsen just show the Republicans hand?

PS:  If Mr. Mikalsen had done any research at all, he would find that the majority of people on welfare are white, however they have stars upon thars like him so that is OK,

Looking at national numbers, most of the people who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are actually white. U.S. Department of Agriculture data from 2013, which administers welfare, 40.2 percent of SNAP recipients are white, 25.7 percent are Black, 10.3 percent are Hispanic, 2.1 percent are Asian and 1.2 percent are Native American.

Wisconsin Reporter Is On The Case!

By Jeff Simpson

Ace Reporter Ryan Ekvall, took time off from harassing grade school art teachers, to blow a huge story wide open!  

His(Luther Olsen's) office leaked a draft version of a bill calling for an academic standards board to the Department of Public Instruction nearly a week before the final version was introduced in the Senate, Wisconsin Reporter has learned through an open records request. 

Then, in showing how far the republican party has sunk in Wisconsin, a simple staffer is one record as threatening elected Senator Olsen:

 “It was very clear that before the hearing on SB 619 there was a tremendous amount of work between Olsen and DPI,” Mikalsen said. “They were updating the DPI (on) what was going on behind the scenes to give them a heads up to mobilize against us. Everybody and his brother eventually realized the moment you told Luther’s office anything, it was going to straight to DPI.

This could be the biggest possible story ever written in Wisconsin's long history!

An elected Senator collaborated with the elected head of the Department of Public Instruction and his staff on an important issue to public education.  

Now thats a bombshell!

The next thing we need to deal with is who will play Ekvall in the movie?  

Republican Thugs - Assembly Staffer Edition

By Jeff Simpson

The real headline should read "Assembly staffer threatens democratically elected Senator for working with democratically elected Superintendent of Schools on Public School issues":

“Luther Olsen ambushed the idea,” said Mike Mikalsen, the chief of staff for Rep. Steve nASS, R-Whitewater, who coauthored the bill. “To announce the morning of a hearing by giving special access to the Associated Press and then still hold the hearing is pretty insulting to those that worked on this bill.”

 “That’s fine if he’s opposed to the bill,” Mikalsen said. “But you should hold a legititmate hearing. Today’s hearing was a farce. But Olsen has always been closely aligned with (state superintendent) Tony Evers. And that’s part of the problem.”

 “This treatment will not soon be forgotten by his colleagues,” Mikalsen(who is NOT one of Olsen's colleagues) said of Olsen.

I am not sure how it is ok for an Assembly staffer to threaten and try and intimidate a democratically elected State Senator. 

I am also not sure who exactly elected Mike Mikalsen,  or what his education experience is to be the one speaking in favor of SB619,  or complaining about Superintendent Evers being involved in the public school debate.  

I also find it very telling that the only kind of Government that Mr. Mikalsen seems to ok, is one that is done behind closed doors.   It is also not the least bit surprising that 110 Superintendents showing up in force(along with countless other, educators, school board members and education experts) to almost unanimously oppose SB619 would not even make someone like Mr. Mikalsen rethink his position on this bill for a split second!  

This bit of thuggery, is what you get when you elect one party republican rule.

I sure hope Steve Nass has an opponent in the upcoming general election!

  





110 Superintendents of Schools show up to oppose SB619



PS:  I have been told that Mr. Mikalsen said that the show for SB619 was irrelevant because Scott Walker plans on passing it in his next budget if it does not pass before then.  Something to think about in November!  

Steve nASS Denounces Local Control

By Jeff Simpson

In case you did not know, Steve nASS(R-I don't like paying child support), has authored and had passed the Racist Mascot Preservation Bill.   Our friend Heather at Monologues of Dissent has been documenting this bill brilliantly:

When they aren't too busy focusing on creating jobs legalizing rubber duck races, Wisconsin Republicans are actual drafting legislation that would turn back the hard-fought advances toward equity in public schools by "rewriting" the law requiring schools to abandon racist mascot names, and shift authority on the matter from the Department of Public Instruction to (guess who?) Scott Walker's Department of Administration.  Because one belligerent district refuses to comply with the name-change requirement, our children will be subjected to continued humiliations and the unconscionably bad example of normalizing racism in the classroom.  Even in their own press release, Sen. Mary Lazich accidentally betrays the true purpose of the backward-looking bill: to ensure total control so that no schools will have to change their mascots, to "avoid imposing costly re-branding on school districts."  Using words like "treasured mascots" and referring to the "principled positions" of school districts who refuse to abandon their beloved traditions [of racism], the Republican legislators' complete disrespect for how deeply offensive these racist mascot names are to many Wisconsinites is now on display for all to see. The repulsive irony is best seen in the words of Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the blatant disregard for civility and equity is "the best path forward." 

  


As he has been known to do, Republican Senator Dale Schultz(R-last bit of sanity), has seen how controversial this bill that overturns current law is and has offered up a compromise.

“As a member of the State Tribal Relations Committee for the past couple years, he has found a new appreciation and understanding for the Native American community,” said Schultz’s chief of staff, Todd Allbaugh. “He just thinks it’s the right thing to do.”

Schultz, of Richland Center, will offer a compromise when the Senate meets Nov. 5. His proposal would require the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to review all school nicknames and mascots, rather than waiting for a complaint to be filed. There are roughly 35 schools in the state that use Indian nicknames and logos.

Under the Schultz compromise, if DPI feels a name could be race-based, it would turn its findings over to the local school board. The local school board could then work with the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council to negotiate an agreement, arguably avoiding any lawsuit.

Allbaugh said Schultz had discussions with Ho-Chunk President Jon Greendeer, who testified against the bill at an Oct. 9 Senate public hearing. Greendeer worked with the Wisconsin Dells School District to reach a compromise on its use of the nickname Chiefs.

Greendeer's discussions with the district led to the tribe presenting a traditional headdress to Wisconsin Dells High School, where it is displayed along with a description of the school’s tribal connection to the community.

So Dale Schultz (R-only "R" listens to his constituents) has seen controversy and the need for compromise, has studied the issue, talked to all sides, watched how it has played out successfully in history and pulled all of this together into a palatable solution for all involved.  

As Schult'z Chief of Staff correctly puts it:

 
“His bill forces a true discussion at the local level,” Allbaugh said. “As Republicans, we are always preaching about local control. So let the issue be worked out on the local level like it was in the Dells.”

 Well palatable to all except for the furthest end of the right wing spectrum.  Unfortunately, thanks to district gerrymandering, that is who is making our laws.   Let's here from Steve nAss, I mean Mike Mikalsen speaking for Steve nASS or himself or well whoever does the thinking in their domestic partnership.

Mike Mikalsen, Nass’ chief of staff, said Nass does not support the compromise.

“At this point, he has already compromised as much as he’s going to,” Mikalsen said. “Remember, his bill was initially a complete repeal (of current law).”

The bill proposed by Lazich and Nass would largely undo a 3-year-old law passed under former Gov. Jim Doyle that required schools discontinue using their nicknames, logos or mascots if they were found to be offensive. Once one individual filed a complaint, a review process would be triggered by the DPI to determine whether the school's use of native imagery was offensive.

Through compromise, Nass has agreed to allow for a complaint process. However, it shifts the responsibility for proving something is offensive to the complainant by requiring an individual to collect signatures totaling 10 percent of the school district’s student population. Those who sign the petition must by 18 or older.

Nass’ bill also would cut DPI out of the process by allowing the state Department of Administration to assign a hearing examiner to the complainant’s case.

There we go, Mike nASS is in favor of Big Government dictating exactly what you have to do and to what level you can be offended.  Mike nASS is against the decision being made by the local democratically elected school board.   The local school board of course is elected by the voters of the actual school district that would be making the decision about the fate of the Mascot. 

 

 Apparently, Mike nASS thinks that he is much more qualified to decide the issues of  your school district than you or the people you vote for are.   

 

 

Why is Mike nASS against local control?  Let's let Jason Priest, Republican Montana Senate candidate, explain.

 

Here is Mike nASS in his own words and immensely outclassed by Representative Jon Richards:

The Market Rate of Wisconsin Republicans!

 

By Jeff Simpson

As someone who understands the "free" market and knows its importance in our economy. It is interesting to see how much money it costs to buy the Wisconsin republican party.

I used to think it was $325,000, but now apparently there is a fire sale.

Thanks to the honesty of Mike nASSelson,  he lets us know why the Governor Walker is pushing rent-own-deregulation.   As Steve MikalnASS tells Jack Craver, they sold out:

However, Mike Mikalsen, chief-of-staff to state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, one of the few Republicans who have opposed rent-to-own deregulation in the past, said the policy was made entirely as a favor to Ashley Furniture, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of low-cost furniture that supplies many of the products in rent-to-own outlets.

Ashley, a large state employer, is not registered to lobby this session, but last session it reported spending $94,000 lobbying the Legislature just on the rent-to-own issue.

The other big backer of the measure is Rent-A-Center, a rent-to-own chain based in Plano, Texas. Last session it reported spending $192,000 lobbying the Legislature. Representing its interests is one of the top lobbyists in town, Eric Petersen, who, in addition to having an impressive array of powerful corporate interests on his client list, seems to be the go-to guy for stigmatized interest groups — payday lenders, tobacco companies, bail bonds, to name a few.

So while AFC and their flunky convicted felon Scott Jensen is paying $325,000 to buy one corrupt Senator (Rick Gudex),   The rent-to-own lobby is paying the same amount and buying the whole republican caucus! 

Neophyte nASS

By Jeff Simpson


Wisconsin Assemblyman Andy Jorgensen, is one representative who understand why he is in Madison.  To serve the people!   Rep. Jorgensen recently had a jobs bill(finally) passed with strong bi partisan support! 

MMAKE Package Passes Assembly with Broad Bipartisan Support

MADISON- Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly overwhelmingly supported
Assembly Bills 37 and 38, also known as Marketing Manufacturing and
Keeping Employees or MMAKE package of bills. The bills were presented
with a strong bipartisan coalition of Assembly legislators, authored by
Representatives Andy Jorgensen (D - Fort Atkinson), Jeff Stone (R -
Greendale) and Scott Krug (R - Rome). 

The first piece of the MMAKE package, Assembly Bill 37, directs the
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to organize a
manufacturing trade show, to help businesses of all sizes create supply
chains. Assembly Bill 38 directs WEDC to create a state-wide marketing
plan for small and mid-sized manufacturers as well as produce
advertising materials and a website showcasing their products.  Under
the plan, Wisconsin would also send ambassadors to trade shows in other
states and other countries, to promote Wisconsin-made goods and broker
new contracts.

"I am proud to say that as chair of the Small Business Development
Committee, the first bills we passed were bipartisan bills that focus on
helping Wisconsin's manufacturers," Rep. Stone said. "I'm equally proud
to see that bipartisan support extended through the entire State
Assembly which passed the bill overwhelmingly."

"What we saw today was a great example of members on both sides of the
aisle choosing to set partisan politics aside and focus on economic
growth and job creation. With these simple plans, we are taking an
important step toward economic stability and strength," said Rep.
Jorgensen.

Well  far right extremist and dead beat dad Steve nASS was very offended by this!   SO offended that nASS  felt the need to break the law and use his taxpayer funded computers and time to send out some campaign related material on the taxpayer funded government email system.      The following email was sent out to everyone in the legislature from nASS's email:

From: Rep.Nass 
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2013 4:41 PM
To: Rep.Jorgensen; Rep.Stone; Rep.Krug; *Legislative All Assembly
Subject: RE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MMAKE Package Passes Assembly with
Broad Bipartisan Support


Here is a great reminder of what Rep. Jorgensen really thinks of
Republicans and bipartisanship:

Andy Jorgensen on Bi-partisanship.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuqYQmgd8Is> 


Steve Nass 
State Representative 
33rd Wisconsin Assembly District 
(888) 529-0033  Toll-Free (Wisconsin Only) 
(608) 266-5715 

nASS felt the need to send out a poorly edited campaign video from the epically failed candidate Evan Wynn's campaign(no wonder he lost), in a very weak attempt to smear Representative Andy Jorgensen for working to pass a bill bipartisanly!  

Thats what a petty immature ridiculous legislator and person that  Steve nASS is.   It is a shame that the people of his district keep sending someone who is quite obviously not up to the task, back to Madison.   Apathy has its consequences. 

It is a good thing though that Rep. nASS wasted our time and money with this little illegal stunt,  because if it was his staff that sent out the email, the consequences would be even greater!  

a. Keep campaign activity outside capitol. Your campaign activity must be away from the capitol and other state offices.

More can be found on Charlie Sykes "White Wisconsin" website , in a post written by "Madison Confidential" .... gee, I wonder who that is?  

Listen to Representative Jorgensen tell the story on Sly!

The Future of the Parties!

This was told to me last night by Mike Mikalsen: 

"Zerban lost. He was a classic liberal. Ryan is the Future." Mike Mikalsen

Let's take a look at that.  

Yes Rob Zerban lost,

However what he accomplished is amazing.  Keep up the fight Rob, proud to stand with you!

Rob Zerban was a classic liberal:      Yes he is:

 Rob learned early how to make the most of his life, and how government can be a partner in creating the American Dream. Rob was raised in a single-parent household where his mother worked outside of the home to keep a roof over his head. Growing up, he ate government cheese and received free milk at school.

With the help of Pell Grants and Stafford Loans, Rob attended the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York, a prestigious culinary school where he was trained as a chef and learned restaurant business management.

After several years of direct service and managerial experience, he went on to create two small businesses. He employed 45 people and made sure they had family sustaining wages, excellent benefits, and the best healthcare. He understood that taking care of his employees and never taking for granted their hard work helped his companies thrive.

After selling his last business in 2008, Rob dedicated his life to public service. He volunteered to go door-to-door, educating the public about preserving the wonderful natural resource that is the Great Lakes. He served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters because part of what makes this nation great is our rich and beautiful land. Rob was also elected to and completed two terms as a Kenosha County Board Supervisor, gaining valuable experience in solving problems for the community.

Rob is a job creator, an innovator, and a pragmatist. He understands that he was able to succeed because government was there for him and his family when he needed it. And now he is committed to protecting and building programs so future generations can continue to achieve and live the American Dream.

 Ryan is the Future.       Paul Ryan is the future of the republican party?!?!? 
  
An unapproachable career politician who has never worked in the private sector. A shielded corporate shrill who has long ago sold out to Wall St. and cares more about the state of his own bank account, then the state of the country!   Ryan has proven he not only is terrible in a setting that he does not control but even worse at telling the truth.   

Yes, Paul Ryan is the future of the republican party and Rob Zerban is a typical liberal.   I know what side I am proud to be on, how about you.   


 
 
 

Scott Walker Dumbs Down Wisconsin

To understand this story you have to understand two things that are relevant to it.  Number one, we  all know that Scott Walker dropped/was kicked out of Marquette and basically went right into politics. Number two, we also know that Scott Walker cut $1.6 Billion from public education in Wisconsin.  

Scott Walker who has a history of devaluing education, is at it again.   Scott Walker recently announced a new online degree initiative.  

A new self-paced, competency-based program for finishing a college degree online, and ostensibly making college more affordable and accessible, was announced Tuesday by Gov. Scott Walker and two top University of Wisconsin System officials.

The new UW Flexible Degree is touted as a transformation of higher education in Wisconsin, and an economic engine to drive up the state's per capita income by producing more college graduates trained for higher-paying jobs.

The new path to a degree will allow adults to start classes anytime, work at their own pace and earn credit for what they already have learned in school or on the job once they prove college-level competencies, UW officials said.

Sitting in class, learning from highly trained and educated professors, and being able to work and learn from your classmates is yesterdays education model.  Today's(thanks to Scott Walker) is one where you can sit at your computer,  google as you go, and skipping classes by taking minimum competency standardized tests.   (FYI:  Most companies who reimburse for college credit, will not honor online college classes).  

Now as capper likes to tell us, there is always more.   Scott Walker justifies it because of his laziness, incompetence and ignorance, letting everyone know that he was incapable of finishing his degree while thousands of hard working Wisconsites have already done the same.  

The governor said he could relate to adults seeking to finish a college degree. He left Marquette University his senior year to take a job with the American Red Cross and hasn't finished his degree.

"I kept thinking I'd go back, got married, had one kid, had another kid, next thing you know . . . you're worrying more about paying for your kids' college education than you are for your own," Walker said.

 Finally, how do we know that this is headed for a complete failure?  Steve nASS/Mike Mikalsen endorse it.

 

Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), chairman of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee, supports the new online model, according to Mike Mikalsen, an aide to nASS..

"It's something, frankly, the rest of public universities and the private universities have been doing already," Mikalsen said.

O yes one more thing that is typical to the Scott Walker style of government, Let's quickly pass something then figure it out later.

Mikalsen said the lawmaker was still waiting to see more details about the plan, such as how hard it will be to pass the online competency tests.

"We're all interested to see how that's going to work," he said.