Feingold's newest ad:
Cue the right wing squawking that those weren't real members of Congress in the background at the end of it.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
RoJo's Got Some Classy Friends
First, we had learned how RoJo paid to have Charles Murray, the cultured white supremacist author of "The Bell Curve," appear beside him for a rally.
Now we find that his mentor and spirit guide, Dick Morris, was in Sheboygan for a TEA Party or some such group, when he had this clever witticism:
RoJo is just not a class act, is he?
H/T The Chief
Now we find that his mentor and spirit guide, Dick Morris, was in Sheboygan for a TEA Party or some such group, when he had this clever witticism:
Nationally known multi-faceted political commentator/analyst/writer Dick Morris dove right into the Wisconsin scene. “For Russ Feingold to pose as a moderate, as an independent…my goodness, it shows how far we’ve come when Russ Feingold tries to dress up like us. But that act of transvestitism[sic] is going a little far even for Greenwich Village and San Francisco – or Madison.”Nice way to have your hero come in to call your opponent a cross-dresser.
RoJo is just not a class act, is he?
H/T The Chief
Tales From The Fridge: Cronyism
This is part of an ongoing series to see how true Scott Walker's claim to having kept all of his 2002 campaign promises really is.
I have to admit, I'm going to enjoy this one.
In 2002, as part of the CRG platform that Scott Walker voluntarily agreed to, one of the promises had to do with cronyism:
For some of the names, we will depend on Cory Liebmann, who has already done a fantastic job of pointing out a number of Walker's cronies, to whom he has given cushy positions to, whether they were qualified or not:
I would also be lax if I omitted mentioning the many contracts that Walker has given out, usually on a no-bid basis, to friends of his campaign. People like Chris Kujawa or Edward Aprahamian to name but two of them.
Tally so far: Five promises made, zero promises kept.
I have to admit, I'm going to enjoy this one.
In 2002, as part of the CRG platform that Scott Walker voluntarily agreed to, one of the promises had to do with cronyism:
Implement a program to eliminate cronyism and nepotism in county government, including a review of all management and supervisory functions under the executive. Within 60 days.Not only did Walker fail to keep this promise, he flagrantly went in the exact opposite direction.
For some of the names, we will depend on Cory Liebmann, who has already done a fantastic job of pointing out a number of Walker's cronies, to whom he has given cushy positions to, whether they were qualified or not:
Consider some of the following:
- Jim Villa worked for Walker's campaigns bouncing between them and taxpayer financed county jobs.
- Robert Dennik, a former lobbyist and Walker campaign manager was appointed as head of the now nonexistent Milwaukee County Division of Economic and Community Development. Let's just say that his time there didn't go so well for him or for Milwaukee County.
- Tim Russell has repeatedly bounced back and forth between Walker campaigns and taxpayer funded positions (including a recent promotion). At one point he even took over the train wreck that was the Economic Development job (with not much more success).
- Walker wanted to give a county job to Chuck Grapentine even though he didn't even want to move to Milwaukee County. Chuck is the father of a former Walker aide.
- Cynthia Archer was appointed as head of Administrative Services in 2007. She was previously a top administrator for Walker's former Republican colleague in the State Assembly, Carol Kelso.
- David Bradley Carr had not been out of law school very long before Walker replaced a veteran member of the Ethics Board with him. It was reported at the time that a partner at a law firm suggested Carr to Walker. Several partners and members of that same law firm have also been big campaign contributors to Walker. But I'm sure that had nothing to do with it.
I think the title of a May 9, 2002 MJS story had it right when it said that "Walker has rewards in mind for backers".
It is worth noting that Tim Russell is currently under investigation for blurring the lines between his roles as county official and campaign staffer.
Added to this list, I would also point out Darlene Wink, who is the Co-Vice Chair of the Milwaukee County Republicans, and until caught politicking from Walker's office, was his Director of Constituent Services.
I would also be lax if I omitted mentioning the many contracts that Walker has given out, usually on a no-bid basis, to friends of his campaign. People like Chris Kujawa or Edward Aprahamian to name but two of them.
Tally so far: Five promises made, zero promises kept.
Tales From The Fridge: Term Limits
This is part of an ongoing series to see how true Scott Walker's claim to having kept all of his 2002 campaign promises really is.
In 2002, Scott Walker made two promises regarding the length of his term and term limits in general.
One of these promises, he made on his own, which reads:
He also never introduced that referendum for term limits.
In fact, even now he has subtly switched from endorsing two term limits and is up to three.
Tally so far is: Four promises made, zero promises kept.
In 2002, Scott Walker made two promises regarding the length of his term and term limits in general.
One of these promises, he made on his own, which reads:
Will not serve more than one full term (no longer than 2008)The other promise is one he signed on to as part of the CRG platform:
Introduce a referendum calling for term limits for the position of executive and county supervisor during 2002.Last I checked, this is 2010, and Walker is in the middle of his second full term as county executive.
He also never introduced that referendum for term limits.
In fact, even now he has subtly switched from endorsing two term limits and is up to three.
Tally so far is: Four promises made, zero promises kept.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tales From The Fridge: Walker's Salary
This is part of an ongoing series to see how true Scott Walker's claim to having kept all of his 2002 campaign promises really is.
In 2002, Scott Walker made two promises regarding his salary as county executive.
One, which was one of his own, read:
As we had discussed earlier this year, Walker's first commercial bragged about giving some of his salary back, which he did do. But he did not reduce his salary.
In fact, due to a law written into the County Code of Ordinances, the county executive receives a raise every year as a cost of living adjustment.
So in reality, his salary has actually increased by a few thousand dollars while he has been county executive.
To make this false promise even more egregious, for the last two years, while people are losing their jobs and their homes, including the county workers that Walker laid off, he forewent his habit of giving his salary back, effectively giving himself a $50,000 a year raise.
He promptly used that money to buy a new house and a large swimming pool. Nice way to throw it in the face of the people losing their homes.
Now, to be fair, Walker couldn't legally cut his salary in the middle of a term. However, there was nothing preventing him from making a push to have it cut back at the beginning of his next term, which would have been only two years later.
End result: Two promises made, zero promises kept.
In 2002, Scott Walker made two promises regarding his salary as county executive.
One, which was one of his own, read:
Voluntarily reduce own salary to $78,850, within 30 days.The other, which was part of the CRG platform:
Immediately sign a waiver of all salary and benefit increases that were enacted after Jan. 1, 2000.First one of the bat and we find that he did not keep these promises.
As we had discussed earlier this year, Walker's first commercial bragged about giving some of his salary back, which he did do. But he did not reduce his salary.
In fact, due to a law written into the County Code of Ordinances, the county executive receives a raise every year as a cost of living adjustment.
So in reality, his salary has actually increased by a few thousand dollars while he has been county executive.
To make this false promise even more egregious, for the last two years, while people are losing their jobs and their homes, including the county workers that Walker laid off, he forewent his habit of giving his salary back, effectively giving himself a $50,000 a year raise.
He promptly used that money to buy a new house and a large swimming pool. Nice way to throw it in the face of the people losing their homes.
Now, to be fair, Walker couldn't legally cut his salary in the middle of a term. However, there was nothing preventing him from making a push to have it cut back at the beginning of his next term, which would have been only two years later.
End result: Two promises made, zero promises kept.
Tales From The Fridge: Scott Walker's Campaign Trail of Broken Promises
A couple of weeks ago, an editorial appeared in the Wausau Daily Herald regarding their chat with Scott Walker. The way the article started triggered a memory for me (emphasis mine):
Then when I watched the last debate between Walker and Mark Neumann, Walker's closing remark brought it home. Walker boasted about the promises he made then, and how he told people to stick them on their fridge.
What was outrageous is he said how he kept ALL of them.
"(Explitive deleted)," I said to the TV screen. I knew he would be lucky to have kept any of them.
With the help of some friends, I was able to get a hard copy and the link to not only his fridge promises, but all of them. These promises include the ones he made himself and the ones he agreed to sign for the grossly inappropriately named group Citizens for Responsible Government.
So starting tonight, and continuing over the next several days, we will look at Walker's promises and how well he did in keeping them. Because there are so many of them, if any other bloggers want to join in, the more the merrier.
Republican candidate Scott Walker promised Tuesday to create 250,000 new jobs in Wisconsin by the end of his first term if he's elected this fall as governor.I thought that sounded familiar and it reminded me of the time when he first ran for county executive in 2002.
Walker said he's so confident his policies will encourage new jobs, voters can hold him accountable for that number.
Then when I watched the last debate between Walker and Mark Neumann, Walker's closing remark brought it home. Walker boasted about the promises he made then, and how he told people to stick them on their fridge.
What was outrageous is he said how he kept ALL of them.
"(Explitive deleted)," I said to the TV screen. I knew he would be lucky to have kept any of them.
With the help of some friends, I was able to get a hard copy and the link to not only his fridge promises, but all of them. These promises include the ones he made himself and the ones he agreed to sign for the grossly inappropriately named group Citizens for Responsible Government.
So starting tonight, and continuing over the next several days, we will look at Walker's promises and how well he did in keeping them. Because there are so many of them, if any other bloggers want to join in, the more the merrier.
Right Wing: Believe It Or Not Rally
From Milwaukee County First:
The good folks at AFSCME, which I am a proud member, will be holding a truth telling rally outside the courthouse, in Clas Park, this coming Friday, September 10. The rally begin
s at 4 pm, but goes until 5:30.
The good folks at AFSCME, which I am a proud member, will be holding a truth telling rally outside the courthouse, in Clas Park, this coming Friday, September 10. The rally begin
s at 4 pm, but goes until 5:30. They are holding the rally to counter the lies and attacks from right wingers like Scott Walker, his buddies in talk radio, and the right wing front groups like WPRI.
The members of AFSCME are, of course, fighting for their jobs.
But remember what happens when there aren’t enough workers.
- Things like the disaster we are currently witnessing at the mental health complex where there aren’t enough nurses or care givers to adequately and safely monitor the patients.
- Where there aren’t enough maintenance workers to keep up on a deteriorating structure.
- Where proper maintenance can’t be done, so buildings are falling down on people, seriously injuring or even killing them.
- Where there aren’t enough workers to even keep the parks clean or the ball fields and golf courses maintained.
- Taxes go up due to the high amounts of overtime.
- Money that should be going to services are instead going to lucrative contracts with campaign donors
- Money that should be going to services are instead going to very expensive lawyers to defend the county in class action lawsuits that would never have been filed if they went to workers int he first place.
Milwaukee County First proudly stands with the workers and the citizens and join our voices with theirs as we tell Scott Walker enough is enough, and he cannot run his campaign on our backs anymore.
We look forward to seeing you there on Friday.
ADDENDUM: We have learned there will be musical entertainment and that this is already receiving national attention. Don’t miss out!
When Badgers Attack
Jay has the sordid details.
Makes me wonder if one of them is responsible for the truly reprehensible comments that forced me to go to moderation on all of my sites.
B & K puts its own special twist to it as well.
Makes me wonder if one of them is responsible for the truly reprehensible comments that forced me to go to moderation on all of my sites.
B & K puts its own special twist to it as well.
The Media Coverage Of Labor Or Lack Thereof
Erik Gunn, who does the "Pressroom Buzz" column for Milwaukee Magazine, has a good piece up today regarding the sparse and biased coverage today's media gives to labor issues.
Besides his own experience on the issue, he also consults with distinguished experts like Mordecai Lee, Steve Jagler, Michael Rosen, and some fellow with the moniker of "capper."
It's well worth the read.
Besides his own experience on the issue, he also consults with distinguished experts like Mordecai Lee, Steve Jagler, Michael Rosen, and some fellow with the moniker of "capper."
It's well worth the read.
Extending Summer For One More (Furlough) Day
Today is number 16. Another $700 of squandered revenue, plus now the mandatory time reporting doesn't recognize furloughs, so there will be added administrative costs as the County tries to explain the excessive furlough times.
The total hit to the tax payers is at least $11,200 on me alone. Multiply that by all the workers in the county effected by Walker's now augmented furlough days, making him more than three times worse than Doyle.
On another note, I'm thinking I may have to start claiming unemployment, since our savings is all but gone. I know several other people who have done so as well, which further puts the county behind in their budgeting. That's because when a government has to pay unemployment, they pay it on demand, as opposed to the insurance type of system that companies follow.
Oh well, if you don't like it, don't vote for Walker.
The total hit to the tax payers is at least $11,200 on me alone. Multiply that by all the workers in the county effected by Walker's now augmented furlough days, making him more than three times worse than Doyle.
On another note, I'm thinking I may have to start claiming unemployment, since our savings is all but gone. I know several other people who have done so as well, which further puts the county behind in their budgeting. That's because when a government has to pay unemployment, they pay it on demand, as opposed to the insurance type of system that companies follow.
Oh well, if you don't like it, don't vote for Walker.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Why I Could Agree To The Death Penalty
Jame Causey of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story and related video.
F*cking disgusting bastards.
F*cking disgusting bastards.
Walker's Campaign Trail To Ruin
From Wisconsin Truth Project:
First, we in the blogosphere have had our fun nitpicking at Walker for the Scott4Gov.com fiasco, the death of that website’s Twitter feed, and the Walker insiders who were involved in the operation. While Scott4Gov.com alone is not a real issue for Walker, Darlene Wink and Tim Russell are. While Walker will continue to play dumb about the personal use of the computers in his executive office, the fact that his staffers keep getting pinched using them to campaign IS a major issue – and one that conservatives should be asking questions about.
Wink and Russell show that there is a serious disciplinary issue in the Walker’s executive office. By disciplinary I mean to say that, obviously, no one sat these people down and said, “Listen – boss is running for governor. As a result, there are certain ground rules by which we need to adhere. NO campaigning in the office!” This is Rule #1 for EVERY current public official seeking election – but Walker’s staff didn’t get the memo.
Walker is claiming that he is a strong and accountable leader. Yet such leaders tend not to let their staff bend and break rules. Sloppiness and rule-breaking like this ALWAYS tends to be a reflection of the leader’s style and attitude.
But even this may not end up as a big deal in the context of a huge campaign, but Walker will eventually have to defend himself over multiple news cycles – and TV ads.
The author then goes on to explain how he thinks Walker cannot survive his failure at the mental health complex.
The whole thing is well written and worthy the read. But I'm still not voting for Neumann either.
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