Can We Stop The "Scott Walker Higher Office" Talk Already?

*Rant Alert*

Look, can we just stop this nonsense already? The National GOP may be insane policy wise, but they aren't stupid when it comes to politics, especially after the Sarah Palin fiasco of 2008. There is no way in hell that Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin is going to be a national contender in 2016, or even 2020. It's just not going to happen. 2024 isn't even a possibility.

First, the college argument. Harry S. Truman was the last president without a college degree, and while having or not having a college education normally shouldn't be held over a person's head, I find it hard to imagine that with all the scrutiny surrounding national office that Governor Walker is going to be able to beat past questions about his time at Marquette University. Furthermore, the path to national office is littered with people that are less tainted politically that our Governor. Look at Chris Christie, the "hero" of national conservatism before Walker, why hasn't he pulled the trigger nationally? It is because even though he's extremely popular with conservatives that his tactics don't mesh well with moderates? I think yes... Polarizing people aren't the ones who national parties want on national tickets.

Our Governor has a snowball's chance of being on a national ticket. He'll be appointed diplomat to some country (I'm thinking maybe Japan) or given a cushy job somewhere as a political favor, but this man will never, ever be elected to office nationally. While he may have won a recall, let's see what happens this fall and beyond. This state is so kittywompus when it comes to voting patterns it boggles my mind that national pundits don't focus on it more. Voting liberal for President since 1988, yet electing Republican Governors? how does that work?! Swinging between Obama and Walker with percentages so drastically, and with turnout all over the place, this state is bi-polar.

But one thing we aren't in Wisconsin is stupid, and I don't care what you think, there are enough people who are voting for this Neo-Stalwart who are deathly afraid of seeing him in national office. He is stuck here for now, so let's not focus on the crap about him nationally... it's just not going to happen. Let's focus on keeping him from damaging this state even more...

*Rant Over*

Know your candidate: Joanne E. Staudacher - WI 53rd

Wisconsin's 53rd Assembly District has an open seat this November with the retirement of Dick Spanbauer, and the race is sure turning out to be one of the more interesting ones! The 53rd is a district in my neck of the woods which became slightly more liberal with the redistricting that occurred in 2010 and gives Democrats a real chance at a pick-up. Current Wisconsin State Treasury Secretary, (and Twitter-warrior) Kurt Schuller is the favored Republican, but the Democrats have a 3 way primary! This would be where I give my formal endorsement in the primary to a great person whom I have come to know over the last year, Joanne Staudacher.

She was a fixture in the Jessica King campaign during the summer of 2011 and someone I was lucky enough to meet during the summer of 2011 during one of her frequent trips to Madison. She has been written about in the local blogs  and actually been picked as the face of the #wiunion movement nationally with this lovely image:



For those of you who don't know, Joanne was featured in TIME as one of their "Person's of the Year" in 2011. She's been an articulate and dedicated person who has knocked on doors, marched in the street, and done countless hours working for other candidates over the last two years. Now, she has decided to make the jump as a candidate, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Liberals, Progressives, and Democrats at large need to capture the 2011 momentum in people like Joanne, encouraging them to run for office and keeping involved with the process. Neo-Stalwart boss politicians should be reminded.... We're Still Here!

Please visit her campaign Facebook page and consider viewing the relatively brief interview from Wisconsin Eye. She is the exact type of person that we should have in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and someone that I hope has a bright future in Wisconsin politics. I'm also sure that she could use a few bucks if you have any spare piggy-banks hiding ;)

Ma & Pa's: Where Will Wisconsinites Go For Lottery Tickets?

As many around the state may have heard, one of my hometown's icons Ma & Pa's Grocery Express is closing it's doors. Many may not know it by name, but know it as the place where every TV station in Green Bay and Milwaukee venture to every time the Powerball jackpot gets above $200 Million because of the plethora of winning tickets that have been sold there in the last 20 years. Here is the write-up from the FDL Reporter:  http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20120628/FON0101/120627117/Announcement-Ma-Pa-s-closing-brings-surprise-sadness?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE *(Be advised, any attempt at journalism should always be suspect as this paper has been going downhill since my Great-Grandfather died in 1963.)

For those of you who are from outside of town, Ma & Pa's was owned by a local family with deep FDL roots and a history of owning small grocery stores back to the 1950's. In 2010 they sold their interests in the main store to a new owner, and quite honestly, the store was never the same after that. Rumors swirled around town about how the new owner claimed many of the long time clerks were "grossly overpaid" and the atmosphere of the "local place" suffered. Throw in the fact that a block away Kwik Trip decided to renovate and remake their store, and you can see how this might happen.

I don't know the owner, but can say that everyone in town is pretty shocked at the fact that this happened. It was a cultural icon that was still doing business as usual until last week as vendors brought in product, people bought gas, and even I bought a sandwich for lunch there this past Tuesday completely unaware that would be the last day of selling gas and lottery tickets.

From WBAY 2 in Green Bay:

Famed Ma & Pa's on Miracle Mile Closing

John Gard's Still Around

Funny, I saw him on WBAY 2 for the briefest of seconds tonight when they were doing a recap of today's Affordable Care Act ruling & group of doctors called Physicians for Responsible Government. I found this write up from FoxPolitics.net which describes the group and plenty of press releases doing a Google search. Good to know he's still around. (Chuckle, Chuckle)

Walkergate, What a Tangled Web We Weave

There hasn't been much new information in the Walkergate Scandal post-recall election, that is until yesterday. The crew over at Cognitive Dissidence have done yeoman's work in this whole affair, and early this morning they posted another great update about the latest developments. Seriously, why has the statewide media largely ignored or not fully explained this whole affair yet?

That being said, I still am nervous about where exactly this thing is going. Is this really going to bring down Walker as John Doe? The buzz I was hearing just after the election was that it would be somewhat difficult to do considering the politics of it all, but even now, why have more charges not been filed? Also, where does this stand federally? Why has the justice department not uttered a word? As a common man of meek means, I ask these questions. Can someone provide some simple answers?

Tommy on Up Front w/Mike Gousha

Blogging Blue threw up this excellent post on Sunday showing former Governor Tommy Thompson's hypocricy of calling himself as a budget cutting expert. They also linked to a former post of their's about Thirteen Gaffes of Tommy Thompson. All of them are well worth the time it takes to read.

Former Governor Thompson has seen a lot of criticism as the election season has wandered on. For those of you who missed his appearance on Up Front with Mike Gousha this weekend, here is the clip: Thompson: I'm Sure Bet | WISN Home - WISN Home. But last week he didn't get favorable press from other corners, such as this article from the Sheboygan Press with a quote about some of what the Club for Growth has been saying:

Club for Growth spokesman Barney Keller said Wednesday that voters still haven’t focused on the Senate race because of the Walker recall, but as they do Thompson’s support will wane.

“Right now Tommy Thompson’s marginal lead in the polls is all due to name recognition,” Keller said. “Republicans already suspect that Tommy Thompson isn’t a true conservative, and once they realize it they’ll look for a conservative alternative, and that will be Mark Neumann.”

The Neo-Stalwart 2012 primary is not going to be won by name recognition in June, it's going to be won by how policy and messaging can be spun by the 1st week of August. That takes money, and that means Club for Growth money. I've said before, I don't think Tommy's winning. I really wonder what the July campaign season will look like.

Flu

No posts this weekend due to a case of fevers and headaches. Flu can go away anytime now

I Haven't Commented on Eric Hovde's Gaffe... Until Now

Eric Hovde's comments from last week about the news media and coverage of poor people applying for benefits is still getting plenty of attention one week out. Maybe that's why he's still talking about it and trying to walk back the comments as if it doesn't portray his true opinion. Yet, he's somehow raising money off of it & won't back down from the comments. Clearly, this is someone who is a novice at running campaign messaging.

Look, I'm not getting into all of the crap surrounding the story's timeline, because that's just what it is, crap. The billionaire candidate who "goes rogue" and says what he really thinks exposing how conservative he really is, probably isn't as catchy for newspaper, internet, and blog headlines. No, what I want to get into is what he was talking about, my experience with it, and how his comments were not just insulting, they were also not even referencing what what he was talking about.

I'm posing a serious question to Mr. Hovde, and in fact, every candidate running for public office at the State or Federal level in Wisconsin: Have any of you ever applied for Public Assistance, Food Share, or Heating Assistance in Wisconsin? Because, believe it or not, I have. I applied for Food Share in September of 2010 after joining AmeriCorps. I still have my card and the paperwork that I was sent as a reminder of what that process was like.(Unfortunately it is buried over at my parents house with many other mementos.) You know what Mr. Hovde, I'm a news-junkie, and while I have seen many public interest stories about people needing to apply for assistance, I've seen very few, if any, that accurately portray what it takes to apply for those services.

Fraud is an issue with the states Food Share program, and the MJS has been playing that up in articles such as this one. But if my experience, or those shared by other AmeriCorps members in my service group are any indication, it's easy to see why.

First, the paperwork. Filling out what was needed to even apply for the benefit was cumbersome and confusing. The website and way of walking you through the process was clearly not figured out by someone with an education degree, because it's set up like bunk. This link is the website to start filling out the benefit: https://access.wisconsin.gov/access/accessController?id=0.4553449883824301 It's not impossible to do, but it does take a little while.

Next, was the waiting for the phone call. Yes, the physical phone call that you had to have. I was told by many members of my AmeriCorps group that I was lucky mine only took 45 minutes as several commented that they were on HOLD for that long. My situation was more complex than most because I was in AmeriCorps and able to get food share, but things being what they were, it was a pain trying to go back and forth.

After that, it was the stack of paperwork that I received. This is all the "Can's and Can'ts" of using your Food Share card, and other information about every other state service under the sun that you may be eligible for. What I remember most though was the paperwork that showed a record of my Food Share benefits. It looked like it was printed in 1978 on a middle school mimeograph and had almost no hallmarks of what you would think a government document would look like. I would receive another one every few months as they were "checking up" on me and my progress.

Lastly, the stigma of using the card. For those who may think otherwise, it does exist for MANY people. I was certainly one of them. I would shop at a Copps Foods store and you always had to tell them you were using EBT, but often times you had to just say "Food Share". More than a few times you would swipe the card and they wouldn't catch the fact I showed them the card and would have to "re-swipe" it. I'm sure there are those who don't feel that stigma when they go into the store and swipe their cards, but I wonder why that is and what we have done as a society to create that. I can only imagine that people who have had those benefits in the past or for extended periods probably have heard so much negative talk of the program they feel defiant in using it their way.

Whatever the case, looking at that card when I took it out of my wallet because I was no longer in AmeriCorps was the last time I hope to ever have to utilize that card. Maybe one day I will hold it up as proof that yes, I have some knowledge about what the system was like for people using it in 2010/11, who knows? But the fact remains, Eric Hovde wasn't talking about me when he made his comments about journalists doing human interest stories on people applying for government services. He was talking about seeing stories of people who NEED to apply because their family has fallen on hard times. I wish I had the wealth and assets Mr. Hovde does, as with it comes the security of knowing that you won't have to rely on such social services. But please sir, shut up right now. Just say "I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my comments" and move on.

Grammar Oops

I'm sorry for the grammar errors in the post about Healthcare Reform. My blind rage really did get the best of me. It's hard to imagine that I actually graduated college sometimes with how poor my grammar and mechanics are. I apologize.

Q: Why Did I Flip Out Watching CSI Last Night? A: Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee

Last night while watching CSI for lack of anything else on TV, I was confronted with this:



It is nothing but a minute of falsehoods and red herrings specifically aimed at middle class suburbanites who have likely never had to worry a day in their life about many of the things Obamacare has taken on. The ad is put out by a group called: Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee. "Who in the hell is that?" I thought to myself. Well, I had the absolute luck of finding their website and unfortunate feeling of almost proceeding to vomit myself.

This is the epitome of what the mis-information campaign that the right wing in this country has been waging against the President and his healthcare reform bill looks like. Our healthcare system is so jacked up right now I can't even begin to describe it. I have a girlfriend who has to pay another $500 in COBRA this month because her new job's healthcare doesn't go into effect as soon as they promised. I have a father who is 60 and pays $500 a month for insurance because he is technically "self-employed" being an "independent owner" of a potato chip sales route. I have a mother who has been employed in the healthcare system her whole life and done nothing but point out how it is messed up it is and what Obamacare is doing right and where it didn't go far enough.

WHY DO WE NOT HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION?!?!?!?!?!?! WHY?! Please raise my taxes if that means I can walk into a clinic and see if I have an ear infection! Please make it so my girlfriend doesn't have to drain her entire bank account for the 2nd month in a row! Please don't yank my chain about how people in their 20's shouldn't be on their parents coverage!

Wait, what was that last one? You've only heard stories about people saying that's one of the provisions they would keep? Well, let me direct you to the website of "Concerned Women for America LAC" Under the Article Title: "Boys to Men: Moms, Start Cutting the Apron Stings This Fathers Day": By Penny Nance, here is an expert: 

Yes, we are enablers. But parents are not the only ones at fault here. Our government is guilty of encouraging our kids to extend their childhoods and dependency. Consider how comfortable the government has made our youth. For example, in 2010, the Obama Administration's Affordable Care Act ruled that men up to age of 26 could remain on their parents' health insurance plan, regardless of marital status, residency, or employment. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 2.37 million young adults between the ages of 19-26 will take advantage of this privilege.

And I'm sure it sounds great to those youngsters, but is it good for them in the long run? In effect, our young men are being robbed. There is no rush to find a job for insurance benefits, no rush to move out of mom and dad's house, and no rush or incentive to provide for themselves and begin building a family of their own. This delay in family formation has social consequences as well.

 BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! This is the type of stuff that makes me go bonkers! Where are we in this country? Do people with decent healthcare really not know what it's like to not have it? Better yet, do people who have had their coverage stripped away and made more expensive over the last 20 years really think THAT is okay, but people who haven't had it increase as much are moochers? How the hell does Mr. "Unemployed" Mitt Romney even have a CLUE what people are talking about or what their circumstances are?

I'm 25 and still on my mother's coverage through January. I have two part time jobs right now, one of which could likely become full time, but it would make my teaching degree null and void not being able to substitute. What will I do come January? Well, I'm saving my money as much as I can to pay for it, and yes, there may even be other options on the table at that point. The simple fact that so much worry has to be spent on this issue is ridiculous. Let's get smart people. Your rights aren't being subverted. You're not losing The Constitution. This isn't Stalin-Hitler-Mussolini-Comminazifascism you've been brainwashed into. It's common sense and something that makes people MORE able to be happy, fulfilled, contributing members of society.

It's also something The United States of America is sorely missing. We were the world superpower of the 20th Century. Hey conservatives! Stop living in the past, and start thinking about where we are going in THIS century!

UPDATE: Sorry for the egregious grammar errors in the first version.... Blind rage really doesn't lend itself to well maintained grammar skills.

Marquette Law School Poll: Details, Details

I've said it before, and before, and I'll say it again: Tommy Thompson's not winning the WiGop Neo-Stalwart Primary on Aug. 14th for the US Senate.

The latest Marquette University Law School Poll located here shows Tommy Thompson ahead of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin 49 - 41% with likely voters. There is a problem though, even with him in the lead among the four Neo-Stalwart candidates running! (There is a reason you see him and his "Stop Sign" all over the TV)

According to the poll, Thompson is the most widely known in the survey with 84% name recognition. Here is the rest of the breakdown:

Thompson: 34%
Neumann: 16%
Hovde: 14%
Fitzgerald: 10%

Undecided: 25%!!!

WOW! Even with Tommy T's 84% name recognition and 4 terms as Governor of Wisconsin he's still not outside the technical margin of being overtaken by Jeff Fitzgerald? That says that Tommy's got a problem with Republican voters! That problem? He's not a real Neo-Stalwart... he's a Republican. During his time as Governor, Thompson was a moderate and someone who wasn't afraid to negotiate and work together. Did Democrats get everything they wanted? No. But, can you imagine Governor Thompson ever introducing Act 10 and play dumb about what the consequences would be?

I'm 25 years old, and from my birth until 8th Grade, I knew no other Governor than Tommy Thompson. My mother, who was born in 1960 was six years old when Tommy was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly! This man was politically raised in a time of Governors Patrick Lucey, Lee Dreyfus and Warren Knowles. The most egregious thing Governor Knowles ever did was forget Winneconne on the 1967 map! Tommy Thompson is not all that appealing to the Neo-Stalwarts who want nothing more than to return us to a time of Governor Jeremiah Rusk.

Tommy Thompson, who has been a "fixture" in politics since 1966, flirted with federal elected office, and elected as the longest serving Governor in Wisconsin history, can't shake a 25% undecided electorate in a primary poll two months from election day?

Tommy Thompson's not winning the Neo-Stalwart Primary. Tommy Thompson is a Republican.

UPDATE: After first posting this at 4pm Craig Gilbert has written in his Wisconsin Voter Blog on JSOnline. Craig is a straight shooter whose work is exceptional, and rightfully points out that Thompson has higher "positives" than his opponents. He also points out that his "negatives" are higher too, and says that he can manage this in a crowded field. I tend to disagree, and feel that those voters will coallecse around a single Neo-Stalwart candidate (My pick: Mark Neumann). Tommy Thompson is ahead, and comfortably so right now, but two months, while maybe a time where traditionally people have stopped paying attention to politics, is also a time where party members can get to their rank-and-file and change minds.

Michelle Litjens' & Why I'm Defending Her (Begrudgingly)

It's amazing how disconnected you become when working an 8 hour a day factory job when you don't have a smartphone or access to a computer! Liberals and those who are constantly "connected" really don't know what it's like for so many workers in Wisconsin's community industrial parks. This is a real reason why blogs like this one don't reach workers and people who need to hear Democrats message. They need to re-evaluate how they message to blue-collar workers. (More on this in a different post down the line.)

But I digress. When I got home Tuesday and started going through all of the different things I missed through the day, it seems the WI interwebs were really caught up on the news first reported by Root River Siren about State Rep. Michelle Litjens filing for divorce from her husband. Some of the comments that were written in various blogs left a very bitter taste in my mouth. It's not something I'm proud to do, but I'm going to defend Rep. Litjens from these comments.

Myself, I have said a lot of things about Rep. Litjens, and yes, several times last year referred to her (and I believe rightfully so policy wise) as #Batshitcrazy. There was a particular exchange between herself and Rep. Sandy Pasch on Up Front with Mike Gousha where I developed a distaste for her logic and standpoints when it came to abortion. That video is located here. 

But, I also remembered an earlier interview with Mike Gousha that occurred in 2011 with Rep. JoCasta Zamarria discussing the 2011 Legislative Session and their first year as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. This was where Rep. Litjens disclosed that her husband didn't do things for the home when she was away in Madison. The discussion starts at 7:40 of the following YouTube clip. (Embedding has been disabled, so you will have to go to YouTube)



Clearly there have been some issues in the Litjens home for a while if the Representative's husband did not do the grocery shopping or lift a finger doing the laundry while she was busy rolling back workers rights, women's rights, etc, etc, etc. I have absolutely no time nor inclination to defend Rep. Litjens' legislative record, but I will defend her for being able to stand up and clearly take the first steps at getting out of what must be an extremely difficult personal situation. That takes a lot of guts and is difficult no matter what your political stripes are. 

Divorce is the ending of something that was once forever, and has repercussions and ramifications that ripple throughout multiple families. It's not a moment for cheap partisan "Ha-Ha's" ala Nelson Muntz. It's a time to say "I'm sorry" and let them deal with it in private. Ms. Litjens, despite her extreme views and lack of comprehension of issues surrounding women in the 21st Century, clearly has some shred of progressivism in her in in filing for divorce. That should be the extent of any type of political slant put on this story. "I'm sorry for your situation and I hope it all works out for the best for your family. Please never ever consider running for public office again because your views on (X) are entirely 19th Century."

We Democrats, Progressives, and Liberals in Wisconsin need to rise up above such petty personal vendetta and have the discussion elevated to something more useful. That would be a far better legacy than getting a few brief moments of joy writing about the pain that someone else is clearly feeling. Leave that to Neo-Stalwarts who roll back more societal achievement in their next piece of legislation. "I'm sorry Rep. Litjens for your situation and I hope it works out for the best for your family."

Land of Confusion: Part V - Adams County

"This is the world we live in 
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to"

Land of Confusion: Part V - Adams County 

Adams County, you are such a beautiful county. I've spent countless summer days vacationing in your luscious sandy forests and antiquing through your small hamlets. But seriously, what the heck is up?

Retiring Guy's Digest blog did this write up on Adams County last year which is short, sweet, and to the point: Adams County is poor, rural, and and area where people in 2010 and 2012 have been voting against their economic interests to the extreme. The Ron Paul signs that have permeated across the county over the last decade make me seriously question what message Democrats are sending and how they are sending it. Adams County's economy is based on two industries: tourism and agriculture, which once again makes me ask, how are we not winning the message with these people?!

Here is the map of Walker's wins in 2010:

When you look at the map, it's pretty clear to see that while Walker won the west, he didn't win it by that much. Adams County, and in fact, most of West-Central Wisconsin was won by less than 10 points.

But, what can history tell us? What about 2008 and the Obama Landslide? Or the 2006 Gubernatorial Election? This is what we here at Wisconsin Soap Box are for!

Wow, look at that blue! But what's even more is that there is such a dark, DARK blue in our Southwest and parts of West-Central Wisconsin.

Adams county there went for President Obama between 10 and 20%! But yikes, what's interesting is that when you look at how far we have traveled since 2008 in this state, you see we have a lot of ground to make up! (Props to MJS for the map)






Let's see what the data shows for Adams County in the Doyle v Green Gubernatorial Election:

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Jim Doyle	Barbara C. Lawton	Democratic	4,416	55.91%
	Mark Green	Jean Hundertmark	Republican	3,324	42.08%

Okay, nice, nice healthy margin. Obviously Democrats have been capable of doing well in the "Central Sands" over the last 10 years. Now, let's look at the 2010 Gubernatorial Election:

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Scott Walker	Rebecca Kleefisch	Republican	3,748	52.27%
	Tom Barrett	Tom Nelson	Democratic	3,298	46.00%

UGGGGG!!! Can I explode now?!?!? Seriously! Democrats, you lost around 1,200 voters in this county!!! It's not like Republicans over-performed the 2006 election by huge percentages! Democrats messed up HARD! Dare we even look at the 2012 Recall election results?

Walker: 54.5% - 4,497
Barrett: 44.3% - 3,657

WHY?!?!?! WHY DO WE KEEP DOING THIS TO OURSELVES!?!?

How is it that we've lost so many voters in this county since 2006 in Gubernatorial Elections?!

You want a real scream, President Obama got 5,806 votes in Adams County in 2008. We've got to stop doing this to ourselves!:

We have issues in this county! This is the Land of Confusion!

Weather Watch!

I do weather spotting for the NWS and a local amateur radio group. Keep safe out there today Wisconsin!

College Serves WHO Exactly?

I saw this article on Facebook from a former professor of mine at UW-Fond du Lac. I'm a very strong proponent of the 2 year UW Colleges and all the benefits they provide to students, so seeing MJS articles on my news feed from them naturally piques my interest. Needless to say my heart sank when I read deeper.

A group of professors had already commented below the posting and pulled out a quote from Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) in the article. Mr. Nass' disdain for the UW system has been widely known   but him saying that colleges need to create 3 year programs to get people out is what I have an issue with, a big issue. One professor stated the obvious: "Stop cutting our funding and we can create more sections of courses that are bottlenecked." But I think this goes to the core of a debate we really haven't been having in society while we are meddling with our higher education system. That debate: What is the purpose of higher education?

Myself, I think that college is to form a well rounded and educated individual. Those general ed courses that everyone has a certain disdain for are what make universities centers of higher learning and separates them from the technical schools. Colleges and universities are places where individuals are supposed to become more well rounded, typically through the social sciences, and gain a greater understanding and insight to the human condition. It is a place where we study what makes us human, and how paintings and art convey the information they do, how history can shape where we go in the future, how philosophers and sociology are interconnected. You major in an area of "study" at a university, not major in getting this job or that job.

Our technical schools are for those people who have a specific job they are looking to gain skills for that don't necessarily require an intricate knowledge of the world around them. Is that to say they aren't "smart"? No! Absolutely not! In fact, my best friend is someone who went to a technical school and can run circles around people who went to a university with respect to having knowledge on a specific topic. But should we adapt this model to someone who is going to school for teaching? Or business? Or economics? Not so much.

Beyond just the debate about the technical schools and universities in 2012 we are also subject to business being king and trying to exert more force on colleges. Now, I want universities working with business and industry to better develop their coursework and keep current on skills that are needed to perform jobs. But, we have to ask the question, are colleges places to create skilled workers, or places to created learned individuals? They are not mutually exclusive, and it is something we are going to be confronted with in the Neo-Gilded Age. It is also something I fear, that the pro-business money will start waging a stronger campaign on as we move along...

Lazy Sunday

I've been lazy today, which is to say I spent the day with the Lady Friend's parents enjoying a car show, lunch, and time relaxing. Restarting work again tomorrow at the panel shop. I'm damn lucky I have the opportunity to go back and like everything in life plan on giving it my best, but living in Wisconsin and going to school for teaching means keeping the faith is tougher some days.

Morale? Who Needs Morale?

Ohh, our schools are fine. All we need to do today is give kids a laptop or an I-Pad, say we are "incorporating technology", throw some generalities out there in terms like "do what's best for kids", and the always popular "data", and then let it all sort itself out. Act 10 really isn't changing things at all, it's just those rich teachers who are complaining because they finally are being subjected to the same BS the private sector has been.

Well, here's the thing, all is not fine and such short sighted logic is what creates students like this. Some school districts have recognized that carte-blanche change is not exactly healthy to students and staff. Others though, not so much. New Berlin has already been caught in double-speak, and I can say first hand as an employee of a different school district from January - June 2012 that change is not always good. 

So why do you care? Well, I thought I would direct you over to this posting about the West Bend school district. What is written about in said article hit home with me after just coming off a semester of high school teaching. But what also hit home is the fact that I am still searching for teaching jobs and have to confront the fact that I need to start considering other options. I love teaching, and my 6 months of teaching was an incredible learning experience that will make me so much better next time around. But is it worth it? Why should I keep pursuing this avenue of employment when so many colleagues, former teachers of mine, and competitors have horror stories? Stories of an elementary school teacher who was denied a home loan because "teaching is not a stable profession right now." Or having to explain that I took over for someone who went to work on the wind turbines because of its stability and benefits, or how I know of 2 teachers who left after this year to sell insurance because instead of return to the classroom.

Am I still looking for a teaching job? ABSOLUTELY! Would I love to find another job, YES! But, how many years can I keep looking before resigning myself to the fact I need to do something else? Sadly, as a teacher I'm looking to plan ahead and not box myself into a corner, but it's usually construed as "giving up" and not "paying my dues". (I'm so sick of that last phrase)

Crazy Uncle Charlie's 18th Senate District Statistics

Here's a tweet from Milwaukee's very own twit, Crazy Uncle Charlie Sykes. DOOM! GLOOM! DESPAIR! Democrats might as well pack it in for this November.

I love how he fails to even look at the district boundaries or even dig a little deeper into how the elections between Hopper and King broke down in 2008 and 2011:

Courtesy of Ballotpedia.org
2008:

Wisconsin State Senate, District 18 (2008)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Randy Hopper (R)		41,904	50.05%
Jessica King (D)		41,741	49.86%

2011:

August 9 Recall - District 18[19]
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Jessica King (D)		28,191	51.1%
Randy Hopper (R)		26,937	48.83%
Scattering		42	.08%

So, where did that large 68,000 Republican vote total come from? Oh, silly me, maybe we should look at a map of the 18th Senate District:

WOW! Look at ALL that Winnebago and Fond du Lac County territory!!!! I'm stunned! Errrrr, wait, umm, not so much.

The blue area is the 53rd Assembly District, and the Green the 52nd, and Pink the 54th. Ohhh, wait, 54th, that's Gordon Hintz's district. Right, cause he's such a Neo-Stalwart? Not so much.

Now, some of this could (will) change if (when) the new maps go into effect, but the 18th was left relatively intact with the way it votes. If we actually break down this district over the last few years, we can see that it's hardly the conservative bastion that Crazy Uncle Charlie wants is Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha zombies to believe.

I live in Fond du Lac... I know this area. Byron, Empire, and Taycheedah are "ring" townships around the City of Fond du Lac, and they are conservative. But North Fond du Lac is a blue collar and working class railroad city and leans more Democratic. Same can be said for the city of Waupun and it's anchor industry of Incarceration. Oshkosh and Winnebago County did turn out for Governor Walker, but for them to throw their hometown Senator King out after being elected to the city council? I give them a little more credit than that.

So you know what, who gives a flip about what ALL of Fond du Lac County and ALL of Winnebago County voted like. If you look at the "new" maps, there is a reason Sen. Grothamann's district will loop around and pick up the townships on the east shore of Lake Winnebago... it's to keep it conservative. Same with the eastern most townships who aren't in the 18th SD.

Democrats, we don't have a cake-walk here, not by a long shot. But if the numbers that this district has produced in the past are any indication... we can and we HAVE won this district!

"A New Gilded Age" - Robert Reich

See, I'm not calling it the Neo-Gilded Age for nothing. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich said so just as recently as yesterday on CSPAN. I recommend watching the whole 40 minute conversation here, as it's worth the time. Mr. Reich and Paul Krugman are two voices who sadly aren't getting the attention they deserve.

I really do recommend listening or viewing the whole clip, but for your convenience, I have clipped out the part that really got my attention:

#Justaskin'

Why don't we have a single payer healthcare system again? Or, at least a public option? How does a pubic option destroy private industry again?

Justaskin' cause paying a COBRA bill sure as hell doesn't make sense...

Land of Confusion: Part IV - Monroe County

"This is the world we live in 
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to"

Land of Confusion, Part IV: Monroe County

When I was a little kid I was always confused as to why Monroe was in Green County, but I digress. This installment of "Land of Confusion" looks at what has been a flip-flopping county: Monroe County. Monroe voted for Bush in 2004, which means that there certainly is a Republican contingent in this county that is healthy and been there for some time. But what gets me about Monroe County, and why I am putting it in the "Land of Confusion" is that this is a county who can turn out for Democrats. It's also right next to LaCrosse County and in it's TV market, which I think is so crucial for why Democrats lost in 2010 and 2012.

First visually, you can see how Monroe County is "red" and Republican in the 2004 Presidential Election.




Next, we will turn our focus to the numbers, and the 2006 Gubernatorial Election. What does the turnout in the Doyle - Green Election show us:

2006 Gubernatorial Election:

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Jim Doyle	Barbara C. Lawton	Democratic	6,556	48.76%
	Mark Green	Jean Hundertmark	Republican	6,517	48.47%

Well first off, it shows us that we really aren't working with a whole lot of voters in this county, especially in the Gubernatorial Election. 13,073 voters, and an almost even split with only 39 votes separation. Hmm, but wait, what's that number on the 2004 map? I can kind of make it out, but it's small. Let's look at the Obama - McCain election:

2008 Presidential Election:

	Presidential Candidate	Vice Presidential Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Barack H. Obama	Joseph R. Biden, Jr.	Democratic	10,198	53.25%
	John S. McCain, III	Sarah Palin	Republican	8,666	45.25%

Healthy improvement of turnout! 18,864 total, and Democrats were able to improve by 3,642 votes. Nice work Obama messaging! But wait, let's look quickly at the 2004 numbers:

2004 Presidential Election:

	Presidential Candidate	Vice Presidential Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	George W. Bush	Richard Cheney	Republican	10,375	53.06%
	John Kerry	John Edwards	Democratic	8,973	45.89%

Ouch.... What the hell happened between 2004 and 2008 for Democrats? Depressed Republican turnout in 2006, massive turnout in 2008... good work Democrats.

Now, I think we can tell what happened in the 2010 Gubernatorial Election:

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Scott Walker	Rebecca Kleefisch	Republican	7,570	57.83%
	Tom Barrett	Tom Nelson	Democratic	5,199	39.72%

OUCH. What the hell happened? I mean, it's not like Republicans over-performed for Walker in 2010, but whoo-hoo, Democrats, where are you? I mean, you lost around 1,500 voters since the 2006 election, and good god, we lost 5,000 voters since 2008! That's 2 years, and 5,000 voters we lost in this county WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG???

Now, let's see what 2012's Recall Election looks like:

Walker: 9,039 - 59.2%
Barrett: 6,086 - 39.8%

Good god, that's north of 2008 turnout for the Republican voters! Good lord, we couldn't even muster as many votes as Jim Doyle got in 2006! Monroe County is rural and a toss-up county. It's Republican, it's Democrat, it's high turnout, it's depressed turnout, it's everything. But you know what, we need to turn out those Obama (and hell, even those Kerry voters) if we EVER want to win statewide elections! We have to figure out how to flip these counties blue and not get trounced like June 5th, 2012.

We have issues in this county! This is the Land of Confusion!

I Will Say it Again: Tommy's Not Winning

I said it before, and I will say it again, Tommy Thompson will not make it through the Wisconsin Republican Neo-Stalwart Primary. Articles about him donating to Democrats like Carl Levin aren't going to make people happy on that side of the isle. Ditto Eric Hovde, but as a hedge fund manager, who knows what Neo-Stalwart people will think.

John Nichols posted an article in The Cap Times about Hovde getting the biggest boost from the Walker Recall failing, but less we forget perennial Mark Neumann. Laser eyes is still my pick in such pro-business, pro-rich guy, pro-conservative Republican Neo-Stalwart times.


Mark Neumann: (File Photo)

Who Tightens the Screws?

Today is my last day of proverbial "freedom" as I work tomorrow again at the local full service car wash as an assistant manager. It's the same job I've had since I was promoted in 2007 while in the middle of my college years. Luckily, after having being "gone" since January of 2010, I built up such a reputation that I have been called back to "help out" a few times since then and was able to fall back in there after my teaching gig was up.

Working at a car wash, you have employees from all walks of life. Lots of high school aged students who are looking to make a buck, some college kids, and other 20-somethings who are searching for direction in life. Other times there are the "lifers" who have been there for upwards of 10 or more years and are content making what little they do.

But beyond that, there are those who come and go as quickly as a Wisconsin weather event. Those are the people who just stop showing up without a trace, those who are on Huber and have to walk back to the jail each night, and the long litany of people who need to restart life after having some form of run in with the Criminal Justice System. It really is a place where society melts, as people driving Cadillacs and Lincolns mingle with those who are barely (if even) scraping by in life.

The car wash gig is easy, and the political discussions that are held there usually are filled with wild misconceptions and basic lack of understanding on how the government is structured at the federal level, let along in the state house. Where it gets far more interesting is where I'm going to be back on Monday, the electrical panel shop. This is the quintessential "small business" that gets touted by politicians of all stripes when on the campaign trail. It's a place where there are workers on the factory floor, and a small contingent of people in the front office keep the business humming along with orders.

So why write about this? Because last summer while working for this small business, I really understood how workers get the screws tightened, and it's not really always the small business owner's fault. It's the large scale end customers who demand things NOW-NOW-NOW, when in all reality, what does waiting another 4 weeks really mean? Work mandatory OT, only to be laid off 4 months later?  What kind of cycle is this? Sadly, it's the cycle that happens so often because the big corporations can dangle that carrot of "more orders" to any one of a number of other small businesses.

One of the vendors who was in our shop made a quote to a colleague of mine last summer, saying: "my guys complain about working on Saturdays too, but they just don't understand, you've got to work while you can". No, I think they understand that their kids are only kids so long, and missing out on camping trips, T-Ball games, and cook outs shouldn't be compensated because Siemens didn't get your parts in until 4 weeks late and they have the muscle to force you to keep your workers as long as needed. That's the mentality we as a society having become apathetic over the last 30 years. "At least I have a job" is now considered a positive statement. I have been told "well, buck up cause that's the way life is now" referencing my rants about how idiotic from a family perspective our society is organized. Well, I'm bucking up to the fact that I don't blame my boss, or the small business owner, I blame the corporate jerks who are the ones perpetuating the breakdown of the American Middle Class and damn it, I'll keep talking about it till I'm blue in the face.

So, I go back to the shop on Monday. The stress level is way down from last summer, which is good, but being in the private sector versus the public shows me just how mighty the dollar reigns supreme. It also shows me that the compassion I have to display as a teacher has little room in private industry, especially as a part-time shop floor worker. It will also be interesting to see how the current political climate is discussed, as being a liberal in a conservative down is always a fun experience.

Virus! Viruses Everywhere!

As first reported in the MJS, audio is here, our Governor concluded his "Brat Summit" and jetted off to DC to continue his bashing of public sector workers.

Damn, have we learned nothing from history?! (I know the answer is complex and nuanced, but I had to say it.) Seriously? I mean, where he says in his little rinky-dink fireside chat back in February, 2011 he "respects" government workers who do their jobs every day, and now calls them viruses?

Okay, he's in DC. Okay, he's probably fundraising, and okay, he does have to say things that will give him some street cred with his national Neo-Stalwart friends. But damn, the very next day?

Land of Confusion: Part III - Eau Claire County

"This is the world we live in 
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to"


Land of Confusion Part III: Eau Claire County

The Madison Capital Times just posted a recap of the elections as they see it, and it's hard to argue with most of their analysis.

But, in this installment of "Land of Confusion", I want to look at Eau Claire County. While some may have termed this a "tie" on election night 2012 and don't totally flip it to Governor Walker considering his narrow victory of only 160 votes, I think we need to look at the larger trend lines. This is a county whose Democrats street cred has been failing in recent years.

First, visually, the 2004 Presidential Election. As you can see from the map on the right, Eau Claire County is the northern tip of a blue sea buttressing the Mississippi River. I will admit, from my East-Central Wisconsin perch, it's hard for me to give any accurate view of the county. I can read websites and remember my two hockey trips through there from 5th Grade, but at the end of the day, one would think with two Universities close, it would trend Democratic.

While Presidential year politics are fun to view, the real "meat" for Democrats are the off-year elections, and years with Gubernatorial Elections. The 2006 Doyle - Green match-up is a great place to start.

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Jim Doyle	Barbara C. Lawton	Democratic	22,240	57.16%
	Mark Green	Jean Hundertmark	Republican	15,733	40.43%

Look at that. A nice, healthy turnout from Democrats, and getting in the upper 50%'s for votes. 2006 was a good year for Democrats statewide, but I can't believe it was their "high water mark" in  what is possible. For that we look to the 2008 Presidential Election:

	Presidential Candidate	Vice Presidential Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Barack H. Obama	Joseph R. Biden, Jr.	Democratic	33,146	60.25%
	John S. McCain, III	Sarah Palin	Republican	20,959	38.10%

Wow, improving their turnout by over 10,000! Republicans jumped too, getting around 5,000 additional votes (give or take). 2008 is usually considered the "high water mark" for Democrats. It would represent what one could reasonably think their largest turnout would be.

Now brace yourself....

2010 Gubernatorial Election:

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote
	Tom Barrett	Tom Nelson	Democratic	18,454	49.70%
	Scott Walker	Rebecca Kleefisch	Republican	18,018	48.52%

OUCH!  How the hell did Democrats lose so may votes? It's not that they lost 14,692 from 2008, it's that they lost 3,786 since the 2006 Gubernatorial Election. Furthermore, Republicans again improved on their turnout since 2006. What I find interesting: Democrats lose 3,786 votes, Republicans gained 2,285 votes. How many of those people were flippers? How many just stayed home? How many of that 33,146 who didn't turn out for Barrett were just disaffected? How many didn't realize there was an election?

Now, what about June 5th, 2012? 

Walker: 49.8% - 20,720

Barrett: 49.4% - 20,560

Yikes... Republicans trend up again! This time, they gained 2,702! They have steadily gained over 2,000 votes since 2006! What are we doing in this county? How is our messaging not getting through? What is changing in this county? Is this another place where Milwaukee bashing has worked well? How much was spent in this TV market? Eau Clare's NBC station (before being knocked off the air due to their tower falling down) reached all the way across Western and Central Wisconsin. You want "bang for your buck" advertisement, you advertised on WEAU. When your signal is seen in Coloma, WI, you know you've got a powerful signal. Is that why so many of those Central/Western counties have trended Republican?

Madison - Milwaukee Democrats, you know I love you. But seriously, the party doesn't just revolve around your two spheres of influence. It needs to include places like Eau Clare and honor their very important voice in our state! Let's re-focus our efforts on this county. We can get some serious votes here if we work at it.

We have issues in this county! This is the Land of Confusion!

Can't Imagine Why They are Worried...

I love this article which outlines some of the rockiness that has befallen the New Berlin School district since the implementation of Act 10. I take an issue with the way the article takes at word some things that are said on both side, because believe me, when they say "teachers were consulted" they don't always mean everyone was consulted for input. I saw that first hand. 


But, what I found interesting was this quote about the custodians: "Also, custodians were upset about reductions in vacation time, so a middle ground was found, he said." Hmm, custodian vacation time? Okay, so there's something that can't be collectively bargained for anymore, and management wants to cut back on a perk, sounds like the "new normal" to me.

 Now in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: New Berlin to Lay off Most Custodians. Good to know those custodians were treated so fairly. Superintendent Joe Garza said, "We're always looking to improve all aspects, this being one of them"

Apparently, it's improving them by removing the dissenting voices. Good move there New Berlin... good move. 

Eric Hovde: I Don't Care About Being Liked

The first ad I saw in the Green Bay TV market for US Senate was former Governor Tommy Thompson's, but now I have seen this ad from Eric Hovde. It uses the already over-used stitch of having kids talk to the camera and then have Mr. or Ms. Candidate say something at the end. The internet version also adds about 8 seconds of "out-takes". (ha....... ha......)

Know what really gets me on this one? It's not so much the message his kids deliver, because it's pretty par for the course of what anyone wanting to gain Wisconsin's Neo-Stalwart vote would say. What gets me is his closing line, "I don't care if they like me in the Senate"

So much for that spirit of bi-partisanship I guess....

You want a real Progressive #ragestroke, watch what he just posted yesterday: His plan for protecting the American Dream.

I can't think of a better person to give advice on the American Dream than a person who manages a hedge fund.... So much for the sweat and tears of hard toiling work, let's just gamble with other people's life savings. That's the path to the American Dream.

Like every good Neo-Stalwart, he's taking us into the Neo-Gilded age...

Why Independent Voters are the Problem

Until 2007ish, I used to say I was an independent, but I was young an naive. I've voted for Tom Petri for Congress, and voted against him, but being a generally moderate Republican with far out usually non-Democratic party supported challengers, I didn't think he deserved a dissenting vote.

Then I got wise. I've come to realize an independent voter isn't someone who is willing to vote both Democrats and Republicans into office, it's someone who has absolutely no flipping clue what in the hell they are doing in choosing candidates. They are the ones who pick based on "he looks nice" or "I like his tie selection". While I may disagree with Republicans on most issues, and Neo-Stalwarts on almost everything, I at least give them some credit for holding to an ideology. "Indies" don't know what they are for and against.

So, when I saw this report from WISN.com about President Obama and Mitt Romney getting low marks on their economic plans from independents, I had to get on the soap box. Walker won 18% of Obama supporters in the exit polls on June 5th. WHO IN THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE? I mean honestly! Okay, if you don't support the recall, are you really going to vote for someone who is absolutely 180 degrees politically opposite from someone you support in President Obama?! Or, we can take the inverse, and say that how in the hell does 18% of this state in exit polls support such a Neo-Stalwart in Governor Walker, and someone more Woodrow Wilson-esque in President Obama?!?!?!?!

The rise of the independent voter is the reason why our politics has become more polarized. It's people who are so easily swayed by what the stoopiedest of TV commercials say. It's not just Republican or Neo-Stalwart commercials either, as Democrats and their allies have had their fair share of poorly produced and utterly empty commercials as well.

They don't understand what the word "Socialism" really means, but they know they are scared by it. They are the people who hate Obamacare, but love the filled doughnut hole, 20-something kid protection, preexisting condition coverage, and so many more of the popular provisions of the bill. They tell Senators and Congressmen "keep your Government hands off my Medicare", complain up a storm about the lines at the DMV and yet want to keep cutting how much money they are allocated in a budget. They are also the same people who seem to not understand what Laissez-Faire economics are, and think that the "roaring 20's" had absolutely no ramifications.

Independent voters are people with no guiding principals. If you have Candidate (A) and Candidate (B) running against each other, and you're someone whose personal ideology and beliefs align with Candidate (A), then it would seem that you would likely vote for candidates in state, local, and other federal elections who agree with those general ideas right? It would also seem that your whole-sale ideology wouldn't change in a massive fashion in only 2 or 4 years would it? Now, if Candidate (A) has some pretty major flaws you disagree with (let's say has been accused of drinking on the job and having a 25 year old mistress who causes him to abandon his family), I can somewhat understand voting for the other candidate, but not if they are a polar opposite of your views. What I CAN understand though... is staying home from the polls or having a protest vote.

Want to know why we don't have any serious 3rd party challenges in this country? Well, first off, 1912 is a glaring example of why it doesn't work well for whatever party is fractured, but it's also because as we have become more "independent", we have lost our sense of what a 3rd party would actually represent. How do you conveniently mix Republican (or now Neo-Stalwart) ideology with that of Democrats or (gasp) Progressives? In the USA in 2012, the Democrats ARE the moderate party. We have no progressive party, and the Republicans are now so conservative they share more in common with an 1890's legislator than a 1980's one.

Independent voters... figure it out. Sit down, lay out how you TRULY think society should be laid out in your mind. What do you like, what don't you like. Then, make a tick mark every time you see something the Democrats (in theory) agree with, and a tick mark every time you see something Republicans (in theory) agree with. Then, go down your slate of candidates and see who agrees with what. I mean honestly, do we really have to make this like fantasy football? Is that how lazy, apathetic and insane our electorate has become????

I'm stepping off the Soap Box now...

18th Senate District: Thwarting Republicans Hopes of Majority Control

If Democrats want to keep control of the Wisconsin Senate, they will need to get the vote turned out for Jessica King (D -Oshkosh) in a BIG way. Senator King is everything that people should look for in a State Senator, and I mean that with no political bias. Yes, she is certainly a Democrat, but she is always working for her district. Following her Facebook page gives people a glimpse of just what she does on a daily basis.

Who knows, maybe she'll be "primaried" by John Buckstaff again.

But all kidding aside, she does have a Republican challenger who has filed nomination papers.

Rick Gudex - (R) Fond du Lac.
Member of the City Council and Council President.

Here is Rick's campaign site


Rick's resume looks impressive, but he's not as strong a candidate as one might think. There's plenty here for Democrats to go after, and over the next few months I certainly will dish as much dirt as I can. But, whatever help I can lend on here is minimal compared to what boots on the ground and a successful Democratic Party education effort will do.

You can view a conversation Rick had with Oshkosh local access TV here: (I love the fact he rips off Sen. Ron Johnson saying "Wisconsin is at a crossroads". Good Neo-Stalwart street cred I bet)

He hits the Neo-Stalwart talking points everywhere. "Business, business, business" is the mantra he  holds through and through. "Get government out of the way, Illinois dig, move Forward" etc. I can't believe he thinks that Jessica King is "trying to take us a step backwards." It's amazing to me at times he doesn't see himself in the likeness of a Gilded Age pol, cause I sure do.

For those of you who are progressive, liberal, or Democrat and want to keep the State Senate in November, help us here in the 18th Senate District beat this guy. It's a short hour's drive from Downtown Milwaukee and it's only an hour fifteen from Capital Square to Veterans Park in Fond du Lac. Consider helping out in Fond du Lac or Oshkosh this fall, because keeping Senator King representing the 18th Senate District is paramount for Democrats to keep a check on Governor Walker.

Dennis Smith & Cathy Stepp's Calenders

Well, this is certainly an interesting piece from Cory Liebman over at Eye on Wisconsin  (always a good read). Seems that he has obtained the 2011 calenders of four cabinet members of Governor Walker's. He has posted two of them, one from Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith and another from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, with additional commentary.

Cognitive Dissidence already wrote up his cynical take on the calenders. But what I find interesting are the dates, (I'm a history guy) like this one from the start of Secretary Smith's calender:

Dennis Smith, Health Services Secretary
February 14th, 2011: MacIver Institute

For those of you who don't remember, February 14th, 2011 was a Monday. The Monday after Governor Walker "dropped the bomb" about Act 10. Now, call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but I'm just sayin'. It's not so much that Secretary Smith was scheduled to meet with a conservative think-tank... but it's the date that intrigues me. Just sayin'....

I'm not smart enough to make any more comments at this point, (granted you don't always have to be the most knowledgeable person to start spouting on a soap box, but I digress). I wonder what other fruits these calenders will bare, or better yet, what the other two Cabinet members calenders have.

I'm not just sayin'.... I'm just sayin'....

Land of Confusion: Part II - Trempealeau County

"This is the world we live in 
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to"

Land of Confusion, Part II: Trempealeau County

Trempealeau County... what happened?

Here is the 2004 Presidential Election Map:

Wow, a whopping 57% for Democrats! 8,075 votes for Kerry to Bush's 5,878!

Not bad, but then again Trempealeau County is small, so it doesn't really matter right? Wrong... very, very wrong. These are the type of counties that won Scott Walker the Governor's Mansion in 2010 and kept him in it in 2012.

Now, 2006 Gubernatorial Election: Doyle v Green:

Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Political Party	Popular Vote

	Jim Doyle	Barbara C. Lawton	Democratic	5,557	58.57%
	Mark Green	Jean Hundertmark	Republican	3,725	39.26%

Depressed, as expected, from a Presidential year... but that's a large drop off. of 2,518 votes.

Now, let's look at 2008:

	Presidential Candidate	Vice Presidential Candidate	Votes
	Barack H. Obama	Joseph R. Biden, Jr.	Democratic	8,321	62.50%
	John S. McCain, III	Sarah Palin	Republican	4,808	36.11%

Okay Dems, okay... you really amped it up! You got back all of the drop off from 2006 and even a few more!

Now, 2010. Back down again... Gubernatorial Election, right? Okay, but YIKES... once you actually dig into the numbers you see that we lost a significant chunk of voters.

	Gubernatorial Candidate	Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate	Popular Vote
	Tom Barrett	Tom Nelson	Democratic	4,928	49.18%
	Scott Walker	Rebecca Kleefisch	Republican	4,898	48.88%

Yeah, we lost 3,393 voters between 2008 and 2010. Where's the turnout?! Republicans actually gained 90 voters during that time, but even still, + 90 to -3,393.... something wrong on one side!

And yes... that's a 30 vote separation between Barrett and Walker. This county moved right, and moved HARD!

Now, let's look at 2012:

Walker: 57% - 6,262
Barrett: 42% - 4,638

OUCH. We lost another 290 votes! So, we've seen what could potentially be 8,321 votes go down by almost 4,000 in 8 years??? What are Democrats doing wrong in this county????

Worse of all... some saw it coming: http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/156123485.html. I'm not sure how many more phone calls we could have made, but this county has been trending red in what was once a sea of blue.

When the results for this county came in... it was almost assured that Scott Walker would be re-elected.
How are we going to change it for the November elections and beyond???? The La Crosse TV market is the logical answer. This is an area that has little interaction with Milwaukee, so one could surmise that the Governor's attacks here on that city worked. The money advantage would also seem to be a key here as to why so many counties on the western boarder of Wisconsin have drifted more and move to the red side of things. These are areas where internet and social media advertising just doesn't have as big an effect. TV and  radio commercials still reign supreme.

However, Republicans don't trend up by 2,500 votes for no reason. Something changed in the minds of this county's citizens. How many of those people who flipped between 2004/08 and 2010/12 are really former Democratic voters? What have we done to lose them? These are the questions we need to answer if we want to win statewide elections again and turn not just Trempealeau County back blue, but make the "Hwy 21 - Hwy 29 Corridor" blue again.

We have issues in this county! This is the Land of Confusion!