Happy New Year!  What a great year for those "thousands" of people who we were told would lose jobs due to the cancellation of the car-speed rail project!  Turns out only 12 jobs will be lost!

Funny how that works.  Remember how for months the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, Governor, Mayor, and other liberals were crying about the "thousands of jobs" that were going to be lost should Governor-elect Scott Walker kill the car-speed rail? 

 Well, Walker did indeed put a dagger in the heart of the car-speed nightmare (good riddance!) with the help of the federal government.

And the "thousands of jobs" lost morphed into a few hundred, then eighty, ...and now....twelve.  Yes, 12 jobs will be lost due to the cancellation of car-speed rail. 

Why aren't the liberals up in arms over the reporting from the newspaper?  The inconsistencies from story to story?  How the Journal/Sentinel attacked Scott Walker on an almost daily basis for his campaign promise to stop car-speed rail?  They threw everything at him that they could muster.  Yet, what about the total number of jobs lost to what is reality? 

Just as Obama's  Stimulus Bill (more accurately called the Generational Theft Act)  was supposed to create "hundreds of thousands of jobs" we eventually learned that it created none.  In fact, national unemployment levels have risen since the billion-dollar stimulus (that just had to be passed - quickly so the unemployment level wouldn't rise above 8%!) was passed - to almost 10% nationwide.  And the little man-child pretending to be president is doing nothing to address job losses by getting big government out of the way of private businesses.  No, Barry O. is way too busy signing off on irrelevant legislation like "don't ask don't tell" repeals, and do-nothing "Start" treaties...

Read the entire story about the actual number of jobs lost from the train death  at: 

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/112734699.html

And rather than writing comments to voice concerns over "blog inaccuracies" or what many of my liberal readers call "lies" when they cannot understand facts, why not contact the folks at the Urinal/Sentinel and ask how could they have gotten the total number of jobs lost from the cancellation of the car-speed rail so wrong???  Month after month after month???  Guess it's a New Year!!!

While most Americans were horrified and sickened by the recent shootings of a Congresswoman and several others in Arizona - resulting in six deaths and fourteen other people wounded - some saw fit to use this tragic event to further a political agenda.   Lies, baseless theories, and spin abound.  Disgusting.   

Of course I am speaking specifically of the liberal media and many others on the left.  Who somehow saw this shooting - by a lunatic - as an opportunity  to blame it on conservatives, Republicans, and members of the Tea Party.  And this blame game is falling flat on its face - as it well should.

Jared Loughner, the shooter,  was unstable. His past - and present actions demonstrate as much.  People were frightened by him.  Those who attended a Community College with this young man mention how bizarre he acted.  How he seemed very strange.  He was eventually kicked out of the college, and was notified that he would not be allowed to return to school unless he agreed to a mental evaluation.  In addition, Loughner's very troubling YouTube videos and MySpace site are evidence that this man has a lot of issues. 

Jared Loughner brought a gun to a political gathering and killed and wounded people.  Jared Loughner.  Not the Tea Party.  Not conservatives.  Not Republicans.  Not "divisive political rhetoric."  Jared Loughner is a bad individual and will pay for his crimes.  He is to blame for the attack in Arizona.

It is disgusting how many on the left can look past Loughner and point fingers at the right in this case with no problem.  No hesitation, nor facts.  Sadly, the accusations and spin started to fly just a few hours after the shooting.  Yet, remember the Fort Hood shooting and Major Nidal Malik Hasan?  Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 30 others.  He had ties to radical Islam and was a follower of terrorist cheerleader Yemen Imam Anwar Awalki (Awalki later called Hasan a "hero" for his violent actions at Fort Hood).  Yet, the media, President Obama, and others on the left did everything they could to "not jump to conclusions" that Hasan was a Muslim. No, in that case the media wouldn't want to "judge" anything before all the facts came out!  It would be wrong to assume anything!  Journalists and those on the left didn't want to hear that Hasan had ties to radical Islamists.  Oh, no!  Wouldn't want to offend any group of people by reporting such...unless, of course, that group was conservative!  

Even a law enforcement officer, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, had to weigh in with his "opinion" that those who oppose what is happening in the United States today may have led Loughner to kill.  Dupnik blamed "the vitriolic political atmosphere" for the Arizona shooting.  In addition,  Dupnik  called members of the Tea Party "bigots"  So much for sticking with the facts, as a law enforcement officer.  (And suffice it to say that Dupnik has become a hero of the liberal left.  Absurd.)    A Democratic operative even told Politico that Obama needs to try to pin this event "on the Tea Partiers."    (As a side note,   Loughner was following Congresswoman Giffords since 2007.  The Tea Party wasn't even around at the time.  In addition, the Federal Judge John Roll,  who was killed, was a Republican. ) 

What is truly hypocritical is that with all this talk about "heated rhetoric" and the discourse today in politics, where were all these same Democrats and liberals who didn't hesitate to call for the death of President Bush or Vice-President Dick Cheney?  Who cheered a movie depicting the assassination of President Bush?  Who said terrorists were better than the President?  Who called Bush and Cheney every horrible word they could think of?    What about all those who ripped every female Republican political candidate to shreds - with glee - and continue to spew the same hate-filled rhetoric today?  Sarah Palin anyone?  Sarah Palin's family anyone?  Oh, but that's OK because those on the left are just exercising their rights to "free speech."  But real "free speech" only applies to liberals, because if anyone voices opposition to socialism, bigger government, or other government actions that aren't in the best interest of the country - well, that is then deemed "hate-filled rhetoric."  OK.  I get it. 

If any political group is guilty of "hate-filled rhetoric" - it is those on the left.  Yet, somehow this realization gets twisted and the Tea Party, conservatives, and Republicans are being targeted by the liberal media in their quest to blame this shooting on someone.  Can anyone tell us why the media and leftie talking heads aren't suggesting Loughner may have had ties to moveon.org?  the Democratic Party, or other liberal groups?  And if not, why not?  Seems they have no problem assuming from the start that Loughner was driven by the rhetoric coming from the right.  Why is that?  

 Of course, as is common with liberalism, the actual person who commits the crime is never to blame.  There are always some other "circumstances" or societal conditions that are responsible - not the one who pulls the trigger, kills, maims, robs, rapes, steals, etc.  And in this case, rather than put the blame squarely on the shoulders of Jared Loughner, where it belongs, the left has to search for the "real perpetrators" - and they must be the Tea Party members! 

And through all of this, remember - the "political discourse" present in our country today does not lead people to create violent acts.  The person who cannot control themselves and/or abide by the rules of society is solely responsible for their own actions.  Maybe a lot of this "hate-filled rhetoric" would die down if liberals would see fit to include in their vocabulary two little words:  personal responsibility.

The shootings in Arizona should not be politicized for any reason.  The irrational behavior of an individual cannot be explained rationally, and to try to seize upon this horrific event as a chance to demonize those on the right is shameful.  Period.

The State Department is altering U.S. passport applications to be "gender neutral."  That means that the terms "mother" and "father" will no longer be found on such forms to describe one's parentage.  Instead, in an effort to recognize "different types of families,"  and bend over backwards to be politically-correct, we no longer recognize people as "moms" or "dads."  No, now they are called:  "Parent One" or "Parent Two."  This change has been considered a huge victory by gay rights groups. 

Absurd.

In 2008, the estimated number of same-sex couples in the United States was 850,000.  Out of this figure, only 6% were said to consist of two people raising children.  Simply because a very, very small minority of society may be raising children in two daddy or two mommy households, the 70% of children in the United States being raised by a mom and dad  are now being dismissed.   In order to appease those on the left and the gay rights movement, the Federal Government has seen fit to snub the majority of  people who prefer to use the terms "mother" or "father."  The president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, called this action by the State Department an example of the "topsy-turvy world of left-wing political correctness" and a move that is "designed to advance the causes of same-sex marriage."  I agree. 

And before all the usual suspects out there go berserk calling me and others with the same views "homophobes" or other endearing terms, think again.  I find this move by the State Department to be troubling. Parents of children are no longer being referred to as a "mother" or "father" in this situation.  That alone sounds terribly wrong.  I have a problem with this.  I do not look upon these views as being somehow "anti-gay" but rather "pro-family."   

In an earlier post I expressed my opinion that ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military wasn't really done to address that practice.  I really don't think most people cared one way or another about the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."   However, this repeal was done with one goal in mind by those with a certain political agenda - to lead the country towards making gay marriage legal.  Shortly after the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell,"  the State Department announced it's new policy on passport forms. Small steps leading to the big step. The ultimate goal - legalizing gay marriage - is something that the majority of Americans oppose - for a wide variety of reasons, including religious beliefs,  moral standards, support of the traditional family, etc.  However, the majority of Americans (myself included) have no problem allowing civil unions of members of the same sex. 

Political correctness run amok.  Upon first hearing about the State Department's actions - all I could think of was Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" in which two characters are referred to as "Thing 1" and "Thing 2."  Dr. Seuss's books are well-known and loved by children and adults for the clever wording and pictures.  They are fun and enjoyable.  However, never did I imagine that the United States would now see fit to refer to "mothers" and "fathers" as "Parent 1" or "Parent 2."  Our country is moving into some scary territory - whether we like it or not -  when such blatant attempts at demeaning the traditional family are acceptable and promoted - by the United States government.  

Metaphor:  (met a - for) n. a figure of speech in which a term is transferred from the object it ordinarily designates to one it can designate only by implicit comparison or analogy, as in the phrase evening of life  (definition taken from "The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language").

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The past few days in the aftermath of the Arizona shootings, many on the left - including the "unbiased" media -  immediately jumped to the unfounded conclusion that political rhetoric - coming from the right, of course - was somehow responsible for the killings and woundings of many people in that state.  As time went by, this  was proven to be untrue.  Jared Loughner, the lone gunman, who shot and killed six people, while wounding fourteen others, was mentally unstable.  He and he alone was the "guilty party."  Mr. Loughner was found to be "unpolitical,"  meaning he did not follow politics, didn't listen to "talk radio," nor did he watch television shows that discussed the political happenings in the country.   He wasn't interested.  Instead, Jared Loughner had many personal issues and was very irrational.   And rational people cannot explain the irrational, no matter how hard they try. 

Political rhetoric was eventually given a pass as being the scapegoat for the actions of Mr. Loughner.  And rightly so.  What IS very interesting is a topic that Charlie Sykes, a conservative talk radio host for WTMJ, discussed on Friday, January 14th.  Here is the link to his specific podcast:

http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/charlie_sykes_podcast/113618229.html?video=pop&t=a

What Mr. Sykes talked about, with the blessings of sportscaster Wayne Larrivee, was Mr. Larrivee's use of the phrase "and there is your dagger!" whenever  the Green Bay Packers football team was assured of a victory. (On to Chicago! - it is a great time to be a Packer fan! And for  those of you who may not know, Mr. Larrivee is one of the "voices of the Green Bay Packers" who covers their football games live on the radio.)  During the podcast, listen to Mr. Larrivee actually say "and there is your dagger, right through the heart of Jake Cutler and the Chicago Bears!"  from an earlier game in the season.   Oh my goodness!  Violent? Yes.  Graphic?   Yes!  But does anyone really believe that a Packer football player is stabbing a Bear player?  That Jake Cutler is being knifed in the heart?    No.  People realize this is a harmless metaphor.  But given what happened in Arizona, and how the liberal media was so quick to jump to conclusions and point the finger at the Tea Party, Sarah Palin,  and conservatives, for somehow stirring up the violence with "political rhetoric,'  wouldn't it be expected that if someone goes out and stabs someone after listening to Mr. Larrivee,  Mr. Larrivee's rhetoric is now somehow to blame???

No. 

Silly to even think so.  Metaphors are used all the time.  Most people probably read the sports section of newspapers.  One team "kills" another.  One team "annihilates" another.   One team "slaughters" another.  However, most people who have an ounce of common sense realize that a team is not really "killing, annihilating," or "slaughtering" another team.    No, one team won and another team lost.   That's all.   Harmless.  Such headlines or references don't mean that the winning teams picked up machine guns and mowed down members of the opposing teams, or ran out onto the playing field and knifed all the members of the losing team. 

So, does Mr. Larrivee need to tone down his violent rhetoric in order to assure that people do not go out and kill one another?  Should he use the words "and there is your time out!"  as Charlie Sykes joked about, in an effort to keep the perpetually-offended politically-correct crowd happy?  No.  Just imagine if come Sunday, the Packers win - they beat the Chicago Bears -  and Mr. Larrivee shouts out "and there is your time out!"   Wouldn't that sound simply ridiculous?  Of course it would.  The audience wants to hear "AND THERE IS YOUR DAGGER!" - and on to the Super Bowl! 

Let's get real.  The majority of people in the United States are not idiots, as many of the liberal elitists  like to believe.  We know right from wrong.  We know what is a metaphor and what isn't.  For example, we know what the word "target" means, ala Sarah Palin or the Democratic "target" map from 2004.  We know that neither Palin, nor the Democrats meant that it was "open season" to hunt and kill members of the opposite party.  Common sense tells us that.  We know that political discourse is good for the country.  And we know that the Obama Administration and liberals don't like to hear complaints about how many feel that the country is being led towards socialism.    They don't want to hear it - they want people to follow along without question.  Well, we won't.  We will keep up the political discourse and complaints.  After all, free speech is for everyone - not just the left.  And metaphors are just that - metaphors.    Most people DO know the difference.

Barack Obama, after accomplishing next to nothing in his first two years in office, takes to the airwaves (yes, again!) for his annual "State of the Union" speech.  (What has this guy really done to improve the country in two years anyhow?) 

 Anyone going to watch?

As Rush Limbaugh stated today, does anyone really want to listen to somebody lie for a complete hour or more?  Be sure to listen for the buzz words "civility" and "investment" to be used over and over.  Try playing a drinking game with them and you'll probably end up smashed by the end of what could really be termed a "re-election speech."

Even the word from some of the news media is that Obama's address will have have more"ambience than substance."  Oh sure, he'll talk about jobs, the deficit,  and the economy, but does he really have any clue how to improve anything?  Does he really want to?  No.  Obama WANTS people reliant on the government.  Obama WANTS to spend our country into an economic turmoil from which we can never recover.  At least most of America realizes this and WANTS this president to be a one-termer and put a stop to the direction Obama plans for America.

I myself cannot stomach watching the arrogant little man-child, sticking his nose up in the air and speaking down to all his subjects.  Don't want to see it, don't want to have to listen to it.  And for right now, we still have the freedom to change the channel or do something more entertaining, like take out the trash (oh, didn't we do that this past November???)....And thank goodness the Packers beat the Bears, cuz now the mainstream media won't have to go gaa-gaa, fawning all  over Barry and Michelle at the Super Bowl!

What I really do want to see is the Republican rebuttal to the "State of the Union/re-election" speech - given by Wisconsin's very own Congressman Paul Ryan.  Now that should be worthwhile.  Substance over ambience.  Fact over fiction.  How refreshing.   

If you don't want to watch Barry O., here are some positive thoughts to help get you through the next two years of an Obama presidency:  Scott Walker is Governor (soon to give his own "State of the State" address).  Taxes will not increase in our state.    Voter ID is soon to become a reality.  The taxpayer-soaking car-speed rail train is dead!    Obamacare may soon follow.   Nancy Pelosi is no longer "Madam Speaker."  The Republicans control the state government in Wisconsin and the House in Washington D.C.  The brakes are being put on socialism.  And - no small feat -  the Packers are headed to the Super Bowl! 

Just finished reading a few of the news stories regarding the little man-child's campaign speech/State of the Union.  In an earlier blog I mentioned to be on the lookout for the frequent use of the word "investment," as it is the new liberal-speak term for "spending."   Obama didn't disappoint.

Obama identified government "investment" many times as though the future of America depends upon on it.  As the Heritage Foundation pointed out on 1/26/11:  "If centrally planned government spending is the key to America's future success, then we are in big trouble, because China will beat us in raw bureaucratic efficiency every time.The source of American exceptionalism is not an expansive and powerful central government." 

Obama glanced over the fact that reducing the deficit can only be done by stopping runaway spending (or should I say "investing?").  Obama wants to put a freeze on non-security spending.  All fine and good, but that will not reduce the deficit.  And as for "investing," the federal government hasn't gotten great returns on any of it's "investments."  Look at the dire straits our public educational system is in, yet education spending has increased 219 percent faster than inflation in ten years.  Look at the "investment" in the failed stimulus bills.  There are many other examples of failed "investments" by the federal government, too numerous to mention in a short post. 

 Representative Paul Ryan made some excellent points in giving the Republican response to Obama's campaign speech.  First, Ryan pointed out that Obama, while he came into office "facing a severe fiscal and economic situation,"   Obama only made things worse with his response - going on a "stimulus spending spree" that failed to create jobs and "plunged us even deeper into debt."  And Obama still doesn't get it or know what to do.  More government spending (oops - I mean "investing") is NOT the answer.   When a family is up to it's neck in credit card bills, is the solution to go out and spend even more in hopes of getting out of debt?  No.  That is simply stupid.  Yet, why does the government think it can spend its way back to prosperity?  The answer lies in stopping the madness - stop the spending sprees.  Stop the newest "entitlement program" - Obamacare - that will be unsustainable and unaffordable. 

Government programs do not save money, make money, or keep the economy going.   Most lose money.  Private sector jobs, on the other hand, keep the economy going and growing.  Sure, some fail, yet many succeed.   And until our government stands back, shrinks in size, and lets private businesses work - unheeded by overblown government rules and regulations and other garbage that hinders economic growth or opportunities, we will continue to sink into the economic hole Obama & Co. have dug for us. 

In closing, Representative Ryan stated what many of us agree with:  "We believe, as our founders did, that "the pursuit of happiness" depends upon individual liberty;  and individual liberty requires limited government.  The president and the Democratic leadership have shown, by their actions, that they believe government needs to increase it's size and its reach, it's price tag, and it's power." 

Ryan concluded by stating that government as usual is not the way to go - that the Republicans will "do things differently" and "cut spending."  In addition, he repeated the ideology of many conservatives - that limited government is best.   I agree.  Representative Ryan did Wisconsin and the Republican party proud.   Obama, on the other hand, needs a wake-up call if he hopes to be re-elected in 2012. 

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With all the upheaval taking place in Egypt, and President Obama and foreign-policy expert/VP Joe Biden missing in action, perhaps the White House is more focused on the strong possibility that Obamacare could end up where it should - in the scrap heap of bad liberal entitlement ideas.  It is clear that while the events in Egypt expose Obama as simply channeling his inner-Jimmy Carter in not having a clue what to do diplomatically or whom to support, he may be preoccupied.  After all, looks like his "crowning achievement" -  Obamacare - may be D.O.A. 

Across the country, judges are striking down parts of Obamacare as "unconstitutional."  But the biggest blow yet just happened.  On January 31st, in the northern district of Florida in the United States District Court, Judge Roger Vinson struck down ALL of Obamacare as "unconstitutional."  His ruling was very specific and cited many explanations of why he ruled in favor of those who oppose this government power-grab.  Read the  entire 78 page ruling and explanation at:  State of Florida vs. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  It is very interesting and makes excellent points as to WHY Obamacare IS unconstitutional.

A few excerpts from Judge Roger Vinson's ruling:

""It is difficult to imagine that a nation which began, at least in part, as the result of opposition to a British mandate giving the East India Company a monopoly and imposing a nominal tax on all tea sold in America would have set out to create a government with the power to force people to buy tea in the first place. If Congress can penalize a passive individual for failing to engage in commerce, the enumeration of powers in the Constitution would have been in vain for it would be ‘difficult to perceive any limitation on federal power’ and we would have a Constitution in name only."

 and the following:

"...the individual mandate and the remaining provisions are all inextricably bound together in purpose and must stand or fall as a single unit.  Because the individual mandate is unconstitutional and not severable, the entire Act must be declared void."

As of right now, 26 states have filed suit against Obamacare - Wisconsin proudly among them!    The United States House of Representatives recently voted to repeal Obamacare, and 47 Republican Senators have signed on to vote in favor of repealing this bloated entitlement program when it comes to the U.S. Senate. 

With Vinson's ruling, the repeal of Obamacare may eventually end up in the hands of the United States Supreme Court.  At which time our country would be at a true crossroads - do we continue on the path to becoming a nanny state - with the entitlement mentality supported by the government OR do we go back to the ideals and principals that our country was founded upon?   The nine justices on the United States Supreme Court could be about to hear one of the most important cases ever presented to them - if not the most important!  The future of the United States of America could depend upon their decision.

Let's continue to support our elected leaders who want to repeal this Obamination - and those judges who agree. The majority of the states in our nation want Obamacare repealed.  The majority of people in the United States want Obamacare repealed. 

Obamacare IS unconstitutional.  It IS another entitlement program that we - as Americans - can neither support nor afford.  It is unsustainable, as with most entitlement programs.  And if Obamacare is indeed allowed to become a reality, we will turn into another Europe.  The greatness of America and all it stands for will be lost.  

And perhaps if Obamacare were to go down in flames - the sooner the better - the President could turn his attention to Egypt?  One suggestion - Obama should avoid taking any calls from Jimmy Carter if he wishes to offer words of advice!
 

Finally the weekend of THE big game is upon us.  Soon all the reporting,  interviews,  hoopla,  and goofy stories surrounding the Super Bowl will fade into the background and the game will begin!  Who would have thought that the Packers would have ended up in Super Bowl XLV, given all the injuries and obstacles they had to overcome early in the season to get to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas?  What a testament to the players and coaching staff, as well as coach Mike McCarthy.  What an exciting Sunday coming up for football fans around the globe!  Amazing!

Here are my five quick hits on the Super Bowl, and yes, some are of a political nature! :)

1)  What a great economic boost to our state, Pennsylvania, Texas, and across the country for those who are waiting in anticipation for the big game to begin.  Player jerseys,  Super Bowl memorabilia, foam cheeseheads, "Feeling so fly like a Cheesehead" t-shirts, and other souvenirs and clothing associated with the game are flying off store shelves everywhere.  People are spending their own hard-earned money on Super Bowl items that they want, thereby boosting local, state, and nation-wide businesses to increase production to keep up with the sales.  Capitalism at it's finest - supply and demand.  No government subsidies or stimulus needed!  Obama should observe and learn! 

2)  While some are on a spending spree, the President of the United States is - for once -  saving taxpayers money! (Shocking, I know!).   We have the Chicago Bears to thank - for losing to the Packers a few weeks ago, which enabled the Packers to become the National Conference Champions and advance to the Super Bowl.  Obama had said if his home team -  the  Bears -  won, he would have headed to the Super Bowl (some have said that Kenya and Hawaii didn't have a football team called "the Bears" so they didn't know what "home team" Obama was talking about!...  This is a joke, by the way, for some of the humorless lefties out there).  If Obama had attended the Super Bowl, it would have been a logistics and costly nightmare, although Obama rarely seems to consider the consequences of his actions.  To him, the ability to do whatever he wants is just one of  the perks of playing President. If Obama wanted to go - he'd go.  So what if it cost the taxpayers a bundle?  We need to send a big shout-out to Jake Cutler and Co. - thanks for saving the taxpayers money!  We can use the cash to buy more Super Bowl items! 

3)  Obama will instead be staying at the White House to watch the Super Bowl on television with invited guest, Milwaukee's own Mayor Tom Barrett.  Anyone besides me have a theory on this one?  Now, why wouldn't Obama invite Governor Scott Walker to sit and watch the game with him - after all, Walker has a lot more clout around the state than Barrett.  (Oh, that's right, Walker is a Republican!  Boo! Hiss!)  Perhaps Obama is looking at Wisconsin and the strong shift to the right - and he wants to plant the idea in Barrett's head that maybe the Milwaukee Mayor should run for the Herb Kohl Senate seat when Herbie comes up for re-election in 2012.  Rumor has it that maybe the folks who threw Democrat Senator Russ Finkgold will do the same to Kohl.  After all, Kohl represents the spend-and-tax out-of-control Washington D.C. establishment, has ties to the current president, and his voting record goes against what many people wish (like when it came to socialized medicine).   Kohl is just another one of the arrogant Democrats who refuse to listen to the people and has been in office waaay too long.  There is a good chance Kohl's  seat will be up for grabs, with maybe (and this is just a maybe) Mark Green will step up to run as the Republican candidate for Kohl's seat.  Obama and his crew probably figure that Barrett may have a better chance for the Senate seat than Kohl.  The Democrats clearly don't want to risk losing yet another big senate seat in the next election in Wisconsin.  Although, Barrett - in my opinion - is a weak solution.

4)  A kudos to the ingenuity and creativity of people making money off of Super Bowl tickets, parking places, hotel rooms, etc.  Again, supply and demand.  People are willing to pay - huge amounts of money - for luxury boxes, game tickets, hotel rooms, airline tickets, souvenirs, and other items associated with the Super Bowl.  Yet, nary any complaints from the "disenfranchised" folks out there who cannot afford to go to the big game or pay the high costs to enjoy it in Arlington.  Why is that?  No reports on the "evil rich" stealing from the poor to get to the game.  Perhaps the Super Bowl is one of those few events where it is expected that costs surrounding the event will skyrocket?  Our family cannot afford to fly down to Arlington, rent a room, and pay for tickets.  It's way out of our budget.  Yet, we realize that others can and will be able to afford such extravagances.  Do we wish them ill will?  Are we angry?  Are we jealous?  Do we think we should take some of their money away from them and give it to others?  No!  In fact, we think more power to 'em!!!  I know this goes against the grain of the "rich" vs. the "poor" that the socialists in Washington D.C. like to promote.  However,  for this event, the finger-pointing and crying about "all the money being spent on the Super Bowl could be used to feed the hungry" have been missing.

5)  And last, but not least!  A big "thank you" to the Green Bay Packers for making this football year so exciting.  The best is yet to come and the Packers could - and should -  win this one if they play their game and avoid penalties and mistakes.  They have the will, the desire, the ability, and potential.  My prediction:   Packers:  21 - Steelers:  13.   Can't wait to hear WTMJ sports announcer Wayne Larrivee shout :  AND THERE IS YOUR DAGGER!!!   

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has officially resigned his post .  The Egyptian people, while not happy that the Egyptian army has taken control of Egypt, have  succeeded in pushing Mubarak out of power.

This could be a good thing or it could turn out very badly.

While President Hosni Mubarak was by no means an ideal political figure or human being, he was a stabilizing influence for Egypt and the United States in the Middle East.  The Egyptian people protesting against Mubarak and his regime had every right to demand a democracy.   However, even with Mubarak's departure,  true democracy is not guaranteed.  While Mubarak may have been a autocratic ruler disliked by many, his replacement may be even worse - and more dangerous.   The  Muslim Brotherhood -  a radical Islamic organization committed to rid the world of Western influence and spread Sharia law through jihad - is setting itself up to have a say in the future of Egypt.  The government that ends up replacing Mubarak could be more radical than ever - and anti-Israeli. 

And what was our government doing during the Egyptian uprising?  Not a lot besides showing that it is "Amateur Hour" at the White House.  Mixed messages, conflicting information from different sources, and glaring gaffes provide no sound foreign policy on Egypt and what our government plans to do.

First off, Vice-President Joe Biden made a point of saying that Mubarak should not go, but rather stay and address the concerns of the people.  A few days later, President Obama said the exact opposite, saying Mubarak should go.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated AFTER Obama's comment that perhaps Mubarak should stay....and so it goes at the White House.  It is glaringly obvious that foreign policy is a concept foreign to Obama and his Administration!

And why did the C.I.A. Director, Leon Panetta, come out and state on Thursday, February 10th, that President Hosni Mubarak was going to resign that day?  Isn't Panetta supposed to pass on such information to the President of the United States before announcing it to the world?  Panetta's words ended up not even being true at the time.  Panetta's gaffe served in it's own way to undermine what was going on in Egypt. 

White House spokesperson Robert "Fibbs" Gibbs floundered back and forth, saying the people of Egypt were responsible for themselves and their governmental issues, yet at the same time speaking about a list of demands (empty rhetoric as usual)  the United States was expecting Egypt to follow.  Huh?  And one key point that Gibbs and the Obama Administration focused on as though it was of dire importance was that the Egyptian people needed internet access!  They had to be back on the social network!  Was that a joke?

President Obama doesn't even seem to care all that much, watching from the sidelines and not offering much insight into what the United States government plans to do in order to maintain a relationship with Egypt.  Imagine if the events in Egypt had unfolded while George W. Bush was president.  Eighteen days of riots and unrest.  The people demanding the overthrow of Mubarak.   It is a given that the media would have held Bush accountable - demanding to know why the administration didn't know that this was going to happen in Egypt.  They would have asked why U.S. intelligence dropped the ball.  One very important questions could - and should - have been who will the United States back in an effort to keep Egypt as an ally in the Middle East?  Certainly we should not be dealing with terrorists - which is what the Muslim Brotherhood organization consists of.  Yet, Obama, when given a chance to denounce the Muslim Brotherhood, did not.  Instead, he stated that he wanted to deal with all factions of those who may come to power in Egypt when Mubarak leaves.  This includes the Muslim Brotherhood, which should scare us all.  

One major - and frightening - statement came from  Obama's National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, who felt that the Muslim Brotherhood was "largely secular and very heterogeneous."  Not true in any sense.  This is an organization committed to Allah.  The Muslim Brotherhood believes that the Koran is law and touts jihad as the only way to cleanse the world of western influences.  They want to destroy Israel.  Guess that doesn't concern the White House too much, as  President Obama's nonchalant attitude and failure to denounce the Muslim Brotherhood  demonstrates how the Obama Administration tends to brush aside terrorists and/or the threat of terrorism to the world.  

The Muslim Brotherhood, should they come to power in Egypt, has called for a war with Israel.  We are looking at the possibility right now that Egypt could become an Islamist state.  Granted, for right now the Egyptian army is control.  But who is to say what the future for Egypt will hold?  And if the Muslim Brotherhood comes into power and does make Egypt an Islamist state, it is almost a given that war will break out between Egypt and Israel.  Should that happen, the situation in the Middle East could escalate and have dire consequences for many countries, including the United States. 

For right now, the situation in Egypt seems to have calmed down.  The United States military has helped support the Egyptian military - providing military equipment over the years.  And as long as the military remains in control of Egypt, at least the Muslim Brotherhood will be kept at bay.  For the time being.  And hopefully for once, the Obama Administration will not resort to their usual method of handling major foreign political disasters, which translates into doing nothing.    

So for all of the people celebrating the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak - be careful what you wish for.  Remember when the Shah of Iran was ousted by a revolt?  The Ayatollah Khomeini came to power and we all know how that ended.  The United States lost a major ally and gained a real enemy.  The same could happen with Egypt.  

I received the following e-mail written by a local woman -  Paula Q (thanks to Karen, who forwarded  this letter on to me).  Given what is taking place in Madison right now, this write-up is very timely:

Hey All:

Aside from teachers going AWOL from their classrooms in order to go protest (for the kids? wink wink...) in Madison, seems that Democratic senators have decided to flee the state in an effort to stall the vote on Governor Scott Walker's budget.  Unbelievable tactics?  You bet.  Just imagine if when Obamacare was being debated, Republican Senators boarded a bus to get out of Dodge to avoid being present at voting time (although, in the case of Obamacare, it didn't matter as the voting methods used to pass that garbage of a bill were shady to begin with....)

Read the entire story on the spineless State Senate Democrats right here:

"Senate Democrats boycott Thursday vote on Walker budget plan"  from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, February 17, 2011.  Story by Jason Stein, Patrick Marley, and Steve Schultze of the J/S staff.

A few brief excerpts:

-"Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) said that Democrats were "not showing up for work" and that police were searching for them to bring them to the floor."That's not democracy. That's not what this chamber is about," Fitzgerald said of the boycott to reporters."

-"Speculation in the Capitol pointed to Illinois as the state where Democrats had headed."

- "(Sen. Tim) Cullen (D-Janesville)  said Democrats hope delaying the bill will give more time for union demonstrators to win over any possible wavering Republicans. He said the decision was made by other Democrats at a meeting at which he was not present. 

-"The tactic wasn't winning over Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay), a moderate whom unions had been trying to court to vote against the bill. Cowles called the blockage of the Senate vote an attempt to "shut down democracy." 

No kidding!  Yet another prime example of adults behaving badly.  In a way it's almost funny, if so much wasn't at stake.  (Did the Dems drive away in a fleet of Prius's - or use mass transit?)    As a potential upside, maybe the Democrats who ran away won't come back for a few years - that would really help our state!!!  Let them all hang out in Illinois...

And remember, all Walker is asking is that state union employees pay a very small portion of their benefits cost - 5.8% to help fund their own pension plans and 12.6% for their health care (half of the national average).  No jobs lost.  Yet, the union whiners and thugs are complaining that the sky is falling and public education and other public works are going to go down the toilet if such legislation is enacted!!!   That's a big fat lie and we all know it.

Stand firm, Republicans!  The time is at hand when our state can begin to return to an era of fiscal responsibility and get the out-of-control spending common to the Doyle years, under control.  The steps may be painful, but worth it in the long run.  And everyone should do their fair share!

Thanks to my conservative sister, Moe, for providing the following pics from the recent counter-demonstration which took place in Madison on Saturday.  You know, Madison - where teachers are AWOL, the Democratic senators from the state of Wisconsin are hiding out in Illinois, refusing to do the job they were elected to.  All in efforts to protest against Governor Scott Walker's very necessary budget repair bill.  And keep in mind, the Tea Party rally didn't need to bus in demonstrators from other parts of the country.   Quite unlike the anti-Walker crowd,  thanks to the Obama Administration and the unions.

In addition, Tea Party members showed up on a Saturday, February 19th, - and many were able to  because they had a day off of work.  Quite different from the anti-budget reform bill protesters who seem to be able to forget they are employed by the taxpayers and have a job to do.  They can be in Madison during the week, on the weekends, and beyond - especially with very unethical doctors willing to provide them fake excuses for missing work!  Who cares if the classrooms they teach in sit empty?  They've got their cushy benefits to consider!  What's more important?

All of this will - and is - backfiring big time.  Think the taxpayers feel sorry for any of the protesters standing up against Walker and his budget reform bill?  After shutting down schools and neglecting the jobs they are paid to do?  in order to protest?  As for the Democratic Senators from the state on the lam hiding out in Illinois in order to avoid voting - shame on you!  For the party who always complains about the possibility that voters may be "disenfranchised" if they are required to provide an ID at the polls, aren't the voters REALLY disenfranchised by the elected officials who fled the state and no longer are around to represent anyone?  My goodness, the hypocrisy is priceless.

And Obama and his community organizing co-horts would best be served by focusing on the country, not Wisconsin.  The country and it's fiscal problems should be enough to occupy the "community organizer in chief" - not the dealings of the state of Wisconsin!  Get out of Wisconsin, Obama.  And tell the Dems hiding out to get back to work - after all, it's your call they are waiting for!

Keep up the protests, union thugs, teachers, and others who work for the taxpayers and are paid BY the taxpayers!  You will only continue to add fuel to the fire against public sector cadillac benefits and health care plans.  And in order to really solve the present and future budget crisis, your ability to "collective bargaining" (which is a privilege, not a right) must go.  Get used to it.  The solutions to our budget crisis are going to be harsh.  We in the private sector already realize it.

One thing my conservative sister made of point of, she refused to take pics of the anti-Walker signs from the other side, saying they were disgusting.  Governor Walker pictured in a bullseye, Walker being compared to Hitler or Mubarak.  Whatever.  Guess the left is just practicing their "freedom of speech" not "hate-filled rhetoric," when it comes to their signage!  Yea, right!  Remember, the liberals have a philosophy:  do as we say, not as we do!!!

Ah, what a great few days it's been for our country.  The left and it's union thugs have been exposed for what they are.  And  Walker will NOT back down.  The budget reform bill WILL pass, and many will be really outraged when the budget is introduced!  Finally - a Governor with a backbone, willing to do what is right!  Doing what he was elected to do!  Why, Walker may be a great candidate for president one of these days!  Walker is providing the people of Wisconsin a glimpse of what real HOPE and CHANGE look like!

The Wisconsin State Assembly voted on and approved Governor Scott Walker's budget-repair bill early this morning.  Wisconsin taxpayers owe the governor and the Republicans a big "thank you" for doing their jobs!  Finally Wisconsin has a Governor who is facing the budget crisis in our state head-on.  He is doing what is necessary to set Wisconsin back on a fiscally-sound path.  Quite unlike "Diamond Jim"  Doyle who did little more than play shell games with taxpayer dollars and continued to spend us into oblivion.  If anyone could be pointing fingers of blame at a predecessor for leaving a big fiscal mess behind, it is Walker.  But, unlike the little man-child in the White House who blames President Bush every chance he gets, Walker is mature enough to just buckle down and do the job he was elected to do.  Kudos to Walker and the Republicans in office, as well as the majority of Wisconsinites who are supporting him! 

As for the Senate, fourteen clowns posing as Democratic Senators from our state are still AWOL.  Hiding out in Illinois.  (Hey, maybe the newly-elected thug Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, can play host!  Obama can call in and give a big "shout out" to the flaky fourteen, after all, they are following the Obama script as expected.)   The State Senate cannot vote on passage of Walker's budget-repair bill until these losers -  who are refusing to do the jobs they were elected to do -  decide to return to the state.  What they are doing is simply wrong. 

Contrast their actions with those of their fellow Assembly Democrats.  Isn't it ironic how Democrats in the Assembly were yelling "shame! shame!" at Republicans for voting on the budget-repair bill?  For doing the job they were elected to do?  Wouldn't it make more sense for the Assembly Dems to be picking up the phone and yelling at their fellow Dems who are in hiding:  "shame! shame!"  After all, aren't their actions what is REALLY  shameful?!?  Think for just a moment - if anyone who has a regular job decides simply not to show up - for days on end and  hides out -   wouldn't they - in the real world - be fired?  Yes.  You can bet on it.  Yet, common sense and logical thoughts, as well as an ability to know right from wrong,  seem to be very elusive qualities to many in the Democratic Party.

The hypocrisy of the Democratic Party is classic.  The end always justifies the means.  That's why the Democratic party could care less about voter fraud - cuz it benefits them - so the end result is good.  Doesn't matter if getting to the desired result is illegal, what matters is winning. 

Remember all the hand-wringing by liberals against Voter ID and the claims that, by requiring people to prove they are who they say they are, Voter ID will somehow  "disenfranchise" voters,?  Well, aren't the missing 14 Senate Democrats REALLY disenfranchising the voters?  They are elected officials, elected to represent the people. And they are NOT representing them.    Yet, to many Dems and many in the media, it doesn't matter that these Dems are AWOL - holding up the business of the government.  Not representing their constituents that they are being paid to represent.  Not doing their jobs.    No, as long as they can stall the bill and continue to listen to Obama and his union thugs, they will remain in hiding, supported by many who don't seem to care about the rules and procedures as to how government is designed to work.  Pathetic. 

I shudder to imagine how the mainstream media and Democrats would have ripped Republicans to shreds if they ever pulled a stunt like running away to another state to hide simply to avoid voting on bills they didn't like!!!  

In closing, here is the height of hypocrisy:  When the Assembly Republicans were leaving the chambers after the vote,  Representative Brett Hulsey (D-Madison) actually had the nerve to shout out:

"Cowards!  You're all cowards!"

And shockingly enough, he wasn't referring to the wimps in his own party holed up across the border!  Priceless!

Ah, liberalism.  Ya gotta love it.  The hypocrisy!   The double-standards!   The ignorance!   The bliss!  The lack of common sense! 

For months now, the left has been lecturing those with opposing views on "civil discourse" and ending the "hate-filled rhetoric."  We have seen how many liberals rush to blame conservative speech as being responsible for horrific events.  Case in point - the violent attack by a very disturbed individual  in Arizona, which left a Republican judge dead, as well as several others.  U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was wounded and is now recovering.  Yet, what the media and left focused on was blaming the so-called "inflammatory rhetoric" from the right as being responsible for the attack on Representative Giffords (the fact that a District judge who was a Republican, was actually killed, was glossed over).  It was as if the "hate-filled rhetoric" (and the left likes to define "hate-filled rhetoric" as that speech that doesn't agree with their agenda) had taken on a life of it's own and pulled the trigger.  We kind of had to overlook the fact that Jared Lee Loughner was clearly a troubled individual and was not politically affiliated with any left OR right cause.  He didn't follow politics, according to friends.  He shot, killed, and wounded many people.  Yet, who pointed fingers of blame away from Loughner and at those on the right immediately after this tragedy?  The usual suspects.  And then what group immediately demanded a return to "civil discourse?"  (Which seems to apply to only those on the right of political spectrum, of course.)

Fast forward to the mess in Madison.  Professional protesters, bussed-in activists, union thugs, UW-Madison students who seem to have lots of free time to join in,  and leftover flower power children from the 60's have literally taken over the state capitol for weeks.  Turning it into a pig sty.  Chanting, shouting, beating on drums, and in essence trying to exert power by mob rule.  Yet, the liberal media does what?  Why, it reports on how "civil" the protesters are.  How "nice" and "polite."  We get warm-and-fuzzy stories on how pizza chains in other states are ordering pizzas to be delivered to the protesters!  How heartwarming.  How thoughtful.    And we are told repeatedly how these people are simply exercising their free speech rights.  Yes folks, this is the exact same media that called the very peaceful Tea Party attendees "angry mobs."  They were full of "hate-filled rhetoric" and were mean-spirited.  Simply because they held meetings to denounce Obamacare and big government.  Double-standard?  You bet.

Another excellent example of the hypocrisy of the left was on display yesterday (and video taped) when the "civil" and "polite" protesters surrounded Republican Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), shouting at him, getting in his face, and not allowing him to enter a door to the Capitol.  Madison Democratic Representative Brett Husley  actually had to come to Grothman's aid and protect him from the unruly mob (oops!  I mean "nice" and "civil" protesters!).

And what about those 14 AWOL Dems still hiding out in Illinois?  Classic hypocrisy again.  What group constantly bemoans "disenfranchising" voters when it comes to discussion of Voter ID?  Yet, what group is now doing exactly that - disenfranchising voters?   These 14 AWOL Dems are rendering the voters votes ineffective.  They are NOT representing their constituents  That is REAL disenfranchising.  And yet, it's OK, cuz they are "standing up"  (by running away to another state) to Governor Scott Walker.  My goodness.  I cannot make this stuff up! 

As for liberal ignorance, one can only say that the state of Wisconsin is broke.  (Thanks Governor Doyle!).  We need to slash spending and streamline government.  The budget cuts will not be easy, but they are necessary.  This is no longer the corrupt years of Diamond Jim Doyle, who couldn't balance a budget and preferred to play shell games with taxpayer dollars, all the while continuing spending, raising taxes and increasing fees.  Not to mention cozying up to WEAC, other public unions, and working out questionable deals with the Indian Gaming compacts.   Governor Walker is the anti-Doyle.  Yet, as expected, the left is starting the fear-mongering.  NOTHING can be cut!  Why, we will all perish!  Schools will fall into rubble and our children will be unable to learn! (Hey, isn't  that already the case with MPS?).  Everything will basically fall to ruin if we cut ANYTHING!!!!  Waaa waaa waaaa! 

Nonsense.   Walker is addressing the needs of our state.  He is taking on the entitlement mentality that has seeped into the mindset of many over decades.  Change is necessary and required.  Walker, to his credit,  is standing firm.  He is doing exactly what he was elected to do by the majority of Wisconsin citizens. 

Many of us realize that we can no longer bury our heads in the sand and go about business as usual  as Obama and other lefties would like to do.  We cannot pretend everything is fine.  We cannot and must not join the liberals in their ignorance.  The tipping point is here - and the tipping point MUST be addressed.  Wisconsin could set the standard for the rest of the country in taking responsibility for setting American back on a path towards prosperity and growth - as well as smaller and more efficient government!  What happens in Madison - with the success of what Walker wants to do -  could be a true victory for the people of our state AND our country.

And now for the ultimate in the ridiculous - the media somehow seems to think it is important to get Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's "take" on what Governor Walker is doing.  Anyone remember that Barrett got creamed by Walker in the race for Governor?  Think Barret would come up with something of substance to say?  Fat chance.  All Barrett could offer up is the governor is taking money away from schools and all other areas of public service,  and the city of Milwaukee will suffer.  Everything is under attack by what the governor is doing.  Boo hoo hoo. Seems that Barrett thinks that life as we know it will soon cease to exist, and it will all be Scott Walkers fault.  Does anyone CARE what Mayor Barrett thinks?  Barrett also had the nerve to call Walker a "weak leader."   (Maybe someone should tell Mayor Barrett that many  in our country think the real "weak leader" is residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.) 

Thank you, Governor Walker!  Continue to stand firm and lead - as you were elected to do!  And I urge those who support the governor to continue to send e-mails and call the capitol to offer up encouragement and thanks!  Call and/or e-mail your representatives in Madison.  We must not let what is truly "mob rule" overshadow actual democracy. 

One of the AWOL Wisconsin Democratic State Senators currently hiding out in Illinois, Lena Taylor, called radio station WLS in Chicago (3/4/11) to "present" her views on the political showdown currently going on in Madison.  All she ended up doing was embarrassing herself.  Ms. Taylor managed to provide an excellent example of the "do as we say, not as we do" liberal mentality, near the end of this broadcast.   Ms. Taylor has the nerve to tell Governor Walker he has to  "have some balls and come to the table."  Remember, these words are coming from someone who is hunkered down,  hiding out in another state, in order to avoid doing their job...  Ah, the hypocrisy of the left.

Stay classy, Lena!

See if you can decipher what Ms.Taylor is ranting about:

If there was any common sense in the world, State Senator Lena Taylor and her fellow AWOL Dems would be out of a job.  For now, however, the people she was elected to represent have got to be hoping she stays in Illinois and never comes back.

The following write-up was sent directly to me via e-mail from one of my frequent readers.  She is as disgusted as I am by what is happening in Madison:   the treatment of the capitol and abuse heaped upon Governor Scott Walker by protesters and the media,  and the behavior of the 14 AWOL Democrats hiding out in Illinois like pouty children.  (Remember, people, elections have consequences!  Or so we were told when Democrats were the majority in government...).  Anyhow, I wanted to feature her article - and she would like to be referred to as "Believer Bee" - since she has no interest in having her name known to the nice, open-minded, compassionate libs who frequently comment on my blog site.  Thanks, BB, for providing your thoughts:

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                                                                      INTIMIDATE

 
 Intimidate is defined in Webster's Dictionary: to frighten, to make timid  or  fearful; to inspire or affect with fear; specif., to deter as by threats; overawe; cow.
 

 Let's apply that definition to the Democratic Senators that decided to flee  their responsibility to legislate in the State of Wisconsin. Were they  inspiring to affect with fear the outcome of the vote in the senate chamber?  Did they deter the vote by the threat that they would not return to vote  unless they got their way? Did they try to overawe the citizens of Wisconsin? Would you say they tried to browbeat the Republican side of the  house to do things in their liberal,   overspending attitude? It is time for  the "pick up your marbles and I won't play anymore people" to come back to Wisconsin and get on with the business they were voted to do.
 
 Then you have the Union thugs hiding behind teachers, firefighters, police and state workers to promote their agenda by using fear and making threats  to gain monies in order to continue to bring a downfall to our nation by pressing us into deeper debt. It is time to stand up to these bullies once  and for all. They should be held responsible for the damage that they have inflicted on our Capitol Building.  They have had disregard for the damage  that they have done to the beautiful marble interior and exterior of our state property. Their lack of respect in order to deter the democratic  process of government needs to be dealt with. Send the AFL-CIO and WEAC and
 all other participating unions the bill.  They have bullied our state long  enough with their demands for collective bargaining privileges.  It is not a  right to bargain collectively.  It is a privilege that they have abused over the years.
 
   Teachers, Firefighters, Police, and State Workers- Please know that the  citizens of Wisconsin have great respect for you and that we want you to  have the same rights as given to the private sector.  We know you need to  have a way to grieve and a way to negotiate your contracts but collective  bargaining has been given to only a few select citizens and the union  leaders have over promised and have not bent in their demands. Officials  that the union has negotiated with have given in to over-expenditures and  did not foresee this devastation to our country.  Our country is in a bad  economic time and we all must sacrifice and pull together to get the many  unemployed back to work.  The stimulus money did not change a thing on the  economic side of the issue.  We still have high unemployment numbers and  many people that are not even counted because they have given up looking
for employment.  Actually, you could say we are in a depression - even if our  government is in denial. Step up to the plate and be counted in knowing that you are fortunate to have a job.  Many of the people you serve do not have
 that. The self-employed don't even have unemployment when their business takes a dump. I know that you are a caring group of people and that the  majority of you can see what is happening to your friends and neighbors in
 this time of need. 

Stop the demand for "only if it benefits me."  Think of  benefiting everyone. 
 

I have received the following e-mail from several people over the course of the past week.  I thought it was worthy of a posting.  It's good for a laugh!

A reader forwarded this e-mail on to me from State Representative Dan Knodl (R-Germantown).   Rather than continue to follow the slanted reporting from media outlets on the budget repair bill and obvious fawning over those protesting Walker and his proposals,  people really should take the time to read the Governor's budget repair bill.   See how it will help our state in the long run.  With that in mind, here is the write-up from Representative Knodl that shows how one key area - school districts -  could see savings in the future: 

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Budget Repair Gives Schools, Local Governments Financial Flexibility

By Representative Dan Knodl

March 18, 2011

Over the next few months, the legislature will analyze, discuss and seek input on Governor Scott Walker’s 2011-13 state budget proposal.  As we begin to examine the tough decisions that will need to be made, we are receiving encouraging news in terms of the savings that may be realized by local units of government and school districts under the recently-enacted budget repair bill.

A few days ago, we received a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau detailing the pension savings that could be realized by every school district and local unit of government in Wisconsin as a result of the budget repair measure.  Following are the estimated savings for the school districts and municipalities of the 24^th Assembly District:

-          Germantown School District: $222,000.00

-          Menomonee Falls School District: $440,800.00

-          Hamilton School District: $1.49 million

-          Village of Butler: $23,600

-          Village of Germantown: $1.23 million

-          Village of Menomonee Falls: $1.62 million

-          Village of Richfield: $28,800

-          Washington County: $1.73 million

-          Waukesha County: $3.79 million

Please note that these numbers are estimates and will differ depending upon contractual and other budgetary circumstances in each area.  For example, savings in Waukesha County will be about $1 million less than the LFB estimates.

These numbers are encouraging, and they do not even include the potential savings that many schools and local units of government may realize under the increased public employee contributions to health insurance premiums.  While those numbers will also vary widely from locale to locale, additional savings could be very large in some cases.

I expect additional numbers to be released in the days and weeks ahead that give a clearer picture of how local governments and schools will fare as a whole under the Governor’s 2011-13 budget proposal.  Some initial reports indicate that many school districts and municipalities may actually come out ahead when the budget repair bill and the upcoming biennial budget are factored together.

Once a more definitive analysis is compiled, the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) will conduct public hearings on the proposal and begin its own line-by-line breakdown.  After that, the Assembly and Senate will review the changes made by the JCF and determine whether additional amendments are necessary.

Regardless of any changes, our next state budget will not raise taxes or fees, will not contain raids on segregated funds, will cut government spending, and will reduce the structural deficit by 90%.  For too long our state has put off tough budget decisions and we can no longer afford to do so.  It is time for our elected officials to grow up, be adults, and provide an honestly balanced budget for Wisconsin’s taxpayers.

To contact me with any questions or comments or to sign up for my regular e-updates, please send an e-mail to Rep.Knodl@legis.wi.gov or call me at (608) 266-3796.

(By the way, for those liberal readers who are so quick to wring their hands worrying about whether or not I have permission to re-print Representative Knodl's column, I do indeed.  Knodl's legislative assistant, Vince Trovato, has given me open-ended permission to re-print any e-mail updates from Representative Knodl.)

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In addition, for those of you who still think "collective bargaining" is a "right,"  check out how it has been abused:

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court is made up of seven judges, with Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson (very liberal) a close friend of Kloppenburg.  It is of utmost importance that we prevent another leftie from winning a seat on the bench.  Should Prosser lose, as the unions are hoping, the Supreme Court - with a liberal majority - will do what liberal judges like to do - legislate from the bench.  Not abide by the laws, but create them as they see fit.  We've seen it happen many times in the past - liberal judges twisting the rules from the bench to fit their own agenda.  This must not be allowed to happen.  Supreme Court Judge David Prosser is an excellent judge - who does his job according to the law - ruling ON the law -  fairly and impartially. 

Vote to re-elect Judge David Prosser on April 5th!

 State Representative Don Pridemore was kind enough to grant me permission to re-print his recent update on what has transpired in Madison lately, as well as his views on public sector unions.  I am sure you will find it as interesting as I did. 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DON PRIDEMORE - Newsletter from March, 2011 

The drummers have finally left the building, the signs have been removed, and life has seemingly returned to normal here in the Capitol. The Budget Repair Bill (BRB) was passed and signed into law by Governor Walker and awaits posting by the Democratic Secretary of State. I’ve finally been able to take some time, hold some town hall meetings, and reflect upon the past month and all that has transpired. I’d like to share some of my personal experiences from this historic time.

The last three weeks were an extraordinary time in our State’s history. Not only did we pass a colossal piece of legislation that will completely restructure how the State does its business, the extraordinary measures that we had to take to make it happen were unprecedented in the Wisconsin State Legislature with a record 61 hours of debate. The Assembly actually voted twice on the BRB where the second vote was the same bill without the fiscal notes attached. This in itself may be a cause of confusion. A fiscal note is verbiage that spends state tax revenue or GPR. Other verbiage that may force local municipalities to spend or save tax dollars are NOT considered fiscal notes and therefore do not fall under the Three-fifth’s Rule for passage in the State Senate. That is why the Senate was able to vote on the stripped down version of the BRB with only a majority when the Senate Democrats failed to show up to take the vote.

Even though inside the Chambers was a steam-kettle of emotions waiting to explode, the atmosphere outside was already boiling over. My first encounter with the protesters was day 3 of the filibuster where we were treated to the same old tired arguments and Peter Barca ranting rabidly through his bull horn. To compare this to what we endured during the last session is laughable. During debate of the last Doyle budget, Republicans offered about 130 amendments. Yes, we went all night and every amendment we offered was rejected. I offered 3 and actually came the closest to getting one passed on a 49-49 vote to deny driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. As the hour of 3 a.m. approached, several Republicans gave up the opportunity to speak because the outcome of each vote was obvious and the hour was late.

When we finally took the vote on final passage at about 4:30am, we stayed and took the vote. We lost and accepted the result after a spirited fight. We didn’t leave the state to deny democracy, although the taxpayers now had to pay an additional $5B. There were no taxpayer groups parading around the Capitol and hollering to a methodical drumbeat, abusing the very building and grounds taxpayers have funded for almost 100 years.

WE WERE CIVIL.

Now just two years later, along comes Governor Walker’s BRB that removed most of the collective bargaining privileges that were written into statutes back in the 50’s and was left without any checks and balances for 60 years. You would have thought the end of the world was upon us. The first wave of protesters began peacefully with many of the legitimate Wisconsin public sector workers showing up to demonstrate their opposition.

The taxpayers and tea party people also showed up to demonstrate their support on a Saturday because, unlike most of the protesters who took time off of work, the supporters couldn’t leave their jobs. The second and third wave of protesters gradually become more obnoxious and belligerent as the working among them returned to their jobs and were replaced by the out-of-state, professional union thugs who were bused in. There was also the overly represented group of college students, and many from the Socialist and Socialist Workers party who decided to take up residence in the Rotunda. The elected Democrats showed their solidarity by wearing orange shirts and posting orange signs in their office windows. I chose to display my yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag in my 3rd floor outside window.

After 60 hours of the filibuster, the Republicans forced a roll call vote, which they have the ability to do. The minority party knew this very well because, when they were in the majority, they used the same tactic and in much less time than 60 straight hours. As soon as the roll was opened, the Democrats, the audience in the gallery, and the protesters listening outside the chamber erupted. Fists were displayed, water cups were thrown, cuss words flew, and fingers were pointed as the words SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! echoed throughout the floor. I looked up into the gallery and saw a young man raising his fist and shouting. Just 30 minutes later, I found myself in the same elevator with him and five of his comrades. He began to debate me on the BRB and got progressively louder as the elevator moved down. Two of his friends had to remind him that this was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration and to keep his comments civil. When the elevator reached the ground floor and he realized he was not going to win our debate, he immediately changed the argument to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, then Bush and Cheney, and finally to the Twin Towers. I said enough and proceeded down the exit corridor. He grabbed a bull horn and shouted insults at me until the door slammed in back of me.

I still had to cross the picket line on my way out when I was accosted by two young women who had got caught up with the mob. After an attempt at insulting me, one of them realized that I was her state representative. She was from Sussex and attending the nursing program at UW-Madison. Her main concern turned out to be potential cuts to the UW System and, in particular, the nursing program. After she realized that I was not a “cold-hearted Republican,” we settled down to a pleasant 45 minute conversation that ended about 2:30am. I gave her my business card with the understanding that she could call my office anytime and make an appointment if she wanted to discuss this or any other issue she had. She has yet to call my office.

Driving home that night was a challenge, but I wanted to sleep in my own bed after 60 hours of non-stop physical abuse to my body.

TO BE CONTINUED IN MY NEXT NEWSLETTER...

Public Sector Unions are out of control. 

 Does anyone have the right to demand more in wages and benefits than their employer can afford to pay? What if those same workers spend millions on getting their candidate elected to office, and that elected official is the one dishing out the money (not his, the taxpayers) and thus the union has representatives on BOTH sides of the bargaining table.

That is not a hypothetical, it is reality. It is the reason that FDR knew public employees should not collective bargain. It is very different in the private sector. Both Mercury Marine and Harley-Davidson both got concessions from their workers to remain in Wisconsin. Obviously we cannot move public sector jobs to Kansas; we must be able to control the cost of government.

What is to be collective bargained?

Pay, OK Gov Walker has left that alone. How about insurance and pensions? The unions have agreed to the Governor’s terms. What is left?

How about that question, what IS left? Unions dictate how many part-time workers their employers can hire. Teacher’s unions have bargained how many parent volunteers the school district can use, what kind of curriculum will be taught, and the size of their classes. These are all issues that elected school boards and the administrator should be making on behalf of their communities.

Does anyone really believe that the teacher’s union is more concerned about our children than we are? The very thought that WEAC (teacher’s union) is about great schools has always been a source of frustration for me and I have always said so.

I felt that all public unions should have been included into the bill. Although I understand the Governor’s thinking on the subject, I will support including police and firefighters in the future.

What I have seen from WEAC: First off, let’s go back to that “hypothetical” situation where the union gives millions to get their candidate elected. Governor Doyle was that elected official and the rewards were huge. He put caps on school choice and virtual schools. Doyle revamped the mediation laws going as far as making a community’s ability to pay as not a factor to consider.

Can you imagine not being able to consider your ability to pay in negotiations?

I recently watched a taxpayer get asked to leave a meeting between local WEAC officials and concerned citizens when Hartford JT1’s Union rejected a 2.8% raise in the middle of the worst economy in 40 years. The taxpayer was pointing out that the money is gone, there’s no more money: No more millions, no more billions. The money is gone. That same union just settled on a .6% raise. Funny how all of a sudden public sector unions are willing to make all kinds of concessions.

Does anyone believe for a second that as soon as they can get another Jim Doyle into office that they won’t be back to the same self-interest antics that got them to this point in the first place, if they still had collective bargaining?

Here is a list of questions that I need help understanding.

1. How does a having a union like WEAC attract young teachers?

WEAC is a union that protects bad teachers, negotiates benefit packages that reflects the wants of older teachers (like giving up pay for bloated insurance packages), and a seniority layoff system that guarantees that younger teachers will be the first to get laid off, regardless of their ability. That doesn’t sound like a system that rewards young people and entices them to enter into the profession.

2. How did WEAC ever believe that they could oppose school choice, virtual schools, photo ID (yes, out of the 74 hours of lobbying on the measure, WEAC was responsible for 61 of them!) and still not be seen as the self-interested lobby arm that they are?

3. Finally, how could they not see public opinion turning against them when the private sector has seen their jobs disappear, their pay cut, their benefits (which never matched that of the public sector unions) dwindled or vanish completely.

WEAC’s insistence on demanding more and more in this environment is mind boggling.

The Public Union Mob Mentality is on display for everyone to see:

I would like to start out this paragraph by admitting that I do understand that people like to have lots of money, job security and a future that is virtually worry free. I would love that too. But very few ever achieve that. Perhaps some ball players, movie stars and extremely successful businessmen, but that is about it. The rest of us live in the real world and we have learned to live with it. Public union members have not. Their sense of entitlement compels them to send threatening e-mails, use profanity, close schools, use bullying tactics and physical intimidation and millions of dollars in property taxes. They have convinced themselves that they are entitled to taxpayer money no matter what. It is an unsuitable and expensive combination that has to be curtailed.

 How to Contact Me

In Madison,

Finally!  The truth surfaces!

Think the media will cover this?  (Maybe after the election...)

 There just might be a glimmer of hope that this ad might get through to some of the  bobble-headed union-istas who seem to be following  the liberal plan for destroying Governor Walker without question.  By aiding and abetting the Joanne Kloppenburg campaign, all many liberals are looking for is a vote on the Supreme Court from a judge that will make up the laws as she sees fit.  That is WRONG!   And hopefully others who saw the reprehensible pro-Kloppenburg ad  this response is addressing, will realize how dishonest it truly is.

Lest we forget, Governor Walker was elected by the majority of Wisconsin voters a few months ago. Many Republican lawmakers were voted in, becoming the majority in the state assembly and senate, while the Dems were sent packing in November.  

Yet, who doesn't want to allow the will of the people to be heard?  The losers.  Those now in the minority.  The liberal game plan of obstructing, creating chaos, and spin is in full-play right now.  We've witnessed it full-throttle in Madison.  And now it is being used to distort a campaign for the oh-so-important Wisconsin Supreme Court justice race. 

We must not allow the white noise to confuse people into doing what is right.  We must  elect a  REAL judge - a judge with experience - a judge who will apply the laws -  as Prosser has and will continue to do.  He will NOT create and manipulate them to make a certain political party happy as Kloppenburg surely would.

The Democrats will stop at nothing - as evidence in the earlier disgusting Kloppenburg ad that this YouTube video addresses.  

Re-elect  Supreme Court Justice David Prosser on Tuesday, April 5th.  If Prosser loses, nothing Walker proposes will be allowed to go through.  The liberal activist judges will see to that.  And last November will mean nothing.

ELECT PROSSER ON APRIL 5th!!!!   GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!

The following list appeared on  Charlie Sykes (conservative talk radio host, WTMJ - 620 AM) blog site.   It is so timely and accurate, with the recent chaotic shenanigans taking place in Madison,  the short-lived Kloppenburg "victory" for the State Supreme Court,  and the Union-ista's and other lefties simply besides themselves with Governor Walker in office.   

 I received Mr. Sykes permission  to re-print his write-up, and he was also kind enough to offer up congratulations to yours truly on winning a seat on the Merton School Board in the recent elections.  Thanks, Charlie!

Here goes.  Enjoy!

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 With apologies to Saul Alinsky, the author of the original ":Rules for Radicals.": Here is an updated list specifically for Wisconsin:

RULES FOR WISCONSIN RADICALS: 

Never acknowledge conservative victories as legitimate.

Never concede defeat in legislative votes. There is always a cloud.

Litigate everything.

Rely on Dane County judges whenever possible.

Elections only matter if liberals win.

Shut down schools, bring legislative process to a halt, tie up the courts, extort  businesses, try to overturn elections … and then say “this is what democracy looks like.”

Private businesses, families, personal lives are all fair game. Get the Mainstream media to say that “both sides’ are equally guilty.

Create appearance of scandal and misconduct wherever and whenever possible.

Chant “shame, shame, shame,” a lot.

Break laws, ignore rules, commit fraud, flee the state, change standards at will – but hold conservatives to a standard of absolute compliance. (For example, using the open meetings law to tie up the union bill.)

If we can’t defeat conservatives  at the ballot box, we can discredit them and demoralize them. If we get inside their heads, we win.

Encourage conspiracy theories. Use the phrase “Koch Brothers,” as often as possible.

Create chaos whenever possible.

Demand investigations, even if there is nothing to investigate.  It adds to appearance of chaos and misconduct. Media will always bite.

Bully, intimidate, and threaten, unleash union thugs… but repeatedly accuse Scott Walker and the GOP of being bullies.

Hold many rallies.

Remember: there is no voter fraud, except when the charge works for our benefit.

Invoke ‘civility,’ when it is in our interest (to get conservatives to shut up), but otherwise feel free to use the vilest language possible. 

It doesn’t matter if an accusation against a conservative is true or false; the only question is: can we use it to win (or discredit and demoralize conservatives).

Don't respond to talk radio or other conservative media: discredit them. Remember they are never to be considered a legitimate alternative viewpoint: they are liars." (Politifact will be helpful.)

Rely on the conservative base to hold their own to a higher standard than we do. We don’t care about the private lives of Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, or Chris Abele, but they will turn on their own in cases where we would just look the other way. (The MSM accepts and embraces the double standard so use it.)

Accuse conservatives of hypocrisy a lot. Obviously we are immune to the charge, since we don’t have any standards… except getting our way.

Use every controversy to stoke leftist anger and paranoia and raise money.

Never, ever stop.

We all know how Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Joanne Kloppenburg, was quick to claim victory (with a whopping 204 vote margin (less than .004%  out of 1,479,976 votes cast!)) shortly after the elections on Tuesday, April 5th.  Before anything was official.  Before the canvasses and certification.... 

For those who may have forgotten:

Enter the City of Brookfield.  Waukesha County Clerk, Kathy Nickolaus, neglected to press the correct computer button to ensure that the votes from that specific area were given to the Associated Press.  Yes, you heard that right.  The Associated Press wasn't given the numbers!  The votes from Brookfield were never "found,"  they were just never sent to the AP.  They were counted.  The information was there.  And the mistake was found during the canvassing - which is the point of the canvass to begin with.  Many on the left have been been clamoring for Nickolaus to step down and resign her duties, due to this mistake.  (Funny how the Dems in Madison didn't call for a known multiple drunk driver, Representative Jeff Wood, to lose his job over his multiple CRIMES!  In fact, when they needed his vote during a lame-duck session, they busted him out of jail and drove him to Madison.  What hypocrites!)

Supreme Court Justice David Prosser is now ahead by over 7,000 votes.  The official canvassing is supposedly going to end tomorrow (Friday, April 15th).  The canvass just means the votes - which have already been cast (again, not "found") are being tallied and compared to all the recorded information to make sure all the counts add up.  Milwaukee has yet to finish, but most other counties are all done. 

There is no way - in all honesty -  that Joanne Kloppenburg will catch up to Prosser and win. 

With this in mind, will she (or the Democratic machine that is behind her, pulling the strings) admit defeat?  Or will she demand a recount? 

Only time will tell.  However, the eventual reality is that Kloppenburg has lost.  Prosser has won.  And Joanne Kloppenburg sure could learn a thing or two from Prosser.  At least he hasn't declared victory.  The man has class.  

If Kloppenburg DOES have any sense of class or decorum, she'll admit defeat.  Unlike her premature victory speech, she's had a lot of time to work on a concession speech!  It should be a good one.

With over a 7,000-plus margin of  votes to overcome, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Joanne Kloppenburg has asked for a statewide recount of all 1,400,000 votes cast in the recent race for that position. 

 Is anyone surprised?

This request comes from a woman who, with only a 200-plus vote lead on election night,  was quick to declare herself the winner.  Kloppenburg even went so far as to go on television with an ill-advised and foolish victory speech.  But, of course, no shame or embarrassment involved with that move. 

So now, instead  of using common sense and admitting the inevitable:  defeat -  Kloppenburg is cloppin' on.  No concession speech for now.  The recount will prove to be an exercise in futility.

Of course,  the chaos and confusion spin has begun.  Kloppenburg, during her press conference regarding her recount decision, talked about all the" irregularities" in this election.  (What "irregularities" is she referencing?  The illegal voters being bussed up from Illinois?  College students being told by their professors to go out and vote - even if they weren't Wisconsin residents?)   Kloppenburg also wants the Government Accountability Board to have a special investigator check into what occurred in Brookfield.  Although we already KNOW what happened, Kloppenburg and her campaign seem intent on establishing that some sort of nefarious activity took place in Brookfield (maybe George Bush and Dick Cheney stuffed the ballot boxes...).

We all know that Kloppenburg doesn't have a chance of overtaking Prosser  - by any legitimate means.  However, that is not the point here.  What Kloppenburg and her leftie supporters are trying to do is question the legitimacy of Prosser's victory.  It's as simple as that.  And the longer they can drag this out, the better.  They want to confuse and distort the election results.  This all ties in to keeping the momentum going for the liberals and unionistas intent on recalling several Republican elected officials.      

The fact of the matter is that in 24 statewide recounts that have taken place in the past decades throughout the nation, the most that any result changed was by approximately 1,000 votes.  That's it.

Kloppenburg's decision to not bow out gracefully, but dig in and waste time and money shouldn't be a shock to  anyone.  The woman has shown no class or sense of right or wrong since the campaign began.

Disgusting.

And we - the Wisconsin taxpayers - will foot the bill.  

At least we can be comforted by one thought  -

Supreme Court Justice David Prosser WON!!!

Remember a few short years ago, when gas prices hit a high of $3.50 per gallon?  The public was outraged, and the outrage was fueled by the media.  The press, blogosphere,  and Democrats were quick to point the finger of blame at - you guessed it - President Bush.  The rise in gas prices was his fault!  Bush and his oil buddies wanted to get rich!  scam the public!  Here is just a small sampling of some of the unbiased reporting:

From Politcususa, April 26, 2008:

“This week, the price of oil and gasoline both hit new record highs – almost $120 for a barrel of oil and more than $3.50 a gallon for gas. These out-of-control prices mean that hundreds of thousands of Americans are driving to work and spending too much of their day just earning back the cost of their commute. The American people deserve to know why this happened,” Lautenberg said.

He blamed the Bush/Cheney energy policy, “When President Bush took office, gas prices were less than half of what they are today – and oil was less than one-third. Then, seven years ago, President Bush and Vice President Cheney secretly invited executives from the big oil and big energy companies to the White House to write our national energy policy. When we finally uncovered the truth, we discovered – to no surprise – that Big Oil helped write a law that guaranteed them billions and billions of dollars in tax giveaways while they set in motion disastrous economic and environmental policies that have served no one but themselves.”

And from a Gallup Poll during the Bush presidency:

The Bush administration and Congress have taken action on energy in recent years, but those steps were largely targeted toward energy usage in the future and did little to address the more immediate concern of high gas prices. Bush himself has said there is no "magic wand" he can wave to cut gas prices. Though Americans may be more aware of the complex reasons for high gas prices, they still hold their elected officials accountable. That may be why the already low approval ratings of Bush and Congress have eroded further in recent months.

From Bloomberg, May 17, 2004:

Americans are paying 30 percent more for regular gasoline than a year ago, an average of a $1.94 a gallon, and a poll by American Research Group May 3-6 showed voters becoming concerned. Oil futures have averaged $28.62 a barrel since Bush took office, 42 percent higher than the average during Clinton's two terms. Oil reached a record $41.38 a barrel on Friday.

..."``With gas prices expected to go over $2 a gallon next month, the White House needs to do more than just pay lip service to a problem that is threatening to exacerbate the weak economy,'' Kerry campaign spokesman Phil Singer said.

From NPR, April 2008:

Here's Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Senator HARRY REID (Democrat, Nevada; Senate Majority Leader): Whether we want it or not, there's going to have to be a discussion as to fuel prices, what's going on. That's the number one issue facing America today. It's more important now than the housing market.

WELNA: And here's Reid's Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell.

Senator MITCH McCONNELL (Republican, Kentucky): The number one issue for Americans right now and their greatest concern is the price of gas at the pump.

WELNA: And here's President Bush at a Rose Garden news conference this morning.

President GEORGE W. BUSH: Americans are concerned about energy prices. And I can understand why.

WELNA: The solution Mr. Bush argued was to do what Congress has refused to do throughout his presidency - approve opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, to oil drilling. Doing so, he promised, would allow the U.S. to produce another million barrels of oil a day.

Pres. BUSH: There would be about a 20 percent increase of all crude oil production of the U.S. levels, and it would likely mean lower gas prices, and yet such efforts to explore ANWR have been consistently blocked.

WELNA: Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski picked up the argument in the Senate chamber.

Senator LISA MURKOWSKI (Republican, Alaska): I will be the first one to admit to you that opening ANWR tomorrow will not produce more oil tomorrow. We recognize that, but we do believe that it will dampen the price speculation that is helping to fuel higher prices.

WELNA: President Bush's other proposal to force down gas prices was to build more refineries.

Pres. BUSH: It's been more than 30 years since America built its last new refinery. Yet in this area, too, Congress has repeatedly blocked efforts to expand capacity and build more refineries.

WELNA: The Senate's number two Democrat, Dick Durbin, agreed the problem is with the refineries, but not that there aren't enough of them.

Senator DICK DURBIN (Democrat, Illinois): Today, the refineries in America are operating at 85 percent capacity. Don't buy this agreement that it's about refineries. They have more capacity that they're holding back, so that they can keep their product dear and limited and short, and so that the consumers will ultimately pay more.

WELNA: Democrats are divided over waiving the federal gas tax this summer. Presidential contender Barack Obama says it won't make much difference, while Hillary Clinton - like Republican John McCain - supports the idea. One of Clinton's strongest supporters is New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

Senator CHUCK SCHUMER (Democrat, New York): We believe that there ought to be a gas tax holiday, but Big Oil ought to pay for it. Take some of the money out of the royalties, take some of the money out of the windfall profits, and reduce that gas tax. It's that simple.

WELNA: But it's not that simple for Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn.

Senator JOHN CORNYN (Republican, Texas): It may be fashionable to beat up on Big Oil and say, let's tax the oil companies because they're making too much money. But you know what, if we raise taxes on the oil companies, we all end up paying an increased price of gasoline at the pump.

WELNA: But there was almost no talk today about conservation. Here's as close as President Bush came to the subject.

Pres. BUSH: But the market is going to, you know, do as much for encouraging conservation as anything else is now. And so, I firmly believe that, you know, if there's a magic wand to wave, I'd be waving it, of course.

OH MY GOODNESS.  And just HOW is the press holding Obama accountable?  Or blaming The One for ANY increase of prices at the gas pump?  Well, they aren't.  And Barry O. isn't admitting any role in the increased gas costs, of course.

From the Washington Examiner, April 22, 2011:

In 2007, when the average national price ranged from $2.17 to $3.22, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., demanded that the Federal Trade Commission investigate Big Oil for "price manipulation." In 2008, presidential candidate Obama urged the Justice Department "to open an investigation into whether energy traders have been engaged in illegal activities that have helped drive up the price of oil and food.

Now, with President Barack Obama in charge, the price of gas is higher than ever, with no end in sight.  Just what is the Commander-In-Chief doing?  Is HE taking the blame?  No, of course not.  He is doing what he does best, pointing the finger of blame elsewhere.  And the press allows him to do so.

From the Chicago Sun Times, April 21, 2011:

President Barack Obama announced Thursday that the Justice Department is assembling a team to “root out any cases of fraud or manipulation” in oil markets that might be forcing up gasoline prices in the United States.The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.84 on Thursday, about 30 cents higher than a month ago and almost a dollar higher than a year ago. Obama, decrying such levels as yet another hardship “at a time when things were already pretty tough,” said Attorney General Eric Holder was forming the Financial Fraud Enforcement Working Group.

----------------------------------------------

Fraud or manipulation?  Are you kidding me?  What about the anti-oil drilling policies of the Obama Administration?  Or Obama's completely idiotic energy policies?

And of course we get this little blurb, taking blame away from The One for the rising gas prices (was anything like this EVER written in regards to George W. Bush?): 

"There’s not much Obama can do to affect the price of gasoline in short term, something he acknowledged in his remarks. Gas prices have risen steadily as a result of tensions in the Middle East and northern Africa and rising demand from China and other emerging economies."

------------------------------------------------

So, there isn't much a president can do to affect the price of gasoline?  Did I read that correctly?  Then why the huge outcry when gas prices were around $3-plus a gallon when Bush was in the White House?  How soon we forget. 

Unfortunately for the America people, we are saddled for another year-plus with a President who is quite content to allow gas prices to skyrocket, and a media who is just as happy to ignore any blame or question the policies of the Obama Administration that does nothing to allow our country to become less dependent upon other countries for an oil source.  (Why, it's probably still Bush and Cheney's fault!)  as well as  the American people who love to drive cars rather than jump on the mass transit bandwagon!

Aside from a dislike of oil, oil companies, the auto industry, and saving the American taxpayer any  money in the process, what IS President Obama's energy policy?  Continue to let oil prices rise?  Have gas reach $7 or $8 a gallon?  (Obama's own Energy Secretary Steven Chu suggested months ago that higher gas prices are a good thing.)   Continue to ignore the unrest in the Middle East?  Hope people drive less?  Let more people lose their jobs - especially those thousands upon thousand who work in the oil and auto industries that Obama and the left so despise?

Just a few years ago, the blame for rising gas costs was aimed directly at President Bush.  In just a few short years, the press comes to the conclusion that "there isn't much a president can do to affect the price of gasoline." 

 If this is indeed true, the media owes President Bush one big apology.  If this is not the case, the American people have every right to demand that President Obama do something - anything - in the best interest of the country.  That would be a real "change" we can only "hope" for.  

Oh, those evil nuns in Sauk County!

Seems the sisters, who have taken vows of silence and spend their days making communion wafers,  are known to vote by absentee ballot in every election.  The ballots are dropped off during each voting cycle by the town clerk, the nuns select their candidates, and the same town clerk then picks them up in a sealed envelope. 

There are 18 nuns living this life of peace and quiet at the Lady of Our Valley Monastery.

Well, seems the Kloppenburg team noticed that the nuns absentee ballots didn't have witness signatures on them.  (Keep in mind that although there are rules on the books dictating that every absentee ballot have a signature from a witness, it is questionable as to whether or not such enforcement - from the Government Accountability Board -  always occurs.)  However, in this case, the Kloppenburg team insisted that the ballots be discounted.  And they succeeded - for the time being.

The canvas board and the town clerk who works with the nuns were disturbed by the unbelievable and distrusting manner in which the Kloppenburg team insisted on disenfranchising the nuns.  After all, anyone think that these nuns belong to moveon.org?  or ACORN?  were they going out and passing out cigarettes in an effort to get people to vote for their candidate?  slashing tires of the opposing party so they cannot get to the polls? falsifying information on their own ballots?  voting twice?  (maybe there are only 9 nuns in the Monastery instead of the 18 mentioned!).  Ridiculous.

The town clerk was adamant that she collected the ballots from the nuns the way she always does.  She stated that their votes were legitimate and should be allowed.  However, the Kloppenburg lawyers prevailed and the canvas board relented, tossing out the ballots.

By the way, 4 ballots were for Kloppenburg, while 14 went to Prosser.

The canvas board has appealed the decision to not allow the nun's votes.

Many seem to feel, and I agree, that the Kloppenburg camp is nitpicking small discrepancies in an effort to make them bigger ones.  When the final tallies come in  - once again showing Joanne Kloppenburg lost - the lawyers for Kloppenburg will then take the matter to court.  The goal - to hold up seating elected Supreme Court Justice David Prosser and keep him from voting on the budget repair bill and other important legislation that may be presented. 

Can the Kloppenburg camp sink any lower?  Nuns?  Sure hope Archbishop Jerome Listecki dotted all his i's and crossed all his t's on his ballot... 

In continuing to point out the alternative universe that exists between how the media and Barack Obama were outraged over high gas prices during the Bush years (reference my previous blog:  "Just a lot of gas..."),  and now how the high cost of gas is portrayed as really no big deal.... let's compare what the media and Obama had to say during the Bush presidency, versus how they view things in a different light during the current Obama reign:

Funny how some are calling  the highest gas prices we have experienced to date a "good thing."  Even the President himself finds it amusing that an owner of an SUV - with Obama pointing out that an SUV gets "eight miles to the gallon" (sorry, Obama, this flippant remark is not true of any SUV's..), jokingly tells this person to get a "hybrid SUV."  No solution to high gas costs mentioned.  Obama just brushes off the question with a few obnoxious chuckles.

During the Bush years, the media and Democrats were outraged when gas reached prices of $2.80 per gallon.  The furor increased when gas prices rose into the $3.00-plus range.  Now we are seeing the cost at the pump in the $4.00 plus area - with the possibility of going to $5.00 per gallon or higher.  Yet, no anger or demands for solutions.  No holding the President accountable.  Why?

Ah, the hypocrisy of the media and the President.  Ya gotta love it. 

After four six-year terms in office, United States Senator Herbie "do nothing" Kohl has announced he will not seek re-election.  His term will end in January of 2013.

Can anyone name any major accomplishment by Kohl during his nearly twenty four years in the Senate?  (Owning an NBA basketball team or hosting a milk stand at the State Fair don't count...)   Besides being able to fund his re-election campaigns, helping to buy his seat every six years, nothing comes to mind.  Oh, Kohl did sponsor some bill that required safety locks on handguns!!!  And Herbie did come up with that slogan "nobody's Senator but yours" (was he referring to the Democratic Party?).

Last fall, the voters decided they had enough of "the maverick" - uber-leftie Senator Russ Finkgold - and gave him the boot.   After 18 long years.  Perhaps Wisconsin voters will continue to exhibit common sense and a desire to kick out the tax-and-spend, pro-entitlement mentality  Democrats -  and elect another strong conservative similar to  Senator Ron Johnson.  By all counts, it sure could happen.  If Governor Scott Walker continues to work to make Wisconsin thrive - despite all the childish antics by the opposing party - and the voters realize how positive and strong our state can become after the dismal Doyle days, all bets are off.

On, Wisconsin!

Wisconsinites have so many reasons to be proud of Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville).  Ryan continues to be a voice of common sense among all the nonsense currently coming out of Washington D.C.    Amid all the smoke-and-mirrors and double-speak from President Obama regarding our economic crisis (while offering no solutions), Ryan understands what the government needs to do in order to return the country to prosperity. 

Recently Ryan wrote a column for Investors Business Daily (5/16/11)  in which he points out what he calls the "Four Pro-Growth Axioms to avert shared scarcity."

They are as follows:

1. We have to stop spending money we don't have, and address the structural drivers of our debt.

2. We have to restore common sense to the regulatory environment, so that regulations are fair, transparent and predictable.

3. We have to keep tax rates low and predictable, so that job creators have incentives to invest in America.

4. We have to refocus the Fed on price stability, instead of using monetary stimulus to bail out Washington's failures. Businesses and families need sound money.

Exactly.

Ryan's article goes on to address the perspective coming directly out of Washington, D.C. - that we must all share in our burdens via, of course, the usual Democratic solution to anything - raising taxes.  This is wrong.  We cannot continue to spend money we do not have and continue to take more money from hard working Americans just to keep spending.  This is a vicious cycle, with no end in sight.  It has to stop.  We need to be fiscally responsible - otherwise America is doomed.  We ARE approaching the tipping point of disaster.

Ryan continues with views shared by most in our country:   that America IS an exceptional nation.  Unfortunately, President Obama, the Democrats, and many liberals seem to have a difficult time understanding this.  They fail to believe that American ingenuity, creativity, hard work, personal responsibility, and jobs are the real answer to our economic crisis - and are part of the foundation that makes the United States a great country.  Instead, many on the left would like to see government grow.  They think that government needs to take care of us - government knows best.  And in turn, the government then perpetuates an "entitlement mentality" that is detrimental to the country (but helps assure votes for those giving the hand-outs.  After all, when government is giving you a check for doing nothing, would you want the gravy train to stop?) 

Let the private sector flourish - don't continue to point to big business - or middle business - or small business - as the enemy.  Private sector jobs make the country successful.  Aside from the public vs. private sector mentality that President Obama is so fond of evoking, he also tends to pit the poor against the rich.  Why?  Why does Obama continue to perpetuate the myth that our economy is some sort of stagnant pie?  If someone has more, they must have taken it from someone else?  That is not true.  As I have stated in several other blogs, the economic pie is not stagnant.  Someone isn't rich because someone else is poor.  Rather, that person who has more has usually worked for it.  They have not "taken" from someone else to get where they are.  What is so great and wonderful about America is that everyone can succeed - if they want to.  There are no limits. 

Representative Ryan is one who really understands what has to happen in order for the United States to return to true economic prosperity and get back on track.  Unfortunately, Representative Paul Ryan probably will not run for the presidency in 2012.   If Ryan did, Obama wouldn't stand a chance.  Obama's fluff wouldn't stand up against Ryan's substance.   However, we should take comfort in the fact that someone of Ryan's intelligence and integrity is one of the real leaders in Washington D.C.  And maybe, just maybe,  he'll change his mind and run for President...

One of my frequent readers and fellow conservatives, who would like to be referred to as "Believer Bee," sent me the following e-mail.  Given that Barack Obama has already decided it's best - and easier -  to start campaigning for 2012, rather than addressing any of the pressing issues currently facing the country, it is a real eye-opener to factually discover how things have "changed" since Obama became President.  In all honesty, how anyone with a shred of common sense could vote for Barack Obama in 2012 - is beyond comprehension.    Here goes:

AFTER TWO YEARS OF OBAMA - Here's your change!

Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation's history.  Over 27 times as fast. Metaphorically speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane.   27 times faster, it would be doing 1,755 MPH!

Sources:
(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. Of Labor;
(7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC;
(13) Federal Reserve

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What this data doesn't address is President Obama's knack for turning off our allies and allowing the United States to be pushed around by our enemies.  We have a president in office  who doesn't seem to have the best interest of America at the forefront.  Instead he likes to go on apology tours around the globe,  which get glowing reviews from the usual  "blame America first" crowd like the media and other liberals.  In addition, Obama is continually promoting  the "rich vs.  the poor" and the "private sector vs. the public sector" mentality, which only serves to expose Obama as a great divider.  (Wasn't he supposed to be the great  "uniter" as the Obama followers believed before Obama was even elected?)   With a president like this "leading" the country, the future of the United States is clearly on a downward path.  This must end.   We need to elect a  Republican - with conservative values and the best interest of the country at heart come 2012.   The alternative - four more years of Barry O. -  will only serve to perpetuate a crisis from which America,  and the American people,  may never be able to recover.

After a very heated and partisan race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court,  Justice David Prosser won - again.  He won the election fair and square to begin with.  He has now won the recount.  The votes were all tallied and recorded and certified.  When everything was said and done -  over $200,000.00 taxpayer dollars later -  Prosser was STILL more than 7,000 votes ahead of challenger Joanne Kloppenburg.

This was a big race - with lots of outside interests and backers pouring money and support in for Kloppenburg.   Keep in mind this was not because of her abilities (or even acknowledging her lack of), but because she supposedly represented to many a vote against Scott Walker.  Twisted logic to say the least.  Let's put Kloppenburg on the bench no matter what - no matter her lack of judicial experience - no matter that key figures (including Barack Obama and Jim Doyle) passed her over for judicial appointments.  Not once, not twice, but five times in the past years.  Yet, for some reason, many of the anti-Walker crowd felt she would have been just fine to serve Wisconsin as a Supreme Court justice. 

Egads.

Finally Kloppy did something right.  Rather than continue to prolong the agony and send the results on to the courts, she admitted defeat.  Of course this didn't come quite as quickly as her premature victory speech, but what the heck. 

So now, after weeks of big news stories and articles about the race and the recount, and with all the voters and candidates have been through over the past months, where does the good 'ole Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel chose to run this important story? 

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 - the top two stories - front page above the fold - "Girl Scouts council is one tough cookie" and another of the usual Walker/Republican-bashing articles "Panel votes for corporate tax breaks."   Hmmmmm. 

Okay.  Oh, found it!!!  On the bottom of the front page, right-hand side,  there is a small write-up "Kloppenburg concedes race" (after 2 paragraphs, the story goes to page 10A).  Right next to it, on the left-hand side is the newest focus of the the anti-Walker crowd - "3 GOP senators' recall elections OK'd."  

Wonder why the Kloppenburg defeat wasn't a major above-the-fold large headline story?  or, for that matter, how about a headline stating a Prosser victory?

First we get protests ala the 1960's, disrupting the legislative process in Madison for days on end.

Then, 14 Democratic Senators, who fled the state rather than doing their jobs, are "honored" by the anti-Walker crowd upon their return to Wisconsin.

Now we get anti-Walker "zombies" blocking the views of Special Olympians while Governor Scott Walker was giving a speech honoring the athletes... 

When Governor Jim Doyle and the Democratic majority were running the state into ruin, did Republicans and conservatives erect a "Doyleville" and camp out in tents outside the capitol?  Did Republicans and conservatives unhappy with the tax-and-spend M.O. of the Doyle Administration flee the state or disrupt proceedings in the capitol on a daily basis?  No.  We accepted the fact that elections have consequences and we waited until the next election cycle to change things for the better.  And now we have six Republican representatives facing recall elections FOR DOING THEIR JOBS.  Many on the  left cannot show any respect or a level of decency in regards to the November election results.  They are like pouty children.  As exhibited by disrupting an event honoring Special Olympians.

What else can one say except Shame! Shame! Shame!

If there ever was a classic example of a liberal judge making the laws up to fit their own political agenda, Wisconsinites were treated to such an instance in the case of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi and her overreach of her judicial authority in regards to the Budget Repair Bill.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court gave a major smack-down to Sumi's ruling - a ruling which stopped the publication and implementation of the collective bargaining law.  This was the legislation which was passed by the  Republican lawmakers, which Governor Walker had signed months ago.  Immediately after this, Democratic lawyers filed court complaints, saying the the meeting in which this legislation was voted upon violated the "open meetings law."

Judge Sumi overstepped her powers not once, but twice.   First, she blocked the law with a temporary restraining order.  The Walker Administration then took the step of asking a higher court (the Supreme Court) to take over the case.  Later on in May, Sumi abused her powers once more by striking down the collective bargaining law as void.

Enter the Supreme Court.  The court found yesterday (6/14)  that Sumi's rulings was "invalid from the outset."  In addition, the Court concluded that Sumi exceeded her jurisdiction, "invaded  the Legislature's constitutional powers and erred in halting the publication and implementation of the collective bargaining law."

Hmmm.  Sounds like Judge Sumi is guilty of  "legislating from the bench,"  doesn't it?  Shouldn't there be some kind of reprimand of Judge Sumi?  Or should she go back to law school to learn what she can and cannot do as a judge in the Circuit Court setting?  How about disbarring her?  Sumi clearly made her ruling based on her own pro-liberal biases- from the bench.  Wonder if any union reps or other libs were behind her,  pulling the strings...

Republican Senator Alberta Darling summed it up best with the following statement:  "she (Sumi) did what she wanted to for political reasons.  To me, it (Sumi's action) was despicable." 

Agreed. 

The majority of Wisconsinites are standing behind Governor Walker and the Republicans in office.  Already, in a few short months, we have seen things in Wisconsin take a sharp turn away for the dismal Doyle years,  towards optimism, prosperity, fiscal responsibility, and common sense.  Most voters in our state are ecstatic - Voter ID has become a reality.  Concealed carry is next.  Joanne "I'm beholden to the Unions" Kloppenburg lost the Supreme Court election.   Walkers Budget Bill will pass -enabling the state to be in excellent financial shape in just two short years, with an estimated surplus of $300 million (balancing the states finances for the first time in more than 10 years!), and now the Budget Repair Bill - ending collective bargaining as we know it - will become law.  Property taxes are expected to go down - benefiting the middle class.  Businesses are coming back to our state, and with that comes jobs.  (Not government jobs, either!  Private sector jobs (Obama should take note - he could learn a thing or two.  That is - if he really WANTS to).   All of this, in spite of a few 60's throwbacks camping out, trashing the Capitol, chanting,  and beating bongo drums in Madison.  Republicans and conservatives ARE winning!

We have a lot to be proud of - and grateful for.  Be sure to remind your elected officials that we approve of the job they are doing on our behalf - they need to hear from you. 

Thanks to Governor Walker and the Republican lawmakers who were elected to serve the people - and are doing what is expected of them.   With all the Republican victories these past few months, one has to wonder where the Republican recalls are headed.  We are on a roll - and if the Wisconsin voters (those who continue to be ignored by the media and protesters and unionistas) show up en masse to vote to save the six Repubican representatives, the victories WILL continue and the state of Wisconsin will be in even better shape in the months and years to come. 

Thanks to my conservative cousin, a Milwaukee policeman, for e-mailing me the following yard sign he recently came across while surfing the net.  Given the wave of optimism sweeping our state with Governor Walker in charge - doing the right things to get our state fiscally sound and back on track - this sign adds a good boost of humor to keep the momentum growing.   

Optimism and real "hope" seems to be spreading across the country - especially now that the chance is coming to get even more true conservative Republicans into government at the federal level and a strong conservative President. 

As each day passes, it sure is looking like Obama has the potential to become a one-term president.  (Keep golfing and tweeting, Barry!)   Just continue to ignore the high unemployment rates, and the economy!  Keep dissing our allies and kissing up to our enemies!  Pay little attention to those pesky wars!  And by all means, don't listen to Representative Paul Ryan (it's obvious you don't understand Ryan's common sense solutions to many the fiscal issues Americans are facing anyhow.)  Obama's arrogance and narcissism will eventually do him in - if there is any justice.  Barry and Michelle better try to squeeze in as many expensive date nights (paid for by the taxpayers, of course) and continue to live the high life they are enjoying,  before they get the boot in 2012! 

This is even more hilarious!  ( Just received the following pic from a fellow blogger:  Thanks, Jim Hayett!)

Of course the mainstream media has downplayed this recent gaffe by the "Commander-in Chief,"  Barry Obama.  While in Fort Drum on Thursday, June 23rd, Obama was speaking to the troops and stated:  

The mainstream media is all aghast.  Supreme Court Justice David Prosser attacked fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley and put her in a choke hold!  Hold the presses!  This story has taken on a life of it's own.

Trouble is, aside from the headlines and spin coming out of the mainstream media, something doesn't seem right...

First of all, this supposed "attack" took place weeks ago.  June 13th to be exact.  So why is this being "leaked" (by Dems) now?  Most know that Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and her liberal co-horts like to make life miserable for those conservatives on the bench.  Abrahamson has been known to egg on the other conservative justices and treat them with disrespect.   Justice Prosser even stated at one time in his defense:  "In the context of this, I said you (Abrahamson) are a total bitch.  I probably overreacted, but I think it was entirely warranted.   They (Abrahamson and Bradley) are masters of deliberately goading people into perhaps incautious statements.  This is bullying and abuse of a very, very long standing." 

During the recent  debate over the bill on collective bargaining rights of public employees, emotions were running high on the court.  Of course, the liberals wanted to side with the unions and Democrats, never mind the law they were supposed to uphold.  And they were angry.  Angry that the conservatives on the court have a majority - and the law behind them!  Suffice it to say, by all accounts, things got out of hand.

And, very telling, the details about the possibility that Justice Ann Walsh Bradley physically went after Justice David Prosser, are being downplayed.  By the media, of course. 

Now, David Prosser is not a very physically intimidating figure.  A bit over 5' 8" and maybe weighing in at 140 pounds soaking wet. Pushing 70 years old.    On the other hand, Ann Walsh Bradley could be compared to  Rosie O'Donnell.  A large woman - could be a football  linebacker if a man.  Version one - as put out by the Bradley camp - has poor little Bradley being put in a "choke hold" by David Prosser.   Version 2 has Prosser being rushed by Bradley, and putting up his arms to defend himself.  Accidentally, Prosser touched Bradley's neck.

As a fellow (unidentified at this point) Justice stated to Bradley:  "You were not choked."

So what we've really got is Don Knotts attacking Rosie O'Donnell.  Think it happened?    The scenario that seems the most logical is that the usual suspects - the minority liberals -were very upset.  They were about to lose on the ruling to allow the budget repair bill to go through.  Tensions were high.  And they cannot stand the conservative justices on the court.  The feelings are probably likewise.  And Justice Bradley lost control - attacking Justice Prosser - who defended himself.  A few weeks have gone by and - lo and behold - all of a sudden Bradley decides she was put in a "choke hold" by Prosser. 

OK.  Prosser denies everything.  And I do believe that Prosser is the one telling the truth.  After all, what did Prosser have to gain by attacking Bradley?  The liberals on the Supreme Court were going to be on the losing end.  Prosser had just won re-election - fair and square - against a totally unqualified challenger - Joanne "bought and paid for by the unions"  Kloppenburg.  The conservative justices were in the drivers seat. 

Abrahamson and the other liberals on the court have been trying for ages to discredit any of the conservative justices.  It's a pattern. And most of us do know what is going on.  Typical liberal tactics.  When they cannot get their way, they try their best to undermine the opposition.  That's all they have left.   The mainstream media falls in lock step to report with the liberal spin.  Prosser ATTACKED Bradley!!!  In small print we get:  oh, by the way, Bradley may have rushed at Prosser.....

Whatever.  What we have here are Supreme Court Justices behaving badly.  Both Bradley and Prosser may share the blame, but no one will ever know what really happened on June 13th.  The two versions we'll hear about come from conservatives and liberals.  However, knowing the liberals do anything to advance their causes - morals be damned - I'd be willing to bet the Prosser didn't do anything but defend himself against an angry liberal who couldn't control herself. 

Remember the liberal mantra:  "do as we say, not as we do."   So when a few wacky Tea Party members compared Barack Obama to Hitler - why, the left and media went nuts!  How dare they!  The Tea Party members are crazy!  Insane!  However, witness the "civil" protests in Madison, with liberals calling Scott Walker every nasty name in the book - including Hitler!   But, that's OK - cuz it's free speech and, well, Walker IS like Hitler!  Taking away those entitlements!  Making people actually pay for their own benefits!  Egads!  How Hitler-esque!  A double standard for everything.  Only in the liberal world.  Everything is upside down and the truth be damned as long as the desired leftie outcome is achieved.  Well, most of us are catching on.  Bradley attacking Prosser?  Prosser attacking Bradley?  He said....she said.  In this case, I think it is more appropriate to say "he said...she lied."

The 4th of July - Independence Day - is the most significant date in the history of the United States - and it is a national  holiday for good reason.   We - Americans - are celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our freedom from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776.  Today we continue to enjoy the liberties that the 4th of July has come to symbolize in our daily lives.  

Celebrations on the fourth go hand-in-hand with fireworks, picnics and....parades!  Many towns, villages, and cities across the United States will host such processions in their streets.  Parades that honor our nation and promote patriotism - to be enjoyed by all....or not?

A recent study by two assistant professors at Harvard University concluded that the Fourth of July parades are "right-wing."  They only serve to promote patriotism, which Republicans seem to appreciate significantly more than their Democratic counterparts.  The Harvard study concluded that those who attend 4th of July parades share the following traits:

• When (attending a 4th of July parade) done before the age of 18, it increases the likelihood of a youth identifying as a Republican by at least 2 percent.
• It raises the likelihood that parade watchers will vote for a Republican candidate by 4 percent.
• It boosts the likelihood a reveler will vote by about 1 percent and increases the chances they'll make a political contribution by 3 percent.

Attending 4th of July parades has been found to be of no help to Democrats, much to the chagrin of Democratic politicians who march in them.  For the Dems, the parades appear to be a waste of time.  The Republicans turn out in droves, celebrating patriotism and the birth of our nation.  Yet, the celebration apparently falls flat - according to this study -  for those of the left - or Democratic - side of the political aisle.  The study even concludes that if people wish to celebrate the Fourth of July in a real super patriotic way - they should head to Republican areas. 

You can read all about the study at:  http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/dyanagi/Research/FourthOfJuly.pdf

This leads to the question, what type of parades DO benefit Dems?  What types of parades do Dems and liberals support?  Protests against taking away entitlements?  Anti-war marches? Diversity parades?  Walks in favor of socialism?  Hikes for the rights of illegal aliens?  Marches against private successful businesses?  Save the Whales processions?

As for the Harvard study - no surprise there.  When the President of the United States own wife - Michelle Obama -  isn't proud of her own country - until her hubby becomes a candidate for office, what else can we expect?  And when the President himself fulfills the self-appointed role as the Apologizer-In-Chief to the rest of the world - criticizing the very country he was elected to represent, well, should we be shocked?  No. 

It is really a sad day for America and Americans when all of us cannot be proud, patriotic, and supportive of the freedoms we have and the country we live in.  To say that Fourth of July parades are "right-wing" just has to be absurd!!!

 That would be like school children not including the words "under God"  when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance....or not allowing firefighters to wear the American flag on their uniforms.... or not allowing the National Anthem to be sung before sporting events....or not allowing high school students to wear t-shirts with the American flag on them, cuz it might offend those celebrating Cinco De Mayo....  or not allowing Old Glory to wave...

Hmmmm......on second thought.....

Have a happy and safe 4th of July - no matter what your political persuasion!  Just remember - freedom isn't free and America is STILL the greatest country on the face of the earth - no matter that a few Americans appear to disagree!!!

Excellent video, forwarded on to me from a reader who wishes to remain anonymous. 

Barry Obama sure could abide by his own statement at the end:  "Leaders at a certain point rise to the occasion.  Leaders are gonna lead."  Obama's had almost three years now.  We haven't seen anything remotely resembling "leadership" coming out of the Obama White House.  Ask yourself exactly what has Obama done while in office that warrants being re-elected.  

Actions DO speak louder than words, Mr. President. 

Someone needs to point out to Obama that being on the perpetual campaign trail doesn't count as "leadership"...

So much for all those "shovel-ready" jobs created by spending billions of tax dollars to fund those Generational Theft Acts - more commonly referred to as  "stimulus bills."  (Thanks, Obama!)  Guess we could say that the rhetoric coming out of the White House regarding jobs and the economy is what is really "shovel-ready!"

In the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel today (7/9/11) the headline on the front page reads:  "U.S. Unemployment rises to 9.2% - Job growth meager in May, nonexistent in June."    After reading the entire lengthy article, guess what was missing?  One name:  Obama. 

Now imagine if national unemployment, rather than improving, was getting worse - as it is -  and Bush was President.  Our nation is now at 9.2% unemployment with no end in sight.   Think the press would have not mentioned President Bush in such an article?    Be honest.  You know that they would have - and not just once, but repeatedly - pointing the finger of blame directly at Bush for the situation.  Yet, Obama once again gets a free pass. 

Even though Presidents themselves cannot create jobs out of thin air across the United States, the policies and legislation they help craft CAN and DOES contribute to the jobs and economic outlook in the country.  Right now, the policies coming out of the Obama White House have had a very detrimental effect on jobs.  From The New York Post (6/3/11) by Charles Gasparino: 

What is really disheartening is an article that appears later in the Journal/Sentinel (main section/pg. 4A) from the Associated Press:  "Jobs report a goad to debt talks - unemployment up as deadline creeps nearer."  Seems President Obama is using the recent dismal job report - with unemployment at 9.2% - to "prod Congress toward a swift agreement on deficits and the national debt."   And we know what that means - the Democrats want to raise taxes and fight any spending reductions.  The House Democratic Caucus chairman, John Larson of Connecticut, even stated:  "You can't cut your way to prosperity."  Oh really?  Do the Dems and Obama really think one can "spend their way to prosperity?"  by continuing on the same destructive path that the Democratic Party has lived by:  raising taxes and spending money the country doesn't have?

Remember years ago when then-President Bill Clinton borrowed Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson's W-2 Welfare Reform Plan?  Maybe President Obama needs to borrow current Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's budget plan.  After all,  Walker finally has put Wisconsin back on track for becoming fiscally sound and prosperous.  Isn't' that what the politicians at the national level should be aspiring to do?

A story that ran on Fox 6 News concluded that every school district in the state of Wisconsin - except for Milwaukee Public Schools - has benefited from Governor Walker's Budget Repair Bill:

Well worth watching:

School districts are in better financial shape than ever before.  Many that were fearing the loss of 5.5% in revenue per pupil have found that the Walker Budget Repair Bill - which required  teachers pay 5.8% towards their own pensions and at least 12.6% for their own health care premiums - has saved districts so much money that NOTHING needs to be cut.  Class sizes are not increasing.  Jobs are not being lost.  Specials - like music and art - will remain.  Guess the sky isn't falling and the world isn't coming to an end.  Whodathunkit?

Even those school districts that rushed to sign contracts before the budget repair bill became law are seeing positive results from the Walker bill and are in good financial shape. 

Of course, there is one exception - the Milwaukee Public Schools system. (Is anyone surprised?)  MPS sealed its own fate by negotiating and signing contracts prior to Walker's election.  Now  MPS Superintendent Gregory Thorton finds his school system in a major financial hole - to the tune of $82 million dollars.  In order to help solve this problem, Thorton has gone back to the MPS union and asked them to re-negotiate part of their contract - and have teachers pay the minimum 5.8% towards their own pensions.  Sounds reasonable, right?  And this little contribution on the part of teachers would have saved 200 teachers jobs that are now on the line in the Milwaukee Public School system. 

The union said "no."

Remember a WEAC ad that ran on television not long ago -  it stated something like "great schools benefit everyone."  Based on the MPS union mentality  - allowing teachers to lose their jobs rather than require they pay a very small percentage of their salary towards THEIR OWN pensions - perhaps a more honest slogan for WEAC and the MPS union may be:  "Benefits are more important than great schools."

It will be very interesting in the months to come to see how many teachers opt out of paying union dues.  After all, if a union is willing to sacrifice the careers of 200 of their own members simply to continue forcing taxpayers to fund 100% of their own pension plans,  who would want to belong to an organization like that?  

And the Milwaukee Public Schools union has the audacity to proclaim on their website:

"As professional educators, we understand the needs of our students and their families. We know from experience what it takes to improve achievement. When it comes to quality public schools in our city, we are the experts."

No comment needed on that statement.  The irony is priceless.

Our entire state does owe Governor Walker and the Republicans in Madison a big thank-you and round of applause for doing the right thing!   Improving the state's fiscal outlook AND maintaining the quality of the public school systems - all except for one - that were able to utilize the tools included in the Budget Repair Bill.

More bad news for the anti-Walker crowd.  Seems that the state of Wisconsin added over 12,000 private sector jobs during the month of June - an incredible increase and the largest single-month gain since eight years ago.

Governor Walker is on a roll!

First,  Walker's  Budget Repair Bill is proving to the naysayers that the educational system in Wisconsin would not be destroyed as the unions and lefties claimed.  Remember all the dire predictions of doom and gloom? We also heard over and over how  Walker hates teachers...Walker hates kids...Walker hates public education....blah blah blah.  Ad nauseum.  The protests in Madison were ground zero for the anti-Walker crowds to scream for all to hear how horrible and evil Walker was! 

And when it came down to it, none of it was true. 

The exact opposite.  School districts throughout our state are in better financial shape than many ever would have realized.  Schools did not have to fire teachers (with the exceptions of two school systems that shot themselves in the foot signing contracts before Walker was even Governor), nor increase class sizes, nor cut many of the "specials,"  and things are looking good for the coming budget year.  School boards now have the necessary tools needed to work out reasonable cost-saving measures and budgets for the present and the future.

Secondly, Voter ID has become a reality!  Just think, Wisconsinites can now go to the polls confident  that their votes are not being stolen by fraudulent means.  Our votes WILL actually count.  Honesty in elections!  What a concept.

Third, Walker and the Republicans supported the U.S. Constitution - specifically the 2nd Amendment - that 48 states always have enjoyed.  For whatever warped reasoning, Wisconsin citizens were always denied this right in the past.  Not anymore.  Responsible people who complete a gun safety course will now be allowed to conceal carry.  No longer will the criminals and thugs in our state have a monopoly on being armed.  We can actually have the ability to protect ourselves.

Now, back to the big news of the day. 

 Wisconsin IS indeed open for business.  Adding 12,900 jobs is no small feat, although the media and Democrats are trying to downplay this huge coup for Walker.  The jobs aren't good enough - they're "seasonal" (how they know this is unclear, and even if some of the 12,800 may be seasonal, they still are jobs, aren't they?  Someone is still working and receiving a paycheck!)  The media bias in this case is alive and well - wonder if the press would be trying to downplay this news if Doyle was still Governor???  Anyhow, Walker does deserve the credit.  Across the country, unemployment is unchanged under Obama, and the recession marches onward.  Yet, in Wisconsin, defying all the odds, 12,900 people found jobs!!!  

Please click on :   "State reports a gain of 12,900 private-sector jobs" from the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel (7/22/11) to read more.

Given that nationwide, only 18,000 private-sector jobs were created last month, Wisconsin accounts for 66% of that figure.  The lone state of Wisconsin contributed the majority of new private-sector jobs across the country. Incredible.  Walker and the Republicans in Madison deserve the credit. What they don't deserve are recall attempts by misguided unions and liberals intent on kicking people out of office simply because they don't like what the elected majority has accomplished.

Asa side note, maybe President Obama should pencil in a "jobs summit" on his calendar to discuss job creation with Governor Walker.  He sure could learn a thing or two.  Unlike Walker,  Obama is perceived - with good reason -  to be anti-business, with many private business owners afraid of him and  his administration.  This fear prohibits many private businesses from future plans for hiring or growth.  Recently billionaire CEO Steve Wynn didn't hold back in bashing Obama for his economic policies, rules, and regulations which hinder private businesses from growth and success.  Read more at:  "Casino Magnate Steve Wynn trashes Obama" from CNN Money.  Here's a few excerpts:

"I'm saying it bluntly, that this administration is the greatest wet blanket to business, and progress and job creation in my lifetime," Wynn said in response to a question about Las Vegas real estate.

"The guy [Obama] keeps making speeches about redistribution, and maybe we ought to do something to businesses that don't invest or hold too much money.  We haven't heard that kind of talk except from pure socialists."

But Wynn said he could be doing even more if not for Obama.  His company alone could add 10,000 jobs in Las Vegas, but he is "afraid to do anything in the current political environment in the United States."

"The business community in this country is frightened to death of the weird political philosophy of the president of the United States," Wynn said.

But things won't improve, Wynn said, until Obama is out of the White House. "Until he's gone, everybody's going to be sitting on their thumbs," Wynn said. 

Thankfully the same cannot be said about Governor Scott Walker. Business owners and companies are realizing this.   What Walker and his administration have accomplished in a few short months is amazing.  Walker has created a culture of common sense, fiscal responsibility,  and optimism that has been lacking in our state for the last eight years.  He has brought Wisconsin back from the brink of disaster.   Look for more great things to come.

....Wisconsin IS open for business! 

Following is a write-up by Senator Glenn Grothman, a Republican who represents the 20th District in Wisconsin.  Grothman is also the current Republican Assistant Majority Leader in Madison.  Senator Grothman was kind enough to give me permission to print his column (as well as any future information coming out of his office) re:  collective bargaining.  I hope you find it as interesting and informative as I did.  Thank you, Senator Grothman!

"Collective Bargaining Repeal:  the best thing that ever happened to Wisconsin schools"  by Senator Glenn Grothman

The repeal of much of Wisconsin’s collective bargaining law with regard to many of Wisconsin’s public employees has not been adequately explained. This repeal will do more to improve the quality and lower the cost of Wisconsin government than anything else we’ve done. There are approximately 275,000 government employees in the state of Wisconsin. About 72,000 work for the state, 38,000 for cities and villages, 48,000 for counties, 10,500 (full time equivalent) for technical colleges, and 105,229 for schools.  Only half of state employees are unionized, but almost all school employees are.

As you can see, the biggest impact will be on Wisconsin’s schools. Since my office has received the most complaints from school teachers, let’s look at how collective bargaining affects both the cost and quality of our schools.

Under current law, virtually all conditions of employment have to be spelled out in a collectively bargained agreement. Consequently, it is very difficult to remove underperforming school teachers. It may take years of documentation and thousands of dollars in attorney fees to fire a bad teacher. Is it right that two or three classes of second graders must endure a bad teacher while waiting for documentation to be collected? Just as damaging is the inability to motivate or change the mediocre teacher who isn’t bad enough to fire. Good superintendants are stymied when they try to improve a teacher who is doing just enough to get by.

While most teachers care about their students, some only “teach to the contract.” An elementary school teacher’s contract may require just seven hours and forty-five minutes a day in school. If the principal wants to have a meeting after school to discuss curriculum, or requests a meeting with parents of a troubled student, a teacher could say that this is not in the contract. Recall the recent flare-up when Fond du Lac teachers objected to having to work eight hour days.

Another problem affecting our schools’ quality is that payment for individual teachers is not based on merit but on a union negotiated pay schedule. A mediocre teacher with a master’s degree and additional college credits gets more money than a superior teacher who doesn’t have as many college credits. This is clearly unfair, and destroys healthy incentives that would encourage teachers to be more effective.

If enrollment drops, teachers must be let go. In practice, this means that collective bargaining causes the better teachers with less seniority to be laid off. If that’s not bad enough, a teacher who has never taught third grade may get to move ahead of a good third grade teacher because of union bumping rights. You also have to ask the union for permission to “share” a teacher with another school district if you want to give students more options. If you want to borrow another district’s teacher for a day to offer Mandarin Chinese, you must ask the union to sign off. The same could be true of offering new electives online for particularly gifted and talented students.

It has been well reported that, under collective bargaining, districts have been stuck with the teacher union insurance company which can cost $3,000 or more per teacher than a plan that is virtually identical to that which another company is willing to provide. Switching to Health Savings Accounts like the private sector is out of the question.

The teachers union must agree to on changes in the schedule.  If a school district wants to set their schedule so that it is the same as private schools to save money on school busing, the union must sign off. 

A teacher may be entitled to thirteen paid personal days. All this for employees who may only be required to work 190 days a year in the first place. There is also the cost of time spent negotiating seventy page contracts.

Clearly, collective bargaining penalizes schools and students, costs an exorbitant amount of money, and lowers the quality of education in Wisconsin. The same story could be told for tech schools, cities, counties, and the state. Tech schools may have to pay the same amount for teachers in very different fields. If such a school needs to offer a good salary to attract talented teachers for dental hygiene or tool and die, that’s understandable. Must Milwaukee Area Technical College, however, pay well over $100,000 to teach someone how to pass their GED? The compensatory problems that are a problem in our K-12 system hurt our tech schools, in my opinion, even more.

Counties or cities may want more flexibility to transfer employees between departments. Why should a local government not be able to switch people from roads to parks? Racine County was sued by the union for using jail inmates to do landscape work on medians. Volunteers have been unable to help out because of union contracts.

The removal of collective bargaining in prisons will also save money. Under collective bargaining, guards could call in sick on first shift and work overtime on second shift. Similar to counties, you could not shuttle people back and forth between job descriptions. If a prisoner must go to the hospital, the prison may have to send a transporter who is on overtime to take the prisoner to the hospital rather than an extra prison guard who is not in the prison at that time.

Franklin Roosevelt originally said that unions and government do not mix. After reviewing some union contracts, I can see why. Jimmy Carter, a Democrat backed by a Democratic Congress, greatly reduced collective bargaining for federal employees via the Civil Service Reform Act. Even President Obama has not tried to restore these rights. Massachusetts Democrats recently passed a bill divesting government employees of the power to collectively bargain most health-care benefits.

While we did not eliminate collective bargaining, we certainly reduced its scope in Wisconsin. As a direct result, the cost savings are significant at all levels of government. (Cost savings to schools from having school employees pay a small part of their health insurance and pension costs more than offset the mild reduction in education funding.) But, the most important benefit will be an improvement in the quality of our schools as efficiency, personal decisions, compensation decisions and methods of teaching children will not be subject to union meddling and obstruction. Contact me if you have any opinions on the above at Sen.Grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov.