With the recall elections looming on the horizon, it would be beneficial for the six Republican's fighting for their jobs to start touting all the achievements that they, under the leadership of Governor Scott Walker, have accomplished in just a few short months.

The legislation that has passed has made many Wisconsites very happy.   Some of these items were long overdue - like Voter I.D., concealed carry, and other laws that have helped get our state on the road back to prosperity, business and job growth, and lower taxes.  WOW! 

Rather than allow the Dems to buy votes (free BBQ ribs anyone? - guess lefties are shying away from passing out cigarettes this time around!) against Republican Senators like Alberta Darling, voters should be focused on how the Republicans are making life better all around for Wisconsinites.  Free BBQ ribs and a free shuttle bus ride to vote early are short-lived perks.  Let's look at the long term solutions that the Republican legislators have provided the hard working people of Wisconsin.  We need to reward our Republican legislators for doing the will of the voters and allow them to keep their well-deserved jobs.  (At the same time, let's see to it that the few Democratic politicians up for recall - who fled the state like irresponsible, pouty children refusing to do their jobs - are sent packing!)   

Let's highlight the following:

A BUSY SIX MONTHS   (from the office of Senator Glenn Grothman, R-District 20):

The GOP-led Legislature Has Accomplished a Great Deal Since January

Among other things, the Legislature and Governor Walker have:

Passed a state budget (2011 Act 32) on time, without tax increases, that leaves Wisconsin in the black for the first time in over a decade:

• Turned a $3 billion deficit into a $300 million surplus

• Instituted the first permanent property tax cap in our state’s history

• Cut bonding (state borrowing) by nearly 20 percent

• Cut more than 1,000 government jobs, including 735 long-term vacancies

• Enacted sweeping business tax reforms that will save Wisconsin’s job creators over   $130 million a year when fully implemented.

Results:

• In the first 6 months of 2011, Wisconsin showed job growth more than twice the national rate

• 88% of Wisconsin businesses say the state is on the right track, up from 10% a year ago

• 53% of businesses of all sizes predict they will add jobs and increase wages in the next 12 months¹

The Budget Repair Bill (2011 Act 10) gave schools and other local governments the tools to control their budgets without sacrificing services:

• MacIver Institute: Wisconsin Schools Already In Line to Save Hundreds of Millions of Dollars²;

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Most state school districts dodge layoffs, cuts – some districts hiring new teachers for the upcoming academic year³. 

 Other Legislative Successes So Far:

• Protected our votes by requiring a picture I.D. at the polls (2011 Act 23)

• Became the 49^th U.S. state to recognize its citizens’ Second Amendment rights to carry concealed weapons (2011 Act 35)

• Created a commission on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse that has already reported a potential $260 million in savings (Executive Order)

• Limited manufacturer liability only to those products they actually produced (2011 Act 2)

• Created a state tax credit for Health Savings Accounts (2011 Act 1)

• Passed legislation requiring a 2/3 super majority vote to raise income or sales tax rates unless a statewide referendum supports the increases (2011 Act 9)

• Repealed higher auto insurance requirements enacted in the 2009 budget (2011 Act 14)

• Expanded the prohibition against tax money being used to subsidize abortion (2011 Act 32)

• Repealed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants (2011 Act 32)

• Repealed a mandate on local law enforcement to collect racial data during traffic stops (2011 Act 29)

• Expanded School Choice to Racine and potentially Green Bay (2011 Act 32)

• Required a successful drug test in order to receive unemployment benefits 2011 (2011 Act 32)

• Wisconsin paid off its $60 million debt owed to Minnesota under the former tax reciprocity agreement between the states (2011 Act 32)

• Wisconsin paid back the $200 million from Gov. Doyle’s unconstitutional raid of the Patients Compensation Fund (2011 Act 32)

Looking forward to the next six months! Here are some of the issues I (Senator Grothman) will be working on:

• Welfare Reform
• Reining in divisive Affirmative Action programs
• Giving Parents More Options in Education
• Growing jobs by reining in excessive regulation
• Tort reform
• Restoring Parents’ Rights

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

Footnotes:

¹ http://www.jsonline.com/business/123511849.html

² http://maciverinstitute.com/2011/07/wisconsin-schools-already-in-line-to-save-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-through-newly-negotiated-teacher-contracts/

³ http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/125696138.html

Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to announce he is a candidate for the GOP nomination for president over the weekend.  Finally - the Republicans have a real candidate with strong potential.  A candidate who appeals to Republicans, conservatives, and the Tea Party.  Perry has experience.  He is a social conservative.  He has brought many jobs as well as economic growth to the state of Texas - similar to the plan our own Governor Walker has for Wisconsin.  He is pro-business and supportive of the private sector.  Governor Rick Perry will be the biggest threat to another Obama term out of any of the current GOP presidential wanna-be's.

FoxNews.com has said that Perry entering the race will "give the White House pause."  

Perry has something the current White House occupant doesn't.  Patriotism and a sincere respect for this country.  Just what we need right now.  Most of us are sick and tired of the anti-American attitude and lack of respect for the United States that keeps coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  We are fed up with the obsessive promotion of dependency upon the government as well as the utter disdain for those who are successful.  We don't want the bigger government Obama envisions for us.  We want America to be exceptional once again.  We want America to be the leader - with people who are creative and take risks - to achieve great things.  We want freedom and smaller government.  We do not want the goverment to control every aspect of our lives and foster even more reliance on hand-outs, while personal responsibility and hard work become memories of the past. 

It really is looking like the malaise of the Carter.... oops....Obama years will soon come to an end.  Obama is too narcissistic and arrogant to consider a move to the middle, which could help him keep his job.  But Obama won't change - he refuses to believe that what he is doing is wrong and he doesn't know how to be a leader.  Let Barry Obama continue to live in his dream world.  His own words and actions will seal his doom as a one-term president.  Thankfully!

Oh sure, the lefties will gleefully point out that twenty years ago, Perry supported Al Gore.  Well, we all live through moments of stupidity.  Many conservatives used to be liberals or Democrats, then they grew up.  Just like Ronald Reagan, Perry also had been a Democrat!  Ronald Reagan even led a union at one time.  But guess what?  Reagan went on to be one of the best presidents this country has ever seen - as a Republican.

Rick Perry can do the same. 

President Perry - has a nice ring to it!

Tomorrow conservatives Kim Simac and Jonathan Seitz will be attempting to unseat two Democratic Senators - Bob Wirch and Jim Holperin in their respective districts in a special recall election.

Simac is running against Holperin in Senate District 16 - which is the Rhinelander/Eagle River part of the state.  She started up the Northwoods Tea Party in her area and is a strong conservative. 

Seitz is representing the Republican party in Senate District 22 - which is in the southeastern part of Wisconsin and includes Kenosha,  Pleasant Prairie, Burlington, and other areas.

After a devastating loss last week in the attempted recalls of six Republican senators, Democrats and liberals may not be very motivated to go out and vote to help Wirch and Holperin to keep their jobs.  This could bode well for Simac and Seitz - if Republican voters have a large turnout.  Maybe even some Democrats might want to send a message to Wirth or Holperin - by voting for the Republicans!

 Remember, months ago, these two "representatives" fled the state - Holperin and Wirth refused to be responsible and remain in Madison, representing their constituents by voting.  If these two would have been employed in the private sector and did the same thing, they would have been fired.  Well, here is the opportunity for the voters in District 16 and 22 to do the same!  Fire them - and hire conservative representatives.  Conservative representatives who will work to lower taxes, reduce regulation, and create jobs.  Who will continue to support Governor Walker and the Republicans as they bring back jobs and fiscal order to the state.

Simac's website touts her campaign slogan:  "A leader who won't run away."  Seitz is a businessman and knows how the private sector works.  Together, these two have the potential and experience to trounce Holperin and Wirch. 

 Even if you do not reside in either District 16 or 22, please contact friends, relatives, or anyone else you may know in these areas to get out and vote for Simac or Seitz.

Republicans have nothing to lose.  The Wisconsin Senate and Assembly will remain in Republican control despite whatever the outcome is on the 16th.  However, wouldn't it be sweet justice if the conservative candidates would unseat the flea baggers? 

Unlike the recall elections last week, where Republicans had to defend their jobs for DOING their jobs, now we have a recall election in which the two Democratic Senators fighting for their seats DIDN'T do their jobs - and ran away.  A REAL reason to have a recall!  Well, let's tell Wirch and Holperin that the voters in their Districts didn't approve of the way they shirked their responsibilities.  Let's not reward bad behavior.  They deserve to lose their seats. 

And if they don't - Shame! Shame! Shame!

Those who voted for Barry O. in 2008 on the promise of "hope and change" don't seem very happy lately.  Barry's poll numbers aren't looking too good.   Obama's recent Magical Mystery Bus Tour in the midwest was a bust - with tough crowds and a President who - without his beloved teleprompter - seemed to get a bit irate at times that the crowds weren't fawning all over him as they had just a few short years ago.  People were actually asking some tough questions about the economy and jobs, throwing Obama for a loop.  My, how times change.

One of my "conservative sisters" who likes to be referred to as "Believer Bee" sent me the following e-mail that has been making the rounds.  (Thanks, BB!).  Given that a very strong conservative wave seems to be sweeping the country - as well as our own state -  if your friends and family members forget why they voted for Obama and/or other Dems, you could supply them with this handy list.  They could then pick their top reason(s) why they were so foolish...

TOP 12 Reasons for voting for a Democrat

1)  I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon at 15% isn't.

2)  I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.

3)  I voted Democrat because Freedom of Speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

4)  I voted Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.

5)  I voted Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday can tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

6)  I voted Democrat because I think illegal aliens have a right to free health care, an education, and Social Security benefits.  Plus, we should take away social security from those who paid into it.

7)  I voted Democrat because I'm not concerned about millions of babies being aborted so long as we keep Death Row inmates alive.

8)  I voted Democrat because I believe liberal judges need to regularly re-write the Constitution to suit some fringe kooks who would never get their agendas past the voters.

9)  I voted Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves.  They need to break even and give the rest back to the government for redistribution by Democrats.

10)  I voted Democrat because I think that it's better to pay billions to people who hate us for their oil rather than drill for our own since it might upset some endangered beetle, gopher, or fish.

11)  I voted Democrat because while we live in the greatest, most wonderful country in the world, I was promised "HOPE AND CHANGE."

12)  I voted Democrat because my head is so firmly planted up my posterior, it's unlikely that I'll ever have another point of view.

By now most people in the United States know that President Obama's recent campaign tour (actually called a "presidential bus tour" - (not political, mind you! - so that taxpayers had to foot the bill)  around the Midwest was a complete flop.  The crowds of yesterday who, in the past,  couldn't get enough of their Messiah,  have faded.   Same can be said about  Obama's job approval rating in the polls, which now stands at 39% according to Gallup.  Instead, Obama faced hostile crowds intent on asking hardball questions about the economy and jobs.  Obama at times got a bit irate - and without his beloved teleprompter, appeared to be a wee bit perturbed.  With no answers to the tough questions.  One could say the bus tour was a bus-t.  

Just looking at the "bus" the President traveled through the Midwest in should serve to strike fear in the hearts of fans of mass transit.  It's one scary vehicle, carrying one scary president!  One of my frequent readers (thanks Believer Bee) dubbed it "The Darth Vader Strikes Again Tour bus" which seems rather fitting.  Aside from looking threatening, just imagine the large carbon footprints this monster bus left in it's wake!  Where are all the environmental wacko's when you need 'em?  (Al Gore must have been really upset - probably ran out and planted a few trees to try to help offset the damages to the environment...)

Now, the real interesting part of this whole trip is....guess where this behemoth bus was built?

From the ABC News/Politics website:

The $1.1 million jet-black rumbling bus that has been carrying Obama through the Midwest this week was designed in part by Prevost, a motor coach manufacturer based in Quebec. The New York Post was first to report this, and Provost officials confirmed this fact to ABC News.

Also from the same website:

"We've got folks in America driving Kias and Hyundais. I want to see folks in Korea driving Fords and Chryslers and Chevys," Obama said, drawing applause.  "I want to sell goods all over the world that are stamped with three words: "Made in America."

Ah, the hypocrisy of the left.  Yet another classic example of the "do as we say, not as we do" motto of the Democratic Party.

Priceless.