Uppity Wisconsin
Making Wisconsin Progressive Again
Pew Center Data Is Trouble for GOP
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 12:14pm | mal contends
If you want to know why RNC Chair Michael Steele and his allies have become so shrill, it's not only because these guys are unhinged.
They have access to electoral data and a changing America spells trouble for a major political party that is overwhelmingly white, xenophobic, hateful and ignorant. These guys are desperate and Rush and the crew are increasingly impotent.
Consider the just-released Pew Research Center data in the Dissecting the 2008 Electorate: Most Diverse in U.S. History report.
Tags: Earmarks No Good? Tell That to Janesville
Fri, 03/13/2009 - 9:12am | mal contends
Update: Mike Madden in Salon - "President Obama urges pork reform and signs a bill with earmarks in it on the same day. Republicans make an unconvincing show of outrage."
From today's State Journal: "U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl D-Wis., added $951,000 to the federal Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Black hawk Technical College to provide job training and placement services for former employees of General Motors in Janesville and it supplier companies."
The horror ... because the job training and placement services are an earmark, according to Wisconsin's Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Middleton) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) and of-course the ever-foolish John McCain.
Reads Feingold's statement:
From today's State Journal: "U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl D-Wis., added $951,000 to the federal Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Black hawk Technical College to provide job training and placement services for former employees of General Motors in Janesville and it supplier companies."
The horror ... because the job training and placement services are an earmark, according to Wisconsin's Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Middleton) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) and of-course the ever-foolish John McCain.
Reads Feingold's statement:
McCain's Nuts, Feingold and Ryan Following
Fri, 03/06/2009 - 2:50pm | mal contends
Update: Herbert: "Freaking out over earmarks is like watching a neighborhood that is being consumed by flames and complaining that there is crabgrass on some of the lawns."
Sen. John McCain is like a man on the Titanic complaining to the bartender that there’s not enough vodka in his drink as outside the iceberg approaches.
Reads a fundraising e-mail from McCain complaining about “pork” in a big spending bill (now blocked by Republicans threatening a filibuster in the U.S. Senate) as McCain seeks reelection in 2010:
Sen. John McCain is like a man on the Titanic complaining to the bartender that there’s not enough vodka in his drink as outside the iceberg approaches.
Reads a fundraising e-mail from McCain complaining about “pork” in a big spending bill (now blocked by Republicans threatening a filibuster in the U.S. Senate) as McCain seeks reelection in 2010:
My Friend, … I have called on the President to take a principled stand and veto the bill if it is sent to him, but unfortunately, he appears ready to sign it into law, which is nothing more than politics as usual.
What made me love life more today
Mon, 11/03/2008 - 12:49am | warmmidwest
Knowledge ... I have a lust for the kinds of things that help me appreciate life. Do you? Share them! (h/t Kos)
Updated: Why members of my family are voting for McCain
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 1:54pm | warmmidwest
Below is the text of a letter from a family member to try to convince the few members of my family who are Democrats why they should vote for McCain.
For the last year, there has been much passionate political discussion at family events, and there is no amount of logic or fact that can be used to persuade those in my family who vote Republican to change their minds. This incredible point of view shows why:
Obama loss traced to single voter
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 1:38pm | warmmidwest
I keep hearing how Barry is up double digits in Wisconsin and close in swing states, and I think, what if everyone gets lazy, hearing this over and over ... could this happen?
Smile, spit, or swallow? Cool Hand Luke knows
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 5:25am | warmmidwest
Have you seen Paul Newman's greatest performance in "Cool Hand Luke"? If not, give it a view soon. I feel his character mimics the hope that Obama inspires.
"They don't know whether to smile, spit, or swallow."
Here's to "world shakers." And thanks for your great examples of how to lead in life, Paul.
How McCain lacks solid principals, embraces hypocrisy
Wed, 10/29/2008 - 5:45pm | warmmidwest
Desperately, the GOP candidate continues to flail around, inventing flat-out lies about spreading wealth and such. It's particularly shameful when McCain used to support the very policies that Obama is putting forward right now. Need proof? Check out Jed Lewison's video below. Who would trust this guy? He has no principals.
The real October surprise finally arrives - McCain endorsed by al-Qaeda
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 12:28pm | warmmidwest
My, oh my, who would've guessed this would be the real October surprise?
Supporters of al-Qaeda have said they would prefer Republican candidate John McCain to win the US election because he is more likely to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.UPDATE: So, in thinking about this further ... if McCain wants to be the next U.S. President, are he and the people who vote for him on the side of the terrorists who want to put the financial nail in the coffin of this country? Cause that's what's likely to happen.
America is not a one-party state
Sun, 10/19/2008 - 9:55am | mal contends
No words of condemnation suffice to describe the repugnant anti-democratic actions of J.B. Van Hollen and the Republicans on voter suppression.
Here's another piece that comes close. From the Democratic Strategist:
Let’s say it simply – America is not a one-party state. The people in the federal law enforcement and criminal justice systems are supposed to stay out of politics – not work to support the party in power. There are specific rules and long-standing institutional traditions in the DOJ against publicly announcing a major political investigation during the last few days of an election campaign. ...
McCain likes to argue that 'I’m not George Bush'. But Dems can fairly reply 'No, but the DOJ will obviously be run in exactly the same, repulsive way that it was during the Bush administration.'
In fact, it’s actually ironic. The last-minute intrusion of the FBI into the 2008 campaign actually gave John McCain the ideal opportunity to show that he really would be a different kind of Republican from George W. Bush. Instead, he used the opportunity to show that he will be exactly the same.
Here's another piece that comes close. From the Democratic Strategist:
Let’s say it simply – America is not a one-party state. The people in the federal law enforcement and criminal justice systems are supposed to stay out of politics – not work to support the party in power. There are specific rules and long-standing institutional traditions in the DOJ against publicly announcing a major political investigation during the last few days of an election campaign. ...
McCain likes to argue that 'I’m not George Bush'. But Dems can fairly reply 'No, but the DOJ will obviously be run in exactly the same, repulsive way that it was during the Bush administration.'
In fact, it’s actually ironic. The last-minute intrusion of the FBI into the 2008 campaign actually gave John McCain the ideal opportunity to show that he really would be a different kind of Republican from George W. Bush. Instead, he used the opportunity to show that he will be exactly the same.
Obama Looking Good in Wisconsin
Sun, 10/19/2008 - 9:16am | mal contends
The good news just keeps on coming.
Voting in Fitchburg (pop. 20,501), Wisconsin (Dane County), located next to Madison, was brisk this last week as voters rushed to cast absentee ballots.
Obama should increase the 90,000-vote cushion that Dane County gave John Kerry in 2004.
Republican attempts at voter suppression in Wisconsin are naked, well-publicized and on Thursday or soon after likely be given a legal scolding. [Having too many blacks voting will not play well this particular election as a political message though J.B. Van Hollen and the Republicans will not stop trying.]
Obama endorses SeniorCare in Wisconsin, the popular Prescription Drug Assistance Program, that helps seniors buy needed prescriptions.
McCain favors letting people choose to pay for drugs or not get them. This will help Obama with a key voting demographic here.
And nationally, Obama looks to achieve an electoral landslide.
Colon Powell endorses Obama.
Voting in Fitchburg (pop. 20,501), Wisconsin (Dane County), located next to Madison, was brisk this last week as voters rushed to cast absentee ballots.
Obama should increase the 90,000-vote cushion that Dane County gave John Kerry in 2004.
Republican attempts at voter suppression in Wisconsin are naked, well-publicized and on Thursday or soon after likely be given a legal scolding. [Having too many blacks voting will not play well this particular election as a political message though J.B. Van Hollen and the Republicans will not stop trying.]
Obama endorses SeniorCare in Wisconsin, the popular Prescription Drug Assistance Program, that helps seniors buy needed prescriptions.
McCain favors letting people choose to pay for drugs or not get them. This will help Obama with a key voting demographic here.
And nationally, Obama looks to achieve an electoral landslide.
Colon Powell endorses Obama.
Violence breaks out at GOP rallies
Sat, 10/18/2008 - 8:28pm | warmmidwest
WTF is going on?
I thought the GOP brownshirts, generally young people, would begin to incite violence, but no.
Elderly women at a GOP rally assaulted Obama supporters, and gave one person two black eyes.
And reporters are being assaulted.
Joe the Plumber doesn't pay his taxes
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 5:21pm | warmmidwest
If you watched the presidential debate last night, or the morning news shows today, you're likely familiar with this supposedly undecided guy named "Joe the plumber."
If not, here's the backstory.
There's much more about the "everyman" set up we're being spoon fed about this person.
First, he's not undecided. He's a registered Republican.
Second, he doesn't pay his taxes.
Third, dude will be purged from the voter databases because his name is wrong in the voter databases, just like Wisconsin Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen's. Bwa ha ha!
(hat tip on all to Kos, natch)
GOP conceding Wisconsin?
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 1:40am | warmmidwest
It sure helps that Obama is up by as much as 17% in Wisconsin, and that he kicked ass tonight in the debate.
I look forward to watching TV this week if for no other reason than there will be no McCain ads.
McCainCon Nearing Completion
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 7:51am | mal contends
Poor John McCain.
His campaign embraces McCarthyite tactics; appeals to fear and racism, throws around the GOP charges of voter fraud, and the rightwing still hates him.
As we have noted here before, though there's no open talk from GOP insiders, there is a secret let-McCain-fall program: Call it McCainCon [a play on the secret EComCon conspiracy from the Seven Days in May movie based on the Fletcher Knebel-Charles W. Bailey II book].
McCain is a fatally weak GOP candidate to face Obama, and it’s likely that many GOP movement wingers see him as a 2008 sacrificial sheep happily slaughtered to the 2012-2016 gods.
That appeared clear months before.
His campaign embraces McCarthyite tactics; appeals to fear and racism, throws around the GOP charges of voter fraud, and the rightwing still hates him.
As we have noted here before, though there's no open talk from GOP insiders, there is a secret let-McCain-fall program: Call it McCainCon [a play on the secret EComCon conspiracy from the Seven Days in May movie based on the Fletcher Knebel-Charles W. Bailey II book].
McCain is a fatally weak GOP candidate to face Obama, and it’s likely that many GOP movement wingers see him as a 2008 sacrificial sheep happily slaughtered to the 2012-2016 gods.
That appeared clear months before.