Democratic Primary Likely to Be Decided on Style Points, Strategies
If voters are leaning more toward Barrett in Tuesday's recall election, it may be because Falk overplayed her hand as unions' champion, while Milwaukee mayor plays more to the middle.
A comparison of leading Democratic candidates Kathleen Falk and Tom Barrett going into Tuesday’s recall primary shows their differences are more about style and political strategy than substance on the issues.
Both campaigns have hammered against Gov. Scott Walker’s cuts to public education and vowed to restore school spending. Both have focused on the need for job creation and derided Walker’s record on it.
On public health matters, the economy and, yes, on collective bargaining for public workers, they are essentially on the same page over the long haul.
Where Falk and Barrett differ is not as much in their ultimate policy aims, but in their approaches.
Falk entered the race in mid-January, almost the instant the deadline for turning in recall signatures passed. She quickly declared her intention to fully restore all aspects of public collective bargaining that Republicans had repealed.
She sought and won the endorsements or recommendations of a slew of labor organizations, including the largest public employee unions — AFSCME, SEIU, WEAC. Falk even went so far as to sign a “veto pledge” to turn back any state budget that arrived on her desk without restoring collective bargaining in full.
Barrett, by contrast, waited… and waited… to get into the race, entering more than two months later on March 30 and just days before being re-elected as mayor of Milwaukee.
Barrett eased into the question of collective bargaining, refused to sign any such veto pledge, and while he has more recently said he would work to restore collective bargaining, he would do it in measures, not in one fell swoop.
Falk is seen as intense, outspoken and unabashedly liberal.
Barrett is seen as more mild-mannered, deliberative and moderate.
Given the fierce political division that has prevailed in Wisconsin for more than a year since the passage of Act 10, one could be forgiven for thinking that Falk — early and unstinting in her assault on Walker’s measures — ought to be wiping up the floor with Barrett among angry Democrats.
In fact, the opposite seems to be true. Barrett was statistically even with or ahead of Falk in most polls even before he declared his candidacy. As soon as he did declare, he began to gain steam. In the latest poll, released Wednesday by the Marquette University Law School, Falk had dropped precipitously to lag Barrett by a 17 percentage point margin.
One analyst believes that Falk has been her own worst enemy by seriously miscalculating the political climate.
Barrett seen as 'more likeable,' less divisive
John McAdams, associate professor of political science at Marquette, who has analyzed that and earlier polls as closely as anyone, has as much as declared the race over.
"I'll be shocked if he doesn't win," McAdams said. "We in this business are sometimes shocked, but I don't think we will be this time.
“I think it’s been obvious that Barrett has been a better Democratic candidate. In earlier polls, he was shown as ‘more likeable.’ He cuts a more moderate figure.
“In spite of criticizing Walker’s measures, he used them to balance his own budget.”
Falk, on the other hand, cast herself almost as Walker in reverse, McAdams said, in heavily currying favor with public unions.
“But being the union candidate doesn’t get you much in Wisconsin,” he said, “especially in the public sector. Just being the union candidate is not a big boon.
“Our poll showed people split about evenly on their support of public workers’ unions; there’s much more support for private workers’ unions, and that hasn’t changed."
“Falk hasn’t chosen to campaign to the general public, particularly any independents. There’s a small group of people in the middle that adds up to the difference. And they just don’t care that much about collective bargaining as an issue.”
The Marquette poll did, indeed, show that not just a few people in the middle, but, in fact, most people, rated education, jobs and the economy well above collective bargaining as issues that concerned them most.
“That veto pledge was probably a mistake,” McAdams said. “I think it indicates she is more combative, but some people have had enough of that.”
Barrett, McAdams said, also has more statewide recognition.
“Fewer people said they didn’t know enough about him to have an opinion. Between that and a more likeable, less confrontational persona, it’s no surprise that Barrett is outpolling her.
"That said, they are both liberal Democrats, and they would aim to be in the same place in the end."
Teachers feel Falk is tailored to them
Among the unions supporting her, there is some belief that Falk is the stronger, more substantive candidate on policy issues, with more clear, detailed plans — but that the message may not have reached the general public.
“There are differences,” said Christina Brey, spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which offered Falk its recommendation well before Barrett entered the race.
“To be clear,” Brey said, “we also spoke to a lot of potential candidates. It was a pretty detailed process. And we feel (Falk) is the strongest candidate to recall Scott Walker.
“We looked at clarity of positions and plans, and intensity of their belief and commitment," Brey added. "We talked about priority issues to our members, such as keeping educators employed and able to bargain collectively — because when they no longer have a voice in their working conditions, that has a direct impact in the classroom.”
Brey said WEAC felt the need to make an early recommendation to its members because the time frame of the recall process was so tight.
“The governor since November has been able to raise unlimited funds," she said. "We needed to get the ball rolling. The reason was largely to open the door to start talking about the issues.”
And why Falk?
“Kathleen Falk has been absolutely clear in her opposition to using public tax dollars to fund private voucher schools,” Brey said. “She has not wavered on union rights since the beginning. She has been strong on women’s issues — and 75 percent of our workers are women.
“Also, generally, just her involvement in the grassroots movement that developed here. She’s been a part of it since the beginning. It’s been important to see her up front.
“We’ve got a clear record to look at.”
To labor, Falk is the perfect anti-Walker
That view is echoed by Frank Shansky, labor relations director of Local 212 of the American Federation of Teachers, representing the Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Falk “was involved in the recall from the beginning,” Shansky said. “That’s not an anti-Barrett statement, just a pro-Falk statement.”
Like WEAC, AFT wanted to move quickly on the recall, Shansky said.
“We interviewed her, we talked to her about a lot of different issues, and she had a very good record,” he said. “She was strong relative to education, strong relative to collective bargaining, she has a strong environmental record, and as Dane County executive, she worked cooperatively with labor.
“Compared with Scott Walker, she is on the opposite end of every one of those efforts, and that is where we stand.
“That said, and all other things being equal, I can assure you — I can’t stress strongly enough — the candidate who comes out ahead will have our full support.
“June 5 – that’s where the focus is.”
To police, Barrett is the antidote to division
Falk’s list of union endorsements dwarfs Barrett’s, but he did not come up empty.
A handful of unions are backing Walker, among them the Iron Workers District Council of North Central States and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association.
These unions are very strong for their size, enjoy broad-based respect, and their members are much less likely to be liberal.
The WPPA is the state’s largest law enforcement group, with 10,000 members.
“Our board determined early on that we would wait for a full slate of candidates,” said James Palmer, president of the WPPA. “It was important to hear from our members.
“The other unions made a rush to judgment. That was a miscalculation on the part of the unions.
“Then, some of the things Kathleen Falk did early on hurt her — particularly the unwise and narrow-minded veto decision," he added. “I don’t think the general populace want someone who’s in the pocket of labor unions any more than they want someone who’s in the pocket of big business.”
“To the grassroots, I think, a single issue makes a candidate less electable.”
Electability, to the WPPA, is what it is all about, Palmer said.
“This is a calculus our board went through,” he said. “Our membership feels like Scott Walker has been bad for Wisconsin, bad for public safety. We lost our right to bargain our health care. In our line of work, that's a major issue.
“Our primary goal must be that Scott Walker is defeated.
“When we looked at the four candidates, Tom Barrett was not only good on our issues but also best positioned to defeat Scott Walker."
“If you look at law enforcement officers, they are mostly conservative. Our members have been saying, and I've heard it over and over, ‘I’ve been a lifelong Republican, and this is embarrassing. Never again.’”
The biggest difference between Falk and Barrett, Palmer said, in agreement with Marquette’s McAdams, “is a distinction in style.”
“Tom Barrett would use a multifaceted approach to restoring collective bargaining. That’s a style that will be well-received.
“Scott Walker has been criticized for a ‘My way or the highway’ approach, and Kathleen Falk often sounds the same.”
Local organizers just want a winner
At the grassroots level, there is little concern about any of the perceived differences between Falk and Barrett in either style or substance — but plenty of agreement that either one of them must rise to the occasion of taking on Walker and winning.
Dale Dulberger, who is active with the liberal group Grassroots Tosa said of the Democratic candidates, “On a scale of 1 to 10, I don’t see too much difference on policy matters.
“Kathleen Falk had the endorsements, she’s competent, she's female — and that could be important — and she balanced the budget” as Dane County executive.
“I thought she might be a potential leader, but I’m also supportive of Tom Barrett. When he ran for governor the second time, I thought he’d make a fine chief executive.
“It’s understandable that with political experience at the state, federal and municipal levels, he would be seen as a better candidate for these times.
“You’ve got to measure people on what they’ve done. Tom has supported collective bargaining; so has Kathleen.
“Tom has managed the city of Milwaukee in a gentler way. But external forces and the marketplace haven’t worked for him. He’s done a pretty good job, but what’s needed is a structural change, a Marshall Plan to rebuild this economically distressed area.”
On a state level, Dulberger said, the issue is “jobs, jobs, jobs….”
Dulberger said that he had spoken recently to an acquaintance who is an out-of-state businessman, and by no means a liberal.
“He said, ‘You know something is wrong when there’s this much noise, this much static.’
“Whoever is elected (Tuesday), people will close ranks behind them.”
Tom Barrett
7:02 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Is this bad?
http://media.jsonline.com/images/GOVERN03G.jpg
Bren
11:22 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
No, not bad. If you don't want to live in medieval conditions (chamber pots thrown in the streets, dragging 8 lb. buckets of water from the well, etc.), you have to pay for services. Sometimes costs go up.
CowDung
11:40 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Do you Lefties always take things to such extremes? Are we truly having to make a choice between huge tax increases or fetching our own water from the well and dumping chamberpots into the streets?
GearHead
1:08 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Bren, as usual you present a false choice. For the many taxes I pay, I expect water to come out of the faucet, and the bad water to drain away. But I get annoyed when greedy unionistas with their over-the-top lavish benefits refuse to be fair and start paying a small portion of their own way. You say "sometimes costs go up." Could that be because government programs always proliferate well beyond their initially stated purpose?
Bren
2:00 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Cow, Gear, you're kidding, yes? Gear, I'm not a Lefty but someone born with basic common sense. I invoked the Middle Ages to remind and inspire what life was like before civic programs and services. I like running water and I'm happy to pay for it.
Seems pretty simple to me. If you want services, pay for them. If you can't afford them, contact your local government as there are some programs to help low income people. Or be a survivalist and "rough it" I'm sure you can find instructions on how to build an outhouse on the internet. But don't whine about the cost. Seems like some folks are so cheap that for the sake of $20 bucks or whatever they'd let others go hungry. Good Samaritans.
CowDung
3:19 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Bren:
Let's consider what "services" are being paid for with my tax dollars. This isn't a matter of keeping the water flowing to my kitchen sink with my tax increases. It's a matter of tax subsidized book coops and condo projects that aren't going to pay any returns on the 'investment'. There's plenty of government spending that can be eliminated before the water stops running...
Steve ®
11:53 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Why is it so embarrassing to admit you are a lefty?
Rachel Holley Sciortino
2:18 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
I find your "is this bad" drumbeat not only ridiculous, infantile and simplistic -- but annoying. Share your opinions -- but letting random sites do your talking is getting very, very old.
Tom Barrett
8:58 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@Rachel
Is this bad?
http://www.tomthetaxer.com/
Adam Wienieski
7:11 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Less divisive my skinny white backside. Tom Barrett will cheerfully raise property taxes because he can't say no to anybody.
R Denis
8:01 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
He also was responsible for dropping property assessments in the City of Milwaukee robbing home owners of tens of thousands of equity.
Gary Tefft
9:19 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
To R Denis: Property assessments are related by statute to market prices. I just had an appraisal on my house in Menomonee Falls, which is appraised at $203,900. Comparable houses sold at that price a couple of years ago. My appraisal last week came in at $160,000, which means I'm robbed of my ability to get the refinancing deal I wanted. If Barrett was responsible for "robbing home owners of tens of thousands of equity" in Milwaukee, who was responsible for the drop in property values in Menomonee Falls? And, when will my appraised valuation be reduced to reflect the assessed market value? The blame must be on the liberals like Scott Walker and his Waukesha County supporters, don't you think?
Gary Tefft
9:22 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Sorry, I should have said my house is ASSESSED at $203,900. It was APPRAISED at $160,000 last week.
-Gary-
Greg
3:30 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
There is a thing called a Board of Review or call the assessor. Sitting here pouting about your appraisal will get nothing done.
"who was responsible for the drop in property values in Menomonee Falls?" There was a housing bubble. If you are upside down, I guess you are responsible.
Satori
10:29 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Greg, tell R Denis that. He doesn't seem to get it
Keith Best
7:23 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Falk is the union toady no doubt. As far as Mayor Milquetoast, he is no leader. What has he done for Milwaukee? The state unemployement rate is 6.9%. Milwaukee's is over 10. MPS is in terrible shape.
However, the one thing Barrett did right was use Gov. Scott Walkers reforms to formulate his budget. Yes you read that right.
Bren
11:27 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Milwaukee is what, 4th highest for poverty in the U.S.? Offshoring, recession, all are factors for the worsened situation. What global effort should Tom Barrett have initiated to control all of this, Mr. Best? Offshoring hit its stride during the Bush administration. The housing bubble accelerated during the Bush administration. Tax cuts + financial industry shenanigans + 2 wars, all during the Bush administration. If you are a Republican, you supported all of these initiatives, so it's hypocritical of you to turn around and blame Tom Barrett for them now. Embrace the recession and offshoring of jobs as your own "children!"
josh
12:45 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@ Bren. Are we still blaming Bush 3 yrs later? I'm assuming you voted for Obama then in the last election and since you want to place blame how about obama continuing the war for years after running on a promise to end it there by spending millions more, how about doubling the national debit since he has been in office, how about bail out money given to companies that in turn used it for bonuses/raises because he had no plan to monitor how the funds would be spent, tax cuts from Bush he continued as well. Yes we can blame Obama/Barret because for years they have done little to nothing to improve the situation we are in in fact in most cases they made it worse. Barret alone lost the state 150k jobs in his term and now he wants another shot running on the "i value the american worker" slogan, give me a break
Bren
2:07 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
josh, are we still in a recession? Yes, but recovering. Since regulations put into place after the Great Depression to prevent this sort of disaster occurring again were weakened or deregulated we had the dubious privilege of learning just how bad things can get when Wall Street gets the bit in its teeth and runs away. Barrett is no more responsible for the job losses in Wisconsin than any other community in any other state or country that has suffered in the recession.
Let's keep it real, please.
But you bring up a good point. The bailouts began with the Bush presidency as well, thanks for reminding everyone.
josh
2:42 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Wrong Bren. Obama handed out millions to companies then turned away which was terribly irresponsible of him first of all, as for the recession and everyone suffering then buy your own logic Walker is not responsible for job loss either because after all it's a recession. I love how you apply a blanket to all problems caused by Obama,Barret and i would assume other Dems while you take shots at Repubs in similar situations. Let's keep it real we had 8yrs of tax hikes, job loss and questionable judgment with Barret including but not limited to siphoning transportation funds, allowing MPS to fall to one of the worst rated systems in the nation and spending millions preemptively on a high speed rail before elections knowing it could be shot down. Same for Obama let's keep that real too the man doubled our national debit, lied during his campaign promising an end to the war when he is elected which he continued another 3yrs (which just ended this past Dec. for those who forget), Forced through by questionable means his Obamacare which is trying to be overthrown by multiple states for overstepping their boundaries and has done nothing to help the middle class regardless of what his press says unless you count helping those on welfare continue to be on welfare.
Bren
8:57 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Wrong, josh. The AIG scandal (bailout money used for bonuses) was courtesy of the Bush administration. Obama made sure there were metrics attached to bailouts.
Walker is not responsible for job losses due to the recession since he didn't take office until January 2011. However, he ran on a "250,000 new jobs in my first term." He must have known that was impossible but apparently said anything to get elected. Since he created the metric he should be measured by it.
Again, Milwaukee has a difficult set of circumstances because so many white collar workers have moved out of the city. Less tax revenue is an issue. 15 years of budget cuts have created serious issues in MPS schools. None of these factors occurred overnight. There's no easy fix, but Walker handing out the highest cut to K-12 education in state history sure didn't help.
What you call "Obamacare" has overwhelming support from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents when the components (isolated from title) are reviewed: Young people may stay on parents' health insurance until age 26; individuals may no longer be denied health insurance due to pre-existing conditions; no more rate discrimination against women; subsidies for small businesses to provide healthcare, etc. The reason for the multi-state challenge is simply because the GOP is committed to ensuring Obama is a one-term president--never mind what' good for Americans.
Craig
9:19 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Bren: Offshoring to China? That didn't start with Bush.
You know who gave "Most Favored Nation" status to China.
That giant sucking sound took a decade to get rolling, and will likely longer to fix.
As an Independant Bren, you sure forget Liberal mistakes.
Admit it Bren, you have a man crush on Clinton.
TJ Monday
7:57 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Well analyzed, well written, hard to seriously disagree with any points.
J. B. Schmidt
8:42 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
If the Democrat voters pick Barrett it is only proof that they have a war on women. Especially as they attempt to also oust Kleefisch and replace her with a man.
Dirk Gutzmiller
10:04 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
@J.B.Schmidt -
Your assertion that if Dems vote against Falk and Kleefisch that PROVES they have a war on women speaks to your inability to understand Logic 101, and the imposition you have thrust upon us as a tea party blogger in other posts as a spokesman for the ultraright. Most Dems regard women as able to stand on their own merits with and against men, without being patronized and being pointed out as a trophies as Repubs do with any minority candidates they can somehow get in their grasp. That goes for winning and losing political races.
J. B. Schmidt
11:15 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
@Dirk Gutzmiller
You said, "Dems regard women as able to stand on their own merits with and against men, without being patronized and being pointed out as a trophies"
That doesn't explain why a fictional Julia graces the Obama website as only being able to get ahead in life with Democratic government assistance. It also doesn't explain why Falk has a fix for the collective bargaining , which is the reason for the recall, and yet a democratic man leads in the polls. It also doesn't explain why Kleefisch, who herself has not signed or voted for any legislation is being recalled in favor of man. Logic 101 shows Democrats only willing to pander to women but not vote for them.
Bren
11:33 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
J.B., I know you're having a tough time understanding the "War on Women." The irony is, men are increasingly impacted by the ideological radicalism, too. More women are heads of household; men and women choose to use contraception.
If you watched the videos of protests in Virginia and that ALEC governor's attempts to force women to have transvaginal probes prior to an abortion, you will see men protesting, too.
What I have a hard time understanding is "conservatives'" desire to do whatever they want in the marketplace, etc., but to have Government to direct their attention to peeping through people's curtains. It's weird and creepy (in my opinion).
Dirk Gutzmiller
1:19 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@J.B. Schmidt - Are you disagreeing that the fictional Julia fares better in an Obama administration? Or of her use to bring out into the public debate the stark and 1950's convictions of Romney and the Republicans regarding women? Are you averring that the Obama website states Julia is ONLY able to get ahead with Democratic government assistance?
Collective bargaining, of course is not THE reason for the recall. That assertion is a ploy by the Repubs because that reason alone will not win a recall election for most people. It is the whole Walker package of overreach, corruption, and demogogy.
Falk became a single issue candidate to most voters when she declared too early and too strongly for, apparently, completely restoring public unions to their former position. Democrats vote for winners like Barrett, and even reasonable Republicans, that prefer moderation, negotiation, and compromise.
Kleefisch is a former talking head (not brain) , married to a Tea Party politician, is an evangelical, usually quoting the Bible, and also extremely right in her views. She announced her candidacy for Lt. Gov. from her kitchen table. She has been captured on video voting in the place of out of the buiilding Republican members of the Assembly, an illegal practice. You cannot expect many Democrats to vote for someone like her.
Once again JB, you need to go to school and take Logic 101. Most Democrats will of course not just vote for a woman because she is a woman.
Bren
1:53 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Rebecca Kleefisch is a "cipher" as Lt. Governor. She collects a very nice salary and benefits, poses for a few photos, writes an op ed or two, defends ALEC on Fox and that's about it. What a downward shift from her predecessor Barbara Lawton. It's embarrassing.
Let's trade her in for a Lt. Governor who is actually going to work for that paycheck!
J. B. Schmidt
2:10 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@Bren
I don't care what happens in Virginia. Also, could you possibly point out the legislation that was used to peep, I think I missed it.
In your attempt to include ALEC in every post, it have become incoherent.
J. B. Schmidt
2:30 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@Dirk Gutzmiller
Yes, the Obama website says Julia can only make it with government assistance. Yet, he pays his female staff less then his male staff. Those damn Republicans.
Barrett is no winner, he is a 2 time governor candidate loser. Milwaukee is a sewer because of him. His city was responsible for all job losses in Wisconsin last month. Where is the logic in that?
As for voting, you mean her husband, right. A practice that was found to be done on both sides of the political and is not illegal. Why would you attack his wife for that? Must be because she is a woman.
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/mar/15/joel-kleefisch/wisconsin-rep-joel-kleefisch-says-he-didnt-break-a/
Dirk Gutzmiller
5:43 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@JB Schmidt -
Absolutely right, of course, I got the Kleefisches mixed up in my comments. It was her husband, the Rep. from Oconomowoc, that was caught being unethical and illegal by voting in the Legislature for absentee Republicans, so their vote would be counted while they were out doing other things and not lost. It is an illegal practice if the absentee legislator is out of the chamber, which is alleged in this case. Who are the Dems that do this, as you charge? My apologies to the Lt. Gov., her only offense is being affiliated throgh marriage with a guy like that. they must be a very compatible couple.
They seem interchangeable to me in all ways.
As to the infographic Julia, Julia's life is ENHANCED by Obama policies, such as getting to go to Head Start, affordable healthcare, and toward the end of her life, social security. Happily She does not die under Romney. For example, as she retires, she works in the community garden because she receives SS. In Romney's world, a bedraggled Julia must scrounge the garden as the SS payments are no longer being made. Which projected fantasy do you want to happen, JB?
As for Barrett and being a "loser", he has won many more elections than Walker. Walker has lost a state assembly election, and gave up and dropped out as a gubernatorial candidate in 2006.
Also, The Republicans are conveniently forgetting that Walker was the CEO of Milwaukee County for eight years. But nothing bad was his fault?
Bren
9:02 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
J.B., "it have become incoherent." Resorting to ungrammatical insults now, are we?
Amusing.
Adam Wienieski
10:03 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@Dirk, how did women survive until now without the government making all their decisions for them? Julia is a pathetic figment of the progressive imagination, the poster child for a cradle to grave entitlement lifestyle that is supposed to be provided by Obama administration policies.
This is the Democrat ideal, complete and total reliance on the state. How patronizing to self-sufficient women. Barack Obama is a chauvinistic control freak who would marry every woman to the welfare nanny state.
Dirk Gutzmiller
1:52 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Adam Wienieski - Sheesh! Your right-wing hysteria phrases: Cradle to grave, nanny state, government making all decisions, total reliance on the state, entitlements , welfare, etc. How many can you get into a paragraph?! Get a grip.
Most of the government programs Julia gets in the little graphic are available today. Under Romney and the tea party, the safety net gets big holes or is ripped away.
Julia has more of a third world life. I can see the problem the tea party, i.e., Social Darwinists, have with Julia, and the majority of people in America of either sex. If you are not lucky enough or strong enough, or born into the tiny upper class, you should just, essentially, get out of the way of the rest of us and live and die miserably.
What a delightful picture Romney and his extreme conservatives paint of a kind of Mumbai slumdog existence for many if not most Americans of either gender, in contrast to the Democratic ideal that we will all have the opportunity for some modicum of opportunity, hope, comfort and dignity throughout our lives.
Adam Wienieski
12:07 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Sorry Dirk, I left out budget busting.
When Obama took office, Julia's share of the national debt was $32,000. Today it's $138,300 and rising fast. Obama is the most divisive president in history and his shameful class warfare rhetoric is dividing the country into two groups: takers and taxpayers.
Guess which one he wants Julia to be?
Brian Dey
9:02 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Tom Barrett know's no tax increase he doesn't like. In the 8 years he has been mayor of Milwaukee, he has raised taxes 7 times for a total of over 41% increases. On jobs, Milwaukee has lost 4,400 in just march. His 11.4% unemployment rate is highest in the state. This article states the support of law enforcement, yet the largest municipal law enforcement unions representing the MPD endorse Walker, and these are his guys.
He wants to spend millions of Milwaukee taxpayer dollars on a streetcar that goes two and a half blocks. He gave tax incentives to every major corporation that threatened to leave Milwaukee, and some left anyway. Someone please name one thing this clown has done to improve the City of Milwaukee.
Lets see; jobs down , property value down, taxes up. That's what we need, and someone pandering to the unions.
Bren
11:35 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Please see my post above. Also, does it make a difference to the tax rolls when white collar workers leave the city for the suburbs and take their paychecks with them? Are you suggesting that people be forced to live in the city where they receive their paychecks? That's a radical idea Brian, but it would help the tax rolls, no doubt.
Greg
12:28 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Um Bren, The City of Milwaukee does have a residency requirement and I don't think it was endorsed by ALEC.
Bren
2:10 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Um, Greg, not just public workers comprise Milwaukee's tax rolls.
What has ALEC to do with this? Their focus is on writing bills friendly to their corporate members (and the NRA--oh wait, they scampered away from that part) and having them passed by their legislative puppets, like Scott Walker.
Greg
3:51 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
"Um, Greg, not just public workers comprise Milwaukee's tax rolls."
Not if you and the rest of the left have your way.
"What has ALEC to do with this?"
Nothing, like most things ALEC probably has nothing to do with it, but you seem to include them and blame them for everthing that goes on.
Brian Dey
5:11 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
So Bren, Walker has been in office a year and a half and you have been touting his lack of creating jobs. Hmmm.... Barrett has been Mayor for 8 years, and he is losing thousands of jobs. Sounds like a double standard to me.
And it couldn't be Barrett's fault for being a "do nothing mayor". The property values fall because of the increasing mil rate, high unemployment and high taxes. I will give you this, he did raise taxes but the other two; AWOL.
And Barrett is no different than ALEC except he wants to have bills written or overturned to feed the corrupt unions. What a hypocrite Bren!
Bren
9:10 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Greg, "Not if you and the rest of the left have your way." What does that even mean in the context of the discussion?
Brian, the difference is that Barrett would never campaign on the premise that he could create 250,000 new jobs within his first term as did Walker. A shameful display of cynicism and disrespect from our current governor. That's not Barrett's style at all.
Brian, were you angry at public employee unions prior to February 2011? Just curious.
Brian Dey
9:23 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Yes Bren I was. After sitting at the table with the unions for three years and watch as they shamelessly advocated for closing schools so they could get a raise; or watching them load the board with their hand-picked board members; or watching them beg for referenda so they could get the free health insurance. Yes Bren, I am one of the ones that couldn't have been happier as I saw 85 cents of every dollar spent on teachers who politicized in a partisan manner our children; while as a board member, I had to make do with 15 cents on the dollar for everything else.
As for Barrett, the guy is a shameless schill with no plan, no ideas and no results. Those that advocate for returning the hand-outs to the elitist unions are so against improving education. Barrett is th poster child for wrecking education. And Falk? She is even worse than Barrett with her head so far up the b-tt of the unions its pathetic.
I still have not heard one idea from either. One plan. Only pandering to the elitist unions. If either wins, this state is heading for disaster.
BTW- Nice to see you have a new heartthrob (ALEC). I think the Koch Bros. might actually get jealous.
Steve ®
9:12 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Falk for president
Dirk Gutzmiller
9:45 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Steve for Fool.
Bren
11:36 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Steve, Falk is actually running for Governor, that election takes place next month. You might be confusing that election with the November presidential election. Hope this helps! ; )
Mike
9:51 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
I like both Falk and Barrett. They have more integrity on their little pinky than all of Walker does. At least Falk and Barrett will restore a sense of prosperity and open the negotiating table up unlike Walker and friends who slammed the door shut and said "my way" only. The civil war then can end. We need to get rid of government that has an agenda that is only "their way" and the friends of Scott Walkers way.
josh
12:30 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
If you want to get rid of my way or the highway how can you like Falk, she signed a veto pledge that unless the new budget does what she/the unions want its dead on arrival that is pretty extreme to me. As for prosperity you must not remember living under barret rule when unemployment was up, job loss was up, taxes were up and he was siphoning transportation funds. I cant think of any way either of them will win against Walker when they both have such terrible records and one is so radically left.
Greg
12:39 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
It is plain stupid to think that if Barrett or Falk win, that the civil war will end. We, Governor Walker Supporters/friends, have been shown the way. The left has been far from civil and there are some pissed off people on our side. Good luck with finding that government that has an agenda that is "your" way, I hope you can afford it.
Bren
1:41 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
I'll vote for either as well, for the same reasons. Either will fulfill Walker's campaign pledge to negotiate with public employee unions, which the new governor failed to do in spectacular fashion.
But it's about a lot more than public employee unions. This is about rejecting the ALEC agenda (along with Coke, Pepsi, and 12 other major corporations), and about getting back to traditional conservative values--empowering, not devastating people's lives.
josh
2:53 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Yes Bren Lets empower those poor union employees making 40k a year by giving them free healthcare and benefits. Never mind the fact that everyone else has to pay for benefits and make those hard choices between healthcare and food, unions are special and deserve our complete devotion. Honestly if you think that unions are the way to go and we should all pitch in to support them i would encourage you to live in IL for a year and tell me if you still agree with that idea. Let's be honest if either Falk or Barret get elected we all know our taxes are going up, unions will be put back in the driver seat and eventually if things continue in that directions we will end up in worse shape than IL, millions in debit, taxed at one of the highest rates in the nation and a growing unemployment rate.
Dirk
10:13 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Who cares? This silly election simply pampers the whiners who will lose again on June 5th. Just more wasted taxpayer $$ from the entitlists. Good riddance.
Bren
11:40 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Dirk, who are the "entitlists" precisely? I tend to think that Walker is an "entitlist" because he believes he should be able to do whatever he wants to do, and complains about the recall into every live microphone he can find. That's "entitlist" behavior to me.
josh
12:35 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
entitlist would be those union members who feel that they should be supported by the general population because it is unfair they have to pay for their own benefits like everyone else. Perfect example would be teachers in WI who on average make within the top 20 across the nation at an ave. salary of 45k a year and yet feel that we should pay for their healthcare, retirement fund and pension because they can't afford it.
Greg
12:41 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Bren gets the Stupid Post of the Day award for that one.
Bren
1:19 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Greg, is that a cash award by any chance? ; )
Greg
1:34 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Lifetime supply of stale easter Peeps. MMM :)
MargeG2
10:23 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Barrett bring unity, peace, etc. Ha-Ha he was one of the original protesters to start the ridiculous recall. He wins the prize for the best "do-nothing" Mayor in Wisconsin history. He has absolutely nothing to run on so uses unity for his theme.
Bren
11:38 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Marge, Barrett was a late entry for the race as I recall. Perhaps you'll want to double-check/verify your talking points before your next post... ; )
Michael
11:42 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Besides, Barrett is a wuss.
Dirk Gutzmiller
1:26 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Michael - When you grow more mature, you will hopefully understand that political leaders do not have to be narcisstic drama queens. It causes recalls and maybe a prison term.
Alfred Kell
1:56 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Barrett is milquetoast, but he is representative of what a liberal male is. Hell, look at Dirk Gutzmiller, these eunuchs are all the same.
Dirk Gutzmiller
6:30 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Alfred Kell - You tea party types that open carry those big pistolas on your hip to the soccer game are not making the impression you think. Many of us are believing that the gun is compensation for a whispered inadequacy, and do a mental chortle. Suggest concealed carry, unless you are an irrepressible exhibitionist.
Jonathan
12:12 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Barrett as governor and falk as LT governor would be a good start.
Jonathan
12:14 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Walker is so low he could walker under a snake! Get the clown out!!!
By the way how's his criminal defense going??
josh
12:37 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
i would say pretty good it has been over a year and no matter what you Dems say there have been no charges brought against him.
SkinnyDude
12:16 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
How many times does the state have to vote against Tom Barret before he realizes the majority of the state of Wisconsin thinks he's a clown . As one of the worst mayors in the country he could only balance his budget using the reforms Walker provided. He can hardly argue he has managed the city of Milwaukee better than Walker has the state. Polling shows people in the state agree with the issues Walker addressed. Collective bargaining isnt being talked about cause its hurts the dems. Voter Id isn't a issue cause the over whelming majority agree with it. Conceal carry is another winning issue for Walker. Jobs is a grand slam for Walker if re elected as business wait to see if the state is viable as the liberals embarrassingly fight for less jobs to hurt Walker instead of helping the state's citizens. Walker wins against any of these very weak clueless challengers.
Bren
1:17 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Scott Walker lied about his campaign platform to get into office, then passed a flurry of ALEC and ideological bills with the help of a rubber-stamp legislature. Polling shows an ideological split down the middle.
The jobs record stands for itself, worst in the U.S. I don't believe that's Walker's "salvation" issue. And it's frankly more embarrassing to watch Walker burble endless talking points on Fox about (apparently) apocryphal "out of state union bosses."
We'll see what happens next month.
CowDung
1:34 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
What was the lie in Walker's campaign platform, Bren?
Are you still trying to push the idea that Walker should have stuck to his plan to negotiate with the unions to get the concessions (contributions to pension and health benefits) he wanted? Marty Beil is the one to blame for Walker's change of plans...
Dirk Gutzmiller
5:54 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
skinnyDUDE with skinnier facts and thin arguments: You forgot that Walker was the head honcho of Milwaukee County for eight years. EIGHT YEARS! Oh yeah, he cannot be held responsible for anything bad that happened in the County, including the City..
SkinnyDude
6:58 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
That's because Milwaukee county actually improved under Walker. Its something you Libs don't like to hear. He did win the Governors race on his record there. GET A CLUE!
Dirk Gutzmiller
7:37 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@skinnyDUDE - You say Milw. Co. improved under Walker, but the City went drastically downhill under Barrett As of the 2010 census, the county had a population of 947735, the city 594,833. The City is almost two-thirds of the County in population. Go figure.
Well, to give you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you have not gotten to geography and arithmetic in school yet. You must be 18 to vote.
Greg
12:56 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
But Mayor Barrett has taken on Co-sleeping deaths, as his main focus (well second to his trolley). "Even one death is too many. But can infant mortality be reduced merely by showing ads over and over again in all the city's news outlets and places of business as well as on posters and billboards? Mayor Barrett thinks the campaign is up to the task."
OOPs, another Barrett failure.
Bren
1:13 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
What do you suggest be done, Greg, in addition to bringing this tragic issue to people's minds, front and center? Are you volunteering to go door to door demonstrating infant care? It will have to be you because there are never enough social workers.
Please, let's see your plan for handling this issue.
Greg
1:32 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
I did not take it on as an issue, I did not get on the soap box, Barrett did. I only point it out as a forecast of how effective Barrett will be as YOUR Governor. Let's face it, if Walker had had done what Barrett did, with this issue, you would have been waving it in our face like a flag. In fact I think you would have expanded on it so much as to even have called it something like "Walker's War on Black Babies".
Turn around is fair play, after all.
Scott Daniel
2:07 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
This is not a "Democratic Primary" only. Anyone who thinks they don't need to vote because Tuesday's primary is advertised as a "Democratic Primary" needs to get to the polls and vote because Scott Walker also has an opponent.
Greg
2:58 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Barrett passed an ordinance that imposes a $20 municipal motor vehicle registration fee on every Wisconsin-registered vehicle kept in Milwaukee.The money collected from this fee is deposited in a transportation vehicle fund and this fund is designated specifically for streets, alleys, bridges, traffic lights and road-related repairs. The fee applies primarily to average family vehicles like cars, SUVs, pick-up trucks and minivans.
If you don't live in the city, or have a business here, this is what Barrett will bring to you.
Yep, a 27% raise on your vehicle registration fee. Barrett has been the king of the Hidden Tax or as he calls them FEES.
SkinnyDude
4:49 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Thats long been a democratic tactic. Raise fees for revenue . But he not only raises fees he raises taxes with them. Hes typical tax and spend irresponsible liberal . Wants to tear up the most complex power grid in Milwaukee for a Choo choo train that will have to forever be propped up by tax dollars. He clearly hasn't the skill set to do anything but Fail .His history is to go along with failure right in front of his face.
Rachel Holley Sciortino
2:45 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Would it be possible for someone to propose what WOULD work in Milwaukee? People who HAVE to live there due to their jobs -- send their kids elsewhere for school, the schools are NOT Barrett's fault -- he tried to help but was rebuffed -- I don't praise our mayor for a good school system - that's ridiculous. Those living in Milwaukee are often there out of neccessity -- not desire. It's not a great community to live in -- it's a large, sprawling, metro area -- surprise! Urban areas are not always beautfiul -- anyone have a nice inner city that's problem free to suggest we emmulate? Fees, taxes are one of the only ways to keep money coming in to address the issues created by flight and poverty...what IS the solution if not everyone paying a bit to help?
Dirk Diggler
3:43 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Tom the Taxer!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=2QOOdpwjeEY
SkinnyDude
5:07 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Nice link
Menoparent
4:28 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Really wanted to comment here, but every time I think of something good to say, I notice that BREN has already said it! Thanks Bren, right on!
Greg
4:39 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
You probably give yourself too much credit.
Steve ®
8:53 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Awww Bren's mom showed up :hugs:
WEACHATER
5:50 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Cow, Gear, you're kidding, yes? Gear, I'm not a Lefty
What a total joke!
You are the poster child.
Steve ®
8:43 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The knob on the closet door feel off years ago. She's going to be in there a while longer.
WEACHATER
5:51 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
"Bren
1:13 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
What do you suggest be done, Greg, in addition to bringing this tragic issue to people's minds, front and center? Are you volunteering to go door to door demonstrating infant care? It will have to be you because there are never enough social workers.
Please, let's see your plan for handling this issue."
How about we start charging them with a crime?
Oh no that would be racist.
SkinnyDude
7:03 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Taxing Tom Barret has axed the UNITY rally for democrats on Wednesday . He wont even stand on stage with the Unions and Falk. lol Priceless ! They pay for Barret's re do and he is embarrased to stand with them . So much for collective bargaining as an issue. He knows the Unions have NO choice but to back him as they went all in . In the end it will be a HUGE waste of time and money . It will only pay for the REALITY CHECK that were not really that Liberal that we want to give up the current list of successes that poll overwhelmingly in Walker's favor .
Racine Progressive
7:14 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Barrett will win tomorrow and then kick Walker's behind in June.
Watch John Nichols tonight on The Ed Show to hear about Walkers failed policies.
I like the Walker ad that touts jobs created under Scooter, but neglects to mention that even MORE jobs were lost under his tenure.
Racine Progressive
7:17 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Walker has offended almost every group in Wisconsin except the TEA party.
Well, the party is over Scooter.
Barrett for Governor!
SkinnyDude
7:34 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Barrett been rejected twice already. I think he will get the memo this time too. Liberal Kool Aide must be addicting. :)
Steve ®
8:41 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Liberals do like to group everyone
Michael
8:23 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
I'm a journeyman meat cutter in a meat cutters union. I pay the weekly dues, don't like it, don't hate it. I just started paying attention to politics recently. I think Barrett's an idiot, and like what Walker has done and how he defends himself. Does that make me a righty or lefty?
Luke
9:09 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
@Michael
I'm an independent, so I just say you have common sense. However, you are certainly right of center. Welcome to the club!!!
SkinnyDude
9:49 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
The country is right of center . When solutions are presented to problems most american's have a conservative slant . The exceptions are those gaming the system as they want a free ride from cradle to grave. Most don't have that insane mindset yet but the liberal plan is to gain control via government dependance. It sick to support a platform where merit and effort mean nothing and deficits are chosen over solutions. I was in the teamsters myself . So i know both sides and Conservative is the only place I see solutions.
Dirk Gutzmiller
7:53 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@Michael - Righty or Lefty? I think it makes you a PHONY, pretending to be so naive you do not even know which side of the political spectrum you are on. When I click on your name, I see vitriolic comments about the Dems. You may be wandering around in the political wilderness, but you have a shotgun. Give us a break.
And Luke may be an independent, in that he cannot decide between totalitarianism and anarchy.
Mike
11:01 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Bren, make us a promise. If Walker wins you will just go away never to be heard from again.
Dirk Gutzmiller
7:58 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
@Mike - If Barrett wins, promise you will continue to post your comments. Try to be chipper and breezy in your apologies, no more bitterness and scorn please.
Mike
10:07 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Dirk, no problem here. I'm always chipper, breezy is questionable. Quite confident in the election results for June. The question is what will the left do when Walker keeps his job? If the right loses they now can have a recall in a year (although I doubt they'd do it). I can hear the left crying about that if they pursued it.
Dirk Gutzmiller
1:01 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Mike - If Walker loses, there will be no recall of the new Governor in a year. Nearly every Republican has come out against recalls on principle and cost, except in the case of severe malfeasance/criminal activity and moral turpitude.
Clark
11:48 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Barrett- 'more likeable' hahahahahaha. Can we just pick 'none of the above' on the ballot?? None of these goofs have a plan other than to raise taxes. What is their job plan?? Raise taxes on corporations and wealthy and then then the leave then state and don't create jobs??