Wednesday, May 20, 2009
School Choice -- Not for you
Few national images are more shameful than those of innocent, low-income kids milling through decrepit public schools, uncared for, unsafe and barely educated. In Washington, D.C., alone, 173 schools — 67% — fail to meet federal standards of learning.
So it was curious that when President Obama
recently allowed 1,716 of Washington's neediest schoolchildren to keep, until graduation, the vouchers they use to escape their failed public schools for higher-quality private ones, he also closed the program to new applicants. All this occurred as the Education Department reported that voucher participants show superior skills in reading, safety and orderliness. The news was buried in an impenetrable study released without a news conference. Why the ambivalence? Because teacher unions, fearing loss of jobs, have pushed most Democrats to oppose vouchers and other options that invite competition for public schools. Put another way, they oppose giving poor parents the same choice that the president himself — along with his chief of staff and some 35% of Democrats in Congress — have made in sending their children to private schools.
Read more of from the USA Today opinion piece here.
Democrats' Beer Tax Increase
Read more about the proposed tax increase here.
While I'm on the topic of beer, if you enjoy sampling different beers, a GREAT festival in the area to attend for beer lovers is the Great Lakes Brew Fest in Racine.
The GOP's Health-Care Alternative
Four Republicans in Congress -- Sens. Tom Coburn (Oklahoma) and Richard Burr (North Carolina) and Reps. Paul Ryan (Wisconsin) and Devin Nunes (California) -- will today introduce a bill that moves away from federal centralization. Aptly called the Patients' Choice Act, it provides a path to universal coverage by redirecting current subsidies for health insurance to individuals. It also provides a new safety net that guarantees access to insurance for those with pre-existing conditions.
Read the entire WSJ article here.
Feingold - A Partisan Hack
Rep. Paul Ryan on MSNBC's Morning Joe
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Keep it cool
You can keep it cool by heading over to Kopps for a scoop of the flavor of the day.
Today's flavors are Red Raspberry or Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate.
Decisions, decisions ...
Not dead yet
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Lose your job? Get free Viagra.
From the K-News:
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Pfizer Inc. is unveiling a new program that will let people who have lost their jobs and health insurance keep taking some widely prescribed Pfizer medications — for free, and for up to a year.
Pfizer will provide more than 70 prescription drugs — from Lipitor to Viagra — at no cost to unemployed, uninsured Americans.
People who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and have been on Pfizer drugs for three months or more are eligible.
The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession and should bring a Pfizer some goodwill, good publicity and brand loyalty.
The program, which starts today, was requested by a committee of employees concerned about newly uninsured patients struggling to buy their medicines.
See- told ya. Free Viagra. You can now keep yourself thoroughly entertained while you are laid off.
See, things are looking up. Er...you know what I mean.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Nancy Pelosi Version 4.0? or 5.0?
Version 1.0: Nanny Pelosi was horrified and spoke out against the evil Bush administration and their waterboarding tactics, that was until she was exposed by the Washington Post as having been briefed on the subject and she raised no objections.
Version 2.0: Okay- Nanny finally admits she was briefed but she had no idea that the tactics were actually being used, until one of the members of Congress, Porter Goss, who also was briefed, busted her.
Version 3.0: Okay, now Nanny states that one of her aides was briefed in 2003, her aide briefed her and she raised objections in a letter with Congresswoman Jane Harman.
Version 4.0: Congresswoman Jane Harman has never heard of Nancy Pelosi. (Okay, just kidding!) Nancy Pelosi's name is not mentioned or is she a signator of the letter written by Harman.
According to the Pelosi confidant, Sheehy told Pelosi about the briefing — and later informed Pelosi, the newly elected minority leader, that Harman was drafting a protest letter. Pelosi told Sheehy to tell Harman that she agreed with the letter, the Pelosi insider said. But she did not ask to be listed as a signatory on the letter, the source said, and there is no reference to her in it.
Version 5.0: Next up. We are currently waiting for version 5.0. Hang tight.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Not the Change Kenosha was Hoping for
From Congressman Sensenbrenner (emphasis added)
Washington, May 11 -
The “restructuring” of jobs at the Chrysler Kenosha Engine Plant is a prime and realistic example of why I voted against the bailout funding, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the other mass amounts of spending Democrats have done over the last few months in the name of “economic recovery.”
Since the spend-a-thon started, I’ve held many Town Hall Meetings. At each of these meetings I hear how the people of Wisconsin are fed-up with their hard-earned taxpayer dollars being spent on subsidizing failing corporations. In my opinion, no corporation is too big to fail.
But now, the President has added insult to injury. Despite many vocal objections, the Obama Administration approved the restructuring plan with Chrysler’s bankruptcy filing on April 30, 2009. What this means is that the 800 employees of Chrysler’s Kenosha Engine Plant will face “restructuring” (read: lose their jobs), AND they, along with their fellow Wisconsinites will be paying for their jobs to be relocated to a facility in Mexico.
Yes, you read that correctly. Chrysler is asking for an additional $8 billion from the government, on top of the $4 billion they’ve already received, to help implement their plan in Mexico, despite the proper resources already existing at the Kenosha Engine Plant.
Now, outsourcing jobs in a terrible economic market is really bad governing; but then having those workers help pay for their jobs to be outsourced through taxpayer bailout funds is a slap in the face and absolutely appalling. This is not the economic recovery Wisconsinites hoped for and expected.
Last Thursday, I sent a strongly worded letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner asking him to deny future bailout funds to Chrysler if it goes forward with outsourcing American jobs to Mexico. I know others in the Wisconsin delegation continue to take similar actions with the Administration to bring about a positive resolution for the people of Wisconsin. Under no circumstances, should we be rewarding these types of action with more money. Let’s hope the Administration reaches that conclusion as well, before it’s too late.
I guess when the President says that it’s time for change – he should really talk to those 800 employees who are about to experience some real life change.
Amazingly the budget deficit increases and we have not spent a penny of it yet
With the economy performing worse than hoped, revised White House figures point to deepening budget deficits, with the government borrowing 50 cents for every dollar it spends this year.
The deficit for the current budget year will rise by $89 billion to above $1.8 trillion _ about four times the record set just last year. The unprecedented red ink flows from the deep recession, the Wall St. bailout, the cost of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus bill, as well as a structural imbalance between what the government spends and what it takes in.
As the economy performs worse than expected, the deficit for the 2010 budget year beginning in October will worsen by $87 billion to $1.3 trillion, the White House says. The deterioration reflects lower tax revenues and higher costs for bank failures, unemployment benefits and food stamps.
For the current year, the government would borrow almost half the money it takes to run the government under the administration's plan. In one of the few positive signs, the actual 2009 deficit is likely to be $250 billion less than predicted because Congress is unlikely to provide another $250 billion in financial bailout money.
The developments come as the White House completes the official release of its $3.6 trillion budget for 2010, adding detail to some of its tax proposals and ideas for producing health care savings. The White House budget is a recommendation to Congress that represents Obama's fiscal and policy vision for the next decade.
It is seriously difficult to keep up with the amount of money we are spending or have committed to spending these days. Even the simplist thing, such as the bottom line for the 2010 bugdet, is difficult to track.
Here Obama's budget was $3.4 trillion.
Here Obama's budget was $3.5 trillion.
Today we are being told $3.6 trillion
As everyone can clearly see, we seem to have a hard time keeping track of $200 billion.
No wonder the deficit is growning even though we have not started spending into the 2010 budget yet.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
Before I was a Mom
"Before I was a mom, I made and ate hot meals, wore unstained clothes and had quiet conversations on the phone.
Before I was a mom, I never worried about how late I went to bed because I could sleep in as long as I wanted.
Before I was a mom, I washed my face and brushed my teeth everyday.
Before I was a mom, I enjoyed a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the
morning newspaper on a Saturday morning.
Before I was a mom, I slept the whole night through.
Before I was a mom, my house was clean everyday and I didn't worry about whether or not my plants were poisonous.
Before I was a mom, I had never been puked on, pooped on, peed on, chewed on or pinched by little fingers.
Before I was a mom, I had complete control of my mind, thoughts and body.
Before I was a mom, I never held down a screaming child while doctors and nurses did tests or gave shots. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces because I couldn't stop the hurt.
Before I was a mom, I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
Before I was a mom, I never got gloriously happy over a toothless grin.
Before I was a mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never was up in the wee hours of the night just watching a baby while it slept. I never knew that something so small couldn't effect my life so tremendously.
Before I was a mom, I never knew I could love someone so unconditionally and completely.
Before I was a mom, I never knew how satisfying it is to feed a hungry
child. I never knew how fulfilling it is to soothe a baby's cries.
Before I was a mom, I loved my mom, but didn't understand her.
Before I was a mom, I never knew the warmth, the joy, the heartache, the
wonderment, or the fulfillment of being a mom.
Before I was a mom, I never knew I would love being a mom."
- Sharon L. Twitchell
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Where is President Obama? Kenosha wants to know.
Where is President Obama when Kenosha needs him?
As I pointed out the other day, not only is Chrysler taking a beating, but so is the President. After all, he is allowing American jobs to go to Mexico.
Finally, Obama's role in this is getting some real attention.
As pointed out in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about a half hour ago:
Feingold suggested Kenosha's fate is at odds with Obama's rhetoric about ending government incentives to move jobs abroad.
Obama, he said, has emphasized "not using the tax code to outsource jobs. This whole idea of helping these companies had to do with keeping jobs in the United States."
President Obama's political rhetoric does not match his actions.
The Obama administration knew in February that Chrysler planned on closing the US factories and that US autoworker jobs would be sent to Mexico. The administration did not lift one finger or make any effort to save American jobs.
The Kenosha's current and retired auto workers may have already outlived their usefulness to President Obama, because he no longer needs their campaign donations, but they have not outlived their usefulness to those of us that love the citizens of the city of Kenosha.
Kenosha needs these jobs!
Thursday, May 07, 2009
The Obama Adminstration knew of the Kenosha Engine plant closing in February
Kenosha was sold out by the Obama Administration working in concert with Chrysler. According to many of those involved, including Chrysler, all now agree that the Obama administration was well aware that the Kenosha Chrysler plant was closing and jobs would be increased in Mexico.
In a statement, the company said it envisioned the closings in February in a viability plan submitted to the Obama administration's auto industry task force.
It is not just Republican Congressman Paul Ryan making this assertion, but so is Governor Doyle and Chrysler.
Congressman Paul Ryan states:
"They gave us assurances that (a Kenosha shutdown) was not the case - both the administration and the company," Ryan said.
If the plant closings were envisioned as part of the February viability plan, Ryan added, "Then they should have told us on Wednesday and Thursday that this wasn't happening. If they knew the truth, they should have told us the truth. It's just that simple."
The timeline so far seems to be this:
Chrysler submitted a plan on restructuring as required by President Obama back in February. At that time that plans were already in the works to close the Kenosha engine plant.
Wednesday, April 29th in the evening, Congressman Paul Ryan spoke with the Obama administration and Chrysler execs, he was reassured that the Kenosha Chyrsler plant was not going to close, less than 36 hours later, Congressman Ryan was informed that this was not really the case.
Thursday, April 30, Governor Jim Doyle was also assured that the Kenosha Engine Plant was fine. 24 hours later, he received the same call that Congressman Ryan received. Uh-oh, bad news.
It was not until the official bankruptcy paperwork was filed in court that the Congressman, the Governor, the UAW, the Kenosha workers and every elected official in Kenosha found out about this.
Republicans and Democrats, union and non-union workers, liberals and conservatives, our Democrat governor and our Republican congressman all agree that this notification was a despicable way to inform the city of Kenosha that the engine plant was closing.
I disagree with many things the Democrats do, but on this issue, everyone in Kenosha stands united. We needed those jobs and this will devastate Kenosha for a period of time.
Sure we will recover, but we will be smarter as we move forward.
We expected Chrysler to lie to us, they have done it before, but our new President and his staff should be ashamed of themselves. President Obama promised hope and change, this is not the person America elected.
After all the beatings that President Bush took from the unions over jobs going overseas, President Obama has proven himself to be exactly like President Bush by sending American jobs in Kenosha to Mexico.
President Obama will pander to whomever at whatever moment he chooses. With this stunt, clearly the American workers are not at the top of his list.
We have been told that the automakers would be better off if they just went into bankruptcy, they would be able come back bigger and stronger than ever before. Clearly Kenosha will not be part of the bigger and stronger auto industry. Like every other American our TARP tax dollars will be used to benefit the Mexican job market.
We got screwed.
I would like to find out exactly who knew what and when did they know it? Was Larry Summers involved in this? Who handled this for the Obama administration?
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
No take backs!
This message is intended for Senator Arlen Specter. After giving the GOP the lovely gift of departing the party, there are absolutely no take backs of this gift.
This comes in response to all of the media attention you were richly rewarded with after leaving the GOP. President Obama promised his full support and promised to campaign for you. Harry Reid promised you would keep your seniority in the committees, even hinting at chairmanships.
Apparently the Democrats in the Senate are not actually buying this garbage. From WaPo
The Senate dealt a blow tonight to Sen. Arlen Specter's hold on seniority in several key committees, a week after the Pennsylvanian's party switch placed Democrats on the precipice of a 60-seat majority.
In a unanimous voice vote, the Senate approved a resolution that added Specter to the Democratic side of the dais on the five committees on which he serves, an expected move that gives Democrats larger margins on key panels such as Judiciary and Appropriations.
But Democrats placed Specter in one of the two most junior slots on each of the five committees for the remainder of this Congress, which goes through December 2010. Democrats have suggested that they will consider revisiting Specter's seniority claim at the committee level only after the midterm elections next year.
This was not a sideways move as Specter expected to happen. Instead, Specter was demoted to rookie status.
So on behalf of conservatives elsewhere, I officially declare "no take backs". We do not want you back.
Try the Green Party- maybe they will have you.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Another day, Another $94.2 Billion
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives will seek passage in coming weeks of $94.2 billion in emergency money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other programs, including $2 billion more to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, outlining the legislation for reporters, also said the legislation would include $2.2 billion to fund some C-17 airplanes for the Pentagon. But it will not address future purchases of a refueling tanker airplane sought by the Air Force.
Obey said $80 million to close the U.S. prison in Guantanamo, Cuba, would not be included in the bill because no details were provided by the administration on how that move would be carried out.
Last month, President Barack Obama asked Congress to give him $83.4 billion more to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is hoping to use the money to begin phasing out combat operations in Iraq while building up U.S. forces in Afghanistan where al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are gaining strength.
I support Obama's decision for more money in Iraq and Afganistan. It is time to get the job finished. So I do not have a problem with Obama's request. I am a little curious as to why this is considered emergency funding instead of being included in the rest of the budget. This is another topic for another time.
What I do find odd is that President Obama only requested $83.4 billion and yet, Nanny Pelosi and her fellow Democrats are approving appoximately a $94.2 in emergency funds.
Where is that extra $10 billion going?
Monday, May 04, 2009
RPW Convention- Chairman Michael Steele
After watching Chairman Steele's speech, I am convinced more than ever that he is the right man for the job.
If you hang around politics enough, you hear hundreds of "rah! rah! rah! aren't republicans great speeches". You really get tired of hearing them.
We did not hear that from Chairman Steele this weekend.
Steele readily acknowledges that there is a problem and has renewed his commitment for fight for conservative principles.
Steele also acknowledges that he has infuriated many of the GOP establishment.
Good!
The reason the grassroots Republicans are so high on Chairman Steele is that we know that Steele will not cave to the old ways of doing business.
As you can clearly see from their whining, the old guard in the RNC are trying desperately hard to hang onto their power:
By contrast, Steele’s team tends to be made up of more recently elected
members of the committee, who don’t necessarily approach their roles with
similar reverence for RNC custom.
“I think that Priebus is new and most of the people that were co-authors of
the resolution have been around for awhile,” another RNC member said. “A lot of
the supporters of Chairman Steele are people who haven’t been on the committee
for a very long period of time.”
To the idiotic pathetic old guard of the RNC:
You failed Americans from coast to coast. You gambled with our future in order to hang on to your power. You destroyed our principles and sold out to the Democrat Party. The grassroots have had it with the Republican elitists. The good ole boys club in the RNC have lost their backbone to stand on their principles.
If the grassroots are left to decide between Michael Steele and the good ole boys who sacrificed out principles for their own personal power, the grassroots will choose Michael Steele.
I heard someone say this weekend(I am not sure who), that all of the old guard continues to talk about the "big tent" party. The problem comes in when even a tent needs solid posts to stand. Clearly the wishy washy Republicans that have run the RNC for the last 20 years are wishy washy with no principles.
Time to get rid of these guys that are protecting the status quo.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Chrysler death watch
I remember the joy that all Kenoshans felt the day Chrysler stepped in and bought American Motors. Kenosha had new life and a chance for every single current and retired employee of our automaking plant to breath a sigh of relief.
Of course, that sigh of relief did not last for long when a couple years later, the Chrysler engine plant in Kenosha was shut down. Over 5500 people lost their jobs. For a city our size, that is a gigantic hit. Chrysler head Lee Iacocca's name was a curse word here in Kenosha.
Slowly about 1200 people were hired back to the engine plant.
Over the years, we have watched these numbers drop. I am not exactly sure where we are at today, but I am told about 700 employees remain.
Well, here we sit again. Another day, another deadline, another sickening feeling in our stomach.
Even as I sit and type this, there are many families in Kenosha worried sick.
Yesterday, the UAW approved changes to the contracts. The change to the contracts meant that all retirees lost their dental and vision insurance.
The situation today is pretty fluid and I am certain the Kenosha News is keeping up.
A few moments ago I heard the White House has told Chrysler they will need to go into bankruptcy.
I am not sure what bankruptcy means for Kenosha Chrysler workers and retirees, but I will try to find out.
Updated: As I am sure everyone has heard, Chrysler is filing for bankruptcy, probably by the end of the day.
What does that mean for Kenosha?
I don't know and I will not guess.
Here is an article hinting at the future of Chrysler. It has some depressing stuff in it about the Kenosha plant. Be forewarned- reading this could cause depression.
Just keep in mind, we have been here so many times before. We have been on this death watch for a lot of years.
Say a prayer for all of Kenosha.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Barack's in the basement
(emphasis added)
Barack's in the basement
Obama is less popular than Nixon and Carter
President Obama's media cheerleaders are hailing how loved he is. But at the 100-day mark of his presidency, Mr. Obama is the second-least-popular president in 40 years.
According to Gallup's April survey, Americans have a lower approval of Mr. Obama at this point than all but one president since Gallup began tracking this in 1969. The only new president less popular was Bill Clinton, who got off to a notoriously bad start after trying to force homosexuals on the military and a federal raid in Waco, Texas, that killed 86. Mr. Obama's current approval rating of 56 percent is only one tick higher than the 55-percent approval Mr. Clinton had during those crises.
As the attached chart shows, five presidents rated higher than Mr. Obama after 100 days in office. Ronald Reagan topped the charts in April 1981 with 67 percent approval. Following the Gipper, in order of popularity, were: Jimmy Carter with 63 percent in 1977; George W. Bush with 62 percent in 2001; Richard Nixon with 61 percent in 1969; and George H.W. Bush with 58 percent in 1989.
It's no surprise the liberal media aren't anxious to point out that their darling is less popular than George W. Bush. But given the Gallup numbers, their hurrahs could be more subdued. USA Today's front page touted the April poll results as positive, with the headline: "Public thinks highly of Obama." The current cover of Newsweek magazine ponders "The Secret of His [Mr. Obama's] Success." The comparison with previous presidents is useful because they are usually popular during their first few months in office - and most presidents have been more popular than Mr. Obama.
The explanation for Mr. Obama's low approval is that he ran as a moderate but has governed from the far left. The fawning and self-deceiving press won't go there. On Sunday's "Meet the Press," host David Gregory asked a panel about critics who "would say one of the things that he's done in 100 days already is expand the role of government, the size of government." Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin claimed, "That's what he ran for the presidency in the first place for."
Perplexed about complaints over Mr. Obama's expansion of government, Newsweek editor Jon Meacham asked: "does no one listen during campaigns?"
It was these pundits who weren't paying attention during last year's campaign. In all three presidential debates, Mr. Obama promised to cut government spending and reduce the size of the deficit. He blamed the economic crisis on excessive deficits. At no time did candidate Barack Obama say that more deficit-spending was the solution.
Mr. Obama's popularity after 100 days is the second-lowest for a simple reason: He is more partisan and divisive than his predecessors - including Richard Nixon.
Liberals must be proud. He's less popular than George W. Bush who liberals like to say was the "Worst president. Ever."
What does that make Obama? "Worst president. Ever. REALLY!"
Only denied 4 times
This time it was not only a no vote, but an emphatic no vote.
April Special election
62.75% no
37.25% yes
Feb election
51.48% no
48.52% yes
As you can see, the school board is not making progress. In fact their support is moving backwards. Perhaps the voters are just starting to get mad. I do not know if I have seen it before, but it is very rare for special elections to bring out more voters than a primary election, but that happened this time. 2003 people voted yesterday, 1348 people voted in Feb.
Should we start taking bets?
8 chances before it passes
10 chances before it passes
What is your guess?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
What do liberals think of Specter's move
But if you look a little closer, you will see that the base is none too thrilled. Daily Kos and their extremist crowd are not exactly jumping for joy. Maybe Michael Steele's words are starting make an impact.
On the other hand, he was going to lose his primary and we'd easily pick up the seat against Toomey, giving us a real Democrat in that seat. Doesn't seem like a great deal.On another liberal website, TNR, it gets even worse. They are calling him an unprincipled hack.
When a politician switches parties, it’s customary for the party he’s abandoned to denounce him as an unprincipled hack, and the party he’s joined to praise him as a brave convert who’s genuinely seen the light. But I think it’s pretty clear that Specter is an unprincipled hack. If his best odds of keeping his Senate seat lay in joining the Communist party, he’d probably do that.
I love what one of the comments said:
Yes, but he's now OUR unprincipled hack.So even as the media is jumping for joy today, the real Dem party faithful are not fooled.
RNC chairman Michael Steele had this to say:
Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don't do it first."From the looks of things, there are already several candidates wanting to run in the Democrat primary.
Either way, the load is off the Republicans to carry this guy when he has betrayed the principles of our party. It is easy to say that he will betray the Democrat Party principles also.
Michael Steele on Arlen Specter party switch
Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele says good riddance to Arlen Specter -- a good spin, given the options.Are you kidding me?
"Let's be honest," Steele says in a statement. "Senator Specter didn't leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record.
"Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming
the Democrats don't do it first."
Pat Toomey, a very very conservative former congressman, seems to be
the current favorite for the Pennsylvania GOP nomination next year. Unclear whom
Steele is referring to as a potential Specter challenger in the primary.
I have gotten more excited emails over Specter leaving the GOP.
This news could not be any better for the GOP.
Bye, bye liberal
Of course the Dems already had the veto proof majority because Specter keep voting with the Democrats.
Although I was grateful for Specter's work getting Roberts and Alito confirmed, I have no support for him otherwise.
It was good to here that RNC chair, Michael Steele, was willing to follow the lead of the state parties and work to get Specter out of office.
Arlen Specter has behaved as a democrat for a long time, thank goodness none of my money will every make it into his campaign coffers.
Bye, bye Arlen
Government ignorance
I am not going to blame Obama, but this happened on his behalf. People that work for Obama looking for that perfect photo to compliment the President's administration. Proganda photos is what they were looking for.
In the meantime- there was panic on the streets of New York.
As Jay Weber said this morning, any 15 year old with Photoshop could have gotten the Adminstration a great photo.
In the meantime, how much did this photo op cost the American people.
I do not normally feel sorry for New Yorkers- but after this blithering idiot move by our own government, I do today.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Rep. Barney Frank Lies. Again!
If you're poor you probably can't afford a home.
I love how he re-writes history and blames conservatives for the housing bubble. Hey Barney! We conservatives don't think people who can't afford a home should have the banks forced to give them a loan! DEMOCRATS DO!
... will continue to push for home ownership.
So which one is it, Barney? Should the poor own homes or can they not afford them? Democrats believe both. Screw the hard-working middle class. They'll fund the bailouts.
How does he keep getting re-elected? Thank you Massachusetts for the housing crisis.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Rep. Dingell on Cap and Trade
Why am I not shocked that Al Gore not only supports a cap and trade tax but a carbon tax also.
For those who still do not understand what the Cap and Trade legislation will do to the American people, now is a good time to figure it out.
Even President Obama says it will be expensive.
Governor Palin on Obama's first 100 days
In today's New York Post entitled 100 Days, 100 Mistakes: Sarahcuda strikes again!
Obama soared to victory on the hopeful promise of a new era of bipartisanship. During his inaugural address he even promised an 'end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.'
Too bad it took all of three days for the promise to ring hollow.
Start with Obama's big meeting with top congressional leaders on his signature legislation -- the stimulus -- on the Friday after his inauguration. Listening to Republican concerns about overspending was a nice gesture -- until he shut down any hopes of real dialogue by crassly telling Republican leaders: 'I won.' Even the White House's leaking of the comment was a slap at the Republican leadership, who'd expected Obama to adhere to the custom of keeping private meetings with congressional leadership, well, private.
It's only gone downhill from there. The stimulus included zero Republican recommendations, and failed to get a single House Republican vote.
It's not just the tactic of using Republicans for bipartisan photo-ops, and then cutting them loose before partisan decisions, that irks Obama's opponents. The new president wasted no time rushing forward with policies and legislation guaranteed to drive Republicans nuts. The first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- a partisan hot-button that drew all of eight Republican supporters in the entire Congress. Then there was the swift reversal of Bush policies on abortion and embryonic-stem-cell research -- issues dear to the Republican base.
And when Obama and the Democrats in Congress took up SCHIP -- the children's health-insurance bill that Republicans say vastly expands government's role in health care -- they had an easy chance for real bipartisanship. After all, the bill had been hashed out in the previous Congress, and a bipartisan accord was reached before President Bush responded with a veto. Did the Obama team push for the compromise version in the 111th Congress? Nope. They went back to the drawing board, ramming through the Democrats' dream version.
Of course, the lack of bipartisanship isn't limited to Capitol Hill. Obama has taken gratuitous swipes at the Republicans who recently decamped Washington, blaming President Bush for everything from the economy and the war to the lack of sufficient puppies and rainbows. And who could forget the Rush Limbaugh flap -- in which Obama's top advisers, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, orchestrated a public relations campaign meant to undermine the Republican National Committee chairman, Michael Steele, by framing talk-radio personality Limbaugh as the real head of the Republican Party.
For now, Obama's back-pedal on the bipartisanship promise just makes him look insincere. But the real consequences of the mistake will be felt soon enough. As Presidents Bush and Clinton could tell him, congressional majorities do change -- and at some point, Obama will need Republicans on his side. He'd be smart to spend his second 100 days making up for the serious snubs of his first."
-- Sarah Palin is the governor of Alaska
My personal favorite statement:
Obama has taken gratuitous swipes at the Republicans who recently decamped Washington, blaming President Bush for everything from the economy and the war to the lack of sufficient puppies and rainbows.
Does anyone remember President Bush blaming everything on President Clinton. Sure pundits and commenters blamed President Clinton. But did you ever here President Bush blame Clinton for handing him a recession or making America less safe because Clinton did not have the courage to get Bin Laden when he could?
Just trying out a new Blogger feature
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Are Americans safe?
Last week, President Obama put partisan politics above the safety of Americans. President Obama released the classified interrogation practices of our CIA.
Easily this mistake has been the most crucial and possibly deadly decision of his young presidency.
Barack Obama is the president and he most certainly has the right to disagree with Bush administration and his advisors on what type of interrogation practices the CIA should adhere too. No doubt, the President has every right to not like the practices of the CIA and set new policies to change them. That debate and the changes should have taken place internally.
This information should have never taken place in the public eye. Doing so only emboldens our enemies and gives our enemies the inside information they need to plan and carry out attacks against the United States.
Now whether or not you believe that water boarding should be part of America’s arsenal of interrogation practices, we should be able to agree that making life easier on the enemies of the country is not a terrible bright thing to do.
Unfortunately, instead of privately making the changes that he desired, President Obama heeded the call of the extremists in his own party and decided that going after Bush administration individuals because of differences of opinion on what are expectable interrogation practices and what are not.
This decision was made based on partisan politics and was not based of what can be done to keep Americans safe.
See today’s Wall Street Journal.
This decision made by President Obama was meant to damage President Bush at the behest of his liberal friends. Our national security and the very safety of this country’s citizens are now in danger. Obama did it to make the left nutcases happy.
Don’t get me wrong, as citizens of this country, after 9/11, we all face some sort of danger anyway. It does not matter who is president, the success of the United States has created enormous enemies.
President Obama has made this country less safe and he did it for political reasons.
Media Bias: CNN Susan Roesgen
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Miss California: He made her famous
I heard the people at work talking about this a couple of days ago. They were talking about Perez Hilton trash talking Miss California.
Since I am totally clueless on the hip Hollywood world, I actually thought they were talking about Paris Hilton. The ladies at work set me straight. Apparently this Perez fellow fancies himself a maker and breaker of Hollywood careers.
Well, congratulations Perez! You just made a new hero.
Problem is, this new hero he created is a conservative woman. Carrie Prejean.
Quick! Answer this question: Who is the new Miss USA?
Until I saw this video, I had no clue either, but I sure know who took second place.
The more she speaks, it is clear that she is a strong smart conservative Christian woman.
She believes in no more bailouts, marriage is between a man and woman, God and country.
I too would like to say: Thank you, Perez!
As Hot Air says: She is one of us.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Massive Taxpayer Tea Party in Madison Wisconsin
Announcements were that there were over 5,000 people that attended.
Of course, the media is not giving any official numbers, but even the Milwaukee Journal stated that several thousand appeared to be in attendance. Officials refused to give a count, instead folks were referred to the Department of Administration. The very same Department of Administration run by liberal governor Jim Doyle and big spending buddies. Imagine that, they are refusing to give an estimate.
Our dear governor wasn't even in the state of Wisconsin at the time. The liberals that control both houses in the state scheduled committee meetings all day long so that they were not in their offices at the time of protesters showed up to deliver our tea bags. We delivered them anyway.
I got evidence. Folks were there with every skin color. Republican, Democrat and Independents- you name it, they were all there.
Saw a friend there that lives in Madison and he said that he could not believe it, but for once our capital city looked like the conservatives outnumbered the liberals.
Double click on photos to enlarge.
More pics to follow
Updated: Stories from around the state
Capital Times- Madison
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
TMJ4
Chicago Tribune
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Send President Obama a Virtual Tea Bag
If you cannot make it to a Tea Party tomorrow, still join in the fun and send a virtual tea bag to President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Go ahead and try it.
Prepping for the Tea Party
Everybody is prepping for the big gig all across the country.
Keep in mind, fellow exasperated taxpayers, the media is prepping too.
They are already writing their stories.
If we have 5000 people at the Taxpayer Tea Party, the media will claim only 2500 showed up.
The media will make a bee line for every single whacky person in the crowd. Of course, that whacky person will have something stupid to say and it will be all over the national news.
Keep in mind, the media wants to paint us as radical and racists for opposing the massive spending and tax increases.
Don't worry about signing up, just show up. However, if you want to take a bus, you will have to register here.
Here are the details (Notice that our Congressman, Paul Ryan has been added to the list)
What: Tea Party - Taxpayer Rally
Date: April 15th, 2009
Where: Wisconsin State Capitol - King Street Madison, WI
When:11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Speakers: The Rock Star of Radio - Vicki McKenna
The Honorable Paul Ryan - Member of Congress
Americans for Prosperity State Director - Mark Block
WTAQ Radio- Green Bay - Jerry Bader
WSAU Radio- Wausau- Pat Snyder
Milwaukee God Squad- Pastor David King
Chairman State GOP- Reince Priebus
Hunters Alliance (HARC) - Tony Ungerer
Wisconsin Family Action - Julaine Appling
Madison Area High School - Melika Willoughby
Additional Comments from Dave Ross, Mayor of Superior, Matt Harter,Mayor-Elect of LaCrosse, Ed Thompson, Mayor of Tomah and Sean Duffy, District Attorney, Ashland County
Hey- I will be there too.
If you are interested in having your own signs printed, go to this site. You can take them to Office Max and it normally takes a few minutes.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sarah Palin's Romper Room
I have never seen such a sniveling bunch of brats that need someone to hold their hands so they can get their jobs done.
As of right now, the sniveling legislators have managed to pass only 9 of 419 bills this year and there is only one week left in the legislative session. NINE, that is it!
There is even a legislator that complained that the Governor and Piper don't bring them bagels anymore.
Here are few more good ones.
One legislator wrote a bill on parental consent when it comes to abortion, which Palin supports. The legislator who wrote the bill is complaining that when the bill was in committee, no one from Palin's office went to the committee meeting to answer questions. Huh? You wrote the bill, dude and you expect the governor to show up and answer the questions. You answer the questions! You wrote the bill for heaven's sake!
Another good one. The head state senator is the legislature is having difficulty deciding what to do with the stimulus money. He is not sure what to do because he cannot get an answer on whether Palin will veto his bills:
Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said it has been difficult to deal with state acceptance of federal stimulus money, because legislators can't get answers about whether Palin will veto budgets that include stimulus money.
Seriously dude, do your job. Do what you think is best for the state of Alaska. If Palin vetoes it, then fight to overcome the veto, if you are truly following the will of the people of Alaska. (Actually, I can see why the senator does not want to pass the stimulus money, the folks in Alaska are not really happy about it. He knows that the people of Alaska are fiscal conservatives and are backing the governor on this one.)
This fellow must take the cake. Whining and sniveling like a 5 year old because Mommy is leaving them with a baby sitter for 36 hours:
"There are some concerns (in the Capitol) about the focus of our chief executive because she's taken a speaking engagement in Indiana for a 36-hour period with only 72 hours left in the legislative session," Ramras said.
Turns out this particular state representative in Alaska, has a horrible attendance record, as highlighted here at Conservatives 4 Palin.
Of course, each and every single one of these guys complaining are Republican legislators. Governor Palin, of course, is not a legislator and yet they are complaining that she will miss a day this week of the LEGISLATIVE SESSION. Good grief.
I remember once the Governor stated that dealing with the state legislators is like babysitting.
Apparently the governor has decided to give up manning the Romper Room and decided to let these goofballs answer for their own actions.
Well, the end of the legislative session is near and these legislators are looking to blame the Governor for their own legislative failures.
Of course, the media has Palin Derangement Syndrome and the legislators may actually get away with not doing their jobs when it comes to the media.
But in a few days these legislators are going to have to go home and face their constituents having completely failed to do their jobs. Will their constituents allow them to get away with this excuse? Perhaps a few of them will, but the people of Alaska are a lot smarter than this. Even with the constant blasting at Governor Palin, she has a 60% approval rating. Clearly the people of Alaska are not buying this drivel and sniveling from the state legislators.
Can you imagine if this happened in Wisconsin or any other state? The state legislators, both Republican or Democrat, would be laughed out of office for behaving like children.
I got a kick out of one of the comments I read this morning at Hot Air. Someone said that Governor Palin not only has to change Trig's diapers, but the diapers of her state legislators also.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
President Obama's bow: It is the lying that is the problem
I know that President Bush did it too, and he got creamed for it. As well he should have been creamed for it. No American President should be bowing to anyone, ever.
What amazes me is that the Obama administration is blatantly lying to the American people. How can you insist that he did not bow? We can clearly see that he did bow. Hey America, don't believe your lying eyes!
How is it that you would treat the American people with so little respect and treat them as if they are ignorant by denying what everyone can clearly see with their own eyes?
It is disrespectful to do this to the American people.
This issue would simply be over if the Obama administration has just simply said that "yes, he bowed to a Saudi and he should not have". Everyone would have moved on by now. Lying just makes it worse and the problem continue.
The Obama administration just needs stop lying to the American people, admit he screwed up, so we can all move on.
Edited to add:
My bad, Michelle Malkin is setting all of us right wingers straight. President Obama was not actually bowing he has just gotten into the latest dance craze. The new move is called "the Hunch of Hope".
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Updated: Hillbilly from Wasilla vs. Harvard Law School Genius
According to the media, on the opposite end of the genius spectrum is our President. Harvard Law Man, Law Professor at Columbia and all around genius is what we were told America needed. Of course President Obama will keep Americans safe; after all, he graduated from Harvard Law School!
Our new President stood regally in front of tens of thousands in Prague; he proudly proclaimed that he would end nuclear proliferation. In the meantime, a tiny little man standing in a third world country where his own people are starving and begging for help; manages to fire off a rocket that can make it all the way to the state of Alaska. Of course, the rocket did not make it too Alaska. The booster only made it to stage two before falling harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean. How many times can we count on the North Koreans failing? Eventually they are going to get it right.
Of course, President Obama, rattled his saber and told the North Koreans in no uncertain terms that they were not to launch that rocket.
"Rules must be binding," the president told his audience in Prague on Sunday. "Violations must be punished. Words must mean something."
So what did President Obama’s threatening words mean? Nothing.
He turned the decision making of our country over to the UN to make a decision on the violation. The UN, of course, plans on doing nothing. One of those standing in the way of doing anything as a UN council is Russia.
America and our new President look foolish. Clearly words mean nothing to Kim Jong Il.
Now, on to the “Hillbilly from Wasilla”. After hearing the reaction of our new President and then watching the new administration promptly go out and cut missile defense spending the day after this incident, Governor Sarah Palin clearly was not impressed.
“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” Governor Palin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect the global missile defense network. Alaska’s strategic location and the system in place here have proven invaluable in defending the nation.”
Governor Palin stressed the importance of Fort Greely and the need for continued funding for the Missile Defense Agency. The governor is firmly against U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency. Greely’s isolated location in Alaska as well as its strategic location in the Pacific allows for maximum security and development of the country’s only ground-based missile defense complex.
Even the “Hillbilly from Wasilla” recognized that our reaction, cutting defense spending, the day after this incident was probably not the brightest move by the current administration.
The “Hillbilly from Wasilla” probably should have just recognized that the President is busy right now. Why worry about the safety of Alaskans or the rest of America when you are in the middle of a coronation tour with Europe?
As if Governor Palin does not have it bad enough, this is not the only hit our missile defense problem that President Obama has created for the state of Alaska.
Remember the lovely stimulus package that Palin is currently fighting with the administration over, well there have been more shots taken at Alaska’s ability to not only protect its shores but the shores of their fellow Americans.
Governor Palin requested stimulus funds to upgrade the Kodiak Launch Site. This is the infrastructure spending that the President requested. This is a shovel ready project that creates jobs and improves the defense of Alaska and America.
President Obama’s administration denied the funds for this stimulus project.
For some reason, the Harvard Law School Genius seems to believe that lining the pockets of ACORN in order to get himself re-elected is more important that investing in the safety of every single American.
It sure seems that the “Hillbilly from Wasilla” is smart enough to recognize that the safety of America’s citizens is the biggest priority any administration should have. Apparently, the Harvard Law School Genius has not picked up on that yet.
But, hey media…you got your Harvard Law School Genius elected…but do you feel safe?
No?
Perhaps the “Hillbilly from Wasilla” is not quite the hillbilly you made her out to be.
Updated: As if right on queue, Governor Palin released this statement today:
“Your announcement of a proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency’s budget is not the best decision for today’s threat environment. Alaska is committed to supporting continued missile defense implementation at Fort Greely and the development of future technology through our Kodiak Launch Complex, which has access to the Gulf of Alaska Maritime Exercise Area. This unique training space offers a safe and secure location to further develop and test future missile intercept technologies in conjunction with the latest sea-based and land-based radar.
“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program. It has the clear potential of impacting Alaska, Hawaii, and possibly the West Coast, with a nuclear-armed warhead. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect our global missile defense shield.”
Here is a copy of the letter sent to Secretary Gates.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I would have launched one up his keister
Let me get this straight, a guy, born in Turkey, now a Canadian citizen, steals a plane in Canada from a flight school, flies into US airspace, refuses to make any sort of radio contact, even when visual contact was made, the pilot still refused to land, continues to fly around the US through 6 different and we did not plant one up this guy's keister???
Sorry folks, I got wound up listening to Jay Weber this morning.
We have no idea what this guy's intentions were. Our military had the opportunity to take this guy out over any number of empty corn fields and they did not.
There are so many reasons to bring this plane down, starting with 9/11. What if he was carrying a plane load of chemical weapons? I know that someone mentioned anthrax on the radio show, but it could be much worse than that. Our state capital shut down yesterday because no one had a clue what this guy was doing.
Even if this guy did avoid making any movement towards highly populated areas, he could have actually done more damage just by crash landing in Lake Michigan fully loaded with chemicals. This is the water we live off of in this state. (Michigan, Illinois and Ohio also live off of this water) How much water is sucked into our water filtration plants before the water is recognized as contaminated? Severely contaminating our water supply is a great way to launch a chemical war against America. Hey, since he didn't make any threatening moves toward a highly populated area, everything must be cool, right?
Can you imagine? The terrorists were watching this entire scene. If this was not meant as a dry run for terrorism(man caused disasters), it turned into one anyway.
Turns out the guys was suicidal who was attempting to get himself shot down...I would have obliged him.
Monday, April 06, 2009
We the people are taking our nation back
Taxday TEA Party:
Tax
Enough
Already
Sign up here and find a bus to the rally
http://www.fightbackwisconsin.com/Feedback.php
I know you are waiting patiently
As always, the funding is the great sticking point. We will get it hashed out.
I have received so many phone calls. Thanks everyone, hang in there.
Here is today's story in the Kenosha News.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
"Yes, we can" turns to "No, we cannot"
For years, Americans blamed Bush for our lack of international support in any venture. Hopefully Americans will slowly come to the realization that President Bush was not necessarily the problem when it came to the world community.
The protests that so many said were against George Bush, are continuing with President Obama in charge. They are just as violent as ever.
Sure, there are still plenty of world leaders that want their pictures taken with President Obama, but as far as going beyond that, few countries are showing any real support. The world leaders has their pictures taken with President Bush also.
Certainly a couple of countries have promised a few dozen soldiers here and there for training purposes. Even though President Obama thinks that the Afghan war is a justifiably war, the world does not think this to be true. The world also sent a few troops to fight in Iraq also.
I support President Obama's idea of sending more troops into Afghanistan to try and root out the thugs that threaten our freedom, just like I supported President Bush in Iraq. Clearly, after what has happened in the last several days, President Obama will be "going it alone" when it comes to Afghanistan.
A few countries have promised some money, but only a trillion dollars has been promised worldwide. As a nation, we have already dumped a trillion dollars into the markets and we are still in trouble. We are fooling ourselves if we think another trillion dollars will correct all of the problems WORLDWIDE.
Our problem was not President Bush, as we can clearly see now. I do not blame President Obama for the world hating us, even though the lefties blamed President Bush.
The world hates our freedom. With freedom comes responsibility. It is the personal responsibilities that these people do not like. Too many people in the world are willing to hand over their responsibilities, by extension their freedom, to their governments.
Changing the name in the Oval Office has not really changed the world's opinion of us. For some reason, the liberals believed that this was an important priority during the last election.
The question is whether or not President Obama will coware in fear to those that hate us. Will President Obama go along to get along?
Will President Obama take away our freedom to protect us from our responsibilities?
So far, it appears that President Obama has no problem taking our freedoms and our responsibilities. He seems to be willing to cave to world opinion about him. That is sad.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Which Supreme Court Justice are you?
Your result for Which Supreme Court Justice Are You Test...
You are Chief Justice John Roberts
You agreed with Roberts 83% of the time.
Final results:
Chief Justice Roberts 83%
Justice Alito 82%
Justice Scalia 79%
Justice Thomas 76%
Justice Kennedy 62%
Justice Breyer 35%
Justice Ginsburg 27%
Justice Souter 26%
Justice Stevens 26%
Er, President Obama speaks
There is definitely some mocking taking place:
Barack Obama, the World's Greatest Orator (™all news organisations), didn't exactly cover himself in glory when the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson asked him a question about who was to blame for the financial crisis. Normally word perfect, Obama ummed, ahed and waffled for the best part of two and a half minutes. Here, John Crace decodes what he was really thinking ...
Americans are quickly becoming aware of our new President's um's and er's. President Obama is full of the um's and the er's when he is attempting to BS his way through a press conference.
I do find in rather interesting that the um's and the er's virtually disappear when President Obama is blaming and apologizing for all of his fellow Americans for all of the world's problems.
President Obama said the US had “failed to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world”.
His speech in Strasbourg went further than any United States president in history in criticising his own country’s action while standing on foreign soil.
Then President Obama proceeds to blame Europe for being mean to Americans or something like that.
Amazingly, the Europeans have not only slapped him away as far as pumping trillions of dollars into failing US economies, but they also slapped him away as far as getting more fighting troops into Afganistan.
The American media are so busy praising Obama for his "tough love" that they have not recognized that President Obama got zero help on this trip to Europe on anything.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Senate Republicans vote against Obama's budget
Not a single Republican voted for the monstrocity of a budget.
There might even be a few Republicans that have been scared to the straight and narrow path.
The package was approved on a 55-43 vote. GOP Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine -- who voted in favor
of the president's stimulus bill last month -- voted against what is essentially the blueprint of Obama's economic policies going forward.
CNN
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Oops they did it again...
Still the massive debt increasing, freedom stealing, lefty extreme loving budget passed.
The House version of the budget passed by a margin of 233-196 in a virtual party-line vote. All but 20 House Democrats supported it; no House Republican voted in favor.
In London, England, where he has been attending the Group of 20 summit, President Obama lauded the House vote.
"Tonight, the House of Representatives took another step toward rebuilding our struggling economy," he said in a statement.
Okay, conservatives, tell me you are not laughing at President Obama's statement. We are rebuilding our economy by spending trillions of dollars we do not have????
Blago indicted
Disgraced Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is on a resort vacation in Florida, was indicted today on a host of federal corruption charges dating back to 2002 even before he was sworn in as governor.
Several aides were also charged in the 75-page indictment filed late Thursday afternoon in federal court.
I guess that I am surprised that so many people went down at one time.
I wonder how and if this affects Senator Burris?
Robert Blagojevich was the person that Senator Burris was contacted by in the selling of Obama's seat.
I wonder how this affects President Obama?
Funny how these indictments drag Tony Rezko back into the mix. The same Tony Rezko that helped Obama purchase his home.
There were several new allegations, including:
That Blagojevich, Monk, Kelly and previously convicted Blagojevich associate Tony Rezko agreed to use the governor's office for financial gain and would spilt the proceeds after Blagojevich left office. They agreed to a scheme in which they would split fees after directing state pension business to a certain company whose lobbyists agreed to pay Rezko for the business. Rezko then agreed to split the fees with the group
Endorsement of Rose Fernandez
If you think the school systems in Wisconsin are just fine than vote for Tony Evers, if you want to see someone shake things up and work to improve our children's education, then vote for Rose Fernandez:
Kenosha News:
The office of Superintendent of Public Instruction probably doesn’t make much difference in the day to day life of many people, including students and teachers.
But the right candidate, a candidate who is willing to ruffle feathers and willing to say that the state needs to improve its educational performance might make a difference.
We think that candidate is Rose Fernandez.
She is the “conservative” candidate in this year’s contest, but we think she has some appeal for voters who usually don’t lean that way. Her stance on the state’s school funding formula, for example, is that the formula should continue to offer a strong equalization component so educational opportunities are not dependent so much on the wealth of the community where a school is located. She also thinks the state should continue to offer a high level of support to local schools so property taxpayers are not overburdened.If elected, she would automatically be a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, and she said she will push for a tuition freeze at the University of
Wisconsin System for the four years of her term.
Fernandez, 51, is a pediatric nurse by profession. She became involved in educational policy as the leader of a coalition of parents interested in virtual schools. Last year she helped push through legislation that kept the state’s virtual schools open. Among her priorities are charter schools and merit pay for teachers.
The other candidate, Tony Evers, 57, is currently the deputy secretary. He’s a sincere, competent man who will keep the Department of Public Instruction on a steady course. He is a career educator, one who is proud of Wisconsin’s educational legacy. He believes that education is the foundation of democracy and the driver of the state’s economic engine.
We have no quarrel with those ideas, and if you think public education in Wisconsin is on the right path, Evers is probably the candidate to support. If you think, as we do, that public education is in danger of slipping in quality, then this is a good time
to vote for an outsider to lead the Department of Public Instruction.
We think that the steady course the DPI has been on isn’t good enough. We recommend a vote for Rose Fernandez for superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. She has shown some political skill and from the position of state
superintendent, she may be able to push for some significant improvements in
public education.
