SarahB and Wisconsinheat - thanks on both counts - I think you are right Wisconsinheat -I got the blogs mixed up - too much typing late at night :). Thanks also to SarahB on the CDC national stats. Very interesting...I was thinking more locally of what I am seeing anecdotally right here in the stateline area (boom of Hispanic teen births).

Hey, fedupfreddy: You are correct that teen-age pregnancy rates are climbing. But you and some others might be surprised to read the following: In December (2007), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a preliminary report showing that the national birth rate among teenagers 15 to 19 rose 3 percent in 2006 -- the first such increase in 14 years.

This means about 20,834 more babies were born to teenage girls.

The largest increases in teen births are among non-Hispanic black teens, whose overall rate rose 5 percent in 2006. The rate rose 2 percent for Hispanic teens, 3 percent for non-Hispanic white teens and 4 percent for American Indian or Alaska Native teens.

Sorry for the interruption, folks. Please return to the topic of conversation. Thanks.

fedupfreddy; I think you got your blogs mixed up. Those posts are still up in the ORIGINAL blog.

JanesvilleComments - it looks like your comment on halting illegal immigration, etc, was removed. My response to you was removed as well because I referenced a comment you made regarding how those at the border should be handled. The word referenced using fire arms to manage criminals at the border. My point was that you were right on track about halting illegal immigration and I agreed with everything you said. Illegal immigration is one of the biggest issues we face (along with taxes and the war and economy, I realize) and if we don't have a president and congress and senate who manage it now, we and our kids will be dealing with it for years to come. One out of MANY examples - just think about how long you or someone you know has had to wait in an ER lately - why? Because illegals use the ER as their primary method of medical care. As an RN, this is something I see firsthand and it's not pretty- our society's resources are already over-burdened and getting worse. Teen pregnancy rates are rising - guess why. Illegal immigrants are one of the #1 reasons. Washington, is ANYONE listening???

Do you people seriously believe that Obama, or any of the other major candidates actually pick and choose where they make campaign appearances?
That's what their campaign stragetists are for. I'm sure it's all figured out by someone analyzing the polls and numbers behind the scene, trying to figure out where appearances would have the most effect.

For everyone that's whining that they won't be able see Obaman tomorrow, why didn't you get in your cars and drive 35 miles to Madison like I did tonight. Contrary to what some people on this blog might think, they did actually let people from Janesville into the Kohl Center. I know, I was surprised myself but I did get in and I even got to listen to the whole speech. What a great country we live in.

I think Obama chose the plant to put a "lock" on campaign contributions. Hillary's hurting for cash and if he can forestall the union donating more money to her before the primaries are done, it is well worth his time. He counts coup in the press and racks up another obligatory "Killroy Was Here" visit statistic. Anyone know if 1 candidate visit is equal to 2 candidate's relatives visits?

I, too, wish Obama had scheduled time to speak to the general public while in Janesville. However, I think all the negativity toward GM workers should be held off for now. In light of today's GM announcement regarding buyouts being offered to all workers and the company planning to bring in new workers at $14/hour, I think the Janesville-Beloit area will suffer greatly in the end. I do not work at GM and my relatives do not work there. However, I would like to hear Obama's take on what this means for other working Americans, the unions and our economy overall. I think it is a sad day for the American worker.

It looks like Janesville as a whole are whiners. I work at GM and even I don't get to see him. I have to work. They are only letting the BIG SHOTS see him, and giving him a very short tour of our plant, so you can quit whining bout his appearance at the General Motors plant and the employees getting paid to see him. When he arrives, they are NOT going to stop the line, we will be working!! I wish they would hold it somewhere else and at a different time also so I could see him too.

I really was looking forward to Mr.Obama coming to Wisconsin, and Janesville no less. Then I find out he's going to speak to GM workers. Umm,I don't work for GM, and I certainly don't make the wages they make, so if I want to hear what he has to say I will take off work,and travel to Waukesha (at $2.89 a gal)to hear what Mr. Obama has to say...I thought things were going to be different this election..However, it looks like the same ol' same ol'...

Well this goes to show you Sheridan is looking after the only people he cares about the G.M Employee. Bring Obama to the heart of Janesville and let the real workers let him know what is going on. Middle to Low class who know what it feels like living check to check.

If you get paid to go see him will his campaign committee pay the bill to let you? A captive audience will be what he gets if he goes to GM to speak.
A better venue would be him going to the Janesville Mall?

If the employees of General Motors want to leave their job on the line to see Mr. Obama, do they still get paid? If I wanted to see him, I would have to do it on my time. Let's bring Mr. Obama to a place where anyone could go to see him, OH, someone with a different view point may show up.

All they promise is NOT free. All they promise takes away more of your money and freedom.

what do you mean?

Just remember when Obama or Hillary
promises you the world in order to take care of you womb to the tomb - look for the bill to pay for it all to come later.

I believe what OVERTHEHILL is by 110%. I liked Bill as our president but hillary is crazy!! Barack Obama will be the best thing that has happened to this country in at least 20 years dont you think? and the whole immagration thing the person who said it went way too far.. how do you think our country came to be?? and i think we should work to keep illeagals out of the country but when people talk about a 20 foot wall across the boarder? you sound stupid.

of course he will go to THE plant! UAW always votes with it's pocketbook. they never consider positions on important issues i.e. terrorist's desire to kill americans and create havoc in the world. come on unionist! hammer him about illegal immigration. take a d*** stand AGAINST it. let him know....no more illegals and get rid of the ones here now!!!!!!! or, maybe you are sooooo self centered on your almighty dollar that you would let the country fall apart as long as you get your pay raises......close THE plant?! hmmmm.

Hillary!!!!!!!Yikes, when I hear so many people voting for her, I get just crazy. Do any of these people remember the eight years THE CLINTONS were in the White House and the scuttlebut that went on around them and so do they really want four more years of that????? In addition, these people are crooks, and far too entrenched in politics to be able to do any good. Obama is the only hope to bring some freshness to America when we really need it, maybe there will be a chance we can breathe fresh air again instead of the same old stale political air that we have been breathing for the last HOW many years of Bush, Clinton, Bush!!!!!

where is monica's ex-boyfriends wife anyway?? She should be in Wisconsin alot more

What I want to know is, where's Hillary? Why doesn't she think Jville is cool enough???

GM is not even the largest employer in Janesville (that goes to Mercy Health Systems), but they probably have the most concentration of Union workers in one place (as blackirish stated). A Union endorsement would be important.

Just shut down the plant already. I am tired of the "Plant" employees being more important then the rest of us. How about Doctors Nurses, Welders Shop owners been seen as important in this town once in awhile. Janesville's pop in 66K and change. there are 2500 people working at the plant. This is NOT a majority

There are now three separate announcements that he is coming. Couldn't the initial announcement just be updated when more details come in?

TLZ--I'm nonplussed that he won't be speaking in a public forum in Janesville, but can you honestly not understand why he's going to the plant? To imply that the candidates' intention is to say that nobody else's votes besides the plantworkers' votes matters is ignorant. Prez candidates can't be everywhere at once, nor do they have the time to go door to door to meet and greet every US voter. I sure wish I could get up to Madison tonight, and be guaranteed a seat at the Kohl Center. Wouldn't it be nice for the candidate to speak at two or three different times at the same place so that everyone who wants to see him or her is able to?

This seems fair since the only people that matter in Janesville are the plant people.There is a larger population to consider who also vote who work at other business's believe it or not.

I wish he would talk in front of the general public!

what if the general public wants to see him???