Democrats line up to challenge Ryan
Photo
Paulette Garin, Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District, talks at a listening session at the Janesville Senior Center.
Age: 46.
Hometown: Kenosha.
Elected offices: None.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in music, bachelor’s in business administration and accounting, master’s in education in curriculum and instruction.
Photo
Michael Herbert, Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District.
Age: 51.
Hometown: Kenosha.
Elected offices: None, finished second in 1st Congressional District Democratic Party primary in 2006.
Education: Graduate of Tremper High School in Kenosha.
Photo
Marge Krupp waves to attendees of the Labor Day Parade in Janesville, Wis. Krupp is a Democratic candidate running for U.S. Congress in Wisconsin’s 1st District challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Paul Ryan.
Age: 52.
Hometown: Pleasant Prairie.
Elected offices: None.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemical process engineering, master’s in business administration.
Three Democrats—Paulette Garin, Mike Hebert and Marge Krupp—are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Rep. Paul Ryan for his 1st Congressional District seat in the general election in November.
The primary election is Tuesday.
Paulette Garin
Paulette Garin says she would have no problem being like Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold and casting the lone vote in Congress against a law or program she disagreed with.
During a listening session in Janesville, Garin—a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District—was asked about the Patriot Act, which vastly broadened the government’s power to investigate people for the sake of anti-terrorism.
Feingold was the only senator to vote against the law.
“This is one place where I agree 100 percent with Sen. Feingold … and his lonesome one-vote,” Garin said, adding that she would be comfortable in the spotlight that casting such a singular vote would focus on her.
“I’m the one who’s never been afraid to say the emperor is naked,” she said. “At the end of the day, you have to go home and live with yourself.”
Garin is a fourth-generation Kenosha resident.
An only child, Garin’s father was treasurer of United Auto Workers Local 72 there.
Garin, 46 and single, is a political newcomer, making her first run for public office after, by her description, “running small businesses for over 20 years.”
Garin has no local government experience. She taught music in schools and privately, worked as a corporate marketing director and served as associate director of a non-profit organization in New Mexico.
Many Democrats have tried to unseat Rep. Paul Ryan of Janesville, a well-funded, five-term incumbent seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. Political observers regularly describe running against Ryan as Don Quixote jousting with windmills.
“I don’t chase windmills,” Garin said firmly.
“Who is the unifying force of the 1st Congressional District?” she said. “It’s me. I know all these people. I’m cross-pollinating across the Democratic Party.
“It’s basic networking. You have to keep the herd together. You have to communicate.”
As with the other Democratic candidates, Garin has no financial support from the national Democratic Party. But she said she was told by 1st District Democrats “to get through the primary. Then the money will come.”
“I’m running a grassroots campaign,” she said. “I’m optimistic.”
When she’s out gathering signatures and knocking on doors, she said, the constituent comments she hears convince her that Ryan is a “polarizing figure. There’s not a lot of giving with him.”
Asked how she would counter the probable political charge that she is a “tax-and-spend” Democrat, Garin said she would tell Ryan: “You have gone and approved a credit-car war (in Iraq) that our children and grandchildren will have top pay for.”
Garin pointed to her accomplishments as separating her from her Democratic opponents:
“I grew up one house away from the city landfill in Kenosha and went on to earn three degrees including a CPA.”
Mike Hebert
Mike Hebert says he learned a lot growing up as the middle of three brothers.
“I learned patience—to be patient with my younger brother—and I learned standing up (to challenges) in fights with my older brother,” Hebert said.
Hebert has a big challenge ahead of him now—emerging from a field of three candidates in the primary election Tuesday as the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.
If he surmounts that obstacle, a bigger challenge lies ahead: defeating Rep. Paul Ryan—a five-term Republican incumbent from Janesville—in the general election in November.
“I will be standing up for the middle working class, people that are out there working and struggling to make ends meet,” said Hebert, a high school graduate.
He took a leave of absence from his factory job at Ocean Spray Cranberry to campaign, and he said:
“I’m using my own money. I’m putting my money where my mouth is.”
Though Hebert said he plans to spend less than $5,000 on the primary, he stressed: “We’re in it to win.”
He acknowledged that running a campaign on a shoestring is an “uphill struggle,” but Hebert said he’s waging a “Proxmire-style campaign: Walk, talk and handshake.”
He was referring to the late long-time U.S. Sen. Bill Proxmire, who would spend little on campaigns but walk the length and breadth of Wisconsin to meet constituents.
Hebert, 51 and single, estimated he has shaken 10,000 hands in this campaign and his unsuccessful effort two years ago.
“It’s back to the grassroots style of campaigning,” Hebert said. “My brother (Bill) and I argued for hours about Web sites. I purposely didn’t want a Web site because I wanted an old-school campaign style.
“Some of these people are Web site campaigners. They don’t get out and meet people,” the Kenosha resident said. “They go to a couple of forums and think they’re campaigning.
“I force myself to get out every day and meet new people.”
Asked why he would spend time, money and effort in a campaign most political observers think is quixotic, Hebert said: “I just got tired of the way the country was going, and I stood up.”
If he loses either the primary or general election, Hebert said he would give up his political aspirations. But he doesn’t think his efforts lack value.
“We focused on core issue—jobs, health insurance—and letting ’em (voters) know there’s honesty and integrity in my voice for the 1st District. I work for them,” Hebert said.
Those virtues and his work ethic are what will enable him to beat Ryan, Hebert said. “Paul Ryan seems to represent special interests and big business. He’s beholden to those (campaign) contributors.”
And Hebert said his advantage over his Democratic opponents is:
“I’m out there every day, talking to people, finding out what their needs are and the way they think the country should be going.
“I might lack a lot of formal education, but Washington is full of highly educated people, and look at the mess we’re in.
“A little common sense would go a long way in Washington.”
Marge Krupp
Marge Krupp draws inspiration from her late mother, Ruth Kroupa.
“In the early ’60s, after her youngest (me) was in school, she had the gumption to go out and get a part-time job as a secretary,” Krupp recalled, noting that a woman working at that time cut against society’s grain.
“It made her a happier person, and it helped the family,” Krupp said. “Before I made my first speech at the state Democratic convention in ’07, I stopped by her grave and said, ‘Thanks for the chutzpah,’” Krupp said.
Krupp is vying with two other Democrats for what most political observers think is an improbable, if not impossible, task: unseating Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Janesville, a well-funded, well-connected five-term incumbent in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.
Krupp earned her master’s in business administration from Northwestern University in Chicago while working as a third-shift supervisor for Abbott Laboratories.
“People said, ‘Marge, you can’t do that.’ I said watch me.
“Just like in the ’70s, they said girls can’t be chemical engineers, I said watch me,” Krupp said.
“People say no one can beat Paul Ryan. I say watch me.
“With his 95 percent voting record with (President) George Bush, I say if you like George Bush, vote for Paul Ryan.”
After working for Johnson Wax, then Abbott, Krupp resigned as vice president of marketing for Foremost Financial in Racine to campaign full time for Congress.
Why?
“Because in ’06 so many Democrats went to Washington, and here we have a Bush Republican in a Democratic-leaning district,” she said.
“I was born in this district (Racine). I love this place. It breaks my heart to see the loss of jobs,” said Krupp, now a Pleasant Prairie resident. “There’s plenty of fire in my belly because of all the wrong the Bush-Ryan administration has done to the American people.
“The rich are getting richer; the poor are getting poorer, and the middle class is disappearing. I say what’s good for the middle class is good for the country,” she said.
“This is all I do,” Krupp said of campaigning. “I have to remember what day it is. I work seven days a week, let’s say half-time, 12 hours on, 12 hours off.”
In doing so, Krupp has sacrificed her favorite pastimes: recreational reading, bicycling and spending time with her family.
Though active in other Democrats’ political campaigns, Krupp is making her first run for public office.
Asked what distinguishes her from her two Democratic challengers, Krupp said:
“I’m a chemical engineer. I’ve been on the factory floor. I know manufacturing. I’d be best in terms of having that hands-on knowledge to create family-supporting jobs that stay here.”
She would, for instance, eliminate tax breaks for oil companies, which, she said, would fully fund a mandate to create “green-collar” jobs that would build windmills and expand the use of bio-fuels and solar power.
The youngest of three children, Krupp, 52, has been married to her husband, Dan, for 31 years. They have one son, Andrew, who is studying to be a school psychologist like his father.
“Education is very important to us,” she said.
1st District Democrats on the issues
Immigration
Garin: “We need to fully enforce the laws we have now, and we have plenty of laws to enforce.”
Building walls or fences won’t solve the problem of illegal immigration.
“We need to go after employers who often are exploiting them with less-than-minimum wage jobs. We need to eliminate the economic incentives.”
Immigration opponents appear almost racially biased, “thinking all illegal immigrants are coming from the south. Building a fence isn’t going to keep out the Vietnamese and Chinese. It has to be equitable across the board.”
Hebert: “Absolutely secure the borders, north and south and secure our ports. Not only would it inhibit drug traffic, which is a blight to our society, it also would keep out people who by law should not be here.
“Absolutely no amnesty. They’re not all good people. There are criminal elements. We have a problem with fraudulent documentation. They’re stealing someone’s identity.
“It’s like a Catch-22. It has to be employer-enforced.”
Illegal immigrants already here should be deported to their countries of origin, where they can apply for legal immigration. “They should come through the front door, not the back door.”
Krupp: “We have to make laws simpler and more just. It’s wrong when a parent is picked up (arrested) at work, and the children are at daycare and have no idea where dad and mom are.”
“I’m against the wall, but we have to have secure borders to protect against terrorists. Our ports are under lax surveillance and seem to get less attention.
“We have to have ways for the best and brightest and hard-working people to get into our country. They have to obey the law and work hard.
“There has to be a path (for illegal immigrants already here) to permanent legal residency and maybe citizenship.”
Energy
Garin: “I’m obviously running as a Democrat to protect the environment.”
The spin that drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve would bring down gasoline prices is wrong.
“We have to invest in alternative energy technologies. Just imagine if we started a Manhattan Project for energy now.”
Nuclear energy is not one of her priorities because it produces so many toxic by-products.
“The issues of the environment and energy are in many ways intertwined and will be best solved by the investments we make in education. With an expanding brain trust of individuals who are highly skilled in math, science and engineering, we will be enabled to develop alternative, non-polluting methods of energy and to provide more effective means of conservation.
Hebert: “I’ve got no problem with drilling as long as we pump it out of the ground. There’s a lot of drilling and capping (potential oil wells).”
Furthermore, oil companies should explore and drill on the millions of acres in the contiguous 48 states for which they already have leases. They don’t because they want to keep oil prices high.
“Let’s drill and pump it out of the ground until we find alternatives. We can send a man to the moon, but we can’t find an alternative to fossil fuels?”
He supports expanding the use of geothermal, wind, solar, coal and nuclear energy as long as the uses of coal and nuclear material are made cleaner than current methods.
Krupp: “(Rep. Paul) Ryan has sided with the oil companies who gave him campaign contributions. So he has blocked investment in clean renewable energy and is continuing to give billions in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil as they make record profits while we pay record prices at the pump.
“Bush and Ryan have consistently worked to weaken environmental protections and to open our most beautiful natural resources to risky exploitation schemes in the pristine Alaskan wilderness.
“I will promote family-supporting clean technology jobs such as windmill farms and producing alternative fuels, which will also lessen our dependence on foreign oil. The small country of (Great) Britain has already produced 500,000 such clean tech jobs. Imagine what we Americans will do when we have motivated leaders in Washington.”
Health care
Garin: “I am most in favor of a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care plan that would be modeled after Medicare and would provide coverage to all Americans. …
“While the federal government decides which path to follow in solving the health care crisis, Wisconsin—and a handful of other states—may actually lead the way by developing programs to provide health insurance to their residents. …
“The federal government could then serve as a facilitator to the states making sure the individual state programs are transferable and comparable to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program … the same type of coverage that the members of Congress receive.”
Hebert: “Fifty million Americans do not have health coverage. I’d like to see all Americans under a single-payer system like the European and Canadian systems.”
To pay for such a system, start by eliminating fraud.
“There’s $68 billion in Medicare fraud. We need to eliminate fraud. That would be a good start. .., Obviously, all would contribute to the system, and it would focus on preventive measures.”
Money that workers and others now pay for private health insurance would instead go through taxes to help fund the single-payers, and eliminating corporate welfare and tax loopholes for businesses also would help pay for such a plan.
Krupp: “We need to guarantee that every American has access to affordable health care. … It’s hurting our businesses. Health insurance adds $1,000 to the cost of each car General Motors produces, while their Japanese competitors pay only $200.
“We spend two times more per capita on health care than any other nation … That is over twice as much as Japan and Great Britain and 90 percent more than Canada, France and West Germany. …
“A serious problem is the money spent on paperwork and administration. This now accounts for 25 percent of our health care expenses. Medicare and the national health care systems of most other countries spend around 4 percent on this. The price of drugs is another major issue. Because we do not have a unified medical system that can bargain with the drug companies, Americans pay twice as much for pharmaceuticals as do the citizens of other countries. …
“We have to find the appropriate mix of private and public management that will work for us.”
Sep 9, 2008 at 9:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
Thanks for the link Dr. Talk
Sep 9, 2008 at 12:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
janesvillemom:
Just to answer your question to me. I'm very much libertarian in my beliefs. I am for the lowest possible taxes for EVERYONE. I want government as limited as possible, and staying out of peoples life, and allow free markets and capitalism thrive. I firmly believe that free markets work, and all the government does by taxing and imposing regulations/mandates/subsidies, ext is intrude upon your freedom and liberty. I think anyone in this country can do great things without the governments help, or intrusion, in their life.
.
I personally am a huge fan of Ryan.I don't support him on every single thing, but I think he is one of the FEW in congress who TRULY believe in limited government in the form of lower taxes and less social spending. Most all his fellow Republicans spent WAY out of control during the Bush years. Driving the federal budget up to over $3 TRILLION now, and increasing the deficits to all time highs.
Sep 8, 2008 at 8:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
janesvillemom,
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&...
.
"the bill contains a laundry list of new temporary provisions that add more than $7 billion to the cost of the bill, questionable new tax credit bonds that appear to be little more than `green pork,' as well as a $1.5 billion tax break for trial lawyers who use certain types of contingency fee arrangements"
Sep 8, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
RetiredAirforce: If what you posted is about the bill I read, then Paul Ryan read a different one, it has nothing about raising taxes on oil/gas. It is almost all about credits for renewable energy investments. How can he vote against renewable energy? That is the only way to break our addiction to oil and stop sending money overseas that funds terrorists. It is a national security issue that we reduce our dependence on foreign oil to the point that we don't need Middle Eastern oil and that we reduce worldwide demand/price by finding renewable sources that we can sell to China and India. If we could cut the price of oil (by cutting demand) Iran would lose all of it's power because they make their money from oil, then we wouldn't have to worry about them and it wouldn't cost any bombs or lives. (Maybe the neo-cons prefer the fund the war machine?)
Sep 8, 2008 at 4:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Retired Airforce, The bill I am referencing is not listed on the site you provided. (H.R. 6049)
Sep 8, 2008 at 4:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dr.Talk: I actually DO know a lot about what is in the bill and you can read it here:http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/bill.pdf
*
Retired Airforce, thanks for the link, I'll be checking it out.
Sep 8, 2008 at 1:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
RetiredAirForce: You are so correct on alot of these issues. Democrats continue to be blinded by their hate of one man and refuse to see how their own party had done this country over. They blame Bush for higher gas prices, a poor economy and anything else bad that has happened. The Democrats control congress, it's them who pass our laws. I find it interesting that our economy started to really hit a recession once the Dems took control. But this is how the power hungry democrats want it to be. They want things to be bad so that they can prey off of people's emotions. They want people to feel sorry for themselves. This is how they maintain their power. There politics first, country later. Just look at how many times democrats refused to allow votes on appointments and have closed congress, instaed of voting on issues. All in attempt to fix the election. It's sick.
Sep 8, 2008 at 12:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
Janesvillemom, your questions on Ryans voting record are easy to find, have you looked at his website? To your question on why he voted against your quoted bill..."The legislation creates dozens of new, often duplicative government programs – spending billions of taxpayer dollars on a hodgepodge of top-down, government-directed initiatives that pick winners and losers in the energy marketplace with little consideration for free-market forces. In addition, one of the bills includes $15 billion of energy tax increases over ten years, imposed on America’s oil and gas industry, which will almost surely be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
" Please feel free to read the rest here http://www.house.gov/ryan/vote_rationale...
Sep 8, 2008 at 12:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
janesvillemom,
You want to know Paul Ryan voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act?
.
Well, you don't know all of what's contained in the Act. A lot of times politicians give these acts positive sounding names but have a lot of negative stuff in them. Like the so-called "Fairness Doctrine." Just by the title you think it grants fairness to everyone, but in fact limits free speech.
.
You want another reason for Paul Ryan having $5.4 million in pork when he said he was against pork? It's called Public Choice Economics. But the public sees it as "flip-flopping" and being hypocritical.
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
Back to Paul Ryan, why did he vote against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act? The inaction on this vote it slowing down the solar and wind energy field. If he is truly interested in getting our country off foreign oil (funding terrorism!), then he should be serious about renewable energy!!!! This is the most recent vote that I think he voted party, rather than putting the country first. The renewable energy jobs (the FUTURE) are moving from here to countries like Germany, where they are taking renewables seriously.
Sep 8, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Janesvillemom of the corporations that have been moving either out of state or country. Take a look at the top 3 reasons being given for the move. I bet higher taxes or the line "it cost to much to do business here" is in those top 3. Now I will concede CEO's of these corporations are greedy most of the time and administrative pay is way out of line when compared to production level pay. The fact of the matter is our economy is capitalist based and companies(99.9% of them) will always look for the best ways to make a profit. Oh and simple Joe down the street with a 401K he makes money when a company posts profits. Does this philosophy make it right or fair? No but it's the system we have and it sure beats a socialist, communist or Marxist system any day in my book.
Sep 8, 2008 at 9:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
Raising corporate taxes will result in two things. Higher prices paid by consumers (you are naive if you believe only the corporation/businesses will feel the pinch on these taxes) and more businesses will fail or leave the country. The Tax Foundation just came out with a report showing that the US corporate tax rate, although some what flat since 1988, has risen in comparison to other competitive countries by over 50% because other countries have chosen to lower their rates. This causes a competitive disadvantage to leading companies to stay and perform in the US; which is a leading cause in job and revenue loss to local and federal levels as they leave our shores. Responsible spending by our government on both political sides is the fix that neither is willing to take seriously.
Sep 8, 2008 at 8:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
proartist and Gazette: I would like to see a story on that. Does she have a reason for not paying, like he didn't provide promised services? We don't know. This would certainly be worth investigating!
Sep 8, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
kio-
I prefer to think of it as FDR-ish, rather than Marxist.
I am talking about taking business money and spending it on infrastructure that businesses use. Sarah Palin took business money and spread it around like candy at a parade. Which idea do you prefer?
Sep 8, 2008 at 8:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
Does anyone know??? Is Krupp paying her campaign bills???
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...
Sep 8, 2008 at 7:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
kio-I have to agree with everything you said) (except that the stimulus package "worked", that depends on your definition of of the goal of the package--for pandering purposes, it worked in the short term, but did nothing long term except grow the debt). I have been predicting the crash of our economy for over a year.
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
The stimulus package was OBVIOUSLY pandering. Both parties were all for it, as all they care about is being re-elected. It's nonsense to say it did not work. GDP grew at +3.9% last Q. Without the stimulus is would have been negative, and all you'd hear would be recession talk, and they would all be in danger of getting re-elected.
.
Tis was just one big ploy to hold up the economy till November. ALL this money was $$$ that we do NOT have, and as someone mentioned, it just added MORE to the current trillions we are in debt. That is a SMALL drop in the bucket compared to what was just announced today about 4 hours ago, in that the the feds are coming to the rescue of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. This is the 1st sign of the disaster I have been predicting for months. This may DOUBLE the size of the current debt. This is really a huge story. It will be interesting to see how the media plays this tomorrow, and how the markets react. The question is just how bad will things become by November? If it can be held up with all these smoke and mirrors they have been doing so far, it really stands to collapse for the un-lucky ba$tard who gets into office!
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
There is a plan straight out of the book of Karl Marx! haha...
Anyway; I'm open to anyones action on whichever one of these candidates wins and faces Ryan. I'll even give you +200 (2/1 odds) on your candidate.
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Wouldn't you rather have a job that pays you better wages than a hand out from the government called a "stimulus check"? The Bush tax cuts did not create more jobs. The stimulus package was election year pandering on both sides that did not save the economy. Raise taxes on corporations and spend that money on infrastructure JOBS. Tell companies that if they don't spend their profits on expanding and creating jobs in the USA, then they will be taxed like never before. If the businesses won't create jobs, then the government should tax them and create jobs with the money. Business uses and benefits from all kinds of government programs and infrastructure and they should be paying their fair share. Who is benefiting from a publicly educated workforce? Who is causing wear and tear on the roads with semi-trucks traveling all day? Who uses the US postal service and the public tv airwaves to send us their advertisements?
Sep 7, 2008 at 10:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
I do have to say that one time Paul Ryan wrote me back and commented positively about some issues I brought up regarding a weapons deal with Saudi Arabia. There was at least one sentence that was specific to my letter and not part of a form letter. Doesn't change my opinion about his voting record, but he (or his staff) at least read what I wrote!
Sep 7, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
Retired Airforc:You asked what they did and I told you. I didn't say I agreed with it.
Sep 7, 2008 at 10:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
Airforce a stimulus package is money that is borrowed from China that was sent to you so you could keeep the consumer index up. Your children will be paying back this stimulus package that you got what was it 300 or more depending upon income tax level. It was to ward off the recession and inflation. I guess it didn't work.
Sep 7, 2008 at 10:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
My vote is for anyone except Ryan. Bushs puppet. His pockets are filled with Pharmacy money. Voted no to increase unemployment, called unemployed lazy. Voted NO on GI Bill. Voted No to increase minimun wage. Protected Foley the child predator. Has had lot of PORK come his way. Will not take a stand on Waterboarding. Protecting Bushs arse. Sorry waterboarding is torture to me. Everytime i have written him I have only got a form letter in response. He cares for himself and not his constiutents. Anyone even bugs bunny could do his job better then he has done.
Sep 7, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Interesting reading:
http://realdebatewisconsin.blogspot.com/...
Info that broke in Kenosha media: William Zachary Williams is suing Krupp in Milwaukee County. Gazette care to tell us why?
Sep 7, 2008 at 7:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Stimulas package? Isn't that a tax cut? But, the liberals here are saying the tax cuts are a bad idea and created all the debt. So to defend the Dem led congress your example of thier success is a tax cut...nice.
Sep 7, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ya Janesvillemom that $300 bucks REALLY helped out it filled up my tank and bought me two weeks worth of groceries. WOW!!! How about a tax cut that would help throughout the year.
Sep 7, 2008 at 6 p.m.
Suggest removal
Please! You’re saying that anyone, let alone the Democrats should be proud of coming up with that stimulus package? That was a ridiculous act! While I did not refuse my stimulus package check, I always thought it was asinine to give back over $150 BILLION dollars when we are so upside-down on our budget and trying to finance the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I really didn’t remember whether that was a Democrat or Republican-led act (a quick Google search reminded me that Dem-star Pelosi was at the head of this), but if that is your best (and only) example of what the Democrats have done, then we are in a world of hurt!
Sep 7, 2008 at 4:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
I think it was call the Stimulus Package. Remember that? Didn't you get your check?
Sep 7, 2008 at 7:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
What has the Democratic lead congress done for the economy? Have they introduced any bill to help with the slumping economy? Have they introduced a bill to help ease the pain at the pump? The Persident doesn't write bills and he doesn't vote on bills so the talking points that Obama and the liberals have used about Macain voting 90% with Bush just doesn't hold water. I wish the Macain camp would point this out and exploit the lies the liberals are using in this election.
Sep 7, 2008 at 2:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
tallman:
"He was agianst raising the minimum wage to put more Wal-Mart profits into the hands of the working poor."
.
Because Congressman Ryan is smart enough to know that minimum wage laws do more harm than good. It's economics 101. Here's a free book. Read the chapter called Minimum Wage Laws.
http://www.fee.org/library/books/economi...
.
"THey want 95% of the Americans living under the money influence control and so busy working they have no chance to get out of debt"
.
I'm not sure where you get your information from tallman, but if people work hard and control their spending, they will get out of debt.
Sep 7, 2008 at 1:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
The "congress" is always in charge of the budget...never the President; Read the constitution!
Sep 7, 2008 at 12:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
The congress has been in charge for two years. Bush has run the show for eight. Figure it out.
Sep 7, 2008 at 12:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
"If the Republicans weren't currently running our economy into the ground, "
Congress controls the budget and the money; please read the US Constitution! The congress currently is run by Democrats....get off the talking points.
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
I can be independent because I do evaluate each candidate on their own merits. I am socially liberal, but fiscally conservative and if the Republicans would take religious Right out of their politics, I might be a lot more likely to vote Republican. If the Republicans weren't currently running our economy into the ground, I might vote Republican.
*
History lesson:
Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to win the White House.
The Civil War erupted in 1861 and lasted four grueling years. During the war, against the advice of his cabinet, Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves. The Republicans of the day worked to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery, the Fourteenth, which guaranteed equal protection under the laws, and the Fifteenth, which helped secure voting rights for African-Americans.
The Republican Party also played a leading role in securing women the right to vote. In 1896, Republicans were the first major party to favor women's suffrage. When the 19th Amendment finally was added to the Constitution, 26 of 36 state legislatures that had voted to ratify it were under Republican control. The first woman elected to Congress was a Republican, Jeanette Rankin from Montana in 1917.
*
Now those Republican issues I could support!
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
I love how the left has the mantra of how he/she voted with Bush such a percent. For the record Bush doesn't vote on these things, he can only sign or veto these after they have passed both houses [meaning approved by the majority ---- which is held/run by the dems]. Get a clue and get off the talking points.
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Okay, I lived in a different state when I registered as an independent, but I still consider myself to be one. I forgot the details of when I registered here, so I apologize for my mistake.
Sep 6, 2008 at 10:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Vote for anyone but Ryan folks. He has voted with Bush over 90% of the time along with McCain. He was agianst raising the minimum wage to put more Wal-Mart profits into the hands of the working poor. He never had a real job before he was elected either. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth and his family name got him in which is sad. We need these money backed Republicans out!! They could care less about the working poor or the middle class cause they don't want middle class anymore. THey want 95% of the Americans living under the money influence control and so busy working they have no chance to get out of debt or to run for office.
Sep 6, 2008 at 8:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
So janesvillemom claims to be a registered independent. I wasn’t aware that Wisconsin registered any party, much less an independent. Those that are truly independent objectively consider the positions of all candidates and make educated decisions on Election Day based on unbiased consideration of available reliable information.
.
Once one decides to take selected information regarding a candidate or party and promote it, they have lost the opportunity to be considered independent. They are now forced to either defend that position or admit they were wrong.
.
Personally, I consider myself to be independent, albeit somewhat to the right because I have more faith in free enterprise than socialism. I have known Paul Ryan, Mark Neumann and Jeff Thomas on either a personal or business basis unrelated to politics. Although all three probably assumed that I voted for them, Paul is the only one that earned my vote, because I believe in his sincerity of working for his constituents.
.
I will not cast a vote for any of the three democratic candidates on this Tuesday’s primary election because I haven’t had the opportunity to evaluate which one is best. I will take the time to learn about the winner of that contest and in November I will vote for the candidate that I feel will represent what I believe to be in our best interests, regardless of party affiliation or personal friendship. That’s the way true independent voters operate.
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
Whybesad,
Not a bad idea, but here's what would have to happen: Obama would need to become President and then tap Doyle for Attorney General, Lawton would finish off Doyle's term, then Ryan could run for Governor.
Sep 6, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ryan for Gov.!!!
Sep 6, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Okay, I like both Garin and Krupp, but since Krupp has a more organized and well-funded campaign, I'll probably go with her. It will certainly take both organization and money to defeat Ryan.
Sep 6, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
janesvillemom,
There isn't going to be a candidate that you agree with 100% of the time unless you yourself become a candidate.
.
Based on the three issues in the article, Hebert was correct on 2 of them. He blew it on the health care issue. I think Hebert will win the primary, but he won't have a chance against Ryan.
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
It's going to be extremely difficult for Paul Ryan to not win with at least 60-65% of the votes this November. Looking at the 3 challengers, I see "none" under all 3 for elected offices held. Others have done it elsewhere, but Ryan is too powerful and has too much support (especially in Walworth and western Racine and Kenosha counties).
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
Primary Election: Tuesday, September 9
Whomever your candidate(s), please VOTE and make your voice heard!
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Never mind, I found the answer to my question. September primary.
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
I have a question, are they all going to be on the ballot or is there some sort of primary to get it down to one? No way can any of them win if they are all running and splitting the vote.
Sep 6, 2008 at 11:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
If anyone seriously thinks any of these have a chance against Ryan, I will gladly book any action you wish to put on it.
Sep 6, 2008 at 10:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
I am registered as an Independent (because I am open-minded and make decisions myself, not blindly following any person or party) and I have voted for Paul Ryan in the past because he "seems like a nice guy" and he is from the area so I figured he would have our best interests in mind. But in the past year, I started getting more interested in politics and I looked at his voting record and his positions on issues. I decided that I cannot continue to vote for him for many reasons. I hope one of these challengers rises from the group and can defeat him.
Sep 6, 2008 at 10:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
Russ Feingold has $0, so Ryan didn't just get lumped in with the bunch because he is from WI. Did the others on those bills sponsor anti-pork legislation and sign a pledge against it?
Sep 6, 2008 at 10:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Here's the breakdown on Ryan's pork projects:
.
$1,378,160 for the Ice Age National Scenic Trail (Tammy Baldwin-D, David Obey-R, Thomas Petri-R, Paul Ryan-R, Steve Kagen-D, Gwen Moore-D, Ron Kind-D, Herb Kohl-D)
.
$735,000 Janseville City Transit System (Paul Ryan-R)
.
$3,283,000 Wisconsin Statewide Bus and Bus Facilities (Paul Ryan-R, Steve Kagen-D)
.
Total: $5,396,160
.
With the exception of the Janesville Transit System, the others were bipartisan pork barrel spending.
.
janesvillemom asked "How come Paul Ryan has 5.4 Million in pork for 2008?" For now I'd say read your own post, the part that says that Ryan told the Journal Sentinel: "I have personally pledged not to seek new earmarks this year."
Sep 6, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
From the Journal Sentinal on-line;
"House Republican Paul Ryan of Janesville was credited with $5.4 million in earmarks for fiscal '08, but told the Journal Sentinel: "I have personally pledged not to seek new earmarks this year." And, he said, he will promote a vote on legislation he and Feingold sponsored in April 2007 to give the president a line-item veto."
*
How come Paul Ryan has 5.4 Million in pork for 2008? I thought he was anti-pork, introduced the Feingold-Ryan bill against earmarks and signed the Earmark pledge? Doesn't he also do some kind of award for bad pork projects? Another Republican hypocrite or what?
*
I'm glad to see some people challenging him. I haven't done enough research to know who to support, but I have seen Krupp out and about in the community campaigning.
Sep 6, 2008 at 8:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Garin says, "You have to keep the herd together." Yes, all you sheeple must stay together and follow the moveon.org talking points because thinking for yourselves is dangerous.
Sep 6, 2008 at 7:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hebert is the only that is correct on immigration and energy. None of them are correct on health care, but Krupp comes close with her suggestion about a compromise between public and private management. If you want to read about Massachusetts public/private health care strategy, check this out.
http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2008/08...
Sep 6, 2008 at 6:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
For the most viable, vocal and capable candidate visit: http://paulettegarin.com
Sep 6, 2008 at 6:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Vote for Marge Krupp. She's the best Democratic candidate. The 1st CD deserves better than a Bush lackey.
Sep 6, 2008 at 4:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
"Many Democrats have tried to unseat Rep. Paul Ryan of Janesville"
.
Uh, this is incorrect. Since Ryan unseated Neumann in 1998, the only *nominee* to challenge him in four successive elections was Jeffrey Thomas. I don't think it's a secret that many consider him a hopeless clown, and it's been a mystery why he has managed to win the nomination again and again. The correct statement here is "many Democrats have tried to beat Thomas to the nomination so that a competitive candidate could be placed against Ryan".
.
As I understand it Thomas is not on the ballot this year, and all three of the candidates running are at least credible. I think any one of them would be a worthy challenger to Ryan, although without a significant injection of money from the DCCC or a change in Ryan's popularity, they will have an uphill battle against a man with a likable image and the power of incumbency. It's unknown what kind of coattails Obama may have.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.