I agree, poobah, I don't believe notablogger, either.

Rob Zerban IS KNOWN by people in the 1st and 2nd CD, but the right wants you to THINK people don't know about him.

Notablogger said, "The polling person told me that every one she had talked to had no idea who Zerban even was."
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I don't believe you.

I can't wait for the first debate. Everyone will know who Rob Zerban is after that.

I don't agree with you Notablogger. I believe there are many, many people in the 1st and 2nd CD whow know Rob or have heard of him. There are stark differences between Ryan and Zerban. Let the debates begin.

I was one of the people they called for this poll and it was basically a joke. The polling person told me that every one she had talked to had no idea who Zerban even was.
The questions were phrased to make people answer how they wanted them to answer.
They asked things like would you rather have have security when you retire or lose everything like Ryan wants to do.

Very lame questions like this and it was quite a laugh to even answer them. Believe it from someone who took the poll, it is not valid in any way shape or form.

We cannot wait for the debates to begin.

Back at you, Bebe: I am just continually amazed at the arrogance, stupidity and ignorance of the right-and of course how your conservative policies are never assumed to be wrong.

We have a good man in Rob Zerban. We are all very excited about his campaign to take over the 1st Congressional District of Wis. We are extremely proud of him for his honesty, above all other things.

bebe...you are one of the most uninformed/misinformed people who post on this site. Do you ever feel and humiliation when your statements are proven wrong time and time again?

Why do I get the feeling that if the title of the story was "Obama challenger releases poll,..." many of the comments on this blog would be completely reversed. Mouse you sound like you believe all liberals = good, all conservatives = bad. Until people stop choosing sides based on labels and start looking at individual candidates (perhaps something as blasphemous as looking outside of the 2 parties!), things will never get better.

youkillme I have expressed before the first time a more better candidate runs against him I would vote for the new person. I don't like the idea of career politicians, person in the same position forever, but that doesn't mean I will vote for any person on the ballot. I have freely admitted I vote for the lessor of two evils, because of the two party system, so far Ryan has always been the least unfavorable of them.

I don't expect pork brought home to the district, that is not their role. The elected US rep for any district is the voice of the district at the federal level. How this escapes some people I have no idea...

14 years of accomplishments for the state and district you say? He's won Manufacturers awards, Enterprise awards and don't forget Club for Growth. I say bring it on. Or does that mean run away in your world?

Cross your fingers - it's time to mute the public unions on a national scale.

Great thought ALLin. The entire country could get 'fixed' just like Wisconsin got fixed.

"He has done basically nothing"
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I suspect in your world up is down.

I expect Mr. Ryan will be in the white house next year - as Vice President - the 'dream team' would be Walker-Ryan.

RAF and Vato ... Asking supporters for a list of their candidate's accomplishments or reasons why they support him is standard public discourse. If you can't supply it, I understand. But you support Ryan because he has done basically nothing and doesn't bring anything home to the district. Pardon me for my ignorance, but I don't consider that an accomplishment. But I do think then that Ryan's supporters are running on blind faith and with that, it becomes apparent that the only folks seeking salvation in a politician are the folks who support Paul Ryan. He's the prophet.

at least Paul has the kahunnas to come up with a plan. I love all of you who just shred anyone with a brain or idea. I do not like most of his ideas, but at least he has one. Thats more than I can say for most of you, and all the rest of Washington.I use to worry about what was going to happen. I am 58 years old and I quit worring. The pace and speed this congress works at, I will be long gone off this planet before they can even agree to just come in and get out of the rain.

The funny part of your ignorance, wanting posters to provide information about Ryan's activities in Congress you already know about but have already declared in previous posts you think were not good anyway.

bebe53, have some tripe. From The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas report, "Banking and Community Perspectives, The CRA and Subprime Lending; Discerning The Difference", Issue 1, 2009.
" the CRA is unequivacally not to blame for the housing markets fall.Banks lending records are evaluated under the CRA. If a potential borrower applies for a loan for a house, small business, small farm, or other purpose, the bank is required to examine the applicants creditworthiness and determine if it can extend a loan in a safe and sound manner."
The report also talks about the lower default rates for CRA backed loans.
Can you show me where it says lenders must make CRA loans to unqualified borrowers?

So your inability to list Ryan's accomplishments is really my fault because I have a great difficulty on grasping nothing? Sure...umm, whatever you say.

Yeah expecting you to grasp more than that is too high a bar.

So far, from what seems to be from a few of Ryan's supporters we have some statements in his defense:
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"Any politician that claims they can get the US economy going again has lost my attention."
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"And, anyone who claims they will listen to the people and fight for their people is pretty much toast, R or D, or I."
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"I don't think US reps need to bring anything home to a district."
_____________________________________________

So, after 14 years, I gather that even Ryan's supporters understand he has done basically NOTHING for his district. Now I finally get it why they believe so strongly in him ... that "nothing" is his accomplishment. And, being the representative from the 1st CD of Wisconsin really holds no special meaning for us saps. Why he would do the same for anybody. LOL

Mouse: Thanks for your information.

I believe that is why Ryan (I believe within this past year) and his wife purchased some of the oil fields in Oklahoma and in Texas. This is a good reason for Ryan to support big oil, wouldn't you say? He can become a richer man this way, at the expense of the poor and the middle class.

I keep running into people all of the time who have never heard of Paul Ryan. That's good because before long everyone is going to know about Rob Zerban.

CRA mortgage loans were required to be done by still regulated lenders. Lenders that did income verification, and credit worthiness checks. No lenders were "forced" to give mortgages to borrowers that did not have the ability to repay them. CRA mortgage foreclosure rates are less than the overall foreclosure rates. CRA, started in 1977, was not a prime cause of a mortgage crisis 30 years later.

I'd argue the real problem started when the Greenspan fed artificially drove up housing-real estate values in the early 2000's. All the MBS's where based on the premise of property increasing in value as they had been for the past 60 years. When the artificial housing bubble the fed created busted, down went all the mega CDO leveraging that took place on the market. Did also not help that once it did all collapse that the governmnet then stepped in to bail everyone of them out. While both parties still proudly gloat how that policy "worked" to save us from a depression. One of the most disingenuous statements of all time.

kaysbrew-the act in 1994 DOES NOT mandate any penalties for non-compliance with the CRA! But it did repeal restrictions on interstate banking which led to massive mergers and acquisitions, creating fewer and fewer local banks and more mega-banks like Citibank and JP Morgan Chase (too big to fail ring any bells?). The real problems started with the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999 which negated Glass-Steagall and allowed banks to gamble with those mortgage backed securities, ramping up demand for any mortgage they could get and sell without worrying whether or not it would be repaid, or betting that it would NOT be repaid!

concerned what is his plan for anything? What are his intentions if he gets elected? Unlike others I don't think US reps need to bring anything home to a district. They are our representative voice at the federal level, voicing our concerns for national policies, reforms, and laws.

"Koch and control of the masses? Koch wanting to stir up trouble in Wisconsin. God you must be proud."
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You are a communist.

"Nobody twisted the arms of banks to borrow to people who could not afford."
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And the people who could not afford knew what they were doing. I know people who built brand new houses they knew they could not afford and they said they would just file bankruptcy and live in the homes as long as they could.
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You are a communist.

"I am speaking about the 99%"
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You are a communist.

Well, I guess this isn't "parroting Fox, Beck or Limbaugh", but a Jimmie Bise blog???? I think this may be a giant step backward....

http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/09/21/...

It's okay if you want to be the puppet that follows liars ykm, you are not alone unfortunately. But then again, liberals count on people just like you.

So in other words, the full weight and power of federal government arm-twisting policies means nothing to the banks and lenders now - but it was everything before? Yeah, we were forced to borrow, see mom? Sorry it doesn't work that way. If condescension is all you have - then you have nothing.

Yes I know - I said Clinton's admin. - I suppose they are not lending now because they don't want to get in this mess again. Demanding people bring money as a down payment isn't too much to ask in my opinion.
You really should look this up yourself, study and learn. The housing market crash started the entire mess which started as a snowball that got bigger as it rolled downhill and it started with the liberals.

Kaysbrew and Fedup: Ha!Ha! LOL!

Way to go Rob! Keep it up!

Kaysbrew, the mortgage crisis was brewing well before Barack Obama arrived. You are spreading out-and-out lies. There has been zero Fannie/Freddie mortgage reform. What's stopping banks from lending today?

The people are taking back Wisconsin! And, the people are going to take back the 1st Congressional District in the next election because we have not been represented since Paul Ryan took over this district in 1998. I am speaking about the 99%. Paul Ryan is the 1% and he represents the 1%, a career politician. Go Rob Zerban!

Make no mistake! Rob Zerban is the antidote to Paul Ryan. IMO. Rob is HONEST and this will get him elected, hands down. People are tired of dishonesty in their politicians. Rob Zerban is EXACTLY what the 1st congressional district needs, and Paul Ryan knows it! I would be very careful posting bad things about Rob! If you post bad things about Rob, you obviously don't know him at all, not one iota!

Rob is our man, and most of us know it, and we are proud of it!

no youkillme - it was Frank Dodd and Clinton. Not only that but the Obama goon patrol called ACORN marched into banks to INTIMIDATE lenders. Put people in houses they can't afford. The banks then sold down in bundles of bad mortgages until there was no one left buying leading to collapse. Wall street buys and sells. Free market business need this institution. I would suggest that you study and learn and get your head out of the MSNBC/liberal box. This is called the BIG LIE.
Those still believing otherwise are either the liars that think we are to stupid to know better or the puppets that still follow liars. Which one are you?

Kaysbrew, sorry to be the one to inform you but, Wall Street is not the free market. Never was and never will be. Your Dodd-Frank bullying argument about the cause of the mortgage crisis is little more than partisan clap-trap. Nobody twisted the arms of banks to borrow to people who could not afford. Since then, there has been zero Fannie/Freddie reform. That means all of the so-called arm-twisting and bullying policies are still in place. Why won't banks lend now? You need to study and learn a way to develop your own cognitive skills to formulate coherent reasoning. Stop parroting Fox, Beck and Limbaugh. They'll fry your brains.

Why would you protest the free market? Are you a communist? Without Wall Street, companies would not be able to survive that employ most of America.
Study and learn it.
It was your Subprime mortgage and leaning bullying done by Frank and Dodd and liberal Pres. Clinton that started the housing crisis that lead to bank failures in taking these bad loans.
Study and learn it.

"For example, in districts with a high number of black politicians, community members seem to always vote black even if these politicians don't have a track record of success. Try people with different ideas."

That would be much the same as in districts with a high number of white politicians, community members seem to always vote white even if these politicians don't have a track record of success, wouldn't it vataloco?

Paul Ryan doesn't think we should tax Wall Street speculative transactions and he wants lower tax rates for billionaires like Soros. Should we protest the free market? Or should we protest Paul Ryan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/1...

Your wall street richy rich - this is how much of a joke you and your party are. Go protest this guy as he is the face of your liberal Occupy idiots who don't even know. Paid Puppets.

mouse..... Golf and buses?
Obama and Soros? Pelosi and Soros? Kagen and Soros?
You tell me....... Soros and corruption" Soros and polloution?
Soros and control of the masses? Soros wanting to stir up trouble in Wisconsin AND the country. God you must be proud.
Well mouse the hypocrite?

mouse and koch, peanut butter and jelly, can't have one without the other
both mostly served to children

Antireactionary, Congressman Ryan did not have a chance to work for his father as Paul was only 16 when is father died. Get your facts straight no doubt most of what you have posted should "fact checked" as well!

How generous of reporter Schultz to give Zerban some more free press with the selected results of a Democratic poll. That's like writing a story on Christmas because Santa thought it was a good idea.

Ryan will win with 55%!! That's it? I don't blame you for writing anything beyond that. Keep the faith.
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Vatoloco, people are asking what Zerban's plan is. That's a fair question even though he hasn't been our congressman for even one day. But someone should have the list of Ryan's state and district accomplishments ready to show for contrast. It'll be 14 years! Let's see something. I don't buy the argument that elected officials should do less or nothing. What do we have them for? On the other hand, if enough people think like that, Ryan will win in another landslide.

Ryan wins with at least 55% of the vote. Book it.

I've voted for a lot of Democrats in my time but have always voted for Paul Ryan. He means what he says and says what he means and has shamed many that debate him. He is brilliant, especially on the economy.

Instead of writing "you're wrong." Explain. About what? About anybody getting 35% against Ryan? About J. Thomas? About democrats never having a real campaign against Ryan? About Ryan changing his Medicare proposal? About the 1st CD being a swing district? About Ryan having tons of baggage? Again. What are Ryan's accomplishments for the district and state? I have questions. You have all the answers - lets' hear them.

youkillme - you are wrong.

Midnightride, in all due respect to previous democrats who challenged Paul Ryan, none of them had any genuine election campaign or name recognition. Not even a simple youtube video to draw a contrast on. Jeffrey Thomas was a tremendously nice guy. But in debates, he agreed with Ryan half the time and was almost apologetic the other half. Even still, any name, it could have been the kabuki king, would score 35% of the vote on the ballot vs Ryan. Well-liked congressmen usually score 75% to 80%. Ryan is already trying to change the debate by squirming his way out of his Medicare killing proposal. He's got lots of baggage. The 1st CD is a swing district and the pendulum is swinging. I'm almost afraid to write more here.

freakin idiot mouse

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ca...

WASHINGTON -- President Obama is barnstorming the heartland to boost US jobs in a taxpayer-financed luxury bus the government had custom built -- in Canada, The Post has learned.

I've got the clue for you.

Hey mouse, I defy you to defend Pres Obama that he hasn't drunk wine on the taxpayer dollar. How about buying a million plus dollar bus from Canada no less. Or ALL those golf rounds.
Grow up mouse or at least quit being a leftist web follower with no mind of your own.
Think before you speak.

The poll by Democratic pollsters Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates is a survey of 405 likely voters.
This article doesn't need to say anymore. Ryan won in 2008 when Obama was sky high. There is no way on God's green earth this guy has a shot at beating Ryan in 2012. It's more laughable then recalling Walker.

Bunbun, just to spell it out for you. The smell of fear wafting through my laptop was the smell of Republicans sh*tt*ng in their pants over Rob Zerban's chances to defeat Ryan.

...I can smell the fear right through my laptop ...or was that gas? Hmmm. No difference.....
Gee, what did you eat for lunch? perhaps you just need some clean shorts. I know dems need others to do everything for them but I figured you guys would have a grasp on when a change of clothing is in order.

What's is Paul Ryan's plan for the district? What are his signature accomplishments for the district to bring sustainability and economic recovery to our district? After twelve years what has he accomplished for us? Or the state? Where was Ryan when Janesville area business, education, labor and health leaders got together and presented a plan of recovery to a White House official in June of 2010? What are our expectations of a representative? Is it someone who hires a capable staff to work so-called constituent services while he's writing hyper-partisan recruitment books for his party and directs party fund-raising for presidential candidates? Is it just someone who chases down the errant Social Security check? Whose voice does Ryan echo except for Ayn Rand's?

Poo -- I agree. I personally do not trust any poll. Why? The poll in all likelihood was generated for, by, or as a result of someone with a bias. So even when people are providing the exclusions, and assumptions, without the raw data, method of data collection, etc... A poll really doesnt say much.

Now - I also extend that to data -- for example on global warming, because people with predetermined positions and bias in many instances have presented the data. So even when valid data is presented and collected, it has a contaminating effect. Plus -- no data exists for millions of years ago to show and true trends that may counter todays data. There's simply a hypothesis, as a result of data collected, modeled , and massaged to some extent. Then its mixed or linked with events where no true linkages exist.

So far this guys message is just echoing everything other dems claim about Paul. His own website doesn't even have a plan on what he will do if elected only stories about Ryan and nifty video with news clips and echoing voices of the last vice president. If that's all hes got is complaints would good is he? At least come forward with a plan/agenda, after all so far the only thing he has done is criticize Ryan's plan, that's hardly leadership material; mouse has been doing that for years and I wouldn't vote for him either.

It's time to replace this career politician before he does more damage.

People realize that Ryan has not represented them and only represents the big corporations, insurance companies, etc. People want someone who will represent them. Ryan, never having had a real job or run a business, etc. never had the experience IN THE FIRST PLACE. Rob has the experience and he will be our next congressmen.

Thirdeye: Isn't that exactly what tea partiers did in the 2010 election?

Ryan has never had a real job in his life because he was a consultant for his mommy and daddy before becoming a Congressman. Then while a Congressman, he wanted to put your Social Security into Wall Street.

The big question is will the voters trade in a well known, well connected senior member of congress for a freshman back bencher?
Political party ideology may be a secondary consideration.
I agree with Poobah's first post (except for the first part of the first sentance.)

I would be willing to vote for any candidate (rep. or dem.) that runs against Paul Ryan as long as their main point of focus is Wisconsin. I am truly appalled with Ryan's continual lack of focus on his constituents here in Wisconsin. He is all over the media again today and not one word he speaks has anything to do with the issues here in his district. I totally understand Social Security being an issue, but it is not the main issue in Wisconsin.

Paul Ryan will win re-election. Take it to the bank. Whaling lefties will continue their childish whining, 'i want what i want NOW' behavior. It's a joy to watch all the anger and vitriol that comes from the socialista's.
Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Scary thought, poo has shown common sense. I also agree with him.

Che: You are wrong. Rob has a real chance at unseating Ryan. Do you know him? If not, you probably shouldn't post things about him. People are tired of not being represented by Ryan. Rob is the breath of fresh air that we need. Ryan's pink slip is coming, the same as Walker's.

Check this out. It's only the beginning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...

Che, explain. why?

What does Paul Ryan know about the real world. He is 40 and has never held a "real" job. He has no idea what is like to struggle.

"closing fast" LOL

TCB, district 1 does not lean "very heavily left." What is a platitude platform? What platform is Ryan running on? Bluster? Fiction? Ideology? Phony numbers? The promise of creating jobs? Impossibility? Garbage in ...Garbage out. Zerban is within 10 points right now and he's closing fast.

"Zerban's campaign would not release the entire poll, so it was impossible to check the memo's conclusions"

Zerban will lose-he will run on a similar platitude platform of hope and change offering nothing but tax the rich, spend less on military, and the promise of creating jobs. No chance. Even in the D1 district which leans very heavily left does this guy have a chance. He'll be lucky to be within 10 percentage points. Game over.

Good Luck Mr. Zurban, I'm afraid you will need lots of that.

Youkillme: This thread isn't going away.

Yup, Ryan will be getting his pink slip.
Rob Zerban is a good man. And one very unique quality he has, which is a definite plus, is his honesty. That is something which is lacking in too many of our politicians nowadays. Rob Zerban will be getting my vote, and the vote of many people that I know. I believe Rob has an extra good chance at defeating Ryan. And the people of the first congressional district will finally have someone who will represent ALL OF THEM, not just a privileged few.

Get to know Rob. You will be getting many chances to do so. You will soon come to respect him as I do.

Ryan supporters are hoping this thread just goes away. I can smell the fear right through my laptop ...or was that gas? Hmmm. No difference.

He will get my vote. I'm done with Paul Ryan.

Once people get the chance to hear Zerban and Ryan side-by-side, they'll realize they've been voting for a Big Insurance huckster and Wall Street charlatan all these years. Ryan's rising star is fizzling like a wet bottle rocket on July 5th.

time for paul the career politician to get one of them private sector jobs he's been telling us are so great..

Rob Zerban has the potential to be a strong candidate and the best competition that Ryan has had in years.

poobah, I appreciate your comment. With the scant amount of information given, it is a bit of a stretch at this point to give this particular story too much weight.

As much as I want to see Ryan given an early retirement by voters next year, in all fairness a poll conducted by a Democrat pollster for a Democrat candidate with no apparent access to the methodology, questions posed, responses, etc. makes this absolutely worthless in my mind. Frank, if you have more than the polling memo in hand, can the Gazette make these details available to your readers or has the Zerban campaign put an embargo on the raw data? Does anyone else know if the raw data has been released on some other site?