Life can be blue for Walworth County Democrats
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Democrats hold up signs to honks, cheers and jeers from passersby in front of the old Elkhorn courthouse on the square on Friday.
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Those at the Democratic rally in Elkhorn displayed a wide variety of signs, many of them showing their anger with Governor Scott Walker.
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Cate Riedl of Delavan wears a hat adorned with pink slips for the Governor during the Elkhorn rally on Friday.
ELKHORN — A rally here of 50 protesters of Gov. Scott Walker’s policies was ignited Friday when a pickup truck driver made a rude gesture aimed at the protesters. They responded with sarcastic “thank yous.”
Another motorist shouted at the top of his lungs for a half of a city block “God bless Scott Walker.”
The protesters were also told by passing motorists to “get a life.”
Such is the life of the underdog Democrats in largely Republican Walworth County.
The protesters gathered at a busy intersection at the old courthouse in Elkhorn where they were seen and heard by a lot of passing vehicles. Depending on who was behind the wheel, members of the group were either regarded as heroes or goats. Some onlookers seemed to regard their efforts as irrelevant.
Regardless, it didn’t extinguish their need to broadcast their message.
Organizers said 103 people attended the protest.
Terry Williams, a former Delavan municipal judge, said he can’t help who he is and kept shouting protest slogans and marching with his colleagues.
“I’m sure being a Democrat doesn’t bring me much legal business in Walworth County,” Williams said. He is a private-practice lawyer in Sharon and former head of the Walworth County Democratic Party.
Rob Zerban, a Kenosha businessman who is running as a Democrat in the 2012 fall election against Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
“I don’t know that we can turn Walworth County completely blue, but we can stop Ryan from getting some votes from here,” Zerban said.
Past Democrats have found Walworth County a tough nut to crack when stumping for votes, according to Janesville Gazette research.
Herb Kohl and William Proxmire have been the only Democrats to make inroads here. Kohl’s only loss in Walworth County was to Susan Engeleiter by an 18,081 to 12,813-vote margin in the 1988 race. Kohl captured the county in all of his elections after that.
It’s been all red in every other race:
Ron Johnson thumped Russ Feingold 22,429 to 12,379 in 2010 U.S. Senate race
Scott Walker crushed Tom Barrett 22,731 to 11,870 in the 2010 governor’s race
John McCain edged Barack Obama 25,485 to 24,177 in the 2008 presidential race
Mark Green won over incumbent Jim Doyle 18,781 to 14,154 in the 2006 gubernatorial race
Scott McCallum beat Doyle here 13,319 to 9,764 in the 2002 race
Similar numbers can be found in presidential and gubernatorial elections dating back to 1978.
So, what’s the point of a Democratic rally in Elkhorn?
Lars Prip of Afton attended the rally with his family, which included 9-year-old Taveon Prip.
The elder Prip waved what he called a Liberty flag that was reminiscent of the American Revolutionary War as he stood on a street curb.
He said the flag represented people who are under attack by Walker just as freedom-loving people were by the British.
Prip said he doesn’t expect one small street rally to make a big impact on state politics, but many rallies will prompt change.
“Every little bit helps,” Prip said. “Everything we do will make a difference.”
Taveon enjoyed his role of blowing a duck call while waving a protest poster.
“My grandpa brought me here,” an excited Taveon said with pride as protesters chanted “this is what democracy looks like.”
Prip patted the head of his grandson.
Rally organizer Ellen Holly, an Elkhorn Middle School teacher, said the numbers of protesters are growing in conservative Walworth County. Residents who were not politically motivated before are now getting out of their homes and walking the pavement, she said.
By rally’s end more drivers were blowing their horns in support of the protesters.
The driver of a septic tank truck waved and honked his horn in support.
A passerby gave a protester a $10 bill to drop into the group’s donation jar. Prip heartily waved his flag. His grandson honked away on the duck call.
Jul 25, 2011 at 9:53 a.m.
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Saved jobs aren't included in the statistics we're discussing here. And if the the Walker administration is taking cues from the Obama administration, all I can say is I'm not surprised. When walker achieves 15 consecutive months of job growth in the state of WI, then he can start patting himself on the back. He can start with showing positive job numbers in September. That'll be more impressive than a few thousand jobs at the onset of summer in WI.
Jul 25, 2011 at 9:18 a.m.
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" I don't think we're at the point of patting politicians on the back just for having the fewest job losses."
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Really? Isn't that the same thing as "saved jobs"? The current US administration continually patted itself on the back for saved jobs.
Jul 25, 2011 at 9:08 a.m.
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RetiredAirForce,
Did you really need someone to answer that question for you?
Obviously WI had fewer total job LOSSES than those other states. I don't think we're at the point of patting politicians on the back just for having the fewest job losses.
Jul 25, 2011 at 9:02 a.m.
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bigdaddy2,
So now you know the exact date that every single seasonal job in the state of WI was filled? Well, good for you.
I worked summer jobs when I was in high school. I've also hired a number of high school kids for various summer positions. They don't start until June because kids are still in school in May. Jobs aren't "added" until the person is working.
Jul 25, 2011 at 8:04 a.m.
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@walter
But Walter when ever numbers come out if a Dem-tard was in office he or she would take credit. Most summer jobs would have been hired in May not June. Thats what the report was for. So you take half of your brain and go back to bed.
Jul 25, 2011 at 7:17 a.m.
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Don't those 50 people have connections to Obama's organization groups? Give them credit for still hanging in there despite all the evidence that Walker's policies are working already.
Jul 25, 2011 at 6:50 a.m.
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Walter if summer jobs are created in each state, yet Wisconsin employment totals equates almost 50% of the total US jobs created, what was the reason Wisconsin had the increases?
Jul 25, 2011 at 5:21 a.m.
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RustyRotor, I did and I do speak for myself. Thank you so much for your support!
Jul 24, 2011 at 7:21 p.m.
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Nice picture of the lady wearing a foil hat!
Jul 24, 2011 at 6:39 p.m.
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Walter-Ya I forgot about that. Hey, didn't that guy in Norway also work for Fox News-he was a right wing nut job.
Jul 24, 2011 at 5:49 p.m.
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poorrichard,
Nah. FoxNews was too busy hacking into the voicemails of murdered young girls to be bothered with a small rally of Democrats.
Jul 24, 2011 at 5:39 p.m.
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Walter-Shouldn't you be blaming Fox News for this? I thought I saw Sean Hannity driving by them sticking out his tongue.
Jul 24, 2011 at 5:25 p.m.
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RetiredAirForce,
Yes, summer jobs are created in every state and yes the national numbers are extremely dismal. Your perceptive abilities are unrivaled.
Jul 24, 2011 at 5:10 p.m.
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Billie clyde I have had a change of heart.I now stand with the wonderful tea party!So Mr. Puckett please keep up the good work.Keep my taxes low and donate your money to the local tea party. P.S. my money was inherited and I made that much off investments so yes it was pretty much tax free.Tea party forever!
Jul 24, 2011 at 5:03 p.m.
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Walter aren't summer jobs created in all states? Guess that makes the national numbers look even worse...
Jul 24, 2011 at 4:58 p.m.
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I support all of you & your choices but personally feel bumper stickers & protesting lacks etiquette. But that doesn't mean I would shout out stuff or flip someone off. I can't help but think these protests by the Democratic party are a little out of control & attract this type of behavior & fear one day it might get more violent.
Having an opinion is one thing but we must all learn to live together & breath the same air.
Jul 24, 2011 at 4:46 p.m.
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bigdaddy2,
If you want to start throwing the "tard" slur around you better look in the mirror, especially if you're going to start barking about all the jobs the Republicans created in WI last month. You do realize it's summer, don't you? And you do you realize that the tourism industry in WI creates seasonal private sector jobs every summer, right? Stop acting like it was some great Republican breakthrough. Anybody with half a brain can see right through that b.s.
Jul 24, 2011 at 4:38 p.m.
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Gee SloppyJoe, its amazing how you went from a bomb throwing liberal to a card carrying conservative in just a few short posts. A quick hint, previous posts are available to look at so when someone like you attempts to get "cute" its pretty easy to detect. My guess is that you haven't seen 180k in the past 5 years combined but "creative truth" just comes naturally to some types of people.
Jul 24, 2011 at 4:13 p.m.
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@miltonlib, "It's absolutely unbelievable how many voting Americans are total idiots."
Speak for yourself!
Jul 24, 2011 at 3:55 p.m.
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They say you vote with your pocket book. I certainly will.I made a little over a hundred and eighty thousand last year got a good accountant and was able to hide some so as not to pay as much in taxes. I LOVE the tea party and and all they stand for.I am looking to buy a vacation home in northern Minnesota so I hope the tea party keeps up the good fight for me.I also could care less about social security or anyone on it don't get me wrong I'll take the chump change if it's there but I already got mine.Please vote for Paul Ryan and to the tea party--Keep up the good work!
Jul 24, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.
Jul 24, 2011 at 2:48 p.m.
Jul 24, 2011 at 2:13 p.m.
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I especially like the picture of Obama with the caption: "This is what hypocrisy looks like". Very fitting.
Jul 24, 2011 at 11:50 a.m.
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Yo, Dick too much info!
Jul 24, 2011 at 11:45 a.m.
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Sarah, wouldn't say anyone is upset about a couple of wannabe rulers (Zerban & Williams) and folks who believe their failures in life are "someone elses fault" standing on the street corner as much as it is quite funny that they get front page treatment.
Jul 24, 2011 at 10:35 a.m.
Jul 24, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.
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miltonlib - I have many friends who said they would never vote republican again after the second GWB term. Fast forward two years and they were voting for some republicans again. Talk is cheap.
Jul 24, 2011 at 9 a.m.
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donnaw, of course not everyone is smart enough to see the light. I also know plenty of people in Walworth County who are not sorry they voted for Walker. Nevertheless, the fact that people who voted Republican their whole lives, and for him, will never vote Republican again remains. And you are correct that the Democrats are idiots! They have been unable to get people to realize that the Republicans are just holding your attention by swinging shiny objects in front of all of your faces while they stick it to you from behind. Perhaps your Walworth County friends are billionaires. In that case, they should definitely always vote Republican because that 1-2% of the population is who the Republicans really represent. Otherwise, your friends are voting against their own economic interests and are, most likely, idiots. The Republicans have trained people well. 19% of people in this country believe that they are in the top 1% of wage earners. Delusional. But, people are people and they will do what they're going to do no matter what. But smart people should be watching out for the dangling shiny objects!
Jul 24, 2011 at 8:15 a.m.
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miltonlib...and the idiots are the Dems! And how appropriate the woman in the picture is wearing a tinfoil hat! By the way my friends in Walworth county are not sorry they voted for Walker.
Jul 24, 2011 at 7:48 a.m.
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totellthetruth- "103 people... how dang pathetic"
That's about the same number that showed up in Madison for Palin & Joe The Plumber.
Jul 24, 2011 at 7:40 a.m.
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In Walworth County, 103 people is an avalanche of Democratic protestors. I've talked to many people in Walworth County who had never voted for a Democrat and now, say they will never vote for a Republican again. That's powerful. Some people are actually opening their eyes and may be done voting against their own economic interests...instead of continuing to cast votes for a party solely because of guns, abortion, gay marriage or any of the other social issues that Republicans slam down people's throats just to distract them from their pro-corporate, middle class killing agenda. It's absolutely unbelievable how many voting Americans are total idiots.
Jul 23, 2011 at 11:14 p.m.
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the rat didn't stop cause all lefties can manage are "drive by's".
"The driver of a septic tank truck waved and honked his horn in support." - somehow this seems fitting as dems are usually full of it.
Jul 23, 2011 at 8:36 p.m.
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What the 1st Amendment is all about! Good job, Walworth!
Jul 23, 2011 at 7:11 p.m.
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mouse- Wondering why you didn't stop in if you were driving by?
Jul 23, 2011 at 6:52 p.m.
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The story does state someone from Afton was there. Afton is in Rock not Walworth. --Mouse give it a break you are truly the biggest whiner. Libs are such cry babies.
Jul 23, 2011 at 6:14 p.m.
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The organizers keep track with a sign up sheet-so there were 103 people there-plus people who stopped by-who couldn't make it. Pretty good for Walworth County on a summer fish fry night. Next I am expecting to here that people were "bussed" in.
Jul 23, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.
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Rally on, Democrats! Recall Walker!
Jul 23, 2011 at 4:26 p.m.
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They were lucky to have 20 people there I went by a few times and they never had a large crowd. What a bunch of liers and cry babies. I can not understand why this made the news. It was a non event other then the people driving by them to support Walker. The democraps need to stop there BS.
Jul 23, 2011 at 4:12 p.m.
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The guy screaming "God bless Scott Walker!" was also screaming, "Obama doesn't have a birth certificate!" Clearly more reality and logic impaired than Republican.
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