My family is all voting for Justice Prosser, it's a NO Brainer!!! How I wish there would have been a commercial of the 80 yr. old farmer from Marshall that this kloppenburg headcase prosecuted and had thrown in jail. She should be so proud...NOT. Oh, well, what goes around always comes around. A Huge thank you to the most informed member in this blog, "RetiredAirForce". Thank you so much for serving your country, and for the information. Hopefully people will read this and think about it. Unfortunately, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em drink".

After Walker’s speech at the Forward Janesville dinner, Tim Cullen certainly didn’t want to talk to anyone about why he ran to Illinois. He had the courage to run away from his responsibilities but did not have the courage to talk to anyone who thought he did the wrong thing. Just whom is he representing?

Stubby,
Learn some history, education expenses have increased at alarming rates since the 1970's and yet our students are still falling behind other countries.

Never has the governor proposed making up the whole deficit on the backs of public employees, only a share. There has never been talk of 20%, it is about 8%.

The other cuts are not necessary if the districts had been better at managing their finances in the past. We have overspent for years on extras and now those extras will have to be pared back. It will also require better scrutiny of budgets, if you have ever seen a school budget it is lacking in details. Their budgets are substantially less detailed than a private company's budget. How can you know where your money is going when you don't have a handle on future costs? If you live in a district that has budgeted properly, you will not see the cuts that you mentioned.

The cost controls are a scam. Teachers were guaranteed a 3.8% total package increase for years. This was a guaranteed raise that was dictated by the cost of insurance. If you want a top level insurance plan, it has to be paid for and teachers chose to take less in pay raises to have that top level plan. BUT, they have lane and step increases which give them a raise. So in the end, they have been able to double their salary in a 10 year period. Very few professions allow this type of increase.

I do agree that younger teachers should be paid more, but that would require sacrifice from the older teachers and they are not willing to do that. So once again it is the union selling out the least powerful members (the younger teachers)

Guess what, HeidiB - the cuts to education go way farther than just cutting employee wages. Walker is cutting grant programs that fund, among other thing, AP courses, Mathematics and Engineering programs, Nursing programs (and the list goes on). He has also cut funding far in excess of what can be recaptured by the already painful cuts to the staff. To get the full $900 million they'd have to cut teacher pay by about 20% (that would put a starting teacher with a family well below the federal poverty level.) So programs must be cut as well - programs that give kids opportunities in language and the arts, athletics and other activities. These cuts come after 18 years of state-imposed revenue controls that have already put schools on an 18 year old crash diet. They've gone from cutting fat to lopping off an arm to lose weight.

Oh My God! Head for the hills! Bunker in! The SHHTF! There were vehicles from Illinois spotted in Janesville! It is an out of state rabble rouser conspiracy!

Ummm, people, the state line is about 20 miles from Janesville. I know you wont believe it, but I have seen Illinois plates that far from the state line before.

athos- I could not agree with you more!! Vote on Tuesday and remove Sodemann!! These people that say that the "majority" is not saying anything because they are happy need to look around. I know a few people that actually voted for this person (walker) and they regret it badly. The polls will show who is staying at home. Get the vote out and remove this union buster!!

Sodemann = Walker. Walker and the Koch cronies bad for Wisconsin, Sodemann and his cronies bad for Janesville, both BAD for students!

The money that the state is short needs to come from the billionares that havent payed their taxes. Don't take it from the less paid people working hard for their money and benefits. Unless this man is recalled this is not going to be good for this state. Wake up people everybody is in his path.

I still stand by my assertion that a pay cut is not butchering education. It is an inconvenience for the employee, they will adapt to it and everything will be fine.

It appears that you are saying that if the teacher's pay is reduced, they will not do as good of job. I find that line of thinking disturbing you must have very little respect for teachers. I feel that they are professionals and deserve our respect because they do have a pretty thankless job sometimes.

I also think it is terrible to force a pay cut on them, but it is necessary in order to balance the education budget. It has taken a number of years but we have brought teachers up to a salary level that is on par with the private sector, yet the benefits are quite good. It is time for the employee to share in the cost of the top notch benefits or move to a less expensive plan. Either way it reduces the burden on the taxpayer.

As far as collective bargaining, it is necessary to remove this because we can't have all of this given back in a couple of years. The pension problem is not going away, even with the employee paying a portion we still will run a deficit in the future unless investment returns are very good. We don't want to and cannot afford to be back in this same situation 10 years from now. Sometimes things like this are painful but necessary.

Mouse, Please show some respect for others. I will debate any point with you but we need to actually have some facts, which you are typically short on.

Heidib,
How can you figure that cutting teachers pay by 8% and more in the future, plus the major hits to state university system is not butchering education, and at the time we need strong education the most.
When a tax increase as a part of the solution is strictly verboten by the tea party idealogues, their budget balancing scam can hardly seen as anything more than an effort to starve the public education system into beggars, and then the tea party can roll out their voucher scheme.
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This used carsalesman ploy of bifurcating the benefits side of teachers pay is beyond ridiculous, and I doubt HeidiB that you truly believe in what you said, even if you've had the "unfair benefits mantra" drilled in your head by Fox Walker Koch etc.
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Benefits are part of their pay, they generally make less wages and get better benefits. Wages + benefits = compensation. .... A paycut is a paycut,
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And no, I don't hear teacher complaining and resigning, that is not how they roll. We all know teachers didn't enter the profession to make it rich.
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Instead of tearing people down for having a decent and solvent retirement system perhaps we should be striving to get others better retirement. God Bless the teachers in their work and efforts to save public education in Wisconsin.
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Abe,
How is forcing someone to pay for a portion of their benefits "butchering education"?

How is eliminating collective bargaining "butchering education"?

Are teachers quitting? I haven't heard of mass resignations coming in, but I do know that without these changes teachers will be terminated. I would think that terminating teachers would be more of an issue for you if were truly against "butchering education".

I'm wondering why the presense of vehicles from IL matters. A lot of people that work in Wisconsin, live in Illinois. All Forward Janesville events are open to all employees of member businesses. You just had to buy a ticket.

TrueCitizen - lets get it straight, when we are talking about the Unions in Janesville that are the target of the boy governor's political persecution, we are talking about teachers primarily.
----------------------------------------
And need we remind anyone, teachers are 2/3 women. Firefighters and cops being exempted by the *budget* (a term used loosely) bill is telling. Perhaps the reason they chose to bully teachers and mostly women is because teaching has the charitable/caregiver aspect, and is not supposed to be the job of a family bread-winner. They are supposed to accept their lot and what the wealthy dudes and the cronies tell them.
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Undoubdtedly, Walker and cronies expected to walk all over them as commenced butchering the education system. We should be proud of our Union teachers for not only energetically doing their jobs (as indicated by exemplary test scores of late) And for standing up to the monied interests hell-bent on profiting from having their boy governor in office.
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Thanks again protesting teachers. Keep your incredible energy focused right where it is - on ousting these guys, starting with Sodemann and Prosser.
Eventually Walker will be toast too - maybe he can run as Palin's VP cabana boy.

Was the school board meeting this week changed to Thursday so Sodemann, Stottler and Sperry could attend Forward Janesville meeting with Scott Walker? Just wondering??

Scooter, are you serious! He did not change my life by making this law, I am in the private sector. I have already been paying my own health and insurance premiums. You call him hitler, I was always taught that when people name call, it is because they are being babies and have to try to hurt someone else by using names. you talk about the children, but havn't listened to anything. Collective bargaining rights have nothing to do with how good a teacher is or not. It also has nothing to do with making sure that parents are also working with children properly. these are the things that affect children.

I did see 27 IL. vehicles and several other out of state vehicles

At the protest I did not see 700 people enter the place.

Nice post, Abe.

Good news for proponents of public education.
---------State test results recorded by Janesville public school students this year show “dramatic” improvement over those from the previous year, Superintendent Karen Schulte said Monday. Most grade levels did better than the state average in reading and math.

“I’m really pleased,” said Schulte, adding she could not remember a year when the district had better test results.
http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-ne...
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And not so good news for the voucher schools, Sodemann, Walker, etc....
... "Newly released scores show voucher students educated in private or religious schools in Milwaukee performed worse on statewide reading and math tests than their counterparts in public schools.

The scores released on Tuesday by the state Department of Public Instruction could play an integral part in the ongoing debate over whether to expand the voucher program statewide.

The test results show that for all grades, 34.4 percent of voucher school students were proficient or advanced in math. That is less than half the 77.2 percent statewide average of public school students."
http://www.channel3000.com/news/27354325...

Congrats teachers and students of Janesville Wisconsin public schools!

totellthetruth, school vouchers behave like tax cuts. They have an initial positive impact at the beginning, but once they become ingrained they lose their edge and actually become a drag on progress.

So instead of arguing with people on here, get out and "greet" Walker in a fashion that he deserves!

SENATOR CULLEN IS COMING TO THE JANESVILLE RALLY TONIGHT! HE IS RALLYING IN BELOIT AT 3:30 WITH REV. JESSE JACKSON and THEN COMING TO J'VILLE
Rev. Jackson is heading to UW Whitewater for a 6pm rally - maybe he'll stop in Janesville on his way there!

I believe it is! I also think it is their goal to do away with Social Security and medicare as well, and turn it all into a voucher system. Everybody will be poor and dying at a much earlier age. What a great idea to save taxpayer money!

Setting aside this fantastical notion about Walker wanting to balance the budget. Can the so-called conservatives tell us, what is their ultimate goal on the education front? Is it doing away with public education system as we know it and going to vouchers?

dado4, today's frontpage headline is the Gazette's local spin version of that report. Instead of showing that voucher students educated in private or religious schools performed worse on statewide reading and math tests than their counterparts in public schools, they'd rather show how our schools "improved" against the statewide average, but there's still "room to improve." The real "voucher" story will likely be published tomorrow, somewhere inside the paper.

The reason to discredit public education is clear. The state spent $10,791 / pupil last year. The median private school tuition was $17,441 / pupil. With scores being equal or favoring public schools, public education must be destroyed in order for private corporations to expand their enjoyment the nearly $7,000 profit / pupil at tax payer expense.
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news...
http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-schoo...
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Remember, it's not about the budget. Walker's budget, while slashing compensation actually increases spending.
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http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...
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All of this is a matter of acclimating the Middle Class to lower wages while giving private corporations access to even more tax-payer dollars. The defecit will increase. Quality of 'public' services will decrease.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/27354325...

For everybody that thinks that private schools are better.

hondaman3: I hope you show up to see the union thugs and where they're bussed in from. Hopefully their bus won't get in the way of the Koch brother bus from Rockford. I want Walker to keep talking too...it seems to help the people that oppose him! ; )

after reading many of Rocochick's comments, and requesting several to be removed because of their distasteful and disgusting content, don't feed her need of confrontation with your rebuttal. In her sick and dimented mind, she welcomes it and thrives on it.
Rather than arguing with someone who obviously will never change their mind, put that energy towards the Kloppeburg campaign, the recall of the 8 republicans, or attend a rally/protest. And don't forget to vote on April 5th! Offer rides to neighbors, friends and family!

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/...

one more thing..
Another thing is the tax cuts for the big buisiness in the state is supposed to "attract business" to come to Wisconsin. How can you say that and then cut education 900 million? "bring your business here and we will give you big tax cuts but your kids will not have good schools to attend". What a joke. Oh thats right they will send their children to private schools because they will not send their kids to school with the common "union thug" children.

The thing I don't understand is that people like miss scarlet LATELY have been crying "ON THE TAXPAYERS BACK". I have been a public employee for 16 years and never heard a thing until after the man in the governer seat dropped the bomb of his "tools" to balance the budget. We need to make sure that the big multi-million dollar companies pay thier fair share.

RECALL!!!

Ready for a great example of how GREAT capitalism is?
General Electric has a 14 billion dollar annual profit number from 2010. In the USA , the country that Fox and repubs argue has such a high corporate tax. How much do you think they paid in federal taxes, ZERO! Not a penny, as a matter of a fact they RECIEVED a 3.2 billion dollar tax benefit!
All of this happens while our awfully hypocritical President names Jeff Immelt , GE CEO to his panel for job creation, all while GE has outsourced 20% of it's American workforce?
Some of you people really believe that its public sector unions breaking the economy? SUCKERS!

Absolutely perfect Miss Scarlet! That is funny!!

I can't even imagine what would happen if my house servant joined a union. I had to cut my staff 2 years ago, so Juanita is my maid, butler, cook and gardener. I had to raise her pay to $1,000 a month, but she is worth it - except once last summer I almost had to cut the lawn myself, but I could not start that darn grass cutting thing.

I wonder why the Gazette hasn't reported on this. I've seen it on Forbes and in the Milwuakee Sentinel... Walker's budget increases spending by 1%... I thought it was cutting spending by 5%. More of the tax-payer money shell game.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...

JasonTh - but you need to look at both sides of the story. Once upon a time, being finacially independent was an exclusive distinction. Now, regular people (public employees) are joining our ranks AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE. Doesn't this seem like cheating or something to you?

Roco, Scarlet, et al. even the email Walker got in the last few weeks was released to the AP and reviewed. At best it was a 50/50 split on support. I like many others don't bother emailing someone who won't listen - so I'm confident saying that more Wisconsinites oppose the bill or at least the method of budget balancing used.

I'm not ignorant to the need of a balanced budget and all of the crap that has been kicked down the street every election... but this method is self serving to the elite, wealthy, and connected. There is not a single low income or middle class citizen who won't be negatively affected - and the only reason is because Walker will not raise taxes or fix the tax problem.

Open for business, indeed. You folk who continue to beat the drum and troll the forums making fun of the protesters, progressive Democrats, and Jessie Jackson are not going to be rewarded for your vote. I just don't understand why you continue to support someone who will sell your freedom, quality of life, and hard work for a higher quarterly dividend check from their investments.

You want to fund Infrastructure? Put toll booths on the highways, make all who use them from other states help pay to rebuild them.
Wisconsin Unemployment is CONSIDERABLY lower than most states, that is with the "awful tax" environment that exists. Interesting! The whole attract business rhetoric is getting old. By attracting business, do you mean over worked , underpaid factory workers?(Stoughtn Trailers) I am sorry but destroying public ed in favor of re-opening plants like STrailers is not my idea of improvement, just a race to the bottom. You like cheap labor, fine. That will not improve the quality of living here. Your talking points about a "business friendly" environment worked in the last election. Now people are experiencing huge regret. You don't think so? The dominoes will start to fall on April 5 , then state senators will be recalled(looking like only repubs will face elections) , and next year Walker will face a recall election. I may be wrong, but this is the classic over reach. The dems did it in 2008, now the repubs are doing the EXACT same thing in 2010. Difference is that the immediate impact is causing folks to recall politicians. See you at the ballot box!

Straight talk? Hmmm I would like you to state ONE over sized contract the unions have gotten in the last 6 years, one! State workers have been taking pay freezes and teachers across the state have been asked to do the same and chip in for their heath care. JEA just conceded that 2 contracts ago! You have NO grip of the facts what so ever, you want to talk about raiding funds? How did Governor McCallum plug the huge defecit created by Tommy? Raided the tobacco settlement fund to the tune of 800 million dollars! So please keep the partisan banter to yourself. The FACTS are BOTH parties participate in the pay for play , in the robbing Peter to pay Paul. Doyle had no chance? I was no fan of Doyle but he certainly would have fared better than Barrett did, and Barrett lost by 120,000 votes in a high repub turnout!
Why dont righties that claim to be straight talkers explain the REAL reasons why the economy took a dump, not because of unions or teachers unions thats for sure. I could sit here and bore people with FACTS about credit default swaps and derivatives but FACTS are not nearly as fun to write about are they? the banking and insurance industry destroyed the global economy, stealing TRILLIONS and not being prosecuted. There isn't a spending problem here its a revenue problem that arises directly from factories and many millions of other Blue collar , Middle class jobs moving to China in the interests of corporate profits. Free trade screws us, and helps them(corporate wealthy) , and even when a large corporation stays here they piss and moan about their tax burden so it can be shifted to the people. Many of those who used to work at GM and other factories now work at Wal mart and Red robin, along with their sweet 401ks that are now almost completely worthless. Many thousands of American families with parents in their 40s and 50s little to no higher education and NO shot at rebuilding their retirement or their savings for that matter. But hey screw em right? As long as its not you! Unfortunately I have found that most uninformed righties have very few legit arguements and are just looking out for number one, screw everyone else.
If you want to have a debate based on numbers and facts relating to corruptions in any and ALL administrations I am always game to combat any numbers you may have. My problem is that these problems are national and trickling down to the states. Again I will debate ANYTHING you want based on FACTUAL NUMBERS, but if you want to be a simpleton and just play partisan politics, so as to state that one side is more "right" than the other, than you just look silly.

You have the proper name "fear and rhetoric for dummies" as this is obviously what you are spreading. You lose all credibility when you submit Doyle as somehow understanding how to budget. Let's see - robbed state medical fund to the tune of $200 Mil (must be paid back), forgot to pay Minnesota the $98 Mil (must now be paid), did fictional fund transfers (magic!) in order to balance budgets. Thank God that we will fund the transportation budget to some degree - we need infrastructure to attract business and JOBS. I do agree with you on "Pay for play." That's where WEAC dues going to the very people who negotiate their contracts. Unions play the game, DEMS pay them back with over-sized contracts. Why do you think Doyle didn't run for reelection? Exactly, he had zero chance after the mess he created. Get your facts straight.

Funny how you talk of balancing budgets. Those that support the Governor get rewards , suffer almost zero cuts in fact get increases in spending. While those who supported Tom Barrett are now paying for their disobedience. Read the links below I dare you to talk of balanced budgets, its balanced on the political opponents of Scott Walker, period. This is NOT shared sacrifice at all. This is pay for play, nothing more. We are not broke we are simply caught in a shell game between political parties, moving money from here to there depending on supporters, Funny thing i that even under Jim Doyle, education didn't recieve the increases that highway funding will. Wonder why? Oh thats right road construction companies gave MASSIVE amounts of money, do any of you conservatives even raise an eyebrow to that stuff?

Wow - I thought you liberals prided yourself on the idea of an open exchange of ideas and getting input from various people. Reading this blog clearly shows otherwise. Do you really think Walker is an evil man? I think he's simply trying to balance the state's budget - just like he said he would in his campaign. Wisconsin ranks as the 10th highest taxed state, so we don't have a revenue or income problem. We have a spending problem. What you don't seem to understand is that the vast majority of people who support Walker are NOT anti-teacher or anti-public worker, they are simply asking for government to balance their budget and not spend more than they take in. Just like every household has to do to survive.

Walker and Wisconsin are Winning!

"Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said that much of the new spending was to help eliminate a more than $3 billion deficit" ---------- That's how you win elections. Talk complete nonsense, "new spending...to eliminate...deficit" and idiots will vote for you.

Yes West, the tea baggers have been misled. They are all too happy to be used by Walker, much like Walker gets used by Koch and Co.

It harkens back to when the plantation lords were able to get the southern commoners to do their dirty work.

Walker is probably disappointed Koch doesn't really want to fly him to Cali. And likewise Walker is too cool to be breaking bread with you at Fuddruckers. If your lucky, Joe the Plumber may be there in his stead.

Apparently Walker's budget INCREASES spending over the next 2 years:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/2011-13%2...
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...
You Tea Baggers have done been had...you voted in a GWB Repub. Oops.

Ah yes, words spoken by someone who probably does not pay their own way and probably never has.

Your reference to the Clock Tower is humorous RoCoChick - LOL. I read a piece by Greg that stated how terrible the litter is in northern Illinois. Maybe SarahB1 and Shopierehuh can assist the 14 Dems in an multi-state effort to pick up some of that litter next time they scatter like rats.

Good move saxcat70. I only hope the Governor continues relentlessly to regain control of the state from the public unions. His agenda will probably also be a profitable deal for the clocktower in Rockford.

While I do not have a ticket, i believe i will attend the rally. My goal will be to track down a gazette reporter, and let them know that I along with millions of Wisconsinites support Governor Walker and his agenda. I will be the one smiling from ear to ear. Life is good.

RoCoChick - of the people I talk to, about 90% to 95% support Walker and his efforts to make Wisconsin a financially healthy state. The public employee unions were a good place to start, but plugging that leak of taxpayer money is not going to fix our state economy. We need higher taxes on major purchases - like a 5% special tax on new vehicle purchases - and stiff tolls on our interstate highways.

The more I read about Walker the more sure I am that he will be impeached before Recalled. Anybody read the story about his connection to Bears-Stearns? He really thinks laws and state rules do not apply to him or his administration.

Nice analogy RoCoChick. I liked your little survey, but, as far as surveys go, I don't trust the results of most of them. The conclusions drawn by the surveyors are 'questionable' and the wording of the question is generally 'leading'. I guess I would trust a survey that I conduct, and I word the question, and I interpret the results.

Let me see;

1. Conducting your own poll and quoting it as "scientific proof"

2. Refering to syndicate head Walker as "Him" with the capital letter, according him deity status.

3. Analogies with urine and feces in.

OK, my investigation is over, it is definately a troll, I advise against feeding it.

Thanks tele78 - it just comes to me naturally.

RoCoChick
So mature you relate to bathroom humor. It must be hard for you to have an intelectual conversation. Here - pull my finger!

Maybe Governor Walker will reveal some more of His upcoming agenda. He's done great so far, and I expect more good things from Him in the near future. He might not be able to completely fix our broken state before going to the White House next year, but He sure is trying. Kudos to Walker.

Furthermore, RoCochick, when the real Abe Lincoln was president, to help preserve the Greater Good, help the oppressed, and preserve the Union he implemented ...........

drumroll.... the nations first income tax.

Meanwhile the South was interested in preserving Plantation society where the wealth was concentrated in the hands of the few and education was repressed. Sound familiar? The roster of Wisconsin volunteers that fought and died in that war was long and deep.

RoCoChick will be their to support the Koch/Walker plutocracy, of the rich by the rich for the rich.

For the rest of us, lets show up. So "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Fotunately, the real Abe Lincoln was concerned with the greater good of the state - not like this blogs' mindless Abe Lincoln. I'll be there Tuesday to support Walker and to remind him that he is winning.

Most everybody is from Wisconsin at the protests. People don't come to WI to stand around in the cold in the winter, unless its at a ski resort.

And if people did come in from out of state -then whoop-de-doo. Thank the Lord, someone else recognizes the magnitude of the crime, and destruction of the WI way of life by the national monied powers and their far-reaching agenda.

Interesting that they chose primarily women's organizations (teachers, nurses, govt clerks) to bully this time. If the Kochs' can own WI and destroy public education here, then what's next?

I realize when Walker comes, we will be herded far away from the Holiday Inn where Sodemann and Walker are carousing. But lets just show up anyway and raise a little heck.

iluvjvl: I agree that the people who talk about the "bussed" people from out of state have never been to the Capitol for the protests. I went up twice and each time I ran into people I knew, Wisconsin non-union people who I had no idea would be there. I even ran into a guy I went to high school with over 20 years ago! And I saw this scene over and over of people hooking up again. Even after the bill was passed, I talked to people that said they just "needed to be here". You don't get that understanding if you're just watching Fox News (who, by the way, the retailers of those blow-up palm trees must be thanking!)

http://www.defendwisconsin.org/

The protest has gone viral.

Interesting spin from the Stop Walker Web Site about the dinner, they write: “The protest will hopefully be more about protesting Walker’s agenda to destroy unions and assault the poor, seniors, teachers and others and make horrific cuts to the people of Wisconsin than protesting the members of Forward Wisconsin, who cross the political divide.” --------- but not protest Forward Janesville’s obvious support for Walker’s agenda to destroy unions and assault the poor, seniors, teachers and others and make horrific cuts to the people of Wisconsin? I’d say somebody is suffering from an identity crisis.

BTW - I find it interesting that people who keep commenting about protestors being bussed in from other states (Fox News propaganda, you think?!) are the same people who have not been there. I've been there A LOT, and I would guess that 90-95% of these protestors are from right here in our state. If you don't believe it, go to the next one and see for yourself. And they sure don't look or act like "thugs" to me. Half of them are not even in a union. They simply support the cause, based on fairness and protection of our rights. Heck, those in charge right now don't even respect the law, much less the common man in our state.

I dreamt last night that I ran into Gov. Walker on the way to his Forward Janesville reception. I was yelling at him, throwing all the figures at him I've gathered, and asking him to share with the people the WI Acts I'm aware of that have given over 100 million in tax breaks back to his rich friends since he took office less than four months ago. I asked him how on earth removing recycling and relaxing environmental restrictions would help anyone except the industries (i.e. Koch Ind.) that would enjoy the lift, at a cost on our environmnet. I was crying and screaming.
In real life, I'm calm and reserved. It's crazy what my passion for this cause is doing to my psyche. I think I need to retreat for a bit, but it's too important. We are in the middle of handing over our country to the rich if we don't stand up for ourselves. *sigh*

Roco chick is hysterical.

Rocochick, the theater of the mind is a fantastic thing. Enjoy the delusion while it lasts.

SarahB1 - you already read my poll - I asked 25 people and just reported the results.

Bellagio, Jesse Jackson bussing half the protestors in? Heh heh -you sound desparate and in need of that trip to Bellagio, post-haste. Perhaps Walker can join on his trip to California to visit his imaginary rich friend.

It's easy for you to discredit the 100,000 Wisconsin residents because Jesse Jackson was there. Jesse Jackson has always been a target. The majority of the protesters are Wisconsin residents. Half of those were not union, but in support of programs that will be taken away in the budget repair bill. I'm a little old lady in a union. I'm not a thug.

It's nice to see some intelligent bloggers here today; even the emotional one. It's hard to ignore the trolls. But it's obvious when they show up.

A recent poll shows that 84% of Wisconsinites favor Walker's agenda. The other 16% are just bloggers.

I hope Walker and Palin run for president...

It'll make for a great season of SnL, lots of nightly news fodder for Jon and Stephen, and real easy to keep Obama in the whitehouse.

Are we still calling union protesters thugs? Next time you see 100,000 people upset about something and nobody gets arrested, someone please show me a thug.

onedayatatime - my sentiments exactly. I spent a lot of time several weeks ago posting direct links to legislative records, attempting to illustrate clearly (using factual governmental records as my sources) what is really happening in our state right now. Still, those that want to think that the Governor is actually trying to create jobs, and refuse to see the full picture, totally disregarded the proof I provided. I don't think they even looked at the links. They just wanted to argue their positions, without interest in finding truth. The only info they want is that which supports their predetermined positions, and so they post links from some right-wing website, or youtube, for God's sake. It's frustrating, and now I find myself posting more out of emotional frustration than anything. Not good on my part.
I respect that you sought truth in your investigations, even if the outcome was not what you expected. I hope that others will do more of the same.

"Another thought; why can't all people in Janesville attend this dinner? Why is it only open to businesses. How about the people that work for those businesses like City of Janesville?"

Actually, Forward Janesville events are open to all employees of member businesses. The City of janesville is a member.
http://www.forwardjanesville.com/Members...

Here is the detailed list for Joe Knilans

http://www.followthemoney.org/database/S...

This is the detailed list for Walker

http://www.followthemoney.org/database/S...

This is public record.

Great website...how many of you Righties are on this list?

Contributions to WALKER, SCOTT
http://www.followthemoney.org

I do understand why conservatives do not see this. I was a republican up until the 2008 election. I respect George Bush as a man and even like him. He was simply a bad President due to a little too much Dick Cheney, Carl Rove influence .I digress.
What changed my mind is when a friend of my daughter said Republicans were uninformed. It really p__sed me off, so I set out to prove him wrong. This is a person who has a Master's degree in International Conflict Resolution, specific to the Mideast. Having done thesis papers myself, I knew the importance of sources. After more than a year of really following issues and checking out the validity of statements, the only thing I did was prove this young man right. I had to swallow my pride and admit I was wrong. When you look at the statistics it only makes you look belligerent and uniformed to continue to argue to the conservative prospective. I could never go back to being a Republican.

What struck me is that just repealing the Bush tax breaks for the upper bracket would allow all of the at risk programs to be funded. We are only talking about raising the tax bracket from 35% to 39.5%. Many people in that bracket use a Capital Gains loophole and only pay 15%. I pay more than that. We are only talking a 41/2% tax on millionares and billionares, to whom it probably would not make any difference in their lifestyle. It could mean life literally to a homeless family.

Great post, onedayatatime. Thanks for the numbers and sources. I would like to hear these pro-Walker conservatives address some of the tax breaks and loopholes you've included in the list you had assembled.
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Specifically, I would like to hear them justify the $4.1 billion cost of tax breaks for offshore operations of US financial companies, $2.5 billion tax breaks for oil companies and $2.3 billion tax loopholes for managers of hedge funds and private equity funds.

Onedayatatime. That is powerful information you posted. It saddens me to think that people are so close minded to not think of their fellow man in their time of need. Some bloggers may have children or grandchildren who end up disabled for some reason; and there will be no help. Will their children always have a home or need housing assistance. At $12.00 per hour (one head of household) be able to pay a mortgage,car, health insurance. The community clinic will have cutbacks if not closures. If both parents work, who will take care of the children. Childcare cuts are also going to happen.

Although Forward Janesville long ago determined to not ally with the national Chamber of Commerce (because they'd have to pay dues???), they all know "their constituency is really that handful of huge dinosaur companies that would rather lobby than adapt." rather than the citizenry:

http://www.alternet.org/story/150341/why...

A quick look at what is being taken from the middle class and the poor to pay for breaks for the wealthy.
Programs at Risk
$11.2 billion Early childhood programs
$8.9 billion Low-income housing programs
$7.6 Billion supplemental nutrition for the poor(WIC)
$4.6 billion teacher training and after school programs
$4.1 Billion job training for the unemployed and new workers
$2.5 billion Low Income Home Energy Assistance
$317 million for Family Planning
$2.5 billion Community health centers
$2.0 billion Homeless Assistance Grants
$420 million in legal services for the poor
The total cuts for the at risk programs is $44 billion

Tax Breaks for the wealthy
$11.5 billion per year cost of recent estate tax cuts
$8.9 Billion cost of allowing mortgage interest deductions for vacation homes
$6.7 billion cost of estate planning loop holes used by the wealthy to avoid paying taxes
$5.2 billion cost of removing limit in itemized deductions for high income tax payers (FY 2011)
$4.1 billion cost of tax breaks for offshore operations of US financial companies
$2.5 billion tax breaks for oil companies
$4.9 billion cost of extending alcohol fuel tax breaks
$2.3 billion tax loopholes for managers of hedge funds and private equity funds (FY 2011)
$312 million cost of allowing companies to write off punitive damages.
$303 million cost of special tax breaks for the timber industry
$42 billion the one year cost of extending Bush tax cuts for top brackets (FY 2012)

SOURCES:Fiscal Year 2011 Revenue Proposals (Department of Treasury, 2010).

Fiscal Year 2012 Revenue Proposals (Department of Treasury, 2011).

Office of Management and Budget, Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012 (Executive Office of the President, 2011), table 17-1; Congressional Budget Office, “Budget Options” (2000), REV-02.

You've got it right phoenixkid.

Taxes won't go down but your wages will. The difference left over will go to the CEO and stockholders of the private company who will in turn recycle more dollars back to the political party and the local chamber of commerce network so they can further lobby for more deregulation and more tax credits for themselves and legislate the defunding of opposing ideas, individuals and organizations. But remember, these are your friends. So although they abandoned you a long time ago for the buck, don't you dare try to think for yourself or break from that "community" spirit. You'll be labeled as the one who divided the community.

Dear Phoenixkid,

You have always been there to help me and the others less fortunate, professionally dealing with people in crisis...even though you have had your own crisis' to deal with. I am sorry that you won't be a resource for the citizens of Rock County. Hopefully, if and when I need a helping hand and need to rely on public benefits to feed my children or get them the medication or the medical services that they need, I can call the 800# and "Peggy" will be as helpful as you have been. Unfortuneatly, I don't think "she" will be.

Sincerely,

Your boss, The Taxpayer.

Dear Taxpayer/Boss. I've enjoyed working for you. You have asked me for help; I have given it to you. You have been my priority. You have cried on the phone to me; I sent help. I read to your disabled son because he couldn't. I worried about you after I went home. I couldn't answer your question, so I made phone calls to find the answer. You were lost, I helped to find you. You were sick, we talked a long time until you got better. I will miss working for you. I will no longer be working for you and the other taxpayers. I will be privatized. I will be working for a private company. I will answer to them. I hope your taxes go down, but I have been told you will pay the same amount of taxes. Your taxes will pay for my company to manage me. But they will be my boss, not you. You have been kind to me. I have never had any one of you call me and tell me you wanted me to go away or take a pay cut. I will miss you. I hope we will be able to talk again some day. I won't be in Rock County any longer. This is not meant to be sarcasm. I genuinely will miss all of you who I have helped and who I still help.

I greatly admired Geraldine Ferraro, who passed away today. I did not agree with her politics, but she was an amazing woman.

I don't vote straight party line, and I am not wealthy.

FYI, mouse.

mouse

I often post a link to things that I don't totally agree with...unlike some.

Some good points were made in the opinion piece.

Milwaukee JS article..............

Unions choose war because the warlike arts - fighting, regimenting, taking - are what unions do best. Conflict dominates their talk, just like that image of Wisconsin as a fist is all over their posters. The chief strategy of unions is to heighten complaint and to monetize dissatisfaction by organizing it.

It is war because the peaceful alternative, democracy, didn't work out for the unions. They lost; taxpayers won. Don't imagine they'll leave it at that.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/117...

Another thought; why can't all people in Janesville attend this dinner? Why is it only open to businesses. How about the people that work for those businesses like City of Janesville?

Straight Talk. Thank you. It gives me hope that all in attendance aren't his sheep.

All these conservatives in favor of bread and water for inmates... where's your cries for bread and water for Walker's dinner? Him and his henchmen in the legislature are more dangerous to more citizens than most criminals.

Since Commissioner Sodemann and Governor Walker share so much in common, it is fair to ask if they will be sharing a room together at the Holiday Inn on Tuesday night?
---
I suspect not since the protesters might disturb this intimate moment.

Cap Times (your progressive source) and the Isthmus are really not the voice of the people of Wisconsin. Sorry, mouse.

The issue isn't whether or not they should have invited the Governor. The issue is will anybody in that room ask the Governor any pointed questions about actions he has already taken that at best are dividing our state and at worst are stealing from the poor to give to the already rich.

I dont' know Mr. Beckord, but he comes across in the article as congenial, accomodating, and reasonable. But I have found that to be true of a lot of people who are willing to smile to your face as they put a knife in your back.

While the organization says they don't endorse candidates, all you have to do is look to see where their members put their money in politics and suddenly it's really clear that indeed they DO endorse political candidates.

Mr. Beckord says “I also would expect to hear about a lot of the issues that are on the table, and there are many more than just one.”

My guess, one issue this group will hear from Governor Walker will be "get your checkbooks out boys, I'm gonna need lots of cash from you to keep up my efforts to send middle class taxpayer's cash your way."

We wouldn't need to make cuts if the economy wasn't destroyed by Wall Street. I'll explain a bit (there is a lot more to the story with foreign investors and fancy names like credit default swaps and collateralized debt obligations but here's the basic story):
_
With interest rates near zero for so long, pension funds and small time investors, who usually invest only in very safe, long-term investments were unable to keep up with inflation. In order to increase their returns, they were lured by Wall Street into buying AAA-rated mortgage backed securities which were touted as a safe way to increase the rates they were getting on their money. Wall Street didn’t mention that they knew these mortgage backed securities were fraudulently marked as AAA and were really very risky sub-prime loans, NINJA loans and the like. They made money selling these bad securities and then placed bets on the failure of these very same securities. When these securities started going bad, the pension funds lost their money, but Wall Street made MORE money because of their bets…except that their bookie was AIG who was placing these bets without the cash to back them up. AIG was going to have to “shake down” their subsidiaries (pension and insurance policy money) in order to pay Wall Street. So AIG and Goldman Sachs (who was owed 20 million by AIG) went to the government and got a tax-payer funded bail-out. Goldman Sachs was holding AIG subsidiaries as the hostages and the government had to choose whether to save the pension and insurance funds of millions of regular Americans in September 2008, or to borrow from the future Americans to pay AIG’s gambling debts to Wall Street (the bailout money). We the people, were screwed either way. Wall Street gets a piece of your 401K, they got the pension funds and small investor's money and they now are after Social Security (which only invests in safe T-bills so Wall Street isn't getting a cut, yet).

@Phoenixkid. You say: Straight talk - do you agree with Walker?
Would you attend a dinner for all presidents if invited? Walker will see everyone in the audience as his people, remember that.

You miss the point. Fwd Jvl has invited ALL govs and will continue to do so. Whether or not I agree with Walker or Doyle, I like to hear what they have to say. You say remember that Walker will see everyone as "his people" but I totally disagree. Did Doyle see everyone as "his people" when he spoke? Undoubtedly, the answer is "no" for both gentlemen.

Allfor1.....You think that's bad? How about the teacher's union protecting a teacher after he was found molesting a 6th grade student? Thirteen years later this " teacher" is still receiving an almost $100K salary despite the fact that he no longer teaches any students.........
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/disgrace...

Look where billions of dollars lead Mr. Curt Johnson. When convicted he should be hung. Unfortunately his big money will probably buy him a year or two in jail. Sick, sick, sick.

"You libs just don't get it. Unions are soooo last century. In the new order, you will all compete as individuals for whatever work, in whatever conditions, for whatever pay the wealthy and mighty might set. You will get used to your new, much debased condition, because you will know it is in the best interest of the only people who matter: those that make more than $1millon a year".

I was providing information, nothing untrue. If labeling them blue dogs makes it disappear, that's ok.

I responded with that information because some posters seem obsessed with the Koch brothers.

Knock it off Wislady; blue dog democrats are republicans.

No one minded when Koch brothers donated money to the democrats, but that fact seems to have been forgotten.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0...

i_luv_jvl: There are some great videos. For a compilation, check out Matt Wisniewski's videos here: http://vimeo.com/mgwisni. Pretty incredible!

Kay- thanks for sharing real information instead of some of these people that find youtube videos to support their cause. refreshing!

916, here are a number of examples that show how Walker's proposed budget will significantly impact middle-class families and public workers: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/g...

I find it really interesting that the Gazette hasn't published a number of key stories from today that have made the national news. Here's what has happened this week in Wisconsin.
*
First, the Republicans have filed an open records request against a world renowned UW history professor, Bill Cronon. You may have read his recent op-ed in the NY Times. For the story, go to http://scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net/...
*
Second, an Indiana prosecutor emailed Walker to say, "If you could employ an associate who pretends to be sympathetic to the unions' cause to physically attack you (or even use a firearm against you), you could discredit the unions." He's now resigned. More at http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/go...
*
Third, a lawsuit has been filed by Madison firefighters and public works employees, arguing that the stripped-down bill still had fiscal provisions: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/g...
*
And finally, I attended the hearings on Wednesday related to SB-22 on charter schools. If you think the Janesville schools are bankrupt now, you should really consider what this bill could do to school districts: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/ed...

SarahB1 - Don't worry about the lost tax revenue from anyone leaving the state. The state makes it's money from businesses, so don't let that stop you.

Mouse

The story from your link is as old as the story about the Dem who got caught and fined for his massage parlor visit.

Straight talk - do you agree with Walker?
Would you attend a dinner for all presidents if invited? Walker will see everyone in the audience as his people, remember that.

I attended when Doyle was invited (and he accepted) and I'll attend now that Walker has been invited. I hope to attend when the next Gov is invited. Hey lefties, isn't this fair? Or is it only fair when you agree with what's being done or said?

"here" is not WI, by the way, but the US. Frankly, as more of a libertarian, I think we're taxed too much as well, but examples of Corps who profit in billions of dollars not having any tax liability is wrong on a number of levels.

This is what "fiscal responsibility" means to people like Walker:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/busine...
********
GE paid $0 in Federal taxes last year. Saw a profit of $14.1 billion worldwide, $5 billion of it here.

@Clarity- FYI Gas prices in July 2007 were $3.75 per gallon. Do your homework.

Wisconsin is 'open for business' and on the way to fiscal responsibility. Luckily, there are 49 other states you can move to if you don't like it here - don't let the door hit you .... Good times are coming for those of us that stay - Wisconsin is winning!

Kamgirl......"killing the middle class"??? Please give specifics as to how Walker is doing this?

I hope the protesters pack the streets! This guy has stepped well beyond what he was elected to do. Killing the unions and the middle class is unAmerican! Walker has awakened a sleeping giant! RECALL!

clarity (or the lack thereof) said, "Bombing of Libya with no end game. Well Done. NATO is bailing out."
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Haha, not even 12 hours later and NATO announces they are taking over command and control of the no-fly zone. You are a national treasure, clarity.

America has a potus who does not respect America.

Walker doesn't respect our own President!!!! I will never give Walker respect! He is a psychopath! If it sits well with you that he and the other republicans were planning this coup during their Super Bowl trip well then back the dictator! I will not!

Clarity,
Not that I owe you the explanation but I actually do pray for and help the less fortunate. I am sorry the economy went down the toilet but that is not my fault. You should not be trying to make me feel guilty for having a good job and supporting my family. As for my benefits, My employer is self insured as far as health insurance so don't worry about people paying for my benefits (which I pay a portion of myself thank you). As far as retirement we will be paying into that as well as soon as it is safe to do so without some evil Gov. trying to take away everything I have worked so hard for for the last 16 years. I have never chosen sides as far as republican or democrat because all polititions lie to some point I just try to choose which one might do better for what I believe in. That being said Mr. Walker (notice I did not call him a dictator) has sealed the deal for me to be against republicans if that is what they are all about. Well I must get to bed and rest up for my overpaid job that I have to go to in the morning. Have a great night and God bless all!

:-)

Soul Food!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTuf826MQ...

Yes, onedayatatime, I was being kind to clarity with the Bush numbers, actually. According to the Department of Energy website (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum...) all grades of gas averaged $1.496 on January 22, 2001 which is 2 days after Bush was inaugurated. It hit $4.102 on July 14, 2008 when Bush was still in office, of course.
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My point to clarity was that the increase under Bush was more dramatic than under Obama. But as I said, gas prices are no way to measure the effectiveness of a president -- which was the issue at hand.

clarity..here you go;
poobah; here you go...
1. Before Obama took office. Gas $1.82... Now...$3.54. http://factcheck.org/2011/03/is-obama-to...
“Sarah Palin wrote a post March 15 headlined the “$4-Per-Gallon President.” We talked to Fadel Gheit, a former Mobil Oil executive who is now a senior energy analyst at Oppenheimer & Co. Asked about the impact of the deepwater moratorium, Gheit said the moratorium had a "negative impact on production, but not as much as the politicians would like us to believe." The impact of the moratorium on gas prices? "Nothing. Zero," he said. He blamed global events — not the president’s policies — for rising gas prices. Oil prices are inflated and will remain inflated for factors other than supply and demand," Gheit said.”

How many companies left the other 49 states during that same time? Blame Doyle!

Clarity just for some clarity, I'm referring to the policies that were in place before Walker arrived, of which the report said if left alone will set the state on a trajectory for 190,000 jobs in four years despite all the raided money and any other deflections you might produce.

clarity, it would help if you tried to comprehend the question you are being asked and then answer it directly. youkillme asked you "whose policies" not "which policies." Hint: you should answer with a person's name.

Clarity, you argue even when somebody agrees with you. Many more jobs were lost in Wisconsin during the last two years of the Doyle Administration than waht happened during his last month. Again no argument from me. But nearly every state in the union lost jobs during that same time period - Shirley you don't place the blame on Doyle or state democrats for that. It was a national disaster fed by the policies of Bush and Ryan. In fact, due to the progressive policies in Wisconsin, our state fared much better that many others. We had a lower unemployment rate than the national average and a state deficit that albeit is big, it still reparable. The report projecting an 190,000 jobs in four years was was written before Walker took office and providing there are no policy changes. The question is, whose jobs creating policies was the state operating under before Walker? That's my answer to your question.

clarity said, "Obamas policies were a success..."
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Thank you.

clarity, to answer your question, there is no statute of limitations on taking responsibility for another persons actions. Obama never has to take responsibility for starting the Iraq war, sending "terrorists" to Gitmo, passing TARP, lax oversight that created the mortgage crisis and the insurance industry crisis or unemployment doubling under Bush. But rest assured he will do everything he can to repair them. Now, how about answering my original question instead of dancing around the issue like you have hot coals in your undies?

OK, clarity, I get it. You can't provide one example of why Obama is "completely ineffective." That's fine, no need to embellish and diverge from the issue if you don't have an answer. Thanks.

6. Bombing of Libya with no end game. Well Done. NATO is bailing out. Well done on consensus building.
No end game? Let's talk about end games. In Iraq. It was Bush who left Obama without an end game in Iraq and Obama who defined the end game there. Stay tuned on Libya, not FAUX NOISE, but a legitimate news outlet. We won't be there long.
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7. GITMO? Well Done!
GITMO? And whose idea was it to bring "terrorists" to GITMO in the first place, authorize waterboarding, etc.? Yeah, Bush.
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8. Health Care. Impending doom. If you believe otherwise, you are not researching hard enough. Popularity continues to shrink.
As I said, like it or not, the most significant health care reform in America ever. That's effective leadership and remember, we ARE talking about effective leadership here.
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9. Stimulus...Disaster!
You mean the stimulus bill passed with bi-partisan support? Again, to get us out of a mess that Bush and his croneyism with Wall Street got us in to in the first place.
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10. However, parties at the White House are at a record high. Golf games are at a record high. Air Force One trips are at a record high. Basketball games played are at a record high.
Seriously...
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How many more would you like me to add?
I'd like you to add just ONE VALID one that demonstrates he is "COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE" as you stated. You are listing things you disagree with. Then you should have stated it as such and not as ineffective. He has quite effectively implemented his policies as outlined during his campaign. I want examples of his ineffectiveness -- not of things you disagree with.

clarity, i hate to do this to you, but you need to hear it. A one-by-one correction of your facts (sorry but multiple posts required).

poobah; here you go...
1. Before Obama took office. Gas $1.82... Now...$3.54
What do gas prices have to do with the effectiveness of a President? Are you foolish enough to think that the President can control gas prices? If not for the wars that BUSH started in the gulf, we would have more stable gas prices. By the way, in Bush's years in office, gas prices also increased from $1.74 to OVER $4.00 per gallon. Please!
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2. 2009 record housing forclosures(2,824,674). 2010 another 2,872,892. 5.7 million people have lost their homes since Obama took office
Do you seriously want to blame the mortgage crisis on Obama? Get real. This was caused by the rampant abuse of the mortgage industry allowed under the Bush administration. A president does not take office in January and immediately face a crisis of his own making.
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3. employment when Obama took office...7.5. Now...9.5
Under Bush, the unemployment rate rocketed from 4.4 in September 2006 to 8.5 when he left office in January 2009. Get your facts straight. Unemployment DOUBLED under Bush and has increased by 1 point under Obama.
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4.Debt when Obama took office. 10.5 trillion. Now...16.7 trillion
Debt when Bush assumed office, $7.3 trillion. Debt when Bush left office (and legislation that added to 2009 debt), $11.9 trillion. The mortgage, insurance and auto industry crisis left by Bush for Obama necessitated debt. Remember, it was Bush who signed TARP into law.
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5. BP oil spill? Well Done!
What are you saying, BP was handled more poorly than Katrina? Have you been to New Orleans to see how well Bush's FEMA has rebuilt the low income areas? No, I know you haven't.

clarity,
I don't really want to battle what the "true meaning" of Christian is. That being said, yes I am a bit sarcastic. Does that make me non-Christian? Or as you said "convienient" Christian? I think not. Being a Christian does not mean someone is perfect, there was only one man that has ever lived on this earth that was perfect. He is sitting at the right hand of God right now. Because I made the statement that jobs may have been minimum wage does not mean that I am coveting that. That just doesn't make sense. Calling Mr. Walker a dictator doesn't mean that I do not pray for him either. That is how he is acting. How do you know if I "walk the walk"? Finaly, I do count my blessings every day, one of them being that the contract my union helped negotiate lasts until 2013.
God bless you and have a great night!!

Clarity said we've gained 5,600 jobs while losing 2,000 for a net gain of 3,600 jobs. I won't argue. One forecast shows that if Walker does nothing the state will add 190,000 jobs over the next four years thanks in large part to legislation passed by democrats over the past several years. Another forecast shows there will be nearly 290,000 new jobs. But 3,600 times 48 months equals 172,800 jobs is still short of the more conservative forecast. Walker however promised to do "something" to create 250,000 jobs on his own. So far he's in the negative and is proving the state was better off without him.

64% of those polled do not approve of Forward Janesville having Walker speak. However, those few dozen or so that own the city support him, so bring him in. Money talks and these days only the rich have it. The middle class is quickly disappearing.

Wonder if Mr. BS/Phones Plus will be attending the dinner.

Sorry for the typo.
Yours IN CHRIST.

clarity,
I will forgive you the personal attack but I still don't see how that answers any of my questions.
Yours is CHRIST.

Clarity-the state has lost over 2,000 jobs since Walker's inaguration.
http://americanhatriots.wordpress.com/20...

christforlife ~ "What kind of jobs are the ones that were created? Minimum wage? How about the benifits? Are the jobs comparable to the ones that were lost? "
.
My husband was laid off and was one of five guys hired by a growing WI company that needed to staff a new office in Madison. It's a great job with a fair salary and excellent benefits. His working conditions and benefits improved drastically with the new job.
.
I was recently laid off and found a comparable job with a growing Madison company. My new job comes with much better benefits than my previous employer offered. There is tremendous room for growth with this company as well.
.
Our experience suggests that not all of the jobs created have been dead-end, minimum wage positions. Hopefully, the pool of new jobs paying a decent salary, offering good benefits, will continue to grow.

I see nothing wrong with Forward Janesville inviting Gov. Walker to a dinner. They have goals for our city and the outcome of their efforts will rest heavily on the culture and policies coming out of our state capitol. Walker is the Governor and this is the economic and political climate Forward Janesville has to work in right now. It seems prudent to get to know who and what they have to work with.

clarity,
I suppose you think dictator walker deserves the credit for that also? What about the numbers for unemployment that are not in the stats? The ones that are forgotten after they are no longer on unemployment? Give it time the economy of Wisconsin will take a nose dive as more peoples wages are reduced and they no longer are able to spend money in the state. What kind of jobs are the ones that were created? Minimum wage? How about the benifits? Are the jobs comparable to the ones that were lost? If Dictator walker had it his way we would all be minimum wage and on Badgercare, Oh wait he is cutting that too. Yea the future is really looking up, I see what you are saying. *sarcasm*

I still say..

RECALL!!

To those that question the website collecting names for the recall.. Don't worry about the numbers on the site, the numbers will show up when it counts. This dictator needs to get outa dodge before he really does this state in. He has a pretty good head start though doesn't he. "I'm going to create jobs!", "By the way you will get your pink slip on monday." Or another good one... "You can keep your job if you take a 400.00 cut in pay." that was a good one. The rich get richer and the middle class becomes extinct.
Only one more thing to say....

RECALL!!!

916WI - I checked that website. There are no edit checks and no validations. The site will except anything you type in for address, city, email, etc. The signature counts that are quoted from how many have signed it so far means nothing at all.

yada....That little petition is funny:) How many of those 170K signatures come from out of state union members or from people that have signed it multiple times????

WOW - that's a whole 3.8% of the voting population.

As of March 24th at 5am - 64 per cent of those that took the reader online poll are surprised that Walker is coming to Janesville. I have a feeling that a large majority of those will attend the rally to protest if and when he comes to Janesville. So far - March 24th -170,730 have signed the petition to RECALL Walker - unitedwisconsin.com

Because Sean Hannity said so. ;-)

clarity said, "However, if even you cannot see that he is completely ineffective, in way over his head and essentially only concerned about the trappings of the office...you clearly haven't been paying attention."
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He is a president who passed health care reform, like it or not, something no president since Nixon has been able to do. That's effectiveness - like it or not.
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He signed the Ledbetter Act into law, helping to correct the gender income disparity. Something other previous presidents had not been able to accomplish.
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He stood up to banks and signed into law the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act which protects typically low to middle income credit card holders from predatory practices.
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He provided better armor to our troops - something that Bush/Rumsfeld had failed to do.
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He defined a responsible exit strategy in Iraq, something the Bush administration had failed to do.
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He restored our diplomatic standing with many nations after the cowboy, swaggering, "you're our friend or you aren't" style of Bush had destroyed relations that had taken years to nurture.
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He signed into law the Hate Crimes Protection Act making assault against a person due to their sexuality or gender identity a federal crime. Something prior presidents failed to enact.
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The list goes on and on. To call him an ineffective President is a clear indication you are ignorant of the list of accomplishments under his leadership. I would really be interested in hearing specifically why you feel he has been ineffective.

“how someone without a college degree bacame governor???”
Because a bunch of people also without college degrees voted for him.
"Guess he outsmarted a few libs, huh?"
No, people are lazy and have stopped taking the responsibility of voting seriously. I think they may have learned their lesson, albeit a little too late.
" At least he can balance a check book".
I could balance my checkbook to if I didn’t feed my family or take them to the doctor .
"As for S. Palin, with the recent nose dive in popularity of the "man-child" in the White House, both Sara and Scott would mop the floor debating the man-child, (esp. without his telepromter attached to his skinny hips)."
Aside from this being extremely petty it’s ridiculous. She is a journalism major and he is a college dropout. Our president is a Columbia Law School graduate and a Constitutional Law Professor.

Will they have bumper stickers that read
"Wisconsin..For Sale (closed bids)"

poobah, I stand corrected.

Dear onetimeaday, if you have to insult Governor and Mrs. Palin, how about explaining how someone without a college degree bacame governor??? Guess he outsmarted a few libs, huh? At least he can balance a check book. As for S. Palin, with the recent nose dive in popularity of the "man-child" in the White House, both Sara and Scott would mop the floor debating the man-child, (esp. without his telepromter attached to his skinny hips).

For those who falsely claim that Walker has blindsided Wisconsin voters... His platform was posted, long BEFORE the election. These posts were easy to pull up from last fall.
http://www.scottwalker.org/news/2010

"He also claims proposed changes to health care programs and state employees' retirement systems will cut government spending enough to help cover the gap."
"Walker has already said he would save $176 million by requiring state employees to pay for part of their pension contributions."

He is fulfilling his campaign promises for which the voters that actually showed up at the polls, agreed with.
I'm just sayin'...

christforlife said, "Poobah, Please do not ball all Christians together."
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christforlife, respectfully, I did not ball all Christians together. I specifically mentioned only those so called Christians from the Westboro Baptist Church and I will not apologize for doing that.

Jodymac must be a troll; just how old are you Jody? I'm a protester and I'm old, but I am not old enough to have protested the Vietnam War. I also have older relatives who served in Vietnam and am very proud of them.

Peaceful protest?

http://biggovernment.com/jjmnolte/2011/0...

Protest - Boycott - Recall.

Poobah, Please do not ball all Christians together. I am a Christian and would never do what those people are doing. I must say though also that being a Christian does not mean that someone is perfect. There was only one man that was perfect and he died for all of our sins.

First of all these protesters are NOT the same people, that was years ago. Second, the people protesting I know would never do something that disgusting that sounds like something most republicans would make up to make the democrats look bad. I have to say that I have never picked one side or the other. I just know that what dictator walker is trying to do is rediculous. One more thing...

RECALL!!!!

jodymac said, "Remember when these same protesters were burning flags, and throwing dog poop on Our Boys as they returned home from Vietnam."
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jodymac, are you seriously suggesting that the people who were protesting a war over 40 years ago are the same people who were protesting at the capitol over the last several weeks?
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If I were you, I'd be more concerned with your right wing "Christian" brothers and sisters from Westboro Baptist Church who protest at the funerals of fallen soldiers, instead of trying to draw comparisons with something that happened over 40 years ago.

onedayatatime
So you are saying that a room full of protesters should have more influence than the majority of the people who elected the council members? None of this is any different than when Democrats had the majority, just that it bites when you are the minority.

Also, regarding the protesters, they DID make a mess. I don't think signs plastered all over OUR house equates with beautiful. I am heartened to hear that today, all signs affixed to the windows shall be REMOVED in accordance with the rules.

Walker-Palin 2012!
Who ever said anything about voting for them to win?
I just want them to run on the Republican ticket.
I will support them in the primary.

Hi SarahB! That is ok. I still respect you too! America is a great place. We can agree to disagree. And we can and should respect other people and their opinions.

redder
To show our rights to asseble does not embarsass anyone. What Walker has done to silent working people is what you should pray against.

wislady...from the link you posted. "All except one of the audience members who spoke to the board spoke against the board approving the resolution. One man spoke in support of the board approving it."
Yet they went ahead a passed the resolution. It seems to be a repeat performance of "our" representatives not listening to the people.

A Walker Palin ticket for 2012, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! One is a college drop out and the other quit half way through her responsibilities as Governor, for money, and has never answered a direct question. She replies with talking point rhetoric and has never provided a comprehensive solution to any issues. Obama would wipe the floor with her in a debate. The word salad she speaks is incomprehensible, even the Republican party thinks she's a joke. I've heard what Karl Rove has to say about her. The nation
as a whole gives her only a 37% approval rating, and a 55% disapproval rating. Walker has already proven he cannot be trusted.
Yup, that's just what the world that is in caos needs, a Bimbo and a Bonzo at the helm of the most powerful nation.

I bet the people who show up to protest are the same people who attended "Red Neck Fest" last summer!

http://waukesha.patch.com/articles/wauke...

HOWS THAT BROWN BAG WORKIN'?

RECALL!!!

Yeah, we should WASTE a lot more local MONEY to provide security and logistics for this grandstanding jerk! HOW MUCH WILL LOCAL TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ONE DEBACLE?

In reality, I doubt Walker cares one way or the other what happens (though I'm sure he'd prefer to "win" and thereby be vindicated). What he really wants, though, is to pull attention to HIMSELF on a national stage so he can move on to what ever he believes is his next "calling"--either politics or punditry! Hey, maybe he wants to become a rapper--Scott Doggy Dog has a nice ring to it!

All in all, politicos has become more and more like today's stock market. Nobody is really in it for the long run..they're just looking for short-term PERSONAL gains, and everyone aside from the very rich suffers as a result.

"Go, Walker, GO (away!" And shame on Forward Janesville for being duped into providing another yet another foothold for this social-climbing egomaniacal "son of a preacher man"! SHAME!

The point of the email article is not how much email he got but the fact that SCOTT WALKER LIED!!!!!

There will be no WEAC members there, they are to busy staying after school and taking papers home with them and getting there lesson planning ready for the next day. Its all about the kids.

The far left has hijacked the conversation and is spewing out lies and deception. The reality is we need fiscal responsibility and that means filling up at the public trough is over.

bowlgal- the reason budget cutting is so popular right now is some corporations are pulling the strings throughout the states. There is a group which their name is "ALEC" that drew up this agenda for these politicians to present. How else do you think that Walker was able to present over 1400 pages of a bill in six weeks? I don't know about you, but I want a government that represents people, not corporations. That's why I feel that contributions to campaigns should be a limited dollar amount and only by individuals, not corporations or unions. That way WE know our interests are being reflected, not companies.

Beckord says that they are completely non-partisan. OK, I'm up off the floor now. I think I can see the brown stuff running out of his ears.

Now a luncheon? How about a midnight candle vigil? Let this be his victory tour. The recall will be here before he knows it. Hope walker keeps his moving boxes. Kloppenburg on april 5. Let the message begin!

I think the big scare for democrats right now is Walker's plans may actually work and be popular. The vote in November was to try something else. Budget cutting was popular throughout the US in last elections, not just Wisconsin.

“We believe that Gov. Walker deserves the same opportunity (as Gov. Doyle) despite the volatility of the past month,” Beckord said. “A key part of the concept of civility is a certain level of respect for our elected officials whether one agrees with them or not on matters of policy.”

EXACTLY.

Oh - I'll be at the Holiday Inn - letting Walker know just how much I dislike his legislative agenda. There are only a couple entrances to the parking lot there - it shouldn't be too hard to cover them both so Scotty can't weasel in a back door and avoid the people of Wisconsin again. BTW - I think the 100,000 + people who actually showed up at the capitol to protest far outweigh the emails of support or opposition. The purpose of the analysis of the emails is not to show overall support or disapproval of the bill, it is to prove, once again, that Walker lied to the people.

Is the best you can do to call those people protesting against unfair policy whiners? I'm proud of the people who passionately speak out against corporate abuse of power. I truly feel that those who still support Walker are grossly uninformed of the forces behind the Governor's actions. In the simplest terms, the Governor is raping the lower and middle class to pay back the rich, and is charismatic enough to fool the people who don't know any better.

WALKER IS A HUGE EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, NOW BITE ON THAT REDDER AND ALL OTHER REPUBLICANS!!!!!!!!

The actions of Walker are WAY beyond what he campaigned to do. If you thinkk he's doing exactly what he said he would do, you either didn't listen to his campaign, or you are unaware of his current intentions.

Who...exactly right:) When there is a perceived problem all of the whiners and complainers start whining and complaining by yelling, sending e-mails, writing letters, etc........while those that see no problem are perfectly content. They simply continue going about their day with a smile knowing that something positive is finally being done within our state's government. No rally needed, no e-mail fired off.......it's not really necessary is it????

I think Walker is doing pretty much what he said he would do. Fix the state’s problem, balance the budget , create jobs and bring businesses back to the state. Before he can accomplish those issues he must first correct the problems Doyle and his fellow democrats created.
Recall will not work. Too many voters on his side. You just don’t hear from them as they have nothing to whine about. If a recall does happen in the Senate, the end results will be two more republicans replacing two democrats.

And I would have sent 101 emails against. Kind of pointless... huh?

Yea, that article did not say that most of the emails that were positive were from out of state. LOL!! Why not split them up to actual people from our state and see where you are from there. LOL!! I am sure there would be a VERY different outcome. BYE BYE dictator walker!!

GOP.....That's awesome! So we're going to start ranking our legislator's decisions based on the activity of their inbox?? If that was the case, I would have sent Walker 100 e-mails thanking him for going forward with this legislation.......

Walker did not say during his campaign that he was going to do all the things he's doing in an attempt to pay back all his rich campaign contributors. (i.e. koch industries won't have to worry about recycling, will buy cheap power plants from scottie who is not allowing bids for them, environmental restrictions are being lifted to ease their dumping practices into our waters... and the list goes on.)
The people that STILL don't see what is going on in our state boggle my mind in their ignorance.
I am one that voted for this idiot, and will be the first in line to sign the recall paper. This will be after we take control of our state again by getting the Republican Senators the heck out of there.

Surprise, surprise!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110322/ap_o...

Blain, Cullen and Hendricks also are self made men who did not rely on a Union for their wealth. They also employ 1,000's of your neighbors. The American dream at work! So your point is???

Snowman......Are you sure you want to use Minnesota as a baseline of how Wisconsin should deal with it's corrupt educational system? Considering the fact that their state ranked 36th in a recent measure of school systems, your correlation between certain market segments becoming established in that state and the state's public school system, really don't have anything in common at all.......
http://insight.mprnews.org/discussion/20...

What happened to the blog that was on here last night? There was over 200 posts on this story. redder, you must live in dictator walker's bubble. He did NOT say anything about the majority of the things he is doing. There are many people that I know that voted for him that will be signing the recall papers. Let's make sure to get the vote out this time and get this guy out of here!! Well, I have to get ready to go to my overpaid overly benifited job. Have a nice day everybody. :-)

God bless all!

RECALL!!

helge......If the ONLY thing Walker does is rid the public workers unions of their power, he will have done Wisconsin a great service...........

Walker is not doing any good for WI

Forward Janesville should not be attacked for inviting Governor Walker, to express his views.

What is important however, is for Forward Janesville, after respectfully listening to Mr. Walker, to soundly reject his views.

Wisconsin's per capita income is about $6 thousand less per year than Minnesota's. That's because Minnesota, has more Phd's, more Master's, more BA's, more patents filed per capita than Wisconsin, along with a well-developed technology transfer mechanism.

Mr. Walker's goal of creating 250 thousand jobs sounds fine, but really is it? What type of jobs? Exhibit company jobs? Bucket manufacturing jobs? Would you like fries with that? jobs.

High Technology jobs are the only way to go. And for that, we need highly educated people, and an education system that transfers technology to the private sector.

Unfortunately, Mr. Walker, by raping the public system of funds to subsidize rich kids' private schools, and privatizing the UW Madison (built with public funds) is guaranteeing Wisconsin will catch down with Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia.

Perhaps someone at this dinner will have the courage to expose Mr. Walker for what he is: An ignorant college drop-out, who doesn't appreciate the value of education, and who wants to drag everyone else down to his childish awareness level of what creates real wealth.

And if gm returns to janesville, we have walker to thank? That is a lot of credit for a guy who has done nothing for wi but divide the people. Go back to tosa. See you on the 29th scotty..I will be one of the hundreds with a recall walker sign!

All of the sudden Walker is an OK guy now that he got GM back for us.

So it's true then? GM is coming back? Really?

I just heard a rumor from a good source that GM will be back up and running in three years.
And Walker won't be recalled because by November we will be moved onto something else and this will all be old news.

Does this mean GM is not coming back to Janesville?

I heard that Forward Janesville had switched the time to a lunch so that they could avoid the protesting. Is that true?

winterstinks- where you've been?? People not protesting in other states?? Watch any news lately??

If by making a mess, you mean sleeping on the floor, then yes, they made a mess. But there was not the damage that the DOA estimated. Now your statement was that other states weren't acting this way...what about Ohio and Indiana?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/us/23o...

I will be there to show him my support!

Walker-Palin 2012!!!
Why not? The world is going to end anyway.

No "mess made of the capital"! The protestors were very respectful of the building.

"Jason Tish. He's the Executive Director of the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation.

Tish said, "If you're looking for damage in the Capitol, or any effects after the tens of thousands of protesters here over the past couple weeks, you're not going to see much."

Jeff Mehrhoff, the business representative for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO, District Council 7, said Tuesday his workers had offered to the DOA that they would come in and help clean tape off the walls themselves. Mehrhoff said they had not received any word from the DOA on the offer.

http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=1...

The only reason Walker is showing up is payback for the generous contributions to his campaign fund made by the Blains, Cullens, and Hendricks (all are major supporters of FJ). These union thugs and goons who will be protesting are more than likely a person that lives in your neighborhood. Unless your lucky enough to be a neighbor to the Blains, Cullens, and Hendricks, which might be tough seeing how they live in gated compounds.

thugs and goons.. teachers and aides? have you been drinking off of walkers tea bag again?

I posted a quote and a link to Fitzgerald's quote. Did you not read my post or is that not enough????

you go by facts please support your claim...other than of course infomercials, and political mudslinging

So where do you think Fitzgerald got his info? TV commercial? Lame response Redder.

redder - I have no intentions of having a 'real argument'. I just comment on the scattered thoughts that pop into my head.

factsplease - I wouldn't say that Walker has divided the state that much. The 7-9% of the residents that don't like him make it SEEM like the state is divided.

rockcochick...seriously...please, have a real arguement, or at least an original thought

and at least she is hot....ridiculous

REALLY PEOPLE...if your getting your information from TV commercials...enough said

I share in your enthusiasm for Walker-Palin 2012.
Talk about a dream team!
Go, Scotty, go!
And Sarah deserves another shot now that we have all gotten to know her better.
You can count on me showing up at the polls!

redder- are you saying GM is coming back to town? This is exactly what TheJoker has been hinting at for years now. School enrollment will pick-up - this is great news (or is it a rumor?).

redder- Did he say he was doing away with recycling? (no.) How about clean air and water? (no) No bid selling of state power plants? (of course not). How about doing away with Badger and Senior Care? (nope there too). The man was misleading on his union stance. If he was truthful on his issues would he have been elected? I'm guessing not. Oh and also, the majority of the state didn't vote for him, as not all the registered voters did vote, and he didn't win on a landslide either. So in conclusion, he did not say he was going to do any of these things, because if he did I can assure you that we wouldn't be having this discussion now.

redder, I went and looked at some of Walker's ads from the governor's race. He made himself out to be a nice guy who packs a sack lunch and gave some of his salary back to the county (because it was a lot of money...for a college drop out!). He seemed very personable and reasonable and like the guy next door. Heck, if all I knew was his ads (as is the case for many voters) I might have voted for Mr. Eagle Scout myself. He DID NOT tell us that he was going to divide the state, make Wisconsin ground zero for workers rights, refuse to listen to anyone who disagrees with him and strip workers of collective bargaining rights. Even Fitzgerald thought Walker would negotiate!!! So your assertion that people KNEW his plan is not accurate!

Senate Republican leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau said he thinks that productive talks between Walker and the unions can still happen.

"I'd hate to rush to judgment and say he's not going to be able to sit down and negotiate with the unions," Fitzgerald said of the governor-elect.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...

Awesome - this is history in the making. I'm hoping for a 2012 presidential ticket that will include Walker-Palin. And to think we can see the man in person - WOW!

I believe they are talking about the GM plant, and the UAW...like in the past in this town

wando...I will correct you, i did not say protesting is wrong, but it can be done without embarrasing the rest of the city...what was done in Madison was a bit extreme...we all have our voice(s), we just cann't hurt others, by expressing our concerns...not saying that Madison hurt people, but it was disgraceful of our capitol, and those who represent our state...screaming SHAME in some peoples face, and bringing children into things is not appropriate

Having attended 8 different days /evenings of protests in Madison, three in Janesville, and three more in area communities, I am incredulous that anyone still touts the "bused in thugs" rhetoric. So sad. The protestors I have chatted with have been from WI. Yes, there have been some from Chicago, MN, and Canada . . . but really! get out there and meet the people.

sorry its posting twice

Let me remind all of you...he is doing EXACTLY what he said he was going to do...so if you are so angry now because the majority of the state voted for him, TO DO, what he said he would do...then take that up with your party...not the rest of us that did go to the polls and cast our vote. I love the ignorance on these blogs...THIS IS WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO...WISCONSIN VOTED...now your crying foul...well did YOU vote...if you did great, you lost, but you excersized your rights...if you didn't then shut up please you had your chance to vote and share your opinion...thats why this country is so great, we have the right to choose our leaders.

Let me remind all of you...he is doing EXACTLY what he said he was going to do...so if you are so angry now because the majority of the state voted for him, TO DO, what he said he would do...then take that up with your party...not the rest of us that did go to the polls and cast our vote. I love the ignorance on these blogs...THIS IS WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO...WISCONSIN VOTED...now your crying foul...well did YOU vote...if you did great, you lost, but you excersized your rights...if you didn't then shut up please you had your chance to vote and share your opinion...thats why this country is so great, we have the right to choose our leaders.

redder: What would be embarrassing for the city of Janesville is if the people that disagree with Walker's agenda sit back and not take advantage of their first amendment rights. There is absolutely nothing wrong with standing up for something you believe in, or something you do not. You do not have to like the protesting, but to say that it is embarrassing is wrong.

is this part of the backwards wisconsin tour?

I support you Gov Walker....I wish you well, and I hope and pray that the people of Janesville do not embarass this city

I support you Gov Walker....I wish you well, and I hope and pray that the people of Janesville do not embarass this city

OMG I can't believe anyone is still thinking it's "bused in union thugs" that are protesting. Change the channel.

cant wait to see all the bused in union thugs and the totalitarian liberals protesting just to get on msnbc. walker keep up the fight.