Governor Baldy and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood met yesterday in Watertown to make it perfectly clear to Republican candidates for Governor that this train will not be stopped. Both Walker and the irrelevant Neumann hate the train and said they will do everything in their power to stop high speed rail between Madison and Milwaukee if elected.
Rather than looking for a compromise or solution, Republicans would rather say NO. That means saying NO to jobs, NO to to energy independence, and NO to being connected to the rest of the nation. Republicans seem to be channeling Nancy Reagan because their undying mantra is Just Say No.
President Obama went on the View yesterday and it was surprisingly substantive. The little blond one, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, got to play Mike Wallace and ask the President the tough questions. She catechize the President over whether he can really say that jobs were saved that could of been lost. There is some notion going around that the whole world feel apart the day Obama took office and that he hasn't done of thing to help the economy. President Obama deserves credit for saving us from the brink of economic collaspe, there is still a lot more to do but to say he has done nothing is an outright lie. President Obama's biggest mistake was being too nice to his predecessor and not conveying the huge shitstorm that fake Texan left us.
Obama is far from perfect but no President has inherited so many problems at one time. Two unpaid wars, the largest economic recession in 80 years, and three decades of outsourcing our manufacturing sector can not be blamed on Obama no matter how many times, Hasselbeck, Limbaugh, or Hannity say it.
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney is live in the studio to answer questions about the recent incidents of troubled people trying to end their own life by firing upon law enforcement. This takes a hefty toll on the officers involved and shows how a bad recession can effect people's mental health.
I speak to the very patient developer Bob Dunn about the lawsuit that the bitter Fred Mohs has filed against the City to try to further delay this needed project. Believe me, this remodel to restore the Edgewater Hotel to its past grandeur has been thoroughly vetted. Mohs goal is to delay this project to the point where Dunn and the City finally give up. This has serious consequences for our community. Hundreds of people who need work could be employed but aren't because an old, selfish man, thinks he owns Lake Mendota.
Wisconsin has been rated one of worst States for children being exposed to secondhand smoke. Smoking around your kid is now viewed by some as child abuse. I never smoked but my dad puffed plenty in front of me. Is he a child abuser?
In case you missed it, U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson was interviewed by Wispolitics at a luncheon on Monday in Madison. Jeff Mayers asked Mr. Johnson whether he supported trade deals like NAFTA, most favored trading status for China, and the current bill being considered with Korea. Not only did Mr. Johnson say these deals were good for Wisconsin, but the jobs lost in our state were the result of "creative destruction".
The truth is, Wisconsin has lost over 100,000 jobs due to our current trade policies. It's pretty clear Mr. Johnson, when talking about his free market principles, doesn't understand that China is not only cheating on their currency but subsidizes its steel and paper industries. Johnson is utterly clueless about the effects this has had on people that live in his own region of the state.
The reaction to Mr. Johnson's outrageous remarks as been swift and non-partisan. Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson called on Mr. Johnson to apologize then Dave Westlake, his Republican opponent, called Mr. Johnson's remarks appalling and also called for an apology. Now this controversy has gone nation. The President of the United Steel Workers, Leo Gerard, who represents the 38,000 people who work in the paper industry in Wisconsin, has not only condemned these cruel remarks but says Johnson is in "an intellectual state of confusion".
When Mr. Johnson talks about freedom, exceptionalism, and the American way of life he should understand that it was his opponent Russ Feingold who voted against everyone one of these awful trade deals, sometimes in opposition to his own party and President. Feingold did so because he knew Wisconsin workers would pay for corporate greed and the communist Chinese government's total lack of honesty and decency.
Leo Gerard's Is "Disgusted" By Johnson's Creative Destruction Comment
His Primary Opponent Dave Westlake Thinks Johnson Should Apologize
Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson Says Johnson's Remarks are "Completely and Totally Offensive"
I speak to United Steel Workers President Leo Gerard about the myths behind free trade and how we fight for working people here in Wisconsin.
My favorite Republican candidate for Senate Dave Westlake joins me to talk about the State GOP silencing his supporters, his Tea Party following, and of course his reaction to Johnson's "creative destruction" comments.
The most controversial provisions of the Arizona Immigration Law were put on hold by a Federal Judge and the race baiters are at it again. I finally figured out what was the impetus for this law because it doesn't really help law enforcement deal with illegals. This was drummed up to get angry white voters to come out in droves in November. FOX News is leading the charge by saying that Obama isn't the white man's President and paints him as un-American. Lets be clear, deportation has increased under Obama, so has border security, and it's our supposed "free trade" and war on drugs that's the real source of the problem.
The 21 minimum drinking age has been a dismal failure for curbing alcohol abuse among teens. Ontario has an interesting idea that I think might be a good compromise. Remember in Canada that you can drink when you're 19, but the proposed change would dictate that every adult under 21 wouldn't be allowed to have a drop of alcohol in their blood if they plan on driving. I would say this is far better approach then the unrealistic expectations we have now.
Well the recession is taking its toll on the minds of many, which has pushed some to the edge. The suicide-by-cop incident in Stoughton is the most recent example. So I was watching the Channel 3 coverage last night and I noticed that there was a shirtless gawker snapping pictures with his cell phone as if he's at a zoo. Is it okay for people to treat a tragedy like its a sideshow?
John Mantooth's judicial campaign has gotten personal. His own daughter has started a website and has run a newspaper ad saying "Do Not Vote For My Dad". She is evidently bitter after a nasty divorce between her mother and father. Mantooth says he still wants to make peace with his daughter, would you forgive your child after this level of disrespect?
Republicans don't want to extend employment benefits but are unwavering in their support of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. One of the first things Bush did was give the top 2% a huge tax cut- which he put on the nation's credit card- saying it would spur job creation, it didn't. Now Republicans are playing the fear card saying that returning to the Clinton era tax level will hurt the economy. The Bush tax cuts for the rich failed miserably so why should they be extended?
We talk about Nelson's paper industry constituents and how he's fighting to keep their jobs from being outsourced. When Ron Johnson talks about "creative destruction", the only thing being destroyed is the livelihood of people in the Fox Valley. We also talk about State taxes and why Republicans want to re-open the Las Vegas loophole that will move the budget deficit in the wrong direction.
The Senate currently has only five members that are NOT millionaires. John Kerry isn't paying taxes on his yacht and Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson is fueling his campaign with BP stock. Is it any wonder why the wealthiest citizens get the best deal in this country?
I notice a lot of my neighbors on the west side love to eat sustainably and buy local but they wouldn't be caught dead in an American-made vehicle. Do you think they see the irony of going to the Farmer's Market in a Prius?
Residents in the Darbo-Worthington neighborhood are furious that the McDonalds by HWY 30 wants to move two blocks west because they think it exploits poor people and fills their bodies with toxic food. The only reason why McDonalds wants to move is that useless pedestrian bridge is cutting into their business. East Wash is a major commercial thoroughfare and that's where the fast food restaurants belong. So stop complaining and eat a Big Mac.
Republican Senate candidate Ron Johnson has finally revealed his position on trade and its bad news for Wisconsin and great news for China. When asked at a Wispolitics event about the 100,000 jobs lost in Wisconsin, Ron Johnson wrote it off casually as "creative destruction". When China cheats and Americans workers are undercut it's the opposite of free trade, it's theft.
The Pentagon and the White House under both Bush and Obama have systemically lied about the War in Afghanistan. It's a complete disaster over there, we have made little to no progress and Wikileaks just confirmed it. To say this is a threat to our national security is a lie, the War in Afghanistan is a threat to our national security.
I've been going back and forth for months now with my producer Dylan about the merits of the movie the Blindside, which stars Sandra Bullock. I thought that it was an inspiring, truly American tale and my producer thought it was a fluffy, condescending film that glorifies white people for moving behind their initial prejudices. Its time for you to end this debate once and for all.
Well one bad App may indeed spoil the bunch. I've been reading about some trivial, mindless "applications" for smart phones that seem to detract from life more than they aid it. What's the craziest app you've seen and is this more of trend than a technological breakthrough?
So you probably thought that the Edgewater project after months of delay and debate is finally ready to break ground and put people to work, right? Wrong. Thanks to sore loser Fred Mohs and his quiche cliche, the Edgewater remodel is being held up by a lawsuit which sole intention is to kick this can down the road even further. The Mansion Hill neighborhood association and Mohs are holding this project hostages and its time to limit their power for the betterment of the City.
A mother finds a text message with a picture of her daughter's naked boyfriend on it and what does she do? She calls the cops and has the boyfriend charged with disorderly conduct. That's a great way to foster trust with your 17 year old daughter. What should the mother of done?
In this whole Shirley Sherrod debacle, almost all parties involved look terrible including the Department of Ag, the White House, and of course the network that helped disseminated the lie, FOX news. Well now FOX is covering its tracks.
Beck appeared on O'Reilly patting himself on the back for not jumping to conclusions and doing a smear job on Shirley Sherrod before the full context was clear (unlike O'Reilly who did run the story and attacked Sherrod before the truth came out). Well it turns out that Beck didn't call Sherrod a racist on his TV show but he did do it on his radio program! The hypocrisy is maddening.
Ed Schultz makes it part of his job to refute a lot of trash thrown out by FOX News but complaining about FOX News' having an agenda when you're bragging about your own agenda is not a good for your credibility.
I speak to blogger Deb Jordahl about Neumann's new budget proposal that would supposedly allow some home owners to not pay their 2010 property taxes. This is just another scheme professional politician Neumann's cooking up and we get the details from Ms. Jordahl.
Good news from Steve and Amanda Smith who have been involved in a legal struggle to keep their foster dog Emmi from returning to the Adams county family that badly neglected her.
If you want evidence that there is a courthouse cliche in this town, here it is. Madison Attorney and Prosecutor for the Village of Shorewood Hills, Jon Evenson, likes to go to campus bars and get in fights with college kids. He's done it twice now, one involving the UW Football field goal kicker who might need plastic surgery to correct the damage allegedly inflicted by Evenson. Madison police have been dragging their feet on both these felony assault cases but what truly outrageous me is that Evenson is still prosecuting cases for the Village of Shorewood Hills. I guess some people are above the law.
