Obama slaps former presidents

Gotta love a little Rove fighting back.

Consider Mr. Obama's comment in his interview this past Sunday on CBS's "60 Minutes" that the Bush administration made a mistake in speaking in "a triumphant sense about war."

This was a slap at every president who rallied the nation in dark moments, including Franklin D. Roosevelt ("With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph"); Woodrow Wilson ("Right is more precious than peace and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts"); and John F. Kennedy ("Any hostile move anywhere in the world against the safety and freedom of peoples to whom we are committed . . . will be met by whatever action is needed").

This kind of attack gives Mr. Obama's words a slippery quality. For example, he voted for the bank rescue plan in September 2008 and praised it during the campaign. Yet on Dec. 8 at the Brookings Institution, Mr. Obama called it "flawed" and blamed "the last administration" for launching it "hastily."

Really? Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and New York Fed President Timothy Geithner designed it. If it was "flawed," why did Mr. Obama later nominate Mr. Bernanke to a second term as Fed chairman and make Mr. Geithner his Treasury secretary?

Touche.

But it's not just slippery. It's downright soaking wet- watered down. He's a wet rat, drowning in rhetoric that's insulting more than inspiring. This kind of response and failure to use the language representative of VICTORY over terror and WINNING the war makes me lose faith that our President will rise to the occasion should he need to truly defend our people -and our honor- as a nation.

B+, my rear.

Franken v. Thune

This might have been fun to watch.

Mostly because I'm sure I would have been extremely attracted to Senator Thune.

“You know, again, we are entitled to our own opinions, we’re not entitled to our own facts,” Franken said, his booming voice rising. And in a reference to a chart Thune held up, Franken said: “If you’re going to hold up a chart that says when taxes kick in and when benefits kick in, you say 1,800 days, you better include the benefits that do kick in right away.”

Thune, No. 4 in GOP leadership, asked the freshman Democrat to yield for a question, and asked: “Did the senator from Minnesota, when I was pointing out the chart, understand the point I was making – that the tax increases start 18 days from now, and that the benefits, the spending benefits under the bill which are the premium tax credits and the exchanges that are designed to provide the benefit that’s delivered under this bill don’t start until 2014?”

Franken responded sharply: “Does the senator understand that spending benefits start right away?”

To which, Thune said tersely: “If the senator missed the point, I can get the chart out again.”

And did you read, he walked off the floor? God love him.

Obama's B+ is laughable

Who grades themself?!

I did NOT watch Oprah's special last night, not because I'm snooty and didn't want to see Obama, but because I prefered flipping b/t Sunday night football and White Christmas/Holiday Inn on the classic movie channel.

Alas, all I need to hear, I can read today:

"President Obama told Oprah Winfrey on Sunday night he gives himself a "good, solid B-plus" for his first 11 months in the Oval Office."

"Passage of health care reform would boost his grade to an A-, he said. Until Americans get back to work, he said, "I can't give myself the grade I'd like."

How about leaving that grade up to the people that elected you?

That's pretty cocky.

Madison weather

This is absolutely ridiculous.

"Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is apologizing for the decisions he made during a massive snowstorm that left major city streets iced over and led to numerous complaints.

The mayor told the Wisconsin State Journal on Friday he understood the frustration and accepted responsibility for the slick streets and rutted roads in the aftermath of the sixth largest two-day snowfall in 60 years."

Conditions are so bad you're "off-roading" in Downtown Madison!

More than 14.1 inches of snow fell, and frigid temperatures after the storm made salting ineffective.

The city of Madison made the controversial decision to keep all plows on snow removal, instead of pulling some to salt, which led to the very poor road conditions.

The city said it will work to tackle the packed-down roads this weekend.

"(Saturday) we'll be able to salt that because the temperatures will be warm enough all day. We'll start salting, and that will break that bond between that hard pack and the pavement, and we'll be able to scrape that up with the regular plows," George Dreckmann, of the Madison City Streets Division.

But that's just for main thoroughfares. On side streets where the city doesn't salt, crews will most likely have to wait for the snow to melt on its own this weekend.

I simply don't understand why the plows didn't get out on the most used streets- -like John Nolen Drive, East and West Washington Avenues, etc., and plow DURING Wednesday morning when it was wet and fluffy and could easily be lifted.

Shouldn't a city like Madison -4 inches of snow or 14- be better equipped to handle winter weather? This isn't a phenomenon, folks.

I'm not interested in apologies. I'm interested in what's going to change.

Do better.

I like Palin

I like Sarah Palin. Her latest steps have pundits predicting, but I appreciate that she's not letting it go to her head.

At the dinner, she said to much laughter that she liked her Washington hotel because “I came down from my hotel room and I could see the Russian Embassy”. Mrs Palin, who frequently lambasts the Washington media, said: “Sometimes you’ve just got to trust your instincts. And when you don’t, you end up in places like this.”

She added: “It’s good to be here, really, in front of this audience of leading journalists and intellectuals, or as I like to call it, a death panel.”

Mrs Palin could not resist a dig at Vice-President Joe Biden, her counterpart in last year’s election, who has thinning hair and who in the past has tried to slow down his balding by having hair transplants.

Mrs Palin, referring to Going Rogue, said that if the election had turned out differently, “I could be overseeing the signing of bailout cheques and Vice-President Biden could be on the road selling his book ‘Going Rogaine’.” Rogaine is a hair loss treatment.

Mrs Palin also joked that she had originally thought of entitling her book ‘How To Look Like a Million Bucks, For Only $150,000’. In one of the controversies surrounding her candidacy, the campaign spent at least $150,000 on her wardrobe.

Do I think she was ready for prime-time last year? Definitely not. Do I think she should be the front-runner for President? Not yet.

But I'm sure I'll read her book. And I find her charm, well, somewhat intoxicating. Perhaps because she is so threatening to liberals. Perhaps because she is such a strong woman, as Rachel Campos-Duffy so eloquently describes.

I'm most certainly not ashamed to say that Sarah Palin is a role model in many different ways.

We'll see what's to come.

Cuts in plowing not good for WI

This is DUMB. In Milwaukee County, and Wisconsin in general, snow response needs all the help it can get.

Cuts in state funding for highway maintenance could lead to more potholes, slower snow plowing and layoffs of road maintenance workers next year, according to Milwaukee County officials.

While snow plowing remains the top maintenance priority for the state, the county's $1.2 million cut in 2010 state road aid could force layoffs and cuts in next winter's road clearing, said Jack Takerian, Milwaukee County's interim public works director.

The 9.25% cut left the county with a total of $12.4 million. Other counties in southeast Wisconsin were assigned similar reductions, the result of state budget cuts.

The money will cover plowing for this winter, but could come up short after that, Takerian said. Unless extra cash is found, the county could be forced to lay off as many as 24 of 56 full-time and 28 seasonal workers who work on state highways in mid- or late 2010, he said.

"This is a domino that's going to fall next year," Takerian said.

Fewer workers would mean longer routes for each plow operator and increase the time it takes to clear state roads in Milwaukee County, Takerian said. State roads in the county include I-43, I-94 and many major thoroughfares such as W. Brown Deer Road, Loomis Road, Forest Home Ave., Appleton Ave. and parts of Green Bay Road and Capitol Drive.

County Executive Scott Walker said Friday the county is seeking flexibility from the state to be able to shift funds between winter and summer road maintenance. For example, if this winter turns out to be relatively mild, the county hopes to be able to retain any saving to help get it through the rest of the year, he said.

Yeah, knock it off with the new ramps and widening of lanes. We've been driving for years on them and can deal a little while longer with just two lanes, or a pothole here and there.

It's snow and ice that'll remain treacherous for WI drivers.

Pedestrian news? Doubtful.

How is this news?!!

"Girl runs into side of minivan in Monroe".

Yes folks, this is actually a headline in a Madison paper.

The line following should read, "Dumbass."

I am losing faith in our news outlets, daily. No pun intended.

Next time I slip and fall, I'll be sure to put out a press release so it gets local attention. After all, everyone deserves their 15 minutes of

"The girl ran into the passenger side of the minivan and was struck by the side mirror.

Breault stopped, and was told by the girl and by the girl's brother that neither were injured, so the driver left.

"A school bus driver who witnessed the crash called 911," Kelley said. "Police and Monroe EMS were called and the girl said she had a sore shoulder."

She was taken to Monroe Clinic Hospital, as is standard procedure, Kelley said.

Wow.

Praying for Tiger

Sin is hunting Tiger Woods. Let us all take a step back and reflect on why we find this so fascinating, but also, how what he and his family are experiencing right now touches the inner depths of our hearts in may ways.

This is beautiful written, I hope you will take a minute to read it. In my own imperfect life, it is a beautiful reminder to continually seek God's grace.

Hunting Tiger Woods
by C.J. Mahaney 12/3/2009 3:10:00 PM
Tiger Woods wants his privacy back.

He wants the media entourage to disappear from his life.

He wants to be left alone so he can manage his personal problems in private.

Not a chance.

The story began unfolding in the early hours of last Friday when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a tree and a fire hydrant near his Florida home. He refused to speak with the police about the incident, raising curiosity about the circumstances. The story has now escalated into allegations of marital infidelity, and that generated a blog post from Tiger that stated, “I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.” This statement by Tiger has led most to believe that the allegations of infidelity are true.

Hunted by the Media

As expected, the allegations of adultery involving a public figure are attracting a media pile-on. This is a big story with a big audience and it’s a story that will not disappear soon. Tiger Woods is being hunted by the media.

But let us make sure we do not join the hunt. A Christian’s response to this story should be distinctly different. We should not be entertained by the news. We should not have a morbid interest in all the details. We should be saddened and sobered. We should pray for this man and even more for his wife.

And we can be sure that in the coming days we will be in conversations with friends and family where this topic will emerge. And when it does, we can avoid simply listening to the latest details and speculations, and avoid speaking self-righteously, but instead we can humbly draw attention to the grace of God in the gospel.

Hunted by Sin

But Tiger is being hunted by something more menacing than journalists. Tiger’s real enemy is his sin, and that’s an enemy much more difficult to discern and one that can’t be managed in our own strength. It’s an enemy that never sleeps.

Let me explain.

Sin Lies

The Bible in general, and the book of Proverbs in particular, reveals an unbreakable connection between our character, our conduct, and the consequences of our actions. These three are inseparable and woven by God into His created order.

Deception is part of sin’s DNA. Sin lies to us. It seeks to convince us that sin brings only pleasure, that it carries no consequences, and that no one will discover it. Sin works hard to make us forget that character, conduct, and consequences are interconnected. And when we neglect this relationship—when we think our sins will not be discovered—we ultimately mock God.

Sin Hunts

We’ve all experienced it: Sin lies to us. We take the bait. And then sin begins to hunt us.

One commentator on Proverbs articulated this truth like this: “The irony of a life of rebellion is that we begin by pursuing sin…and end up being pursued by it!….You can ‘be sure your sin will find you out’ (Num. 32:23…).”* In other words, sin comes back to hunt us.

In light of this fact, sin is an enemy Tiger can’t manage. He can’t shape this story like he does a long iron on a par 5. Tiger doesn’t need a publicity facelift; Tiger needs a Savior. Just like me. And just like you. And if by God’s grace he repents and trusts in the person and work of Christ, Tiger will experience the fruit of God’s promise that “whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

Conclusion

Tiger cannot intimidate this enemy like he can Pebble Beach or any of the field of professional golfers. And there is no privacy he can claim from this enemy, regardless of his resolve, his silence, or the name painted on his yacht. It’s likely Tiger only perceives the press hunting him out of a vain “curiosity about public figures.” But Tiger is being hunted and hounded by a far greater foe: the consequences of his sin.

And this story should humble and sober us. It should make us ask: Are there any so-called “secret sins” in my life? Is there anything I have done that I hope nobody discovers? Is there anything right now in my life that I should confess to God and the appropriate individuals?

And this should leave us more amazed by grace because there, but for the grace of God, go I.

God Calling today

December 3 - A Journey With Me

Fret not your souls with puzzles that you cannot solve. The solution may never be shown you until you have left this flesh-life.

Remember what I have so often told you, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." Only step by step, and stage by stage, can you proceed, in your journey upward.

The one thing to be sure of is that it is a journey with Me. There does come a Joy known to those who suffer with Me. But that is not the result of the suffering, but the result of the close intimacy with Me, to which suffering drove you.

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18

Obama Speech Reaction

I WISH I had come up with this:

President Obama spoke 4,582 words in his primetime Afghanistan war speech at West Point last night. He said "al Qaeda" 22 times. He mentioned the "Taliban" 12 times. And used the word "victory" 0 times. Guess that sums it up.

Yup.

World AIDS Day

Yesterday was World AIDS Day.

And I agree with Causey.

I love Hip Hop and the Hip Hop culture, which is why I criticize it when it popularizes things that do little to improve the lives of young people who live by it.

I’ve been harsh on the saggin’ craze because some young people still don’t know that showing their underwear at a job fair is unacceptable. I also criticized those rappers who brag about the so-called gangsta lifestyle. But today is World AIDS Day and I expected more from the Hip Hop community, especially when more than 225,000 African-Americans have died of AIDS.

Blacks also account for more than half of the 1 million people living with HIV in the U.S. today. But instead of a bunch of rappers, singers and performers coming together to get tested to push the “knowing one’s status” campaign, we instead get a new song from R. Kelly titled “Pregnant.”

Technically, R. Kelly falls under the R&B umbrella, but some of his more successful collaborations have been with Hip Hop artists. His new song "Pregnant" talks about how he wants to knock a woman up.

Listen for yourself by clicking here. I’m speechless but, sadly, I will not be surprised to see this song climb up the charts.

I expected more. Gangsta rapper Eazy-E died of AIDS in 1995. African-Americans generally should be concerned. Former basketball player Erving “Magic” Johnson announced he had HIV in 1991, proving that HIV “can happen to anyone.”

Maybe I was expecting too much. Thoughts?

Here are mine.

22 million people still are living with HIV/AIDS.

In addition, HIV infection rates are far outpacing the number of people added to treatment- every day, 2,600 people are put on treatment across the world, but 7,400 more become infected with the virus.

And R. Kelly wants to knock someone up? Artists these days seem more concerned with writing a decent beat about grinding up on some hot booty for the next gymnasium highschool homecoming dance, than what they could use their voices, power and influence for in advocating for good.

Dear Rappers,
Pick an issue. Get motivated. Give what you can. Mostly, devote your voice to a cause.
Thank you,
LMS

I haven't blogged in a while....

I'm lacking fervor and general angst about anything that I think readers would be interested in. Perhaps it is also due to a lack of legitimate comments and merely spam, which stems from a lack of interesting blog posts.

I have no one to blame but myself!

I'll take suggestions any time.

More, coming soon.

9/11 civilian trial

They should not be allowed to speak so that the American people can hear them. Terrorists who murder thousands should be silenced.

Robert is Bothered - Snickers Ads

Obey out of line

The whole thing is a sham!

Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, took the administration to task for pervasive errors on the Web site designed to monitor disbursement of the stimulus funds. He called those errors "outrageous."

"Credibility counts in government and stupid mistakes like this undermine it. We've got too many serious problems in this country to let that happen," Obey said in a statement. "Whether the numbers are good news or bad news, I want the honest numbers and I want them now."

Obey demanded a commitment from the executive branch that they would "work night and day to correct the ludicrous mistakes." Congress and the public should be able to trust reports by the Recovery Accountability and Transparency (RAT) Board, he said.

The administration has already slashed 60,000 jobs from its estimates of how many jobs were created by the stimulus, after discovering "unrealistic data" submitted by stimulus recipients. In one extreme example, the stimulus Web site reported that 50 jobs were created or saved by an Arkansas cemetery's purchase of a lawnmower for roughly $1,000.

This guy now has to watch his job.

Animal Liberation Orchestra - Barbeque

George Will stop you in your tracks

"In last week's NEWSWEEK, the cover story was a hymn to "The Thinking Man's Thinking Man." Beneath the story's headline ("The Evolution of an Eco-Prophet") was this subhead: "Al Gore's views on climate change are advancing as rapidly as the phenomenon itself." Which was rather rude because, if true, his views have not advanced for 11 years."

Read the rest.

Ben Collins' website scare

I'm sorry, but does anyone else think some of Ben Collins' photos are just a tad...menacing?

I've said it about JB Van Hollen's monthly e-newsletter, but this is borderline Twilight photo-shoot. Gotta call it like I see it.

You know you were thinking it.

P.S. He does look pretty bad-ass with that gun.

So What? - In Obey's Own Words

Dave Westlake should keep his advice to himself

I saw this a few days ago and wasn't going to comment. BUT, I couldn't help myself.

Dave Westlake thinks he not only has a shot at the Senate, but that he's going to dissuade Terrence Wall from running.

David Westlake says he’s never met Terrence Wall.

But if they were good friends and he were giving Wall some campaign advice, he’d offer up this nugget to ponder: “In an economy that’s in a recession based on some problems in the housing market, I wonder, I fear how he’s going to tell his story having made so much money in the real estate market.”

Westlake, a Watertown businessman, got his first competition for the GOP Senate nomination to take on Dem Russ Feingold when the Madison developer got into the race this month. The 1995 graduate of West Point started HighIQ, which provides printer cartridge services and consulting work to manage printer networks.

Guess again, Dave. And bad advice. You never come out swinging against an "unannounced" opponent (on your side of the aisle, no less!), claiming you have advice and taking a low blow at his career choice.

Please, be another bratty GOP candidate that's pissy because someone else got in the race.

I'm not in anyone's camp here. But this certainly makes me less of a fan.

How a state turns red

WALNUTS

Why have I never seen this before?

Intense.

WI Dems in trouble

This is a good sign.

Ashland County prosecutor Sean Duffy has impressed national Republican campaign officials with his early fundraising in his bid to unseat Rep. Dave Obey.

In his first three months as a candidate, Duffy collected $139,471, according to his campaign committee's Oct. 15 report to the Federal Election Commission. That was just $16,600 less than what Obey, a 40-year incumbent Democrat, took in from July 1 through Sept. 30.

"I would consider that a pretty powerful moral victory," said Tom Erickson, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the House of Representatives. "That should give Mr. Obey pause."

More than "pause," friends.

Obey needs to be scared. This is a serious challenger who's doing the work.

Perhaps more significant than the totals is the fact that all of Duffy's money came from individual contributions, while only $34,325 of Obey's $156,075 came from single donors. The rest came from political action committees.

Duffy's fundraising total was good enough to earn him a spot on the NRCC's "On the Radar" list, the first rung of a three-step hierarchy in the committee's Young Guns program. The program was established to develop promising GOP House candidates. The next level is "Contender" before reaching "Young Gun" status. Fundraising and organization infrastructure are among the key benchmarks in rating the candidates.

I'm sure Mr. Duffy will stay on the radar.

John Edwards makes me want to vomit

Elizabeth Edwards doesn't deserve what's happened to her. And while I am all about forgiveness in it's greatest form, this is a little hard to swallow.

"John said, 'Perhaps not the great love story that we hoped, but maybe a great love story nonetheless.' [It's] 'till death do you part -- because that's what I want," she said.

Perhaps because that "death do you part" isn't as far away for him... After all the news he's made, it's 'poor Elizabeth' all the way.

I'm sure the last thing she wants is pity, but here's a little empathy. And Mrs. Edwards, I raise my glass to you.

Limbaugh's NFL bid turns political

Why is Al Sharpton opening his mouth again?

In a letter sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Sharpton wrote that he was “disturbed” to hear about Limbaugh’s interest in the Rams and asked for a meeting with Goodell “to discuss the myriad of reasons as to why [Limbaugh] should not be given an opportunity to do so.”

Sharpton argued that Limbaugh has been “anti-NFL” in his comments about several of the league’s players, specifically naming Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick.

In addition, Sharpton wrote that Limbaugh’s “recent statement that the NFL was beginning to look like a fight between the Crips and the Bloods without the weapons, was disturbing.”

Clearly, this is a political issue in Sharpton's mind.

If Al Franken wanted to buy an NFL team, would there be cause to be "disturbed"? Al Gore? Bill Clinton?

Call a spade a spade. They don't want him because he's a Republican.

Funny that no one has called out the race issue here either.

Walker faces cyber attack!

Scott Walker's campaign is under attack!! TWEETTACK!!

GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker's campaign suspects political sabotage for causing the suspension of his Twitter account yesterday.

Walker spokesman Keith Gilkes said the suspension followed hundreds of users over the course of several days signing up to follow, then "unfollowing" the Milwaukee County Executive's Twitter feed. The users then reported to the company that Walker's account was sending out spam.

Gilkes said the effort "points to a massive coordinated effort to get Scott Walker suspended."

"It's cyber warfare of the political kind," Gilkes said. "It's unfortunate, but it's the kind of tactics you can expect from our opponents."

Gilkes said the campaign is working with Twitter to identify "who some of the culprits are," though he declined to identify who he believed they are. He hopes to have the account restored today.

The Dems are pathetic. Even more pathetic is that this is on Wispolitics and somehow, "newsworthy."

I guess it fits. Most of what Walker does is fake news anyway.

Obey is Dangerous

Dave Obey has his head on backwards.

David Obey rolled out the red carpet for terror suspects today when he cast a vote against a measure requesting that his party leaders include language prohibiting the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the United States from the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. With his stunning ‘no’ vote, Obey not only voted to open the door to possible terrorists, but he also refused to request that all Guantanamo Bay detainees be added to Homeland Security’s “No Fly List” and shunned the idea of transparency by refusing to request that the bill be available to the public for 72 hours before receiving an up or down vote. (House Roll Call 746)

Not long ago, a senior member of Obey's own party objected to Democrat proposals to transfer Guantanamo prisoners to the United States. That didn’t stop Obey from turning his back on Wisconsin families who want to keep terror suspects out of their back yard.

“A senior Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday warned against sending detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas, saying it could endanger U.S. relations with Muslim countries.

“It was also another thorn in President Barack Obama’s effort to quickly close the controversial U.S. prison in Cuba."

“Skelton is the first senior Democrat to raise issues with moving the Guantanamo detainees to Kansas, but follows a news conference last week in which Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback and Republican Representative Jerry Moran blasted suggestions of moving the detainees there.” (Jeremy Pelofsky, “Democrat opposes sending Guantanamo detainees to Leavenworth,” Reuters, 8/10/09)

As if Obey's surly demeaner wasn't enough to turn voters away, his voting record just keeps getting more absurd!

It's a relief we've got this guy running. There's not even a chance Sean Duffy would vote to actually bring terrorists back to the U.S. to plot against us again.

POOR Alan Grayson???

Are you kidding me? That better be sarcasm.

Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) has no Republican challenger to date, though a number of serious Republicans are thinking of getting in and at least a couple are on the verge of doing so.

The district leans Republican and after Grayson’s latest antics Charlie Cook has moved the race to a tossup without there even being a Republican challenger yet.

It is also worth noting that Grayson is trying to use his holocaust comment, etc. to raise money.

It's his signature line now?!

I'd equate this comment to the level of George Allen's unforunate "macaca" statement, as deserving of losing your seat.

I'm sorry, did I miss the holocaust?

Grayson is WAY out of line.

Grayson made a presentation on the House floor Tuesday night in which he said, “if you get sick, America, the Republican healthcare plan is this: Die quickly.” He even had a sign printed reading, “The Republican Healthcare Plan: Die Quickly.”

After Republicans demanded an apology, Rep. Grayson went to the floor to mock the demand, and called the deaths of Americans because they don't have insurance a "holocaust."

“I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven’t voted sooner to end this holocaust in America,” Grayson said.

Later, in a television interview, he called Republicans " foot-dragging, knuckle dragging neanderthals who know nothing but 'no.'"

The only statement he has backed off from is the comparison to a "holocaust," telling MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, "It may not have been the best choice of words."

Not the best choice of words?

Not only to put on the Republicans that we are somehow "urging people to die" so we no longer have to find the funding for their healthcare is insensitive and beyond insulting. Grayson SHOULD apologize now, not for that, but for his subsequent remarks mocking the Republicans for asking for an apologize and comparing our healthcare situuationio in America to the Holocaust.

It wasn't funny.

It wasn't witty.

It was more than a "poor choice of words."

It was appalling.

This debate is bringing more than the worst out in our Congressional representatives. I understand it's frustrating to be met all summer long at each town hall with opposition and angry constituents. But that does not excuse the attitude, the yelling, or making absurd accusations like "Republicans want you to die quickly."

And further, this is NOT a Holocaust. In no way are Republicans- or any Americans- on a mass slaughter attack against the elderly or any other group of individuals. To compare the Republicans "lack of a plan," as Pelosi calls it to Hitler's campaign for world domination by execution of Jews and anyone else he didn't like is so far off base, this guy should be committed!

Definition of a holocaust:
1. a great or complete devastation or destruction, esp. by fire.
2. a sacrifice completely consumed by fire; burnt offering.
3. (usually initial capital letter) the systematic mass slaughter of European Jews in Nazi concentration camps during World War II (usually prec. by the).
4. any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life.

Choose something else, Grayson. I bet your voters will too.

Milwaukee fights fire with Pink!

This is great.

Milwaukee firefighters have been hawking red T-shirts to help an injured Iraqi soldier.

Now, firefighters will be donning pink.Firefighters will be allowed to wear pink T-shirts with the Milwaukee Fire Department logo all month as part of an annual fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. {The fire department will also sell the T-shirts to the public for $10 each.

Last year the department raised $27, 256 for the Milwaukee affiliate of the organization, which funds breast health education, breast cancer screenings, and treatment programs.

Giving back for the troops and for breast cancer are two top causes - keep it up, Milwaukee.

Safer

We're safer. I'm thanking President Bush.

According to a Fox 4 News report in Dallas, Texas, a would be terrorist bomber was arrested this afternoon by the F.B.I. The 19 year old man, Mosam Maher Husein Smadi who is a Jordanian citizen, was arrested by the F.B.I. and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. He told agents he wanted to commit "violent jihad".

His target was the Fountain Place, a 60-story glass office tower located at 1445 Ross Avenue. This is one of the most well known and visible buildings in downtown Dallas. According to Fox News, the man is in the United States illegally. He was introduced to people he thought were fellow Al-Qaeda members in his attempt to obtain bomb material. The men he spoke with were actually working for the F.B.I.

Packer Fans on Craigslist

What a cesspool it is. But this is hilarious. I'm proud to know the author.

Snippit:

Other Packer fans on Craigslist aren’t as discriminating. Take this guy in East Madison, who’s “looking for a football watching buddy.” He’s a progressive lover - not “not hung up on age, race, or how tall you are.” He does, however, follow up by saying he doesn’t like “like people who want to smoke around me or who are heavy.”

As we all know, when dating, it’s important to keep an open mind about race, religion, and looks. Just as long as they’re not a fatty.

Too funny. Read the rest.

2008 Dove Awards Third Day - Call My Name

Good song.

Paul Ryan talks healthcare

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Spencer "I rule" Coggs

Spencer Coggs is thinking about Lt. Gov.

Why? Because, apparently, he thinks he's awesome.

Upon hearing current Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton had plans to run for governor, Coggs discussed the possibility of running for lieutenant governor with several friends.

“I began to think about it, and again, it makes sense to me. I’ve been in office for 26 years,” he said.

“My advantage would be the fact that I have an excellent record with the progressive community ... and no one has a better labor record than I,” he said. “I just have a wealth of relationships across the state.”

And why not, Rep. Coggs? Why not. Everyone else and their mother is running for that seat.

Rep. Myrick, as a patient

We need to shout this from the mountains.

GOP congresswoman grateful for quick detection of her breast cancer says Democratic health overhaul plans could mean life-threatening delays in treatment.

Rep. Sue Myrick of North Carolina said in her party's weekly radio and Internet address that her diagnosis "took six doctors, three mammograms and one ultrasound before they finally they found my cancer. This process took only a few weeks."

"Under the government-run health care system they have in Canada and the United Kingdom, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to get those tests so quickly," she said. "One international study found that three times as many citizens in those countries wait longer than a month to see a specialist. When it comes to life-threatening diseases like cancer, delay could mean death."

Democrats are looking for competition to private insurance companies to help drive prices down: a government-run insurance option, a trigger to add that option later; or nonprofit insurance cooperatives, designed to compete with private industry and give consumers more choices.

"These so-called health care reform bills have different names: a public option, a co-op, a trigger," Myrick said. "Make no mistake, these are all gateways to government-run health care."

I believe she is 100% correct. At the fork in the road, this is too dangerous a path to even hesitate before.

Dad 29 hits hard

Citing "The Doyle Incompetency, Chapter 21,789"

JB Van Hollen is going to take a lot of heat for his part in the DNA scandal. But when you come right down to it, Van Hollen's part appears to be minor compared to the parts played by Doyle's Incompetency Members Raemisch, Frank, Ordinans, and Doyle himself, who was AG when the collection law was passed.

JB has to clean up the mess, folks. He's not responsible for it.

McDonnell holds solid lead

This is good news for my friends in Ole VA.

Republican Bob McDonnell holds a comfortable lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial contest, according to a new Daily Kos poll, results virtually unchanged since news of McDonnell’s socially-conservative thesis emerged.

McDonnell leads Deeds by seven points, 50 to 43 percent, in the survey. That’s nearly identical to the 51 to 43 percent lead that McDonnell held in the last Daily Kos/Research 2000 survey conducted in August.

The poll indicates a solid gender gap, but that’s been in place since the beginning of the contest. Deeds narrowly leads McDonnell among women 47 to 44 percent. But McDonnell’s standing among women hasn’t changed in the last month – in August, women also preferred Deeds 46 to 45 percent.

And McDonnell’s favorability among women has remained stable. He currently holds a respectable 52 percent favorability rating among women – the exact same number as in August. (His unfavorable rating ticked up just one point, from 43 to 44 percent.)

Obama Goes Toe-To-Toe With Stephanopoulos On "Tax Increases"

I think he was explaining the definition to YOU, President Obama, as you seem to have your own idea of what "tax" means.

RPW defends JB

It's about time. I've often felt as though the RPW is too quiet on praising or even speaking positively about JB. They'd rather ignore him because he hasn't always been able to tow the party line. And they'd rather not address the Conservatives in South east Wisconsin complaining about how he's not conservative enough.

And "WHY isn't he our mascot?," the GOP-wingers cry in Milwaukee?

Um, maybe because he's working under the LAW! JB deserves a lot more credit and respect than the GOP has given him. They better shut up and put out more statments like this.

Chairman Priebus Applauds Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen's Leadershipby RPW Communications"It was Van Hollen's leadership that reduced the backlog at the State Crime Lab, and we can count on him to continue to making Wisconsin a safer place to live."


MADISON – Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Reince Priebus issued the following statement in recognition of Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen’s leadership at the Department of Justice:

“It’s simply appalling that the Department of Corrections has dropped the ball, neglecting to collect data samples from nearly 12,000 criminals. I’m heartened to know we have a leader like Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to bring about the real reforms necessary to correct this problem.

Van Hollen has been leading the way on law enforcement reforms and restoring integrity to the Department of Justice. He has made crime fighting a focus once again at the DOJ. It was Van Hollen's leadership that reduced the backlog at the State Crime Lab, and we can count on him to continue to making Wisconsin a safer place to live."

The last word on "racism"

It's Being an American...

It is becoming increasingly clear that some in the Democratic Party need a serious history lesson. Slavery was racist, Jim Crow laws were racist, segregation was racist – opposing a radical political agenda is not. Americans of all races and political mindsets applauded the election of America’s first African American president; it was a proud moment for every American. But our pride in electing an African-American president does not override our right to disagree with President Obama’s policies. It is obvious certain politicians are attempting to exploit racial anger to make up for their own policy failings.


Americans have an obligation to stand up for what they believe in and that is exactly what they are doing. As a whole, Americans are exercising their First Amendment rights and are rejecting President Obama’s massive government-run experiments. They want common sense reforms and economic security. These principles are not found in the Democrats’ health care plans. The Democrats’ health care plan is the antithesis of these ideals.


President Obama’s campaign promised to move America beyond the bitter divides of yesterday. But for leaders of the Democrat Party to characterize Americans' disapproval of the president’s policies as being based on race is an outrage and troubling sign about the lengths Democrats will go to disparage all who disagree with them. Playing the race card shows that Democrats are willing to deal from the bottom of the deck. Our political system has no place for this. President Obama should join me in calling for an end to these attacks by members of his party and a renewal of honest debate.


Michael Steele is chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Good deers....i mean, deeds

There's nothing like a Deere.

Because implement dealer Bob Pfeifer could have just shrugged it off when he heard that a youngster at Sanford Children's Hospital wanted a backpack with the John Deere logo on it.

Instead, Pfeifer pursued Danny Hansen's dream with as much fervor as if it had been a request from his own grandchildren.

On Wednesday, Danny, who at first refused to look at the stranger who had entered his hospital classroom, elatedly knocked his brown cowboy boots together when he saw the backpack.

"John Deere!" he said, a big grin splitting his face. "John Deere!"

Good stuff.

Feingold anti-Czar?

How refreshing.

Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin joined the anti-czar chorus Wednesday, asking Obama to detail the roles and responsibilities of all of the czars in his administration and to explain why he believes the use of czars is consistent with the Senate’s constitutional power to offer advice and consent on top-level executive branch officials.

“To the extent that this undercuts that role and people are put in the place of Cabinet people and really are the key authorities and you can’t question them, that’s something worth talking about,” Feingold said. “I think it’s a fair point.”

Feingold says he doesn’t know if there are any constitutional violations, but he suggested that he may hold an oversight hearing on the matter.

Keep it up, Russ.

Baucus healthcare nightmare

This is scarier than the Mr. Boogedy movie that gave me nightmares as a kid.

Baucus put the cost of his bill at $856 billion. It would require nearly all Americans to carry insurance and employers to help cover the costs of providing government subsidies, while prohibiting insurance companies from dropping or denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would cost $774 billion over 10 years and cover 94 percent of Americans. It would leave 25 million people uninsured in 2019 — a third of whom are illegal immigrants — compared with 17 million in the House bill.

The analysis came in $82 billion lower than Baucus had thought it would, suggesting there could be room for senators to make adjustments. However, any expenses added to the bill must be offset with new revenue, making the task politically difficult.

Well, at least he found a way to slash $82 billion...

And if we're going to use absurd metaphors, I'll hand the mic to Representative Weiner:

“Bipartisanship on Capitol Hill is the equivalent of a child looking for the unicorn,” Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said, referring to the months of negotiations between Baucus and three Republican senators on the committee — none of whom has embraced his bill.

Anyone know exactly what "The" unicorn is?

This is just wrong

"We still love Favre, and his purple jersey." You're on your own, Don.

I think it's funny that all the Viking fans that HATED Favre for years are so excited he's on their team now.

Old. News.

Say "WHAT????"

(AP)The Obama administration has privately concluded that a cap and trade law would cost American taxpayers up to $200 billion a year, the equivalent of hiking personal income taxes by about 15 percent.

A previously unreleased analysis prepared by the U.S. Department of Treasury says the total in new taxes would be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year. At the upper end of the administration's estimate, the cost per American household would be an extra $1,761 a year.

A second memorandum, which was prepared for Obama's transition team after the November election, says this about climate change policies: "Economic costs will likely be on the order of 1 percent of GDP, making them equal in scale to all existing environmental regulation."

Wow.

These disclosures will probably not aid the political prospects of the Democrats' cap and trade bill. The House of Representatives approved it by a remarkably narrow margin in June -- the bill would have failed if only six House members had switched their votes to "no" -- and it faces significant opposition in the Senate.

Um, ya think?

Saturation

Now the guy's the SOLE guest on Letterman?

President Barack Obama will appear on comedian David Letterman's late-night talk show next week, the CBS network said on Tuesday.

Obama will be the sole guest on the Monday, September 21, broadcast of the "Late Show with David Letterman", CBS said.

Obama became the first sitting president to appear on any U.S. late-night talk show when he was a guest in March on NBC's "The Tonight Show," hosted by Jay Leno.

The president's Monday appearance on Letterman's program marks the first time Obama has been on the program since being elected president last November. He has made five previous appearances on "The David Letterman Show", including one in September during his campaign for the White House.

Will he sing and dance too?

Point Break

Always my favorite Swayze movie.

RIP

Obama overkill

Doesn't it feel like this is over kill? Can't he do this with Congress behind office doors on Capitol Hill?

The problem is going to come in hearing a broken-record President.

It’s going to be awfully hard to avoid President Obama on television this Sunday.

The president is going to appear on five Sunday talk shows – five – to press his case for health care, White House officials disclosed. That is a presidential record.

Mr. Obama is going to appear on This Week with George Stephanopoulos on ABC. And Meet the Press on NBC. And Face the Nation on CBS. In between, he is going to sit down for interviews on CNN and Univision. (Fox News didn’t make the cut).

Newsmakers in the past have managed to pull of the unlikely feat of hitting the big three Sunday interview shows on CBS, NBC and ABC. But this is a presidential first.

If there’s one thing this White House doesn’t seem worried about, it is that Americans will get tired of seeing President Obama. His talk-show marathon will come after the speech on Wall Street today and a rally in Maryland later this week.

I'm getting tired.

It’s also a reminder of just how much Mr. Obama is out there. As of his seven-month in office mark in August, he had done 114 interviews, compared to 37 by former President George W. Bush and 41 by former president Bill Clinton at a similar point in their administrations, according to Martha Joynt Kumar, a political science professor at Towson University in Maryland.

The frighteneing point is how much he loves to hear himself talk.

I'm a Republican too

I'm a Republican from SCGOP on Vimeo.

Kudos to my friends in D.C.

Wish I could have marched.

WASHINGTON -- A sea of protesters filled the west lawn of the Capitol and spilled onto the National Mall yesterday in the largest rally against President Barack Obama since he took office, a culmination of a summer-long season of protests that began with opposition to a health care overhaul and grew into a broader dissatisfaction with government....

The demonstrators numbered well into the tens of thousands, though the police declined to provide an estimate of the size of the crowd. Many of the participants came on their own and were not part of an organization or group. But the magnitude of the rally took the authorities by surprise, with throngs of people streaming from the White House to Capitol Hill for more than three hours.

I like it.

As Mr. Obama traveled to Minnesota yesterday to rally support for his health care plan, he flew over the assembling crowd in Marine One. The helicopter could be seen flying overhead as the demonstrators marched down Pennsylvania Avenue.

"This is not some kind of radical right-wing group," Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said in an interview as dozens of people streamed by him. "I just hope the Congress, the Senate and the president recognize that people are afraid of what's going on."

I hope Obama saw the throngs of people - because DeMint is right.

There truly is nothing to stop Obama and the liberals in Congress who want this dangerous healthcare plan. They have the votes.

It is literally the voice of the people that continues to stall them.

Bin Laden is back

Another tape. Clearly not a conspiracy, for all those who keep believing Bush caused 9/11.

The impacted generation

"I'd never fully realized this: 9/11 was for America's kids exactly what Nov. 22, 1963, was for their parents and uncles and aunts. They were at school. Suddenly there were rumors in the hall and teachers speaking in hushed tones. You passed an open classroom and saw a teacher sobbing. Then the principal came on the public-address system and said something very bad had happened. Shocked parents began to pick kids up. Everyone went home and watched TV all day, and the next."

Read the rest.

Less we never forget...

"Eight years ago, our nation and our freedom came under attack. On this solemn anniversary, Laura and I hold the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers. We honor those who volunteer to keep us safe and extend the reach of freedom - including members of the armed forces, law enforcement officers, and intelligence and homeland security professionals. Their courage, service and sacrifice is a fitting tribute to all those who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. On this day, let us renew our determination to prevent evil from returning to our shores."

Health care reform

"Did the President's speech change your mind on healthcare?" asks one FoxNews poll. 92% said NO.

That's because you cannot solve this problem with rhetoric, Mr. President. You cannot stand with a fraction of the United States' nurses, crack a few jokes about "So You Think You Can Dance" and your wonderful history with nurses and think this will solve the healthcare crisis the next morning.

This is bigger than a speech to the joint congress.

Nancy Pelosi's favorite line is "The Republicans aren't offering any alternative plans." I'm sorry, but Jim DeMint, Paul Ryan, Tom Price, Tom Coburn, David Nunes, Richard Burr, are just a few offering up ideas. It's the DEMOCRATS who aren't willing to listen and compromise.

I agree that this should be the last generation to take up the healthcare debate. Wouldn't it be wonderful to reform a system and allow those who work hard and pay for their healthcare to keep it? Wouldn't it be great to see "pre-existing conditions" like migraines and arthritis (to name a few), covered? Wouldn't it also be great not to have to worry that Uncle Sam is taking my money to cover someone else's abortion?

Let's talk about preventive medicine. Let's talk about taking care of ourselves, exercising, eating right, sleeping and drinking water, not smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, etc. Believe it or not, those simple changes can mean reversing the diabetes diagnosis, healthier hearts, fewer cancer cases, etc.
I bet quite a few lives would drastically change. And, I'm supportive of considering
reducing abuse and fraud in the Medicare program, giving supplemental health insurance to those low-income families that need it - but that are also working, and other changes that would truly reform healthcare without infringing on the American citizens that dutifully pay their taxes and work hard for their coverage.

And lastly, a personal anecdote. (What political diatribe is complete without one?)
What do you say to the doctor that tells a 74 year old woman after finding suspicious spots on her mammogram to wait 6 months and come back- "it's probably only a cyst," despite the woman's family history of breast cancer???? Upon a second opinion, that precancerous tissue is coming out.

And why? Because it's expensive and she's elderly and in "6 months it might be a benign cyst or it might be cancer but we'll deal with it then" ?

I say that doctor is ill-fit to practice medicine.
I say that doctor should be stripped of his ability to consult patients.
I say THAT is a situation screaming out for healthcare reform.

The debate has to center on more than cost this time around.

Vick is Sick

Whoever allowed Michael Vick to come in and speak to high school students about peer pressure has lost their mind.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, who served prison time for running a dogfighting ring, addressed a rapt audience of 200 freshmen on their first day at Nueva Esperanza Academy, a North Philadelphia charter school.

"I didn't choose to go the right way, which led to 18 months in prison, which was the toughest time of my life," he said. " ... I was influenced by so many people when I should have been a leader, not a follower."

He said he tried to do the right things at school and at home, "but I had another side to me, and it was a dark side."

It's total crap. Vick was a leader in that ring, no matter who else he wants to blame.

This is a guy who made thousands of dollars torturing animals, "rolling" these poor pitbulls, and hanging, drowning and slamming their bodies to the ground.

There is absolutely NO excuse for that. No one to point at but himself. To blame your socioeconomic status for dogfighting, AFTER you've been a college star, a success in the NFL - AFTER you've come of age enough to learn right v. wrong - is shameful!

As a high school student, you wouldn't have caught me dead in that auditorium.

Baron Hill (IN-09): This Is My Town Hall Meeting. I Set the Rules.

Not Ok. This is the PEOPLE'S town hall meeting.

and come November, 2010, I'm sure they might tell you how to run your Congressional Office. Strike that, they'll tell you how NOT to when you get voted OUT.

Ohio State's Take the Field Tribute for Navy - 9.5.09

I know the guy who made this!!

Elmbrook says NO to Obama's speech

Good for them.

When President Barack Obama makes a speech Tuesday to America's schoolchildren that will be carried live on television and the Internet, students in at least one Wisconsin school district won't be allowed to see it - at least, not if they're where they're supposed to be.

Elmbrook School District Superintendent Matt Gibson told parents Thursday that schools in his district would not show the president's speech live on Tuesday, although he encouraged families to watch it at home and provided a link where it would be archived.

The district's decision comes after a barrage of criticism from conservatives who, in some instances, contend Obama is trying to indoctrinate the nation's youth with the 15- to 20-minute speech.

In its announcement of the speech, the U.S. Department of Education said Obama "will speak directly to the nation's children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school. The president will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals and take responsibility for their learning."

Regardless of the message, children are at school to learn from their teachers. This should not be interrupted everytime the President wants to make his face known to K-12-ers.

Milwaukee Public Schools is leaving it up to individual schools and teachers to decide whether to tune in for the speech.

"As always, these things are voluntary as far as what an instructor believes fits with the curriculum," district spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin said.

She added, "This is a sitting president, and this is a district, too, that needs all help, all manner of assistance in encouraging kids to stay in school. . . .  To have a strong male figure, and I might add an African-American figure, many people in our district see that as an important thing for this majority-minority district."

Translation: "Our kids need to see a successful black man"?

In today's culture, they are seeing enough of it, folks. I think most "curriculums" wouldn't exactly call for the viewing.

WJW Fox 8 Cleveland does a ridiculous story on a bear in a lady's backyard

Ridiculous.

No more patriotic songs in Congress!

Anti-American, Anti-patriotic music...

I guess if you call your congressman, the hold music will no longer be patriotic.

Perhaps Toby Keith would like to weigh in on this one.

No Treats From Obama

DOJ = Pretty Freakin Awesome

"It's becoming harder to get away with murder in Wisconsin." Enough said.

Thanks in large part to advances in DNA technology and the work of law enforcement officers devoted to investigating long-unsolved killings, a steady stream of cold-case homicides from throughout the state has been cracked in recent months.

Charges have been filed this year in at least seven killings dating back to 1976. All the cases depend in part on DNA evidence that links the suspects to the crimes....

The State Crime Lab, which processes DNA samples from across the state, essentially doubled its staff of DNA analysts when it hired about 30 new analysts in 2007, said Gary Hamblin, who oversees the crime lab as head of the Division of Law Enforcement Services in the state Department of Justice.

The extra staffing has helped the lab cut through a backlog of DNA samples while expediting the testing of high-priority cases, Hamblin said.

The lab expected a roughly 12% increase in cases this year, but the actual number of cases submitted to the lab so far in 2009 is significantly higher than anticipated, Hamblin said.

Justice.

Credit Hamblin and DOJ.

Rachel Campos Duffy loves being a mom

I think it's refreshing that not only is Sean Duffy (former Real World cast member), an up-and-comer in the Republican Party and well-known attorney in Wisconsin, running for Congress - he's got a brood of 5 at home and a seemingly awesome wife running the house.

Rachel Campos Duffy is more than a stay at home mom, and though I've never met her, I'm a fan.

If upon entering motherhood I ever consider staying at home, I'll pick up her book to consider it. She makes it work in Ashland, WI and works with AOL and blogs. I'm sure the kids are thankful for it- and now with Sean running for Congress- he'll need additional support.

That said, my point is I think it's awesome Rachel Duffy has her own thing and isn't afraid to speak her mind, even while her husband is in the political campaign spotlight. She's a class act.

Vikings not so sure...?

Yum

Dear Breakfast,

Thank you for existing and being so full of wonderful panclock and syrupy goodness.



All my love,
Little Miss Sunshine

Paul Ryan town halls

Congressman Paul Ryan conducts a civil town hall meeting in Wisconsin, a far cry from many others around the nation.

Packed rooms greeted — and, occasionally, booed — U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan at two Kenosha County listening sessions Tuesday.

Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, is holding a series of district listening sessions as a national debate rages over health care reform.

Crowds in Kenosha and Paddock Lake seized on the issue, discussing it almost exclusively in what were technically free-wheeling town halls to discuss any federal concerns...
Ryan said he doubts Democrats want to ration care, but he believes it is a definite outcome if their plan becomes law.

The congressman used the sessions to tout his reform alternative, called the Patients Choice Act, which would alter the system within the framework of the current private-sector insurance model.

While Ryan bemoaned the costs of the Democratic plan, Steve Herr, a 2006 Democratic primary candidate for Ryan’s seat, told Ryan he spends about 15 percent of his small business’ fixed monthly expenses on health insurance for himself and his employees.

Herr said the United States spends about 15 percent of its gross domestic product on health care, a figure that drops to about 10 percent in other nations with universal care.

“In effect, our current health care system, particularly the insurance companies, are nothing but a 5 percent anchor” on the economy, Herr said.

While applause outweighed boos at the meetings, there were a few moments in which Ryan stopped to remind audience members to respect one anothers’ views.

A reasonable voice.

Kenosha resident Kent Peters urged for some middle ground in the health care debate.

Peters — who said he spends about 40 percent of his income buying coverage through the state’s high-risk pool, and added he is willing to continue to do so — said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “take-it-or-leave-it approach” is driving a wedge through her party and the entire nation.

“Where is the voice of moderation and compromise?” Peters asked.

Look up, Kent. It's Paul Ryan.

Feingold has no hope for healthcare bill

At least not before the end of the year. That's the spirit, Russ!

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold told a large crowd gathered for a listening session in Iron County last week there would likely be no health care bill before the end of the year - and perhaps not at all.

It was an assessment Feingold said he didn't like, but the prospect of no health care legislation brought a burst of applause from a packed house of nearly 150 citizens at the Mercer Community Center.

"Nobody is going to bring a bill before Christmas, and maybe not even then, if this ever happens," Feingold said. "The divisions are so deep. I never seen anything like that."

Feingold reiterated his appraisal a bit later.

"We're headed in the direction of doing absolutely nothing, and I think that's unfortunate," he said when asked about the plight of uninsured Americans.

The problem is that representatives are NOT listening to their constituents. Maybe the holiday break will give them a chance to consider working for those who elected them.

The division is so deep because this issue is so critical- and the outcome could be severe if reform isn't done right.

Maternity care at stake

In the U.K.:

Thousands of women are having to give birth outside maternity wards because of a lack of midwives and hospital beds.

The lives of mothers and babies are being put at risk as births in locations ranging from lifts to toilets - even a caravan - went up 15 per cent last year to almost 4,000.
Health chiefs admit a lack of maternity beds is partly to blame for the crisis, with hundreds of women in labour being turned away from hospitals because they are full.
Latest figures show that over the past two years there were at least:

63 births in ambulances and 608 in transit to hospitals;

117 births in A&E departments, four in minor injury units and two in medical assessment areas;

115 births on other hospital wards and 36 in other unspecified areas including corridors;

399 in parts of maternity units other than labour beds, including postnatal and antenatal wards and reception areas.
Additionally, overstretched maternity units shut their doors to any more women in labour on 553 occasions last year.

Babies were born in offices, lifts, toilets and a caravan, according to the Freedom of Information data for 2007 and 2008 from 117 out of 147 trusts which provide maternity services.

This is almost laughable, if it weren't so frightening.

Is this what we're going to come to?

Senator Kennedy passes

The passing of Senator Kennedy truly marks the end of an era. What an eventful life.

DMB and a little Country

If you haven't heard the newest song b/t Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews- give it a listen.

And I totally disagree with this take.

Except for the part about how Kenny Chesney is totally un-inspiring. Dude never got me fired up.

But it's good stuff.

Favre diatribe

I've been a bear today to most folks, for that I apologize. But I'd like to take the opportunity to blame one person: Brett Faver. I mean, Favre.

First of all, the purple does nothing for his complexion. And what used to be a golden booty will now simply be a fasion faux pas- wearing white after labor day.
Uniform gripes aside, it's reported Favre will play the entire first half at the Houston game this weekend.

Yeah, because he has to show the Vikings coaching staff and his future "teammates" that he can still hack it.

Brett Favre's crash course in all things Viking ramps up this week, with coach Brad Childress saying Monday he expects the 39-year-old quarterback to play the entire first half of Minnesota's next exhibition game at Houston.

Favre signed last Tuesday, arriving with such fanfare that there was little time to fully prepare for his first appearance in purple, which came Friday night against Kansas City.

He played two series against the Chiefs, going 1 for 4 for 4 yards and no first downs.

The Vikings' third preseason game is next Monday night, and typically is when coaches play their starters the most. Childress said it will be important for Favre to get plenty of snaps to try to build chemistry with his offensive teammates before the regular season opens at Cleveland on Sept. 13.

Even though Favre missed more than two weeks of training camp, Childress said there was still plenty of time for him to catch up with the offense and learn his teammates' tendencies.

"He's doing everything he needs to do to get up to speed," Childress said. "(I'm) confident we've got the type (of team) and distance to be able to do that."

That's a lot to ask of a guy who doesn't like to practice with his team in the off-season, used to rather sleep in team film-watchings and several years after entering the NFL still didn't know what a nickel defense was. (I learned that at 5, Brett, no pun intended.)

For all the Vikings receivers, I'm sure they're shaking their head wondering what they're in for. If a new Favre doesn't show up- and I mean that literally- he won't earn the "right to start" that I'm sure he's signed for and there will be some pretty pissed off boys in purple.

So the entire first half it is, enough time for an entire first-half defense to kick the crap out of the old geezer.

Now the question is, will the dome be closed in Houston?

Game On.

Snooze paper

Just because the Wisconsin State Journal doesn't have any original news to report, doesn't mean the "wit" needs to get too cutesy.

"Six-year-old is latest addition to Madison Police Department". Haha. It's a horse. For DUMB.

The editor over there must think the intrigue of reading a story with this title is hilarious...

and yes, I'm cranky today which is to be reflected in many of my posts.

Corn

ELCA OK's Gay

The ELCA convention resulted in a vote allowing gay members of the clergy, even in relationships. Past decisions stated they had to be "celibate" to be clergy.

I guess there are many mixed reactions, and as a conservative I myself am not sure how I feel immediately.

Just one question: how would you even know if they were in a "committed relationship," celibate, or (fill in the blank here_________)???

Prosthetic Elephant leg

The Lieutenant Dan of Elephants:

Ten years ago, an elephant working in an illegal Thai logging camp near the Burmese/Myanmar border stepped on one of the many landmines still buried in the area. As a result, she had to have her left front foot amputated. The surgery required a world record-setting amount of anesthetic drugs -- enough for 70 grown men. According to JodysJungle.com, the resulting wounds took so long to heal that the initial prosthetic leg planned for Motala wasn't able to be used.

On August 15, the 48-year-old, three-ton elephant (who is a resident of the world's only elephant hospital set up by Friends of the Asian Elephant, or FAE) was fitted with a new, permanent prosthetic leg, reports the Associated Press. Motala's first walk with the new leg lasted about 10 minutes and she celebrated by tossing dirt in the air.

In the words of Forrest Gump, "You got new legs!"

AG Statement

While I agree with the reasoning behind this, a second grader could have written Attorney General Van Hollen's statement- and probably without the gramatical issues in the first paragraph.

In November 2006, Wisconsin voters amended our State Constitution to declare that marriage was between one man and one woman. The amendment prohibits our government from recognizing any other legal status substantially similar to marriage. But the general domestic partnership provisions contained in Act 28 do just that recognize a legal status that is substantially similar to the legal status of marriage.

That is why I cannot represent the state in this case.

My decision isn't based on a policy disagreement. As Attorney General, I prosecute and defend laws that I wouldn't have voted for if I were a policymaker. That is what I believe the job entails.

But I will not ignore the Constitution. My oath isn't to the legislature or the governor. My duty is to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the highest expression of their will -- the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin. When the people have spoken by amending our Constitution, I will abide by their command. When policymakers have ignored their words, I will not.

To defend the law would require me to ignore the command of the voters when they passed the recent marriage amendment or to ignore the expressly stated intent of the legislature in enacting Chapter 770. I am unwilling to do either.

It seems informal and of an immature voice.

It angers me when our highest elected statewide Republican office holder puts something out to the media like this. It's crap. Do better.

But good decision- at least now maybe South East Wisconsin conservative talk radio can say something nice about him.

Kind is kind, or at least peaceful

This pretty boy can do no wrong.

This is what we’ve been encountering in most of my public forums," Kind told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I don’t know if it’s homegrown Wisconsin civility. Obviously, passions run deep on both sides of the health care discussions. There was enough respect and courtesy where you can conduct a forum of this nature without degenerating into mob rule."

Kind is a moderate Democrat and potential swing vote on any reform package seeking to make its way through Congress.

Tuesday’s meeting had almost a Norman Rockwell quality, with Kind politely sitting near a basket on the floor of the community center’s basketball court. One citizen after another stepping forward to a microphone near a three-point line on the court to give their take or ask a question.

It was a fine show of engaged citizenry, exercising free speech in a meaningful way. That’s how democracy is supposed to work.

Welcome to Pleasantville, folks. I think the folks at WI State Journal are smoking some reefer today.

Minus the half-crooked smile suggesting children should run and not take the candy, Ron Kind gets a glowing review of his "peaceful" townhalls.

Must be that civility.

If he's in the gubernatorial race ring, round one of editorial endorsements may already be done!

Dave Matthews Baby Blue

Officially my newest favorite DMB song

Health Care

WASHINGTON -- Repeatedly invoking the Bible, President Obama yesterday told religious leaders that health-care critics are "bearing false witness" against his plan.

The fire-and-brimstone president declared holy war in a telephone call with thousands of religious leaders around the country as he sought to breathe life into his plan for a system overhaul.

I would love to have seen the faces of those listening. But this is just frightening:

He also disputed charges that the overhaul would pay for abortions and care for illegal immigrants.

He said the reforms aim to carry out one of God's commandments.

"I am my brother's keeper. I am my sister's keeper," Obama said.

He called health reform a "core ethical and moral obligation."

Presidents have oft-invoked the Lord or the power of their faith as they've helped govern our nation. But this weirdo lingo that leaves President Obama looking like a meditating "Ohm" yoga instructor is too much.

Don't sing a different tune when you're in front of a faith audience. The abortion and illegal immigration charge is currently undisputed. No one wants it, and yet I haven't heard any member of Congress take it completely off the table.

Senior Favre

Favre BS

If this is true... What would you do if you ever saw Brett Favre up close?
What would you say to him?

First thoughts:
Walk up and say "I curse the day you were born!" (thank you, SATC).

Taking suggestions...

Ryan says no to Governor

Oh Paul.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-1st District, will not run for governor next year, according to a statement from his campaign office Monday. The statement was released in the wake of news media speculation that Ryan would be interested in the office after Gov. Jim Doyle's announcement that he would not run for re-election. Following is the text of Ryan's statement:

“Governor Doyle has spent his career serving others through elected office. He has sacrificed much time away from his family and personal pursuits as a result and I wish him the best of success in whatever path he follows in the future. As far as my own plans are concerned, I will be asking my employers, the residents of Wisconsin’s First Congressional District, to rehire me as their Congressman in 2010. Consequently, I have no plans to run for Governor of the State of Wisconsin next year.”

In that case, we'll wait for President, 2012.

Michael Steele's Real Ideas for Change

Love the "I love puppies" line.

Doyle announces not running

I'm sorry, who will be crying?

Gov. Jim Doyle announced this morning that he will not seek re-election in 2010, telling a Madison news conference that he believes governors should limit themselves to two terms.

"There will be plenty of time in the future for us to cry and say goodbye, but we still have a year and a half to go," Doyle told the crowd at the Madison elementary school he attended as a child. "I intend to work every single day."

Vick's remorse

DOUBTFUL.

CBS Sports correspondent James Brown didn't ask any questions that could have surprised Vick, and that allowed Vick to hit the basic themes he wants to get out there: He's remorseful for participating in dog fighting, he knows he was wrong, his time in prison caused him to re-think his life, he wants a second chance, and so on.

"First day I walked into prison, and they slammed that door, I knew the magnitude of the decisions that I made, and the poor judgment and what I allowed to happen to the animals," Vick said.

He knew he had ended up in prison and lost money. His sweet pad wouldn't be home for quite a while. His endorsements, gone. His contract, gone. His reputation, slaughtered like those pups.

No one who systematically tortures animals - personally drowned, electrocuted, organized fights, need I go on?! -and then collects the cash at the end feels THAT remorseful, unless he has a chance to get back into the spotlight and the seven "zeros" that follow after the dollar sign in his paycheck. I hardly believe this is heartfelt. HEINOUS!

AND another thing. It is NOT part of anyone's culture to viciously torture dogs and chickens in such a way.

Why did he cry? "For what I did..." and then NOTHING about dogs. Missing his family, his home, the football field. I'm sorry, did I just throw up in my mouth?

Let him out of prison, fine. Let him work his way in a blue collar job or whatever "pysical education" degree he received from VA Tech, the second best public school in Virginia.

Save it, Vick. I hope every defense you play against goes absolutely ape-shit on your ass and puts you back in rehab.

Voter rights

Can you imagine living in an America where this threat was present?

In other words, if Nato succeeds in restoring political stability to Afghanistan, then Islamist terror groups will have fewer opportunities to plan their terror attacks against the British Isles.

It is for this reason that Nato is investing so much effort to ensure that this week's presidential election in Afghanistan is a success, even though all that means is that the corrupt government of the current president, Hamid Karzai, will be re-elected to serve another term.

It also explains why the Taliban is doing everything in its power to disrupt the elections, from sending suicide bombers to launch terror attacks against Nato's headquarters in the capital, Kabul, as occurred on Saturday, to sending menacing "night letters" to Afghan families, threatening to cut off their fingers if they vote.

The purple ink will give them away and they'll lose their fingers.

Makes you think twice, folks. When you stand up at a town hall, you are not shot for your difference of opinion. Your tongue isn't cut out. You have all your fingers and can raise your hand in question or protest.

Be grateful.

Mayor BadAss

It started with an urgent plea for help late Saturday night as he walked to his car after a State Fair outing with his family.

And it ended with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett lying in a pool of blood with a broken hand after he rushed to confront a pipe-wielding suspect officials described as a "vicious thug."

By Sunday evening, the suspect was in custody, Barrett was recuperating at a hospital, and his heroics were being recounted on national cable and network news shows.

So Milwaukee's Mayor beats down an attacker and saves a lady and her kid, and survives severe injuries. I have mixed feelings.

I can't say it was the smartest move. You have your family there, your own children, and you start to intervene in a public quarrel. While most would agree it's ballsy (and the woman and her 1 year old likely looked as though they needed help), there could have been greater consequences.

We're talking Milwaukee here, folks, let's not be fooled. There could have been guns or knives and serious injuries, even death.

And Joe Barrett has every reason to be teary. So we'll just announce his heroism and thank Mayor Barrett for his service.

little girl goes fishing

Awesome. Who cares if this is real or not?

McCain Bloggett

You go girl.

There is a place for the far right in this party, Malkin included, and I respect their right to be heard. But the Republican Party will continue to lose elections unless we start reaching out in a more effective way to people my age and to moderates. Barack Obama won the last election on the slogan “Yes We Can,” and there is no reason why Republicans can’t go forth and win elections with equally positive messages. We will not get anywhere by continuing to sell hate and fear. Of course, there is always going to be a fraction of the GOP that is going to respond to that, but at some point we have to start facing the reality that hate and fear will only get us so far. Those emotions are not sources for inspiration of joining anything, let alone supporting a political party.

Hillary Clinton Outraged in the Congo

Perhaps she SHOULD channel Bill in the whole working out-eating healthy-losing weight thing, though. The pictures are NOT flattering. She might want to consider a new suit jacket.

Town Halls

Rep. Mike Pence on Fox News: "Look, the American people are rejecting a government take-over of health care"...and in a time when our deficit is over $2 billion.

The fear in my fellow Americans' eyes at these townhalls is apparent. For our Congressmen and women not to see it, concerns me. We have a desperate Democratic leadership and White House that have placed this at the top of their liberal agenda, regardless of the negative impact it will have.

I honestly believe this will backfire on Democrats- particularly their claim that dissent is un-American, their hypocritical Op-Ed (no one once called the Iraq War protestors un-American??), and their refusal to allow American constituents access to important facts.

It is frightening on so many levels.

Not to mention, all this while the House wants more money for government jets. Pelosi is clearly not in there for her constituents.

DID I JUST HEAR?

That Democratic leadership refused to allow the Republicans to send out the healthcare policy chart to their constituents?

Talk about the disruption of information.

Protest is un-American?

Where would we be without the Boston Tea Party? Rosa Parks' refusal to move? The Million Man March? Need I go on?

Protest is apart of our history. Protest and freedom of speech DEFINES America.

Yet, Nancy Pelosi sure likes to call things "un-American."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, insisting at the start of a long and politically heated summer congressional recess that healthcare reform can be achieved this fall, today are calling the disruption of "town-hall'' meetings by vocal protesters "simply un-American.''

"However, it is now evident that an ugly campaign is underway not merely to misrepresent the health insurance reform legislation, but to disrupt public meetings and prevent members of Congress and constituents from conducting a civil dialogue,'' the two leaders write. "These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views -- but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American.''

And members of Congress shutting out their constituents' concerns over BAD policy is misrepresentation.

And this, from a woman who thinks enforcing American immigration law is also "un-American." Nancy, get a new word.

Pelosi and Hoyer should be recalled immediately.