Thune is out

Senator John Thune, our handsome neighbor to the South, does not intend to throw his name in for President:

According to a post on his Facebook page, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., isn't jumping into the presidential race.

"So at this time, I feel that I am best positioned to fight for America's future here in the trenches of the United States Senate," Thune said in the statement.

The South Dakota senator had been mentioned as a possible candidate to seek the 2012 Republican nomination but Tuesday, Thune said his place is in the Senate.

"There is a battle to be waged over what kind of country we are going to leave our children and grandchildren and that battle is happening now in Washington, not two years from now," Thune continued.

Thune's responsibilities as Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee have kept him busy and he and was recently named to the powerful Senate Finance and Budget committees.

The decision isn't completely unexpected. Thune had done very little to lay the groundwork for a presidential campaign, ignoring Iowa and New Hampshire where the first presidential caucuses and primary election take place less than a year from now.Fox News Correspondent Carl Cameron contributed to this report.

Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/02/22/senator-john-thune-doesnt-plan-run-president#ixzz1Ei16ZuiI

Sad for the supporters.

Good for... Romney?

Who else? Loving your thoughts, posters~

And can someone please tell me what is up with posting this to Facebook first?

Madison is NUTS

Three solid days of school closings in Madison, WI and teacher protests from there to Milwaukee, and the real losers aren't just the teachers.

While they may be serious LOSERS, spitting and shoving like immature brats on a playground at the Wisconsin Capitol, it's the students who are missing out - who are actually losing in this equation.

Cuts are necessary. Ask Chris Christie. Ask anyone who is serious about reining in spending. Ask Scott Walker who's taken a good look at the budget and understands where Wisconsin NEEDS to go and that reform is necessary.

Walker, who took office last month, called the boycott a "stunt." He vowed not to concede.

"It's more about theatrics than anything else," Walker said.

Good for him.

Teachers, why the heck do you do the job you do? Is it for the paycheck? because if it is, you're in the WRONG biz.

If it's for the exprssion on a child's face when they actually understand fractions, or pass a test, or get into their #1 choice college, then you should know better than to act this way.

If everyone who was upset about their work situation protested and went on strike, we'd be a country of chaos. But hard working, common sense people understand it's just not realistic.

No votes have even been taken on this - and "your" Democrat representatives HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING!! What does that say about your strength of character, and theirs?

Neil Graupner, a 19-year-old technical college student from Madison, said he was planning to stay until the matter is settled.

"The fact that the Democrats have walked out, it shows their listening to us," he said late Thursday as he prepared to spend the night at the Capitol.

No it doesn't, Neil. It says they're too chicken shit to look at this head-on.

Stand up and do the right thing, teachers. Get back to class and teach the youth of America. They don't deserve this, and Wisconsin is better than that.

A Rodg v. B Pevre, I mean Favre

There is a notion floating out in the blogosphere that Favre is STILL better than Rodgers, that they have a crappy relationship, that Aaron Rodgers is bitter, and that it somehow is still a problem.

Let's clear this up right now.

Of COURSE Brett Favre is on the books as a better QB. He played 8 times as freakin' long as Rodgers has. He has the longest running streak of games started. And others...

But Favre, too, has 1 Superbowl win. Just 1. Doesn't count how many times you GET there.

So let's just say this. I don't KNOW Aaron Rodgers personally, but that man has some media training! He knows when not to fill the silence because the media wants him to. He knows how to keep a cool head. He generally is a smart guy, and it all comes across in his performance with the press. Oh, and on the field - but that goes without saying.

The thing is, I believe Aaron Rodgers doesn't need Favre. He watched him for 3 years on the sidelines, in practice and in the locker room. He learned what he needed to. He's emulated what he needed to - the GOOD parts of Favre. Rodgers can scramble with the best of 'em. He can get away from his attacker. He's breaking the fingers of his receivers day in and day out wiht the velocity he puts on the ball. And he doesn't throw the stupid pass that leads to the 4th quarter interception to lose the game. He may even hold on to the ball too darn long! But joking aside - Most of all, he hasn't let it lead him astray in a stupid way - toward drugs or sex or rock'n'roll...

Well, maybe a little music. Rodgers has his own music label and he's working to find that next up and comin' band who's got "IT." But that's just the spirit of an entrepreneur, not the desperate attempts of a lonely, washed-up QB who feels the need to show off his cock.

Harsh, perhaps. But let's MOVE ON. If the press and the idiot bloggers would quit TYING the two together, we'd all stop caring. The fans sure have!

Let the man be a star. Let him revel in the glory of an MVP and a Superbowl win in his 3rd year. Let him show people that what happens between him and Brett Favre should be just that. Let Rodgers prove he's the bigger man. And if someday they speak, I'm sure it will be respectful and professional. Isn't that all that matters?

Rodgers will most always likely follow Favre on the books. But I believe he'll far surpass him in life. And by that, I mean with his own personal viewing of the person he has become to his community, his family, and his Maker.

A Valentine's Day note to Hallmark

Dear Hallmark~
To Hallmark and other greeting card companies, I’d like to make what I believe to be a simple, common-sensical request, but now appears ridiculous and needy.

Would you PLEASE design a decent Valentine’s Day card for a grown woman (think above 13 years of age) to give to her father?

This is not in any way creepy or incestual, but merely a decent thing to provide to your customers. As a 26 year old, for the past 3-4 years, I have been literally unable to find an appropriate Valentine’s Day card to give to my father. Why, you ask? Because you design them either:
a) With Peanut’s characters
b) As if a cartoon weasel would actually sit on her father’s lap
c) Or not at all.
I looked in 5 dfferent stores – Walmart, K-Mart, Target, CVS, and Wal-Mart in another city! Still, to no avail. I can NOT give my father a Twilight-themed V-Day card. He has no idea what Vampires or Werewolves are, nor why I sent "Team Edward" Valentines to all of my college girlfriends...but that's a story for another post.

It’s simple. My father was the first man I ever gave my heart to. And he’s a great dad. For all the mom cards and wife cards and husband cards (and I did find great choices for my mother and sister), you’d think Dad’s could get shown a little love from the Hallmark clan.

I’d appreciate your prompt attention to this matter for next Valentine’s day, exactly 364 days away. Plenty of time for crafting sentimental goodness for a “Father’s Valentine’s Day Card.”

In the spirit of Valentine's day = chocolate,
LMS

PACKERS WIN THE SUPERBOWL

Congrats to my Pack. I should have posted this a week ago, but I'm still on HIGH from the Win. Much deserved.

And a little note on our friend, Aaron Rodgers:

But Rodgers made it clear in Tuesday's jam-packed Super Bowl XLV Media Day he only wants to be a leader of God's pack when it comes to influencing others to see his faith in Jesus Christ.

"We all have a platform, we all have a message in our lives," Rodgers told Baptist Press and a worldwide media turnout, which ringed his individual interview area. "I just try to follow Jesus' example, leading by example."

During his six years with the Packers, his career has seen enough twists and turns, dead ends and detours to test anyone's faith. An expected top 10 draft choice, he lasted until the end of the first round for reasons he never understood. He stood on the sidelines for three seasons while Packers quarterback Brett Favre went through his yearly will-he-or-won't-he retirement routine as Packers QB.

Finally given a chance to start three years ago, he has matured into one of the top quarterbacks in the league, but not forgetting his past, present and future in Christ.

"God always has a plan for us, a path. Sometimes we wish we knew it sooner," Rodgers said with a bit of a laugh, "but He always shows up His way."

He credits his parents, Ed and Darla Rodgers, who still live in Northern California where he was raised, for showing him a loving and Christ-centered household. He also remains close to his two longtime accountability partners, Pastors Andrew Burchett of the Neighborhood Church in Chico, Calif., and Young Life Christian youth group leader Matt Hock.

LMS is BACK

I've been on hiatus from blogging. But you know what?

I'm back!

And my first post is merely to say: GO PACK GO!

and 11 reasons why we'll win the SUPERBOWL!!

Woman's uterus branded. GASP!

Now this is just wrong.

A California gynecologist is being sued for branding a patient's name on her uterus using an "electrocautery device."

Dr. Red Alinsod removed Ingrid Paulicivic's uterus during an operation at his Orange County office in 2006, according to the complaint posted on The Smoking Gun's website. The Laguna Beach doctor carved "Ingrid" on the organ, according to the site, because he "did not want to get it confused with others."

Alinsod told the site that labeling of body parts in that manner is not typical. But, he said, he "felt comfortable putting her name on the uterus" since the 47-year-old hairdresser was a "good friend."

Paulicivic's attorney, Devan Mullins, told CNN.com that his client did not know her physician before consulting him for the operation. Paulicivic and her husband learned of the branding during a follow-up visit, the lawyer said.

Can you imagine if women..think Kat Von D...walked into the gyno's office and said "Yeah, can you tatt-up my hooha?"

Note to self, do not mix friendship with medical attention.

a tide for Kleefisch....guess again, Dad29

I saw on twitter "The Tide is turning," and the blogosphere but I don't know that its washing toward Rebecca 4 Real.

Collins is out in the race for Lt. Gov. Sad to see a Serviceman and patriot exit from political ambition, but this might just be a case of sights-set-too-high.

Maybe Ben could run for Assembly or State Senate, get the feet wet, and jump higher?

That said, I think it sets the stage for Brett Davis to emerge as the front runner. People can trash talk Brett's record in the Assembly all they want, but they can't touch him on education and listening to his constituents. He's a true man of the people and I'll put money down right now that no one will work harder.

He's also the only one who's said: if he can't make something out of the office of Lieutenant Governor in 4 years, mabye we SHOULDN'T HAVE IT!!!
I think that's ballsy - to acknowledge you'd cut your own job out of the state budget. BALL-SY.

He's shown he has real ambition for that position. Why do the other two candidates want to run? What was that again?

cricket

cricket

So Rebecca, I do apologize, but I find Dad29's critique of Ben's exit a tad exasperating. Show me a blog post or a t-shirt that doesn't scream "crazy old lady with a kitty cat," and we'll go from there.

Disclaimer: I love kitty cats. I love ladies, old and young.

Dear Lora, you're a loser

From Wispolitics:

Former College Republicans Chair Lora Rae Anderson announced this morning she was becoming a Dem.

Anderson made the announcement in Milwaukee ahead of the state GOP convention, which starts today. She said the Republican Party has become "too extreme" for moderates.

Anderson, whose term as chair of the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans ended earlier this spring, has raised similar concerns in two press releases she sent to WisPolitics.

Lora, you should be ashamed. First of all, read the damn newspaper. Clearly the candidates we have on the GOP ticket are anything but extreme. They're about lowering taxes, reclaiming Washington with the people's voice, and a majority are leaders recognized by the more moderate Taxed-Enough-Already (TEA) Party. Ron Johnson's announcement this week could not have proved that more.

Yes I realize people and politicians switch parties all the time. But don't you think the drastic switch from being the LEADER of College Republicans in Wisconsin to becoming a full-fledged Democrat is actually a little EXTREME?

I bet she's a long dread-lock growing, flowy skirt, no-bra wearing hippie living n Madison. (I'd like to see a before and after photo actually, to prove my point. I will now attempt a Facebook stalk...)

I can't understand why anyone in this political climate would even dare switch over to being a Democrat. Pathetic. Lora, you're backbone is about as squishy as a cooked carrot and I pity you.

You should have just slinked back out of the limelight and leadership and sunk away quietly, as the coward you are.

Labor pains, and oh yeah, death threats

I'm sad to say these kind of people are walking among us.

When a pregnant Two Rivers woman thought she needed to go to the hospital to deliver her baby on Wednesday, her boyfriend refused to arrange a ride, robbed her and threatened to kill her, prosecutors say.

Instead of seeking medical attention for his 36-year-old girlfriend, Vinson demanded money from her to buy beer, Assistant District Attorney Mike Griesbach said during Vinson’s Wednesday bail hearing. She gave him $50 of her $150 monthly disability check, Griesbach said.

According to police and prosecutors:

When the woman told Vinson she didn’t have the rest of the money, he punched her in the head twice and waved a butcher knife in her face.

The woman tried to escape to the bedroom, using her weight to hold the door shut. Vinson followed with the knife and tried to push the door open.

Is anyone else seeing a "Here's Johnny" moment?!

That poor woman. I surely hope she has filed for a restraining order against this idiot for her and her baby.

Walker excites Bush

Jeb, that is.

Wisconsin Republicans have yet to nominate a candidate for governor. Indeed, the state's primary is not until Sept. 14. But two national GOP heavyweights -- former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- are bullish on the prospects of Scott Walker, the self-described, brown-bag-packing county executive of Milwaukee.

"The guy is a fantastic candidate," Bush said. "The event that we did together, he gave a stump speech that sounded like it was the last three days of the campaign. I mean, he was on fire. It was, it was, he's the real deal."

Yeah, that's great and all, but he's no hell-raiser.

Having listened to and followed this guy on the campaign trail for four years, sure he'd be a Republican in office who is somewhat credible (see no college degree, Milwaukee=center of the universe attitude) and likeable, but he's a SNOOZER on the stump.

I wish I had heard the speach Bush is talking about...I somehow find it hard to believe.

Dem Party's Mike Tate = DB

That's right, I used the term I hate. Douchebag. That's Mike Tate for you, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman extraordinaire!

"Confident Duffy said yesterday that he was seeing a Republican Representative for the 7th Congressional District this time. While Obey and Democrats are confident that they still have control on their seat and they will win it. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said that on television, Duffy was renowned for drinking and for having sex."

For one, Mike Tate is a complete moron.

I'm absolutely positive that Sean Duffy's solid, upstanding reputation precedes him, unlike Mike Tate's.

Furthermore, this comment is so despicable that Sean Duffy deserves an apology, on TV, in front of the entire 7th Congressional District and state of Wisconsin.

It is clearly a low blow as Mr. Tate's self-confidence has hit the depths of despair that he finds his only coping mechanism to be making slanderous statements against charming, talented, intelligent Republicans to make himself feel better about the great and severe losses the Democratic party will face in November.

That, and he probably can't get it up.

Mike Tate, you're an embarrassment and you owe Sean Duffy an apology.