A Tale of Two Democrats

More mixed messages from our state government (read: Democrats in Charge)are here for you to juxtapose.

1. Allowing undocumented citizens who graduate from a Wisconsin high school or who earn a GED to pay in-state tuition if they have lived in the state for at least three years since starting high school and promise to apply for permanent residency as soon as they’re eligible. (This nugget was inserted by our Governor into his state budget proposal. Gee, no policy discussion needed here, right?? Will we be instituting a "Promise Police" to make sure that these people have applied for permanent residency as soon as they are eligible? Or will the state do what it usually does and pull the "feds are in charge of immigration enforcement. Not us," card...Note also, this is not only for high school KIDS who were brought here illegally by their parents, it's worded carefully to include any "undocumented citizen" who illegally came into this country and got a GED to be eligible for this benefit.)

Question: how are you an Undocumented Citizen, anyway? If you're undocumented, aren't you-by definition-not a citizen?!

2. Penalties for companies who employ illegal aliens: A similar bill was introduced last session and has been reintroduced this session by Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Stevens Point). Under this bill, any company that employs unauthorized aliens in violation of federal law is, for a period of seven years, ineligible to: a) receive any income or franchise tax credit or property tax exemption; b) enter into a contract with the state or a local governmental unit for the construction, remodeling, or repair of a public work or building, or for the furnishing of supplies, services, equipment, or material of any kind; and c) receive any grants or loans from a local governmental unit. Under the bill, any company that employs an unauthorized alien is subject to a $10,000 fine for each unauthorized alien the company employs. (note: the words "unauthorized alien" in the bill language vs. "illegal alien.")

Problems: the very harsh penalties for even one offense ($10,000 fine and seven year ban on government contracts and tax exemptions) and the fact that this bill relies on a federal immigration check system that has not worked in the past and provides little assurance that a business is not in violation of the law.

Hmmm, sounds like Snarlin' Marlin Schneider (as he's affectionately known in the Capitol) needs to get in sync with his Gov. With tougher penalties on employers who give jobs to the illegal immigrant parents of the kids wanting taxpayer-subsidized college educations, isn't that going to make it harder on them to pay for college?

Or....is that why they need the taxpayer subsidized tuition rates? Because finding a job will be even harder now?

Benefits.

The greatest benefit of blogging is the relationships it can create.

I met Mrs RDW and some of her family for lunch in Kenosha today.

What a surprise to run into two of our blog buddies out in the world.

It was good to see you Dad29 & Asian Badger. Thankfully Wigdy was nowhere in sight.

Dr. Dyson VS Pat Buchanan On Eric Holder's

The Chicago Tea Party.

I'm in.

Fill in the blank.

Danny Gokey_____________________________.

Final Stimulus Package

She's Baaaaack.....

Here is the latest re-tread addition the dem's have submitted in the race for Racine Mayor. Kim Plache was the 14 year incumbent dem politician that I defeated in 2002 for state senate. Sounds formiddable, right?

Well, not so much....Kim's work experience hasn't changed much since I ran against her. She hasn't had to leave the government trough, even though she lost her job to me in '02. She was fortunate to have a friend in Antonio Riley, (a former dem assemblyman who was appointed to head WHEDA by incoming Gov Doyle in '02), and Antonio had served with Kim in the Assembly. (One more example I give my kids about how many times life is more about connections and relationships vs. experience and qualifications.) So anyway, for the last 5 years she's been working as a community liaison between WHEDA and the Racine area, faciliting relationships with banks (gasp! I thought they were "evil!") and convincing them to give loans to low-income families.

I'll leave you all to debate the merit of WHEDA's loan programs. I served on the WHEDA board of directors while I was in the legislature, and they do many things right. However, some ideas included giving loans to illegal aliens for housing, and encouraged low credit standards for low-income housing buyers. I think we all know how far those ideas have taken this country down the hole.....

Kim had decided to throw her proverbial hat into the ring for RUSD's school board races this spring. Many had speculated this was an attempt to get her name back into the "limelight" and have a go at a county executive run in '11. (Those of us in politics have a fundamental understanding that the public has a very short collective memory.) At the time, school board member was the only position available that could accomplish this end. Of course, Gary Becker delivered a special gift to Kim by--well, we all know what he is accused of doing--hence opening up a higher profile opportunity for her (and 63 other democrats.....it feels like 63 anyway!)

Now I don't know if all that speculation was right or not. Who cares? However, voters in Racine ought to take a close look at how she's handling her non-residency. Kim has said she's putting her house up for sale in Mt. Pleasant and will be leasing an apartment for her young daughter, husband and herself to "live in" while she runs for office. Hmmm, quite non-committal doesn't it seem? I mean, anyone looking to sell real estate right now knows it's a depressed market. So, why not get a short-term lease from a former campaign contributor? No commitment necessary.

If I'm a voter in Racine, (which I am not), I'd be questioning her level of commitment to this position. Is this something she really cares about, or does she just want to up her pension $ as she nears retirement age? After all, if she loses she just pulls her house off the market and goes back to the trough at WHEDA. Shouldn't ownership in the city count for a lot in this race? If she wanted to live in Racine so badly, why didn't she move in years and years ago? Why now?

More important to examine, though, is her lack of private sector experience. Kim Defenders will say it doesn't matter--her experience in government is her best asset to be mayor. I strongly disagree. Mayors are managers and motivators. They are executive officers of a "corporation" known as a city. There are real-world budgeting responsibilities, payrolls to meet, people to manage, relationships to build with the private sector (aka Job Creators), "business plans" to create (aka development), and really tough decisions to make. Making decisions as an executive carries far more weight than as part of a legislative body. No passing the buck, no "present" votes. Gone will be the ability to blame the opposite political party for your woes. People should ask: "What have you done for us?" Followed up by, "What WILL you do for us?"

Just like Rep Bob Turner, I think the voters should examine her votes on job creation, her willingness and enthusiasm to repeal the QEO that has kept property taxes more manageable, and her lack of any reform measures to help with Racine's unemployment numbers. Racine led the state with the highest unemployment numbers during her tenure in the legislature--even during economic boom times of the 90's. What job-killing measures will she now try to seperate herself from as she recreates her image for this new endeavor? Couldn't it be said that her anti-jobs votes for more taxes on businesses contributed to Racine's current woeful state?

I think Racine needs someone who has experience managing people, understands the private sector, perhaps has some experience in city government, and who is COMMITTED to this jewel on the lake.

Toll Roads?

Doyle is open to tolls to help fund roads

By Larry Sandler of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Feb. 18, 2009

Gov. Jim Doyle signaled for the first time Wednesday that he would be open to charging tolls on Wisconsin highways, possibly for express lanes, as the state seeks to replace falling gas tax revenue in the years ahead.

"I hate the idea of tolls," but the state must find new ways to pay for roads and other transportation, Doyle told Journal Sentinel editors and writers.

Although the governor did not specifically advocate tolls, even entertaining the concept is a sharp turnaround from his 2003 vow that "as long as I am governor, we will not have toll roads in Wisconsin."

Other transportation? Tolls for trains... Jimbo, pay attention. Taking more money out of people's pockets in a rough economy is a BAD THING.

One more for RDW

He may be out of a job....

I have got to get me one of these...

Congratulations Rose!!

You earned it.

Now, get to work.

So, You "Don't Do Politics......"

To the loyal readers of RealDebate and other blogs, the headline doesn't apply to you. However, I know y'all have run into plenty of people who use this line. Typically, it accompanies a slight of hand, a "pishaw" gesture, even a condescending shake of the head while looking down their noses at you. It was one of the things I'd occasionally hear while knocking on doors during my senate campaign. After a while, I'd have to pull out my duct tape (ala Glenn Beck) and wrap my head tightly to keep it from exploding with frustration. My response to people who've said this to me in the past is this: "Are your kids in public school?", "Does your trash get picked up?", "Do your streets get plowed?", "Are taxes taken from your paycheck?" Most answer yes to all four. I reply, "Then you're involved in politics.

Why am I bringing this up now? The abyssmally low turnout for yesterday's primary for Superintendent of Schools. Can I blame the electorate entirely for this? (Like I do for legislative and local races.....) Probably not. I don't think the majority of the public knows what the job entails, that it's an elected position, and, frankly, why they should care about it. Some of my more politically savvy friends thought it was a cabinet position that the Gov appointed. (I understand why they feel that way, given the cozy relationship between the two in recent years.)

So, here's a brief summary for you to share with your "apolitical" friends and family. There are many more job duties, but I'm only going to stress the top 2.
1. The superintendent submits the budget for the Department of Public Instruction to the Governor; putting priorities on the gigantic globs of money in areas he/she feels most important and worthy.
2. The superintendent advocates for / rallies against proposed legislation that pertains to our state's public schools, sets "rules" for schools to perform by.

I hope I've made it clear to you why the overall philosophy of this Top Dog of DPI is so important. Point #1 Someone who controls the purse-strings could choose to continue dumping money into the same dark abyss on the same do-nothing programs and tell themselves and others they're "investing in education". Or, someone else (insert Rose Fernandez here), could evaluate what hasn't been working in the past and decide to re-allocate funds to programs that are working; deny funding from programs that are not.

On point #2: It's important to have someone who cares about the quality of education and output the schools are delivering (insert Rose Fernandez here) vs. the machine of the public school "system" and propping up of WEAC members at all costs (Insert her opponent here.) MOST IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER: reminding you that the democrats (no secret--WEAC is their bigggest supporter) now control all 3 legs of the state government stool.

We need someone who's going to shine light upon and shout out loud about the proposals of the teachers' union and what those proposals will cost and how they'll adversely impact the quality of education in our schools.

If you have kids in public schools, and if you're tired of the echo chamber consisting of WEAC and the media's complaints we don't spend enough on education, and if you're as terrified as I am about the spike in property taxes we're going to be experiencing as a result of last November's elections, you better get with it.

Make no mistake: WEAC's dog did well in this fight. (That's meant figuratively, of course. I have no idea what he looks like!) They spent a lot of money in the primary and will ramp it up for the general this spring.

Pay attention to this one. Get your friends and neighbors out to vote in April and make sure we get someone who cares about the children first. (Insert Rose Fernandez here.)

Congratulations Sheboygan!

Way to kick Mayor Perez to the curb!

Doyle is clueless.

I guess it never occurred to Jimmie Doyle that growing government and raising taxes (taking money out of the people's pockets) was the worst thing he could do in a bad economy...

Oh yeah, raising minimum wage and increasing business taxes will really give Wisconsin a competitive advantage over our neighboring states...

Oh, shhhh, we're not supposed to mention that. Businesses wouldn't figure that out on their own other wise.

We are so screwed.

Roland Burris should have never been seated...

Now, he should resign.

I voted.

Did you?

Freedom of speech...

Except for on campus...

Student sues after marriage speech

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

LOS ANGELES (AP) A college student has filed a lawsuit saying a public speaking professor berated him in class for making a speech opposing same-sex marriage.

In the federal court suit filed last week, student Jonathan Lopez said that midway through his speech, when he quoted a dictionary definition of marriage and recited a pair of Bible verses, professor John Matteson cut him off and would not allow him to finish. He said Mr. Matteson also called him a "fascist bastard."

A student evaluation form included with the lawsuit lacks a score for Mr. Lopez's speech, and reads "ask God what your grade is."

H/T Jay.

Ah, tolerant and diverse liberalism, such an ugly thing.

MRQ, it's from the children.

MRQ (Monday Random Quotes)

You'll pay for a whole seat, BUT YOU'LL ONLY NEED THE EDGE!!! The Chad.

I’m getting screwed so your dreams may come true… Silent E.

Mr. Spot poking me. Kate.

a naked woman concealed on the underside. Plebian.

What a mess. Bruce.

Betcha a Leinie's. Heather.

Love-o-meter. Kkdither.

Doing something I love with old friends. hale-bopp.

In lieu of flowers, might we suggest that you send donations in Ethel’s name to the home for wayward smartphones. E.M.

DRQs (Drinking Right Quotes)

I soiled myself. Fraley

Something about sober sex. Chris from Racine.

They had machine guns. Nick.

Putting makeup on my boss. Fraley.

She has the tools. Jimi.

We're going to see if you want to shake dice. TAB.

TRQ (Twitter Random Quotes)

"I'm feeling lucky" Scoff.

naked pictures? Chris.

I've come to kick ass and chew vicodin, and I've got a big jar of vicodin. Jimi.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, Hurry…. now wait. dan.

it's from the children. Michael.

Happy Recession Everyone. nick.

Shoot the gopher. TAB.

One Wisconsin Now is a silly child. Wigdy. (Yes, they are.)

bacon is awesome! Chad.

I find your lack of faith... disturbing. Darth.

Is lasagna a new euphemism for sex? Dean.

3 weeks...

It took just 3 weeks for Obama to do this to our debt. Just think what he can do with 4 years....

A tale of two parties.

Former head of Brown Co. GOP gets jail time

Fleischman also gets probation for 2006 incident with runaway

By Andy Nelesen • anelesen@greenbaypressgazette.com • February 14, 2009

The former head of the Brown County Republican Party was sentenced Friday to 30 days in jail and two years' probation for having a 16-year-old runaway at his former Allouez home.

There you go, once in the headline and again in the first sentence. No waiting until the 22nd paragraph to mention the party when it is a rightie behaving badly.

For the record, his sentence is a joke.

H/T Petunia

Vote Tuesday. Vote Rose Fernandez.

Wisconsin, on Tuesday the polls open again. Primary elections will be held across the state.

It is absolutely crucial that you get out and vote for Rose Fernandez running for the head of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

I became aware of Rose in her fight against WEAC to keep Wisconsin virtual schools open. Rose fought WEAC and their willing zombies in the Democratic party and prevailed to keep a vital program open for kids who really do need it.

Rose Fernandez, more than any other candidate, will fight for choice and to reform schools with common sense measures. She will NOT be a rubber stamp for Wisconsin's over-bearing teachers union, she will fight for kids first and always. In short, she'll push for real solutions not just cry about a lack of funding.

Learn more for yourself at her website, changedpi.com.

I've gotten to know Rose a little bit during this campaign, she's good people.

Please, vote Rose Fernandez for DPI in the primary this Tuesday the 17th. This will likely be a low turnout election so your vote counts more than ever.

It has to be done now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right after my three day weekend.

By the way does anyone else get President's Day off?