Barrett has a nice guy image, but underneath he's as dirty of a street fighter as there is.

THERE IS NO BIGGER JERK THEN SCOTT WALKER. A TRUE LEADER LEADS. A DICTATOR DIVIDES AND CONQUERS

Barrett is not a leader, he's a demagogue, and the voters will reject him for the third time

I would suggest that Walker is the demagogue. That "250,000 new jobs in my first term" campaign promise being a chief piece of evidence. In the debate Barrett stated that he would not be "a rock star" for the right or left, but "rock solid." That's not very splashy is it. And yet it resonates because common sense and common decency have been missing from the Governor's mansion since Walker took over.

@Bren-Barrett had not one single talking point. Everything he threw at the Gov was countered by FACTS!!! Its really hard to ignore the facts. But hey lets not cloud the story with facts. Gov Walker traveled the Country trying to attract business. Barrett is a failure.

Greg, did you cry after the debate because Tom as so mean to your hero?

Patriot (?), so then what are the facts? If you think Barrett is a bad mayor then how do you explain Walker who not only served over the same jurisdiction but is at least 60,000 jobs behind the 250,000 jobs promise he ran on?

Sounds like two completely different debates were going on. For those who believe Tom Barrett didn't offer a game plan, he did. Remember that he is not actually in office yet--no candidate can have the full picture of the situation until they are seated. As always, we must look at an individual's qualifications, record, and personality. John Bolton, although qualified to be U.S. Ambassador to the UN, was reputed to have an extremely short temper and was known to throw objects like staplers at his subordinates when angry. Was this the guy to handle international disputes? No. That's why there was bipartisan objection and why he ended up being a recess appointment. The ability to lead and to gain consensus/cooperation is essential for any executive position.

As for Scott Walker, he came out of the box, so to speak, admitting he didn't handle union stripping well (as Barrett put it, "understatement of the year.") "Dropping the bomb" and "divide and conquer" are not the terminologies of a sophisticated mind or consensus-building leader.

I was outraged to learn that Walker had 1) Borrowed money instead of creating a bipartisan budgeting team to reduce debt in an intelligent way; and 2) Planned to keep this fact from Wisconsinites (until after the election at least) until Barrett exposed him. I have been trying to find out how we could report a two-year deficit to the Feds and then suddenly have a $153 million surplus. Now we know. Insert expletive of one's choice here.

@Patriot -- Facts? All I saw Walker doing was insisting we put his ham-handed behavior (which even he admits was a mistake) behind us (forget about it) and move the state forward. Forward to what? Lower wages and more big money control of our government?

Does it take 'right to work' legislation to attract business to the state? It seems so, since I can't imagine what further tax incentives billionairess Diane Hendricks can be given to 'create jobs'. Her company already pays no state corporate income tax.

@Randy-Facts!!! Porperty taxes down, surplus, unemployment down, smaller government, cleaning up the health care system by forcing those with employee offered health care taking it rather than sucking off the system.

@Patriot -- Property tax not down very much for me, up for some others. And I'm still waiting to see what happens next year. There's no surplus, depending on what Walker is telling the US government when it suits him. Unemployment down? How many unemployed just timed out of the system? Walker's facts and figures tend to change depending on whom he's talking to.

As for the changes to BadgerCare, I finally got an explanation (assuming we can believe it). So, if your employer offers any kind of health insurance, not matter how expensive or inadequate, then you are ineligible for BadgerCare? Fair enough. But you do realize that some employers offer 'junk' coverage, which is those policies that pay you $100 per day if you're in the hospital and are completely inadequate for an actual illness. Those are usually supplemented with MSAs, which, again, low income workers can't afford. This will leave some people without healthcare, effectively. If you and Gov. Walker are okay with that, then fine.

We learned in the debate that there is no surplus. Walker borrowed money ($500 million?). Now to compound existing fiscal issues the state is stuck with $100 million+ in interest to pay, according to Barrett.

Remember that it was Walker who claimed he would balance the budget according to GAAP and create 250,000 new jobs in his first term. Liar.

@Bren-Where is your proof? Just because Tommy boy says Walker borrowed money it must be true? Again where are your facts to back it up. Walkers fact are apparent!!! My tax bill went down for the first time in a long long time

Walker did not deny it when Barrett brought it up. Didn't you wonder how we went from a $3 billion projected deficit to a $153 million surplus? I have been asking this question for days, but the answer's been hidden tighter than the criminal defense fund donor list (which apparently Walker doesn't have to reveal until April 2013).

If Barrett had lied Walker would have corrected him. It would have behooved him to do so because it would have made Barrett look like a liar. But. He. Didn't. That means he 1) has no clue what's going on with his own administration or 2) actually borrowed enough money to show a surplus. Neither option are acceptable to me. Recall Scott Walker.

Barrett has been BOUGHT and PAID by big labor. No more Mr. Nice guy. What has he exactly done for Milwaukee the past 8 years? Higher unemployment, particularly with our black population, higher tax for everyone and now, he's in the center of a legal probe into cooking the books with Milwaukee crime rates. How much is too much? Backward Barrett has crossed the line...and it showed in his pathetic, debate performance. You're l;ooking pretty desparate Tommy!

Sobegger, have you forgotten that a number of public employee unions endorsed Kathleen Falk? Barrett alluded to this in the debate, if you watched.

Involving your other questions about Barrett's 8 years as Mayor of Milwaukee, it's been answered on Patch a number of times. Menomonee Valley and Bay View redevelopment, workforce development, Mayors against Illegal Guns, etc. If you have complaints about poverty in Milwaukee, etc., Scott Walker was County Executive from 2002-2010 and could have applied for federal grants that the Mayor's office is ineligible to do. What Scott Walker did do was leave the Park East corridor a wasteland, mental health care a disaster, and as a parting gift, saddled the County with a $50+ million deficit. So if your not happy, call Scott Walker. His number is (608) 266-1212.

Bren - do you realize what you said - "Remember that he is not actually in office yet--no candidate can have the full picture of the situation until they are seated" But of course that doesn't pertain to Walker does it - only for Democrats huh?

@Bren-Why is always the other guys fault when it comes to the left. There is never any self responsibility for anything with you liberals. Makes it easier when u can blame the other guy. Such a twisted ideology!! Maybe thats how you can justify your actions or lack of over and over.
Similar to the description of insanity- Repeating the same mistakes over and over expecting different results!!
June 5th Wisconsin moves forward with Gov Walker!!! Whoooooooo Hooooooooo
We have assumed control!! We have assemed control!! We have assumed control!!

@morninmist -

There's no denying that your side loves beating on drums while our side loves being employed and actually working for a living.

I work for a living.

Scooter's SUV knows all.

Scott Walker's SUV ‏@ScottWalkersSUV
Based on Scott Walker s numbers, I get 120 MPG. #wiunion #wirecall

"There's no denying that your side loves beating on drums while our side loves being employed and actually working for a living."

Jimmy, that same cry baby crap you here when someone calls into Sykes' show and says, "yeah Charlie, I (belch) work for a living."

Yeah, we'd all love to be working. But thanks to Walker's austerity economy, which like in Europe, isn't working, so many of us aren't.

Keith, That is such B.S., on more than one level. There are jobs, http://www.wisconsinjobnetwork.com/jobs.asp
but people need to actually apply for the jobs to get them. I know that you have mastered the entitlement mentality, but some effort is still required by the potential employee.
As for "we'd all love to be working", I would love to hear what type of job you are seeking. I'm hiring.

@Keith-You are really a joke. It seems while you were beating drums in Madison I was at work providing for my family and while the teachers were sicking out our kids were not learning

My neighbor is a displaced customer service representative. She's been out of work for a year. It's galling. I have spent hours dealing with offshore service representatives, which is hugely inefficient. But that's where many of the types of jobs she's really good at, and really enjoys, have gone.

@Bren -

Here's a hot tip for your out-of-work neighbor - fast food is hiring right now.

It's better than being unemployed. But I guess for many on your side, if it's not a job that you really want or pays a certain salary, then it's just not good enough and collecting government assistance is a far better option than actually working, right?

@Schmitzy -

I'll let you in on the hot tip I just gave to Bren's neighbor - fast food is currently hiring! Now get out there and starting putting in some applications!

Also, a friendly reminder - on the evening of June 5th, you'll owe me $50 ;-)

@Bren-Well Obamas own jobs czar CEO of GE is responsible for sending thousands of jobs overseas. I dont hear you complaining about that

On the contrary I have been complaining about offshoring a great deal, it's the elephant in the room. Mr. Hoffa, my neighbor has two children to raise and car payments. Which fast food restaurant pays a family sustaining wage? An arrogant, cavalier remark to make about someone else's life and family.

@Bren -

Well, if your neighbor can't budget his/her life/family on one fast food job, then might I suggest taking two fast food jobs. BTW - full time management positions at fast food establishments often do pay a "family sustaining wage," and your neighbor would realize this is they actually applied for those jobs and worked instead of merely collecting government assistance and complaining about being out of work.

Ha! Good one. Backward Barrett looked like an angry bitter old man. His physicotic staring at Walker was really interesting. Barrett didn't name one factual thing he's done to improve Milwaukee....higher taxes, higher unemployment and now, he's in the center of cooking the books on Milwaukee crime figures. Almost want to feel sorry for Tantrum Tom....NOT!

Mr. Hoffa, I grow weary of your hubris. Be thankful you have a job.

@Bren -

In between college and law school, despite having a college degree, Hoffa worked two fast food jobs instead of holding out while on government assistance for a 'worthy' job to come along. Go figure, eh?

Jim Bob, Nope, he's just a 'was been'...wanting to be a 'maybe been'...continues as a phoney, since his 'nomination'. His arrogance/gloat factor exceeds his capability factor. If elected he'll take WI back, alright. Right back to the spend without money, social/give away programs for all, increased taxes and a state with a triple digit deficit, like we were before Gov. Walker arrived on the scene. Get a grip folks...read, listen to what's REALLY being said. Then, discern the truth and THINK for yourselves!!!!! I believe in the hand up not hand out philosophy and helping those in need (I worked in the helping field for over 30 years). But those in need do NOT include state workers or others. You earn(ed) way more money with benefits greatly exceeding anything that I earned. Like the rest of us, learn to budget, pay your fair share for yourselves...you sure as heck didn't pay mine!! Job losses=state workers and others who bailed to maintain freebies! Talk about questionable ethics!!!!

Another example of talking point saturation and right wing projection. A misrepresentation of hand-up vs. hand-out (i.e., if Sinead doesn't have it, it's a hand-out and no one should have it?).

Were you that upset about public employees before February 2011, Sinead? I would also suggest that you revise your instruction to recall supporters and adopt it for yourself: Read from a variety of sources. Listen to what's REALLY being said. Don't take it at face value, research what you hear/read. The truth is the truth, sometimes we don't like it but that's how it is.

Scott Walker is not qualified to be Governor. He entered the office with goals other than what he campaigned upon; his mission is to fulfill the ALEC agenda in Wisconsin, not represent and/or serve the constituents who make less than $500,000/year. Recall Scott Walker.

Another example of talking point saturation.

Bren:

Having public employees making contributions to their health and pension benefits isn't a matter of being 'upset with them'. During a downturn in the economy, it seems reasonable for everyone to have to make some sacrifice. Their contributions to their benefits are still far below the average contribution being made by private sector workers.

Dung, why aren't you calling for those who are making out big time from this economy to make sacrifices, or are you just that subservient?

Even in the best of times, everyone should have some skin in the game and PAY something for one's OWN benefits. Benefits are abused and taken for granted otherwise - create ingrates; a small, noisy and destructive segment of our population behaving worse than spoiled children. We've seen hard evidence of this for the last year and a half in Wisconsin. Sadly, it's happening all over the globe thanks to "super-wealthy" national union leaders and politicians who stand to retain their wealth (and re-elections) if the unions win this historic battle. The unions want ALL the power and they see the power they have slipping away, hoping to get it back through threats, intimidation, violence and destruction while using/exploiting their due-paying members ("workers") as useful idiots to get it. Government unions and corrupt politicians are the reason cities, states and nations are now broke.

I'm not sure what is so difficult to understand about public employee compensation, it's not dissimilar from the private sector. We negotiate a salary and benefits. The difference is unions do/did it in larger numbers, which is more efficient. I know MPS teachers voted a few years back to pay more for better health care coverage.

Unions are not malignant entities. They do have fundraising arms that union employees may contribute to, and they contribute to political campaigns, often Democrats (but not always). It is the single largest competitor to corporate/large scale giving for the GOP. That's why unions are under attack.

Don't know about you, but the thought one political party domination scares the living daylights out of me. There needs to be balance.

@Bren-We have assumed control!! We have assumed control!!! We have assumed control!!! Just wait until the zombies are let loose

Bren- Wow, you are so misinformed or you just like to perpetuate lies. MPS DID NOT negotiate to contribute to health insurance and NEVER offered to pay for their pensions. The contract negotiations went to arbitration and the union lost. The arbitrator decided they had to contribute to their health insurance, and pension was never an issue. Use facts please if you intend to argue a point.

Gov. Walker's saved me a mint, and I don't mean Guvmint! I'm investing all my tax savings in Sylvan Learning Centers. When the govmint gets our of education. The Mint will be mine!

Bren: The unions and dem politicians have a money laundering scheme going on. Tax payers pay govt employees (higher) salaries, (lavish) benefits and also pay to have them collect (forcibly) taken dues and right into the union's pockets. That $ then goes straight into the leader's (very) lucriative salaries and most of the rest goes to the democrat party. About 97% of union donations goes to the democrat party coffers. Hear what the National Education Assoc legal council says...it's not about the kids, it's all about the power and money. So here's your proof of the scam tax payers have been supporting for more that 50 years! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-piPkgAUo0w

Excellent video

Justme: Your (exaggerated) paraphrasing about NEA's motives is (greatly) misleading. The statement by Bob Chanin was his own personal opinion. He actually said "... it is not because we care about children, ..." and "NEA and it's affiliates are effective advocates because we have power". The meaning is quite different from your (biased) spin.

Rich: The over-the-top standing ovation Bob Chanin received after he said those words about the power of the union and money (FORCED dues) speaks for itself. It obviously wasn't his own opinion - it appears he was speaking for everyone in that huge audience who stood and cheered. Glad to hear that many WI public sector employees are wising up and NOT paying dues now that Walker gave them the FREEDOM to choose what to do with their OWN money.

Justme: Yes the crowd agreed but that misses the point. The point is that your paraphrasing was an intentional twisting of words into a false meaning. Your statement that he said "it's not about the kids, it's all about the power and money." means something entirely different from what he was saying. His point was that having creative ideas, caring about children, and having a vision of a great public school for every child, which they do, are not why the NEA and affiliates are effective advocates. They are effective because of the power they have from membership.

Both candidates are getting plenty of $ in out-of-state contributions. Most of the donors are little guys in the state, but most of the $ is from elsewhere. This is not a reason to vote for or against either guy. The reason to vote for Scott is to break the public employees unions of their stranglehold on the Democrat party, and their strangleholod on the state government. Can anyone tell me the last time there was an election in this state when WEAC endorsed even a single Republican? I once (a few years ago) saw a map of the state on the cover of their magazine with the names and party affiliations of their endorsees. There must have have been 50 endorsed candidates, and every last one of them, every one, had a "D" after his/her name. Their bias is palpable, and its ruining the state and the nation.

I just finished watching online, and . . . were we watching the same debate? Your candidate doesn't come off as being very intelligent.

@Randy1949 -

Having watched the debate, you must be able to tell me what Barrett's budget plan is then, right? Or what he plans on doing if elected. Cause to be honest with you, if Barrett did any of that last night, I must have missed it.

From what I saw, all Barrett did was trash Walker and talk about he'd be a different kind of leader, but wasn't specific as to anything he'd do or even what his goals would be. If no plan/goal/direction Barrett is the best the Dems can come up with, then you may want to consider voting for Trivedi, as he appears to have a more solid plan/goal/direction than Barrett does, despite having some holes on taxes and budgeting.

To the contrary, Walker doesn't need to prove anything, as we have his record to look at, which as you are well aware is out there for all to judge, which we've been doing here on on Patch for quite some time.

Our difference, JRH, is that I've seen Scott Walker's record and I find it lacking. He has been nice to billionaires and business while expecting seniors and low-income workers to take up the slack. His policies have not brought us the economic growth he promised. In fact, I'm waiting for my next property tax bill with great trepidation.

But that's because I've been around for a few more decades than you have and I've seen how these things go.

It's too bad about Trivedi. If anything, he will do what Ralph Nader did for the 2000 Presidential election, and suck away just enough votes for Barrett to lose.

> talk about what he would have done specifically to fix the state's inherited budget deficit
Before Walker was elected, did he SPECIFICALLY mention what HE would do ?
During the debate, Walker didn't specifically answer most of Barrett's questions.

here here

@Randy-For you its all about that intelligent thing?. I forgot being your ideology is the more educated the more qualified. Hmmmmmm Gov Walker is a pioneer. The first Gov to stand up against the norm and to finally stand up for the 'simple man. Barretts constant reference to the middle class. So unless you belong to a union you're not considered middle class? Thats a good one

Patriot, would you stop using that screen name because sell outs are not patriots. You only insult those who are.

Are you that deluded? Walker helping the simple man? No, only impressing the simple-minded.

Over 95% of public union money (originating from tax payers) goes to democrats. It's not right. I would almost call it criminal, actually.

@Patriot -- No, my ideology is about showing actual intelligence regardless of academic achievement. You honestly can't see the difference between the two of them in their ability to reason and respond to questions? Walker reminds me of some of these pro athletes who have learned a few big words to use in interviews --"We had a lot of controversy, but we overcame adversity and persevered . . ." -- and manage to say nothing at all. He's an empty suit.

Walker is for the simple man? That's laughable. Just watch who he sucks up to. David Koch, Diane Hendricks, Hank Greenberg . . . The 'simple' man is the one who needs a homestead credit when he's retired and just lost it to 'balance the budget'.

Without unions, middle class people can become working class people, and working class people can become underclass.

@Randy and Keith-Without unions the left looses their funding

@Patriot -- Indeed. Without union political contributions, in the face of Citizens United, that leaves the right, with it's big money interests, completely in control, now and in the future. I really hope you trust them, because if you find out things aren't going so well for you there won't be anything you can do about it.

One other thing about unions -- I wondered why Diane Hendricks, whose company is non-union and supposedly pro-worker, was so eager to see us turn into a right to work sate. A decent employer doesn't have to worry about his or her workers unionizing, but the possibility is there to keep them honest. I guess two billion might not be enough for her.

@Randy-Well thats obvious. Many a union have busted corporations!! Geeeez look at what the Unions did for Northwest to name a few

Speaking of simple minded - Keith Schmitz everybody. The guy can't offer a retort without sarcasm, venom or spit.

Oak Creek Joe- Yes he did. A memo from WEAC to the local unions dated October of 2010 which clearly stated that Walker would change the way health insurance and pensions were negotiated. It became clear in December of 2010 that he would have to act quickly as the outgoing dems tried to sign contracts of the majority of public sector unions that covered 30,000 employees. They even sprang a State Senator who was sitting in jail to try to get enough votes. They failed but it showed Walker that they would not negotiate in good faith. Walker stated he was going to balance the budget and eliminate debt owed to Minnesota that was borrowed by Doyle. Yes, he not only announced, but he delivered and that is why we are so motivated to keep him right where he belongs.

so... most of the general voting public knew of this "deal" before the election ?

Oak Creek Joe- Yes! http://wsau.com/blogs/post/jbader/2011/nov/28/weac-knew-what-scott-walker-planned-doing/.

Pension contributions surfaced in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel June of 2010, 5 months prior to the election. No collective bargaining and employee contributions showed up in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in August.

The mailer was sent out just prior to the election. I believe if it was reported by the largest daily newspaper who also has th most visited website for new in the state, it was pretty clear his intentions if elected and that is why most of us elected him.

@Bobby So you find Mr. Price's comment, Quite fitting, You think ? I'm glad that Mr. Price's comment was only Mr Price's own opinion. If Mr. Price would have had a law degree he would have realized that he never had a case and not preceded with his threats towards me.

Getting rattled a bit there, Bucky? Try keeping it in the proper thread.

Price's only "threat" was to ban you from posting here. There's no legal implication in that. Patch is a private service and they can ban you, me or anyone anytime they see fit. Obviously, something you posted caused some folks who frequent Patch enough concern that they contacted Mr. Price - as did the police. As such, you were bringing unwanted negative attention to Patch and they would have been well within their rights to ban you outright based on that alone. Instead, Mr. Price gave you a warning, which you, apparently, misinterpreted as a legal threat of some sort. Can't win for losing with you.

lolo, where did you show up from? Another pid Kock poster?

You know, we keep hearing this a lo form bellowing conservatives that Barrett doesn't have a plan. You know what? When he ran in 2010 he had a plan, a 28 page plan.

Guess what? Walker made fun of that plan and then offered up the usual right wing crap that has failed us over the past 30 years.

Walker ran on the "failed programs" of Jim Doyle. But what we now know is that first of Wisconsin was facing the same problems as the rest of the country and that Wisconsin's job creation was turning around like the rest of the country, until of course Walker's places kicked in.

So now Barrett is going to run on what's going to win, just like Walker did and so now in your little brains that's wrong.

What we are seeing is that Wisconsin is waking up to the John Doe probe. Up until last week just 25% of the state was aware of it, and now 37% know about the probe. In the meantime the gap in the polls is closing.

Nobody spends over $100,000 on legal services just to answer questions. And now we know that the investigation that Walker claims he started into the missing veterans' money, he sat on it for six months and then resisted when veterans groups pushed him. Just another of the wall to wall lies on Friday night.

Sure he is innocent until proven guilty. But voters are not judges, and Walker has given them plenty to go on.

Too bad you fell asleep, because Tom Barrett made some good points about leadership and compromise.

Yes, I can imagine they were awe-inspiring, Randy. Something along the lines of criticizing Walker for his supposed lack of leadership and compromise, and then a belabored explanation of how it'll be different when he's in charge, no doubt. Who'da thunk it?

@Randy1949 -

To what effect exactly? To accomplish what? Sometimes, compromise doesn't get the job done as is needed and a good leader is faced with tough decisions to make. A great leader, as Scott Walker has proven to be, isn't afraid to make those tough decisions, despite how unpopular they may end up being with selected special interests.

Again, I'd love to hear what Barrett would have done differently, but without anything solid or specific, how can he honestly expect anyone to even consider him? As I said before, Trivedi is a far better opponent to Walker than Barrett is. Team Tate and Zeilinski have destroyed the DPW and you seem to be content with their no answers approach - why?!?!

What would an acceptable union contract have looked like in Barrett's world? Chicago teachers were just offered a 2% pay increase by the very liberal Chicago Public School Board of Education. And yet, they were marching on Michigan Avenue with Jesse Jackson on Wednesday, talking about potential strikes, because I guess that wasn't good enough, despite the tax increases that IL has already levied and the fact that the rest of the economy is still in recession with Chicago itself having a very high unemployment rate. Honestly, when is enough, enough already? I guess Chicago will have to raise taxes yet again to meet the unions demands. And you endorse this kind of behavior as being nothing more than 'compromise.' Come on!

Because of Scott Walker, WI thankfully doesn't have to deal with that kind of crap any longer! If you don't like the wages public service pays, then don't work in the public sector - it's that simple. They call it public service for a reason. And the public employees still get to vote for the politicians that will now set their wages, just as they were always able to just like everyone else.

Yes, when faced with a tough decision, decide in favor of your wealthy donors. That's known as courage.

You two are funny. McBride talks about belabored explanations, and Hoffa complains about the lack of a plan. I'm beginning to wonder if you fell asleep too, Hoffa.

Tate and Zielinsky have destroyed the Department of Public Works? How so?

Randy, belabored explanation and plan are not synonymous. Two or three generalized references with no specific plan as their point of origin uttered repeatedly qualify as a belabored explanation.

What was the last thing that Bob said before falling asleep ? Hey Hoffa quite hawging the covers !

Bucky, you're a class act...and the folks at Patch agree (from your profile page)....

Jim Price
10:54 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Bucky, you are treading on thin ice. I have spent far too much of my time today on the phone with upset readers and with the police, who wanted to know who you are. Please dial it all back by several notches. I don't care that you don't own the guns, I don't want to hear about it at all. Keep to the subject or you will be banned. Patch cannot afford the kind of publicity you are giving us. This is a private business that provides a public forum. You attacked Gov. Walker's wife and children and you use profanity in your comments. Those comments were deleted, and any more comments involving the threat of violence or personal attacks will result in your being banned from our sites.

Bobby did I strike a nerve ? Well sorry to disappoint you Bobby but I'm still here but not for long. The Police never contacted me because they had absolutely no reason to. It was to bad that Mr Price had to sit on the phone with all the little cry babies that called him that day. Funny how all you goofs can spew all your crap on here but when somebody steps on your little toe you scream foul. Mr. Price threatened to band me from this site if I continued to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights of " Freedom of Speech ". This site is a joke and so are the clowns that are on here. Try growing some balls Bobby and stop acting like a little baby. I'm just on here for laughs, O' and by the way thanks again for the laugh. Now go kick the dog !

Awe, please stay. I need the laughs.
What is the name of your band?

Gee, Bucky, all I did was look at your profile when I suspected you might be who you, ultimately, turned out to be (based on your winning personality) and, lo and behold, I find Mr. Price's comment. Quite fitting, I think.

If this is a site full of clowns and you can't even manage to participate here w/o getting smacked around by the ringmaster for behaving stupidly, what does that make you?

@Bobby ... and who are the folks on Patch that agrees ? You ? Do you seriously think that if the police felt that I had threatened anyone that they would have not contacted me ? I'm surprised that Mr. price still has that posted on my profile seeing that he , you , and the police had no cause of case.

Bucky, Price works here. I've read his articles here. I've seen how he handles folks who post here. He doesn't seem like someone prone to lying and he's hardly someone who overreacts to comments in the peanut gallery. You, on the other hand, behave like an ingrate, regularly.

Who am I more likely to believe? Take a guess.

@Bucky -

Damn it - I thought I told you to behave yourself!

Just because Hoffa's been AWOL from the Patch for a while doesn't give you the license to run amuck unchecked!

Unless you apologize and shape up, I'm going to have my Teamsters pay you a visit with a fresh batch of concrete, get it?

BTW - Patch is a privately owned entity and may refuse service to anyone they deem fit without cause so long as it's not in violation of any constitutionally protected classes under the interstate commerce clause cases. Your 1st Amendment defense is completely irrelevant here, but if you had a law degree, you'd know that. Fortunately, Hoffa does have a law degree and is willing to give you a free lesson :-)

Now cut the crap and start acting civilly instead of like a typical a-hole!

@Bucky -

Damn it - I thought I told you to behave yourself!

Just because Hoffa's been AWOL from the Patch for a while doesn't give you the license to run amuck unchecked!

@ Hoffa ... Unless you apologize and shape up, I'm going to have my Teamsters pay you a visit with a fresh batch of concrete, get it? Can you make sure that they mix a 4 bagger or 3 bagger at the very least . I hate it when you get poppers and floaters. Great to see you back " SIR " !

Abe, Barrett indicated in 2010 that the state needed to go on a "diet." There was a need to reduce spending but if Barrett had won in 2010 there would have been a sensible approach to budget reduction and no "divide and conquer" polarization in the state. With his background in economics and law, there would also have been no "open meetings" violations. He knows how to work with people and has national connections since his time as a U.S. Congressman. Our state would have been in intelligent capable hands instead of the mess we have now. Let's vote Barrett next month and let him fix the mess!

@Bren -

How exactly do you qualify a projected $150M state budget surplus, first in our state's history, as being a "mess" that needs to be fixed. And how exactly did you feel about a $3.6B structural budget deficit?

@Bren -

OK, I'll play along. Barrett used the word "diet," which implies budget cuts and not revenue increases. So, what you seem to be saying is that Barrett would not have raised taxes, but instead would have cut items from the budget. So, what exactly and specifically would Barrett have cut from the budget to get rid of the $3.6B deficit? BTW, isn't this exactly what Walker did - not raise taxes and instead cut non-segregated spending out of the state budget? So, how would Barrett's cuts have been better than Walker's cuts AND how can you even presume to know or judge this when Barrett won't tell us what he would have cut?

How was Walker at all involved in the Open Meetings case of last year, that BTW the WI Supreme Court ruled was not a violation of that law? As I recall, that case specifically and solely involved the State Senate. I thought that premised upon the separation of powers principle contained in both our state and federal constitutions that an executive, such as a Governor, couldn't directly interject themselves into the procedures and workings of the Senate. So, are you suggesting that given his background and education, that Barrett would have openly violated separation of powers principles in order to stop the Senate from violating the Open Meetings law when it really wasn't violating that law in reality?

WOW!!! You must think that Barrett is a real knucklehead, eh? I'm sorry, but I'm having trouble in following your logic as how this would be a good thing as opposed to a bad thing. Could you help me out here. Or, does Bren believe that two wrongs do in fact make a right so long as it's a Democrat that's committing the wrong?

Also, what's your deal in praising Barrett for having "national connections," while deriding Walker for having the same? Bren, please stop with your double standard hypocrisies all for the sake of partisan politics - it's really unbecoming of you!

Mr. Hoffa returns with a vengeance! First of all, I don't believe anything coming out of Walker's mouth or his office. The man has proven that he will say anything to save his job and dreams of national office. Walker filed a two-year deficit with the federal government while claiming he balanced the budget. A $143 million dollar shortfall was projected, and a $3.6 billion projected deficit (GAAP). He took $28 million of mortgage settlement money to fix his budgeting hole. Now he crows that he has a surplus? Sorry, but the line of credibility has been crossed. What changed?As many jobs have been lost as gained (if we are to believe Walker's numbers--I do not). Based on what I know of his budgeting skills as CE, he is in over his head. He thought he could suck a paycheck and follow the ALEC agenda and everything would be fine, and he'd have plenty of time to go on national tv and promote himself, but some of us are asking where are the $250,000 new jobs by 2015 coming from? Why are nearly 18,000 public employees off the payroll when he has claimed no jobs were lost (tell that to my father's friend--a Republican--who lost her job at Ethan Allen). Concerning the open meeting law violation, Walker is the governor. He bragged to fake David Koch about strategy sessions--he either knew about it or his state party is out of control. Either way, the buck stops with him.

National connections: Barrett-U.S. Congressman. Walker: Fox and fundraising.

@Bren-Well then Mr Barrett should take a refresher in both Law and Economics. Considering the City he resides over has unemployment at 10.2% the highest minority unemployment numbers, one of the poorest citys in the nation and crime numbers that were fudged.
Second being an attorney he should know that Walker's hands are tied when it comes to releasing any info concerning the John Doe.

The entire democrat plan is to tax the so-called "rich" and "billionaires" until there is no more money left to get from them, or they all flee the state or the country. We are hearing this from Obama and we are hearing here in Wisconsin too. So, here's my question, who pays the bills after we run out of rich people?????.

Yes, the idea of a $150 million budget surplus pleases me, but it's not really a surplus at all because it's borrowed money. According to Barrett, Walker's stuck the state with about $500 million in debt--that surplus represents the amount we'll be paying in interest. That stinks. Walker left Milwaukee County with a $50 million+ deficit. He's good at spending and borrowing money, a borrow-and-spend "conservative."

When is the mainstream GOP going to wake up and push these far-right extremists (who are really good at spending taxpayer's money) back to the fringe where they belong??

@Bren-Really? With all the newly elected Government officals/angencies that Obama is responsible for who is good at spending tax payer money

I sure wish there was a "LIKE" button to click on many of these comments. Go Hoffa, Abe and others!

Have to say how sick I am of hearing so many wishy-washy people say: "I'm voting for Barrett NOT because I don't like the results of what Walker did, it's HOW he did it that I don't like". Really? They're willing to turn over our state to a much weaker candidate on such lame reasoning. I hope common sense and thicker skin prevails. I'm almost positive it will. Man up and vote for Walker if you care about your kid's future in this state...and country since this election has huge consequences.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone and God Bless our soldiers for giving their all for keeping us free. My deepest regrets that those currently fighting for us have to take orders from our current community organizer and chief.

@Justme-Absolutely!!! God Bless our troops!! But ya see the left has no common sense for them its all about that 20 year college degree. There for because they think they are smarter than us and that we are to stupid to understand

The old "I'm voting for Barrett NOT because I don't like the results of what Walker did, it's HOW he did it that I don't like" is all they have left. And the ironic thing is it is their side that moved Act 10 forward when the fleeing 14 went on vacation to Illinois.

Essentially, that statement acknowledges that their side knows what Governor Walker did was right, they just aren't happy that it had to be done. And rather than reward a leader to be bold enough to make those changes, they want to punish him.

GO WALKER!

Dorothy, why is Barrett negative for asking questions? You do know that Scott Walker was caught cheating in a student election campaign, don't you? Was that honest?

Was it honest to state he would negotiate with public employee unions as Governor, then turn around and brag to a rich donor that he was going to use a "divide and conquer" strategy instead? Or tell the fake David Koch on that prank phone call that he was going to "drop the bomb" on public employee unions? Is that sincerity? Is that honesty?

Shake off the stupor, fire up your computer, and check these links, sourced to verifiable information sources:

Fake David Koch phone call recording: http://buffalobeast.com/?p=5045
Cheating in student election: http://www.politicususa.com/scott-walker-dirty-illegal-campaigning.html
Scott Walker stating he would negotiate with public employee unions: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/03/05/scott-walker-caught-in-pre-election-lie-on-collective-bargaining-plans-will-wisconsin-voters-care/

Support Scott Walker because you support cheating and lying. Support Scott Walker because you think that America would be better off with a one-party system that favors the rich instead of the democracy that people have fought and died for for hundreds of years. It's your choice. But don't vote for him because he's "A SINCERE AND HONEST GUY" because he isn't.

@Bren -

It is indeed negative to do nothing but slam and criticize one's opponent while offering no specific answers/solutions yourself, isn't it? Otherwise, why didn't Barrett just come out with his plan and attempt to show us why it's better than what Walker did / continues to do? After all, that would have at least been positive, but Barrett didn't do that, did he? Aren't you the least bit curious as to what Barrett would do? Looking at his record doesn't produce very good results, does it? In fact, when he first campaigned for Mayor of Milwaukee, his biggest promise was that he would fix MMSD. How many years has he been mayor now, and yet, I've seen no improvements to the MMSD, do you?

At least with Trivedi, you know where he stands, what his plan is, and he makes no express promises. A far better contender to Walker than Barrett if you're being honest with yourself.

So, will you be voting Trivedi on or before June 5th? Be honest here Bren :-)

@Bren -

One last thing - if Barrett is such an intelligent and law abiding man, then why does he keep asking Walker to release emails that have been publicly gagged by both a judicial order and statutory secrecy laws? Is he trying to trick voters into thinking that Walker could release the emails without facing contempt charges for doing so? If so, isn't this a highly unethical tactic / strategy that preys upon the low information voter? I certainly think so.

Also, isn't there a double standard also at play here? Walker himself asks for an investigation that leads to the conviction of a staffer who was blogging about Walker's campaign on the taxpayer's time and dime. Meanwhile, when it was exposed that Barrett's own wife was engaging in using the public's time, dime, and resources to engage in forbidden political activity, exactly similar in nature to what the convicted Walker aid did, Barrett shrugs it off as no big deal and doesn't ask for an investigation inquiring as to the use of all state owned email accounts within the MPS district, of which he'd certainly have the jurisdiction and influence to effectuate. WHY??? And why not ask the DA to press charges against his wife for violating the law as she did?

Walker's request for investigation leads to the arrest of one his own, while Barrett shields his people from investigation and prosecution.

Yet, you still try to convince us that Barrett is somehow a more moral and ethical man than Walker.

Laughable!

No Bren, we support Walker because we like his ideas, we like that he put an end to the ridiculous excuse of public sector unions, we like that he has created jobs, we like voter ID, and conceal carry.

We don't like idiots like Barrett that have no clue on fixing anything, sold his soul to special interest groups and are hypocritical in his actions.

Yes, we even like the Koch Bros. and ALEC as they represent getting what we like accomplished. Hard for you to believe, but you are in the minority thanks to the Socialistic, Neo-Communism views of your party and your President. We find Walker to be the oasis in the nonsensical world of liberalism.

Liberalism is dead, and Barrett and Obama are the final nails in the coffin. We thank the liberals for exposing their true selves the past year and a half. The rest of the state has finally seen how, greedy, self-indulged and corrupt your side is.

Mr. Hoffa, some emails have been released, why not others? Where is the gag order? I believe it's a reasonable question.

Without knowing all the facts in the Governor's office and state of things due to flip-flopping budget and job numbers, Barrett is absolutely right to take a cautious approach. My guess is things are in a shambles and it will take some time to get it right. After all, Walker left Milwaukee County with a $50 million + problem, why would his skills have improved in the Governor's office?

As has been explained here before by myself and others, there are miles upon miles of sewers/pipes that are not managed by MMSD. These are private developments, etc., over which MMSD is not in control. Are you suggesting a Socialist approach of seizing private property?

Also as has been discussed here in your absence, as I understand it Walker's office notified authorities about $11,000 missing Operation Freedom funds being handled by Purple Heart. He transferred the funds to Cudworth Post, then to Heritage Fund (where Russell was involved). In November 2010, Walker's County Executive and campaign offices were searched. Walker hired a criminal defense team, financed through transferred campaign contributions (a possible violation of the donor's bill of rights). Another investigation involves the illegal Gardner campaign contributions.

I will vote for Barrett. You should track back during the time you were away and catch up.

Brian Dey, your comments are pure, unadulterated right-wing projection.

No Bren, the majority still supports Walker's agenda because it is the people that elected him that have the same agenda. Wisconsin is a red state. We believe, like Reagan, that government is the problem, not the solution. You leftwing progressives had your way and we elected our side into power. We will do it again next week.

Dorothy ... What show were you watching ? A SINCERE AND HONEST GUY!!
Next time turn on the Closed Caption !

Hey Bren- you obviously have no recollection of why their was a budget deficit under Walker. number one was the pension scandal left by Tom Ament that Walker discovered AND a County Board that had over-riden every budget while the lefties controlled the Board and Ament was a leftie too. So don't even try to pin that Walker when you have no clue.

Walker also had a 5% point employment rate over the city when he left as County Exec. Walker was responsible for turning Mitchell International into a world class airport, restored the parks to being som e of the best in the country, had a great working relationship with the Sheriff and was responsible for bringing in federal dollars to redo the Marquette Interchange and the Mitchell interchange. Not to mention the improvements to the zoo. So spare us your poor recollection and leave ot to those that know.

Brian Dey, if memory serves, wasn't Walker the one eager to privatize Mitchell Field? Not sure why you forgive Walker for not balancing the budget from the pension scandal in 8 years when Barack Obama is blamed for having fully ended the Great Recession in under one term? A different set of rules, apparently. Hypocrisy.

That Walker placed focus on the suburbs (which kept voting him into office) is well known. That includes transportation to help the commute. Take a look at the Park East corridor, it's a disaster, and compare it to Menomonee Valley and Bay View. This is what happens when a guy is more focused on his career and pandering to suburbs. Oh yes, and the Sheriff. Clarke's department was cut by Abele because Walker pandered, big-time, to that agency. Clarke has been called a "Republican in Democrat's clothing" before. According to local rumour, Clarke also has/had a large entourage of deputies who accompanied him (a sort of Secret Service). The number of deputies he was forced to cut was nearly equal to the number (as I understand) to his entourage. Of the two County Executives, so far Chris Abele is showing himself to be more of a fiscal conservative than Walker. That $55 million deficit will have to be dealt with before other of Abele's initiatives can be put into place.

Yes, I'm happy to talk about Walker's tenure as County Executive, anytime.

@Bren-Obama is responsible for ending the great recession and leading us to the brink of a depression!! So you can honestly say your better off now than you were 4 years ago? Keep drinking the kool-aid? Must be something in the koolaid that aids in truth spinning.

Bren - please check out www.brenkochpsychosis.com. and www.brenALECpyschosis.com

Bren- Yes, he tried to and it would have saved taxpayers tons of money. As to balancing the budget after the Dems ripped off each and every one of us in Milwaukee County, Walker each year balanced the budget but the County Supervisors had enough votes to override each and every one. A good leader, like Walker, doesn't compromise when it doesn't meet the requirements of those that put him in office.

Brian Dey, you are not looking at the national picture. The writing on the wall with Miller began in 2002, before Barrett took office. Briggs & Stratton maintains a strong presence in Milwaukee, even during the Great Recession. If you have complaints about why Milwaukee didn't have more federal dollars, you should definitely call Scott Walker and talk to him about it. First, he had the county authority, which includes Milwaukee, he was in office longer than Barrett (2004), and the Mayor's office isn't eligible to apply for the types of grants that Walker's office could have. Let's keep it real.

Bren- Speaking of hypocritical thinking. In one breath Milwaukee's problems were Walker's fault, now it's Bush's fault. Typical liberal progressive garbage. Never take responsibility for anything. Again, check your facts. Walker was responsible for County related federal funding for which he brought in millions for the mitchell expansion, the remake of the 1-94 Marquette and Mitchell interchange projects, and the emergency repair of the Hoan Bridge. Those are all the couty's jurisdiction. The City of Milwuakee is solely th Mayor's and the Common Council. You might want to take a civics class before tackiling this subject.

You seem nervous, Brian Dey.

You can't answer the questions. Simple questions. What does this guy plan on doing? You have no idea and neither does he. I'm pretty confident this clown has no chance. Sorry to disappoint you.

Crickets Bren? Keep searching google; there is nothing there...

Brian, are you expecting a manifesto or something? Barrett has outlined his approach pretty clearly. If you didn't catch it all during the debate you can watch it again online. Barrett actually punked me on knowing on how Walker was able to announce a $153 million surplus--he borrowed money. (I have been asking how this was possible.) So it's very clear to me that Barrett has a good bead on what's going on. I haven't seen his written game plan but have no doubt it exists.

If you are going to insist on seeing a manifesto from Tom Barrett on how to fix the mess, you'd better ask Walker to present what ALEC has crafted for him, too.

I'm expecting him to tell us how he is going to restore collective bargaining to its previous form. Where is the money going to come from. I want to know how he going to heal the divide. He thinks if he he wins, he can just smile and our side will just give in? I want to know how he is going to restore the two-thirds revenue sharing to education? I want to know what he knows and when did he know about his wife's illegal campaigning, after all, he is married to her. And why isn't he asking for a John Doe investigation. I want him to be honest about how he plans to balance the budget.

I want to know how he is going to restore funding to Badger Care. I want to know how he is going to give better equal pay protection any better than what is given by the federal government. I want to know why he feels that adding the state law and making women go through state courts and federal courts to protect those rights.

I want to know if he plans on keeping conceal carry. I want to know how he expects the next Milwaukee mayor to balance his budget without Act 10 provisions he used.

And last, I want to know why we should trust him on jobs when he has a record as a job destroyer; examples include Miller moving their corporate headquarters out of state, Briggs and Stratton, and so many more that he has seen the downgrade of the city's credit rating and is rated th fourth worst city in America. A lot of rhetoric, but no substance.

Bren-Still waiting....chirp, chirp, chirp...

Your view of the candidates is interesting but shows great bias. I thought Barrett looked crazed and I agree, he was looking for a fight. I think if someone had just awaken from a two year coma, they would have never guessed that is is Barrett that wants to end the civil war.

I think Barrett's demeanor will play well with the protester/drum banger types, but it will turn off the average out-state voter. Governor Walker may have come across as a bit too causual.

@Greg ... Good points Greg ... can't disagree. I watched the entire show. I thought it was suppose to be a debate ? I never heard either side debate one issue. I thought the show was very disappointing. Barrett was definitely more aggressive then Walker though. For their next meeting I hope that its not another question and answer forum. Let em put the gloves on and go to it !

Abe
You and the Gov are two peas in a pod--both full of BS.

Suzan Hayden ‏@AstroSHayden

@GovWalker Hubris Shines Through During Debate http://willystreetblog.com/wp/2012/05/26/walker-hubris-shines-through-during-debate/ #wiunion #wirecall

Abe, did you watch the debate? Barrett exposed Walker for borrowing money so that he could claim a surplus. And that our state is now saddled with an additional $100 million + in interest payments. Now that's what I call "high spending (nice lesson for our kids by the way). You are correct that every state is vying for jobs. Cutting education is going to impact our long-term viability. Illinois and Minnesota already outstrip us in terms of a well educated workforce. What are the "handouts" you are talking about? Would you like to take away food stamps from the family of four that has an annual income of less than $23,000? Do you think they should starve? You should honestly think before you write.

Obama has been doing a good job in an economic situation that nearly parallels the Great Depression. The high spending George W. Bush's corporate tax cuts, borrowing, and two unfunded wars helped create the current situation. Let's keep it real, Abe.

@Bren -

Could you please explain to me how Governor Walker borrowed more money on the state's credit card, and thereby increased our state's debt by "saddled[ing] [us] with an additional $100 million + in interest payments," as the only place I can find any information about this Barrett talking point seems to come from online liberal blogs.

And all of those liberal blogs explain it like this:

"How then did Walker come up with the $154 million surplus? Walker Math: If you need some cash to claim a surplus one thing you can do is transfer some debt from your current cash budget into your future GAAP budget. Voila, a surplus!" Source: http://www.thedailycall.org/?p=21548

There's a couple of problems with this explanation though. 1) "Transferring" debt is not exactly new debt accumulation as you and Barrett appear to claim, is it? 2) How does transferring debt between accounting methods at all change interest repayment schedules, principle repayment dates, and/or add to the amount of principle or interest that must be paid on pre-existing debt obligations? Accounting methods are merely systems used to track the financial health or stability of an entity and in no way does the accounting method used affect the terms of issued bonds (state debt).

In order for Walker to have added any new debt obligation, he would have had to either increase the amount of bonds issues and/or refinanced pre-existing bonds at terms less favorable then their original obligations. And yet, I can find no source either stating or proving positive that this is what occurred.

Liberal math leads to liberal explanations which almost always equates to liberal spin as opposed to truth. Why do you, Barrett, and the rest of the liberals view the general public as being so stupid that we apparently can't even apply simple logic to debunk your lies? It's really insulting, and just as I said before, it shows that Democrats are obviously preying upon low information voters.

Shameful Bren! I thought you researched your 'facts' better than taking Barrett or liberal blogs at face value.

Mr. Hoffa, where was this debt supposedly transferred from? Since your premise is radically different from what Mayor Barrett brought forward, and most importantly, what Scott Walker didn't deny, why don't you explain specifically what occurred, with sources. I want to see what you know, that our own Governor doesn't.

@Bren -

It's not my assertion - it's Barrett's and yours. I'm merely trying to figure it out. Still waiting for an explanation from you. I'm guessing that if you had one, you would have come out with it by now, so even you must be having trouble with verifying the validity of Barrett's claim here. Not very good for you or Barrett, is it?
.

Come on, Hoffa, an intelligent guy like you can't figure out that some debt was refinanced, lowering costs in the short term but costing more in interest over the long run? That means the budget wasn't really 'balanced' like Scott Walker wants us to believe -- it's just been postponed at a greater cost to taxpayers eventually.

It's not entirely honest, and it's probably financially unwise.

@Randy1949 -

The way that Barrett said it, and the way that Bren is perpetuating it, is that Walker issued new original debt obligations, which is not the case at all if he's just refinancing previously accumulated debt. While dragging out the repayment period does indeed increase interest costs, I thought that this was a compromise with Democrats to avoid making even deeper cuts to the budget or mass state-level layoffs. BTW - how did the Democrats vote on restructuring this debt? I'll help you out here - they voted largely in favor of it and now are trying to attack Walker for something that they went along with! Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this another classic example of hypocrisy?

Walker stated that his plan was to pay off the restructured debt early to avoid the increase in interest payments when the overall state of our state's economy improved, remember? Politifact previously looked at this back in February of last year during the standoff with the the Fleeing 14 in IL, as Walker was stating that mass layoffs would be necessary if the state couldn't restructure some of the accumulated debt which is why the budget had to be passed by a certain date.

So, I'm guessing that you would have rather seen the mass public layoffs as long as the debt was repaid on schedule, right?

No, JRH -- I completely understood what Tom Barrett was saying -- the Scott Walker should not be claiming a surplus and 'successful policies' on the one hand while costing the state millions in extra interest on the other.

@Randy1949 -

So, you're either against politicians being politicians, or you would have favored Walker making even deeper cuts and laying people off en mass, correct? But if you're against politicians being politicians, then how can you be supporting Barrett, as he's just as guilty, if not more so, of the same kind of rhetoric and spin that Walker is.

If you want Walker out, then why won't you admit that Trivedi represents the better alternative to Walker than Barrett? That is of course if you honestly feel the way you do about politicians being politicians - or does that standard only apply to politicians with an (R) next to their names?

Hoffa, there was a time I would vote my conscience and waste it on a third party candidate or even a write-in. But no longer. The GOP has become just too extreme and now it's gotten serious.

I'm not for layoffs, I'm not for deficits. But I'm most certainly not for measures designed to rob the other side of political funding now and from now on and pretending it's about the budget. All Walker and the Fitzes had to do was write a sunset into Act 10 to reinstate full collective bargaining once economic growth reached a certain percentage again. Unions didn't cause this mess -- it's the economy, with layoffs that mean less income tax and sales tax revenues.

Divide and conquer is a recipe for push-back.

@Randy1949 -

The Democrats are using the same divide and conquer strategy by targeting the wealthy as being the bad guys. We on the right see the left going to the extreme when states like IL raise taxes across the board by 66% or even higher, and then still don't have enough revenue to cover their expenditures. Did you hear about the Chicago teacher's union rejecting a 2% pay increase in recent contract negotiations?

Unions are nothing more than people, just as corporations are nothing more than people. Even if the union or corporation ceases to exist, the people that made up those entities still exist are just as capable of contributing to political parties as their former collective entities were. The whole taking away a funding source argument is nothing but a giant red herring argument.

@JRH -- Really? Explain to me why Diane Hendricks wants a 'right to work' state. She runs a non-union business already, one that doesn't pay corporate income taxes between 2005 and 2008 (and perhaps more recently, since those figures aren't yet available). What more in the way of profit does she think she'll get?

@Randy1949 -

I can't intelligently speak on behalf of another's motivations no more than you can. What I can tell you is that right to work legislation does not prevent private sector unions from forming. In fact, private sector unions in right to work states tend to have a more involved membership that carefully selects decent leadership which tends to follow James Riddle Hoffa's model of treating union/management relations as a symbiotic arrangement as opposed to one based on conflicting ideologies. In general, unions in right-to-work states tend to be foundationally stronger than their counterparts in closed shop states, which let's face the reality of the situation, have just become outright complacent, lazy, and unrealistic in their demands/expectations.

Handouts to whom? Colored people Dorothy. What about the $400 million handout to Bain to over that steel company's pensions. Where's you cap key now?

"colored people", Kieth? Really? Showing your 50s bias. At least you didn't call anyone "Brownshirts" as you usually do when you slip into your normal "the right are Nazis" frame of mind (tho in your defense, this morning you sound semi-sober....a far cry from what we read from you at nite).

Keith is dealing with his unresolved racial guilt.

@Dorothy ... Why is your left shoe on your right foot ?

@ morninmist ... I watched the Meltdown. I wonder if anyone ever got their food that they ordered when this ho worked at Hooters ? Where does Walker find these people ? In the unemployment lines ?

Good question, Chris. For one thing, I don't think any liberal legislators had a secret email system running in their office suite. For another, Scott Walker left Milwaukee County with a $50+ million deficit which which Chris Abele is having to deal. Have many other liberals had their office searched for evidence in a John Doe investigation?

There is only so much government can do when the Republicans running companies send away the jobs. Government can only mitigate the situation. The solution comes from raising taxes to discourage this insane profit taking at the expense of average people.

Now let your collective heads explode.

@Keith-Really buddy? Hmmmm Obamas job czar CEO of GE!! Lets see the light bulb as we know is being phased out and in its replacement is the oh so green bulb filled with mercury and produced where? Yes you guessed it not in this Country!!! Hmmm so your statement once again is entirely false!!!! CEO of GE, Obamas jobs czar has shipped more jobs overseas that anyone!!!

@Keith-Government could not even manage cash for clunkers!!!! Like you Keith, they only steal money from the citizens. Which by the way have you paid it back yet

Keith...

Are you trying to say that liberals have made the business climate so bad in Milwaukee, that business OWNERS, have chosen to relocate to friendlier business areas in order to make a profit? And you want that for the entire state?

Bren, you are smarter than to say that Walker left a 50 million dollar deficit in Milwaukee county. Did a conservative have full control of that level of govt. like the liberals do in the city? Was there perhaps a a pension obligation that was approved prior to Walker, by the liberal majority on the county board that makes future obligations that are very difficult to pay for. We need full disclosure. General elections are never about the candidate...they are about the party. You are not voting FOR Barrett, you are voting for a liberal agenda, and I will be voting for a conservative agenda. We have seen what full control, with a liberal agenda has gotten Milwaukee.

@Chris-Very well said!!! You could not be more right on with that statement

All, pls note, at 9:34 today, Herr Schmitz stated " the solution comes from raising taxes".

No need to add any comment.. Herr's plan is crystal clear... "tax and spend" . I guess when you have $35K of Shorewood's money in your wallet, you don't feel the effects of the down economy. Lucky Herr Schmitz

> and the lt. Governor can take over.
ROTFLMAO

@ Chris The lt. Governor can take over. If the Fish takes over there goes the surplus. She probably spends more money on makeup ... to try ... and make herself look good then I pay in property taxes.

Have good time.

DefeatVos ‏@DefeatVos

And convicted Erlichman/Haldemann RT @hershinmad: Richard Nixon was also an eagle scout #wiunion #recallwalker

Its going to be a blast

@morninmist -

WOW - first you guys target the Special Olympics and now you're trying to cast a negative image upon, and use for your own selfish political gain, the Eagle Scouts?!?!

Have you ever considered seeing a psychiatrist?

@ Patriot ... I don't know if I have ever seen so many dirt bags at one dis function.

@ Patriot 9:42 am on Sunday, May 27, 2012

Its going to be a blast

We can only pray that you are right !

@Bucky/WalkerGate-You really should watch what you say. When you wish bad things on people, bad things usually happen to you or your immediate family. Why must the left always resort to violence or intimidation

@Patriot .... Put your pop gun down before the cork hits you in the eye.

I know, right? If us evil 1% didn't make all the money, there would be more left over...because it's obvious that when one person rises, one must fall so there is always economical equilibrium.

@OnePercenter-Hey there is a good reason to recall the Gov!!! Come on man make a common sense decision not a feel sorry for decision

OnePercenter, thank you for supporting your family members in the teaching profession. Few here who vilify public workers appreciate the remarkable work teachers do.

1 % er ... Thousands of others are with you ! Recall !

We have assumed control!! We have assumed control!!! We have assumed control!!

@Racine Progressive-Im working people of Wisconson along with numerous friends and family members and were very happy with Gov Walker. Finally we the tax payer has a voice and we have somoeone not afraid to do whats uncomfortable.
Can you show me Gov Walkers lies? Facts backing your claims not just the typical liberal spin? Gov Walker laid it all out and backed by facts. Free for you and your libs to research. Rather than just the talk and spin game your boy Barrett plays. The man has NO platform of his own

@Racine-Stop spinning it bro!!! His office was responsible for opening the investigation during his time as Country Exec!! So stop spinning the facts and making this something more than it is. Stick with the facts and the reason for the recall Act 10!! Oh but wait that wont work because there is proof his reforms are working so ya can no longer use that. The unions are to blame for dividing the STATE not Walker. Funny your boy Barrett used Gov Walkers reforms to benefit his City. Again the Unions divided this State last January/Feb!! But hey lets not cloud the story with facts!!

@Racine Progressive

How do you know if the $100k in lawyer's fees isn't just a retainer payment that Walker would get back if he didn't need to utilize their services? Or that Walker was just exercising good judgment in retaining attorneys when talking to investigators? What happened to innocent until proven guilty in a court of law in this state? I guess progressives, such as yourself, prefer the more tyrannical judicial standard of guilty until the person proves themselves innocent before a liberal activist judge. Such a standard would certainly conform with your side's love of big government and believe that government can do no wrong.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that was kind of mentality and rule of law that our founding fathers were trying to escape from when they founded this country, wasn't it? Why does your side want to take us back to that kind of crap for? I honestly don't understand it one bit.

BTW - People like you are what divided our state, not Walker/Kleefisch/Wanggaard.

What scandal has Walker been involved in exactly? None that he's been convicted of, and you guys have been looking into him with a fine tooth comb for over 2 years now! It didn't even take that long to get Nixon, did it? At this point, the John Doe has turned into nothing more than a politically motivated witch-hunt and a waste of taxpayer's resources.

I say it's time to recall the John Doe investigation!

Vote Walker/Kleefisch/Wanggaard on June 5th!!!

Well its Memorial Day Weekend and I really dont want to waste my time trying to get the left progressive draft dodgers to understand simple, fiscally responsible ideas. This weekend is aboout those men and women who gave their all to protect and defend the very things our forefathers put into place.
Have a great weekend and remember to give Thanks to our service men and iwomen past and present!! June 5th will speak for itself when I great people of this State stand with and for Gov Walker, Rebbeca Kleefisch, and Van Wangaard in moving this State forward!!!

Patriot, you write as if only Republicans have fought and died for their country, untrue and unfair. Regardless of your mendacity I agree this is a weekend to honors those of our friends and family who have served their country.

@Bren-No I did not say republicans only have served. This Country used to have Democrats but many of those who fly the Democratic Flag are in fact hard core progressive liberals who do not believe in war. The drum beaters from the vietnam era and their children

You make a lot of assumptions, Patriot, and not correct ones.

@Bren-Now thats calling the kettle black. You are the queen of assumption or maybe king

I am conservative, so I really don't care what the union members choose to pay their representatives...in fact I say good for the union heads making what they do, as their salary/benefit package is determined by the marketplace...and on the flip side of that, local government bodies should be allowed the same latitude...to offer a pay and benefit package that the market dictates.

Alright, the market for BAs and MAs is way beyond what teachers make. So are you down Chris with equalizing that?

Keith,

You are missing key facts in your question. What are the outcomes the teachers produce over and above the mean...isn't that the real question, and what the market needs to know? I want to pay for outcomes above the average...not for academic credentials. Am I wiilling to pay more for better outcomes? The answer is...if I have to. If I don't have to, then, no, I won't pay more...but if I want above average, and have to pay a commensurate amount more...then yes. In everything we do, it is always a value proposition...am I getting a return on my investment...whether that investment is time or money.

@Keith-Its under investigation there is nothing to release!!! Keep spinning my man. When are you going to repay the village and the tax payers with the thousands you scammed from them?

Some were released. And according to Wisconsin state statutes, "a legal defense fund can be set up for state government officials only if they are being investigated for or are charged with a violation of campaign-finance laws or prohibited election practices." http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/press/gov-walkers-ldf-creation-raises-more-questions.html

So while Walker's camp says he is not under investigation, he must be or he couldn't legally have set up a criminal defense fund. That the crux of the matter. If he's not under investigation he can provide the emails he received/sent through the "unofficial" email system (is this a violation of open records law or not?) If the email system is illegal and he used it, he broke the law. Is he himself under investigation, and that's why he set up the legal defense fund, or has he broken Wisconsin statutes by setting up the illegal campaign fund? Barrett is right to ask these questions, and so should we. Whether it's a Republican or a Democrat, shenanigans should not be taking place on the taxpayer's dime.

@Keith .... After he goes to prison.

@Bren -

And what punishment did Barrett's wife receive for engaging in the same kind of activity that you want to see Walker hung for? After all, you just got done saying "whether it's a Republican or a Democrat, shenanigans should not be taking place on the taxpayer's dime," and Barrett's wife used taxpayer's time and resources to engage in illegal political activity.

Why aren't you making as big an issue out of Barrett's wife as you do Walker? And before you say, 'the rules were different,' just because Barrett's wife merely violated internal rules of conduct doesn't mean that the engaged in activity or harm to taxpayers is somehow different, does it? In all honesty, you know as well as I do that there is no meaningful distinction here between acts, only a difference in ideological affiliation.

If you're going to be hypocritical or scapegoat out of attacking Barrett's wife merely based on technical semantics, then please retract the above quoted statement, as you obviously don't really believe that.

BTW - I'm still waiting for you to show me how Walker increased our debt. Where's the independent research backing up this claim, as I thought you only perpetuated independently verifiable facts when engaging in discussion here?

@Bucky -

What does any of that have to do with the Walker/Barrett debate???

Is shifting the subject a favorite past time of yours or something?

And if Ford autoworkers don't like it, then perhaps the UAW should be investing it's member's dues in purchasing enough Ford stock to get members on the Board of Directors instead of constantly giving all of that money to Democratic candidates.

Nah, that would make too much common sense. Forget it, go back to crying about and being envious over other's financial successes.

@WalkerGate-Private sector CEO's!! Hmmmm how does that tie into the public sector. It was your boy Obama who felt it neccessary to bail out the auto makers, all but Ford because they refused

So Buckey ( aka WalkerGate) you're now slamming Ford for being the only US auto co. NOT to take Obama's TARP handout?

@James R Hoffa ... If you have no issue with any of the highest CEO's financial successes then why would you not want to see a teacher be as successful. There is not a man on the face of thei earth that is worth any of those salaries.

Somebody explain supply and demand, tempered with union interference in this case (to the teacher's advantage? - hard to say....) to Bucky.

So WGate, seems as if you are trying to justify the obscenely high salaries of union heads. The CEOs you refer to all make profits for their shareholders ( which is why they make their salaries)). And I bet you have investments, either directly or thru your retirement/401K programs, in many of the companies you list.

Just wondering, since WEAC returns nothing to its "shareholders" ( ie: teachers paying dues), what justifies union head compensation? Seems as you are being more than a little hypocritical in your responses, as usual.

If you are going to respond to my initial comment about union head salaries, at least try and answer my question " why the obscene compensations? If you can.

I believe Walkergate is pointing out that those on the far right accept stratospheric salaries for corporate CEOs, but fall in line with the ALEC talking points that public employees are overpaid.

It's a reasonable question. Why do we accept Gale Klappa, CEO of We Energies, making a $1 million salary paid by We Energies customers, with $11 million additional compensation indirectly paid by We Energies customers? Klappa has a Bachelors in Mass Communications from UWM. The teachers that ALEC has trained its low information base to vilify, have undergrad and often terminal degrees in their fields. Why is $12 million wage/compensation for Klappa all right, and 5-figure or, low 6-figure wage/compensation for educators, people teaching the state's children, not?

@Bren-Again the private sector is free to make as much money as they want. After all that is why most start a business. So for example Fred Smith the Founder of FedEx makes millions!!! So shame on him and others like him? As a consumer I can choose to ship my stuff by UPS and possibly pay more or I can choose someone else such as FedEx. As a consumer I have a choice. HUGE difference between a public sector Union and Private sector union. Join the private sector if you do not like it. It about time we as tax payers have a choice!!!

The difference Bren is that when boards make foolish decisions, such as exorbitant salaries, I as an INVESTOR can sell my shares of Marathon, Disney and Honeywell and be done with them. As a TAXPAYER, I would have to sell my house and move. Not something I really want to do.

There's no doubt that a company exists to make profit. And if you don't like the price of a product you don't have to buy it. But what on earth is wrong with paying someone a fair wage in the public sector?? When I need something from the city, county, or state, I would prefer to work with people who can take care of my issue quickly and efficiently. I also want qualified teachers in every school, not just the ones who are best at kissing up to the school board.

@Bren-There is nothing wrong with making a fair wage. What is wrong with contributing to ones health care and pension like most in the private sector? Second what is a fair wage?

3rd how many employees are employed by Honeywell

Patriot, as has been explained repeatedly, they did/do, as part of their overall compensation package.

Bren, I too want qualified teachers in our schools, not just ones who built up seniority and tow the union line.

@Bren -

"When I need something from the city, county, or state, I would prefer to work with people who can take care of my issue quickly and efficiently."

You obviously have never needed anything from the Milwaukee County Court House, have you? Where, by-the-way, almost everyone but the judges are public sector union employees. If you really believe in your above quote, then you would have to agree that 80% of the people currently working in the Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex should be fired and replaced with competent and efficient people immediately!

Anti, there is a lot to be said for a teacher who has experience, especially when working in the urban classroom setting. Seniority protects mature workers (anti age-discrimination). That's been a growing problem during the recession, especially for middle aged men.

But Bren, when that protection for older workers goes too far, the incentive to do a quality job is gone. There are already laws on the books protecting older workers (yes, in part because of union MEMBERS of the past). If those laws need to be strengthened, then let's modify them for everyone's benefit, not just teachers.

I have seen many older teacher's lose interest in the job, but because it pays so well, and the benefits so good, they don't give it up. Those are the one's hurting our system.

Perfect example-One of my kids teachers, math teacher to be exact decided rather than cover the material they would have a party and no one had to worry about the test. Because they would all receive passing grades. Now to me that is a teacher who should be looking in from the outside saying hey. The very type of teacher who was more than likely on the front lines in Madison. So rather than cover how to add and subtract fractions the entire class was moved on. Hmmmm no wonder we are falling behind the rest of the world. Oh I suppose thats Gov Walkers fault as well.

All the more reason to have a system in place that rewards teachers on merit not tenure. With Scott Walker we will have accountable education. Remember its for the kids!!!

So you and Chris don't get it...

What is newsmax? Another right-wing phony news site?

@Bren-Oh ya I forgot only the left offers credible reporting. What was I thinking

@BuckyakaWalkerGate-Well if you would spend less time spewing trash and rhetoric and get off your stand there with your hand out butt you to are fully capable of starting a successful business and make as much money as you can possibly make. America is great!! We all are afforded that opurtunity under the Constitution. But you would rather spin the facts, spew trash and beat your poor me drum

You're right, Walkergate. That one's absolutely adorable. Sigh.

@Patriot ... I do you know that I am not a business man and that I don't have my own company ? Because your Walkers lil hand puppet and your mouth can't keep up with your brain ?

@Bucky-Your really not worth the time!! June 5th is approaching so we will just let the election put this to rest

Still missing the point?

What is your point? Walkers reforms are working thats the point!!!

@Patriot....You say that Walker's reforms are working, I beg to differ with you. No one knows if they are working. We have yet to get into the next fiscal year and that's when we'll begin to know the full impact. I have said all along that they only picked the low hanging fruit. We have yet to experience what a lack of revenues fully mean. The money saved by restricting public employees collective bargaining is a shame. For the total it is less than $300 million total over the two year budget. The projected budget surplus is at the expense of the public employees, if any surplus is to be had.

@ Patriot
I can honestly say one thing Patriot, your the best lil We Blow that the Eagle Scout ever had.

@Bucky I mean WalkerGate-Ur just jealous.

@Lyle- Well thus far it has been positive. Fiscal responsibility!!

@Patriot...Fiscal responsibility is a two sided coin. One side is keep costs down and the other side is to provide the needed services. They are linked and if you cut revenues then, it only follows that services will also be reduced. If the cost of adequate services rises, then revenues have to increase. You can't make any claim as to the success of the conservatives actions.

Lyle, pull your head out of the sand!
Walkers reforms are working!
The 3.6 BILLION dollar deficit is gone!
Property taxes have gone DOWN!
Teachers are still teaching!
Businesses are starting to look at Wisconsin again!
Jobs are being added!
Local governments are still providing the services they were created for!

Your silly notion that in order to cut spending you have to cut services is waaay outdated. Businesses have been finding efficiencies for years. It's about time governments did the same thing. Best proof: take a look at all the school districts dumping WEA insurance and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Efficiencies, Lyle, Efficiencies!

@Anti-Alinsky...Like I said to Patriot, too early to tell.

No Lyle, it's not too early. The reforms are working.

When do you think you will be able to make that judgement call? I'm guessing June 6th.

Lyle- Radical ideology? Only to a progressive liberal would cleaning up the messes Ament left. Just because I no longer live in Milwaukee County, doesn't mean I have no knowledge of what happens there. I have a huge interest in Milwaukee County as I was born and raised in the Bay View area and my family has lived there all their lives.

Walker and those that elected him believe in smaller government and fools like you believe government is the answer. You have a Marxist view of government and want to be coddled cradle to grave. You are the one that has no clue.

@Brian Dey...You're wrong again. I believe in the right size government to meet the needs of the citizenry. That could be a larger government or smaller government. The size of government is not cast in stone. If you had any real knowledge, you'd understand that the citizenry pays for the services they receive from either their private pocket or their public pocket. Sometimes service is better purchased from the public pocket when the needs exceed the ability to pay from the private pocket. It has come to the point where healthcare needs to be paid from the public pocket since the healthcare industry is rife with greed and keeps growing the costs at rates of double digit inflation.

Walker believes in smaller government so that his wealthy friends can shirk their responsibility to the common good.

Wrong Lyle, you have admitted to being a socialist. That is totally un-American and is radical and contrary to how our government was set up. The argument isn't the services if you have been paying attention. The argument is how much is the responsibility of the taxpayer. Excessive benefits beyond the norm of society shouldn't be fully funded by a population that doesn't have the same honor.

Using your argument, almost all corporations should be taken over by the government, which is why we are so motivated to beat people like you and you socialistic views. Remember to honor those tomorrow that fought for your freedom that you would like to see taken away,

@Brian Dey....You are correct that I am a social democrat. However, I find it remarkable that you even can spell socialist. You have no idea what a socialist is and the approach to democratic rule. The founders of this nation were certainly not of a single mind or single ideology. If you would have finished your formal education you would know that.

As far as the celebration of Memorial Day, I served my nine years in the military. How long did you serve?

@Keith-Kind of like you!! When you shirked your responsibility to pay back the village with the money you scammed

Lyle- socialism[soh-shuh-liz-uhm]    /ˈsoʊʃəˌlɪzəm/ Show Spelled[soh-shuh-liz-uhm]
noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

Do you really think that just because you have apiece of paper that you can put down those that don't? I know Mr. Ruble, that you think your smarter than Albert Einstein, Theodore Roosevelt, Paul Allen, and the host of others that don't hold that precious little document you have...

@Brian Dey...Social democrats, like myself, don't see any benefit to wholly own the means of production and to provide services that only benefit a small majority. I do believe in capitalism, but I also believe in public regulation of capitalism in order to deter public harm. The lack of regulation enforcement, do to wide spread corruption in the regulating government agencies and the perception by big business, that with enough money thrown around, that in essence they could do whatever they wanted; resulting in massive public harm. We are clearly paying the price for the Reagan years. Deregulation began under Carter and has taken the better part of forty years to destroy our economy and throw society into turmoil. There were constant warnings coming from the "political left" and it was ignored leaving us in jeopardy where the citizenry doesn't trust either government or business.

We are clearly in a transitional period and it is time to set aside the policies of the recent past and move to a system that promotes social justice for over 300 million American citizens. Short term thinking has led us into this morass and must be replaced with rational long term thinking and planning. The last forty years has been so destructive, that future history books will classify the same period as one of the darkest periods in American history. Your ideology and perception of reality is part of the problem and you don't have a solution.

Because Traitor, it was only there emails. And by the way, she no longer works for MPS.

Give it up sociopath.

Patriot, it's been explained to you a number of times, let me try this way--Kris Barrett didn't work for an elected official and because of that, doesn't have the same rules to follow. Specifically, Ms. Barrett didn't work for the County Executive. Hope this helps.

@Bren -

But the act was exactly the same, hence the damage to the taxpayer is exactly the same. If one should be punished, then both should be punished in a just and logical society, correct? So, how exactly was Barrett's wife punished? And if she wasn't punished, then why doesn't Barrett demand it, as after all, he's a just and logical kind of guy, right?

Just because the law says it's different doesn't actually make it so in reality, does it? Nor does it make your stance on the subject any less hypocritical!

Try again!

The reason for those election laws are so that public money is not spent to elect politicians. What Kris Barrett did was no different than what Darlene Wink and Kelly Rindfleisch did. She used government resources on government time. It makes no difference how far down the line from an elected official she is.

It doesn't matter if it is three emails or three million. You have to draw the line somewhere, and that line has to be at zero.

@Keith&Bren-Oh I see even though it was written that the use of school computers and the school network for campaigning was against the rules, because it was only 3 emails and it was Kris Barrett its ok? Whoa typical double standard!!

Keith pay the village back!!!! At least I am not a theive

Keep on rolling in your winning ways Scott Walker! Backward Barrett doesn't even begin to understand progress...of course unless it involves progress on how many emails Tantrum Tommy's wife sent on his bellaf while she worked in the public school system! Vote Walker to end the WI faux recall maddness created by the
WI Liberals, Unions and Democrats!

@Hoffa
Sen Vinehout has issued a report about this. Please read it.

http://thewheelerreport.com/releases/May12/0524/0524vinehout.pdf

@morninmist -

OK, I read the report. But the report is grossly lacking of key information. What new bonds were issued? When were they issued? At what rate of interest and repayment schedule were they issued? Is this just a continued restructuring of Doyle's accumulated debt, or is it new debt taken on at Walker's insistence? How did the Democrats vote on these new debt issues? Just like Barrett's debate performance, Vinehout's report gives no specific answers, does it? Also, why can't I find any additional information about these alleged new debt issues anywhere online?

Are you and Bren suggesting that Barrett would have made even deeper cuts to the state budget than Walker or that he would have significantly increased taxes to avoid new debt issues? Why won't Barrett answer these questions instead of just slamming Walker? Why don't you want to know what Barrett would have done / would do if elected given that you're so keen on voting for him?

If Barrett is accusing Walker's budget of giving the state a cash flow problem, then why doesn't he tell us how he'd address the situation, instead of merely slamming Walker for his approach? It's easy to criticize someone for doing something when you yourself are offering absolutely nothing in the alternative, isn't it?

Curious minds want to know and are waiting for independently verifiable answers from the Democrats. So, where are those answers?

Perhaps but perhaps NOT @Patriot

Republicans for a Higher Road: Why John Doe is a lose-lose for Gov Walker http://republicansforahigherroad.blogspot.com/2012/04/john-doe-and-catch-22-for-governor.html #WImajority #WIGOP #WIRight #WIunion

There ya go a liberal blog disguised under the republican brand

Yet another Republican makes a argument against Walker - http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2012/may/17/republican-case-against-scott-walkers-reelection/

The Republican party would be better off without his ilk.

@Rich-Ya well a socialist media blog? Give me a break. See the difference is were conservatives, fiscally responsible conservatives. There are many left leaning republicans who well really are not republicans. Just as many of your side claim to be democratic, well couldnt be farther from the truth. Rather hard core left leaning progressives, socialists, marxists or what ever u call urself

I try not to label people because the reality is that their political beliefs vary across the political spectrum depending upon the issue. Labeling and/or name calling is a gross generalization and oversimplification that just polarizes folks even further. Just what Walker wants. Divide and conquer common folk to quibble over crumbs while this country's wealth and power further shifts toward the now less than 1%.

Here are a liberal's two open letters to his conservative friends and family. Without name calling he describes his well thought out rational for opposing Walker and his agenda. Decide for yourself. It is worth reading with an open mind.

http://baronvonreed.com/category/baronish-musings/on-politics/

@Sobbeger
Walker can not seem to help himself. He has no control and lies continuously.

Gov. Walker AGAIN rates FALSE for a jobs related claim, http://bit.ly/LMeAUz #WIunion #WIrecall

.....Walker didn’t respond to our request for comment on his claim. But his own Department of Workforce Development, which submits the jobs data to BLS, notes that BLS won’t issue an official figure for 2011 until the end of June.

Our rating

Walker said new figures he released indicating Wisconsin added more than 20,000 jobs in 2011 are "the final job numbers." But the count won’t become final until after it is reviewed by the federal government.

We rate Walker’s statement False.

Face it Keith Best

Walker has a lack of character and no integrity (even as he brags he does).

America United ‏@Progress2day
Of @GovWalker and Nixon, race-baiting and rumors: A candidate's character matters - http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/purple-wisconsin/154807455.html

Keith, sorry, but "Mayor Milquetoast" is really childish. School districts previously had power to negotiate contracts. Union stripping is Step One to Right to Work, which weakens private unions and leads to equal opportunity lowered wages for everyone--no thanks. A number of conservative (as opposed to "conservative") women stated opposition to the Talibanesque legislation that is being forced through states with ALEC/Tea leadership.

Concerning John Doe, the authorities were notified by Walker's office of $11,000 missing from Operation Freedom funds when it was run by Purple Heart. Walker then transferred the funds, first to Cudworth Post, then to Heritage Fund, where his friend Russell got involved. $60,000 then went missing from an Operation Freedom event. Walker's CE and campaign offices were searched in November '10. Here's a quick overview (source cites AP) of events, including a 12th person granted immunity in exchange for testimony: http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20120510/OSH0101/120509135/12th-person-granted-immunity-John-Doe-case-against-associates-former-aides-Gov-Scott-Walke

As the article also states, a candidate may not set up a criminal defense fund unless they or team members are being investigated or have been charged. Apparently, whatever is going on, it's close enough for this fund to have been started. Also apparently, campaign funds were transferred to this fund. Appropriate?

Face it, Barrett surrounds himself with honest people.

@Morn-Now that is some spinning!!! What a joke!! Morninmist its ok we understand you and your side are having a very hard time trying to find something your candidate stand for!!! I think anyone at that time would have done what Mr Barrett did that day after the fair. But that by no means qualifies him to lead this State!!
On June 6th Mayor Barrett can say I am the first person to run for Gov 3 times and LOST!!! History in the making.

We have assumed control!! We have assumed control!! We have assumed control!!! That was the most excellent album.

America United ‏@Progress2day

Recall Memo: June 5: Governor Walker Steals a Billion Dollars from Wisconsin http://bit.ly/L8dKiM #wiunion #wirecall #p2 #p2b #recallwalker

Love this response:

Duane12
May 27, 2012 at 10:44 am · Reply

We are told that Walker begins each day praying to God for divine guidance. But I question if Walker is being answered instead by the “father of lies” who provides responses that satisfies the governor’s ego, pride, false conscience, cowardice, extreme ideology, and inadequate native intelligence. How can anyone who proudly admits to “dropping the bomb,” reveals having a secret strategy of “divide and conquer,” and whose many lies, especially that he campaigned on eliminating collective bargaining, be a man of peace, a man of truth, a man of competence, and a man of God? The fact is Walker is none of the above as evidenced by his conduct and recorded history of the past sixteen months.

@Morninmist-How can a man convince his Police Cheif to not report violent crimes just so he can look good. Again since Barrett has nothing of his own to stand on he needed to dream something up. The left are masters at spin

@Morninmist ... Your on a roll ... keep er going ... Patriot is just about ready to flip out !

@ morninmist
We are told that Walker begins each day praying to God for divine guidance. ROTFLMAO ... Please stop it , you are just to funny !

@Patriot

Your Koch-Walker supplies rose colored glasses are cause a burn to the muscles in the "brain". Why would the Milw Police want to make Barret look good as you say? The Milw. Police Union have endorsed Walker in 2020 and this year again.

.............

Patriot

1:35 pm on Monday, May 28, 2012

@Morninmist-How can a man convince his Police Cheif to not report violent crimes just so he can look good. Again since Barrett has nothing of his own to stand on he needed to dream something up. The left are masters at spin

Patriot has already flipped out IMHO.

............
American Patriot

1:45 pm on Monday, May 28, 2012

@Morninmist ... Your on a roll ... keep er going ... Patriot is just about ready to flip out !

@Bren-Because Barrett and Flynn are tight!! Not to mention Flynn fears for his job as well. I done flipped out years ago so no worries

That's right, the police union did endorse Walker, didn't they. Patriot, pick up straw, GRASP! ; )

@morninmist

America United ‏@Progress2day

Recall Memo: June 5: Governor Walker Steals a Billion Dollars from Wisconsin http://bit.ly/L8dKiM #wiunion #wirecall #p2 #p2b #recallwalker

I wonder who BigCheese is? The very same experiences I observed...one of the regranting issues involved the county arts fund, which lends support to thousands of arts and culture jobs in Milwaukee County. Walker slashed the fund to the level of ineligibility for state regranting funds, and either couldn't understand or didn't care. Because of a ridiculously small amount of money involved, people lost their jobs, and important programs were cut as a result.

BigCheese
May 27, 2012 at 10:16 am · Reply
I recall a conversation I had with work colleagues from Milwaukee County many years ago. They said their County Executive, Walker, had proposed ridiculous budget cuts on the claim that he was saving the county money. The county greybeards took him aside and patiently explained that his cuts would not save money as they would cause the county to lose federal matching funds and undermine services that would cost the county more in the long run. They suggested other ways to save money. Walker just ignored their concerns. At that time I concluded that he was either too stupid to understand the complexities of a budget or lying when he claimed to care about saving money. He continues to follow the same pattern as Governor. Whether stupid or lying, he’s bad for Wisconsin either way.

Bren, they missed one that Bloggin Blue diatribe.

That's 1 BILLION dollars not going to WEA insurance premiums to get Liberals elected to support the union's legislative agenda.

Actually, that would be the ONLY thing would have been accurately stated.

To paraphrase that garbage filled article:
That’s $1 billion being spent at food and grocery stores all across Wisconsin by taxpayers rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion being spent at department and specialty stores by taxpayers all across Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion being spent at restaurants and bars by taxpayers all across Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion being spent at gasoline stations by taxpayers all across Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion not being deferred in home and auto maintenance by taxpayers all across Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion being spent on cultural and recreational activities by taxpayers all across Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion being donated to charity, religious, or non-profits by taxpayers all across Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion being returned to taxpayers to aid suffering taxpayers in Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.
That’s $1 billion that is subject to state and federal income taxes rather than union run campaigns.
AND that’s $1 billion that is generating state sales tax, gasoline tax or license and permit fees across the state of Wisconsin rather than union run campaigns.

@Bren
I had read that comment from BigCheese also and liked it but do not know anything about him/her.

The Milw Council is NOT happy with Walker constantly smearing the city eiter!

http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2012/05/milwaukee-council-president-slams.html

Sunday, May 27, 2012
Milwaukee Council President Slams Walker For Anti-Milwaukee Campaign

Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines Jr., in a Sunday Crossroads op-ed, called out Scott Walker for an intentional effort to denigrate Milwaukee and separate it from the rest of the state to gin up his base:

One can conclude that Walker's real agenda is to "divide and conquer" our state by giving those outside of Milwaukee the impression that we are different from them. If this governor is willing to throw Wisconsin's biggest city under the bus, which city is next? La Crosse? Wausau? Hurley?

Walker has lived in the Milwaukee area for most of his adult life; he should know that Milwaukee is a great American city. It would be nice to see him help strengthen his state's largest city, instead of turning his back on it in order to score cheap political points.

Walker needs to take his ideological blinders off and realize what Milwaukee means to Wisconsin. Simply put, Wisconsin will not be able to prosper as a state without a strong Milwaukee. So when a sitting governor pits Milwaukee residents against fellow Wisconsinites, everyone loses, from Milwaukee to Superior....

@Bren-Well its obvious why the endorsed walker. They want a real leader not a failure like Barrett. Its Flynn who wants to make Barrett look good cause they are one in the same. Flynn is a clown as much as Barrett!! Sherriff Clark is a leader just Gov Walker. So while ur down there Bren I would appreciate it:))

It makes sense to someone from out-of-state, who has no sense of regional inter-state rivalries. Just what every Wisconsin native will appreciate, Illinini driving into our fair state to tell us what to do. Hope they leave the Bears jerseys at home! ; )

Patriot, you seem to be getting upset. I'm not too happy either, finding out that Walker has lied about the $153 million surplus, which is just borrowed money. Just the latest in a string of activities, involving being the only governor in the state to have a criminal defense fund (at least this is being paid for through campaign contributions!), dodgy mining legislation (which was thankfully voted down), placing the ALEC/Tea agenda in front of his own constituents, "dropping the bomb" on 200,000 of his own constituents, increasing taxes for elderly constituents, cutting Badgercare for thousands of low income constituents, repealing a state law that providing state court access to female constituents experiencing pay discrimination, and (in my opinion) prurient interest in high school sex education. I think people are getting tired of the b.s.--Scott Walker's b.s.!

@Bren..... are you practicing for your first Toastmasters presentation? you keep repeating and repeating and repeating yourself. I think you have said the same stuff so much that you actually believe your lies.

@Bren-Actually I am rolling on the floor laughing my ass off or ROFLMMFAO!!! At your continuous repatition. It seems you just keep repeating yourself but switching it up a little or should say putting that true liberal spin. As u can see by all the poles and the latest poll showing Walker up by 8. See the fiscally responsible citizen, the very citizen that put Walker in office is very very pleased with his performance thus far. It takes big BALLS to do what Gov Walker has done and continues to do

Patriot, which poll has Walker up by 8 points? You forgot your link.

Mike in OC, all I do is read the newspapers and watch the news. The information is there for all. Anyone take you up on your "Second Amendment Solution" invitation to your home yet? ; )

Added

There is a graph for visual learners also:

http://kathleenvinehout.org/2012/05/senator-vinehout-to-jfc-co-chairs-wisconsin-must-deal-with-increasing-debt/

“There is a conflict between the popular wisdom the state budget is balanced and the bills are paid and the reality that the state has not paid over half a billion dollars in debt payments coming due,” Vinehout wrote to the Co-Chairs

“If we want to have an honest discussion about how to move our state forward and cure our financial woes, we must have an honest discussion of what’s happening right now and how these actions affect our financial future,” Vinehout concluded.

@morninmist, Bren, Randy1949, Tom Barrett, Democrats in general -

If this is indeed what your side calls "Walker borrowing money on the state's credit card," then I hate to break it to you that all he's doing is refinancing previously accumulated debt. Yes, a longer repayment schedule does indeed increase the amount of interest that has to be paid, but you haven't shown any original Walker debt offerings, unlike the previous Doyle administration that had numerous original debt offerings, despite receiving and spending record stimulus funds from the federal government. Also, you only pay out more interest if you take the full schedule to fully repay the principle. I thought Walker's long term plan was to pay down this debt early once the state's economy really started to pick up. If you guys would stop all this recall nonsense, perhaps things would expedite, yes?

Walker campaigned on not raising taxes. So, I guess what you, Bren, Randy1949, Barrett, and Dems in general are saying is that you would have rather had even greater cuts to general fund state programs and local level state aid, right? Otherwise, where would you have come up with the money to pay off the debts? Also, why doesn't Barrett tell us how he would have handled the situation instead of just slamming what Walker did? He either would have had to cut deeper, increase taxes, or do a little of both in order to avoid doing what exactly Walker did, or offer new original debt, right?

morninmist, thank you for providing this, and thank you Kathleen Vinehout.

So much for fiscal conservatism, eh? This is part-and-parcel to Walker's budgeting "skills." I won't hold my breath for David Koch to write a check to the state of Wisconsin to pay for the $150+ million in interest his puppet Scott Walker has dumped on this state.

I am very upset at what Scott Walker is doing to our state.

When we voted for Walker in 2010, it's because we've had enough taxation! Restructuring the debt as opposed to making deeper cuts or mass layoffs was a compromise that Walker gave to Dems as I recall. BTW - how did the Democrats vote on the debt restructuring?

Also, maybe we would have had money to pay off the debt instead of restructuring if Doyle hadn't illegally raided segregated funds that needed to be paid back, accumulated outstanding liabilities with neighboring states that had to be paid back, or entered into a crap contract with a foreign train manufacturer. You've given Walker less than a year to effectively deal with all this plus the regular operations of state government. And now you're honestly trying to tell me that Barrett would have done a better job at handling this in less time when the man has failed to fix MMSD in over 8 years as Mayor, despite making it the cornerstone of his campaign. Please tell me you're on some kind of illegal narcotic, as that's just crazy talk!

Mr. Hoffa, morninmist has provided information about the restructuring of debt. Read those articles. Previous governors have not restructured in the same way/level that Walker has. The worst part of this is that he lied. The budget cuts were supposed to balance the budget, at least that's what he claimed. Then he filed a two-year deficit with the feds ($3.6 billion). Then we had a cash shortfall of $143 million--he took $28 million of mortgage settlement money to put toward his budget hole. Then suddenly, magically, we have a projected $153,000,000 surplus?

You claim to be an attorney. What would you say to a client who continuously changes their story? Would you retain that client?

@JRH -- My problem with Scott Walker all along is that he's being less than honest about policies that will end up costing us in the long run. By the time that becomes apparent, Scott Walker will have moved on to the national stage, as he clearly hopes to do, and some people will have made some money. Meanwhile, I will still be here, and my property tax bill will suffer accordingly.

Walker raised taxes on some people, lowered them for others, but mostly pushed the resulting expenses elsewhere.

@Bren -- I'm sure JRH would continue to represent that client, but he'd advise him to keep his story straight and believable, or else get his behind handed to him in court.

@Randy1949 and Bren -

A budget, although static, is highly dependent upon very dynamic factors such as revenue raising and discretionary spending. We've already covered the cash vs GAAP accounting methods and have effectively beaten that horse dead. Yes, Walker promised a GAAP balanced budget but his first biennial was only cash balanced. If you both recall the Politifact investigation looking into this, Walker stated that the first budget was a compromise to avoid making even larger cuts and/or mass layoffs, remember? He then stated that the next budget would be GAAP balanced if the state's economy started performing to expectation. He filed a GAAP accounting budget with the fed, as that is what the fed requires in its reporting criteria. The state of Wisconsin, on the other hand, only requires a cash accounting budget for the purposes of following the constitutional balanced budget provision. What Walker did in this regard is no different from any of our previous governors of either party affiliation, is it? In this regard, Walker has been far more honest and sincere than Barrett's promise to fix MMSD over 8 years ago, wouldn't you both say?

Going from a projected deficit to a projected surplus, on a cash accounting basis, is just proof that Walker's reforms are working. We're saving money, the economy is getting better, etc. Once this recall nightmare is put to bed and Walker is still at the helm, get ready for even more fiscal improvements - that is if your side will allow us to move forward without continued recalls and shenanigans that hinder in-state investment.

The reason Walker has to deal with so many debt refinancings is because of all of the original debt issued by former governors Thompson, McCallum, and especially Doyle. But unlike any of those previous three, Walker has yet to issue any new original debt, which is definitely another step in the right direction as far as fiscal responsibility is concerned.

However, I guess that you two would have preferred even deeper cuts to the state budget and some mass state worker layoffs, right? Walker's doing his best while holding the line on taxes, just as he promised he would. I don't see how anyone else could have done better without either cutting deeper or doing a couple rounds of mass layoffs. But what would your side have said about that?

It's amazing that you're now beating up on Walker for the compromises that he has given to your side! Hypocrisy = today's DPW.

@hoffa..... be careful using the world "surplus" around democrats.... it scares them as much as spending cuts.

Mr. Hoffa, bottom line, here's what happened: people who voted for Walker wanted change from Doyle's way of doing business. Doyle's debt restructuring shot up because of the Great Recession.

Walker, it turns out, also restructured debt--no change from Doyle there. What is different is that he has increased state debt more than Doyle did, and wasn't forthright about it. He claimed to have a surplus. This is much, much worse than axing state programs and jobs to "balance the budget." Increasing state debt is not synonymous with "It's working."

More Walker budget shenanigans, on top of ALEC and the rest of it. I'm guessing this is really going to upset a lot of people.

Mr. Hoffa, bloviate about "hypocrisy" being "DPW" all you wish. The true hypocrisy lies with our Governor.

Mike in OC, whatever complaints people had about Doyle restructuring debt, which caused them to vote for Walker, will now know that what Walker has done in this area is far more extensive--and expensive than what Doyle did.

Walker restructured debt and increased interest expense, and raised taxes on low income seniors by butchering Homestead tax credits.

Tax and spend "conservatives." GOP, fix your party!

Recall Scott Walker!

@Bren -

Obviously, you missed the bottom line. The last three previous Governors, and especially Doyle, issued new original debt on top of refinancing old debt. Walker is merely refinancing old debt. Nowhere can I find anything in any of morninmist's links or online about new original state debt being issued under Walker - it's all just refinancing.

That's the difference - and it's a HUGE one!

Also, Doyle promised that he wouldn't approve a budget raising taxes while campaigning, but then did that very thing, remember? That on top of raiding funds, leaving outstanding liability with the state of Minnesota, and receiving and spending the largest federal stimulus in our state's history - and it still wasn't enough to get to a GAAP balanced budget. That's why people were finally fed up and wanted change.

By not issuing any new original state debt, Walker is being true to the spirit of his promises regarding the budget. And the only reason he's refinancing previously issued debt is out of compromise to avoid deeper cuts from the state budget and mass layoffs of state public workers. But, if you really prefer that he get to a GAAP balanced budget, while also maintaining his promise on holding the line on taxes, then why aren't you calling for deeper cuts and mass layoffs?

Your positions regarding Walker are confusing - you say there's no balance, and yet when he compromises to please those on your side, you attack him for doing that! You've made it abundantly clear that no matter what Walker does, you will not be pleased with it simply because he's Walker.

@morninmist -

"Governors delayed debt payments in the past. During the economic downturn Governor Doyle’s administration postponed debt to maintain state operations. But even during the recession, he did not delay debt payments at the speed or size Governor Walker delayed in the past year"

That's because Governor Doyle didn't have the debt load to deal with that Walker now does because Doyle created a majority of it through new original debt offerings during his administration - duh!!! You really couldn't figure that one out on your own?!?!

Unlike your precious Doyle, Governor Walker hasn't issued any new original debt obligations thus far - it's all just refinancing what previously existed. And the only reason he's doing that is out of compromise to prevent having to make deeper cuts to the budget or mass layoffs to public employees, which I'm sure would just act to enrage your side even further if he did, so I don't know why all of sudden your side is now attacking him for doing what he's doing - care to explain???

Man, for a guy that loves to post links to crap, you can't even read the full Politifact investigations, cause if you had, you would have realized all of this and avoided making yourself look a fool here. Then again, we don't expect very much from the koolaide drinking crowd that is unable to think for themselves, so carry on!

Once again proving that Democrats prey upon the low information, non-thinking voter.

Mr. Hoffa, Nothing I have written is contradictory. I think the issue is that you have been away awhile and need to catch up. Thanks to morninmist we all have the answer to that nagging question, how did Walker go from "we balanced the budget" to a projected GAAP deficit, then a $153 million surplus? By using the same tactics Doyle and other governors have done, but in a far more egregious way.

Thank you Mayor Barrett for bringing the truth to the people of Wisconsin during the debate. Thank you morninmist for conducting and presenting the research.

Recall Scott Walker.

@Bren-Tax and spend? Really? Are you so far out of touch with what your party has done? The Obama Admin is #1 for tax and spend!!!

Please explain how voters were punished?

He is hiding this week or surrounding himself with supporters.

@Progress2day Fearful Walker keeping low profile, trying to run out the clock. Afraid of the people http://politi.co/KY0h0O #recallwalker