@Greg I am not the extreme Left, or even a Democrat............... as a matter of fact, I dislike and very much distrust the extremes of either side, which is why I have found myself commenting on the Republicans so much, as they have been shoving through Extreme Agendas --- which by the way, haven't worked !!!

You say the the Republicans moved forward and it worked ---- splain that please !!

Employment is NOT up in any meaningful way, the debt problem was solved with "one time Federal money" that should have gone to areas hit with foreclosures and vacant houses --- as it was intended --- Cronyism and Nepotism have become more important than resumes --- Walker co-chairs a committee that can't keep track of the loans outstanding --- schools have become a joke with the only guidance to spend less --- want to build on Wetlands, just get the Realtors to whisper in Walker's ear --- want to do away with meaningful safeguards against pollution on mining --- same ear different lobby --- destroy the budding wind farms --- What Else have the Republicans done ?

Oh yeah --- they gave away close to a Billion $ cause they lack any vision of progress in railroad travel -- and gave away another $35 million, cause they are pouting over Obamacare -- and of course, because they trust the Feds so much, they have totally Federalized our participation in the Health Exchanges ...

This brand of Republicans is waaaaaaay to Radical for me !

As I stated, no ability to look inward. Keep banging your fists and stomping your feet, it isn't going to change the truth.

@David: saying no to federal candy with strings attached isn't "giving away" anything; it is prudent budgeting. Only a big government liberal like yourself could miss that. Stop being so greedy! And why aren't you thrilled over the federal exchange in WI? Isn't that right up your alley?

David said:

I am not the extreme Left, or even a Democrat.

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

And I am not posting on the Patch.

@Gearhead Please explain the Federal Candy with the strings attached in regards to the Health Exchanges.

I am confused by these Republicans who insist that everything be done at the local level -- and then pass on controlling the Health Exchange in Wisconsin in lieu of the Fed's taking control.

If you are inferring that it would cost WI to run it as an unfunded mandate --- it is paid for by the participating insurance companies.

Just as the County owns the airport but we Don't pay for it with tax money --- the airlines pay the fees ....... which is why David Clarke was actually correct when he said it costs nothing for the Sheriff to patrol the airport -- the airlines are footing the bill.

David - unless you live inside the right wing information vacuum, you're probably not aware of the many conspiracies that people like gearhead believe in. You know - Obamacare wants states to expand Medicaid coverage, with the federal government paying 100% of that expansion for the first 3 years. After that, it PLUMMETS to 97%. (Never mind that the feds only fund about 55% of the current Medicaid program, this is obviously a trap!)

Your greater point about the impact of gerrymandering is quite valid, not only here in WI. In Ohio, a state the Obama won by 3 points, 75% of the US Representatives elected were Republicans. Again, adding up all the votes for US Reps, the Democrats got more votes, but nowhere near half the seats. This gerrymandering is seriously harming US policy, as these "safe" republicans are more worried about getting tea bagged in their primaries than they are about a moderate Democratic challenge in the general.

@Terry There are all kinds of technical manuvers that legislative bodies use --- such as the Quorum --- do you see any difference in the Democrats Legally (no crime committed) in denying a quorum as opposed to the Republicans using the Filibuster, as a minority needing only 41 votes, to deny consideration of legislation?

I would be in favor of eliminating filibusters, and even having rules considering when the lack of quorum is legal and not legal -- but for now, all is fair when following the rules as they exist.

Your outrage is selective to the parties you disagree with. If the shoe was on the other foot your silence would be deafening.

To answer your question Dave, I don't like the Fillibuster (which both parties have used, not just Republicans). Proposals should be considered, debated, and voted on.

But this is not as direct a comparison as you would wish it in any event. The Filibuster is a administrative rule that is pretty much limited to the Federal congress. I don't believe there is an administrative rule at the state level that would allow that to be legal either. Could be wrong on that though, but if that was a legal option available to them, then why not use that instead of fleeing the state?

What would this process be?

I have long thought that libtards only want change when they cant get their way.

@Bren I understand it is that way in a number of states --- but I would not hold my breath on it happening if either party has temporary control

@Craig I know what I am not smoking --- but WOW --- what are you smoking --- try reading what you wrote when you are sober or not stoned --- and if you are neither that is even scarier

No David, I don't smoke the shit. But you have admitted to doing so on other posts. That is why you can't sell any real estate, too busy with your bong and then your bag of chips.
I think you are just pissed you didn't get your corporate welfare Obamabucks.

David: Did you forget that you made comment on the articles below, or were you just high?
http://menomoneefalls.patch.com/blog_posts/why-we-should-legalize-drugs
http://menomoneefalls.patch.com/articles/will-wisconsin-ever-have-a-vote-on-legalizing-marijuana

@ Craig Do you understand the difference between present tense and past tense?

Do you understand the difference between advocating for something without actively engaging in it?

BTW -- I run two successful businesses and haven't been in real estate full time for years now since I had a knee injury that kept me on the sidelines for quite some time --- hard to show houses when using a walker!!

What do you do Craig? I would guess not much as you spend a lot of time on here, much more than I could ever spend while having a life.

Puff, puff, pass.
'sal good if it is medicinal huh

Ending same-day registration is reasonable reform that will pass and already is the law of the land in most states. Don't hear them complaining about reducing Dem voters. Your argument is a joke.

Kenneth- Really? Governor Walker won twice in the same term pushing his policies through, and won by more the second time. They now have a bigger majority in the state senate and assembly. Seems like the people of Wisconsin are not quite as split as you think.

Brian - in the recall election, the notion of recalling a governor lost more than Walker won. This point was backed up by the fact that Obama won the state by a large margin, and the very liberal Senate candidate beat Walker's man. Walker (and Johnson) won in an off-year election during a strong pro-republican wave. Johnson's re-election will be in a Presidential election year - he'll have a hard time holding that seat if he sticks to his tea party policies. Walker will pull a Romney and not run again, trying to protect his national chances as it becomes clear he won't win a 2nd term.

Gearhead - when voter suppression is the only way for your party to maintain power, you are no longer allowed to refer to your belief in "freedom" or "democracy". If you DO believe in "freedom" and "democracy", then you would commit yourself to the goal of 100% citizen participation.

Perhaps you believe - as Alberta Darling does - that Obama won Wisconsin due to voter fraud. Clearly, a scheme that resulted in over 200,000 fraudulent votes would be big enough for even the colossally incompetent Walker administration to sniff out! (Your argument is a joke, albeit a sick, anti-democracy kind of joke)

@Kenneth Very good points --- may I add that when Walker keeps making policy announcements on the other side of the country as he panders for money and influence among the radical conservatives, he will not be gaining any votes and will open the eyes of many who were fooled the first two times in electing him

Hear! Hear!

Wed. June 6 2012:

" Democrat Declares Victory in Wisconsin Senate Race That Could Flip Majority Control. In the 21st senate district in southeastern Wisconsin, Democrat John Lehman declared victory late Tuesday night in the recall election of Republican state Sen. Van Wanggard. With all precincts reporting, Lehman led Wanggard by just 779 votes."

The race matters because a Lehman win would hand Democrats control of the state senate for the first time since Gov. Scott Walker took office in January 2011. It would also mean Democrats and labor unions avoided a clean sweep in Tuesday's six recall elections in Wisconsin.

"Tonight, the citizens of Racine County voted for checks and balances in our state legislature," Lehman said in a statement. "I look forward to working with my colleagues in the state senate."

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/06/john-lehman-van-wanggard-wisconsin-recall-senate

John Lehman was only elected through the efforts of the Democratic controlled voting districts in the City of Racine, where tampered ballot bags were discovered. Um, but no other irregularities, except those tampered bags were found, and uh, they didn't cheat - OR SO WE WERE TOLD.

It doesn't matter who votes, it only matters who counts the votes.
--Joseph Stalin

The Link to their Playbook: Rules for Radicals

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_for_Radicals

@Richard --- Damn, I have to put that on my reading list, right after I finish Sun Tzu's Art of War ............

@Lyl --- OMG they figured out we both live in Shorewood !!! BTW have I ever met you, at least not that I can recall --- maybe we can meet with Richard somewhere for a drink and he can learn us up on all that conspiracy stuff -- of course only if he buys LOL

So you're agreeing with the Russians now? That's a first.

The point, Randy, is even Vladamir Putin realizes how Socialist B.O. is!

@Richard Me thinks you are imbibing a bit too much in the Kook Aide !!

@ TDS AS I responded to Terry above --- There are all kinds of technical manuvers that legislative bodies use --- such as the Quorum --- do you see any difference in the Democrats Legally (no crime committed) in denying a quorum as opposed to the Republicans using the Filibuster, as a minority needing only 41 votes, to deny consideration of legislation?

I would be in favor of eliminating filibusters, and even having rules considering when the lack of quorum is legal and not legal -- but for now, all is fair when following the rules as they exist.

Senator Taylor has not had an original thought since 1987. She does what she is told and says what she is told to say. No chance she can do such.

@ Random BC I have not stated that the Republicans did anything wrong or illegal when they Gerrymandered --- as you say, nothing wrong with politicians engaging in politics.

I simply noted the consequences of what that means for the future, and that the most viable ways of restraining the Radical Right is working on elections that are state wide.

Having said that --- in the future I would love to see "non-political" districts drawn, but it will be another 10 years before that will be an issue again, and unless our politicians, on both sides, would miraculously agree to a non-political process, whichever side has the advantage will probably make use of it

ha ha

ScooterChrist Walker @ScooterChrist 2m
"Gov. #Walker is hopeful #JohnDoe probe will end soon, maybe this week" Without an indictment!!! po.st/VSuNew #wiunion

Walker's greatest accomplishment to date - somehow avoiding indictment for past crimes!

What a pair!

Morninmist - Hilary went to Benghazi and all I got was a bloody t-shirt.

@ A-A Of course the courts did not change any of the ones that were drawn for political reasons, As Random Blog C noted above, there is nothing illegal about political gerrymandering --- maybe it should be, but at the present it isn't.

Gerrymandering which impacts protected classes however are illegal and that is why the courts acted as they did -- only as pertained to protected classes.

Sorry David, but there are certain federal guidelines that have to be followed, primarily concerning race.