Political Heat

Shift in opinion over job approval due to rejection of initiatives Gov. Scott Walker’s approval ratings have tanked significantly . His latest approval numbers (43 percent) are dwarfed by those in the state that disapprove of his job performance (54 percent). What’s more, one-in-two Wisconsinites now believe Walker should face a recall election, a step up from February. Walker doesn’t fare well if it comes to potential challengers either. In a hypothetical match-up, former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold beats Walker by a ten-point margin (52-42). The man Walker defeated last November, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, also defeats Walker in a hypothetical election (50-43). Walker’s dwindling poll numbers are significant for a number of reasons. They indicate that Wisconsin voters are rejecting his proposals for this state, especially those that hurt workers and their families. Cutting and altering social programs like FoodShare and FamilyCare as well as education by a billion dollars doesn’t bo...

Bill passed in illegal manner, violated open meetings law Judge Maryann Sumi ruled yesterday that the budget repair bill rushed in March through the Republican-controlled state legislature was passed in an illegal manner , violating open meetings law meant to keep the people of Wisconsin informed about legislation up for debate. Her ruling invalidates the law, which was signed by Gov. Walker earlier this year but never implemented . The controversial bill included provisions that removed collective bargaining rights of state and local workers, a move that Walker has even admitted while under oath saves the state absolutely nothing in terms of the budget. Before claims of judicial “activism” dominate the right-wing critics of this ruling, let’s examine the issue of this law very carefully, for the facts are very clear. The legislative committee that approved the bill alerted the public less than two hours before they held the meeting. Even under emergency circumstances, the public has ...

Fmr House Speaker wants voters disenfranchised based on Jim Crow traditions Former House Speaker and current presidential candidate New Gingrich is proposing a radical idea -- one that has its origins in the Jim Crow south. Gingrich is proposing that there ought to be a requirement in place that all voters pass a history exam before they are able to take part in the democratic process. The proposal certainly has its appeal -- putting this requirement in place would undoubtedly disenfranchise Gingrich's own base, the Tea Partiers, who have a warped and ultra-right wing view of American history that would disqualify them from voting. Under such circumstances, someone with an equally warped view of history (such as Gingrich himself) would be prevented from holding office. But stripping the people of the right to vote if they fail an examination is a troubling condition towards what should be a universal right. Nothing, not skin color, age, religion, economic status, or even historic...

Election results indicate a shifting attitude among Wisconsin electorate The Government Accountability Board certified its recount results within the State Supreme Court race today, confirming that sitting Justice David Prosser won the bout by a margin of 7,000 votes -- or less than one-half of one percent of the total ballots cast. Congratulations are due to Prosser -- he won the election, after all, and despite my frustration with the results they must be respected. The recount was about ensuring the integrity and openness within the election, especially in Waukesha County where County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus discovered 14,000 uncounted ballots days after the election ended, miraculously giving her former boss Prosser a victory. With those results now confirmed after a lengthy recount process, we must respect what they indicate -- that Prosser was the preferred candidate for voters between himself and JoAnne Kloppenburg. Many on the right will undoubtedly try to say that this electio...

Access to vote for all severely limited by newly passed legislation The right to vote, to have a hand in selecting the leadership responsible for managing our government, is a tantamount right deservedly granted to everyone within a democracy (who has attained the proper age to do so, of course). Creating undue restrictions toward this privilege, thereby limiting the ability of citizens to take part in the democratic process, is rightly seen as an injustice, a sin beyond reproach within our society. But with a single stroke of the pen next week, Gov. Scott Walker and his legislative allies will commit such a sin . The voter ID bill that passed this week does so much damage to our voting process that some are touting it as the most restrictive in the country -- a stark change for our state as formerly being one of the most respected. Previously, all that was needed to vote was proof of address, such as a utility bill or lease with your name on it. Now, only certain forms of photo ID (...

'Love' -- or lack thereof -- for women apparent within GOP proposals Wisconsin Republicans are making it crystal clear to women in our state: as far as their reproductive health goes, they’re on their own. Two major aspects within Gov. Walker’s budget bill would limit the abilities of women with low incomes to receive adequate health care. The first was proposed initially by the Walker administration, as a $267,000 cut towards a program designed to give lower income women pelvic examinations to prevent cervical cancer. These screenings have been in place for decades -- and if removed could mean potential death sentences for many young women facing poverty . The second bit within the budget bill that will affect women’s reproductive health was approved just this week. $1.7 million in grants to women health clinics will be stripped if this bill passes, affecting thousands that depend upon these organizations’ low costs to receive medical care. Those cuts came in response to Repu...

Former governor may not have 'cakewalk' some may expect Tommy Thompson is set to become a major contender in the race to replace sitting U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, who will not seek re-election come 2012. As a multi-term former governor as well as a former secretary head within the Bush administration, Thompson brings a breadth of experience unparalleled by any other potential candidate for office. But conservatives across the state needn’t celebrate quite yet -- a Republican victory in 2012 isn’t a sure thing, and if Tommy is to stand any chance of winning he’ll need to conquer some pretty intimidating obstacles to do it. First, he’ll have to deal with the fact that it’s a presidential election year, and that President Obama is sitting pretty comfortably (for now) as an incumbent likely to win re-election. Though their respective elections are separate, the senate race’s outcome may depend heavily on the tide of the national attitudes within the presidential race as well. In short,...

Bills lack control, restriction of irresponsible gun owners Originally posted at Dane101.com The conceal carry bills, as they stand right now, are irresponsible pieces of legislation, allowing gun owners to carry weapons practically whenever and wherever they'd like. Only one proposed bill (of three) would require any training of any kind (two hours' worth), while the other bills lack even that basic need. In this age of increased paranoia run amok, there's no telling what someone could be capable of under such circumstances. By allowing citizens this right without proper training, we risk a situation where an ill-informed individual may take advantage of a law that could cause potential harm to many around them. What irks me most about these proposals is the lack of training necessary to carry a concealed weapon. Even state law enforcement agree that more training is necessary to make these bills safer for Wisconsin. An argument often made in the gun debate is that more ...

Paul Ryan announces that he won't run for U.S. Senate; former Gov. Tommy Thompson is expected to announce he will seek the seat that will be left vacant by sitting Sen. Herb Kohl.

Republican representative fails to see hypocrisy in accusation against Obama It isn't a "class war" to expand basic health coverage to those unable to afford it, nor to attempt to fix the budget through a modest tax increase on the wealthy, who control more than 40 percent of the wealth in this country. But U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) seems to think differently. Ryan recently accused President Barack Obama of engaging in "class warfare" through his domestic priorities, including Obama's insistence that the top 2 percent pay more in taxes to help cover the country's debts and fund important programs. "The president says that only the richest people in America would be affected by his plan," Ryan said , arguing that "class warfare may be clever politics, but it is terrible economics." ... "Sowing social unrest and class envy makes America weaker, not stronger," the Wisconsin Republican argued. Mr. Ryan seems to have hi...

A Ryan campaign for Senate could result in dual wins for Dems Would a Paul Ryan Senate-run turn out to be a good thing? Consider this scenario: if the political "pendulum" swings back in favor of liberals and progressives in 2012 (a real possibility at this point), President Obama will coast back to a second term to the White House with a wave of Democratic candidates joining him in Congress. If Ryan runs against a formidable Democratic challenger -- someone who could win an open election on their own merit but may have even better chances within this possible "pendulum swing" -- Democrats not only retain a seat in the Senate but remove Ryan from his position in Congress within the House as well, as he wouldn't be able to run for both seats at the same time. And if the Dems can run a formidable candidate in CD-1 they may be able to pick that seat up too. In short, if Ryan decides to chase senatorial aspirations, Democrats have an opportunity to pick up two seat...

Madison Police Department estimate 7,000-10,000 attended rally against Gov. Walker's budget today.

Governor seeks to undo ideals valued by the people Gov. Scott Walker's actions have proven he's not a man of the people, that he's governing purely for his ideological beliefs as well as his campaign donors. His budget is the icing on the proverbial cake that demonstrates it further, and without a doubt, that Walker isn't interested in helping the people of Wisconsin during these dire times. His plans to privatize FoodShare, Medicaid, and other assistance programs vital to Wisconsinites ignores federal mandates as well as failed initiatives by other states that have wandered down similar paths. The budget also centralizes these programs, meaning many services at the county level will no longer be available to people in various localities across the state. Privatization would save the state about $8 million annually -- while federal funds lost due to the ignored mandates would number in the tens of millions of dollars. Walker's budget also makes substantial cuts to ...

Within any transition between jobs, life always gets a little more hectic while you try to figure out your new routine. New blogs will be coming soon...

President Obama to announce terrorist leader's death UPDATE: President Obama delivers speech confirming Osama bin Laden's death. "His demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity." (Original post below made before Obama's speech) I don't want to celebrate the death of any human being. It's against my morals, against my upbringing, to believe that the death of any person, even an evil man or woman, is a good thing. With that said, I'm more than comfortable with saying that the world is a much better place without Osama bin Laden. The president will announce tonight that bin Laden, the most wanted man in the world, is dead. The biggest enemy of our country, the man who was responsible for an unprecedented attack on us, is no longer around to do his part to try and defeat our great country. September 11, 2001, was a day that will never be forgotten, one that is forever etched in the memories of millions of Americans. We will ne...