Republican Party of Wisconsin accidentaly laments politics trumping more stimulus

The Republican Party of Wisconsin should read articles before tweeting them. If they had, this Politico article about political concerns overcoming the consensus from economists for more stimulus wouldn’t have made the cut.

Reince Priebus and his crew clearly didn’t make it past the headline of “Politics trumps economics on deficit” before sensing an opportunity to take a shot at President Obama.

The author wasn’t supportive of Obama’s economic policy, the WISGOP got that part right. What clashes with the RPW’s thoughtless talking points was the author was lamenting the influence of political concerns getting in the way of more stimulus.

The RPW seized on a few lines in the piece on the tea party “scaring the bejesus out of politicians” and bailouts being “massively unpopular.” If the reader had made it to the second page they would see the author decrying austerity measures, claiming “many economists see a real danger of the world slipping into a double-dip recession.”

The article ends;

“Congress is now opting to shred the safety net for millions of unemployed Americans…Why are they doing this? Not because of economic necessity. Because of political fear.”

But maybe the WISGOP crew didn’t err in posting the article. Before the line above, the author discusses what happened when Franklin Roosevelt cut spending just when the country started coming out of the Great Depression, and unemployment went from 5 million to 12 million;

“Going into the 1938 election, Republicans held 88 House seats. They gained 81 more.”

That would be the Republican Party of Wisconsin I know. Willing to put the outcome of the next election above the jobs and prosperity of citizens.

WISGOP: what a difference a week makes on early release

How dumb does the Republican Party of Wisconsin think we are? A Wednesday press release slams Mayor Barrett for budget cuts that shut down a Milwaukee fire station, then sings the praises of Scott Walker as;

“a county executive…who has fought for lower taxes but managed to keep public safety funding in tact.”

In reality Walker’s budget has left Sheriff Clarke $5 million short. Clarke is attempting to make up for that shortfall by reducing freeway patrols and releasing prisoners early. I don’t have a problem with nonviolent offenders being released early to save some money, but the RPW threw a fit last week when the state did the same thing;

“Wisconsin Democrats are simply too soft on criminals and are failing in their obligation to protect public safety,” [RPW stuntman and executive director] Jefferson said.

Walker’s budget also proposed furlough days for law enforcement. Worse, Walker claims the furlough days were an accident.

The hypocrisy from the Republican Party of Wisconsin is appalling. It is also worthy of coverage from a major media outlet. The press release has been out for two days, where is the outrage?

Terrence Wall distorts his campaign’s fundraising and everything about Russ Feingold

Terrence Wall’s Senate campaign made a big announcement yesterday;

“Wall…raised more than $500,000 in preparation for his candidacy for the United States Senate.”

What that rosy press release failed to mention was that over half those funds, $275,000, came in the form of a personal loan from Terrence Wall himself.

As Josh Orton writes, that’s bad on two levels;

“First, it means Wall failed to meet his own low standard for demonstrating grassroots viability – he scrounged only about $236,000 from outside donors.

But second, the admission begins to hint that Wall isn’t really that serious about self-funding. To project confidence in his campaign, Wall could have announced a donation of a million or more of his own dollars. He didn’t.”

It’s unfortunate that $275,000 is small potatoes in a Senate race, but that’s the reality of politics today. Maybe Wall is banking on the forthcoming Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United v. FEC overturning the rest of the McCain-Feingold legislation, in which case big business could purchase the election for him. The money Wall saves could buy him a couple more pumpkin patches.

Wall and the Republican Party are flailing desperately for material to attack Feingold, their latest being a discredited analogy to the Trent “Strom4Prez” Lott incident. Also included in the mud is the accusation of party-line voting I have so often disproven, as Feingold votes with party leadership the least of any member of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation. The irony of a party’s executive director attacking a legislator for voting with their party is still lost on Mark Jefferson.

Out of touch doesn’t even begin to describe Feingold’s opposition, yet Wall lobs these charges at Feingold, who visits each county in the state once a year, using these very listening sessions against him. Unfortunately, since last summer the tea party movement has managed to degenerate any elected official’s public meeting with constituents into an anti-government sideshow. Wall tweets;

“Wisconsinites are shouting, but is Feingold listening? You tell me. http://bit.ly/7IFG3w“

The video features an older, anti-health reform audience. The main point I take from the footage? The Medicare crowd is being selfish. A lecture hall at a technical college during winter break in Waukesha County isn’t exactly representative of the population of Wisconsin, the angriest people are always the loudest.

Terrence Wall and the WISGOP crew distort the facts. How would they govern? I’m not willing to find out.

WISGOP flip-flops on fiscal responsibility

Gov. Doyle appointed state Rep. Gary Sherman to the District IV court of appeals earlier this month. Sherman will have to resign his Assembly seat, which would normally result in a special election. However, Gov. Doyle has asked Sherman to serve out the remainder of the Assembly session, scheduled to end in April 2010 because;

“Holding a special election this spring to send someone to a Legislature that will be out until the fall would cost taxpayers money without adding active representation.”

The Republican Party of Wisconsin, instead of applauding an exercise of the fiscal responsibility they so often advocate, attacks the decision. GOP Executive Director Mark Jefferson claims the Democrats are waiting until fall because;

“The chances for a Democrat loss could be somewhat reduced,”

which simply isn’t true. Jefferson apparently knows this judging by the lack of evidence he gives in support of the statement. If Democrats are really running the state into the ground he should be happy to give them another six months (with the legislature out of session anyway) to prove his point.

The GOP has gone beyond being the party of no ideas. They now attack their own ideology when implemented by political enemies.

WIS GOP Chair Reince Priebus puts his foot in his mouth

The GOP and Dem chairs debated this week, the highlight being GOP chair Reince Priebus saying;

“The fact is, whether it’s true or not, the mayor has given a very bad mixed message as far as what his commitment is to running for governor, and it’s causing him a problem.”

Priebus is insulting Barrett’s announcement of his candidacy only a year before the election.

Everyone reading this and following WisPolitics is keenly aware of Barrett’s “late” announcement of candidacy.

The other 99.7% of eligible voters have yet to even consider the governors race. Things like Easter and Presidents Day are  weighing more heavily on their minds.

Anyway, on to the Senate;

“Priebus also said that Gov. Tommy Thompson told him that he was thinking about running for U.S. Senate.”

Is Thompson also giving a “very bad mixed message as far as what his commitment is,” Reince?

That’s quite the double standard…

WIS GOP, Attacking Feingold Factlessly

File this under not news: Wisconsin GOP chair and stuntman Reince Priebus spits out a mess of baseless accusations against Russ Feingold.

Priebus attacks the “liberal values” of Feingold for having the nerve to support health-care reform also supported by other prominent Democrats. Priebus claims these bills,

“despite the numbers Feingold would cherry-pick, do increase the national deficit.”

When I make claims that accuse people of not telling the truth, I try to back it up with evidence. When Priebus accuses the Congressional Budget Office of dishonesty, he doesn’t go to the trouble.

When Priebus disparages Feingold’s “aggressive pursuit of media attention” (appearing on talk shows) is he blind to his own motives for writing outrageous columns? If not to garner attention, then what? Calling it a research briefing isn’t fooling anyone, Reince.

Priebus (party chair! attacking on basis of party votes, pure hypocrisy) attempts to construe Feingold as a party stooge multiple times. Multiple times I have pointed out only 9% of the Senate votes against the majority of their party more than Feingold.

The truth keeps fading, and fast.

Priebus calls Feingold a “self-proclaimed maverick.” Russ has been referred to as a maverick, but never by himself. Priebus claims our Senator “says one thing but does another.” No example…no citation, no link. Nothing. Exactly what Reince Priebus and the Republican Party has to offer Wisconsin.

How the GOP Can Defeat Russ Feingold

Tommy Thompson is enjoying the attention he’s receiving by considering a Senate run but he doesn’t want to damage his political legacy by losing a race to Feingold. With the health-care debate, Tommy prefers to enjoy his renewed relevance.

That leaves Terrence Wall as the feasible GOP candidate. Wall doesn’t have much to run on.  He’s been throwing his political ideology around with a monthly column for In Business since long before he announced his bid for the Republican nomination. I’ve been reading it. What have I learned?

You can trust a businessman, but politicians don’t even trust themselves. Businessmen trust others “because they themselves are trustworthy, so they project that trust onto others…politicians don’t trust business people, because many of them see themselves as being untrustworthy.”

On the topic of business, Wall doesn’t care about the small ones.  In April he chastised Doyle for “trying to tax the profits of out of state branches of businesses headquartered in Wisconsin.” This component of the state budget passed. Now small businesses that cannot afford a mailbox and a receptionist in Delaware (like Wall’s) no longer bear the tax burden of larger businesses that can.

Wall is a fearmonger. He misrepresents the health-care debate, attempting to frighten people with his experiences in France. Of course none of the health-care bills in Congress were remotely similar to the government run health-care system in France. So? Wall doesn’t mind using scare tactics to maintain the “excellent care that 85% of us already receive.”

Wall is fond of accusing Democrats of raising taxes, “causing businesses to collapse and stop creating new jobs.” Feingold recently proposed a jobs tax credit for employers hiring, expanding hours or raising pay.

How are Republicans going to beat a tax cutting, deficit reducing, bipartisan working, health care supporting Wisconsin legend?

They better convince us he’s a Bears fan.

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The GOP thanks Tim for the photoshop real picture.  Now to spread the news…

Feingold: He’s Got a Lotta Money

In his campaign chest, that is. The Journal-Sentinel discussed Russ Feingold’s campaign finances in an article yesterday, noting the three-term Democrat is raising and spending money at a furious pace.

In typical, classy Feingold fashion the campaign is building grassroots support through small donors. One must spend money to make money, collecting small donations is expensive, but ensures a clean election and legislative process.

The article briefly comments on Republican assertions of Feingold’s heavy fundraising being due to concerns over reelection prospects, an expected political jab. The attacks continue from likely Feingold opponent Terrence Wall;

“Liberals like Russ Feingold continue to support spending that’s going to place this country in financial trouble,” said Wall, who argues that there are too many lawyers and career politicians in Washington.”

To give the JS credit, the next paragraph acknowledges Feingold’s budget-reducing Control Spending Act, aimed at reducing wasteful federal spending. Wall conveniently ignores the fact so he doesn’t have to stray from the usual “liberals-taxing-and-spending” GOP rhetoric.

Republican Party of Wisconsin stuntman Mark Jefferson characterizes Feingold as an “opportunistic politician who tries to cast himself as a maverick but sides with his party on a majority of votes.” This from the executive director of a political party, which by definition organizes candidates and legislators for strength in numbers to advance an agenda.

I bet Jefferson has never disparaged Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner for siding with his party on 90.3% of House votes. Compare that to Feingold’s 76.7%. No judgment is passed on the basis of a legislator voting with their party, only on Jefferson’s hypocrisy and sheer stupidity selecting the member of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation who votes with their party the least.

That’s the RPW for you… Go get ‘em Russ.

Wisconsin Would Be Better Off Without Constant RPW Attacks

Wisconsin Republicans are celebrating the Pew Center’s report, using it to slam Governor Doyle. Perhaps they forgot they controlled the Assembly until this year? The RPW will find any excuse to accuse Doyle and the Democrats of being pro-tax and anti-business.

Meanwhile Republic Airlines is adding 800 jobs in Wisconsin, citing a positive tax environment. Mercury Marine, through lies and schemes, added hundreds of  jobs in Fond du Lac (unfortunately at great cost to taxpayers).

I posted a few days ago about the RPW attacking Democratic job proposals, while offering nothing of their own. I missed one nothing. Another attack on the Dem proposal, heavy on assertions, light on substance.

Back to the Pew Report. It is a fact state lawmakers used a lot of federal stimulus money, a one-time payment, to balance the state’s budget. They won’t have that luxury in 2011. If the RPW would offer something besides unfounded attacks in the meantime, that would help the cause. Unless the party is more concerned with being in power than the well-being of Wisconsin…

More Negativity and Nothings from WisGOP

Insight into Wisconsin’s political climate can be obtained from today’s press releases, first from the Republican Party of Wisconsin then by State Senate Democrats Julie Lassa and Pat Kreitlow. Kreitlow and Lassa introduced comprehensive job creation and economic development legislation. The RPW placed sarcastic classified ads in newspapers seeking a Democratic nominee for governor.

The ad is typical GOP garbage, of the “Wisconsin Democrats raise taxes and hates business” type. Meanwhile Kreitlow and Lassa introduced a bill providing tax credits for businesses reopening shuttered facilities and training employees.

Perhaps Republican stuntman Mark Jefferson doesn’t realize that running for governor, and thus being the target of cheap Republican attacks like the classified ad may be working to dissuade Democratic candidates. Or perhaps Capper was right, with no opponent Republicans really are in a blind panic.

Most laughable is the statement that next years race will be tough for Democrats due to;

“Republican candidates aggressively reaching out to voters with a positive message of economic growth and opportunity.”

No doubt the absurdity of a positive Republican message in an extremely negative press release/political stunt is lost on Jefferson.

Maybe I’m being negative and the ad today was just a healthy dose of comedy and the RPW actually has some substance to run on next fall. But judging by another press release today, RPW applauds fall of communism 20 years ago, I doubt it.