To say Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde is “living large” would be an understatement. Hovde, who buys banks in his free time, apparently likes to buy multimillion dollar houses as much as he enjoys buying banks.
According to Cory Liebmann over at Eye on Wisconsin, Hovde owns multi-million dollar mansions in both Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
According to the District of Columbia the total value of that home is estimated at over $5 million. Check out a bird’s eye view of that massive home sitting on its sprawling estate.
In preparation for his planned run for the U.S. Senate, Eric Hovde moved back to Wisconsin. It seems that he purchased a very large home on Lake Mendota in 2011. Apparently he took a step down because this one was only valued at $2 million last year. But still it appears to include some of the following features:
- A massive 100′ of prime Lake Mendota frontage, lakeside patio and pier
- It sits across from a golf course
- Formal dining room with an adjacent “butler’s pantry”
- Master bath with a fireplace over a large Jacuzzi
- An exercise room and lower level gym
Don’t take my word for it, check out the video tour with the pretty music.
Here’s a video tour of Eric Hovde’s swank Madison mansion:
Earlier this week, Hovde made news when he said he would love to see the press stop covering sad stories about low-income individuals who can’t get benefits and start covering issues like the deficit more frequently.
“I see a reporter here,” he said. “I just pray that you start writing about these issues. I just pray. Stop always writing about, ‘Oh, the person couldn’t get, you know, their food stamps or this or that.’ You know, I saw something the other day — it’s like, another sob story, and I’m like, ‘But what about what’s happening to the country and the country as a whole?’ That’s going to devastate everybody.”
Given his silver spoon upbringing, I suppose I can see why Eric Hovde doesn’t want to be bothered with accounts about the struggles of the people who constitute the bottom 99% of wage earners in our nation. After all, Eric Hovde has bigger things to worry about….like raising campaign funds from outside Wisconsin, flying around in private jets, and carpetbagging.
Amazing Jeff wrote about the same thing at his blog this morning and now here we are later in the day and you are now you are all wound up because someone has more success than you.Get over you class envy, you are a lowly union worker and a job that you will always struggle to make ends meet because Eric has been able to make a good life for himself you union people really need to grow up and accept your life choice of being a union worker with little chance of a better life.
dante, I’m not “all wound up;” I simply think Wisconsin deserves a Senator who not only cares about a strong middle class, but who understands what it’s like to be a member of the middle class. I don’t begrudge Eric Hovde for his success; I just think he’s a crappy human being for not caring about the “sob stories” of people who are struggling.
@Dante: That is about the most obtuse comment I’ve ever seen.
13% of Wisconsin Workers are(were before walker’s union busting) represented by unions… that would mean that 87% of Wisconsin workers are non-union. The right has created a boogieman, union people. Anyone that dares to disagree with their magic trickle-down economic plan for disaster must be a union boogieman. Just ask dante, he will tell you! To the article, thanks Zach for posting. It’s interesting to know how well the wealthy are represented in government, and perplexing to understand how so many middle-class and poor believe that wealthy representatives actually understand and represent their interests!
I agree we need someone who represents all of the middle class not just caters to a small group of union people. As long as we keep electing Democrats that is what we end up with limited representation and people who have no respect for the majority of the middle class. You and other, progressives, socialist and democrats are going to once again use class war as the bases to divide this election and this country, but the good news is more and more people every day are seeing what you are doing and rejecting your ideology and message. Just look at all of the failures you have had just in the past 16 months, nothing you did has succeeded, people do not want to hear your message of us vs them, its an old warn out record.
How does Eric Hovde, who was born into wealth and who buys banks in his free time “represent all of the middle class”?
What a slacker, only 2 houses? Have you looked in Colorado California & Arizona yet?
“…its an old warn out record.”
Pun intended?
Knowing dante, no.
So Eric Hovde doesn’t want to hear about people living in poverty, or middle class workers struggling to make ends meet. Why doesn’t he just stick his head in the sand, like an ostrich, then he won’t hear about it and he can pretend it doesn’t exist. That should ease his conscience; if he doesn’t hear about it; it doesn’t exist and he can go on living his luxurious lifestyle without any feelings of guilt whatsoever. This selfish, self-centered, self-serving man is not one I want to represent me in a public office. He would be only representing the 1%; he certainly would NOT be representing the 99%.
Exhibit B: Dante and Vicious Elitism: Behold How Propaganda Works
Let’s examine Dante and his subversive comments.
Dante presents us with 2 oddly elegant summations of Vicious Right Wing Propaganda. In the first, as he has done in numerous comments, he reveals a fearsome Gut-Level Maliciousness but also typical propagandist subversion. He writes this of Zach and his post:
“…now you are all wound up because someone has more success than you.”
This simple statement serves a number of goals for the Conservative Extremist Propaganda Agenda. First, it subverts the tone of Zach’s piece to suggest a familiar and hammer-driven Right Wing Distortion: Out of control irrationality of the Left but of this post in particular. Instilling the notion of irrationality not only deflects from the post’s main point, positing irrationality does not in any way meaningfully critique it; claiming irrationality discredits the post and its writer. It is not legitimate criticism and should not be regarded as such. I might suggest the reader take the time to re-read Zach’s post and examine it for inflammatory tone or language, emotional upheaval, or histrionics. Dante’s characterization is false. By now we should all be familiar with the irrationality jab so frequently employed by Conservative Extremism. The irrationality jab comes in many forms. Irrationality is one permutation of the “Liberals are children who need to grow up” meme. It is a demeaning technique which effectively discredits and instills doubt. It is not a criticism of fact, it is a twisted emotional appeal which is the core of propagandism. It has been used incessantly to misrepresent Scott Walker’s opposition, and many, many forms can be found here on this blog penned by propagandists like Dante. Recognize it for what it is when you see it. A simple statement, yet loaded with meaning. Branding the opposition as irrational not only instills distrust for the entire cause, it shuts down any normal, healthy debate about issues. This technique is one way Scott Walker and his Right Wing Propaganda Machine so effectively crippled all normal discourse during the recall effort, and as we can see, Dante is still employing it. That he is still employing it signals that the propaganda campaign in Wisconsin has worked very well and the propaganda campaign will continue.
Exhibit B: Dante and Vicious Elitism: Behold How Propaganda Works
The second half of this statement “because someone has more success than you” introduces the class envy accusation. The Right Wing Propaganda Machine operates nationwide, and this meme can be found quite frequently in Romney’s criticisms of Obama. Dante’s statement here very effectively sets up and reinforces the class envy accusation which directly follows. It is a common subversion that corporatist propaganda perfected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to further union busting and various other elements within the corporate-dominant agenda. It is one form of divide and conquer, which as well all know, Scott Walker has inadvertently admitted to using in order to further the obscenely-wealthy-elite-union-abolishing agenda inherent within Act 10. But note how Dante makes the class envy accusation because it is vicious:
“Get over your class envy, you are a lowly union worker and a job that you will always struggle to make ends meet because Eric has been able to make a good life for himself you union people really need to grow up and accept your life choice of being a union worker with little chance of a better life.”
Yes, it is one sentence. Not a proper sentence – and that critique is not strictly grammatical. It is of interest because it is a pattern repeated again and again – lucid writing or lucid thought coupled with imprecision, but not your garden variety imprecision. This is very targeted imprecision designed to insidiously communicate a number of propagandist ideas. Such imprecision could be Dante’s stream of consciousness – this is how Dante thinks inside his head. Creating this sort of thought pattern is the goal of propaganda – subtle linkages, breaks in logic, conclusions that don’t follow premises. Whether Dante is a victim of Right Wing Propaganda or its source is immaterial. He still spreads the propagandist message either way. Let’s dissect:
We know the class envy accusation is coming, he’s already set that up. He’s insinuated class envy and then he states it. What follows next is motivated by incivility; as much as Dante may accuse the Left of class envy divisiveness, what he says next demonstrates that it is Dante who is attempting to divide our state, and he divides maliciously:
“… you are a lowly union worker…”
Dante’s class envy accusations are subversions. With this comment we can see how divisive and unhealthy our society can become if Right Wing Extremism goes unchecked. “You are a lowly union worker” – These are the words of an elitist who considers himself superior to union employees and common workers in general. Dante’s propagandism serves the elite. He identifies himself as one of the elite positioned high above the lowly workers. Worst of all this is a wickedly demeaning articulation, and it reveals that Dante would probably never be able to engage in healthy discourse, entertain new ideas, or compromise. If it is possible to imagine, Dante demonstrates his incivility further:
“… and a job that you will always struggle to make ends meet…”
Here we have the spirit of the other Dante that has posted under a similar screen name D.ante. Again, it could be that Dante can’t type or construct a proper sentence. But the pattern of sowing confusion and creating the appearance of more adherents than there actually are to Extremist Right Wing ideology is a common propaganda technique. So is deliberate imprecision in language in order obfuscate or confuse. At any rate, the deep hatefulness expressed by D.ante can be seen here too. It is the spirit of discontented victory, winner take all, crush and obliterate the opponent, but most especially – crush the spirit of the opponent. It is an unnecessarily nasty and putrid sentiment. If once isn’t enough Dante reiterates it and he reiterates both the “grow up” irrationality jab and the stabbing debasement meme.
It’s worth noting that dante also assumed that I’m struggling to make ends meet, simply because I’m concerned about the plight of those who do struggle.
It’s called empathy….something dante and Eric Hovde both seem to be lacking.
Excellent, excellent point. A society that is trained to lack empathy, that is trained to be callous is one that will cast aside their neighbors and in so doing turn against their own interests.
When rank and file conservatives uncritically follow Scott Walker and do not vigorously examine the Extremist Propaganda Machine that propels him onward they are complicit in all the atrocities he commits.
Exhibit B: Dante and Vicious Elitism: Behold How Propaganda Works
But what he says next reveals that he identifies with Eric Hovde personally. Dante may be personal friends with Hovde; he calls him by name, on familiar terms:
“”…because Eric has been able to make a good life for himself…”
Or Dante simply admires Hovde for his wealth and seeks to emulate his success. That emulating sentiment is the insidious nature of the lost promise embedded within “The Pursuit of the American Dream.” Dante finds nothing ostentatious about the candidate when Hovde’s ostentatiousness reveals itself nor does Dante accept any notion that Hovde is quite plainly a member of the elite: the de facto ruling class that is subsuming our Democracy at the expense of common people. Class warfare is happening, economic warfare is happening and has been happening for 30 years, but it is not being waged by average people or union employees. It is waged by the Super Wealthy, The Investor Class, and Big Business. “The Pursuit of the American” Dream is a pursuit stolen from the majority of working people in this state and in this country by the de facto ruling class. While they are purchasing our democracy with one hand, they are simply receiving it, freely given in the other. Right Wing Extremists like Dante are simply giving our republic away in favor of pure tyranny, in favor of unfettered elite domination. Dante’s class envy accusation is subversion of a gravely serious truth.
Exhibit B: Dante and Vicious Elitism: Behold How Propaganda Works
Dante ends his first comment by demeaning and crushing the spirit.
“You people really need to grow up and accept your life choice of being a union worker with little chance of a better life.”
With this conclusion he insidiously suggests that the “Pursuit of the American Dream” is still possible, but union members will never experience that good life up there with the elite and it’s all the union members’ own fault because the American Dream is a matter of personal choice – poor decisions by individuals (joining a union). The reality is that the United State currently has a rigged political-economic system. What keeps union people and non-union workers alike from moving ahead in America is not foremost individually determined, it is structurally engineered through disproportionate access to the political levers of power by corporations and the super wealthy. Dante is subverting the truth:
Not only is this concluding statement an ugly form of “blaming the victim” put to good use, but the “grow up” meme is reiterated, and the sentiment breeds hopelessness and despair. It also implies that being a union member is a bad condition and being a union member will prevent one from bettering their life condition. It is a scare tactic, designed to shun others from joining a union. But most importantly it achieves the dispiriting notions of “Do not resist.” “Give up” “Don’t fight back” “Accept what has happened to you” “Do not challenge” “You lost.” These messages are targeted at Walker’s union opposition and their non-union supporters who stand in solidarity beside them. It is an attempt to sabotage morale.
Exhibit B: Dante and Vicious Elitism: Behold How Propaganda Works
The essence of propaganda’s effectiveness is repetition, the same message in myriad forms in myriad places. Dante achieves that in his first comment. But he also has another comment where he spreads the same messages. He responds to criticism but his primary message is unchanged. it just looks a little different because he’s propagating the message in a different way:
“I agree we need someone who represents all of the middle class not just caters to a small group of union people.”
Deep cynicism here, but also subversion. nonunion makes the correct point: Walker is subservient to the elite. Also, the Democratic establishment did not take a strong pro-union position during the recall. But Dante subverts that truth by stating, in effect: if people elect Democrats, Democrats will be the ones who serve “a small group of union people” – the “elite.” If we elect Democrats we will have “limited representation.” Propaganda is put to use when waging political or economic warfare. Dante hammering home his opposition to the Democratic Party reminds us that Dante is a spin doctor for the Right Wing Propaganda Machine. And in shimmering irony, Dante’s audacity shines like a subversive beacon, a radiant perverse halo:
Democrats, according to Dante are “people who have no respect for the majority of the middle class.”
Let us not forget the thundering respect Dante had shown for the middle class in his first comment:
“You are a lowly union worker” “
You people really need to grow up”
“Accept your life choice of being a union worker with little chance of a better life.”
It is Dante who does not have respect for the middle class.
Precisely, and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our country. In their rush to vilify public employees (and union members in general), conservatives have forgotten that the same folks they’re vilifying are the folks who largely drive this nation’s economy. Public employees and union members make up a not-insignificant portion of the middle class, and any respectable economist knows that it’s the middle class (not the top 1%) that drives our economy.
Absolutely.
Most people want to believe they are “middle class” – but the reality we face is that Right Wing Social-Economic Policy creates Poverty and Destitution. The “Middle Class” has reduced in size drastically since Reaganism and all its permutations have dominated the intersecting spheres of politics and economics.
The desire to identify as Middle Class obscures all discussion of poverty. At last count 49 million people in one of the wealthiest and most advanced nations in the world – The United States of America – live in destitute conditions. That figure is equivalent to the total number comprising Generation X. Conservative Extremism has committed the equivalent of an entire generation to never-ending poverty.
But to be fair, Democratic policy makers are the lesser of two evils in that regard. The Democratic Party follows its own form of NeoLiberal trickle down economics. The Democratic Establishment to too great an extent has been too yielding to rightward ideologies. In so doing it has allowed the rightward drift to continue unchecked, uncriticized. We can see now how far to the right the GOP is willing to go. Anyone who believes they will slow their trend anytime soon is not paying attention.
Exhibit B: Dante and Vicious Elitism: Behold How Propaganda Works
Furthermore, with this subversive topsy-turvying he frames another subversion soon to come: “Us vs. Them.” It is Dante, Scott Walker and Right Wing Extremists who have instigated with bitterness “Us vs. Them.” Scott Walker used the very frame “one of us” to distinguish Radical Republicans in Wisconsin from Rational Democrats. But Dante says no one wants to hear that message. Yet, Dante also says this:
“You and other, progressives, socialist and democrats are going to once again use class war as the bases to divide this election and this country.”
Dante’s perverse inversion breeds “Us vs. Them” mentality, but he says people don’t want to hear about “Us vs. Them” if Democrats or Progressives are discussing it. He repeats, yet again, the class war accusation and insinuates that the Left has used Class Warfare previously. He’s subverting who the instigators of Class Warfare in the state are and who the instigators of class warfare are in the nation. Radical Right Wing Extremists have instigated Class Warfare in this country, and propaganda like Dante is using here is one method to facilitate that war.
Finally Dante ends this message with the same tone as his first message, he just spells it out a little differently:
“”…the good news is more and more people every day are seeing what you are doing and rejecting your ideology and your message. Just look at all the failures you have had in the past 16 months, nothing you did has succeeded, people do not want to hear your message of us vs them, it’s an old warn out record.”
Ouch. Add another layer of warfare that Dante is waging: Psychological Warfare. I can think of nothing more divisive and splintering, exasperating or subtly intimidating. Dante’s passive hostility is frightening. Perhaps we should start calling Dante Tokyo Rose. He is the Tokyo Rose of Wisconsin attempting to deflate the morale of Walker’s opposition and of the Left as a whole.
There is nothing accidental about the way Dante has crafted these two comments. His sentence structure, grammar, and spelling may be appalling, but it is oddly juxtaposed with perfected messaging – perfect for a Radical Conservative Propagandist. Dante’s comments are nothing less than intentional propaganda that is strategically designed. Dante doesn’t merely parrot right wing talking points. Everything he writes contains propagandist structure. So whoever Dante is, he’s quite familiar with how to shape mass opinion, how to demonize and how to demoralize by modeling German, Japanese, and corporatist propaganda techniques.
You’re missing the bigger picture that if something is not done the whole country will not be able to afford food.
You’re missing the bigger picture that we’re already there. Propaganda is just the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down.
if you believe this obama plant is real you truly deserve what the commie demos want you to believe, thankyou JESUS for revealing the hyps in this country
This comment makes little sense. Can anyone translate it for me?
Johnj,
Who is it exactly that you believe is an “Obama plant” on this thread? And do explain why you think so, if you would be so kind. Do enlighten us.
I think dante and johnj are one and the same, listen guys these are obviously lost confused people, I read all your responses to them and quite honestly you exposed them to the point I don’t have much to add!