For more on the extremism and negativity of Mark Neumann, see [...]]]> If this mailer from extreme right Republican U.S. Senate candidate (and failed Senate & gubernatorial candidate) Mark Neumann is any indicator, the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl is going to be particularly negative and downright nasty.

For more on the extremism and negativity of Mark Neumann, see “[the gay agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today,” courtesy of Neumann’s ideological “pea in a pod” Tom Coburn, not to mention Neumann’s statement, “If I were elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn’t be permitted.”

As for Neumann’s statement in his mailer about his “good character,” there’s a whole bunch of conservative bloggers in Wisconsin who think Neumann lacks character:

it is our responsibility to bring Mark Neumann’s lack of character to your attention. While we do not question Neumann’s past contributions to conservatism while he was a Congressman, his actions during last year’s campaign are completely unbecoming of a conservative candidate.

With friends like those, who needs enemies?

Question: Who?

Observation: With such a weak Republican field (fitzgerald the lesser, professional jobber Mark Neumann and [...]]]> With the announcement today by Ted Kanavas that he will not be running for the US senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl, it brings to mind a question and an observation.

Question: Who?

Observation: With such a weak Republican field (fitzgerald the lesser, professional jobber Mark Neumann and maybe long time retired Bret Farve Tommy Thompson), it shows that Representative Tammy Baldwin is polling higher than most people think. The republicans will say many things, and come up with many excuses, but privately they know this is not a good time to be a republican in the state of WI. The republicans in this state have heavy ambitions and if there was a good chance they could win they would be climbing over themselves to jump in this race. No one is. Actions speak louder than words!

“If I were elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn’t be permitted.”

Got that? Mark Neumann wished (and maybe still does wish) he could be God for a day so he could [...]]]> This nugget of goodness comes courtesy of the Root River Siren:

In the 1990′s, Neumann told the New York Times:

“If I were elected God for a day, homosexuality wouldn’t be permitted.”

Got that? Mark Neumann wished (and maybe still does wish) he could be God for a day so he could be a bigot.

It’s just a good thing Mark Neumann hasn’t ever been elected God – even if just for a day.

1. If Merit Pay is such a great idea, why dont we use it for politicians?

2. When a college marching band makes fun of your intelligence, how can anyone take you seriously? Here is the band from [...]]]> Some things I have been thinking about lately, and do not have the answer too.

1. If Merit Pay is such a great idea, why dont we use it for politicians?

2. When a college marching band makes fun of your intelligence, how can anyone take you seriously? Here is the band from Rice University asking ““The next time you go to the polls, ask yourself, ‘Is your candidate smarter than an Aggie?’” (Texas Governor Rick Perry went to Texas A & M and was not known as the smartest guy).

3. Did Paul Ryan really walk in Janesville’s Labor day parade? Was he there to celebrate the end of all auto jobs in the first congressional district? How much money did Paul Ryan (R – Wall St) charge the good people of Janesville to be in his presence? Did Paul Ryan (R – $350 bottle of wine) have any attendees arrested for NOT having a job?

4. Did Sean Duffy really show up to walk in the labor day parade?

Two Republicans took advantage of the Marathon County Labor Council’s change of heart, and marched in yesterday’s Wausau Labor Day parade. Congressman Sean Duffy and state Senator Pam Galloway marched with dozens of supporters at the end of the procession. And they encountered union protestors who yelled “Shame, shame” while some on the other side screamed “Small government, Small government.” Some parade-goers turned their backs on the lawmakers, while chanting for a recall of Governor Scott Walker.

5. With 307 plus million people living in the United States, how small do you want the government to be?

6. Why do republicans hate democracy? Not just from their incredible outrage that people are paying attention year round, but also at the fact that anyone would challenge the anointed candidate of the Republican party in a primary contest. They feel the people should not have a choice in choosing their candidate, that Reince Priebus is smarter than the rest of the people of WI and he will tell them who they should support!

On the right side of the cheddarsphere, I cam across this Tuesday morning humor. Our friends on the far right side of the cheddarsphere decided to get together and form a union of Wisconsin bloggers to negotiate as one voice with the extreme right wing national club for growth, to rethink their support for Mark Neumann. I am not sure why alone they would not have more power? They are not on Tommy Thompson’s side either, they have bigger plans. They want another rock star like Ron Johnson(honest they said that).

7. Does Paul Ryan really think he could be Vice President? Also have you checked out the Paul Ryan Watch?

Over at eau-snap! (a blog worth reading, by the way), I’ve been named Viking of the Month, an [...]]]> Just a few links to start you out today….

• The Chief has an excellent writeup on the GOP double standard that seems to exist for Pastor David King, who’s running for Wisconsin Secretary of State.

• Over at eau-snap! (a blog worth reading, by the way), I’ve been named Viking of the Month, an award coveted around the world as the quintessential emblem of bloggy awesomeness. Truly, I’m honored.

• Over at Playground Politics, the Recess Supervisor has a great map outlining how many counties were won by Mark Neumann, despite his defeat at the hands of Scott Walker.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the story of Kenneth Kratz, the Calument County District Attorney, who sent a bunch of sexually aggressive text messages to the victim in a domestic violence case he was prosecuting, and curiously the story isn’t getting much play among conservative bloggers in the Cheddarsphere. Boots and Sabers has the story, but curiously they don’t mention the fact that Kratz is a Republican, leaving me to wonder if they’d be so kind if the perpetrator was a Democrat. It’s worth noting that despite outrage from victims’ rights groups, Kratz has said he’ll run for reelection in 2012.

As Murphy points out to the true blue “conservatives”:

All transportation is subsidized. The state spends more than $2 billion annually to [...]]]> The High Speed rail from Milwaukee to Madison has been an issue in the upcoming election season. Bruce Murphy breaks it down so simple even Scott Walker could understand.

As Murphy points out to the true blue “conservatives”:

All transportation is subsidized. The state spends more than $2 billion annually to subsidize roads and highways and $66 million just on the Milwaukee County bus system.

He also points out something very important to think about when casting your vote this November:

What stands out about high-speed rail is what a small percentage of the costs will be borne by Wisconsin taxpayers. If Republicans try to kill it next year, they would leave state taxpayers repaying hundreds of millions in federal funds the Doyle administration will have spent by then. By far the cheaper alternative for state taxpayers is continuing with the high-speed rail line. The small state subsidy it will require seems a cheap way to better connect the state’s biggest city and its governmental center, not to mention connecting UW-Madison’s huge research institution and biotech industry with Milwaukee’s economy and academic institutions. Heck, it would also bring more Madison fans to Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks games.

And here’s why we need one:

“Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and candidate for governor, today announced his plans to [...]]]> Scott Walker has promised that when elected governor he will develop 250,000 jobs for those of us who live in the State of Wisconsin. Well here’s the first one: The White Tail Deer Trustee!

And here’s why we need one:

“Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and candidate for governor, today announced his plans to name a ‘Whitetail Deer Trustee’ to “take the politics out of the forest and put the deer back in.” Walker announced his pledge to put more deer in the forest by bringing in an independent third party auditor (Whitetail Deer Trustee) to monitor the health and population of the deer herd. Walker also unveiled his DNR policy before purchasing his hunting license at West Town Archery.

“Like most sportsmen, I’m tired of sitting in a deer stand all day and not seeing any deer,” said Walker. “As governor, I will name a ‘Whitetail Deer Trustee’ to monitor the health and population of the deer herd. That way, we take the politics out of the forest and put the deer back in.”

Walker continued, “I believe that Department of Natural Resources has lost the trust of Wisconsin sportsmen. To restore confidence, I will also require more transparency and accountability while ensuring decisions are based on objective science and the best interests of the taxpayer and license payers. The DNR should work for us, not the other way around. As governor, I will ensure the DNR becomes an ‘opportunity’ agency, giving job creators the opportunity to grow, sportsmen and women the opportunity to be heard and not ignored, and all Wisconsinites the opportunity to enjoy our state’s abundant natural resources.” ”

AND:

” Whitetail Deer Trustee for Better Deer Herd Management
We must establish a healthy deer herd for us to hunt now and more importantly for future generations of hunters. First, I will appoint a Whitetail Deer Trustee, an outside independent expert to revise our deer counting system. Second, policymakers in Madison must recognize that our Chronic Wasting Disease efforts aren’t working and shift to a strategy that makes sense for our hunters. Third, our state should return to traditional hunts – enough with T-Zones and Earn-a-Buck – making Wisconsin the best place in the nation to hunt white tailed deer again. Finally, Wisconsin must be allowed to manage its own wolf population free of outside interference.”

One thing that I’d like to say…coming from a family of hunters and having grown up on a farm…sitting in a deer stand waiting for a deer to wander by is NOT HUNTING! That’s how city folks hunt.

And this smells like more jobs too…but how’s he going to pay for this? More taxes? Higher license fees? He hasn’t said yet…

“I will require the DNR to:

•Effectively manage game and fish habitat based on proven science to provide a sustainable abundance of these renewable resources for all of Wisconsin’s citizens.
•Allow increased access to state lands for forest management and all of Wisconsin’s citizens.
•Implement simplified and understandable regulations.
•Implement a fair and common sense permitting process, requiring all permits to be processed in a reasonable and predictable period of time.
•Discount the permitting fee for permits not processed in a reasonable amount of time.
•Require annual audits of our fish and wildlife accounts to ensure that we are prioritizing expenditures and getting maximum value for the taxpayers’ money.
•Use a balanced and science-based approach to protect our lakes, rivers and streams from invasive species.”

AND MORE:
“Making Your Voice Heard
To ensure the DNR governs in the people’s best interests, I will require them to listen to you. Specifically, I will create Governor Advisory Groups consisting of everyday sportsmen, conservationists, business owners and rank-and-file DNR employees to advise me on new and existing regulations and practices”

Sounds like more government to me…hmmm.