6:51 p.m. Jeff Hall just finished speaking….talked about how Tom Barrett has the right message for Wisconsin. Lots of fired up delegates here in the convention hall. Next up is State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass.
6:55 p.m. Dawn Marie Sass speaking now; she’s touting her record. Set a record for giving back money three consecutive years. Processed over 74,000 claim forms….this year her office has processed over 50,000 claims and given back over $13 million.
7:00 p.m. Next up is Speaker of the State Assembly Mike Sheridan. First words out of his mouth? “We’re not going to back down!”
7:08 p.m. Sheridan: Republicans had 14 years to lead and they still couldn’t accomplish much.
7:11 p.m. Up next….State Sen. Pat Kreitlow.
7:17 p.m. State Sen. Kreitlow: “Our tax dollars have resulted in actual job creation.” he also noted, “Our state needs leaders focused on families, farmers, and small business owners.”
7:19 p.m. State Sen. Kreitlow also notes we’ve laid a great foundation that’s made Wisconsin stronger, healthier, and cleaner.
7:20 p.m. State Sen. Kreitlow ends his speech by noting Wisconsin Democrats will have a big win in November and a big win for the future.
7:47 p.m. Now speaking….White House official Mona Sutphen. “Back in 20008, we all did something. It really was a true movement towards change.” She mentions our nation was at a crossroads, and we inherited an economy that was completely off the rails.
8:31 p.m. Rep. Gwen Moore is FIRED UP!
8:34 p.m. Rep. Moore: “This Congress and this president have done more than anyone since the New Deal.”
8:38 p.m. DPW Chairman Mike Tate issues a correction: he believes it’s President Obama who’s bringing us out of the current economic mess, not that it was President Obama who got us into the mess. The mess is all George W. Bush’s fault, and Ron Johnson, Sean Duffy, and Scott Walker would put us right back into the mess.
8:41 p.m. State Sen. Julie Lassa speaking now…she’s highlighting her personal history (grew up on a farm that her mom and dad still work), and she’s highlighting her legislative accomplishments.
8:57 p.m. Rep. Steve Kagen needs our help to send Sen. Russ Feingold back to Washington to continue the work he’s started. Rep. Kagen talks about Democratic enthusiasm…”We can’t sit this one out!”
9:00 p.m. Rep. Kagen: “I voted no to bailouts; yes to jobs!”
9:02 DPW Chairman Mike Tate: “Dave Obey is on your side!” “Dave Obey has changed the face of America for the better!”
9:09 p.m. Rep. Obey: The same people who complain about deficit spending are the same people who erased the budget surplus created by President Bill Clinton.
9:14 p.m. Rep. Obey: “Republicans have had a lot of practice at being on the wrong side of history.”
9:32 p.m. Sen. Russ Feingold is speaking now….crowd is fired up! He notes his campaign has already knocked on 40,000 doors across Wisconsin. He’s gonna win the election one vote at a time, instead of buying the election by writing out a $15 million check.
9:39 p.m. Sen. Feingold: “Bush and Cheney left us with a gaping hole in our budget.”
9:41 p.m. Sen. Feingold: “I’m the #1 maverick in the entire United States Senate.” Why? “Because I vote against wasteful spending.”
9:47 p.m. Sen. Feingold is taking the fight right to Ron Johnson: “It’s as if Ron Johnson is offended at the sight of a non-millionaire in the U.S. Senate.”
9:49 p.m. Sen. Feingold notes that Ron Johnson says now’s not the time to beat up on the oil industry, but if now’s not the time, then when is?!?
I’m happy for David Obey, although he is not my congressman. But I feel compelled to comment on this stuff about how totally innocent democrats have been regarding the debt. Get real. How can the same individuals who voted to increase the budget for the Judiciary Department in order to pay for the NY terrorist trial claim that they give a hoot about fiscal responsibility? If you approve budget after budget with increases year after year, how can you claim to be some kind of maverick? The 850 Billion stimulus is one big special interest boondoggle that hasn’t produced any worthwhile jobs for WI. Who voted for that? Now there is no money left for real job creation, but what the heck, the main thing is to get reelected. That’s all this maverick really cares about. Our kids are suffering, this is not just older workers, and now I’m supposed to believe that democrats are going to take money out of TARP for jobs? Lord help us. I can’t stand either party.