Reminder

Hat tip WISSUP.

1. Who is Burkee?

   Posted by scott on August 27, 2008 at 1518 hrs




2. You needed a hat tip and a reminder for something you’re moderating?  Dude… the thing hasn’t even started and you’re in trouble already.

   Posted by Nick on August 27, 2008 at 1525 hrs




3. I was just hat tipping her because I stole her text.  I was in a hurry and that was easier

   Posted by Owen on August 27, 2008 at 1546 hrs




4. Googled Burkee.  Shows what I know--he’s running for congress against Sensenbrenner.

   How come such a partisan moderator was chosen??

   Posted by scott on August 27, 2008 at 1548 hrs




5. Burkee is running in the Republican PRIMARY against Sensenbrenner.

   Posted by Owen on August 27, 2008 at 1556 hrs




6. Oh, well in that case fire away! 

   Posted by scott on August 27, 2008 at 1603 hrs




7. Hmm...no mention of ‘punch and pie.’ More people would show up if they offered punch and pie!

   Posted by on August 27, 2008 at 1619 hrs




8. Dt. Mtn Dew and Pizza works too… at least for the geek crowd.

   Posted by Nick on August 27, 2008 at 1623 hrs




9. I hope there aren’t any punches… except verbal ones

   Posted by Owen on August 27, 2008 at 1635 hrs




10. Well, just got back from the “debate,” and the most excitement was the last five minutes when Burkee offered to stay later to continue the debate, and also challenged F. Jim to have more debates. The audience responded with loud applause. But Sensenbrenner totally ignored the challenge, refused to answer it, and the dunce moderator fell in line. Where is the League of Women Voters when you need a good debate?

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 27, 2008 at 2106 hrs




11. Jack,

    What you have me do?  Stand up, shove a microphone in Sensenbrenner’s face, and yell “well, JIM!?!?  How about it!?!?” Would that be fair?  Or was it fair to allow each candidate to have equal opportunity to speak and let the voters decide?  I think the latter.  I wasn’t there to interview them.  I was there to moderate a debate.  Perhaps you should learn the difference.

    Posted by Owen on August 27, 2008 at 2120 hrs




12. Owen, I would have hoped that you would have encouraged further debate. The people wanted it, and you could have said “Hey folks, we’d welcome having them back. How about it Jim?”

    It is my guess that Sensenbrenner made it clear going in that it was a one-and-only appearance. I think the acquiescence of the debate sponsors did a disservice to the Republican community in not pressing for greater debate.

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 27, 2008 at 2150 hrs




13. By people, Mr. Lohman is referring to the supporters of Mr. Burkee. The forum was scheduled for an hour--it went for an hour. That was Owen’s job. We have no idea what Mr. Sensenbrenner’s responsibilities were following the forum.

    I wish there were more debates, but it was a cheap shot from Mr. Burkee.

    Posted by Dean on August 27, 2008 at 2159 hrs




14. Dean, he asked a legitimate question and Sensenbrenner chose to ignore it. Totally!! As though the words never came out of Burkee’s mouth. I think that showed disrespect for the voters who would like to make an informed choice.

    I don’t know where my vote is going, though I am leaning toward Burkee because I’d seen the stupid votes by Sensenbrenner. Especially the Medicare Drug program all while he owns over $5 million in drug company stock. And CAFTA, which he railed against as a jobs killer and then he cast the tie-breaking vote. He is a fair weather fiscal hawk. He votes against spending but only when his vote isn’t needed for passage. He is a master of rhetoric when rhetoric is needed.

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 27, 2008 at 2215 hrs




15. Burkee came across as an overexcited newby politician that tried too hard to look the part.  His “old-fashioned Republican” claim and boring laments about the debts we are leaving our children made me yawn.

    Posted by on August 27, 2008 at 2237 hrs




16. Jack, I don’t know which way I’m voting either. I agree with both and disagree with both. Not surprising. I won’t take up Owen’s bandwidth to discuss that.

    But I still think it was not the place. I know people do it (Hillary?) but I still think it was tacky.

    Posted by Jack on August 28, 2008 at 0017 hrs




17. Jack, Burkee had no other choice but to ask at the forum. He has been excluded everywhere else by Sensenbrenner, who obviously does not want to give him any exposure. I tried to read the crowd, but it seemed to be favor of more debates. And thanks for your coverage on your blog. I likely won’t cover it on my blog, but I do expose some of F. Jim’s slanted votes (see HERE and HERE).

    Sensenbrenner bragged about all of his town hall meetings, and he certainly deserves credit for that. 

    But only one debate???

    Yeah, 30 years are a lot and I favor change. And we can have change and stay Republican with Burkee. Is he going to be better? I think so, but only time will tell.

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 28, 2008 at 0506 hrs




18. Okay, fine.  But would I like to know is this:  did they serve punch and pie?!?

    Posted by on August 28, 2008 at 0903 hrs




19. As always we have to leave it to Mr. Pelican Pants to ask the really important questions. 

    Posted by on August 28, 2008 at 1012 hrs




20. Jack -

    How is it possible to cast a tie-breaking vote in the House of Reps?  They aren’t generally recorded roll calls, but rather are recorded as they are made.

    Let’s suppose, for arguments sake, that it was indeed an alphabetically recorded vote; there are still 76 Members that have names that would come up after Sensenbrenner’s.  Moreover, that bill passed 220-215 - under your logic, the tie was broken 10 times.  That’s weird.

    I don’t like Medicare Part D.  The bill is junk, but you embarass yourself when you get on these rants and are roundly mocked - in this case - by me.

    Posted by on August 28, 2008 at 1036 hrs




21. Bonus points to Mr. Pelican Pants for sneaking in a South Park reference.

    Posted by Jed on August 28, 2008 at 1043 hrs




22. Gee Publius, you have thoroughly embarrassed me. The CAFTA bill that I am talking about passed by two votes. Had he voted against it, as he had promised his constituents he would, it would have been a +1 and a -1, a tie! Obviously there were some non-voting members, because with 435 members you could not otherwise have a tie. But I’m guessing you already knew that, the genius that you are.

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 28, 2008 at 1113 hrs




23. My bad, Jack.  But the point is the same - ANYONE could have been the tie-breaking vote.

    Posted by on August 28, 2008 at 1127 hrs




24. Get off of it, Publius. He voted exactly opposite of what he promised to his constituents. Without that vote CAFTA would not have passed. What is it that you do not understand about that?

    Oh yes. Every congressman could have lied! But they didn’t. F. Jim did.

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 28, 2008 at 1152 hrs




25. You said he was the tie breaking vote, not me.  ANYONE could have been the tie-breaking vote.

    So you think he lied.  So what?  Politicians lie.  They change their minds.  They break promises.  They’d do that whether their campaigns were publicly financed or not.

    Do you really believe Burkee wouldn’t lie?  Look at Steve Kagen - the guy self-financed in 2006 and hasn’t delivered on a single promise and he’s pathological in his lying…

    Heaven forbid Sensenbrenner believe in free trade and providing a new market and lower trade barriers for Central Americans and new and expanded markets for American goods (especially farmers).

    If you haven’t noticed, American exports are soaring and companies that do export their goods are doing quite well despite the current economic malaise.

    Look, Jack - we all know your schtick.  Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.  If he didn’t vote for CAFTA you’d blame undue special interest influence.  And when he does, you blame undue special interest influence.

    Posted by on August 28, 2008 at 1922 hrs




26. My “schtick,” Publius, is that I don’t like politicians who work for me taking money from them. You’re okay with that, I’m not.

    CAFTA is bad for America, but good for the moneyed interests that fund political campaigns.

    I don’t like corruption in politics. You’re okay with it, I’m not.

    So be it. We are not cut from the same cloth.

    Posted by Jack Lohman on August 28, 2008 at 1953 hrs