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The Dems Empty Threat

Phelony has some thoughts on the “deal” being offered by the Wisconsin Dems.

But the tactics of “we’ll take away an empty threat if you give us what we want” is very reminiscent of playground antics. In other words, in the early 80’s I experienced kid politics that were right along the same lines. The approach and the remaining “threat” are childish and immature. These politics are the best we can do? Are we really willing to settle for the tallest midget when it comes to how our state is run?

State Republicans, listen. If you play into this game, you will lose what respect I have left for you. If you sign this Cambodia-style confession, don’t count on any support from me in the future, because I know it will be rebuked.

You’ll be no more than a lost cause until a new generation of actual conservatives can take your place in office.

Posted by Owen at 1346 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

1. This makes sense only if you believe the “no tax increase” budget wasn’t also an empty threat.

   Huebsch is wrong about a lot of stuff, but he’s not stupid.  Which is why he blinked—and why he knows the Republican’s can’t negotiate anything and be held to their show-budget threat of no tax increases.

   Posted by folkbum on September 22, 2007 at 1429 hrs
   
   
   

2. As someone who has negotiated contracts I am saddened everytime this type of discussion is held.  What is lost is the fact that real fundamental change is not going to happen.  That means that in a couple of years we will be right back to this same discussion.  This truly is the insanity that Albert Einstein referenced in his famous quote.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 22, 2007 at 1447 hrs
   
   
   

3. What exactly about the GOP budget was for “show”?

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 22, 2007 at 1450 hrs
   
   
   

4. I think he was referring to the “no tax increases” part.

   Posted by scott on September 22, 2007 at 1927 hrs
   
   
   

5. To equate the Assembly budget with the HW offer is pure foolishness - it makes no sense.  The Assembly budget was put together over 60 hours of caucus that covered every inch of the state budget. 

   We have heard for years the question “what would you cut?” from the left when opposition to taxes is expressed.  So the Assembly shows exactly what they would cut and garners the votes to pass it with a narrow majority.  Now, there are people who don’t like some of the choices, but they put it out there and voted to pass it.

   The HW stunt was thrown together by a select few and sold to the dem senate caucus.  The plan is all theory and not supported by any detailed analysis.  Fitzgerald can’t even get 50 simple questions answered about the plan.

   The HW offer is not only a very dumb move, but it irritated the guv.  They were supposed to hand the momentum over the badgercare plus.  Now, HW is still in the budget and goves the Reps and easy out for not agreeing to anything.

   Not only will HW not be in the final budget - the Reps will give the dems nothing for it, ever.  The dems could have made a graceful exit on a political liability, but they just couldn’t help themselves.  Now the guv has to kill HW and he won’t be happy about it.

   Have no fear - HW will have no negotiating impact on the budget.  RIght now, it helps the Reps far mpore than the dems.  It makes the Dems look foolish for keeping it in this long when everyone knows it should have never been in the budget and has since its inception been a political stunt.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 22, 2007 at 2034 hrs
   
   
   

6. This is a hoot:  “The Assembly budget was put together over 60 hours of caucus that covered every inch of the state budget.”

   If what you say is true, were the other 51 Republicans asleep at the switch when Rep. Frank “The Zipper” Lasee offered his amendment to privative the UW Law School?  Assembly Republicans would have better spent their time making sure “every inch” of FRANK was covered when is is prowling around in his district and cheating on his wife and kids!

   Original Story URL: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=665949
   
   Pall of hypocrisy hangs over Lasee
   Self-appointed inquisitor has peccadillo of his own

   By Daniel Bice
   No Quarter
   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
   September 23, 2007
    

   You know what they say about guys who live in glass houses.

   Well, state Rep. Frank Lasee resides in a crystal palace.

   When last we met up with the state rep, he was asking lots of questions about the sex lives of students in Brown Deer. Based on a tip from a constituent, Lasee directed Brown Deer school officials to investigate ridiculous claims that African-American students were regularly having sex with each other in a racially segregated school hallway, in classrooms and on school buses.

   Hanky-panky here, there and everywhere.

   As it turns out, the Green Bay-area lawmaker knows a thing or two about sexual promiscuity.

   Brown County court records show that Lasee, a strict social and fiscal conservative, had an out-of-wedlock child a few years ago and waged a legal battle with the mother over child support.

   Two years ago, Kari Manteufel, a 38-year-old De Pere woman, filed a paternity suit against Lasee, naming him as the father of her daughter. Manteufel gave birth to a girl in November 2004, the same year that a judge finalized the terms of Lasee’s contentious divorce from his wife.

   So much for family values.

   A couple of weeks after the paternity suit was filed, Manteufel and Lasee reached a deal under which the lawmaker acknowledged he was the father. The order also established that the baby would live primarily with the mother and that Lasee would pay a minimum of $650 a month in child support.

   All well and good. But then in November, Manteufel asked the court to find Lasee in contempt for failing to pay his full child support and not fully documenting his income to her. He countered by calling on the judge to find her in contempt.

   In January, a court commissioner denied her motion. Lasee then voluntarily agreed to withdraw his.

   Contacted Friday, Manteufel declined to discuss the case.

   Overall, it sounds like the seventh-term Republican has a lot on his plate. National attention, none of it good, for his goofy plan to arm teachers. Almost no support for his proposal to strip the University of Wisconsin Law School of its state funding. Child support to an ex-wife for two kids. And more child support for a third child.

   With all this going on, what’s Lasee doing firing off letters inquiring about the sex lives of children in a district 120 miles from his own?

   Unfortunately, Lasee, who is considering a run for the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, has little to say about this. The self-described “father of

   TABOR” - his proposed constitutional amendment on taxes - is ducking questions about his other paternity issues.

   Reached by cell phone, he was curt.

   Just before hanging up, Lasee said, “I understand the type of journalism you do, so you can do it without my help.”

   Not true, not true at all.

   There’d be nothing to write about here without all the material being supplied by this veteran lawmaker.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 23, 2007 at 1202 hrs
   
   
   

7. Wally, copying and pasting stories under unrelated stories is considered spam and will be deleted.  If it persists, you will be blocked. 

   FYI.

   Posted by Owen on September 23, 2007 at 1430 hrs
   
   
   

8. Read the comments on Phelony’s page, Recess Supervisor’s comments are a delight as usual. 

   After spending time at the Capitol again last week, I came up with a new name for the place:  The Big White High School on the Square.

   Posted by John Foust on September 23, 2007 at 1441 hrs
   
   
   

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