Western Wisconsin Politics

Why no Outrage over the Democrat Plan?

2006-11-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

Remember during the 2004 presidential election when every news outlet was had reporters asking if Kerry was right that President Bush had a "secret plan"? Yea, I know that John Kerry intentionally accused President Bush of having secret plans involving everything up to and including milk prices, but I'm talking about a supposed plan to bring back the draft. Remember that? Remember the outrage?

Every media outlet was doing a story, or an opinion poll, or both on whether or not this was believable. There was so much talk about this untrue rumor that it allowed the Democrats to scare a number of college students and their parents (many who remember vividly the draft protest era) into voting for Kerry, Kind, and the rest of the Dem ticket. On June 4, 2004 NSNBC, talking about what Newsweek found out, lead off a story with these words:

"It's one of the Internet's most persistent rumors: The Pentagon and the White House are quietly laying plans to reinstate the military draft—as soon as the 2004 presidential election is over."

- Could the Draft Come Back?

Well, it didn't happen. There was no secret plan. Surprise! We wonder how that rumor got started.

But, where are those same media outlets now that a Democrat, U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., in the new majority of the US House is serious about bringing back the draft? He has a real plan. Well, it was a one day story and then you don't hear about it again, right? No news story here.

Where are the students who are outraged? In 2004 on the college campuses, including ones I'm familiar with in Western Wisconsin, students were putting up posters and forwarding emails spreading these artfully-placed rumors telling of the evils of Bush's secret. Ask any college student from that time and you will be told that the secret Bush draft plans were widely discussed, believed, and was a big reason for students to vote against the President.

So, what do we hear from students on the Democrat's real plan to reinstate the draft? Nothing. Well, almost nothing. I did read in a Madison student newspaper the following:

"U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., is not insane. His proposal to reinstate the draft has been met with a virulent response from the left and the right, and the outrage is understandable. However, most bewildered critics and Americans hearing about it on the news don’t have any more than an elementary understanding of Rangel’s proposal. Offering an idea this controversial is meant to trigger a larger debate: How can we sustain our military in a long-term struggle against pseudo-Islamic extremism and the philosophy of terror?"

- Rangel's draft idea spurs vital debate

Unbelievable. So let me get this straight... if someone accuses the President of having a "secret plan" to reinstitute the draft when that is not even true, then it’s a major reason why students should vote against him... but, if someone in the new majority of Congress has an actual plan to reinstitute the draft, then we should applaud his good idea because it "spurs vital debate"? Give me a break! I hope this is not how all students are reacting. But their silence is deafening.

What message is being sent? I believe the message is that it is okay to lie or at least spread unsubstantiated accusations in an attempt to sway crucial numbers of gullible voters in close elections when it serves the politicians or the political party supported by the students and the media. And, of course, when the truth comes out that it was the very politicians they support who actually have these bad, evil ideas, well then I guess that the idea is no longer a bad one. It must be kind of situational thing you see, it's only a bad idea if the person is a member of the party you disagree with. Do I have the rules right? Did you learn this in college?

Reflections on the 2006 campaign

2006-11-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

Well as anyone who knows me will tell you I am disappointed and a little stunned by the results of the 2006 elections. Yes, I realized there was an anti-Republican sentiment out there. It started out being an anti-incumbent movement and somehow turned to Anti-GOP. There's lots of reasons for that, we could debate them all day long and not agree 100%. But, that's how politics works. When things in the country or state are not going well, the public generally wants a change in leadership. If they new Democrat majorities in Congress and the State Senate do not provide the results the public thinks they should, the pendulum will swing back.

I was disappointed that the media stopped focusing on the issues in Third District Congressional race (of which there are plenty) and in the end only focused on whether or not candidate Paul R. Nelson was wrong to air his TV ad. I wish he would have chosen his words better in the ad so the discussion could have focused on Congressman Kind's record (or lack of it) and not on the ad itself. Sigh.

Also, I was not prepared for the tsunami (as my good friend Sen. Dale Schultz described it) that swept out of office many excellent elected officials. I think everyone agrees that when State Treasurer Jack Voight, who served the state with distinction, was an innocent victim of the voters wrath, then there was more going on than just looking at who should be in office!

Several other close friends I will miss including Sen. Ron Brown, Sen. Dave Zien, Rep. Rob Kreibich, and Rep. Steve Freese. Mark Green is a good man that would have made an excellent Governor! I have known him personally for some time now and was looking forward to working with him. I hope they all stay active and continue to fight for the issues I know they feel closely about.

A couple pleasant things happened on Election Day, including the election of J.B. Van Hollen as Attorney General. If you know me, you know that as a former Police Chief this race mattered greatly to me and therefore I was involved in JB's campaign. I also got to know and respect 29th Assembly Rep-elect John Murtha during the campaign. He was working hard and deserved to win the seat! I'm thrilled that these two fine men were elected!!

So, we will need to take a few days to reflect on what happened and why. We already had some good meetings on that this past Saturday in the Dells. But then we need to get back to work speaking up and fighting for the values we believe in. After all, it's less than 2 years until the next election!

-Dennis.

Can Kind explain his vote against tracking terrorists?

2006-07-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Last month, Congress passed H.Res.895, a resolution "supporting intelligence and law enforcement programs to track terrorists and terrorist finances conducted consistent with Federal law and with appropriate Congressional consultation and specifically condemning the disclosure and publication of classified information that impairs the international fight against terrorism and needlessly exposes Americans to the threat of further terror attacks by revealing a crucial method by which terrorists are traced through their finances." The measure passed on a vote of 227-183 (Roll no. 357).

To me this seems a common-sense resolution that no Congressman should EVER vote against. If you are not a pure partisan, what is there in this to vote against? Let's see... "supporting intelligence and law enforcement programs to track terrorists and terrorist finances", no problem here, I want to support reasonable investigations of terrorists... "conducted consistent with Federal law and with appropriate Congressional consultation", oh yes, we want to make sure it is legal and what Congressman worth our vote wouldn't want Congress to be consulted?... "specifically condemning the disclosure and publication of classified information", unless you are an editor of the New York Times this is a no-brainer also, we have too much classified information "leaked" to the media. Nope, nothing objectionable that I can see. A reasonable, common-sense resolution.

So, can anyone tell me why Congressman Ron Kind would vote NO? That is other than because as Deputy Minority House Whip for Nancy Pelosi it is his job to line up votes against the Republicans. Unbelievable! And not a word from the experienced spin doctors in his office explaining it!!

And have you heard word one from any media outlet in the 19-county 3rd Congressional District taking Kind to task for his vote or demanding he explain himself? That is even more unbelievable to me!!!

Kind's lack of power ranking

2006-05-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

I had a few minutes last night so started catching up on what's happening in
politics since the wedding... Did anyone see this story in the Appleton paper
last week?

State has 'powerful' legislators

I thought it was interesting, so I went to the congress.org website to see
Kind's ranking.  He is only at 334th in the House!  That's bottom 25%!!  It says they gave
him zero points for his influence (no surprise there) and only 2 points for his legislation
(I'm surprised it is that high!).

FYI, Dennis.

Thanks to everyone who came to our wedding!

2006-05-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

Just a quick thanks to everyone who sahred our wedding day with us. Lisa and I are especially thankful that we had so many of our political friends take a day off from the campaigns to join us.

Getting married sure take lots of planning time!

2006-04-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I have not been blogging as much as I planned to about Western Wisconsin Politics... As many of you know Lisa and I are getting married in a couple weeks and the planning is taking almost all of my time. I'll do one from time to time when the issue strikes me and get into a regular blog pattern this summer!

Dennis.

Kind Don't Know Jack Not Good Enough

2006-02-10T05:13:00.000-08:00

In the "can you believe it?" category comes another story of Congressman Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) blowing up at someone who asked him a serious question! The La Crosse Tribune reported on Tuesday that "one young man, probably a student, asked Kind why he had put a link to Women's History Month on his Web site, but had not put anything on there about Black History month. Kind responded, 'Maybe because I'm a racist, is that what you're implying?'"

As usual Kind does a quick flip-flop as the articles closes by saying: "Kind was asked what he has learned during the past year. 'No matter how uncomfortable it is, we need to question our elected leaders,' he said, adding he was impressed with the questions students asked that day."

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? He attacks a poor student for asking him a question then later says we NEED to ask questions of our leaders and that he was impressed with the questions. If he was so darn impressed why didn't he simply answer the question? Or just say, you know that's a good idea?

This isn't the first time we heard of Kind getting testy with questions! I believe it was last year when Kind was on a call in radio program in La Crosse and someone asking him where he stayed when he was in Iraq. Kind said he was housed in another country. The caller questioned why and kind attacked him, on air, saying that was a "stupid question!" I heard him say those words!!

I was also told of similar blow-ups at the Trempealeau County Fair and at an open forum in Hudson. Whether Ron Kind #1 likes it or not, I agree with Ron Kind #2 who told the Tribune "we need to question our elected leaders." And the three-part question I want to hear him answer is:

"The non-partisan Center for Responsible Politics has reduced the amount of suspect contributions linked from convicted felon lobbyist Jack Abramoff to your campaign from $9,000 to only $2,000. Mr. Congressman, why didn't you say anything explaining your involvement BEFORE the story hit the papers, why won't you answer your opponent Paul R. Nelson's call for you "to be forthcoming on Special Interest Contributions", and if your FEC reports are correct that you accepted more than 50 contributions totaling tens of thousands of dollars from Indian Tribes almost all of them from outside of Wisconsin, what did they want in return? And let me say before you answer this, that your standard response of 'I don't know Jack' isn't good enough!"

Funeral Dignity Protection Act Sent to Governor

2006-02-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you heard or not about the Kansas group that was importing people in to protest at military funerals. But thanks to Senator Ron Brown of Eau Claire and the bi-partisan support of the legislature, Brown's bill, SB-525, restricting such demonstrations is now on Doyle's desk! Good work Ron!

See also:

February 3, 2006: Bill to protect military funerals goes to Gov
February 2, 2006: Wisconsin Senate passes Brown funeral privacy protection bill
January 26, 2006: Brown behind proposal that would restrict protests at military funerals
January 26, 2006: Senator Brown call for respect at military funerals

Kind Took More Money from Indian Gaming Interests

2006-01-26T08:02:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many of you saw the press release last week from Paul R. Nelson, the St. Croix County realitor running for Congress against Ron Kind, but this was eye-opeining to me. I initially mentioned the reports linking Kind to Abramoff donations. On 1/12 the Center for Responsive Politics revised their report and now say that of the $9,000 Kind took from these 2 Indian Tribes only $2,000 was connected to Abramoff.

But now Nelson lists 10 campaign contributions Kind took and says it is an incomplete list. His press release says there are more than 50 listed on Kind's FEC reports! RON KIND NEEDS TO EXPLAIN HIS APPETITE FOR CAMPAIGN CASH not just call for ethics reform!

See also:

January 17, 2006: Paul R. Nelson Asks Ron Kind to Be Forthcoming on Special Interest Contributions

January 7, 2006: Congressman Kind linked in Abramoff Scandal

Pierce Co Dems Threaten Payback?

2006-01-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

Can you believe this? The Pierce County Dems, as we already passed along, get caught using UW-River Falls computer resources illegally. UW-RF says it was an honest mistake (although needed to question why one listserv was named for the Pierce Dems) and is correcting the mistake. Ok. But what do the Dems have to say. I was expecting a sorry, we didn't realize. BUT, NO! They are angry and threaten payback! Did they really think doing something illegal is okay? Unbelieveable!

See also:
January 18, 2006: UW-RF claims 'honest mistake' while Dems threaten payback

Pierce County Dems Caught

2006-01-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

I read in the River Falls newspaper that the Pierce County Dems got caught using UW-River Falls computer resources for political purposes. You'd think they would know better!

See also:

January 11, 2006: Local Democrats, UW-RF named in elections complaint

January 9, 2006: State GOP files Elections Board complaint against Pierce County Democratic Party

Congressman Maytag

2006-01-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the latest from Ron Kind? We should start calling this guy Congressman Maytag because of his super, duper, political spin cycle. Why did Indian tribes who were clients of Abramoff give Kind donations? They aren't from Western Wisconsin. What were they expecting in return? Could it have anything to do with his position on the House Resource Committee?

Click here to listen to WIZM radio story 1 and story 2.

-Chris Muller, Onalaska

Kudos to Senator Ron Brown

2006-01-10T05:43:00.000-08:00

As a former Police Chief and former Chair of the Board of Directors for our local Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse Agency, I have long been in favor of updating the mandatory arrest law as there are a number of unintended consequences with how the law was initially written. I, myself, tried several years ago to get legislators to make some changes, but ran into a brick wall even mentioning that I thought some things needed to be tweaked.

Sen. Ron Brown and several others worked in a bi-partisan fashion on AB-436 which was passed and signed into law! Ron, I am sure that victims and law enforcement all over the state must be thanking you for again putting partisanship aside and working with all concerned on this important new law.

See also: Protections strengthened for domestic abuse victims

Congressman Kind linked in Abramoff Scandal

2006-01-07T04:50:00.000-08:00

Well let's start off with the big news of the day. WKBT-TV 8 in La Crosse reported the other day that the name of Congressman Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) was linked to the convicted felon Jack Abramoff corruption scandal. I'll bet most of you have not heard that story yet. I have not seen it in any state newspaper except the Milwaukee paper.

The Center for Responsive Politics listed Kind as accepting at least $9,000 from tribes represented by Abramoff. I have been questioning Kind's appetite for raising campaign cash for years. According to FEC reports he takes in nearly 50% of his cash through special interest money every year. In the 2004 election that amounted to $473,875.00!

I've watched eagerly to see what Kind would do or say about questionable funds showing up in his campaign pockets. Some elected officials named have given the money back. Others gave that amount to charity. Guess what Ron Kind did? A spokesperson for Kind tells WKBT the "finding is misleading" because "Kind has never met or spoken to Abramoff." Yea right, and I bet Nixon never spoke directly to the Watergate burglars either! What did they call it back then... plausible deniability! The public didn't buy it then either!!

She also is quoted as saying Kind got the money "well before Abramoff represented them as a lobbyist." Okay, but looking at the report from the Center for Responsible Politics I see two contributions in the 2000 campaign, one in 2002, one in 2004, and one for the 2006 campaign season. So exactly how does this work that all the donations are spread out evenly over 4 elections and somehow they were "well before" Abramoff??? I don't see it.

But even if she is right, and I am not saying he is definitely involved in THIS scandal, the question is what did Kind know or should have known? Why didn't he say anything until the media asks him about it? What is he going to do, keep the money? What are these tribes from outside of Wisconsin doing contributing to a candidate in our congressional district? What do they expect in return for their cash? Congressman Kind is a member of the House Committee on Resources. That committee drafts legislation affecting gaming and other Native American issues. They were clearly attempting to buy influence!

Ron Kind has a lot of questions to answer to the voters in his district. I hope the press forces him to address these questions this time. But with their reaction thus far, I'm not holding my breath! It made me sick back in May 2004 when the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and WIZM radio in La Crosse were questioning Kind, his family and aids receiving over $15,000 in luxury trips from private interests in 2003, and the press let him get away with a "trust me" answer. It's time for the public to demand answers!

See also:

January 5, 2006: Jack Abramoff Lobbying and Political Contributions, 1999 - 2006

January 4, 2006: Any connections to Capitol Corruption Case?

May 17, 2004: 3rd District GOP Questions Extravagant Trips and Contributions Accepted by Kind

Welcome!

2006-01-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Western Wisconsin Politics Blog! I will use this blog to address issues I feel are important to voters in Western Wisconsin. I trust you will find the discussions lively and useful.

Dennis.