Can Bill Clinton close the gap in Wisconsin?
Bill Clinton | dbking | Wikimedia Commons
The former semi-regular on this blog known as Mike inked a wager with me on the Wisconsin recall some months ago. It was for a drink. He bet on Gov. Scott Walker’s survival and I bet on whoever got the nod to oppose Walker. That turned out to be Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Recent polls have shown Walker with a small though consistent lead. So earlier this week when Mike and I were making email arrangements for the payoff, I had assumed I would lose. Mike wrote me that he was less than confident of winning, though. He’s been there recently and discerned a lot more anti-Walker passion than pro-Walker passion.
Now this weekend, the Big Dog has gotten into the act. That’s right — Bill Clinton. A guy who still stirs passions.
He’s barnstorming Wisconsin, trying to raise Barrett’s turnout, and slamming Scott Walker for turning one of America’s most politically harmonious states into a partisan battleground where people hate each other.
More on that from Talking Points Memo.
The question of the evening is, can Bill Clinton save Tom Barrett’s bacon? Can he stir enough Democrats so that Walker will get what he deserves — kicked out of office?
I sure am hoping so, given that the pro-Walker side is outspending Barrett 25-1. But either way, it’ll be a pleasure to meet Mike for that drink.
June 1, 2012 - 8:14 PM
Bill Clinton loves closing gap. I heard he doesn’t like WI women though. I can see why it’s such a big question.
There is not much Bill can’t do.
Clinton. LMAO. Too vain to realize he’s been a punchline for 20 years now.
Hint for Bubba: The chuckling you hear in the audience……they ain’t laughing withyou, amigo.
Hi Dan,
I can see no benefit to the state of Wisconsin if as you say “Walker will get what he deserves — kicked out of office”. Now granted you will benefit by getting a drink the value of which should not be diminished.
Walker has restored fiscal sanity to the state of Wisconsin by relaxing the stranglehold that public sector Unions enjoyed for many years among other things.
It is not the fact that the unions and democrats are not getting their message out due to any spending imbalance its that they are on the wrong side of reality and thus the facts as well.
The biggest fact is that Walker has actually preformed rather well and if he wins this will be the reason….Bubba not withstanding.
Thanks for your blog entry and allowing me to provide my comments, opinion etc.
Mike Howell,
Welcome to the blog. But let me ask you this question:
If the problem was fiscal insanity caused by a stranglehold that public sector unions enjoyed for many years, then why did Scott Walker go after only SOME of the public sector unions? He went after the teachers (whose average salary is $51k, and half of whom have masters degrees), among others. But he didn’t go after the police.
He made a deal with them so they would endorse him.
That tells me that what Walker did was NOT hewing to some principle.
“can Bill Clinton save Tom Barrett’s bacon”… I wouldn’t expect much out of slick willy, him being a pig himself !
“He made a deal with them so they would endorse him”
ok for bammy and other libbies but not conservatives? lets talk about all the little ‘deals’ bammy has made for votes shall we?
He went after the teachers (whose average salary is $51k, and half of whom have masters degrees), among others. But he didn’t go after the police.
It’s because the cancerous teachers’ unions got the richest packages in the land. Some teachers’ packages topped $100,000. Did policemen make $100,000? I don’t think so.
The voters of Wisconsin know Scott Walker’s goal was saving taxpayers money. He’s done it, and they’re going to reward him. And this is a very blue state. It’s amazing what can be done when a politician actually works for the benefit of its citizens. The union bastards don’t like it, but tough. The voters love it.
Wisconsin will do just fine. They voted Scott Walker in to do a job, he did it, and it’s going well. Just not for union thugs or Occupy chumps like Free Duh. Walker will stay in. What a waste of time and money. Michael Moore can drown his sorrows at the Golden Corral buffet!
It’s amazing the treatment of Nixon vs. Clinton. They both did virtually the same thing. And the SOB Clinton was actually impeached. You never hear that. Whereas Nixon was the worst that’s ever happened in politics. But voters know the score. That’s why Gore lost an election he should have won easily, and it’s why Clinton gets laughed at wherever he goes.
Again. Same level of offense. Actually Clinton’s was worse. While both committed crimes and covered it up, Clinton was the only one found by Congress of doing so, and Clinton is the only one who lied in court.
10. Now that is the silliest thing I have ever read. Nixon who almost brought our government down with a major conspiracy, robbery, and firing of prosecutor vs. CLinton lying about an affair. Suzie, you are hilarious.
Except you know the whole thing about one was involved in committing a crime for political gain, and the other was just a private personal matter.
Yep. same level of offense. rriiiiiiiiiiight.
“SOB Clinton”
Is it common practice among good Catholics and religious folks such as yourself to refer to other people’s mothers as b*tches?
Dan – Scott walker did not attempt reforms on all public sector unions because he knew that such a large scale reform, all at once, would be impossible. By focusing on one union, he was able to prove that reforms were possible without gutting the system. In all of the cities who employed Act 10 provisions, there have been no teacher layoffs. The only cities who were forced to lay off teachers were those who negotiated contract extensions prior to Act 10′s implementation.
Also, many cities have seen huge financial gain because of the elimination of collective bargaining (in all areas except wages.) Previously, the teachers’ union could collectively bargain for health benefits and required the cities to purchase health care from WEA Trust, which was run by the union. Once the cities were able to comparison shop for health care, they were often able to save MILLIONS of dollars annually, here’s the really important part, without cutting benefits.
Many cities, while retaining all their teachers, were able to cut taxes.
When you look deeper than the media narrative that “Scott Walker hates teachers,” you can find that the reforms actually made a lot of sense. No, all the unions have not been reformed, but hopefully after Walker survives the recall, they will be.
#7 We’re waiting, pmammlalala.
You spineless, crybaby liberals just can`t stand it when the facts ruin your little utopian world, can you, Beason ? Good job, Suzie
And spineless, crybaby conservatives who have no credibility simply rely on insults, lies and talking points long disproved. Walker is a shill for the Plutocrats who has outspent Barrett 25-1 mostly with out of state money and has turned Wisconsin into a divided and divisive state. You all whine about merit pay but prove that you have no such intentions as paying teachers what you gladly cede to vulture capitalists. God in Heaven knows that your “facts” ruin our “little utopian world”.
Hey Jeff Doto, check it out, did Suzie do a good job?
http://blogs.roanoke.com/dancasey/2012/03/suzie-takes-the-post-of-the-day-re-st-rush-limbaugh/
She/He’s a real sweetheart.
Doto @16 – FYI most ill-informed’s OPINIONS are NOT FACTS… phew, not another fact-challenged RWer…
So many ignoramuses, so little time.
FYI most ill-informed’s OPINIONS are NOT FACTS… phew, not another fact-challenged RWer…
I’ve provided only facts, hon. And I’ll be happy to provide the links if you agree to apologize and shut the hell up.
Deal?
“So many ignoramuses, so little time.”
Sockpuppet theater.
“So many ignoramuses, so little time.”
Sockpuppet theater.
Wow. Art thinks Hillary is a fake.
#20 most ill-informed, because you evidently have a memory problem, I will reiterate
1. I don’t apologize for being right.
2. I don’t apologize to nitwits who are wrong
3. Your name is not on the “letterhead” of this blog, so, “hon” your rudeness and crudeness are always right out in front, aren’t they? – but you don’t give the orders around here.
4. I’ll keep saying this in the “nicest” way – don’t you have someplace else to be? You know where your lack of intellect would be more appreciated?
Comment by Hillary — June 2, 2012 @ 4:12 pm
2. I don’t apologize to nitwits who are wrong
I am not wrong and I have the links to prove it. Want to see them? Then, you WILL agree to apologize and then shut the hell up.
Dan, do you feel like you’re a Middle School principal sometimes?
So prove it already and then YOU “shut the hell up” Suzie. No apology respected.
#24 please see #23 and then go away…
Apparently she’s holding the links hostage, Hillary.
After what Bill did to Obama’s line of attack concerning Bain, the liberals should worry about the gap being OPENED by Bill in the presidential race.
So Clinton has no influence when he is campaigning for a Dem, but he has great influence if he says “I think he had a good business career, So I don’t think that we ought to get into the position where we say this is bad work. This is good work”?
BTW, he also said: “he believed Obama would win reelection “by 5 or 6 points” and argued that the president’s ideas “will be far better for the American economy””
Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/06/01/bill-clinton-on-bain-capital-another-cory-booker-moment/#ixzz1wmXicGFS
She doesn’t have any links Debbie. She’s simply posting her usual crap!!
And since a blurb is all the rage, what about Bob McDonnell’s admission that the Obama Stimulus helped Virginia?
“Did [the stimulus] help us in the short-run with health care and education and spending to balance the budget? Sure,”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/03/bob-mcdonnell-obama-virginia-economy_n_1566093.html
I’m sure you’re right, Ron. My comment was in response to post #24. She sounds like a kidnapper demanding ransom.
#24 Boy was that juvenile. Show that idiotic comment to “hubby.” I’m sure he’ll be mighty proud.
“So Clinton has no influence when he is campaigning for a Dem,…”
You’d never hear me say this, Sandi. You must be confusing me with someone else.
“And since a blurb is all the rage, what about Bob McDonnell’s admission that the Obama Stimulus helped Virginia?”
That quote is fair game and the dems should run it night and day.
Anything else Sandi Mays??
Let’s see. Poodle thinks Hillary is a fake. Debbie just called her a middle schooler. Ron and Gdad are piling on. Not a good few days for Hillary.
I guess what they’re all saying is, put up or shut up, babe.
#36 Wow, suzie just can’t stop lying. I AM piling on — piling on troll suzie, that is.
Poor sick and deluded ‘most ill-informed’ who has been called out, shown to be fact-challenged, a mental midget, and possibly off its meds the past few days -it most assuredly needs to lash out…it’s okay, though, losers often do that.
My condolences, it’s a pity no one seems able to help you…and I have had just a “marvelous” past week, thank you for your troll concern…
Hillary wasn’t the one I was calling a middle schooler.
Suzie, I know misery loves company, but do not try to make us party to your “psychoses”.
Comment by Suzie
“It’s because the cancerous teachers’ unions got the richest packages in the land. Some teachers’ packages topped $100,000. Did policemen make $100,000? I don’t think so.”
My wife enjoys a family history of teachers from around the country and I can assure you that none have ever come close to a salary of $100,000 and most hold master’s degrees. They, as well as police perform their jobs with a sense of duty and a commitment to their communities, it’s obviouly not for the money. No insults intended towards our police, but how many do you suspect hold a masters degree? They both deserve more in pay and a lot less of your insulting crap!
If Walker survives the recall, this will be his next step in Wisconsin. It’s also what Bobby McD and Kenny the Cooch have in mind for Va. Govt.
funding of private religious schools with no teachers, just a TV set or a computer screen, daily Bible lessons, and ignoring evolution while teaching the Biblical story of Creation, paid for by public funds and subtracted from public schools’ budgets. The Republican vision for the future.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/01/louisiana-makes-bold-bid-_n_1563900.html?ref=daily-brief?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=060412&utm_medium=email&utm_content=NewsEntry&utm_term=Daily%20Brief
As I always say if R’s can’t lie cheat or steal – they can’t win….
WISCONSIN RECALL: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO MONITOR ELECTIONS
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/wisconsin-recall-justice-department_n_1568421.html
From the Facebook page of Unitewoman.org
“From Wisconsin Election Protection, we are receiving reports that some clerks are still asking for Voter ID under the guise of “practice.” This is NOT OK! There should be NO requests for photo ID from voters! If you see signs, if you are asked for your ID, please notify us IMMEDIATELY. Call our 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683), post here, or tweet us @EPWisco. Be sure to tell us what polling site & where the site is located!!!
Legal cloud gathers over Scott Walker as recall election approaches
With the recall election less than two days away, federal prosecutors are closing in on Governor Scott Walker, according to veteran political reporter David Shuster, former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, and former district attorney Bob Jambois.
[...]Shuster, Lautenschlager, and Jambois laid out evidence that Walker is a target of a federal investigation.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Communications Director Graeme Zielinski added that there is evidence of wrongdoing after Walker’s time as Milwaukee County Executive, and that the investigation includes criminal activity during his time as governor.
http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=36926&sid=fde5b08ba03e551e673cd61cbb8dcb78
8. Susie, my question is why you believe teacher’s salaries should not be $100,000 per year?
14. Hillary – Wow
8. Susie, my question is why you believe teacher’s salaries should not be $100,000 per year?
It’s too big a burden on taxpayers. That kind of wage doesn’t produce commensurate results for the economy.
They, as well as police perform their jobs with a sense of duty and a commitment to their communities, it’s obviouly not for the money. No insults intended towards our police, but how many do you suspect hold a masters degree? They both deserve more in pay and a lot less of your insulting crap!
Some teachers are loads. Some misuse their position to foist their leftwing ideology. I’ll be damned if those teachers deserve $100K. They deserve to be fired.
Look, most teachers don’t earn anywhere near $100k. The ones that do likely have Phds and have 30 years experience. The $100k teacher is a bogeyman, used by RWers to scare the piss out of unthinking voters.
Tell us how much you believe teachers SHOULD earn, Suzie. Is it more than the minimum wage? If so, how much more, and how do you justify that?
The $100k teacher is a bogeyman, used by RWers to scare the piss out of unthinking voters.
Nope. The average Milwaukee teacher’s package is over $100,000.
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/mar/04/maciver-institute/maciver-institute-says-average-annual-salary-and-b/
Why can’t a journalist google like I did?
Another Clinton-endorsed Dem. bites the dust. Great job, Bubba.