Failed Obamacare Co-ops Cost us $1B

So the greatest accomplishment of the Democrats and President Obama is still eating away at taxpayer money?

Not only has it failed to lower rates, most people lost or had their current Insurance plans reduced in what they covered.  The old saying "if you like your insurance plan, you can keep your insurance plan", was simply not true at all.  Many people liked their insurance plan and they either lost it, had it changed dramatically for the worse, or they had to pay significantly more to keep it. 

Now we find out that 23 co-ops set up to handle insurance under Obamacare will fold and not provide insurance anymore.  We taxpayers funded them to the tune of $1 Billion that most experts say we will never get back.

So how is this Obamacare thing going?  I guess Nancy Pelosi was right, they passed the bill and we are seeing what it really was all about.

Paul Ryan - Speaker of the House

It was about time that there was change in the Leadership for the GOP.  I don't think that they could have picked a better person for the job.

Paul Ryan has always been very level headed and has the respect of not only a vast Majority of GOP Lawmakers, but also from the Democratic side.

Now we will have to watch and see how this all plays out.  It would be really good if the Democrats would take a look and also make a change with their leadership.

Scott Walker Dropped out, Is that a good thing?

Now that Scott Walker has dropped out, what does that mean for the rest of the Candidates and for Scott Walker?

For Scott Walker, no he didn't win the nomination, he has taken his name Nation wide and world wide.  Anyone at all that watches the news now really knows who he is and that doesn't mean he won't be a viable candidate the next election. 

For the rest of the field anytime you reduce the competitors it helps everyone.  Eventually the number has to get down to just a few before you start really seeing who is going to rise to the top.  Until then it will be a roller coaster, each will have good polls and bad polls.  Whomever Walker decides to back will undoubtedly get a boost and you can bet that a lot of people are waiting to see that.

Crime is Out of Control and They Want to Take Away Guns?

Crime is totally getting out of control.  Everyday there are shootings and attacks all around us.  Even the Police are bold targets of the criminals.  Even places that have always been considered safe areas are seeing crime go up tremendously.

What can possibly be the rationale for pushing to take away guns from law abiding citizens?  I don't think these people are stupid, they have to know that all of these gun laws will do nothing to affect criminals getting guns.  So I have to ask, what is the expected outcome?

I went through a long period where I was a Licensed Carrier of my concealed weapon.  Once I moved and really had little reason to carry.  I haven't for more than a decade.  Now I can tell you I have unlocked the safe and pulled out my trusty friends and cleaned them up.  I have restocked and am planning on again getting my license.  You just can't feel safe anywhere anymore and the leaders feel that the resolution is to restrict my right to carry?

What is seriously going on here?

Black Lives Matter has White House Backing, Police Lives Matter?

Why is it that they White House and the President were all about getting out in front of the pass when all of the Black Lives Matters started?  Did they think that was something that would be the legacy of the first Black President? 

It isn't any secret that Race Issues have escalated over the last several years and many think that we have actually taken a step back if not several.

The President and his staff have now decided that all of the Police Killings and targeting of Police doesn't deserve a response?  Where are their priorities?

Why is there even a movement called Black Lives Matter?  Shouldn't all lives matter?

What Makes Donald Trump a Good Candidate

It has been a long while since I have posted here and thought that with all the stuff happening, it might be a good time to get back to it.

What makes Donald Trump a Good Candidate?

I have watched as his polling numbers have steadily climbed and listened to people who are talking about him at every corner and I think I have it figured out.

HE ISN'T A POLITICIAN!!!!

That's right.  I think what has made him such an attractive candidate and drawing people to him is the simple fact that he isn't a politician.  He doesn't owe anything to anyone and he doesn't have to be careful about what he says.  He can come right out and have an opinion and not worry about alienating backers.  People like that. 

State Rep. Doesn't Consider Sheriff Clarke Black

Here we go again.  Another Black Politician who disagrees with another Black Politician so he must not be black enough?

JSOnline:

Clarke is the best known African-American elected to countywide office.
But one local lawmaker won't even concede that.

In a forum held earlier this week, state Rep. Mandela Barnes refused to acknowledge that the controversial sheriff shares the same race as the black legislator.

"We have one black countywide elected official . . . and I don't even accept him as black," said Barnes, a Milwaukee Democrat, prompting "oohs" from the crowd at the forum hosted by The Capital Times at the High Noon Saloon in Madison.

"All right -- are you tweeting this?" Journal Sentinel columnist Christian Schneider, another panelist, asked a Cap Times staffer, according to audio of the event (the exchange begins at 43 minutes).
"You can tweet -- you all have my permission to tweet that," Barnes said.

Who Would Deal with the Mets Now?

It appears that the NY Mets have blackballed themselves in the Baseball World.

In what appeared to be a trade deal between the Brewers and the Mets that had the whole Baseball world buzzing quickly got much more dramatic when the deal was called off late Wednesday night.

The Mets claim that Carlos Gomez has a hip injury that caused them to stop the trade.  However new reports have surfaced that said that they true breakdown of the trade was the Mets ever changing requests in the deal.  They appeared to be looking for a way out of the deal and made one up.  Not only did it stop the trade, but it has created issues for both organizations.

The Mets are most definitely the ones with egg on their face and now have made other teams probably pretty hesitant to deal with them.  They flat out through the Brewer GM under the bus in getting out of the trade and that is something you just don't do.

So the good news is, Gomez is still a Brewer, he is healthy and the Mets look like the idiots that they are.

Police Response Times Worse Year Later

A year ago it took the Milwaukee Police 22 minutes to respond to a fatal stabbing.  At the time, Police Chief Ed Flynn promised a complete review of the dispatching and police response.

Well now we find out that just last week an elderly woman called and reported a rape and this time it took the police 3 hours and 6 minutes to respond.  Wait, What?  Yep, after a year of supposedly reviewing the dispatch and police response times they are far worse.  Hey the good news as reported by the Milwaukee PD was that after a squad was finally dispatched to the call it only took 6 minutes to respond!!!! Really?  What about the 3 hours it took to actually dispatch a squad?

So what are the police doing about it?  Wait for it.

JSOnline:

"The Milwaukee Police Department is reviewing both our dispatch prioritization protocol and the handling of this specific call for service to ensure policy was followed and determine whether policy revision is needed, as the time from the initial call to the police and the dispatch of a squad was excessive," said Lt. Mark Stanmeyer.

Wisconsin Supreme Court ends Investigation into Walker

JSOnline:

Madison— Dealing Gov. Scott Walker a victory just as his presidential camapaign gets underway, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday the governor's campaign and conservative groups had not violated campaign finance laws in recall elections in 2011 and 2012.
The ruling means the likely end of the investigation, which has been stalled for 18 months after a lower court judge determined no laws were violated even if Walker's campaign and the groups had worked together as prosecutors believe.

It could also prompt the escalation of other litigation over the probe.
The ruling dealt with three pieces of litigation, and the justices split 4-2 on the campaign finance laws that were at the center of the probe.
Writing for the majority, Justice Michael Gableman found a key section of Wisconsin's campaign finance law is "unconstitutionally overbroad and vague" and that the activities prosecutors had investigated were not illegal.

"To be clear, this conclusion ends the John Doe investigation because the special prosecutor's legal theory is unsupported in either reason or law," Gableman wrote. "Consequently, the investigation is closed. Consistent with our decision and the order entered by Reserve Judge (Gregory) Peterson, we order that the special prosecutor and the district attorneys involved in this investigation must cease all activities related to the investigation, return all property seized in the investigation from any individual or organization, and permanently destroy all copies of information and other materials obtained through the investigation. All unnamed movants are relieved of any duty to cooperate further with the investigation."

 

What is going on in Milwaukee, Daily Shootings

The shooting continues in Milwaukee as another person was shot overnight.

The scary part is the age of some of these shooters.  A 13 year old was arrested for murdering another 13 year old.  Earlier in the day yesterday a 15 year old was ordered to stand trial as an adult for murder.

This has nothing to do with the gun laws in Wisconsin or anywhere else.  This is plain and simply the world these kids are growing up in.  The neighborhoods and the atmosphere that has been allowed to foster these things.

We need drastic changes and we need them now.

Milwaukee Becoming a Killing Zone

What is going on in Milwaukee?

The Police Chief, Ed Flynn, was just given another 4 year term by the Mayor and Fire and Police Commision?

Has any of these people turned on the news lately?  Milwaukee is so far ahead of its statistics in Homicides that  it is scare.  We are in the middle of 10 dead in 7 days?  Not to mention the numbers of kids being killed.

What is being done to stop this violence?  The Chief and Mayor blame the Legislature because of its gun laws.  Are you serious?  People who murder people aren't really all that concerned with laws period, let alone gun laws.  They put together and trumpeted a gun buyback program that fell apart, they had a hotline that got no calls, what next?

This DA has been trumpeted by the left for his programs to help keep African Americans out of jail.  We learned one of those that he kept out of Prison used his second chance to shoot a police officer.  How many more of these experiments by DA Chisholm have come back to haunt us?

There needs to be big changes in this city if they are truly going to take on this violence.  The Mayor, Chief of Police and DA all need to be replaced by someone that will take this seriously and quit trying to pin the blame on someone else.  It is your job to clean it up.

Milwaukee Bucks Ownership Lays out Plans for Entertainment District

The Ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks layed out the ambitious plans for a $1 Billion entertainment district and new arena.

There is little doubt that this would be a good thing for Milwaukee.  The problem is that the Milwaukee Mayor and the Milwaukee County Exec don't want to invest in this project.  Both have stayed out of the conversation except for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett supporting the State Government to help finance it.

We all are aware that Milwaukee will be hard pressed to find funding after agreeing to spend $100 Million plus on the Barrett StreetCar.

The Mayor of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee County Exec both want the Taxpayers of the entire state to help fund a major project in Milwaukee that will benefit Milwaukee?

Chief Justice of Wisconsin Supreme Court Files Lawsuit

It is amazing that the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court would file a lawsuit to try and hold on to the Chief Justice Title.

Even more amazing is that she signed the paperwork for lawsuit even before the voters of Wisconsin had voted to allow the other Justices to vote on the Chief Justice.

The Legislature and the voters have both decided that they want the Supreme Court Justices to vote for who they want to be the Chief Justice.  Apparently it is too important to Justice Shirley Abrahamson that she has filed suit to keep the job through 2019.

Amazing!!!  The Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has said that she doesn't care what the Constitutional Amendment says she is going to fight it.

Right to Work in Wisconsin Moving Through Legislature

The left is in an uproar that Right to Work legislation is moving through the Legislature at such a fast pace that people are being caught off guard. 

The problem is, Right to Work Legislation has been discussed at length for the last few years.  The legislation itself may be going through the process quickly, but it isn't a surprise to anyone.

It never ceases to amaze me at how the left can complain about the process when it is being used against them, but have absolutely no problem using it themselves.

The problem for the left and their supporters right now is that they really have no way to stop this legislation.  The right holds all the cards in Wisconsin.  They controlled both houses of the Legislature and the Governors office. 

Yes they will tell you all about how the great people of Wisconsin are against this and that, they will protest with all of their protestors, many from outside the state, but the problem for them is.....
The Great People of Wisconsin voted in this legislature and have also voted in the Governor repeatedly over the last 4 years.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin Hires High Powered Attorney

It appears that Sen. Tammy Baldwin is preparing for the fireworks coming her way. 

Right Wisconsin:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Dan Bice reports that Baldwin hired Marc Elias, a high powered Washington D.C. attorney, for representation in any court proceedings that might occur as a result of the termination of staffer Marquette Baylor. Baylor was fired in the wake of reports that Baldwin's office failed to act on a report of opiate abuse at the Tomah VA that resulted in the death of a Marine.

So who is this Attorney?  Read more from Right Wisconsin:

According to a Washington Free Beacon profile last Fall, Elias "has long been the legal mind that guides Democrats through troubled waters." Just look at his resume from recent years.

 

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La.), for example, brought in Elias to handle the storm that arose when it became clear that Senate funds were used to pay for private charter flights, including for campaign events.

 

Elias conducted a full review of Landrieu’s travel expenses, and wrote a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee assuring it that all future taxpayer-funded charter flights would be “cleared in advance by counsel.”

 

Elias’ review resulted in Landrieu reimbursing the federal government $33,727.

 

He was also the lawyer brought in by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) when she was accused of improperly using government funds to pay for charter flights, and wound up returning $88,000 to the Treasury Department.

 

Elias was also the lawyer brought in by Sen. Kay Hagan (D., N.C.) when it became clear that her husband received hundreds of thousands worth of federal stimulus money.

 

“[Hagan’s] only involvement [with the stimulus grants] was when she made sure that a respected ethics attorney was consulted to ensure that it was appropriate, and the attorney found that it was,” said Hagan’s spokeswoman Sadie Weiner.

 

Kentucky Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes’s brought in Elias when it was revealed that she was using vehicles, including a luxurious tour bus, that were owned by her father’s catering company explicitly for her campaign.

 

Elias issued a statement in response to the Politico report that Grimes was violating campaign finance laws, and argued that the bus was being rented from her father’s company at “normal and usual” rates and therefore the campaign was in compliance with all laws.

 

Reid turned to Elias earlier this year when it was revealed that his campaign directed $31,000 to his granddaughter and wrote it off on filings as “holiday gifts.”

 

Elias employed what was described as a “rope-a-dope” strategy to the FEC inquiry, sending back a response that contained little to no additional information beyond the “holiday gift” description. The strategy got the FEC off the campaigns back for enough time for Reid to reimburse the money and settle the issue.

 

Elias is not just some Washington D.C. lawyer. He is the go-to lawyer for Democrats in very deep trouble. He is the guy they call in to put out the fires and save the bacon of elected Democrats.

Stolen Cars Issue in Milwaukee

What happens if your car gets stolen in or around Milwaukee?  Don't ask.

It all started with a TV News investigation of a man who got his car stolen from a Milwaukee suburb.  He reported it stolen.  He got the call that they had found his car, it was totaled and he needed to come have it towed away from the accident scene.  Then weeks later he was hit with a past due parking ticket from when it was stolen.  That is when the story really took off.  The parking ticket was issued while the car was stolen.  He had to send in proof that the car was stolen.  The bigger question was why wasn't the car taken when they issued the ticket? It had been reported stolen.

Well here is where we found out something that we didn't know.  In Milwaukee, the parking checkers only have a list of cars reported stolen in Milwaukee, not the suburbs.  What?  With the technology we have today they only have Milwaukee?  Yep,  that is what the DPW says.  They claim that the handhelds that the parking checkers use doesn't have enough space to hold the database required.  So we can afford a $120+ Million street car, but can't even get the technology to help stop car theft?

Then the story went to a local radio talk show and boy did things really become pretty clear of how car theft is handled in the city of Milwaukee.  Basically if your car is stolen good luck and go get a new one.

The radio show was call after call from people who talked about their stolen car stories.  Multiple reports of cars stolen and ticketed by the Parking checkers, some even stolen in the city of Milwaukee.  Guess the database in the handhelds couldn't even handle the Milwaukee stolen car list. 

What was even worse was the apparent low priority the Milwaukee Police put on car theft.  Many of the callers reported that when they were notified of the tickets they were able to go find their cars.  However the Milwaukee Police never responded and even in some cases told the victims to use their spare keys and go get the car themselves.  Really?

The are several things that the story really made crystal clear.  Milwaukee has a car theft issue, 21 cars reported stolen just a couple of days ago.  If you steal a car from the suburbs you can cruise around Milwaukee without much worry of being caught.  Lastly if you get your car stolen, good luck and don't wait for that call that they have your car, they really aren't looking for it.

I know the Milwaukee Police probably have a lot more important things on their plate than stolen cars.  However I keep hearing about all this money that we need to spend to make Milwaukee a destination for the new younger and hipper worker.  I am pretty sure that having a lower crime rate is one of them.

More Bad News for Sen. Tammy Baldwin

It would appear that things are going getting much worse for Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

JSOnline:

A former top staffer to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has rejected a proposed severance deal that would have required her to remain silent regarding what she knew about the problems at the troubled Tomah VA Medical Center.

Now Marquette Baylor, ex-deputy state director for Baldwin and chief of her Milwaukee office, has hired a team of attorneys to explore litigation for wrongful termination or sexual discrimination. A source said Baylor believes she was one of the highest ranking heterosexuals on Baldwin's staff.
Baldwin is the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate.

"The deadline has passed, and Marquette rejected the offer," said one source close to Baylor.
A second source said the issue is now "in the senator's court."

"Marquette didn't want to be hogtied by the deal," the second source said. "She can now move on without any restrictions."

Baldwin's office had no comment. Bill Murat, Baldwin's chief of staff, was in Milwaukee on Tuesday but declined to talk to a reporter who visited the office.
The senator had clearly wanted this issue to go away.

But that's not going to happen.

No Quarter reported that Baldwin canned Baylor on Jan. 22in response to the growing controversy at the troubled Tomah VA Medical Center. Baylor made $80,000 in 2014.

But Baldwin and her staff won't even acknowledge terminating Baylor. More important, they won't disclose the proposed five-figure severance deal offered to Baylor that would have required her to keep quiet about the Tomah mess.

Now the head of the state Republican Party is calling on the first-term Democratic senator — in the middle of the biggest controversy of her career — to disclose the terms of the secret proposal.
"Baylor's allies are directly connecting Senator Baldwin to this questionable deal and coverup, and Baldwin should have the integrity to stop hiding and address this serious situation," said Joe Fadness, executive director of the state GOP.

Protestors Again Target Walker's Private Residence

The Unions and their supporters got together and again decided that it was a good idea to protest the private residence of Gov. Walker.

They have tried this several times in the past and have done little more than draw backlash from people who also live in the area and from people who believe that you shouldn't be targeting the families of Politicians.

Personally I find it totally ridiculous to attack a Politician at their home or their family.  If you want to protest go ahead, do it at their offices.

How about a bunch of people get together and go picket and protest in front of these people's homes.  In front of their families.  I am sure that they wouldn't much care for it either.

There just is no respect and decorum left.

Federal Judge Stops Obama's Immigration Action

Finally we are seeing Checks and Balances enter back into the Federal System.

The sad part is that this was done at the behest of the States and not Congress.

FOX News:

A federal judge has granted a request by 26 states to temporarily block President Obama's executive action on illegal immigration, allowing a lawsuit aimed at permanently stopping the orders to make its way through the courts.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen granted the preliminary injunction Monday after hearing arguments in Brownsville, Texas last month. He wrote in a memorandum accompanying his order that the lawsuit should go forward and that without a preliminary injunction the states will "suffer irreparable harm in this case."

"The genie would be impossible to put back into the bottle," he wrote, adding that he agreed with the plaintiffs' argument that legalizing the presence of millions of people is a "virtually irreversible" action.

The first of Obama's orders -- to expand a program that protects young immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. illegally as children -- was set to start taking effect Wednesday. The other major part of Obama's order, which extends deportation protections to parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for some years, was not expected to begin until May 19.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, in a statement, reiterated the administration's position that Obama's executive actions were within the bounds of the law -- and indicated they would appeal.

Obama Failing to Lead on ISIS

Remember the old saying that came out of the Presidential elections "Are you safer today than 4 years ago?"

Well there is no doubt that Obama would most certainly fail that test.

The World is a Much More Dangerous Place.

Just 1 year ago Obama called ISIS the JV Team.  I think that no matter what party you align with you can agree that Obama was dead wrong on that.

Not only is ISIS not the JV Team, but so far they appear to be much more than anyone has been able to deal with.  At least way more than our President has been willing to handle.  He declared that we were going after them and only hit them sporadically  through the air.  He claimed it would take time and we would need to be patient.

ISIS has appeared to get stronger and we have seem them incite attacks in France and Libya and Denmark.  We sure don't appear to be making much headway. 

Obama has said that this really is a fight that needs to be handled by Countries in the Middle East.  I agree that they should be heavily involved.  However we have the Strength and Technology to really make a difference in this war and we don't seem to be willing to really put the full might of the U.S. Military behind this.

If there was much doubt, this is basically turning out to be the start of a Modern World War.  The United States has always been a leader and now it seems we are failing to be that.  Jordan, Kurds and Egypt have all stepped up and gone full speed at ISIS.  Yet we are hearing multiple reports that in their fight they have failed to get assistance from us.  Not just arms, but intelligence and targeting information.

What is Obama doing?  Does he really still think this is the JV?

Rumors of a Russ Feingold Return?

The rumors are flying and the Democrats seem to be set on a return of Russ Feingold?

Russ Feingold? 

Seriously I am not sure what the left could possibly be thinking if they are trying to resurrect the career of former Sen. Russ Feingold.

Feingold was once considered a career politician in Wisconsin.  He was thought to have the senate in the palm of his hand and in control of his career.  Right up until the point that he was beaten by Sen. Ron Johnson.

Wisconsin has since continued to tilt more to the right and has done so in amazing fashion. 

For the Democrats to try and go back to the well and resurrect the career of a politician who was way left seems to be a desperate attempt at a hail marry.

Republicans have to be thrilled at the prospects of a rematch between the former Senator and the Senator who beat him.  Johnson won 52%-47%. 

This should be an interesting watch as the election cycle comes more into focus.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin Under Fire as VA Scandal Grows

Sen. Tammy Baldwin for the most part has pretty much just enjoyed being in Washington DC collecting a paycheck.  She really hasn't appeared to do much for her constituents in the state of Wisconsin.  Going with the flow and being a reliable vote for the Democratic Party.

Now as a new allegation at the Tomah VA has surfaced, Baldwin again appears to have tried to deflect her responsibility.

Right Wisconsin:

"I would have thought that given the circumstances and the scrutiny she has been under, she would have done more," said Candace Baer-Delis, whose father died last month after suffering a stroke as he waited to be seen at the urgent care clinic at the Tomah medical center.

Baer-Delis wrote to the Madison Democrat and to Oshkosh Republican Sen. Ron Johnson on Jan. 28, two weeks after her father's death – and one week after Gannett Wisconsin Media reported Baldwin had a damning inspection report on the Tomah facility but did not act on it for months.

Baer-Delis said she outlined what happened to her dad, Thomas Patrick Baer, 74, of Marshfield, noting that he waited hours for treatment, suffered two strokes, and received no anti-clotting medications and no CT scan because the center's CT scanner was broken.

Later follow-up by Gannett Wisconsin Reporter Donovan Slack on the situation uncovered that when Baldwin reached out to Baer family, they hung up on the senator essentially telling her it was ‘too little, too late.’

The Media Bias with Brian Williams

So NBC has announced the suspension without pay of Anchor Brian Williams.

I find it amazing that these news organizations only react to the pressure of the public instead of doing the right thing because it is the right thing.

You have countless news organizations out there who on a regular basis report bad information and/or just make things up.  Very rarely is there any consequences to those acts until there is a major uproar from the public.  Heck, Brian Williams has been telling this story for a decade and it takes a backlash from Stars and Stripes and the Public to finally intervene before NBC did anything about it.  Sadly even NBC reportedly had told Williams to quit telling the story prior to this, so they must have already known something. 

What happened to the days of these organizations just reporting on the news and letting us form our own opinions?  Now it seems to be all about selling their philosophy on us and spinning the news to make their points.  It no longer really is about the news. 

Now you have networks who devote their entire newscasts to selling one political party over another.  You have networks who won't report news that makes their chosen party look bad or the other party look good.  It isn't about the raw news anymore.  

Menomonee Tribe/Hard Rock Offer Up $220 Million for Bucks Arena

In a brilliant move by the Menomonee Tribe and the Hard Rock folks, offering up $220 million to pay for the Bucks new arena if Gov. Walker approves their new casino. 

What a smart move.  The $220 million is exactly what the state was expected to bond out to help pay for the arena.  They have essentially taken the state out of the mix, if Walker approves their new casino.

I don't know all the workings of the pacts and agreements that former Gov. Jim Doyle agreed to, but it makes sense to approve the new casino. 

It will add jobs, revitalize an area of the state that has been hard hit for years economically.  Lastly it will provide competition to the Potawotami casino.  Competition is always good for the customers. 

Not to mention the way that the Potawotami have gone about opposing the new casino has been nothing short of a child throwing a temper tantrum.  Withholding funds owed to the state, kicking and screaming.  All of that after they were allowed to expand onto their casino.

Illinois Governor Follows Walker Lead and Faces Off With Labor Unions

Illinois has been the poster child for the worst way to do things for years.  Now they are starting to make changes that could put them back on a path out of the abyss they are in.

FOX News:

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner struck a first official blow on Monday against the public sector labor unions he has frequently criticized by ordering an end to a requirement that workers pay dues even if they decide not to join a union.

His executive order sets up a fight with the state's powerful labor unions, a key ally of members of the Democratic-led Legislature, just as Illinois has begun divided government for the first time in more than a decade. Unions immediately lashed back, while top Democrats questioned the legality of Rauner's action and said their legal teams would review it.

Rauner, a wealthy businessman and self-described admirer of governors in Wisconsin and Indiana who've championed anti-union policies, said 6,500 state employees are paying so-called "fair share" dues, or an average of $577 a year per worker.

Rauner frequently criticized organized labor during his campaign for governor, saying they hinder economic growth by stifling competition and have far too much political influence in President Obama's Democratic-leaning home state.

"These forced union dues are a critical cog in the corrupt bargaining that is crushing taxpayers," Rauner said, adding that forcing non-union employees to pay union dues requires them to fund political activity they don't agree with.

Rauner said he took action after a U.S. Supreme Court decision last July that found state labor law violated the First Amendment by mandating home health care workers have union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks.

Obama Ready for Congress Approval on ISIS

In the face of growing criticism about ISIS, the President is preparing to seek authorization from Congress on using Military against ISIS.

Obama is finally going to seek the proper authority?

The problem for the Administration is, they may not get the authority from Congress. 

It isn't that Congress isn't ready to take out ISIS, the problem is the Obama Administration.  They have no plan to deal with the growing threat from ISIS.  Their plan is to keep dropping bombs. 

Every expert has said that it will take ground troops to destroy the threat.  It doesn't necessarily have to be our ground troops, but we do have to be a leader and rally the forces. 

Brian Williams of NBC News Makes Up Story

It seems that NBC Newsman, Brian Williams has been doing a little more than embellishing a story.  He has flat out lied.

He has on multiple occasions told a story of how he was involved in a situation in the Gulf War in 2003.  The event involved a Helicopter he was supposedly on being shot down. 

However, now the truth is coming out.  He was never on the Helicopter, nor was he ever in grave danger.  People who were actually involved have come forward and told the real story. 

As Paul Harvey would put it, "Now for the rest of the story"

Williams was actually on a different Helicopter that arrived at the scene of the incident after the fact and that he was never in any real danger. 

I guess that doesn't make for as good a story.

Then to make matters worse, Williams failed attempt at an apology.  He claims he didn't remember the story right. 

Really?  You didn't remember that it wasn't your helicopter being hit with an RPG and fire? 

Obama Getting It from All Sides on ISIS

As Obama continues his no plan on ISIS, Both Republicans and Democrats are on the full attack to get aide and in some cases even troops to Jordan to go after ISIS.

This could be a defining moment in the battle against ISIS and the Lawmakers know it. 

Obama doesn't seem to understand that yet.

FOX News:

McCain and the rest of the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee later urged the administration to do more -- specifically, to help Jordan in its own military campaign after a captured Jordanian pilot was burned alive by the Islamic State.

Jordan's King Abdullah II has vowed to strike back, and already has launched airstrikes against ISIS over Syria in response. Reports from the Middle East said the latest strikes killed 55 members of ISIS, including a senior commander known as the "Prince of Nineveh."
According to U.S. lawmakers who met with Abdullah on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the king has asked for more military assistance from the U.S.

"They literally need ammo, bombs, and they need fuel," Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., told Fox News on Thursday. He also urged the Pentagon to embed troops with the Jordanian military and other fighting forces, so they could help call for U.S. airpower as needed.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also said Thursday the administration should "move quickly to give more capacity to the Jordanians."

Republicans and Democrats alike are pressing the Obama administration to move swiftly to provide aircraft parts, night-vision equipment and other weapons to Jordan.

Obama Failing against ISIS

As we watch ISIS continue to Terrorize the World with the Videos of people captured and tortured, we are still content with dropping Bombs.

Every report and indication is that this group is the bad of the bad when it comes to terrorists and we are taking a more hands off approach. 

No one wants to go to war and send American Lives in harms way, but it doesn't appear that the Strategy by the Obama Administration is making much headway.

What is our next move?

Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman Putting Our Safety at Risk

Alderman Bob Bauman is the man in charge of issuing licenses for Cab Drivers.  He chairs the Public Works Committee and he thinks they are doing a good Job.

Really?

TMJ4 took a look and it doesn't appear Alderman Bauman cares much about our safety.

TMJ4:

MILWAUKEE - The next time you are in the back seat of a city-licensed taxi, you could be sharing a ride with a convicted felon or a driver with a checkered history behind the wheel.

For more than a year, the I-Team has been keeping track as a city committee responsible for weeding out troubled taxi drivers approved all but one person to appear before them.

 

Alderman Bob Bauman chairs the Public Works Committee, and believes it has been doing the job well.

 

"Are we vetting people? Absolutely," Bauman said.

 

Bauman's committee comes into play when Milwaukee Police object to a public passenger license application.

 

Those objections happen for a variety of reasons, including criminal violations or driving infractions.

 

In 2014, the I-Team watched as police raised objections to applications made by drunk drivers, sex offenders, even a man convicted of a felony fatal hit and run.

 

Of the 79 applications where police objected and the prospective driver appealed to the committee, the challenge was overruled and the license granted all but once.

 

"We look at the nature of the offense, we ask the applicant to explain the circumstances, we evaluate their credibility, and in most cases we do grant the license," Bauman said.

 

What this means is drunk drivers and sex offenders were all approved to drive a taxi in the city of Milwaukee.

United Steelworkers Union Plans to Make Us Pay More

The United Steelworkers are calling for a strike at the refinery's. 

As they plan to force the hand on a new contract, we will be the ones paying the price.  If the refinery's start seeing a reduction in production and there is any type of interruption, guess who pays the price?  We will, with higher prices at the pump.

It was nice while it lasted.

Seattle Gives Away Super Bowl

I said it as the play unfolded, "What are they doing?"

As I watched Wilson drop back, I was trying to figure out what in the world was on the minds of the Seahawks.

You are at the 1 yard line with one of the best Running Backs in the game and you try to pass?

The only thing that I can believe is that they thought they would catch the Patriots off guard and sneak one in there.  However that didn't work.  It will go down as one of the worst play calls in history.

You have to give your Running Back and Offensive Line the opportunity in that situation to win the game. 

Obama Left Doctor Who Helpted Get Bin Laden Behind

It is this type of thinking by this Administration that has left the United States with very few trusted Allies. 

Who would want to stick their neck out there and help us now?  Knowing how the President will just use you and leave you on your own once we accomplish our goals.

FOX News:

The wife and children of the Pakistani doctor credited with having helped the United States find Osama bin Laden are in increasing fear for their lives and should be evacuated from Pakistan immediately, friends and supporters close to them say in exclusive interviews with FoxNews.com
Shakeel Afridi, 51 – called a traitor in Pakistan, but a hero in the U.S. after the May 2011 SEAL Team 6 raid that killed the al Qaeda leader – remains in isolation in a Pakistani jail, where his bid for a review of his 2012 conviction for “terrorism links” has been stalled since last March.

Afridi’s wife, meanwhile, is in hiding with their two sons and a daughter, fearful they’ll become targets of groups within Pakistan – Taliban among them – who’ve declared their determination to seek revenge for bin Laden’s killing.

“I am sorry to say that (the) U.S. government is doing nothing for him,” Qamar Nadeem Afridi, the doctor’s lawyer and also a cousin, told FoxNews.com.

President Obama – during his 2012 re-election campaign – touted the killing of bin Laden as one of his administration’s first-term achievements.

Mitt Romney Out of 2016 Field

Mitt Romney has decided to stay out of the 2016 Race. 

I still think that he will be a major factor in shaping the race early on.  He has already showed that many of the things that he brought to the table during the last election, were things that should have been addressed.

This doesn't narrow the field much, but it takes a major player out of the race.

Hillary Clinton "Rush to War'

I thought this was an interesting read.

Especially considering the current climate around the world and the potential for Hillary to be running yet again for the Presidency.

FOX News:

Pentagon officials were so concerned with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's push in 2011 to back Libyan rebels against Muammar Qaddafi that they opened their own back-channels with Qaddafi to try and prevent the U.S. from entering the civil war, according to a report that cited newly uncovered audio tapes.

According to a report Thursday in The Washington Times, Pentagon officials used an intelligence "liaison" to communicate with Qaddafi's son and a top Libyan leader outside of White House or State Department knowledge. A senior Democratic congressman also reportedly was involved.
The conversations were secretly recorded. The Washington Times reviewed and authenticated them with the participants, according to the paper.

That unnamed intermediary, who is referred to as an intelligence "asset" working for the Pentagon, not only conducted the conversations with Qaddafi's son, but reportedly shared his concern that Clinton was unnecessarily hyping the danger of a potential genocide by the regime as a way to drag Congress into and shift public opinion in favor of an invasion.

"You should see these internal State Department reports that are produced in the State Department that go out to the Congress. They're just full of stupid, stupid facts," the U.S. intermediary reportedly told the Qaddafi regime in 2011. The paper said the liaison was "specifically dispatched by the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

Armed with a United Nations resolution, the U.S. led international bombing raids against the Qaddafi regime in March 2011, eventually aiding the rebels in ousting the longtime dictator, whom they killed.

Since the fall of the regime, insurgencies have beleaguered the struggling new government there. Weapons sent by the U.S. to the opposition have fallen into the hands of Islamist fighters, some who later helped engineer the coup in Mali, according to reports.

What is it about the Deficit that Politicians Don't Get?

As Obama has announced that he will push for a full rollback of the Sequester Cuts on top of his additional proposed spending, what is about the Deficit that Politicians just don't get?

Under Obama we have seen our Deficit Skyrocket.  We are going deeper and deeper into debt.  How far can we go into debt before we collapse?

Everybody knows that you can't continue to spend above your means forever.  Eventually those bills come due.  When and how far is that away for the United States?

Eventually there will be a day of reckoning for the United States. 

We have done nothing to cut the deficit.  Yes we keep hearing about how we are cutting our deficit, but that is simply a play on language.  Obama says that he is cutting the deficit spending, but what he really means is that he is borrowing less money than he was.  He is still spending more than we take in, He is just not borrowing as much per year as he was.

The only true way to cut the deficit is to start making the tough decisions.  Start living within a budget that only spends what we take in.  We can't keep spending money that we simply don't have.  We actually have to spend less than we actually make and start paying off this deficit. 

The problem is that we can't do that in the environment that we currently have.  Everyone agrees that we need to cut spending, they just don't want anything cut that might affect them. 

It really isn't that hard.  Politicians have to start making the tough decisions.  We need to take a hard look and make the necessary cuts.  If we make the necessary cuts to get spending under control, then I think that you could raise taxes on an interim basis to help pay off the deficit.

The problem we have now is that people don't want to pay in more when it will only be spent on more things and not help the deficit.  We refuse to give them more and more of our money when they can't control what they are spending now.

Where is the Local Leadership on Milwaukee Bucks New Arena

Governor Walker made his announcement to pledge $220 Million in State Loans to help build the new arena.

The former Owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and the New Owners have both pledged Millions to help build the new arena.

Where is Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrette?  Where is County Executive Chris Abele?

Both of these men represent the local area and the biggest benefactors of the new arena.  Where are they at on the Project? 

Tom Barrett is all about spending $120+ Million on his new street car, but where is he on the new arena?  Is he willing to lose the Milwaukee Bucks so he can have his street car?

This is yet another example in a long list of examples of failed leadership in the Milwaukee area.

Democrats Blast of Walker's Job Growth as Dead Last Proven Wrong Again

The latest numbers to come out on year-to-year job growth by the BLS is showing Wisconsin's job growth as second in the Midwest.  Second!  Not "Dead Last"!

Right Wisconsin:

The election may be over, the good news on Wisconsin’s jobs numbers continues.

Long a talking point by Democrats, the pace of Wisconsin’s jobs growth during the Walker years has been criticized by his critics. Now according to the latest year-to-year data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin is now has the second-fastest rate of job growth in the Midwest.
 

Wisconsin ranks 2nd among Midwest states in rate of year-over-year private sector job growth from December 2013 to December 2014, according to today's release of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) state-by-state employment and unemployment estimates. When looking at number of jobs added, Wisconsin ranked second in the Midwest and 14th in the nation and with 54,100 private sector jobs created.

"Wisconsin's economy continues to improve under the leadership of Governor Walker," Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Newson said. "The latest available data shows Wisconsin led every neighboring state and ranked second in the Midwest in year-over-year rate of private sector job growth. At DWD we will continue to support and train Wisconsin's workforce to meet the needs of our expanding economy."

Gov. Walker Agrees to Put Up $220 Million for New Arena

Gov. Walker announced just a few minutes ago that he supports the building of a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks by putting up $220 Million in State funding.

They have figured out a way to do so without raising taxes or cutting anything out of the budget.

The funding will come in the shape of bonds that will be paid back with increased income from the so called Jock Tax in future growth.

Expiration of Long Term Unemployment Benefits Credited with Job Surge

As if there really was any question that the Long Term Unemployment Benefits had caused many who could have been out working to stay home and collect the check from the government.

FOX News:

WashEx: “Sixty percent of job creation in 2014 was caused by the expiration of unemployment benefits, according to a new working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. In late 2013, a standoff between Republicans and Democrats led to the abrupt expiration of long-term unemployment benefits. Democrats warned that the expiration would have disastrous ramifications, but Republicans had long argued that allowing Americans to collect unemployment benefits for an indefinite period of time provided a disincentive for them to work. The new working paper found that the expiration of benefits was responsible for the creation of over 1.8 million jobs. Nearly 1 million of those jobs were created by workers who would have otherwise stayed out of the labor force if unemployment benefits had been extended. Overall, almost 3 million jobs were created in 2014.”

Soldier Who was Traded for Top Terrorists to be Charged with Desertion

FOX News is reporting that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier who Obama exchanged five (5) Gitmo detainees for in a prisoner swap, is going to be charged with Desertion.

Many in the Obama inner circle want this to go away.  This news will most definitely call in to question the whole prisoner exchange that ignited a firestorm when it was done.  Now those opposed to it will have the smoking gun for their argument.

FOX News:

Retired Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, who now works at the London Center for Policy Research, told Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" Monday night that he's learned of the military's decision from two sources.

"The Army has come to its conclusion, and Bowe Bergdahl ... will be charged with desertion," he said.

Asked for comment on the claim, Army officials denied that any decision had been made. Spokesman Paul Boyce told Fox News on Tuesday that there is "no change" and that it is an "ongoing review at this time."

Eugene Fidell, Bergdahl's lawyer, did not comment when reached by Fox News.
But Shaffer said Bergdahl's attorney has been given a "charge sheet" outlining the section of the military justice code Bergdahl allegedly violated.

"As a corporate entity, the Army has decided that they want to pursue Bergdahl for this violation," Shaffer said.

Shaffer said there's a "huge battle" going on inside the Obama administration, as some try to "suppress" this development. "This is shaping up to be a titanic struggle behind the scenes," he said.
Shaffer said the Army "wants to do the right thing," but the White House "wants this to go away."

Today I Dropped Dropkick Murphys

I used to like to listen to Dropkick Murphys, but after I read that they "literally hate" Gov Walker I literally got rid of all Dropkick stuff.

I respect everyone to have an opinion, but that type of opinion is enough for me to Dropkick them to the curb.

Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin Pays Staffer to Keep Quiet

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin has been facing backlash since news broke that she sat on a VA Report of over-medicating at the Tomah VA in the state of Wisconsin.

News that her office has sat on the report for months and had even been in contact with a Whistle blower, yet they did nothing.

She has now fired a top aide in the State and has reportedly paid a cash payout for the former employee to not discuss the incident.

This revelation pretty much answers the question of whether Sen. Baldwin has anything to hide.

Right Wisconsin:

Senator Tammy Baldwin is in full damage control mode this week, firing a staffer and penning an op-ed apologizing for how her staff sat on a report of abuse at the VA center in Tomah and ignored the pleas of a whistleblower.

 

Dan Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported the firing of a staffer.

 

Under fire for her office's inaction over alleged overmedication at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin abruptly ousted one of her top state staffers late last week.

 

Marquette Baylor — deputy state director for Baldwin and chief of her Milwaukee office — was let go on Thursday without explanation. Baylor has been offered a cash payout as part of a severance package if the former aide agrees to keep her lips zipped.

 

"It looks like they're trying to pin the blame on her," a source said of Baylor's dismissal by Baldwin.

 

But Ryan Honl — a former Tomah VA employee who has acted as a whistle-blower — said Sunday that Baylor is just one of several Baldwin staffers who mishandled the matter and should be let go.

 

He said he talked with Baylor for two hours in late November about the problems at the Tomah medical center and that the Baldwin aide discouraged him from going public with his concerns, saying that doing so might get her and others fired.

 

Honl said he was not happy that Baldwin was offering Baylor a severance deal.

 

"I get run out of my job and she gets a golden parachute for (expletive) veterans?" Honl asked incredulously.

Walker Makes Huge Impression in Iowa

If there was any question as to what Gov. Walker's thoughts might be about making a run for the White House, this last weekend may have sealed the deal.

Walker came out of Iowa with rave reviews and a skyrocketing reputation among the GOP. 

Many people believe that this was the test that Walker wanted to take and see where he landed.

He landed far ahead of expectations.

Obama Adminstration Threatens Israeli Leader over meeting Congress

So Obama is indeed under the impression that he is the Supreme Leader of the United States.

His Administration has decided that they are going to punish the Israeli Leader for coming and address Congress.  They aren't even being quiet about it.

They are whining and throwing a preschooler temper tantrum about it his visit not being done by protocol. You can't be serious?  This President and Administration has broken so many rules and protocols that they can't seriously think we buy that line.

Obama doesn't want to work with Congress, but he sure doesn't want them to go at it without him.

Welcome to reality Mr. Obama!!!

DOJ Not Charging Officer Wilson in Ferguson Case

It would appear that all the uproar in Ferguson was poorly misguided by the so called Black Leadership in America. 

President Obama, AG Holder and the likes of Al Sharpton all seem to have gotten it seriously wrong in Ferguson, Missouri.

Remember when the Black Teen was shot by the Ferguson Police Officer?  Hands up don't Shoot?

Remember the Obama Administration getting involved very early?

Well not only did a Grand Jury not find any evidence to press charges against the Police Officer, it now appears that the DOJ investigation by AG Holder is also not finding the evidence to press charges.

All of that destruction and lawlessness in Ferguson that was so understandable by the so called Black Leadership is now quietly being washed away.  How very sad the state of America.  How very sad that all the personal attacks on the Police Officer are quietly being wiped away.  How very sad that our very own President and AG didn't show the leadership that could have avoided such an event can be wiped away with barely a whisper from the Media that covered the event wall to wall at the time.  How very sad that the Police Officer and his family was victimized by the Media and the Black Leadership including our President and AG, and when he his cleared, not more that a small whisper from the same people.

This is where we stand in the New America.  This is just how far we have come.

State Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) Attacks Sobleman - Wants Milwaukee to Reconsider Permit

This is how Democrat State Rep. Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) will treat you if you disagree with him on an issue.  He not only trashes a local business Owner, but he trashes the employees and appears to claim the area is dangerous to be in at night.  Nice.

He also seems to think that it is OK to retaliate by pushing to have his seating permit revoked!!

Democrat State Rep Josh Zepnick - Milwaukee

 

Right Wisconsin:

 

In his post, Zepnick wrote:

"Sobelman really piss me off on this one. Talk about no civic pride for a place that profits off of my city…good food, but you go there: its crowded, staff is snotty/cranky all the frickin time, parking sucks, and its not safe at night. Hope City reconsiders his sidewalk seating permit for this summer!!! Bwa ha ha…"

Several Milwaukee Business Support Street Care, Really?

The Mayor and Council are touting the open letter from several businesses in Milwaukee that have come out in support of the Street Car.

Many of the names attached to the letter are big name companies here. 

I would imagine that would be in support of anything that may help them.  Why wouldn't they be in support of the taxpayers spending millions to help their businesses. 

I have a novel idea.  Why don't those businesses partner up with the taxpayers.  Why don't they put in money to help pay for this? 

I know they are going to say that this will spur development in which they are investing in that will help.  I call BS.  They want us to spend millions that will spur their investing in their business and yes it will give us more tax dollars.  Those tax dollars will be spent by our great leaders.  You aren't helping me.  You are taking my money to help yourself and your business. 

If this Street Car is such a great idea then put your money in the pot to help pay for it. 

We have a lot of immediate issues here in Milwaukee that $100+ Million would really help.  Even if this Street Car is a good idea, we would not see a benefit from it for several years.  How long can we go with falling apart streets, failing schools, etc.?  By the time we see the so called benefits and the so called economic growth, how much further will be?

Wisconsin GOP Takes on Liberal Activist

The lefts is crying foul as the Wisconsin GOP Controlled Legislature is taking on the Liberal Activist in the Government Accountability Board as well as the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

After the GAB spent the last several years wrapped up in the John Doe Investigation with Milwaukee DA John Chisholm and acted without authority, the Legislature is set to make some changes to ensure that their ability to use the system to benefit one party over the other is stopped.  Of course the GAB and the Left is crying.  It has been used to their benefit for the last several years and they don't want to lose that advantage.  Not that it has really helped them much.

The Legislature is also set to put into motion changes to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  The Court has been in disarray for quite some time and most people with a brain can figure out that it is the Chief Justice responsible for it.  The current system allows for the longest sitting Supreme Court Justice to be the Chief Justice.  The Legislature would like to have the court vote to decide who the Chief Justice should be.  Before the the Legislature could get this change done, they would have to approve it again and then it would be sent to the voters for approval.

Anytime you allow the Voters to approve something is a very good thing.

Majority in Journal Sentinel Poll Rate Obama Speech as Poor

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, well known as a liberal paper, poll shows that 51% of respondents rated the President's SOTU as Poor.  That compared to only 32% rating it as excellent.

As Democrats try to convince us that things are turning around and the President is gaining support, it doesn't really help when a paper such as the Journal Sentinel has a poll where it's readers rate the speech as poor.

The Journal Sentinel is a staunch supporter of the Democrats and the Left.  They regularly attack the GOP and the Right and was seen as a leading force in backing efforts to take down Gov. Walker during the Recall and the last election.

Very rarely do you see any attacks on the Left or even reporting that would shed a Democrat in a bad light. 

Yet with all of that said, there very own readers rate the President's Speech as poor?  That is not good for the Democrats.

When Will Politicians Get It?

President Obama held his State of the Union Address last night and again we find the same old thing coming out of Washington, Spend, Spend, Spend.

When will Politicians get it?

Spending is great if you have the money.  In case they forgot to take a look at our dismal budget, we are $18 Trillion in debt!!!!

Spending has to stop and we have to start living within the budget and paying off that debt.  We can't just keep adding more and more spending and thinking that the best answer is to tax more to cover the additional spending.

I think that if these people would get serious and say:

OK, we are not adding no more spending to our budget, in fact we are going to go through item by item and cut spending as much as possible.  We are going to be will within our budget and we are going to raise taxes to start paying as much as we can against this mounting debt. 

You would be amazed at the support that you would get from the American People. 

Sure, you are going to have the crowd that will complain about their handouts and entitlements, but you know what?  We can't sustain the levels of spending and handouts that we have!

Look Back at Green Bay vs Seattle

Now that we have had a few days to let the debacle of the Green Bay vs Seattle game settle in, lets look back at the game.

As I sat in the airport watching the game I distinctly remember wondering what the hell McCarthy was thinking when we kicked the first field goal?  I was thinking that it was pretty early in the game to not be trying to set the tone.  Even if we don't make it you pin them against their own goal line.  However he settled for the 3 points.

Almost immediately we again are right on their goal line.  Now we have to punch it in and make this a two score game and punish them for their mistake.  Nope again we settle for the 3 points.  Twice we are right there and we aren't even a touchdown ahead of them.

I thought immediately that the Packers were in real trouble. 

They weren't playing the game the Packer way.  They weren't going for it.  They were playing not to lose.  They were already being way to conservative.  You could see it in the players behavior each time the offense was pulled off the field for the field goal team.  Coaches and Players were not on the same page.

Sure you can look at several instances of mistakes by the Packers, but it really boiled down to the first two drives.  Those drives set the mind set for this game.  They were the ones that kept the Seahawks in the game.

StreetCar Referendum Petition Picking Up Support

Organizers for the Petition to hold a referendum on the Street Car say that they have had an overwhelming response.  If they get enough signatures, it will send the final say to the taxpayers of Milwaukee and not just the Mayor and the Council.

I have seen the supporters of the Street Car bashing the petition.  I have read where they are telling people that they are not informed and should not sign the petition.  They then argue there point for the Street Car.

First of all, what is wrong with it going to a referendum?  Why shouldn't the Tax Payers have the final say?

The referendum is a win for the Tax Payers.  It will force it be voted on by the very people that will be paying for it.  It will also force the Mayor and Council to inform the public of the whole project. 

If it is truly such a good idea then it will be approved by the referendum, if not then it will be voted down.

Government is supposed to be by the people and for the people, it is not suppose to be the Mayor or President telling us what we want and need and doing it even if we don't want it.

The Referendum is a good thing. 

Michael Moore is a Complete Moron

It would appear that the new movie "American Sniper" has Hollywood Lefty's in a major uproar.

The Movie is setting Box Office records at every turn.  Reviews from the public are applauding the movie as one of the best ever made.  Everyone that I know that has gone to the movie have said that it will have you on the edge of your seat and leave you speechless at the the end.

Yet, now you have the lefty crowd in Hollywood trying to come out and bash the movie.  They are calling Snipers Cowards? 

Michael Moore who never misses an opportunity to get his name in the press is a complete moron. 

Not only is he bashing the American Military, he is also bashing the American Public. 

Let's see how this works out for the Hollywood Leftists.

Applauding Clint Eastwood for making such an amazing movie.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin Knew of VA Abuses, Did Nothing!

More information is coming out about the VA Abuses in Tomah, WI and that information shows that Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin not only had a report about the abuses, she was contacted on multiple occasions by a whistle-blower asking for help.  She did nothing.  Nothing! Not until Sen. Ron Johnson and Congressman Ron Kind asked for an investigation, then Sen. Baldwin stepped up and said she wanted an investigation also.

Grennbay Press Gazette:

WASHINGTON — Sen. Tammy Baldwin's office received an inspection report last summer detailing high amounts of opiates prescribed at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah, but there is no indication her office took action on the findings until last week, when she called for an investigation after a news report revealed a veteran died from an overdose at the facility.

The report by the VA inspector general, a copy of which was obtained by USA TODAY, noted that two practitioners at the center were among the highest prescribers of opiates in a multistate region — at "considerable variance" compared with most opioid prescribers. That, the report said, raised "potentially serious concerns."
 
A whistleblower who learned in November that Baldwin had had a copy for months and hadn't acted, repeatedly emailed her office asking that she do something to help the veterans at the center, according to copies of the emails obtained by USA TODAY.

PDF: Read the report

In them the whistleblower — former Tomah VA employee Ryan Honl — asked that Baldwin call for an investigation, that she push colleagues on the Veterans Affairs committee to take action, and that she help bring the issues in the report to public attention. The report had not been made public, but Baldwin's office received a copy in August.

When she still had not taken public action in December, Honl sent a message to her staffer with the subject line: "Final plea for Help from Senator Baldwin."
 

Read the rest of the Story (Click Here)

Are you Safer Now than when Obama Took Office?

You know the old Political Rhetoric, "Are you Better off now than 4 years ago?", "Are you Safer now than 4 years ago?"

I can pretty easily answer both of those questions with an emphatic NO!!!!  Not all of it is the President's fault, but Leadership starts there.

Better off now than 4 years ago?  Not at all.  I am working, but less hours because of constant cut backs at the job.  My Health Insurance costs me a lot more than it used too and I get less coverage than I used too.  That's right, the law that was suppose to make things better has done nothing for me but cost me more money for less coverage.

Safer?

I live in a world where Terrorist seem to be increasing in strength and covering a greater part of the world.  Russia has become much more dangerous.  Terrorist have found a way to attack right here on American Soil using our own citizens without retribution from us.

I live in a world where we have watched as our own leadership has allowed and in some cases cultivated attacks on our own law enforcement.  I have watched as or own leadership sided with the criminals to create chaos on the streets of America.

I live in a Country that cares more about how outsiders are treated than our own citizens.  I live in a Country where my religious beliefs are under attack to make someone else feel comfortable with there own.  I live in a Country where achieving the American Dream means I am a bad person.

I live in a City where a man can attack a Police Officer and the Police Officer is criticized for protecting himself.  I live in a City where it is OK to attack people for their political beliefs.  I live in a City where we care more about a Train or a Sports Team than our own schools and people.  I live in a City where we riot because of the Cop who shot a man attacking him, but show only a minor concern for the murder of children.

It isn't hard to say NO, I am not better off and NO, I am not safer.

What the hell has happened?  How the hell do we fix it?  

I live in a Country where people have forgotten the basics.  I live in a Country where Government has decided that they should tell us what we should think and not think.  

Gov. Walker's Friendly Shot at Gov. Christie

Gov. Walker takes a friendly shot at Gov. Christie ahead of Packer/Cowboy Playoff game.

D.A. John Chisholm Subject of John Doe Probe?

Could it be that Milwaukee D.A. John Chisholm may soon be the subject of a John Doe Probe himself?

A Judge has been asked to do just that.  Earlier the same Judge said he wouldn't order an investigation because he wasn't specifically asked.  Now he has been.

The Probe would be to take a hard look at the john Chisholm's actions and find out if he stepped outside the lines.  This would be a major turn of events.  A vast majority of the information that has been released in the secret probes that the D.A. started on Gov. Walker has showed that the D.A. had acted without authority and outside the lines of the law.

I hope the Judge approves the investigation, so that we can get a clear picture of the actions of the D.A. and should also include the GAB in this probe to find out if this was more about Politics than actual crimes.

House Speaker Boehner Should Have Been Replaced

In the aftermath of the vote for House Speaker, John Boehner is proving that he is not different than the failed leadership that we have seen from Washington in quite some time.

He is punishing those in his own party for not voting for him. 

Once again we are seeing the philosophy that is slowly decaying the greatest Democracy in the World.  The philosophy that says you must vote the way the party tells you to vote and not the way your constituents or conscious tells you.

Thanks John Boehner for quickly showing that the GOP has learned nothing from the failures of the past.

New GOP Congress Sworn in, Will Things Change?

Today is the day that the GOP Officially take control of Congress.  What is yet to be seen is whether they will make any difference.

President Obama has made comments saying that he will work with them, then has also said he will do whatever he wants.  The question will be, does the GOP have the muscle to stop the President and move on the Agenda that the voters want?

There have been rumblings that John Boehner will face competition to hold his seat as the House Speaker.  I don't think he will lose it, but I think it might be a good thing if he did.  He has shown the ability to talk a good game, but does little more than just act as a mouth piece. 

I don't hold out much hope that we will see drastic changes in the way that things are done in Washington.  Still holding out hope.

United for Milwaukee - Referendum on Street Car

This is a good chance for the People of Milwaukee to be heard on the spending of $123 Million, not to mention the upkeep costs.  Where can this money be spent that will make more of an impact?  Schools, Streets, etc...

Right Wisconsin:

Under the banner of United for Milwaukee, Aldermen Bob Donovan and Joe Davis announced Monday morning that they will be leading an effort to gather 31,000 signatures over the next 60 days to force a ballot referendum on the Milwaukee Streetcar.

Brewers Owner's Dad, Joe Attanasio Passes Away at 89

It is a sad time for Brewers Fans.  Joe Attanasio, father of Brewers Owner Mark Attanasio, passed away at 89.

Most Brewers fans will know him from his singing the National Anthem before big Brewer Games.

He was loved by Brewers Fans and the Milwaukee Community.  He will be missed.

Condolences go out to the whole Attanasio Family.

House Speaker John Boehner Has Opposition within the Party

Multiple reports have come out that there is competition forming for Speaker of the House when the New Congress takes over this week. 

I think that it is a very good thing.  I hear all the talking heads on TV saying how the Republican Party is in disarray because of all the infighting.  Really?  I think that is great.  The problem we have had is that people just blindly follow their party and not what they truly feel is right for the Country.  So if there is discord within the Republican Party, that means that at least some of them are thinking for themselves.  That is a good thing.

I don't believe that they can stop John Boehner from retaining his leadership role, but I think that it is good that they are at least putting up some opposition.

Get Ready Milwaukee Here Comes Jesse Jackson

As if things haven't been crazy enough with the Dontre Hamilton protests.  Now one of the Chief Instigators in all of the race issues is coming to town to help stir it up more

It is the people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Pres. Obama and AG Holder strive to keep the race debate alive and going.

The amazing part is that all of this may be getting you air time on the news, but doesn't appear to be helping their cause. 

Creating problems for the community and fellow citizens do not help in advancing the cause.  It creates more divisiveness and forces people to pick sides.  It is understandable that they disagree with the findings of the District Attorney, however going after the Police Officer instead of the system is not helping.