You Are What You Read?

Some folks want to make a big deal out of President Obama's reading of A Post-American World.

I would remind them that his immediate predecessor read a number of books good Presidents without ever coming close to acting on the ideas within them.

It's Hard To Be A Wingnut #Next

Poor wingnuts have to stand out in the cold rain to chant, "Up or down vote! Up or down vote!"

And the, when that vote is inevitably cast, they have to be ready to start wailing for its repeal.

It's Hard To Be A Wingnut #Whatever

How can you say that there isn't a single incumbent worthy of being re-elected and then say that you're voting for a career politician like Walker?

He is the poster boy for incumbents; a perennial under-achiever who has never done anything but cash government checks.

Anthem For the Draft Tommy! Movement

Letters? We Get Letters

Just a quick note or two to some of the candidates who are connecting with me on The Face Book and by direct mail:

Dear Mark Neumann, That balanced budget you're so fond of bragging about during your last term in Congress came during a Democratic administration while you were a minor player in the party that tried to kill the golden goose with an impeachment. You may want to stop bragging about that quite so loudly. People will think you have delusions of adequacy.

Oh, and Mark? Your predecessor's name was Les A-s-p-I-n. With an "I." You should have your out-of-state direct mail bunch run those things past someone from the state you want to lead. You look silly when you make those simple mistakes.

And one for the national scene. Kay Bailey Hutchinson For Governor sent me this missive sometime last night.

"Dean Young is running for Lt. Governor of Alabama. He is a stanch and experienced Conservative leader. "

Now, given that one definition for stanch is,"to stop or check in its course," it seems very likely that Young may be the best choice for the obstructionists.

When do you suppose that the GOP will swing back to wanting some actual thinkers on their side?

Time To Bag The "Brown Bag" Theme

Scott Walker wants us to believe that he's so tight that he packs his own lunch. From now on we should probably ask to watch him eat it, too.

[]...campaign finance records show Walker’s campaign has piled up big tabs at some restaurants for meetings, including more than $2,000 at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Middleton...[]

The State Journal adds clarification, lest some say, "Well, they all do it."

By contrast, the campaigns of his GOP primary rival Mark Neumann and Democratic opponent Tom Barrett spent some money on food and drinks for fundraisers but virtually nothing on meals for themselves and their campaign meetings.

It's clear that they don't all do it. This is about Walker's hubris; his feeling of being the anointed candidate.

Saint Ronnie said, "Trust. But verify."

He was talking about someone who said one thing and did another. You know? Like Scott Walker

(cross posted at Whallah!)

That Good Old-Timey Politics

The GOP faithful showed up in The Dells to work on their Southern Strategy with the loud people of AFP. AFP is a political wing of The Koch Company and works to reduce taxes on Koch's energy, chemical and cattle businesses. Founder Fred Koch was a founding member of the John Birch Society. It also has been active in the so-called "grassroots" tea party movement.

Let's just take a look and see what kind of hollabacks and throwbacks the GOPers came up with.

JB van Goodhair showed that he knows the code.

“We need to preserve America for Americans,” Van Hollen said.

Tim Nerenz showed he knows the code, too.

“And what does a good master do when a cabana boy doesn’t know his place?” Nerenz, a Llibertarian running against Dem U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Madison, asked the crowd. “That’s right. He fires him."

And count on Not-Really-Joe, the Make-Believe Plumber to rail against socialized garbage collection and police-for-all.

"I demand less taxes. I demand less involvement in my personal life," Wurzelbacher said, drawing applause.

The AFP shindig was a collection of speechifying against clean air regulations, healthcare reform and tolerance.

Nerenz declared, “We are not the party of no. We are the party of hell no.”

Daddy Said

Apparently, Scott Walker is running an ad saying that he gave a part of his salary back. Daddy always said that we shouldn't criticize those who work for less because they know what they're worth.

Scott Walker says he doesn't believe in Wisconsin. Why should we believe in him?