Mark Neumann - Senate Announcement

It's official. Well, not really official quite yet.

It should be official at 8:45 this morning.

On Sunday, Mark Neumann announced that he has an announcement to make today.

Although Politico reported that Neumann would be running for the U.S. Senate, Neumann wouldn't confirm the story.

However, a Neumann consultant did confirm that Neumann would announce his candidacy on Monday.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Former congressman Mark Neumann said Sunday he would announce on Monday his plans for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.).

"We are clearly going to announce a decision on Monday," Neumann said in a brief telephone interview.

Neumann declined to comment on a Politico story that said he planned to jump into the race and would make the announcement at 8:45 a.m. on Charlie Sykes' show on WTMJ-AM (620).

Neumann, who lost a Republican primary last year against Scott Walker in the race for governor, confirmed he would make an appearance in the studio Monday morning about his political future.

Tim Cogswell, a GOP consultant working with Neumann, told Politico that Neumann would confirm his candidacy on Sykes' show.

"He will confirm his run and I expect we will have a more formal announcement later," Cogswell told Politico. "I think this was a big decision for him. I think this was a really big jump for him after having lost to Scott Walker."

...Assuming Neumann enters the race, he would be the first to formally announce for the seat, which is up for election in 2012.

Neumann lost to Scott Walker in the Republican primary in 2010. So what?

Plenty of candidates lose a race and go on to be elected to office.

Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan come to mind.

...Earlier this month, former Gov. Tommy Thompson announced the co-chairmen of his campaign, an indication he was moving ahead and planned to run. Thompson's co-chairmen are Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Jim Klauser, a longtime aide and adviser to Thompson.

Other possible GOP candidates besides Thompson and Neumann include Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) and former state Sen. Ted Kanavas.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Madison, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind of La Crosse and former U.S. Rep Steve Kagen of Appleton are close to making decisions on whether to run for Kohl's seat.

The Republican possibilities are dramatically better than the pool of potential Dem candidates.

Tammy Baldwin?

There's no way she'd win.

In order to pull off a Baldwin victory, there would need to be massive voter fraud the likes of which we've never seen in Wisconsin.

The woman is a Leftist extremist, and Wisconsin .

We are talking about filling the seat occupied by the sedate/sedated Herb Kohl.

I don't see Wisconsinites choosing someone as radical as Baldwin.

I don't think Ron Kind would do well either. He has that pesky liberal voting record in the House weighing him down.

And of course, Kagen is too strange to even be considered.

So Neumann is the first to jump in, assuming that his announcement this morning goes according to Sunday's announcement of Neumann's announcement.

Nancy Pelosi Letter - Full Text

Defeated House Democrats are imploring the poisonous Nancy Pelosi to step aside.

Here's the full text of the letter:

Letter from Defeated Members:

Many of us want the chance to run again and reclaim the seats that we lost on Tuesday. With you as the leader of House Democrats, the hangover of 2010 stands no chance of subsiding. Many of us have run our last race but remain committed to our party; we want to help recruit successful candidates to run in our stead. Unfortunately, we fear that Republicans will further demonize you, and in so doing they will scare potential candidates out. The prospect of having to run against their own party leadership in addition to their Republican opponent is simply too daunting.

This is a difficult letter to write, because we admire your commitment, your drive, and your conviction. You have been an historic figure in our great nation, and for that we are all proud, as should you be. Nonetheless, we each experienced how Republican demonization of you and your leadership contributed to our defeat.

It is impossible not to judge the results of November 2nd as anything but a profound loss. We want to recover. Recovery of our majority in the House necessitates new leadership at the top of our party. We believe that you can and will play an extraordinary role in our party, and it is extremely unfortunate that Republicans have taken away your ability to lead as effectively as you are able. Nonetheless, one mark of a strong leader is the ability to discern when it is time to pass the baton. As defeated members, whose party needs to rebuild, we are counting on you to show the strength of your leadership in this dark hour. We ask that you step aside as leader of our party in the House.

With utmost respect, we are..

I wonder if the defeated Steve Kagen will sign it?

I think recovery for the Dems in the House would require new leadership at the top.

That's precisely why I want Pelosi to remain as the House Dems' leader.

It's similar to having Harry Reid still in place as the majority leader in the Senate.

Americans know Pelosi and Reid. They're ballot box poision. It would help solidify conservative control of the House and Senate to have them as Dem leaders.

Stay, Nancy! Stay!

AP: Reid Ribble Wins

Biden in Milwaukee: Kagen and Lassa

Joe Biden is in Milwaukee today raising funds for Democrat candidates from the 7th and 8th congressional districts.

Note: Those districts are in northern Wisconsin, not bordering Milwaukee, not even close. See map.

Nonetheless, Biden is looking to get cash from southeastern Wisconsin libs for those races.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Vice President Joe Biden will return to Wisconsin on Friday for another fundraiser, but this time for two Congressional candidates.

...On Friday, he will hold a lunch reception at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee to raise money for two Democrats, State Sen. Julie Lassa and U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen. The prices range from $250 to $2,400

Lassa is trying to defeat Republican Sean Duffy for the 7th Congressional District seat, which is being vacated by longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. David Obey.

Kagen is facing a challenge for his job in northeastern Wisconsin's 8th District from Republican Reid Ribble.

Steve "'terrorist slayer' on 'injun time'" Kagen is toast.

Forget it, champ. It's over, Joe.

As for the race in the 7th district, the Journal Sentinel is calling it a toss-up.

Huh?

The Hill's poll shows Sean Duffy with a 9-point lead over Dem Julie Lassa.

Democrats are poised to lose Rep. David Obey’s (Wis.) district — one of several long-held Democratic seats in danger of becoming Republican trophies this cycle.

The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll found that Democrat Julie Lassa trails Republican Sean Duffy by almost 10 points in Obey’s district.

Toss-up?

Obviously, Biden being dispatched to Milwaukee to raise funds for Lassa and Kagen is a desperate move.

Actually, I'm glad Biden is back in Wisconsin.

What delicious stupid remark will he make this time?

Love ya, champ.

Steve Kagen: 'Pants on Fire'

It's no surprise that PolitiFact Wisconsin has given an ad from Democrat Steve Kagen a rating of "Pants on Fire."

Kagen, terrorist slayer on "injun time," is a liar.

Kagen intentionally calling First Lady Laura Bush "Barbara" was either stunningly boorish or one of the lamest lies ever told by a politician.

While meeting last month with a group of area peace activists, then Congressman-elect Steve Kagen told a story of his first visit to the White House that shows a feisty and humorous side to our new man in Congress.

"[W]e had an opportunity to take a picture with the president and his wife. I was feeling real good at this point.

“I said to my wife, ‘Honey, just follow my lead.’ She said, ‘Steven, it’s the president.’ I said, ‘Yeah, but he’s not any taller than I am.’ So the cameraman’s here. We’re introduced by a Marine. I said, ‘Mr. President , thank you for coming to Green Bay. My name is Dr. Multimillionaire. That was before the race. Now they call me Doctor Thousandaire. I couldn’t have won without you coming.’”

He said Bush gave one of his smiles and said, ‘I’ve lost a lot of money in my life, too.’ Then I go to his wife, ‘Hi Barbara, how are ya?’ I did that because I learned on the campaign that the meanest thing you can say to another gentlemen is, ‘he’s a fine fellow,’ and you then refer to his spouse by a different name.”

Kagen is really a disgrace.

But back to the subject at hand, Kagen's flaming pants and the ad attacking his opponent, Republican Reid Ribble.

Here's the ad:



PolitiFact Wisconsin gives this analysis:

We asked Kagen campaign spokeswoman Allison Jaslow to elaborate on the charge against Ribble, but she did not get back to us. PolitiFact Wisconsin also asked for an interview with Kagen, but he did not respond.

That leaves us with the ad itself, which includes no footnotes or backup for the statement other than the video of Ribble himself.

The footage of Ribble is from a campaign forum held Nov. 3, 2009 by the Fox Valley Initiative, a tea party group. Ribble did speak the 14 words in question -- and many more than that. The video actually cuts him off mid-sentence.

Here is what Ribble actually said, based on a longer video of the same statement posted on YouTube. We’ll highlight where the new words pick up.

"Somehow we have to establish a phase-out of the current Social Security system to a new system. And that will have to happen over time. It could happen in a single generation."

Ribble goes on to discuss how the life expectancy of Americans has grown since Social Security was established in the 1930s, and its effect on the system.

"It has to change," Ribble said of Social Security. "It will bankrupt this country if it doesn’t change."

That’s a far cry from getting rid of Social Security.

In an interview, Ribble said he favors a system of "personal accounts" that are linked to the individuals. "The government can’t take that money from you and give it to somebody else," he said. Ribble said he has been consistent in his statements about Social Security. "We’ve made promises to our seniors and we have to keep them."

Ribble said he is "uncomfortable with privatization" but favors "personalization of the system but within Social Security." He said he did not have any "hard and fast numbers" about how this would be accomplished -- or how it would stabilize Social Security finances.

Our search of the Internet could find no public statements by Ribble that contradict this statement. Though he survived a four-way primary, Ribble is a first-time candidate and has run a, well, lean campaign. His pre-primary campaign finance report showed about $71,000 on hand.

That brings us to Kagen’s labeling of Ribble as a "politician."

Ribble has never run for office before -- not even student council student, he joked.

"I’ve been in the construction industry my entire life," said Ribble, who sold his family-owned commercial roofing business to a relative in December.

Ribble is on the ballot and running now. But it’s the same situation Kagen -- an allergist by trade -- was in when he ran in 2006 and said told voters he was not a politician.

PolitiFact determines:

Kagen’s statement splices and dices -- and leaves the truth on the cutting room floor. Strike another match. We rate the statement Pants on Fire.

DR. Kagen should be ashamed of using this tattered old page from the Dem playbook, scaring seniors by telling them Ribble will take away their Social Security.

AD VOICE-OVER: Ribble wants to phase out Social Security, forcing Wisconsin seniors to fend for themselves.

What a liar!

At least Kagen didn't call Ribble's wife "Barbara."

Give him time.

Call Wisconsin Lawmakers, Defend the Constitution

Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, is encouraging people in opposition to the health care bill to call Wisconsin Democrats who are on the fence.

Priebus writes:

According to the MacIver Institute, Rep. Ron Kind from Western Wisconsin is still undecided as to how he will vote.

Rep. Steve Kagen from Northeast Wisconsin won’t give a clear answer as to where he stands on the bill, either.

Wisconsin Democrats who are on the fence absolutely must hear from each of us!

Contact information:

Congressman Kagen
Green Bay - (920) 437-1954
Appleton - (920) 380-0061
Washington, DC Office - (202) 225-5665



Congressman Obey
Superior - (715) 398-4426
Wausau - (715) 842-5606
Washington, DC - (202) 225-3365



Congressman Kind
LaCrosse – (888) 442-8040
Eau Claire – (715) 831-9214
Washington, DC – (202) 225-5506



Senator Russ Feingold
Washington, DC - (202) 224-5323

I know Obama is usually the one doing the bowing, but in this case, it's Democrat members of Congress he is bribing and bullying to bow to him.

Will these Wisconsin Democrats bow to Obama and Nancy Pelosi rather than listen to their constituents? Will they act as representatives of the people of Wisconsin or will they march in lockstep with the Washington thugs?

Where is their allegiance? Do they serve the voters in Wisconsin?


The more calls they receive from us, the more difficult it might be for them to ignore the will of the people. They might have second thoughts about casting a yes vote that at its core is meant to blatantly subvert the Constitution.

Michael W. McConnell writes in the Wall Street Journal:

One thing is sure: To proceed in this way creates an unnecessary risk that the legislation will be invalidated for violation of Article I, Section 7. Will wavering House members want to use this procedure when there is a nontrivial probability that the courts will render their political sacrifice wasted effort? To hazard that risk, the House leadership must have a powerful motive to avoid a straightforward vote.

If the Wisconsin representatives vote with Obama and Pelosi, they seal their fates.

I think it's safe to deem them losers in the 2010 election.

Eugene Kane: 'Honest Injun' and Harry Reid

Of course, Eugene Kane is weighing in on the Harry Reid controversy.

Of course, Kane is serving as an apologist for Reid.

Do you think Kane would have had a problem with the people at Bayshore if they had complained about "hundreds of juveniles gathering using obscene and threatening language" in a NEGRO DIALECT?

I do.

After Kane defends Reid's remarks, he assaults Michael Steele.

Kane writes:

The people calling for Reid's head are off-base because most of them don't really understand how racism works or what it means. If they did, maybe they would be criticizing their own GOP head - Michael Steele - who recently offended Native Americans with his "honest Injun" comment.

Now, that's offensive.

"Honest Injun" is really offensive?

Did Kane go off on Steve Kagen when he used the term "injun time"?

From WisPolitics:

Dem 8th CD candidate Steve Kagen apologized today for apparently saying he was on "injun time" to describe his reason for arriving late to a forum.

According to a recording of the remarks, Kagen opened by introducing a staff member.

"I want to thank you for driving me around the district this morning. I really appreciate you getting me here almost on time," he says to laughter. "Our excuse, uh, in Oneida was, well we are on injun time. They don't tell time by the clock. Our excuse here is I'm a doctor and we're never on time."

Looks like Kane should have condemned DEMOCRAT Steve Kagen.

If he didn't, one certainly could say, "Now, that's hypocritical."
___________________

Patrick McIlheran gets to the heart of the Reid "light-skinned," "Negro dialect" controversy: It isn't Barack Obama who should be accepting the apology.

[C]onsider what Reid was saying: That because Obama’s skin wasn’t so dark and because of how he spoke, he’d go far for the party. He’d be marketable. He’d go over well with the American voter.

In short, Reid was presuming that the electorate consists of bigots who’d be put off by a darker skin or a stronger accent. He presumed racism, in other words, and presumed not merely that it exists (as it does in ever smaller and more disreputable corners of American society) but that racism is dominant, widespread, an affliction that rules politics.

What a crabbed, cynical view of America, and we see how it poisoned Reid’s politics. Yes, Reid owes some apologies: To the several hundred million Americans who are not racists and who Reid, nonetheless, accused of racism.

Steve Kagen: BIG SPENDER

Hey, BIG SPENDER!

Wisconsin's own U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, DEMOCRAT, holds the title for being the biggest spender in Congress for office expenses.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Rep. Steve Kagen is the biggest spender in the U.S. House when it comes to spending taxpayer money on maintaining his congressional office, according to the latest quarterly logs of expenditures by members of Congress.

Kagen, an Appleton Democrat in his second term, spent $452,000 on office expenses such as salaries, travel, supplies and services in the third quarter of this year - more than any other House member, according to an analysis of the logs by the Sunlight Foundation. Rep. Alan Grayson, a Florida Democrat who spent $449,000, and Rep. Bart Gordon, a Democrat from Tennessee who spent $445,000, followed closely behind.

Kagen's spending between July and September reflects the fact that the congressman was especially active this summer in an effort to be accessible to constituents as the House debates a major health care reform measure, said spokesman Jake Rubin.

"Congressman Kagen is working hard to be responsive to the questions and concerns of his constituents, including mailing letters to folks who contact him, holding town hall meetings throughout northeast Wisconsin and our very popular interactive tele-town halls," he said in an e-mail.

House members typically receive between $1.3 million and $1.9 million annually from federal coffers to run their congressional offices. The sum varies depending on the size of their congressional districts, the distance between their home districts and Washington and other factors. Any unspent funds can be returned to the U.S. Treasury, and several members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation usually do that.

Distance between Kagen's home district and Washington certainly does not account for the excess.

Kagen's constituents are all east of the Mississippi; and it's not as if Kagen is holding a zillion townhall meetings.

What kind of mailings does Kagen do that would cost so much to earn him the title as biggest spender? He must be mailing out loads and loads of needless crap.

This big spender title is an embarrassment. Kagen is spending like it's someone else's money. I suppose that's because IT IS. It's our money he's wasting.

Bottom line: Kagen is not fiscally responsible.

Obama: Green Bay, June 11 -- STILL No Details

UPDATE, June 8, 2009: Ticket information -- Details here.
________________

UPDATE, June 7, 2009: The White House has not released details about his plans.
________________

There are still no details available about Obama's visit to Green Bay next week.

From WLUK:

Even those close to Washington are not sure of the details of President Obama's scheduled visit to Green Bay Thursday, June 11.

"We've been getting phone calls about ticket opportunities but I can tell you at this point the White House has not given us any more details," said U.S. Representative Steve Kagen, D-8th Congressional District.

Kagen said the President's visit to Green bay will be in the form of a town hall listening session and he expects the president to focus on health care along with energy and education.

...We will let you know more details about President Obama's upcoming visit as soon as they are available.

Why did the White House bother to announce the visit?

Why aren't at least some details available?

Why not explain why no details have been released?

It's very strange, but it's typical of the arrogance displayed by the Obama White House.

Obama: Green Bay Listening Session, June 11

UPDATE, June 8, 2009: Ticket information -- Details here.
________________

UPDATE, June 7, 2009: The White House has not released details about his plans.
________________

I don't think Obama likes Washington. He always seems to be looking for some reason to get out of town and take a flight on his 747.

Next Thursday, Obama's destination is Green Bay.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

President Barack Obama is expected to participate in a listening session during his visit to Green Bay next week, according to Rep. Steve Kagen, who represents the area in the U.S. House.

"He's already identified three topics that are the focus of his first year in office: health care, the education of our children, and energy," said Kagen, who anticipates that Obama will touch on those subjects during his visit. "Those three problems we're facing are wrapped up together with our current economic problems."

Kagen, an Appleton Democrat, said he had no further details about Obama's June 11 trip or his reason for choosing to visit Wisconsin. It will be Obama's first visit to the state since he took office.

"I would think he's coming to the heartland of America to listen to our concerns," he said. "I'm very pleased to welcome him to our neck of the woods."

Gee, it's 2009. We do have other ways to communicate.

I think Obama can listen to our concerns without burning through all that jet fuel.

How about a teleconference?

...Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, who was in Washington Wednesday for a White House event, declined to provide any further details about Obama's visit but said he didn't think that it had to do with politics.

Oh, come on. That is just stupid. What a ridiculous assertion!

If Doyle sincerely thinks Obama's visit has nothing to do with politics, he is frighteningly clueless.

Doyle is clueless or a liar. Both is another option.

Doyle said Obama has spent a lot of time in Wisconsin in the past, even before he was running for president, and enjoys getting out of the White House as much as possible. "He really wants to get out and hear from people about a lot of things," he said.

It costs taxpayer funds for Obama to get of the White House. I don't care if he enjoys it. This trip isn't necessary.

Obama is showing no concern for the environment. He doesn't walk the walk.

Doyle claims that Obama wants to "hear from people about a lot of things."

Doyle sounds like he's in 2nd grade. But I digress.

Obama isn't coming to Green Bay to listen. He's not going to get any new ideas or change his positions or learn anything. Nothing Obama hears will alter his plans for the country. Nothing.

This is not about listening. Obama is campaigning and we're paying for it.

Tea Party in Green Bay

Concerned taxpayers in Green Bay made their voices heard on Saturday.

Was Steve Kagen listening?

About 500 people participated in the "tea party" protest.

From WLUK:

Those at Saturday's rally said they were protesting increasing government intervention and stimulus spending.

"Obama's plans are insane and they're going to destroy our country if they keep going. There is not enough money to do this," Mary Rehberg, of Green Bay said.

"We have to, as citizens, stand up and say no we don't want anymore taxes. We want efficiency, we want to get jobs back, and we can't keep trying to spend money to create jobs," Mike Fochs, of Green Bay, said.

After the rally, protestors marched to the office of Democratic Congressman Steve Kagen. Although Kagen was not available for comment on Saturday, in the past, he has defended the new spending.

"We must act to begin to rebuild our economy, restore confidence, and secure our way of life. It allows us to transform our economy, generating millions of new jobs in the process and invests our hard-earned tax dollars right here at home," Rep. Kagen said last month.

_________________

More, from the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Nancy Pelosi Derails Bailout

The nation is facing an economic crisis, right? Time to put country first.

So what does Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi do?

Watch.



Pelosi didn't act like a leader. She acted like a partisan hack.

What was she thinking?

I think it's possible she knew that she failed to get fellow Dems to support her. Since she knew she didn't have the votes, she took the opportunity, once again, to shift blame to the Republicans.

It's also possible that her incredible poor judgment and amazing lack of bipartisan leadership is directly responsible for causing Republicans to make a last minute switch in response to her bitter political speech.

The fact is the Democrats must take responsibility for the current economic situation and they must take responsibility for their inability to put country first.

Bottom line: Barack Obama in the White House and his liberal colleagues running the Congress would be disastrous for the country.
_______________

WASHINGTON -- In a stunning vote that shocked the capital and worldwide markets, the House on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue for the nation's financial system, ignoring urgent warnings from President Bush and congressional leaders of both parties that the economy could nosedive without it.

Stocks plummeted on Wall Street, beginning their plunge even before the 228-205 vote to reject the bill was officially announced on the House floor. The Dow Jones industrials sank nearly 700 points for the day.

..."No" votes came from both the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle. More than two-thirds of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats opposed the bill.

...Republicans blamed Pelosi's scathing speech near the close of the debate — which attacked Bush's economic policies and a "right-wing ideology of anything goes, no supervision, no discipline, no regulation" of financial markets — for the vote's failure.

"We could have gotten there today had it not been for the partisan speech that the speaker gave on the floor of the House," Minority Leader John Boehner said. Pelosi's words, the Ohio Republican said, "poisoned our conference, caused a number of members that we thought we could get, to go south."

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the whip, estimated that Pelosi's speech changed the minds of a dozen Republicans who might otherwise have supported the plan.

..."We're all worried about losing our jobs," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., declared in an impassioned speech in support of the bill before the vote. "Most of us say, 'I want this thing to pass, but I want you to vote for it — not me.' "

With their dire warnings of impending economic doom and their sweeping request for unprecedented sums of money and authority to bail out cash-starved financial firms, Bush and his economic chiefs have focused the attention of world markets on Congress, Ryan added.

"We're in this moment, and if we fail to do the right thing, Heaven help us," he said.

_______________

The Roll Call

How Wisconsin's representatives voted

YES: Dave Obey (D-Wis.); Ron Kind (D-Wis.); Gwen Moore (D-Wis.); Paul Ryan (R-Wis.); Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).

NO: Steve Kagen (D-Wis.); Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.); Thomas Petri (R-Wis.).

More on Kagen's vote.

WRTL Endorses John Gard

Wisconsin Right to Life endorsed John Gard. Of course.

Gard's opponent, incumbent DOCTOR Steve Kagen, has received a perfect zero rating on Right-to-Life issues.

--Voted to withhold life-saving medicines from the elderly.

--Voted to allow the cloning of human embryos for the purpose of killing them in medical experiments.

--Voted to force taxpayers to pay for the destruction of human embryos for research.

--Voted to undermine the Mexico City Policy, a policy which protects taxpayers from subsidizing oversears organizations that perform or actively promote abortion.

--Voted to provide federal family planning dollars (YOUR tax dollars!) to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.

Kagen is a model soldier in the war on the Culture of Life.

The Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee (WRTL/PAC) has endorsed John Gard for election to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th congressional district.

In a letter to Gard, Bonnie Pfaff, WRTL/PAC Chair told him:

"Throughout your distinguished legislative career, you consistently and courageously defended the sanctity of human life through your tremendous leadership and advocacy. Whether the issue was taxpayer funding of abortion, the Wisconsin Born Alive Infant Protection Act or a ban on partial-birth abortion, you stood firm on the side of life.

Your personal commitment to the protection of the most vulnerable members of society is deeply appreciated by right-to-life people throughout the 8th congressional district. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for all you have done, and continue to do, to create a culture of life where every member of the human family is cherished and protected."

Gard is challenging incumbent Congressman Steve Kagen, who has maintained a 0% right-to-life voting record. Kagen's votes include voting to undermine the Mexico City Policy, which protects taxpayers from subsidizing organizations that perform or promote abortion overseas; voting to use federal taxpayer dollars to fund Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, and several other objectionable votes. Kagen has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the state's largest abortion provider. That organization has fought to defeat legislation such as a ban on partial-birth abortion and legislation requiring parental consent prior to a minor's abortion.

Democrat Steve Kagen has disgraced Wisconsin.

He tends to exaggerate (aka lie).

Read about the boorish Steve Kagen.

Wisconsinites in the 8th congressional district deserve better representation than Kagen.

Gard - Kagen Rematch

From the Appleton Post-Cresent:

Former Assembly Speaker John Gard is expected to announce Sunday that he intends to run to unseat U.S. Rep Steve Kagen, D-Appleton.

Gard, 44, who was narrowly defeated by Kagen in 2006, was backed by the Republican National Committee in his previous run for Congress.

Gard's campaign spokesman Mark Graul declined to say Thursday whether Gard was the party's pick this time around.

"The only 'pick' that John Gard is concerned about is that he's the pick of the people of northeastern Wisconsin," he said.

Graul said Gard, who lives in Suamico, has spent much of his time since August talking with voters about support for him running again.

Gard will make his announcement at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Bay Beach Park main pavilion in Green Bay, and at 3:30 p.m. in the Pierce Park picnic pavilion in Appleton.

Gard certainly isn't making TWO announcements on Sunday to say he intends NOT to run against Kagen.

Surely, the people of the 8th District will get it right this time.


"If our children are healthy, they'll develop into their full potential and become wonderful tax-paying citizens sometime."


"Then I go to [President Bush's] wife, 'Hi Barbara, how are ya?' I did that because I learned on the campaign that the meanest thing you can say to another gentlemen is, 'he's a fine fellow,' and you then refer to his spouse by a different name."

--STEVE KAGEN

Steve Kagen a Perfect Zero

According to Wisconsin Right to Life, Congressman Steve Kagen is perfect.

Kagen is a perfect ZERO on Right-to-Life issues.

Kagen's accomplishments:

--Voted to withhold life-saving medicines from the elderly.

--Voted to allow the cloning of human embryos for the purpose of killing them in medical experiments.

--Voted to force taxpayers to pay for the destruction of human embryos for research.

--Voted to undermine the Mexico City Policy, a policy which protects taxpayers from subsidizing oversears organizations that perform or actively promote abortion.

--Voted to provide federal family planning dollars (YOUR tax dollars!) to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.

Kagen is a model soldier in the war on the Culture of Life.

Feingold and Kagen and Obama

One more Wisconsin super delegate declared his support for Barack Obama -- Steve "Injun time" Kagen.

Russ Feingold still won't commit to Obama but he indicated that he might be inclined to support Obama maybe.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama picked up the support of Rep. Steve Kagen and the likely backing of Sen. Russ Feingold on Thursday, following the presidential candidate's victory in Wisconsin earlier this week.

Kagen, a freshman Democrat from northeast Wisconsin, followed through on his promise to back the candidate who won the most votes in his congressional district. Feingold, meanwhile, said he was "inclined" to support Obama because of the state primary results but withheld a final endorsement.

Obama carried Wisconsin over Hillary Rodham Clinton by 17 percentage points.

"As a strong believer in representative government, it is my responsibility to support the winner of Wisconsin's 8th district, and that candidate is Sen. Barack Obama," Kagen said in a written statement.

Obama has inspired a new generation of voters and "earned my strongest support," he said.

While Feingold declined to say definitively that he would support Obama, he seemed to be moving in that direction.

"It obviously was a very impressive win for Sen. Obama to win all of the congressional districts, and 62 out of 72 counties," Feingold said in a telephone interview. "It's quite a victory, and very helpful to him and his drive to the nomination."

..."As I've said, who won the state and how significantly they won it is a very important factor, and it does cause me to be inclined to support him," Feingold said of Obama.

The senator said he'll also consider "my general opinions about whether somebody is the right person to run for president, whether the person can win. But the largest thought on my mind is what the people of the state indicated."

If the "largest thought" on Feingold's mind is "what the people of the state indicated," then he should declare his support for Obama right now.

Maybe Feingold is having trouble deciding because his heart belongs to John McCain.

Agatha Christie, Steve Kagen, and Ten Little Indians

UPDATE: School to perform play NAACP had opposed
_____________________

In Liberty Township, Ohio, the decision was made to cancel a school play, under pressure from the local NAACP.

LIBERTY TWP. -- A widely performed school play has been canceled by Lakota officials after a recent meeting with a local NAACP official.

The internationally acclaimed play - Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" - was to be performed by students at Lakota East High School this weekend.

But Gary Hines, president of the local NAACP branch, recently complained to Lakota officials that the play, based on Christie's 1939 mystery novel, was inappropriate for a school production.

Hines said the book's original title and cover illustration used for its initial publishing that year in England was a racial slur toward blacks and included a cover illustration of a black person and a hangman's noose.

"The original title was 'Ten Little (N - - - - - -),' and it is important to say that because that was the actual title," Hines said Monday.

The title of the international bestseller was widely changed after 1939, and school theater productions in America have performed the murder mystery play as either "Ten Little Indians" or "And Then There Were None" for decades since.

Hines claims that a lack of racial diversity among Lakota's students and teachers allowed the play to be chosen despite the history surrounding its original title.

"It's a lack of diversity knowledge on their part. Diversity is not a way of life in Lakota," Hines said.

But Hines, who operates GPH Consultants - a diversity training company - in West Chester Township, said that despite his strong protest, it was Lakota officials' idea to cancel the play in response to his complaints.

"After learning of the play's origins and the hurt that it caused, we had hoped to use the performances as a way to create a discussion about diversity of all kinds in our community. However, students and staff continued to raise issues, and it was quickly obvious that bad feelings about the play were much more widespread and strong than originally thought. The best action seemed to be to switch to a different play," Weidlich said.

Keith Kline, Lakota East principal, said: "Certainly, it was a tough decision but one that needed to be made.

We must be sensitive, unless we're talking about Democrats.

Take Steve Kagen.

As a candidate for Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, he said:

"I want to thank you for driving me around the district this morning. I really appreciate you getting me here almost on time," he says to laughter. "Our excuse, uh, in Oneida was, well we are on injun time. They don't tell time by the clock. Our excuse here is I'm a doctor and we're never on time."

He, of course, was elected.

Take Robert Byrd.

As a U.S. senator, in March 2001, appearing on FOX News Sunday, he said:

"There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time. I'm going to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."

Ex-Klansman Byrd, of course, is the longest-serving senator in the history of the United States.

But the NAACP must not let a high school production of an Agatha Christie play go forward.

Yes, the group must speak out against her racism.

Forget about bigoted comments made by Dems currently serving in the U.S. House and Senate.

Steve Kagen and Brett Favre

Hell must be freezing over.

I support something that Steve Kagen initiated in Congress.

Steve Kagen is among the sponsors of a Congressional Resolution to honor Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

"Green Bay Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers, and quarterback Brett Favre have a great deal in common. They’re hard working, dedicated to the community, and believe in competing with – not against - one another to bring out the best performance possible from everyone, both on the team and in the community,” Congressman Steve Kagen said.

“Today, the United States House of Representatives offers its praise to Brett Favre, his family, the Green Bay Packers, and to the people of Wisconsin – who together own the most storied team in professional sports," Kagen added.

"Whether it is his record career NFL touchdown passes, most consecutive starts among NFL quarterbacks, most career pass completions, or most career pass attempts, Brett Favre has shattered records and, in the process, made Green Bay fans proud,” Congressman Bart Stupak said. "I am pleased to co-sponsor this legislation, which not only pays tribute to Brett Favre's football career, but also honors the compassionate work of Brett and Deanna off the field."

Here is the resolution.

Globetrotter Gwen Moore

As a member of the U.S. Congress, what has Gwen Moore accomplished in Washington?

I know she co-sponsored H. Res. 635.

I guess it would be wrong to criticize Moore for not getting much done in D.C. She's not there all that much. Moore spends lots of time on the road, often at the expense of taxpayers.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Two words for Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore: frequent flier.

During the past five months, Moore has traveled at taxpayer expense to 12 foreign countries, one of them, Liberia, twice.

Moore, 56, a Democrat, entered the House in 2005.

She's made four overseas trips since April, taking in Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Morocco and Uganda in Africa; Belgium, England, Spain and the Ukraine in Europe; and Egypt, Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East.

Moore sits on the House Financial Services Committee and the Small Business Committee.

The Journal Sentinel examined reports on trips taken by the Wisconsin congressional delegation dating to 2006. The delegation tallied:

• Expenses totaling at least $174,177

• 23 foreign trips

• 11 domestic trips

• About three dozen foreign countries visited, some more than once

Moore's travels this spring and summer outpaced even those of Jim Sensenbrenner, the House Republican from Menomonee Falls whose name generally shows up high on overall lists of congressional globe-trotters.

...Moore also declined a request for an interview about her travel, but issued a statement saying:

"My congressional trips here and abroad help me to better understand the issues affecting our country so that I can more effectively represent my constituents in Congress. I believe that to be an effective leader I must not put on the blinders that so many in Washington wear, but instead learn first-hand about critical global and domestic issues."

Give me a break!

Blinders?

What is she talking about?

She has blinders when it comes to her son Sowande Omokunde. She didn't know that he was part of an effort to disenfranchise Milwaukee Republican voters.

She doesn't have to travel abroad to help her better understand that issue. She merely has to go home.

Since April, she's been to Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Morocco, Uganda, Belgium, England, Spain, the Ukraine, Egypt, Israel, and Lebanon.

That's a lot of travel.

Moore should let her constituents know what she learned on her travels that enables her to better represent them.

She should write papers: "What I did on my trip to Ghana," "What I did on my trip to Spain," etc.

Moore should offer constituents specifics. The blinders crap is way too vague.

Moore's trips during the two years have cost $8,912, and the expenses of two have yet to be reported.

While Moore's official trips this year have been to foreign destinations, her trips in 2006 - and there were five - were domestic. Her party did not control Congress then.

Her trips closer to home were to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Boston; Denver; and New York City (twice). All in 2006 were underwritten by outside entities.

So once the Dems took control, Moore's travel itinerary became more extravagant.

Interesting.

Like Moore, most of Wisconsin's federal lawmakers went abroad during the past 20 months. Only two chose not to go overseas on congressional business: Sen. Herb Kohl and Rep. Steve Kagen of Appleton, both Democrats. Kagen is a first-term lawmaker whose seat Republicans hope to regain.

I don't have a problem with lawmakers going on trips.

I have a problem when the travel becomes excessive.

Moore's travel seems to be excessive.

I think it's hilarious that Kohl didn't go overseas to do any congressional business, but he just got back from China to carry out personal negotiations with representatives of Yi Jianlian.

Actually, it's not hilarious. It's pathetic.

Way to serve the people!

Does Kohl put the future of the Bucks ahead of the future of the country? Yes.

And Kagen, who knows what motivates him?

Maybe he's afraid to fly. He did promise to personally take out terrorists aboard planes.

Remember?

During a debate with John Gard, Kagen said:

The enemies are intent on destroying America. They're intent on hurting us, killing us. We are their evil one, but let's understand who the real enemy can become if we become too fearful.

I'm... I'm not afraid. I'll put my foot down and stand up if I'm on a plane with a terrorist – I’ll take him out right there.

We need leaders that are tough. We need leaders that are smart. Unfortunately, we've got the tough part right. We just don't have the smart part.

It's best that Kagen not travel. He could cause an international incident.

...Feingold made four foreign trips in the period reviewed: two to Africa, one to Asia and one to the Middle East. He is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chairs its African Affairs Subcommittee and sits on its East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee. He also sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Feingold, in a statement defending his trips, says his priority was "working to ensure the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad." He said the trips gave him a chance to examine places with groups sympathetic to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists; places in need of strengthened democratic institutions; and places crippled by violence for decades.

Feingold spent so much time on the road during his failed campaign for the presidency that I'm surprised he had time to squeeze in some trips out of the country.

If Feingold wants to examine places crippled by violence, he should visit Milwaukee, Gwen Moore's district.

Rag Kagen Rag

I don't think Steve Kagen is capable of keeping a low profile.

He's definitely the class clown among the freshmen of the 110th Congress.

We know that he's racially insensitive. He's a braggart. He's a liar or a rude slob or both.

We also know that he's a nut, a law-breaking nut.

(AP) WASHINGTON -- Federal health officials have warned freshman Rep. Steve Kagen that his Wisconsin allergy practice is in apparent violation of federal law for manufacturing and selling allergy shots without a valid license.

According to a letter sent to Kagen by the Food and Drug Administration, Kagen manufactured a variety of ragweed and grass allergen vaccines from commercially distributed pollen and sold the shots to patients at his clinic and in at least 24 other states.

The FDA letter, which was dated Dec. 18 but wasn't posted online until Thursday, said that Kagen, D-Wis., did not have a valid license required for introducing a biological product into interstate commerce.

At issue are products marketed by Kagen's clinic such as Poly RW, Super Ragweed, Poly Grass and Super Grass. Kagen is a medical doctor.

So Kagen has been selling Super Grass without a license.

That's not good when a lawmaker is a lawbreaker.

...The FDA letter says that the products appear to be drugs as defined by federal law "because they are intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease." The agency cites as evidence an article published by Kagen in which he claimed to have safely used the vaccines in 55,000 injections in 500 allergy patients.

The letter does not make reference to any action it is contemplating against Kagen, but says that it is Kagen's responsibility to make sure products marketed by his firm are in compliance with federal laws and regulations.

Gee, do you think the FDA would allow me to make and distribute a drug product if I didn't comply with the law?

Do you think I would just get a little warning letter reminding me to stop breaking the law?

No chance.

After being told to cease and desist, Democrat Kagen announced that he will no longer be acting in violation of federal regulations.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Steve Kagen, who recently turned over the daily operation of his four allergy clinics to his brother, says the clinics will no longer create certain products used in allergy shots for his patients.

Kagen's announcement, in a statement issued Tuesday, comes on the heels of last week's announcement by the Food and Drug Administration that the substances appear to be drugs regulated by the agency and, as such, require the clinic to file an "investigational new drug application."

In addition, the FDA said the shipment of those treatments for sale in at least 24 states requires the clinics to obtain an FDA biologics license. Kagen's clinics do not have a biologics license for interstate shipment of drugs, nor have they filed an investigational new drug application, according to an FDA letter dated Dec. 18 and released last week.

I wonder how much money Kagen made by marketing his Super Weed, in violation of federal law.

I would guess quite a bit.

Ignoring the law and government regulations isn't somthing to be proud of but it can be lucrative.

Kagen is probably not pleased that he got his wrist slapped by the FDA. His clientele probably aren't too happy either.

What will they do without their Super Weed?

Ah-choo!