Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011
Issue of the Week: Facts Refute Walker's Image Rehab
Let's “put our differences aside and move forward together,” Tonette Walker urges in a “holiday spirit” ad featuring the first family of Wisconsin.
But the warm-and-fuzzy 30-second spot isn't intended to remind Wisconsinites that we should look out for each other during the holiday season.
Instead, the ad is meant to gently persuade voters not to support a recall effort against her husband, Gov. Scott Walker, without explicitly reminding them about the historic effort to remove him from office as soon as possible.
In the past few weeks, the unpopular governor has been attempting to rehabilitate his image from the hardhearted ideologue who will kick more than 60,000 low-income folks off of BadgerCare by year's end to one who contributes to the needy by doling out food in a soup kitchen—ironically, to the very same families his policies are crushing.
But the ad and Walker's pity-party interviews can't air often enough to drown out the bad news resulting from the governor's own office.
Although Walker now says Dec. 31 isn't a hard-and-fast deadline for making his massive BadgerCare changes, he isn't looking for ways to shore up the popular program and keep the cost of health care low for struggling workers. In fact, he's doing just the opposite by announcing that the state won't move ahead with implementing federal health care reform. Walker says it would be irresponsible to implement the reform while its constitutionality is in doubt. Actually, it's irresponsible not to implement it, since the state will likely have to return $38 million in federal grants and have to play catch up later this year if the law passes U.S. Supreme Court review, since the state must submit its plan to the federal government by 2013. That's closer than you think, especially since the Legislature will be out of session for much of the year.
But the Grinch-like BadgerCare deadline is not the only negative story Walker is trying to outrun. Employment continues to slide in Wisconsin while it grows nationally, due in part to shrinking paychecks for public employees. The ongoing John Doe investigation allegedly involves a number of Walker's aides and people connected to his gubernatorial campaign. And Walker is continuing his assault on public education, announcing that his already-tight budget still requires more tightening. A hefty chunk of the new $123 million in cuts is aimed at the University of Wisconsin System, which already received a historic $250 million cut in Walker's original budget. Now it has to slash another $46.1 million. Apparently this is what you get when a governor thinks so little of higher education that he couldn't see fit to finish his own degree.
That's why Walker is trying to burnish his media image as a kinder, gentler guy in ads that were bought with virtually unlimited funds he's raising from ultraconservatives outside of the state.
But Wisconsin voters aren't dumb enough to fall for his propaganda. They're signing recall petitions in droves to drive him out of office in 2012 before he can do any more damage to the state. And if you ask us, that's the best way we can look out for our neighbors during this holiday season.
But the warm-and-fuzzy 30-second spot isn't intended to remind Wisconsinites that we should look out for each other during the holiday season.
Instead, the ad is meant to gently persuade voters not to support a recall effort against her husband, Gov. Scott Walker, without explicitly reminding them about the historic effort to remove him from office as soon as possible.
In the past few weeks, the unpopular governor has been attempting to rehabilitate his image from the hardhearted ideologue who will kick more than 60,000 low-income folks off of BadgerCare by year's end to one who contributes to the needy by doling out food in a soup kitchen—ironically, to the very same families his policies are crushing.
But the ad and Walker's pity-party interviews can't air often enough to drown out the bad news resulting from the governor's own office.
Although Walker now says Dec. 31 isn't a hard-and-fast deadline for making his massive BadgerCare changes, he isn't looking for ways to shore up the popular program and keep the cost of health care low for struggling workers. In fact, he's doing just the opposite by announcing that the state won't move ahead with implementing federal health care reform. Walker says it would be irresponsible to implement the reform while its constitutionality is in doubt. Actually, it's irresponsible not to implement it, since the state will likely have to return $38 million in federal grants and have to play catch up later this year if the law passes U.S. Supreme Court review, since the state must submit its plan to the federal government by 2013. That's closer than you think, especially since the Legislature will be out of session for much of the year.
But the Grinch-like BadgerCare deadline is not the only negative story Walker is trying to outrun. Employment continues to slide in Wisconsin while it grows nationally, due in part to shrinking paychecks for public employees. The ongoing John Doe investigation allegedly involves a number of Walker's aides and people connected to his gubernatorial campaign. And Walker is continuing his assault on public education, announcing that his already-tight budget still requires more tightening. A hefty chunk of the new $123 million in cuts is aimed at the University of Wisconsin System, which already received a historic $250 million cut in Walker's original budget. Now it has to slash another $46.1 million. Apparently this is what you get when a governor thinks so little of higher education that he couldn't see fit to finish his own degree.
That's why Walker is trying to burnish his media image as a kinder, gentler guy in ads that were bought with virtually unlimited funds he's raising from ultraconservatives outside of the state.
But Wisconsin voters aren't dumb enough to fall for his propaganda. They're signing recall petitions in droves to drive him out of office in 2012 before he can do any more damage to the state. And if you ask us, that's the best way we can look out for our neighbors during this holiday season.
ME ANGRY! ME TYPE IN ALL CAPS TO MAKE POINT! ME SPELL VERY GOODLY! HULK SMASH NOW!
You are falling into the walker deception. He is after a Police State register every one voter ID, Gun Regesteration, Report your neighbour, man you guys make me sick. You would give up your freedom for a dollar. You will never be one of them. WQhen there are done with you they will send you off to there camp. WAKE UP WISCONSINITES
How come when people have nasty comments they always post under "anonymous?"
Anonymous, do you think people who are losing their homes just "don't want" to work? While people are struggling to keep their homes, the Walkers want to "renovate" the Governor's Mansion to restore it to the original beauty.
Food pantries and homeless shelters can't keep up with demand. Do you think people walk proudly into those and brag they are low income?
Doesn't every state subsidize higher education? Have you even looked to see how the cost of college has skyrocketed?
Walker is cracking down on people who are trying to improve their situation. Walker is cracking down on trying to improve his reputation and reverse damage his "my way or the highway" attitude has done.
The John Doe investigation could be cracked, too. Are you one of the conspiracy theory people who think this investigated is cooked up? No one would need to be granted immunity then.
Before spouting your prejudice against low income people, make sure you are looking at the big picture, what is going on nationwide, as well as Walker's own actions.
We NEED a leader who can bring our divided state together. One that understands we live in the United States of America and that it is a democracy. One that doesn't have past campaign fundraising violations. One that benefited from a recall election himself who now says recall elections are wrong.....
Right now, the powers that be want this single-minded reflex action by the voter, they intend to use that sentiment to make the sweeping "reforms" they need to increase the power that they already have, increase it be eliminating the ability to muster an opposition.
While we struggle to divert the remaining money to ourselves, the big boys are working overtime to reduce the regulatory functions of our government to nothing more than a rubber-stamp agency. Clear example is like "Must deny the application (through complete investigation) within 30 days, or it automatically is approved." Never mind that the funding and staff is not there to carry out the investigation... Result, automatic rubber-stamp approval.
Yet, there are some regulations that are allowed to continue, that which makes it hard for small-business and independent entrepreneurs to get into the business. That which makes it hard for a plaintiff to even file for relief. That which protects the licenses and intellectual property already owned (even more important than pure money itself), makes it easier for the top 1% to acquire the knowledge and inventions of the lower 99%.
But, we are so busy whining about our own narrow position in life, that we waste words there instead of looking at the big picture of what is happening, how big business is setting themselves up for the big power grab.