Waukesha Carnival 02/08/2009

Welcome to this week’s edition. It’s gettin’ late and I have to work tomorrow, so let’s get to it.

First sad news, Darryl Enriquez at Waukesha FYI tells us about the Waukesha Freeman layoffs. One of those laid off was photographer and Waukesha blogger Byron Houlgrave, who shared the last picture he clicked for the Freeman.

Continuing in Waukesha city, Jeff reviews the fish fry at Michael’s Italian America Restaurant at Five Points Blog.

James Wigderson went to the Waukesha Common Council meeting and shares his thoughts with us at Wigderson Library & Pub.

Spiralling out a little, Linda Richter at Inside New Berlin finds the security cameras in schools unsettling and it’s not just the price tag.

At peterepublic, Pete Fanning drops by to remind us he’s still alive, just very, very very busy.

Kyle Prast at Practically Speaking reminds us that US Rep. Sensenbrenner and state Rep. Leah Vukmir will have several town halls. One is past, two are upcoming.

In posts about state news, Wisconsin Sen. Mary Lazich (chief aide Kevin Fischer?) points out at Conservatively Speaking that the Wisconsin Covenant program could be costly.

In a couple of miscellaneous posts, Curt Otto gives us the question to last week’s answer, or something like that. Any way it’s all over at Maple & Main.

Meanwhile, over at the Spring City Chronicle, Michael Phelps gets the Bonehead of the Week award. Pretty much a unanimous vote, I would say.

Then in posts on national issues, MommaBlogger takes time out to rant over that Florida case of the botched abortion at Homemakers Guide to the Galaxy.

Dan Deibert shows us how fast government can move when they want to, with pictures at The D Spot.

Alex has some thoughts about Republican votes and raises at A Little off Main.

At The Other Side of  My Mouth, Tim Rock has some thoughts on the Republican vote on the stimulus package.

Silent e tells us why Democrats are unpatriotic at silent e speaks.

Cindy Kilkenny has a two-parter over at Fairly Conservative on building our own stimulus package.

Dad29 points out that the American people seem to be understanding the ramifications of the stimulus package.

Whew, that’s it for another long one. As usual, if you have one you liked add the link in the comments below or e-mail me at thoughtfulconservative [at] yahoo [dot] com. Same for posts you’d like to nominate for next week’s carnival. It doesn’t have to be one of your own. Links to our archives and future editions can be found here.

Filed under: Barack Obama, Blog carnivals, Democrats, Economics, Ethics, Fifth Cong. District, Republican, Sports, Taxes, Waukesha, Waukesha Carnival, Waukesha blogs, Wisconsin, government spending, policy , abortion, Blog carnivals, blogs, Democrat, James Sensenbrenner, layoffs, Leah Vukmir, Mary Lazich, Michael Phelps, New Berlin, privacy concerns, recession, Republican, Rod Blagojevich, Stimulus package, Waukesha, Waukesha Carnival, Waukesha Common Council, Waukesha Freeman, Wisconsin

Rep. Sensenbrenner

Renee Crawford ran into him at a function while in Washington and had this to say,

As we walking into the party, the first person I in the packed room was none other than F. Jim Sensenbrenner! What a surprise that was! You have to give him credit. Dude represents everyone in his district and whether or not he agrees with the democrats he represents, it was really a classy move for him to be there! On top of that, he was really friendly and in a great mood and we had a genuine discussion about voting rights that was interesting and important and I appreciated him taking a moment to spend with me letting me know his thoughts. More on that in another post on another day. Thank Sensy for your graciousness today of all days. It was noticed.

This seems to be the antithesis of what’s usually reported about Sensenbrenner and I thank Renee for graciously reporting this.

Filed under: Fifth Cong. District , James Sensenbrenner

Journal Sentinel endorses Burkee for Congress

It probably didn’t surprise Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner. The Journal Sentinel endorsed opponent Bryan Kennedy two years ago. And today they endorsed Sensenbrenner’s Republican opponent, Prof. Jim Burkee to become the Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District representative.

This is a mixed blessing for Burkee. A Journal Sentinel endorsement against a proven conservative usually doesn’t win one any brownie points with the right.

Here are their main points:

Burkee is a fiscal hawk.

He feels tax cuts should follow spending cuts, not the reverse.

Burkee also has talked of a “comprehensive” approach to energy rather than the sort of grandstanding of many who simply call for drilling for oil.

Burkee also favors a third way between protectionism and a no-holds-barred approach which he refers to as “balanced trade.”

Their objection to Sensenbrenner is the same as 2 years earlier: too often he is a roadblock in Congress, especially on immigration. But in a statement one might look at with a jaundiced eye the “editorial board” says,

But our support for Burkee has more to do with the strength of his ideas than with our past disagreements with the incumbent.

The Journal Sentinel’s disagreements with Sensenbrenner are many and varied.

So will the endorsement help or hinder Burkee. Or does anyone care?

(Cross posted at Fairly Conservative).

UPDATE: Blogs that have endorsed Burkee include Nick Schweitzer (implied), Josh Schoeder (who was a student of Burkee, if I remember right).

Those who are not impressed include Spring City Chronicle and Asian Badger. Owen will be voting for Sensenbrenner and elliot seems to be leaning that way. Kyle Prast will also vote for Sensenbrenner.

I’ve already noted Shepherd Express’s endorsement, but include it here for completeness.

Other endorsements will be added as I encounter them.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Wisconsin , 2008 elections, Jim Burkee, Jim Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District

Sensenbrenner only House member with primary race

WKOW channel 27 in Madison, WI brings us this tidbit,

A Republican congressman representing Milwaukee’s wealthy suburbs for nearly 30 years is the only incumbent among Wisconsin’s eight US House members with a challenger in the September ninth primary election.

Jim Sensenbrenner has been in Congress a long time. So long, in fact, that there is a veritable array of groups, weak in their own stregth as far as the Fifth CD is concerned, but banding together to try and rid Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District incumbent. Arrayed against Sensenbrenner are the left (I’m not sure the Shepherd Express would recognize a good Republican if he dropped into their offices, but they like Burkee as the “better Republican”), Ron Paul Republicans (with a ringing endorsement from Tim Peterson) and Libertarians (Si is there really a difference?) who only see him as the face of the evil Real ID, and, it appears, many main stream Republicans, including a long list of business men. He’s also endorsed by (Yes, it’s in alphabetical order by state, so you will have to scroll WAAAY down) the Republican Liberty Caucus.

The involvement of the left would imply some kind of crossover vote in next week’s primary, but this post on Sensenbrenner Watch seems to indicate that this won’t happen, at least in large numbers because of Democratic primary races and because

many people find it very difficult to vote in the opposing party’s primary, even if there is no good reason to vote in their own. When they do, they generally vote for the candidate they like the best, not to try to do any malicious damage.

That hasn’t kept Burkee from reaching out to “progressive” Democrats.

The illusion seems to be that Burkee is tilting at windmills. The reality may be that it may be close.

I still haven’t decided, but I will be voting for one or the other next week.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Wisconsin , 2008 election, Jim Burkee, Jim Sensenbrenner, Wisconsin Fifth Con

Fifth Congressional district forum notes

(Updated post to link to bloggers’ posts)

I attended the Fifth congressional district Republican forum featuring Rep. James Sensenbrenner and challenger Jim Burkee. Question: Why is it that I have only one chance to hear these two “debate” and why did I have to drive over a half hour to do so?

I saw steveegg (who also has audio) as I walked into the hall and Nick afterwards (a nice summary with some visual clues I couldn’t see from my obstructed position). I’ll update when they post. Jack Lohman was also there as shown by his comments here and I assume the West Bend Citizen Advocate was, too (yes, he has a couple of posts with pics). 8-29, 13:35 – Owen has audio and video posted also. Patrick McIlheran links and has some thoughts also. Thanks to all those who linked.

It was an overflow crowd I saw as I stepped into the room where the forum was held. Owen Robinson, the moderator and blogger at Boots and Sabers sat between Burkee and Sensenbrenner. Wisconsin Eye videoed the event (it’s posted) as did someone who appeared to be a supporter of Mr. Burkee. I didn’t see others though there might have been–my vantage point wasn’t ideal.

Each man was allowed an opening statement then Owen asked questions and allowed both men to answer alternately. He questioned them on an array of subjects and then asked questions submitted by the audience. He was only able to get through a few of the many questions submitted but the ones I heard were excellent.

Topics included controlling energy costs, illegal immigration, extending the Bush tax cuts, our heavy tax burden, the size of our Armed Forces, Russia-Georgia situation, and Iran. Audience questions delved into their core values, what they would target in budget cuts, eliminating the IRS, the Kyoto treaty, what they would do about trade and federal deficits, change in Pakistani leadership, and some I missed because I needed to field a phone call (it was on vibrate so it wasn’t THAT one). Then the men made their closing statements.

That’s it. No fisticuffs, no yelling and talking over (that I heard anyway)–just what a debate/forum is supposed to be.

It was only marred at the end when Mr. Burkee challenge Mr. Sensenbrenner to continue the forum. I felt that this was a cheap trick designed to only embarrass his opponent. I share his frustration somewhat, but that was the wrong place to broach the subject.

I came away agreeing with both men on some subjects and disagreeing with them on some. That’s normal. I just have to decide which is more important and vote that way.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Politics, Wisconsin , James Sensenbrenner, Jim Burkee, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District

Burkee says deck is stacked to protect incumbents

On the eve of the only forum taking place in Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District, Steve Jagler writing in  Milwaukee’s Small Business Times’ Biz Blog, gives time to challenger Jim Burkee who complains about incumbent advantages. To wit,

1. Burkee was not allowed to walk in many Independence Day parades. As an office holder, Sensenbrenner was.
2. Sensenbrenner has agreed to only one forum–tonight’s forum in Germantown. At least three others were turned down by Sensenbrenner and since he didn’t show, the forums’ sponsors dropped them.
3. “Individual supporters of a challenger’s campaign cannot compete with the war chest of thousands of dollars that the Sensenbrenner campaign has collected over the years from political action committees (PACs), many of whom represent out-of-state interests.”
4. Sensenbrenner’s district was gerrymandered to virtually ensure his perpetual re-election.
5. Burkee said he’s having trouble getting any acknowledgement whatsoever from the conservative talk show hosts in town.

Sensenbrenner’s campaign manager predictably dismissed these complaints as “whining.”

Well, maybe. There’s no doubt incumbents have advantages. And we could argue all day about whether the founding fathers intended lifetime legislators.

No Democrats are running. Robert R. Raymond of Shorewood is running as an independent. Haven’t heard much from him or about him, so the winner of the Republican primary will most likely be elected in November.

After being largely in the Sensenbrenner camp, I’m pretty much undecided right now. I don’t agree with either man fully (Do I ever?).

Maybe tonight’s forum will get me off the fence.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Politics, Wisconsin , 2008 election, incumbent advantage, James Sensenbrenner, Jim Burkee, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District, Wisconsin politics

WI-5 congressional district Republican forum

Owen of Boots & Sabers fame will be moderating.

I’m going to make the trip to Germantown, I think, just in case there are fireworks. Jim Burkee is challenging James Sensenbrenner.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Wisconsin , 2008 election, James Sensenbrenner, Jim Burkee, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District

“The Sensenbrenner Tax”

This is the clever title (well, maybe not so clever since Cato wrote it first) of the latest post by Wisconsin 5th CD candidate, Republican Jim Burkee posted at the Small Business Times and on his Community NOW blog Responsibility Now (which has footnotes where the SBT post doesn’t. BTW, if anyone can figure out how the footnotes work, I would appreciate it. I can’t.).

His basis is that Sensenbrenner was the sponsor of the Real ID Act of 2005 which was responsible for an unfunded mandate that caused the Wisconsin Legislature to raise driver license fees $10 — the Sensenbrenner Tax.

This fee/tax was also involved in the recent budget repair “deal” and a tongue lashing by Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin Assembly Majority leader Mike Huebsch.

Burkee is correct when he says,

With Real ID, Jim Sensenbrenner has managed to unite left and right in opposition.

Of course, Sensenbrenner was just the sponsor. All but 12 Republicans in the House voted for the measure in February 2005 before it was attached as a rider to the military appropriations bill, eight voted “No” and 5 didn’t vote. All three of Wisconsin Republicans voted for the measure, so I’m not sure if Burkee is condemning the entire Republican Party and aligning himself with Ron Paul, who was one of the eight nay votes.

Instead of Real ID, Burkee touts Rep. Paul Ryan’s Employee Verification Act, which seems to have promise, but has not been passed and I doubt it will in the current climate.

I’m not a big fan of Real ID myself, but it seems we need to get something on track. And as Owen has pointed out, the Wisconsin Legislature has already passed the $10 fee and are not rescinding it.

This looks like a spending cut, but it really isn’t.  It cuts $21,989,300 for implementing the Real ID Act and transfers the money to the general fund.  But implementing the Real ID act is de-facto mandatory unless Wisconsinites are cool with their drivers’ licenses being invalid for federal purposes.  So while this looks like a spending cut, it is actually just delaying this spending into the next budget.

Also notice that this was the excuse for the increased vehicle registration fee that was passed in the budget.  So now there is a fee that is being collected to implement the Real ID act, but the money is being taken used in the general fund instead.  Bait and switch, anyone?

Does this mean it’s no longer Sensenbrenner’s tax?

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Privacy issues, Republican, Wisconsin , 2008 election, Jim Burkee, Jim Sensenbrenner, Real ID, Wisconsin budget, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District, Wisconsin legislature

ABSA (Anyone But Sensenbrenner Again)

I know, it’s not as snappy as “ABBA” four years ago, but without a Democratic challenger as of this writing, Jim Burkee gets backhanded, not endorsements, but at least, nods of approval from those who just want to see incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner defeated.

Note this from Uppity Wisconsin

So far, Jim Burkee is Wisconsin’s only hope to de-throne the 40-year incumbency of fifth congressional district Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Menominee Falls), and what a slog it’s going to be.

No doubt Democrats would love to see Burkee win as this would give them better chance of winning the Fifth district.

A quick reading also brought this post from Jack Lohman from early February,

Only one challenger has emerged, Jim Burkee, and he’s running as a Republican in the September primary. He isn’t real happy with Sensenbrenner either, and if he unseats him he’ll likely face a Democratic challenger. This is not an endorsement, yet, but he’s got to be better than what we have today. I’m waiting to hear more on his positions.

And a couple of weeks back, our beloved xoff wrote this,

Having lost the Dem half of the ill-conceviced[sic] dual candidacy, are the Dems going to field a candidate, or it is time to start rallying behind Birkey [sic]?

On that post, Mr. Lohman also commented,

Burkee is an excellent option to Senselessbrenner[sic]. I’ve met him and he’s got his head screwed on right. Not quite there as far as health care reform, but hopefully the Dems will outvote the R’s on this one.

Not much chance of a crossover vote, but our left-of-center friends certainly make clear their preference on the Republican side.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Wisconsin , 2008 election, James Sensenbrenner, Jim Burkee, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District

“The public’s disdain for Congress is justified”

So writes James Burkee, professor at Concordia University and candidate for the Republican nomination to the House of Representatives in Wisconsin’s Fifth District, in the latest Small Business Times.

His charge against Jim Sensenbrenner,

A judge would not rule on a case involving a pharmaceutical company he owned stock in. So why would a congressman vote for legislation that positively affected the value of stocks he owned in pharmaceutical companies – or defense contractors?

Even if it’s not corrupt, it sure looks bad.

A similar problem exists with the impact of special interest money. Many members of Congress, including Mr. Sensenbrenner, take millions of dollars from special interests, then vote for legislation that positively affects the very interests that fund their campaigns (the majority of his campaign contributions come from special interests). Or they accept gifts, like the hundreds of thousands of dollars in free travel given Congressman Sensenbrenner, from organizations looking to benefit from Congressional legislation.

It may not be illegal, but it sure looks bad.

Burkee, on the other hand, has promised that he will,

never vote for irresponsible deficit spending, will reject lobbyist gifts and special interest money in his campaign and in office, and will limit himself to three terms.

Filed under: 2008, Elections, Fifth Cong. District, Wisconsin , James Sensenbrenner, Jim Burkee, Wisconsin Fifth Congressional District