Sykes: The Recall Flaw

We can endlessly debate the fairness and wisdom of Wisconsin's recall law. But here are some fascinating numbers: the two senators who lost Tuesday, received substantially MORE votes when they were first elected to a 4-year term than their opponents received in the recall. In other words, the recall allowed a smaller group of voters to negate the choice a much larger number of voters who cast ballots in a general election. In the case of Dan Kapanke, for example, 33,192 Tuesday votes were able to negate the votes of 45,154 voters who elected Kapanke to his current term.

Here are the numbers:

Randy Hopper.  In 2008 he got 41,852 votes.  In 2011 King got 28,188.  Difference of 13,664

Dan Kapanke.  In 2008 he got 45,154.  In 2011 Schilling got 33,192.  Difference of 11,962.

For comparison purposes, in 2008 Alberta Darling got 50,125 and in 2011 she got 39,471 votes.

Sykes

A question I asked a while ago; why doesn't the left simply recall every election?   

BC on CV: My Catholic Vote roundup of last night's elections

Editor’s note: We have invited Matt Korger to contribute this posting on the elections in his home state of Wisconsin. Matt is editor of the Badger Catholic blog.

Let’s take a brief trip down memory lane.

In February, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed a Budget Repair Bill which would rescue the state from a looming $3.6 billion ($3,600,000,000) state budget deficit.  Wisconsin was in much the same place as California found itself in a few years ago.  Either fix a broken system or the state goes broke and looks for someone else to foot their bills (how’s that budget ceiling workin’ for the Feds?).

Things had gotten so bad that in 2009 Minnesota cancelled its tax reciprocity relationship with Wisconsin, something Walker fixed in July.  Part of that budget bill called for a modernization of public sector union benefits.  In the Badger State any public employees in the state have health care coverage that covers 100% of basically anything, with the worker contributing $0; no premium.  This is a bit out of touch with reality.  My family premium per year is $2,600.  One might say that goes against the Church’s teaching on social justice.  Don’t try to tell these nuns though.

Go ahead, read the rest at Catholic Vote

Thanks to Josh Mercer and the CatholicVote gang.  That was fun!

PS> Thank you Virginia with all the help on this one!

Don't forget to vote today for those in recall districts!!!!

Madison - Tuesday brings a series of recall elections unprecedented in the history of the state or nation.

Since 1908, there have been 20 recorded state legislative recall elections held in the United States, according to one recall expert. Wisconsin is in the process of holding nine such elections in the space of a month.

With control of the Wisconsin Senate in the balance, six Republican state senators will face a recall vote Tuesday. One Democratic senator has already weathered a recall attempt, and on Aug. 16, two more Democrats will be up for recall.

"Wisconsin has taken a quantum leap in a fast-changing process, in what has been a growing use of the recall" nationally, said Joshua Spivak, who writes the Recall Elections Blog.

There is intense interest - from voters on the street to national political groups - in the elections sparked by lawmakers' positions on GOP Gov. Scott Walker's law ending most union bargaining for most public workers.

Tens of millions of dollars are being spent on the recall campaigns by candidates and independent groups. President Barack Obama's Organizing for America was pulling together canvassing drives Monday, and the Tea Party Express was concluding a bus tour of the state with rallies in Rhinelander and De Pere.

MJS

Say a prayer for the solidly pro-life Dan Kapanke today.  Death threats and nails in his driveway have not stopped this guy from fixing the Doyle mess in Madison.  Liberals have been calling telling conservatives the wrong voting day.  That all said, he is one of the most genuine and honest guys you will meet in politics.  And I'm not the only one saying that.  The people that hate him the most have never met him.

The Daily Klos shared it's plan to take over Wisconsin:

Here is our plan to make that happen. In the two districts where Democrats hold narrow leads, we are going to run Google Blast ads during the final 120 hours of the election.

This means two things. First, every single person who goes online in those districts will see our ads an average of 20 times by Election Day. Second, we will drown out any online ads run by Republicans and their corporate masters, making it all but impossible for the GOP to fight back online.

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, let those who hate Him flee before His Holy Face.

The Catholic Times interviews Sen. Dan Kapanke while Shilling refuses

Sen. Dan Kapanke

LA CROSSE – One state senator has successfully defended his seat and eight others will soon attempt to do so in special State Senate recall elections underway after the bitter battle over Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s removal of collective bargaining rights for most state workers.

In District 30, Democratic State Sen. David Hansen easily defeated Republican challenger David VanderLeest of Green Bay on July 19 in the first of the recall elections. Due to the other incumbents facing “fake” candidates in the primaries, voters elsewhere will head to the polls on Aug. 9 for seats held by Republicans or on Aug. 16 for seats held by Democrats.

The recall election that affects the biggest swath of the Diocese of La Crosse pits incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse against Democratic State Rep. Jennifer Shilling, also of La Crosse. They are battling for District 32, which includes La Crosse, Vernon and Crawford counties, as well as part of Richland County.

Also important for Catholics elsewhere in the diocese are the races in District 10, where Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) faces Democrat Shelly Moore, a teacher and union leader also from River Falls; in District 12, where Sen. Jim Holperin (DConover) is being challenged by Republican Kim Simac, a small business owner from Eagle River; and in District 14, where Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) is pitted against Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo).

While the recall effort is being billed as a referendum on Walker’s collective bargaining law, the state’s two largest prolife organizations are sounding a note of caution because voters’ anger could catapult several pro-abortion politicians into office and put into danger a number of legislative efforts to protect human life from the first moment of conception.

“People of good will can disagree on the collective bargaining law,” Matt Sande, legislative director for Pro-Life Wisconsin, told The Catholic Times.[The Wisconsin Bishops' essentially said the same thing, even if their statement was spun like a top.] “But the life issues are paramount for Catholic voters. The right to life is the right upon which all other rights stand.”

The political action committees of both PLW and Wisconsin Right to Life have endorsed Republican candidates in all the recall elections. Sande, however, emphasized that the endorsements are not meant to be partisan, but instead an indication of the candidates’ pro-life voting records or statements. “We’re not a partisan organization,” he said. “We’ve endorsed Democrats in the past.”

Both Sande and Susan Armacost of WRTL singled out Kapanke as a particularly strong pro-life leader in the State Senate.

“Dan has been a champion for the rights of unborn children,” Armacost said in an interview with The Catholic Times. “To lose someone of his caliber would be a tragedy.”

“I’ll always be a steady vote on the pro-life issues,” Kapanke said in an interview with The Catholic Times. “Who is going to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, whether it be the poor, the elderly or the unborn? Life is a gift from God and should be treated as such.”

Sen. Kapanke, who was raised on a 200-acre dairy farm near Coon Valley, is a graduate of UW-La Crosse. He and his family attend Immanuel Lutheran Church there. The owner of the minor league La Crosse Loggers and a former Marine reservist, Sen. Kapanke was a district sales manager for Kaltanberg Seed Farms. He first took up politics as board member for the Town of Campbell and was first elected to the Senate in 2004.

Rep. Shilling, whose campaign staff ignored repeated requests from The Catholic Times to make her available for an interview, is endorsed by Planned Parenthood for the recall election, and was also endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin for her 2010 reelection to the State Assembly. She has a notable pro-abortion voting record, including, most recently, her vote to preserve funding for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. In the 2007-08 session she voted against legislation to create a state ban on partial-birth abortion. She has also voted in favor of embryonic stem cell research and against legislation to protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals.

According to her campaign Web site, Shilling and her family are members of Wesley United Methodist Church in La Crosse. A graduate of UW-La Crosse like Sen. Kapanke, she was a legislative aid in Madison and in the La Crosse office of U.S. Rep. Ron Kind. She served as La Crosse County Supervisor before her election to the State Assembly in 2000.

In the Assembly, Rep. Shilling serves or has served on the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance and the Assembly’s committees on Health and Health Care Reform and on Rules.

Her campaign literature indicates that she is running for the Senate because Sen. Kapanke “stopped listening” to his constituents in voting for Gov. Walker’s proposal.

In a letter to the La Crosse Tribune in May, Rep. Shilling highlighted a listening session she held on the state budget in La Crosse after the Joint Finance Committee moved its hearing from Arcadia to Neenah.

“While a total of six people spoke in favor of the governor’s budget,” she wrote, “the vast majority was opposed and expressed the importance of a quality education system, crucial job training programs, our natural resources and cost-saving health programs.”

Sen. Kapanke rejected the suggestion that he had stopped listening to voters in voting for the governor’s budget. “That couldn’t be more than 180 degrees from the truth,” he told The Catholic Times, listing the packed town hall meetings he attended in Viroqua, Cashton and elsewhere before the vote.

“I could have voted the other way and there would have been no recall,” Sen. Kapanke said. “But I looked at what we’ve been doing in Wisconsin the last ten years, both Democrats and Republicans. We’ve been fiscally irresponsible. Looking at the structural deficit, something had to be done.”

The Catholic Times

Shilling wants to distance herself from the reckless spending habits of Gov. Jim Doyle despite the fact she supported him 100% while on the finance committee.  The blame for the massive budget problems falls squarely on the shoulders of Jennifer Schilling who was asleep at the wheel, and now has the audacity to run against someone trying to fix the problem while presenting no alternative to the crisis she created.  Even though Shilling is a Methodist, I thought it interesting to not even issue a statement to The Catholic Times explaining her position.  I would think she would care about her Catholic constituents enough to communicate to us her message.  Maybe she just doesn't like Catholics? 

I think it says alot of Dan Kapanke that he took the time to sit down for an interview.  He has been very persecuted during his time in politics and he deserves our prayers and support.

Raw milk advocates endorse Dan Kapanke

I strongly encourage you to vote on August 9, and if you share the beliefs above you have no choice but to vote for Dan Kapanke.

Dan took the time to visit our farm a month ago to talk about the raw milk legislation. He drank our milk, ate our cookies and expressed whole hearted unequivocal support for the unrestricted right of farmers to sell-- and consumers to buy--- unpasteurized raw milk direct from the farm. In his present position as chair of the Senate agriculture committee he is prepared to host a hearing and get the bill through his committee. This is a critically important step to passing a bill.

Meanwhile Jennifer Shilling has been asked repeatedly to support our basic freedom to buy and sell food and says simply, " No. Raw milk is unsafe." The implication is that you and the rest of the public can not be trusted to make your own informed decisions about what to eat. It is implied you first need permission from some really smart person at UW-Madison[ROFL!!] before you go shopping and that St Brigid's farm needs a visit from a really smart inspector from the Dept of Ag before we can sell because without his inspection and threats we would not produce a healthy product. The implication from Jennifer is that you and I are not to be trusted and that we need the government to mange our lives and farms.

St Brigid's Meadow 

Shilling = Doyle.  Did you know a Raw Milk bill passed both Assembly and Senate only to have Jim Doyle veto the measure?  Shilling once again has proven she cannot think for herself but must obey party Corleones and financiers. 

A vote for Jennifer Shilling is a vote for Jim Doyle

DPW won't let me in public for some reason...
Could it be because my Democrats left the state
with a 5 billion dollar deficit?
..... that Jennifer Shilling voted for ....

Rep. Jennifer Shilling, in announcing her candidacy for state Senate, said she wants Wisconsin to get back to being a state she's proud to represent.

Would that be the state of disaster left after eight years of control by Democrats and Gov. Jim Doyle?

A state that necessitated near draconian measures by Gov. Scott Walker to keep us from bankruptcy?

Would that be the state of denial, where your party's lawmakers cut and run to Illinois to avoid doing their jobs?

Would that be the state of anarchy where supporters of your party trash the Capitol?

Would that be the state of favoritism, where Democrats support only special interest labor and not all Wisconsin workers?

And with this record, you want to replace Sen. Dan Kapanke?

Would that be the same man who understood the gravity of our state's financial position and acted appropriately?

Would that be the same man who has always been a leader in our community, a legendary contributor to youth baseball and the man who brought us the Loggers?

I hope Jennifer is not successful. I hope the people do not let her rob us of a good public servant who is concerned with all the people, not just special interest groups.

Read more: http://lacrossetribune.com/courierlifenews/news/opinion/article_ab9c3b26-6c17-11e0-8c6d-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1SqRGZf4h

Many of the recall elections take place Tuesday August 9th, including Kapanke's.  Support our courageous pro-life candidates through prayers and financial assistance where you can.  But since this is a special election, make sure to remind your pro-life friends and family to vote.  With summer vacations, ect, you can fill out an absentee ballot if needed. 

La Crosse diocesan attorney writes op ed ripping pro-life Kapanke in favor of pro-abort

By James G. Birnbaum | La Crosse | Posted: Monday, June 6, 2011 12:15 am

Should Sen. Dan Kapanke be voted out of office for his recent actions in Madison? Absolutely for at least two reasons, what he did and why he did it.

First, his vote against the collective bargaining rights of the working class was unprecedented and radical in its breadth and scope. It was totally unnecessary and unrelated to any fiscal necessity.

It has created chaos in local governments in the short term, seriously and in some cases irreparably harmed his constituents and left a destructive legacy politically and economically never seen before in Wisconsin history. This one, unnecessary, vindictive, ideological vote demands his recall. 

Second, Kapanke has changed. He turned his back on his friends, neighbors and constituents in favor of out-of-town and out-of-state wealthy right-wing ideologues who have and probably will again dump millions of dollars to smear Rep. Jennifer Shilling like he attempted to do with Rep. Ron Kind.

Kapanke is too far indebted and in the pocket of big business to be trusted. We need a senator who is one of us, who can’t be bought and who will take our calls and not those of the Koch brothers.

Some votes, because of their consequence and intent, mandate a forfeiture of public office. This is one of those votes.

In the recall election, vote for Rep. Jennifer Shilling, a person of loyalty and integrity.

LaX Trib

First... weak letter!  Face it, you support the recall because you didn't vote for him the first time around.  You are hoping for a low turnout for the election so as to snatch back what is yours.  Second, modernizing collective bargaining is the only concrete answer as to why there's a recall in the first place?  Puleeeze.

I've posted on Birnbaum's political contributions before.  He exclusively supports pro-abortion politicians.  It has been brought before more than one bishop in this diocese and no action has ever been taken against him.  He still is the diocese go to guy in legal matters. 

HT CC

Dad29: About Those Recall Elections

Hopper and Kapanke may be a lot safer than some think.

Remember that elections held in June are held AFTER the UW schools dismiss for the summer.

So UW-LaCrosse and UW-Oshkosh will each contribute 5,000 less votes......

Dad29

Labor union reps gather enough names for recall against Dan Kapanke

La Crosse area Democrats have filed a petition with more than 21,700 signatures calling for a recall electoin of Sen. Dan Kapanke, one of eight Republicans targeted for his support of a controversial bill to curtail collective bargaining rights for public workers.

If 15,588 signatures are validated, Kapanke will be just the fifth Wisconsin lawmaker to face a recall election. Only two have been unseated.

Kapanke said Friday he believes the bill – now entangled in a court battle over the way it was passed – was necessary to balance an estimated $3.6 billion budget deficit and that he would cast the same vote again even knowing it could cost him his seat.

“This certainly trumps any one person’s ambitions or political career,” he said. “We are elected to put our fiscal house in order… You’ve got to do what’s best in your heart – what you feel is best for the future of the state.”

LaX Trib

Here's the thing, why don't Dems run a recall after every election?  Did anybody who signed the petition vote for Kapanke?  So why is this a surprise.  If Dem senators are willing to run away from home like a teenager told they cant get their eyelids tattooed, should we expect anything less?  Worst case scenario, I think Kapanke could make a run and beat Herb Kohl if Kohl decides to run again. 

Union supporters put nails in Sen Kapanke home driveway, smash in car windows

Sen. Dan Kapanke has canceled upcoming district meetings after being the target of threats and vandalism. Rose Smyrski, Kapanke's chief of staff, said the senator's car window was smashed in Madison, and his wife found nails scattered in the driveway of their French Island home.

He also received death threats.

The threats are being investigated by the state Department of Justice, which said last week it had identified and located the person behind at least two threats made against elected officials in recent weeks. No other information about the person was released.

The e-mails included threats to kill Gov. Scott Walker and eight Republican senators.

Smyrski said Kapanke also received a separate unique threat.

"It was unnerving," she said.

Kapanke said last week he was concerned for his family but didn't plan to drastically alter his routine.

"I'm a pretty trusting guy," he said. "I love to be with people. I'm going to continue to do that but be a little more cautious."

La Crosse Tribune

The Trib's piece reads like damage control.

Here's some excerpts from the death threats:

Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your familes will also be killed

I hope you have a good time in hell. Read below for more information on possible scenarios in which you will die.

We have all planned to assult you by arriving at your house and putting a nice little bullet in your head.

We Will “get rid of” (in which I mean kill) you.

Here's what the Trib put on the threats:

"If you and your goonies feel that it's necessary to strip the rights of 300,000 people and ruin their lives," one e-mail read, "we will ‘get rid of' (in which I mean kill) the 8 of you."

I guess "putting a nice little bullet in your head" doesn't sound so good for the home team.  All of this because unions want to ensure their members have excessive benefits packages. 

What you might not have heard before is that during the 2010 fall elections, Kapanke was running against Ron Kind for US House.  Someone went and set part of his Northwoods league baseball stadium on fire.  It was ruled arson but no one was ever caught.  Damages were more than $100,000.  

Amazing that the only political party that cannot maintain civility is the Democrat Party.  Violence and intimidation is the foundation of it's creed.  Could you imagine the outrage if pro-lifers were accused of the same crimes????

Wisconsin election roundup

Wisconsin now has a pro-life governor.  Sconnie's now have a "pro-life" senator for the first time since 1993 and the first time a pro-life Republican defeated a pro-abortion incumbent since 1980 in the Reagan election.

Here's lookin at you Herbie in 2012.  Kohl will be 77 at that point.  I think I read he stated he has no intention of retiring but we will see the mood of the country.  He's won his last 2 of his last 3 elections by 20% and the last election by over 30%.  It takes alot of money which Kohl has. 

Pro-lifers like Badger Catholic endorsed Sean Duffy beats pro-abortion "Catholic" Julie Lassa in district 7.  Also pro-life Reed Ribble wins district 8. 

Pro-life Dan Kapanke came up a little short in WI District 3.  One thing that worked against Kapanke was the Eau Claire doctors claiming Ron Kind staffers wanted to charge them for an audience.  Kind then laid the victim card down and I think that was a big help to him. Not to mention Kind outspent Kapanke 4-1.  Had national GOP recognized it was a close race and chipped in, we would be seeing another pro-abort booted out.

Kind had harsh words for his opponent Tuesday night, calling the attacks desperate campaigning by a desperate candidate.

“Take a look at who he surrounded himself with. I expected this kind of last-minute assassination on my integrity and my character,” Kind said. “For him to take such a low road, I think he’s made a pact with the devil that he’s going to have to live with for a long time.”

So much for Mr. Nice Guy.  Can you say sore winner.  #1 it's politics.  #2 you're a politician.  Funny, lets look at how Ron Kind went about his campaign:

In an open letter to Kind after the state Democratic Party accused Kapanke of money laundering[to pay for lights at a city owned ballpark], Kapanke urged his opponent to stay above the fray so they can greet each other in church on good terms.

Yet the campaigns unfolded decidedly negative.

Kind says Kapanke's unprovoked letter to the editor Sept. 5, which accuses Kind of mudslinging, shouldn't be mistaken for the opening bell.

"From day one, given Sen. Kapanke's website, his campaign has been nothing but slash-and-burn politics against me[He's the 2 million dollar victim I guess]," he said. "Although he wasn't buying TV and radio, that campaign was certainly doing everything they could to attack me."  [Kind outspent Kapanke 4-1]

That letter dragged him into the fight, Kind said. Kapanke was assailing him, rather than taking responsibility for his ethics breach.

"Dan's had some problems that he's had to resolve, and then he turned around and made me part of the story. That was uncalled for," Kind said. "That was going too far." [I think support for taxpayer funded abortions is a real ethical breach, doncha think?]

In contrast, here's what Kapanke had to say about Kind

"This isn't about Ron Kind as a person. I know his family. I like his family, which is why I've stayed really focused on the issues. If I was happy with the job Ron was doing, I probably wouldn't be doing this. A couple votes here and there, I wouldn't run," Kapanke said.

And the State Assembly and Senate are now in the hands in Republicans.

In contests that drew national attention, Democrats lost control of both the state Assembly and Senate in Tuesday's voting, giving Republicans control of all of state government for the first time since 1998.

The stunning victory amid high unemployment and economic turmoil in the state represented the first time a political party had won both houses of the Legislature in a single day of voting since 1938, when Republicans swept out the waning Progressive Party.

The new GOP majorities will have the potential power to pass tax and spending cuts sought by Governor-elect Scott Walker as well as redraw the lines of political districts to make it easier to elect Republican congressional and legislative candidates. But they also face the challenge of balancing a $3 billion budget deficit projected for the next two years.

In a key Senate race, Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) defeated freshman Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) in the 5th District. Adding to the sting, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Wausau) and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) both conceded their re-election battles.

A good morning.  Get ready to work elephants.  

Election coverage

I think for 2012 we should get some Sconnies together for election coverage.  Yours truly, Dad29, Wiggy, McIlheran.

People would dig this. 

Oh, and whatever happens tonight, I love Dan Kapanke.  Anybody who's been to Loggers game watching him serve concessions or selling peanuts would find this right in line with how this guy works.  From an email:

Before that I was at Marge's restaurant on the North side of La Crosse having breakfast and Dan Kapanke showed up to visit with customers and help serve coffee.  I left the headquarters at about 10pm last night and he was still going strong.  Then I showed up at Marge's at about 6:30am and he was at it again.  The man is amazing and he will be a tireless servant of the people.

Wisconsin State Journal endorses Dan Kapanke

Which confuses the liberals in my town who think of La Crosse as "little Madison."

Kind has done some good things, such as challenging wasteful farm subsidies and pressing for outcome-based payments in the new health care law. We've endorsed Kind in past elections.

But Kind hasn't done enough to change Washington's bad habits and misguided priorities.

Kapanke deserves a shot to do better.

Kapanke helped lead a principled push last year to strip all non-fiscal policy items from the state budget. Kapanke favored financial disclosure for groups that run nasty issue ads before elections. And he was one of the first and relatively few state lawmakers to return his legislative pay raise during tight times.

Kapanke also showed he doesn't follow the marching orders of the GOP and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce when he opposed a gimmicky constitutional amendment on spending and taxes in 2005.

Wis State Journal

Like a battered wife afraid to leave her husband, the La Crosse Tribune endorsed Ron Kind who even by liberal standards has done nothing noteworthy in his political career in Washington. 

Ron Kind and the "cloak of darkness"

Let's have some fun with this, shall we?

Special interest groups already have poured more than $1.2 million in the 3rd Congressional race, an unprecedented level of outside influence in the western Wisconsin district. With less than three weeks until the Nov. 2 election, the National Federation of Independent Business on Wednesday began airing a new television ad through Oct. 22. The nearly $400,000 ad buy in La Crosse and Madison attacks Rep. Ron Kind’s record on spending and support for federal stimulus programs. [Why did he vote for it if he didn't want to defend his decision?]

The conservative 60 Plus Association spent $565,000 in La Crosse and Eau Claire airing ads accusing Kind, D-La Crosse, of ignoring seniors and cutting $500 billion from Medicare. [...sooo senior citizens should not be permitted to place political advertisements?]

Kind criticized the so-called secret money[ITS A CONSPIRACY!] he says conservative special interests[his own interests are not special?] use to spread misleading and false messages. [or maybe the truth hurts]

“They’re operating under the cloak of darkness[ROFL], trying to scare people, without revealing who they are and what they stand for,” he said Thursday. [I will give you three guesses what kinds of "special interests" that 60 Plus Association has...  Oh, look at what I found using that new thing called the "internet" Founded in 1992, the 60 Plus Association is a non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, less taxes approach to seniors issues.  EEEEEEVIL!]

The seven-term[career] Democratic incumbent[politician] faces Independent Mike Krsiean and [evil] Republican state Sen. Dan Kapanke, widely considered the most formidable opponent since Kind first was elected in 1996. [Hence he must be EEEEVIL and assuredly part of the cloak of darkness]

Money flowing into the district is an indication the seat is considered in play, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor Joe Heim said. [Wait, you better not mean he's not EEEEVIL]

“They don’t put this money into all 435 Congressional races. They put it into the ones that are most likely to turn,” he said. “Republicans need about 40 seats to take over control of the House. Seventy or 80 are perceived to be competitive. This is one of those.”

The Cook Political Report earlier this week moved Kind’s district from likely Democratic to leans Democratic. [Ut Oh.]

It was expected that Sean Duffy[EVIL] and Julie Lassa’s[victim] race for the open 7th District seat and Steven Kagen[v] and Reid Ribble’s[E] for the 8th — a swing district with a Democratic incumbent who’s only served two terms — would be attractive to outside groups, said Barry Burden, a University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor.

But the 3rd District’s jump onto the national radar is surprising — and the amount of money coming in remarkable, he said. [CONSPIRACY!]

“I think the support from groups like these really indicate the momentum of this campaign,” [Evil] Kapanke said [with a maniacal laugh] “I can’t imagine that they would put their money into this race if they didn’t think they could make a difference.” ["BWAH HA HA"]

It is more a way to build on the momentum [evil] Republicans have nationally than an endorsement of Kapanke’s [evil] strengths, Burden said. [whilst tossing salt over his shoulder]

The money probably comes at the right time for [evil] Kapanke [aka, the wrong time], Heim added. Kind’s cash on hand dwarfs his opponent’s 4 to 1 [...waaaait, I thought Kind was the victim...], but the special-interest money is [unfairly] chipping away at that fundraising edge.

Said Kind, “$1.2 million buys a lot of negative media. [I would know from running them.]  They’re running these negative ads just trying to see what might stick.  [Hopefully it's not the truth] I don’t mind people getting the message out, but it should be truthful.” [Kind then uncrossed his fingers from behind his back]

Of 60 Plus, Kind said, “their whole agenda is to privatize Social Security — they hand off to NFIB, then they hand off to Americans for Prosperity.” ["If you see these old people, send some teenagers dressed in goth over to scare em."]

Kind said he responds by talking up his advocacy for seniors[aka death panels], small businesses[aka wall street & bank/credit card bailout] and trying to shed light on those groups’ corporate agendas[like advocating for seniors over 60, can't get more corporate than that].

Democrats nationwide have been honing their attacks on a U.S. Supreme Court decision that blew the lid off undisclosed special-interest money. [not to mentioned protected free speech.  EVIL!]

These special interests[but not our own, snicker snicker] are going to pervert [(uhh, the word pervert is not politically correct)] the nation’s democracy and leave no fingerprints, [Heroic] Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Graeme [the Virtuous] Zielinski said.

“[Evil] Groups like the NFIB, 60 Plus Conservatives, and Americans For Prosperity represent people all across the country that are concerned about the direction this country is headed,” [Darth] Kapanke’s campaign countered. “... These groups provide a way for regular [evil] people to band together and exercise their First Amendment right to free speech. [Devil Talk]”

La Crosse Tribune

Let's get out there and exercise our right to free Devil Talk! 

Photo

Ron Kind said to require campaign cash to meet with doctors concerned about Obamacare

A couple of Eau Claire doctors are trying to shake up the sleepy congressional race in southwestern Wisconsin with their claim that they were told to come up with campaign cash before U.S. Rep. Ron Kind would meet with them to discuss a bill detrimental to their hospital.

The pay-to-play allegation has certainly roused the seven-term Democrat.

"Never in my time as a public servant have I asked or required people or organizations to make a contribution to my campaign in order to meet with me," Kind said in his written statement last week. "This claim is a lie and is an attack on my character."

Two doctors at OakLeaf Surgical Hospital contacted No Quarter last week with their three-year-old charge, which they detailed in affidavits provided to the paper. Kind's staff countered with their own set of affidavits challenging the doctors' story.

"I don't know the legalities," Michael Smith, one of the OakLeaf doctors, said in an interview. "But this is an official elected to represent us. What does this mean - if I don't have the money that he won't even meet with me to hear my side of an important issue for our district?"

Another surgeon at the physician-owned facility maintains in his sworn statement that an unnamed Kind aide in his Eau Claire office explained that the veteran politician "typically requires a contribution of $10,000 for a 1-2 hour personal meeting and $25,000 for a half day meeting."
 
The surgeon, who organized the event, asked that he not be named in exchange for providing the Journal Sentinel with his affidavit through his attorney, John Behling, a former aide to Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson. The surgeon declined to be interviewed, Behling said.

OakLeaf doctors wanted to talk to Kind about a bill, called the Champ Act, which would have banned the creation of any new physician-owned hospitals while prohibiting the existing ones from expanding their facilities. It also would have limited the percentage of a hospital that doctors could own individually and collectively.

Read the rest from Daniel Bice at JSOnline

HT Coulee Conservatives

Funny that the paper on the EAST side of the state has to break this story.  What does that say about the media in Western Wisconsin.  Makes a person wonder what else has been going on. 

Pro-Life Kapanke closing gap on Kind

CHARLIE COOK CHANGES RATING!

Great news! The authority on predicting the outcome of political campaigns, Charlie Cook, has moved this race from "Likely Democrat" to "Leans Democrat." This shows that this race is getting significantly closer with Kind clinging to a single digit lead. See what Charlie Cook's says about this race:

WI-03 Ron Kind (D)

Lean Democratic. As statewide races have deteriorated for Democrats, this usually sleepy Western Wisconsin district has become a tantalizing target for GOP outside groups, including the 60 Plus Association, which has purchased $565,000 in ad time (that goes quite a long way in Eau Claire and La Crosse) to blast Kind for voting for health care reform. GOP state Senator Dan Kapanke, who has won two elections in Kind's Democratic-leaning home base of La Crosse, has steadily raised $684,000 over the course of the cycle and is hitting Kind on spending and party-line votes.

Kind, who grew up on a dairy farm and was a high school football standout, is tough to demonize and has never had much trouble since winning the district in 1996. But he has never had to run against a well-funded campaign in a horrendous political environment. Democrats have been hitting Kapanke on relatively minor campaign finance discrepancies in press releases all year, but look for them to ratchet up their hits by pointing out that Kapanke, who owns the La Crosse Loggers collegiate summer baseball team, used lobbyist donations to his community nonprofit foundation to finance stadium improvements. Internal GOP polling shows a single-digit race, but Kind still has a lead.

This is awesome news! I know that if I keep executing my plan to win, we will knock off Ron Kind and get this country back on track. Help me keep the pressure on Kind. Do what you can to support my campaign by making a donation here.
Kapanke for Congress

Wisconsin Pro-Life candidates pulling away in polls

Walker is above 50 percent for the first time in this campaign, and any gains it looked like Democrat Tom Barrett had made in the Aug. 24 poll seem to have evaporated. Walker's campaign is portraying this as a big win, as they should, things look good for the Republican.

HT David Bohlander

Also on the Sort-of-Pro-Life Ron Johnson:

After a decisive win in Tuesday’s Republican Primary, businessman Ron Johnson now holds a seven-point lead over incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race.

Rasmussen

Also the media is hoping to give the pro-life Dist 3's Dan Kapanke a black eye, but considering Ron Kind is probably one of the least enticing incumbents (he's been in office for 14 years and has done nothing in his time there, except an occasional nod to DNC barking orders), it's still an uphill battle for Kind.  And I think the Kind people in the media also know that the congressman before Kind held the seat for 16 years.  In other words, a pro-life win here could mean a pro life win for the next couple decades.  Let's face it, we have Kapanke who is a farm boy and baseball team owner(who worked his tail off to bring baseball to La Crosse only to have mystery men set fire to part of the stadium) up against Kind, a lawyer and career politician.... If I have any sense of the political climate today, I'd say that is a recipe for Kind-kabobs.  The only thing Kind has is alot of money in the bank and can run ads replaying his news articles. 

Ron Kind by the numbers

2009 Representative Kind supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2009.
2008 Representative Kind supported the interests of Planned Parenthood 92 percent in 2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kind supported the interests of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association 100 percent in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 Representative Kind supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2007-2008.

2007 Representative Kind supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2007.

2006 Representative Kind supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2006.
2006 Representative Kind supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 90 percent in 2006.

2005-2006 Representative Kind supported the interests of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association 100 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006 Representative Kind supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2005-2006.

2005 Representative Kind supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

VoteSmart.org 

He is a WELS Lutheran which makes it a bit surprising that he is so radically pro-abortion.  I know a lot of good WELS people, and it's the most conservative Lutheran Synod out there.  But like most liberals, their politics are made into their religion.