Here we are a year after the $787 million in stimulus and one out of every 10 Americans are out of work. Many more are discouraged workers, meaning they've quit looking. Even Dane County's unemployment rate is twice normal. No wonder tax revenues are down.
So, what is the response of our liberal/progressive friends? More government stimulus! More government spending! Only they call it a "jobs" bill.
I had a chance to speak with Grover Norquist the other day. He heads up a "jobs" bill. They're not even calling it a stimulus any more. But this "jobs bill" just pays for more unemployment. They'll tax "the rich" to pay for it just as they will tax "Cadillac health plans" (except for their union supporters) to pay for the federal health plan. Democrats hate trickle down wealth but they love trickle up poverty.
Why has the party of Jack Kennedy, wealthy tax cutter that he was, forgotten that a rising tide lifts all boats?
Feeding frenzy on Feingold?
While my beloved mentor Tommy Thompson ponders whether he wants to answer one more fire bell, another Republican is testing the waters for a possible challenge to Russ Feingold for U.S.Senate. And that is a very good sign that the Massachusetts Miracle has legs.
His name is Ron Johnson of Oshkosh. He runs a company there called Pacur, which "extrudes light and heavy gauge polyester, co-polyester and polypropylene resins for a variety of applications." (If only someone had whispered into this graduate's ear: "Polypropylene.")
No, I had not heard of Mr. Johnson, either. He told Blaska's Blog that "if you are going to run for office you have to have a million dollars worth of name recognition or a million dollars," suggesting he has the latter.
When the libs cry "another millionaire Republican," throw Herb Kohl back in their faces. (I've never been offered a job by a poor man.)
"Fortunately, I've been successful and I've paid a lot of taxes in every form of tax." I didn't ask if that was a jab at any current candidates. He invokes Ronald Reagan's First Lasw of Republicans: Speak no ill of a fellow Republican.
Ron Johnson is 54 years of age, married with three children who are now young adults. That makes it the right time in his life, he says. Says he gave a speech at a tea party, people liked it enough that they encouraged him to run.
He calls this election "the most consequential of my lifetime."
David Westlake and Terrence Wall have announced. The elephant in the next room is my old mentor, Tommy Thompson.
"We have Tommy Thompson and George Pataki (in New York) at about even-money if they decide to enter their respective races," says Nate Silver at the blog 538.
Today's chuckle
Madison Police arrested three women shoplifters whose unregistered getaway car was so full of stolen merchandise they could barely see out the windows. Their arrest apparently didn't worry the alleged shoplifters.
"Two of the women joked during the booking process at the jail that they would be out of jail in a day or two," DeSpain said. [The Capital Times: 3-11-10]
Yes, Dane County's catch and release is a joke. (Thanks Dave)
