POWIP Piece of Work In Progress – Former Abode of Dan Collins

4Nov/1022

Scott Walker… WI Governor Elect – What to Expect.

During the 2000 Presidential Election, I volunteered at a local Republican office... making calls, going door-to-door, etc. One night, upon returning to the local headquarters, I was introduced to Scott Walker. Of course, I had no idea who he was at the time. I had my attention set on National Politics... young enough even then to lose sight of the fact that today's local elected officials feed the pipeline of tomorrow's National leaders.

In any event, I had a very brief exchange with Scott that day.

I recall saying something like, "Scott, we've got to call them what they are. They're Socialists. Why doesn't Bush put the screws to Gore and call him out?"

Scott looked at me kind of like, "Wow... ummmm..."

I went on to say something about calling a spade a spade and that I thought it was foolish to dance around the term "Socialist."

To his credit, Walker didn't take the bait. Instead he smiled. I don't think he had the heart to tell me it wasn't really as simple as I suggested.

"Thanks for your efforts. I feel real good about this election, but it's probably going to come down to the wire." He said something along those lines.

Of course, he was right. Bush went on to win without dropping the "S" word. Scott went on to become Milwaukee County Executive some 2 years later.

I remember commenting to Fishman that I was a bit put off by his delicate answer. Fishman laughed. "What did you expect him to say?"

Nevertheless, I do remember thinking to myself, "Dammit... why are we (at the time I still considered myself a partisan) playing it so safe? Why don't we take the fight to the Gorbacle and make him defend his Socialist agenda?" I was, truth be told a little disappointed in the empty "exchange" I had with Walker.

But Walker was right. He played it right. He went on to have 8 great and accomplished years as Milwaukee County Executive.

Now he is the Governor-Elect of Wisconsin. And if his track record says anything loud and clear, it is this... he speaks softly but carries a big stick ... and sticks to his principles. He does not tolerate waste or incompetence. And he makes no excuses. No inside baseball with Mr. Walker. I cannot explain to those of you who do not live in Milwaukee Metro the amount of dirty tricks and scuzzy tactics his opponents in Milwaukee County government employed to try to undercut him and derail him. I think they sensed if he wasn't stopped at the local level his upside was limitless.

I will make the following prognostications regarding the first orders of business for Walker and Wisconsin Legislature (now dominated by actual Conservatives).

1) Kill off Governor Doyle's "car-speed rail" project - which no one in Wisconsin wants - at least no one who isn't feeding at the trough of the State.

2) Photo ID - requiring a photo id be presented before casting a ballot - which 80% of the State Electorate (including Democrats, to their credit) favors and Doyle and his slime ball cronies killed time and again (one wonders precisely why).

3) Combined Reporting Repeal - this measure is a business killer... a job killer. And Scott will repeal it.

4) Concealed Carry - Wisconsin is one of only 2 states in the Union which still resists concealed carry, in spite of the stats demonstrating the positive benefits of "permitting" law-abiding citizens to do so (Illinois is the other).

5) Minimum Mark-Up Law - relating to gas prices... the State Govt actually mandates that gas stations mark-up their gas no less than X%.

6) Hey Teachers' Union - say hello to my little friend. ;)

Finally Wisconsin has a Governor that is not beholden to the Teachers, the Indian Gaming piggies, the Road Construction cabal.

And as a business owner, I can't tell you how nice it is to have a Governor in place who actually appreciates the importance of business to the quality of life enjoyed by Wisconsinites.

God Bless Scott Walker. God Bless Wisconsin.

Enoch_Root

Person with kids,a beautiful wife, a job. Catholic of the Latin Rite.

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Comments (22) Trackbacks (2)
  1. Bob Reed
    November 4th, 2010 - 07:18

    Congratulations to you and all Wisconsinites Enoch, you all are blesses indeed.

    Thankfully, it appears that you all will avoid tubesville; where the bankrupt CA, IL, and NY governments are most likely headed.

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  2. Billy Madison
    November 6th, 2010 - 18:08

    I love your comment about the Teachers Union. I am not a teacher but believe in education highly. Stripping teachers of their healthcare benefits does nothing positive for our school system. They already have to fight for meager wage increases each year, which are hardly equal to the increases in the cost of living. The schools are broke already and destroying the only thing teachers have will also kill education. You will have great teachers exploring other opportunities just to get the healthcare they need for their family, while our kids lose on a quality education.

    Regarding concealed carry: who are you Steven Seagal? Why on earth would you need to carry a gun when going to a grocery store? Do you live in Compton? The old west is dead. If you like that ignorant southern mentality, you should live in Texas.

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    • Rick
      November 8th, 2010 - 15:01

      Yo Billy! Check out the American Rifleman magazine. Lots of articles about people who have had to defend themselves, even to the death, and almost none lives in Texas. Regardless, why would you, or anybody else, allow your government to circumvent your basic rights? Don’t be sucker bait for some socialist agenda.

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    • steve
      March 14th, 2011 - 12:28

      the teachers were not stripped of healthcare they just have to pay a lil more for it . about 8 percent higher than it was . and they have to contribute to theyre retire like private sector workers . education is important and we are far behind the rest of the world and our teachers make more . why reward sub par work???? scott is making it fair and balancing a budget that is in the red by a ton . we had to borrow money from minnesota wtf ? as for concealed carry my friend jason is in the ground because sombody wanted his lincoln navigator . wild west no but there is still some bad people in this world

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  3. Enoch_Root
    November 6th, 2010 - 19:01

    http://www.wpri.org/WIInterest/Vol11No3/Niederjohn11.3.pdf

    “When public school teacher salaries are adjusted for the number of weeks teachers work each year, it becomes clear that teachers are among some of the most highly compensated
    employees in the state.

    Public school teacher salaries dwarf those
    of private school teachers. Before adjusting for time worked, moreover, public school teacher salaries are very close to the salaries of other public sector employees. Once the time worked adjustment is added, teacher salaries are revealed as significantly higher than the salaries of other public employees and even private sector employees. Unionized public school teachers also make significantly more than other unionized state employees. An analysis of public school teacher health insurance benefits reveals another compensation advantage over other Wisconsin employees.”

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  4. Enoch_Root
    November 6th, 2010 - 19:02

    add to that the fact that most school teachers suck… public and otherwise – and, well, it’s hard to feel real sorry for them.

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  5. Billy Madison
    November 7th, 2010 - 20:04

    Interesting…you base your opinion off an article you read from a nobody at an unheard of school. Are you married to or related to someone that works in the public school system? I know the actual salary numbers from my family that work in the school system and it’s far underpaid for their Master’s degrees from prestigious schools.

    I agree, there are those that try to abuse their benefits, but the majority are honest people that try to change the lives of our future generations. All I ever read on this topic is canned conservative rhetoric.

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  6. Enoch_Root
    November 8th, 2010 - 04:27

    yes. there are several relatives of mine in edumacation. I see not how that is relevant.

    I do agree that most teachers are honest, though not real bright, truth be told.

    if credentials from prestigious universities was the end of their requirement to perform, i guess there’d be some veracity to you mentioning it.

    Master’s degrees are a dime a dozen. Why, I even have one from a top-rated school. But again, credentials don’t performance make.

    Teachers are paid plenty. Salaries, pensions, 3 mos of school off, early retirement, security, mega benefits.

    And if they aren’t paid to their liking, they can find other work, no?

    I’ll ignore the “canned” comment… sounds emotional.

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  7. Billy Madison
    November 8th, 2010 - 09:36

    Heh. Not emotional at all, just speaking the truth. As I’m sure you’re sick of the canned liberal rhetoric of healthcare reform.

    This also just doesn’t cover the “not-to-bright” teachers. It covers everyone that’s employed in the system. I.e Speech Pathologists and Special ED Ph.D’s.

    This is just a debate that will never be solved by either side. When liberals return to office, all this will be overturned again and again when conservatives return after that.

    And I agree, Master’s degrees are a dime-a-dozen when they are from Lakeland College or the University of Phoenix.

    Stay cool,
    Billy Madison

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  8. enoch_root
    November 8th, 2010 - 12:31

    likewise. ;)

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  9. The Sconz
    November 14th, 2010 - 16:27

    “Finally Wisconsin has a Governor that is not beholden to the Teachers, the Indian Gaming piggies, the Road Construction cabal.”

    That’s funny…most people would look at the endorsement from the Road Builders Union and the attempt to divert $800 million to road construction as strong evidence of being indebted to the “road construction cabal.”

    “Road builders get return on their Walker investment.”

    http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/article_34b7d4ab-9c9a-592f-b576-14a81208ced0.html

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  10. Enoch_Root
    November 14th, 2010 - 17:24

    “The $84,793 to Walker, incidentally, was nearly half of the $188,423 that the highway lobby contributed to all Wisconsin candidates this past election cycle.”

    - where did the other half go? Barret?

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  11. WI Expat
    February 12th, 2011 - 13:43

    Wow, I am convinced after reading this that you really are Bat-Sh*# crazy. Enjoy your new governor-elect. I couldn’t stand him as county exec, and now he’s moved up. Makes me glad I got out.

    Haven’t disagreed with someone this wholeheartedly since Glen Beck.

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Scott Walker… Wisconsin Governor – Doing What I Expected | POWIP
Scott Walker – Following Through with His Promises | POWIP

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