Wisconsin vs. Illinois

Illinois is being run the way Obama is running the nation. His home state is a microcosm of the country under Obama. With its tax hikes, stifling regulations and astronomical government-union obligations, Illinois just received a credit downgrade. Meanwhile, next door in Wisconsin, Republican Scott Walker led his state through reforms that spurred Moody's to praise the state's budget and give the state a positive outlook. This great news for Wisconsin's taxpayers is being met with a Democrat and union-led effort to recall Walker. His heroic actions to save his state are under assault, as is he. We've got to support Walker---and Kasich and Christie and other Governors who have the cojones to take on the government unions on behalf of their taxpayers, which would be us.

Here is a fantastic editorial on the contrast between Wisconsin and Illinois, published this week by the Wall Street Journal. It's worth reading---and reading again.

The Greece Next Door
Illinois gets a credit downgrade, in contrast to Wisconsin
Wall Street Journal
January 20, 2012

Run up spending and debt, raise taxes in the naming of balancing the budget, but then watch as deficits rise and your credit-rating falls anyway. That's been the sad pattern in Europe, and now it's hitting that mecca of tax-and-spend government known as Illinois.

Though too few noticed, this month Moody's downgraded Illinois state debt to A2 from A1, the lowest among the 50 states. That's worse even than California. The state's cost of borrowing for $800 million of new 10-year general obligation bonds rose to 3.1%-which is 110 basis points higher than the 2% on top-rated 10-year bonds of more financially secure states.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Only a year ago, Governor Pat Quinn and his fellow Democrats raised individual income taxes by 67% and the corporate tax rate by 46%. They did it to raise $7 billion in revenue, as the Governor put it, to "get Illinois back on fiscal sound footing" and improve the state's credit rating.

So much for that. In its downgrade statement, Moody's panned Illinois lawmakers for "a legislative session in which the state took no steps to implement lasting solutions to its severe pension underfunding or to its chronic bill payment delays." An analysis by Bloomberg finds that the assets in the pension fund will only cover "45% of projected liabilities, the least of any state." And-no surprise-in part because the tax increases have caused companies to leave Illinois, the state budget office confesses that as of this month the state still has $6.8 billion in unpaid bills and unaddressed obligations.

It's worth contrasting this grim picture with that of Wisconsin north of the border. Last winter Madison was occupied by thousands of union protesters trying to bully legislators to defeat Republican Governor Scott Walker's plan to require government workers to pay a larger share of their health-plan costs, and to shore up the pension system by trimming future retirement liabilities. The reforms passed anyway.

In contrast to the Illinois downgrade, Moody's has praised Mr. Walker's budget as "credit positive for Wisconsin," adding that the money-saving reforms bring "the state's finances closer to a structural budgetary balance." As a result, Wisconsin jumped in Chief Executive magazine's 2011 ranking of each state's business climate-moving to 17th from 41st. Illinois dropped to 48th from 45th as ranked by the nation's top CEOs.

Yet Mr. Walker, who balanced the budget without new taxes, is the governor facing a union-financed attempt to recall him from office this year. If Wisconsin voters want to see where a state ends up without the kind of reforms that Mr. Walker made, they need only look to the Greece next door.

Comments

[DJ]

More on the chameleon, Newton Leroy Gingrich:

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January 25, 2012

Newt says Romney is too conservative???

Newt Gingrich ran a Spanish Language ad accusing Mitt Romney of being “anti-immigrant.”

And this morning Newt said that” Mitt Romney lacks concern for some illegal immigrants’ humanity.

Newt is NOT the real conservative. Romney is. The only thing Newt is good at is the performance art of being outraged at liberals during debates.

* * *

And yesterday, Newt had the gall to say that his history of cheating on his wives makes him a better candidate than Romney:

He goes on to say that, “it may make me more normal than somebody who wanders around seeming perfect and maybe not understanding the human condition, and the challenges of life for normal people.”

There used to be a time when normal meant living just like Romney; staying married to your wife and not cheating on her. Our society is sadly degrading when a Republican criticizes another candidate for just doing what he’s supposed to be doing.

* * *

Today Newt criticizes Romney for his involvement in private equity, but just two years ago he was praising private equity:

Newt Gingrich, the Republican presidential candidate who has criticized rival Mitt Romney for his role in the buyout business, was paid more than $60,000 at a meeting two years ago to deliver a speech that extolled the private-equity industry, according to the meeting’s organizer.

“This gentleman praised private equity more fulsomely than I could ever do it,” Paul Levy, managing director at JLL Partners Inc., said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “InsideTrack” today. “He was great. He gave a great evening. Everybody had fun. He fielded a lot of questions. He gave us a lot of time. Nobody praised private equity, risk-taking, capital more fulsomely than Newt Gingrich.”

Newt is a guy who will say anything for the right price. Which means he will also say anything to become president. What does he really believe? Who knows. Newt even changed his religion to Catholicism to make his wife happy.

Once upon a time I used to like Newt. It’s because I just like his ability to sound righteously angry at liberals. I now know to look beyond the theatre and see the real Newt.

Source:

http://www.halfsigma.com/2012/01/newt-says-romney-is-too-conservative.html

****************************************************

Are you beginning to comprehend, Gringoman?

[DJ]

Here's one more for ya, Gringoman:

-----

NEWT: TALKING THE CONSERVATIVE TALK, WALKING THE RINO WALK!

MEET THE NEW NEWT, SAME AS THE OLD NEWT!

"Oh Newt knows how to play us! He’s a master manipulator. He’ll kick the butt of a CNN moderator on camera and head out for a drink with him after! He’ll bash the left but make global warming commercials with Nancy Pelosi or go on a nationwide education tour with Al Sharpton. An education tour with Al Sharpton? Sharpton has to be one of the most uneducated, illiterate morons to have a television show. Revrum Al’s a new low even for MSNBC! I can hear Sharpton now with Gingrich….”educate we much!”

Newt is like a professional wrestler. He plays his part in the ring and then travels together with his “opponents” to the next town. He knows how to talk the conservative talk….he just is incapable of walking the conservative walk!" {snip}

Read more>>

http://angrywhitedude.com/2012/01/newt-talking-the-conservative-talk-walking-the-rino-walk/

[gringoman]

Ummah,

So you really think the Goopers are faking it when they make clear how much they resent and dislike baaaaaaad Newt?

Bob Dole has even joined the coordinated GOP stink-bombing of Newt. And you don't think it has anything to do with the fact that Newt once called Dole a GOP " tax collector for the Welfare State?"

==================================================

A troll is to free speech what garbage is to a smorgasbord

[driftersong]

Obama is a kind of amnesiac, somehow he lived through the second half of the twentieth century without witnessing the collapse of socialism , without learning the obvious lesson that socialism doesn't work . A welfare state of capitalism , the market produces wealth, and the government takes an active role in redistributing it . Who is this Obama and what moves him to action , what motivates him ? One doesn't have to look very far to comprehend Obama if we are willing to take off our blinders and listen to his own story as told in his own words ... " Dreams from my father " .Imagine a little boy growing up in the sunbathed beauty of Hawaii, soaking in the culture , hearing about how the innocent natives were crushed and overrun by horrible invaders and profiteers . Imagine a slightly older child on a bicycle on the crowded streets of Indonesia learning from hisstep father ( Lolo Soetoro )the harsh code of a developing country shaped out of the history of European colonialism . Now imagine that same child having matured to that of a young adult undertaking a journey of self discovery in Kenya , where through sul searching and conversations with relatives he learns who his father really was and just what he represented . Thus , first things first , is Obama dealing with abandonment issues ?

[gringoman]

http://www.halfsigma.com/2012/01/newt-says-romney-is-too-conservative.html

****************************************************

Are you beginning to comprehend, Gringoman?

Posted by: DJ | January 27, 2012 at 08:01 AM

What I'm beginning to comprehend, DJ, is that the Romans understood politics, and Americans pretend not to and have a deep and abiding committment to the simple-minded. Even Catholicism, which evolved from Rome, knows that nobody understands sin like the past sinner. (And I thought you were a professed Catholic, DJ.) But for the sake of their stupid politics, Americanos have to act like Sunday School children and laugh when a Newt Gingrich, now a grandfather, tries to educate them about deeper matters. True, Gingrich may not have evolved into sainthood like some sinners, but the fact that he knows and has experienced so much more in life than the relatively one-dimensional Mormon goody-goody Mitt Romney, must be obvious to the perceptive.

I hate to rain on your parade, DJ, but if Club Gooper gets away with inflicting their Mandate Mitt on us, I advise you to gird up for the consequences. Mitt Romney is okay as a Mormon goody-goody, even admirable in some ways, with five sons not a single one of which ever served in the military of the nation they prospered in so well. But after his first few weeks of shell shock, facing a Total Class War this crafty "goody" never thought possible in the US, he might want to change places in that dougnut shop you want for the baaaaadddaaaaaas Newt. At the very least, he might wish he stuck to what he knows best, corporate raiding.

The US practise of defamation in politics is a sport. Am I to waste time belaboring the obvious? Newt's defending private equity, giving a speech on it, means he cannot criticize the Romney practice of private equity? Really? What professor of logic teaches that, DJ? Why hasn't he been sacked? No wonder Newt had to wonder if that Latino reporter who couldn't understand the perjury rationale for Gingrich attacking Clinton had " a missing synapse." How else to explain the Americano mindset? And how else to explain that Gooperized Americanos may be hell bent on nominating what so few of them really want---the Perfect Pinyata for Macdaddy's Total Class War. Yes, the so-called "most electable," Wealthy Willard.

Say it isn;t so, DJ.

==============================================

Not all psychopaths are trolls, but all trolls are psychopaths. These latter are usually the homelier kind of psychopath.

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[gringoman]

MarkSimoneNY MARK SIMONE

Obama forgot to mention that Warren Buffett is currently suing the IRS claiming he's overtaxed

gringoNOTE: But Buffet still makes a wonderful crony capitalist for a Class War comrade.

===================================================

Not all psychopaths are trolls. Trolls are the kind of psychopaths who don't get out much.

[driftersong]

Is it possible that Obamas complete detachment from the reality of our dire situation here in america is rooted in the abandonment issues from his childhood with regard to Obama Sr. , his father ? If i've said it once i've said it a thousand times by mid summer this year once the reality of Obamas demise is realized... once the polling numbers suggest a psunami of overwhelming numbers aimed at removing him from the white house permeates throughout the minds of most reasonable americans and the anti colonialist / capitalist see no way out , the stuff gone hit the fan . The revolution is here folks . I believe i read Monica correctly in that " It's worth contrasting this grim picture with that of Wisconson north of the border , last winter Madison was " occupied " by thousands of union protesters trying to " bully " legislators in an attempt to defeat republican Scott walker . Last winters staged anti colonialist / capitalist protest were just a dress rehearsal for this coming summers main event and we " silent majority " can no longer sit idly by and expect our local police and fire fighters to quash this unprovoked attack alone . Right here , right now , not way off in the distance , not next year but right now need to prepare to counter this revolution , i have a few suggestions if any of you poets , scribesand neophytes of a political calling would care to hear them ?

[gringoman]

After watching the debate last night, I came away with the distinct impression that Romney is the only candidate left standing that can possibly beat Obama in the general. Any OBJECTIVE observer can clearly see Newt Leroy Gingrich is a trainwreck in the making.

Posted by: DJ | January 27, 2012 at 07:28 AM

DJ,

Thanks for the clarification. You make it clear that the Newt-leaning or endorsing like Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Michael Reagan and Arthur Laffer,Father of Reaganomics, are not "objective observers." I'm relieved. That gives me more confidence in them.

===================================================

Not all psychopaths are trolls. Trolls are the basement kind.

[DJ]

"What I'm beginning to comprehend, DJ, is that the Romans understood politics, and Americans pretend not to and have a deep and abiding committment to the simple-minded. Even Catholicism, which evolved from Rome, knows that nobody understands sin like the past sinner. (And I thought you were a professed Catholic, DJ.) But for the sake of their stupid politics, Americanos have to act like Sunday School children and laugh when a Newt Gingrich, now a grandfather, tries to educate them about deeper matters. True, Gingrich may not have evolved into sainthood like some sinners, but the fact that he knows and has experienced so much more in life than the relatively one-dimensional Mormon goody-goody Mitt Romney, must be obvious to the perceptive." ( --Gringoman)

-----

Yes, who understands sin like a past sinner.

That mindset is reminiscent of the logic Detroit's ex-Mayor Coleman Young displayed on a regular basis. E.g. It used to be to an absolute requirement to become a Detroit police officer, the applicant mustn't have a criminal record. Well Coleman Young lifted that restriction. His rational? He asserted: Who better to catch criminals than those that understand the criminal mind the best? Why, other criminals answered. I kid you not! This is the workings of the leftist mind.

BTW, John King caught Newt in a lie. Remember Newt said he had many friends that could back him up when he said his ex-wife was lying about her assertion he ask her to engage in an open marriage? Well Newt's team had to admit Newt lied about that. There are no friends to back him up. So much for the repented Newt, eh Gringoman?

[DJ]

"I hate to rain on your parade, DJ, but if Club Gooper gets away with inflicting their Mandate Mitt on us, I advise you to gird up for the consequences. Mitt Romney is okay as a Mormon goody-goody, even admirable in some ways, with five sons not a single one of which ever served in the military of the nation they prospered in so well. But after his first few weeks of shell shock, facing a Total Class War this crafty "goody" never thought possible in the US, he might want to change places in that dougnut shop you want for the baaaaadddaaaaaas Newt. At the very least, he might wish he stuck to what he knows best, corporate raiding."

-----------

Gringoman,

This is risible. Surely you don't think for one minute that Romney is so naive that he dosen't know exactly what the Obama team has planned for him do you? Of course Romney is entirely ready for the class war. In fact the class war Obama has planned plays right into Romney's strength! Watch!

As for Newt, the Obama team couldn't design and construct a better pinata themselves. Newt as the Gooper nominee would be the best Christmass in November the DemonRATS could ever wish for. Seriously.

[DJ]

Popular opinion informs us that Newt's greatist stenght is his supposed debating skills. It is his debating skills that are supposed to be able to knock out Obama.

Well, it seems Newt' much touted debating skills are overrated. After all, Mittens kicked Mewt's azz in the last two debates. Even Newt booster Eric Erikson of Redstate.com concedes Mittens won last night's debate.

[xbjllb]

"Go right on spinning that my ignoring your rubbish is you "running me off"...spitballs at a battleship. Never mind the reality that I post on here on an ongoing basis with zero regard for you or your silly, remarks." - MJFell

There you go again lying. You've done nothing for almost a year but post spam copies of your personal blog in here, at least 10+ in a row, with NOTHING in between, not a word to anybody.

You conservaBorg think you can lie and people will just believe you and not bother to check the record.

FAIL.

[xbjllb]

"My advice to Newt is drop out of the race, retire from politics, then open up a Duncan Donut shop. America will be much better for it." - DJ

You can't even make a joke without suggesting America ingest more poison.

But you are right about Newt. Not ever getting anywhere near the White House, where he can troll for "wife" 4.

[M/M]

I agree with DJ, but I am staying out of the "passionate debate" until the day I am asked to express my opinion at the voting booth.

Am focussing on other things, but am passionately defending Gov Brewer. Talk show hosts are still commenting on how many women keep calling in to defend her.

[M/M]

Popular opinion informs us that Newt's greatist stenght is his supposed debating skills. It is his debating skills that are supposed to be able to knock out Obama.

Well, it seems Newt' much touted debating skills are overrated. After all, Mittens kicked Mewt's azz in the last two debates. Even Newt booster Eric Erikson of Redstate.com concedes Mittens won last night's debate.

Posted by: DJ | January 27, 2012 at 12:19 PM
___________________________

Mitt saw his weakness and hired a debate coach to overcome it.

[M/M]

GO ALLEN WEST!!!!!!!!!!!!http://ironicsurrealism.com/2012/01/29/rep-allen-west-to-obama-pelosi-reid-dnc-debbie-get-your-progressive-agenda-the-hell-out-of-the-united-states-of-america-video/

[Greg hicks]

Activist libs r sic,deranged psycho-terrorists. Their pathological,addictive cravings for control
Power,&domination r insatiable. They loathe reality & truth. Their essence is a lie. They r
Inherently evil, & invariably destructive. Whatever they touch, they destroy. Look what they've destroyed in america over the last 50 years. Thanks for your great help saving this
God graced nation.
May God Bless America and you.

Sincerely
Greg Hicks