Now you're getting Wiggy with it
Pope-Roberts' plan is actually in a sealed jar kept on Funk and Wagnalls' porch.
I saw it there, next to the jar labeled "Fountain of Youth Water."
It's located in the Kansas that Toto left...
I heard Kramer was quite late in arriving. I give him credit for agreeing to the event but giving the out-of-town Democrat an hour lead in front of the audience was a mistake for which he was responsible not the event sponsors. As for school funding - every one seems to be right in what they say but still no solutions. The Republicans created this problem (under Tommy Thompson and Scott Jensen) and the Democrats are positioning themselves to benefit from the almost certain public uproar to come because the Republicans (as a whole) offer nothing but finger pointing and excuses.
Jake, I don't think you paid attention to a single word I wrote or what was in the Waukesha Freeman. The only person last night offering any relief to the Waukesha school district was the Republican, Bill Kramer. You should demand more from the Democrats other than they'll win next November and possibly raise taxes even more.
Secret plans hiding in someone's desk went out with Richard Nixon, and Pope-Roberts should be ashamed of herself.
How come nobody from the school district was at the public hearing on Tuesday?
You would have to ask the school district. Why go to testify for a bill that has no chance of passing the Senate or signed into law by the governor? Why would taxpayers want a bill where the benefits are to be "substantially similar"? The real savings requires a change in benefits. The request is not for "relief" - the request is for a SOLUTION. Kramer does not offer a viable "relief" bill and he apparently offered no SOLUTION. Any way - I am not attacking Kramer - he deserves a big hand for agreeing to attend at all. Much more than I can say for the other leggies from Waukesha. However, Kramer hurt himself by being over an hour late to a meeting where he could have won the respect of the community for his responsiveness had he been on time. Also quoting numbers without being able to say where they came from hurt his position. At some point, I expect Kramer to lead on this issue. I think he is waiting for a mob to chase him. I guess that is what a politician calls leadership.
Gee Jake, are you finding that leadership in the Democratic Party?
C'mon. He told organizers ahead of time he could attend but he would have to be late. The organizers told the audience he would be late. He explained to the audience why he was late. And seriously, I think this issue is just childish. What's more, I find it contemptible that both Pope-roberts and now you are trying to turn his inability to attend earlier into an issue, in her case a partisan issue. It's stupid, pointless and childish.
By the way, the bill that Kramer is co-sponsoring would save the Waukesha school district $4-$6 million per year. That's real money.
Meanwhile, you're totally ignoring that the real problem with the Waukesha School District isn't in Madison, but here. We need real reforms in the Waukesha School District, including a concession from the union on insurance. Given the possibility of more layoffs, this is the year to try to get the concessions. If the union doesn't agree, then I strongly suggest the school board follow the advice of WASB and try their luck at arbitration.
Let me make it easy for anyone interested in finding out her secret plan:
Sondy Pope-Roberts
Madison Office
Room 209 North
State Capitol
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
Voting Address
4793 Delmara Road
Middleton, WI 53562
Telephone
(608 ) 266-3520 Or
(888 ) 534-0079 District Telephone
(608 ) 829-2750
Fax
(608 ) 282-3679
Email
Rep.PopeRoberts@legis.wisconsin.gov
Speaking of the freeman... where's the
link???
Since I was not there, I did not hear the late announcement. Still over an hour late is more than one would expect. AND by Kramer's choice - he gave the Democrat the upper hand by giving her the first hour of the discussion unopposed - Kramer's choice so don't complain about the advantage without putting the blame where it rightly belongs - Kramer. Again - I don't want to go off on Kramer. He agreed to come and that is enough for me to appreciate versus those other Waukesha/Madison politicians who chose not to attend (even if late). If the district can get the changes without this new law, why do we need the law??
No Real Relief!
No Real Effort at A Solution!
No foundation given for his claims!
That was how Kramer graded out.
One example - a substantially similar health care package possibly could save the district less than $2,000,000. NOT $6,000,000 as Kramer claims. So what you call "real money" is really just smoke and mirrors. I hear Vegas is looking for a new magic act. Maybe you and Kramer sent your resume to the Mirage.
Sondy's "plan" reminds me of a West Wing episode...
JOSH
Well, then, uh... Jonathan.
JONATHAN
So, you’re not gonna answer Katie’s question?
JOSH
I’ll look into it. Danny?
DANNY
Josh, your comments were that the continuing drop in unemployment will create increased pressure on wages. In effect, driving them up. Is the President worried that this could lead to a resurgence of inflation?
JOSH
Let me emphasize the President is pleased that unemployment has dropped another point five
percent as a result...
DANNY
I’m sure we all join the President in his joy, but I’m wondering if the President has a plan to fight the resulting inflation.
JOSH
The President will do everything in his power to maintain the robust economy that has created millions of new jobs, improved productivity and kept a lid on inflation.
KATIE
But he has no plan to address inflation specifically?
JOSH
Twenty-four PhD’s and a Counsel of Economic Advisors, Katie. They have a plan to fight inflation.
DANNY
Is the reason you won’t tell us about it that it’s a secret?
JOSH
[sarcastic] Yeah, Danny. We have a secret inflation plan.
REPORTER 1
Josh, when will the President unveil his secret plan?
JOSH
There is no secret plan!
REPORTER 2
You said...
JOSH
[laughs] I was talking to Danny. I was kidding!
REPORTER 3
These are people’s jobs we’re talking about, Josh. You wanna give us a straight answer?
JOSH
[looks flustered] I honestly can’t remember the question.
Even taking the lower estimate, I think only the Elmbrook school district would look at $2 million as chump change.
Again, what have the Democrats proposed? SHOW ME THE MONEY.
I was never a big fan of the West Wing because I never met people who had such snappy dialogue. It was the "Moonlighting" effect on television, rapid fire dialogue composed of quips rather than sentences with meaning. It was cute with David and Maddie, even believable. By the time the dialogue pattern found it's way to West Wing it just sounded so artificial and... boring.
Compare the dialogue with the patter of a conversation even with the quickest wits among your friends. Not everybody takes turns saying one sentence, no matter how clever it is.
If we want to trace that pattern of conversation back further in entertainment, see Howard Hawks' "His Girl Friday" where it was done with great effect because it was mostly kept to conversations with the two main characters to demonstrate the intimate connection that still binds them and to demonstrate how much the two of them are alike.
Anyways, enough of my soapbox about fictional dialogue writing.
The Dems can sit back and laugh with disgust. Why should Dems fix a problem that was created by Republicans and if not fixed, who is most likely to gain? Democrats win - Republicans lose. If I was a Dem, I would say Let it Be, Let it Be. Too bad for Waukesha, but they elected fools and now they will pay the price for the fools they elected.
Stan,
You need help. This is a problem which was not caused by one political party or group, but a number of factors.The mature, responsible thing to do is to help come up with a solution or be quiet.
Some people are so blinded by their prejudices, they couldn't see a solution if it was in front of their face.
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