2004-2016 : The Difference: Bush - Obama - Romney - Trump > Ryan - Walker

2016/12/12 - Changed Title put in 2016 for 2013

I can't believe how optimistic I was:  Trump is in group all by himself.  Every cabinet nominee is so obviously selif-interested, conflicted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To me these two examples epitomize the essence of what we had for eight years and what we have had for the last four years and will have for the next four years.  I wish we had all avoided Governor Walker but at least Romney and Ryan were avoided.

It appears that a heavily influenced GOP/TeaParty/conservative Congress is also doing all it can to eliminate government investment in research where private or corporate interests will just not go ... such as avoiding pandemics, plague and pestilence, understanding global climate change, etc.  Anyone remember the Space Race and the capability corporations did not have but through national need would be supported to develop them!


2004: Bush Administration

NASA scientist rips Bush on global warming. Renowned expert says data 'screened and controlled'_[by Bush Administration]

AP :updated 10/27/2004 8:10:35 AM ET

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Bush administration is trying to stifle scientific evidence of the dangers of global warming in an effort to keep the public uninformed, a NASA scientist said Tuesday night.

“In my more than three decades in government, I have never seen anything approaching the degree to which information flow from scientists to the public has been screened and controlled as it is now,” James Hansen told a University of Iowa audience.
Hansen is director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York and has twice briefed a task force headed by Vice President Dick Cheney on global warming. He was also one of the first government scientists tasked with briefing congressional committees on the dangers of global warming, testifying as far back as the 1980s.

Fast Forward: 1/4/2013 : Obama Administration

NYT: F.D.A. Offers Broad New Rules to Fight Food Contamination By STEPHANIE STROM 

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday proposed two sweeping rules aimed at preventing the contamination of produce and processed foods, which has sickened tens of thousands of Americans annually in recent years.

What do you bet these rule proposals have been around since 2004 but only now can they be brought forward ... anyone like unsafe pharmaceuticals  and/or food.  Only if you can make a buck on it!

pic.twitter.com/wSf0OeTY

TED - Mariana Mazzucato : Government -- investor, risk-taker, innovator - The BEST

2004-2016 :The Difference: #Bush - #Obama - #Romney -  #Trump - #Ryan ( #Janesville ) - #Walker #ClimateChange #47% 

#Elites Ex-Rep #Ryan Ex-Gov #Walker #1% WI 1848 Forward: 2004-2016 :The Difference: #Bush - #Obama - #Romney #Trump vs #47% #99% #ClimateChange 

Hot Thinkers - Climate Change - Human Nature - Moyers - PBS

Natural Hazards : Earth Observatory

ALEC and The Manipulation of Science

 Last year 2012 one degree warmer ... the story 1/9/2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This episode of Moyers & Company is for those who especially believe they are deep thinkers.  Not only does it offer great insights as to why we have done nothing significant about preventing or affecting Climate Change it underscores the nature of human beings.  How we strike attitudes and because of our nature are easily manipulated and/or remain unengaged.

Full Show: Ending the Silence on Climate Change

January 4, 2013

Climate change communication expert Anthony Leiserowitz explains why climate change gets the silent treatment, and what we should do about it.

Anthony talks about six different Americans in a very interesting way.  The message is universal.

For those of you who see this blog more frequently you will see a theme consistent with other stories I have favored.  Three in particular come to mind --

Think Politics - TED - Kahneman - Riddle: Experience vs Memory

MSNBC, CSPAN, TED, PBS - Moyers -How do Liberals & Conservatives View World - Haidt

TED : Dan Ariely - Our buggy moral code - explains ENRON, Politics

 

Can you generalize about what you need to do?

Jonathan Haidt: How common threats can make common (political) ground

From NASA January 2012 -Temperature since 1880 and Anomaly 2012

WI 1848 Forward: Hot Thinkers- #ClimateChange - Human Nature - #Moyers - #PBS : #Obama #Morality #TED #Haidt #NASA > deniers #Trump #Pruitt ( #EPA -> EAP Environmental Anti Protection )

WI 1848 Forward: Hot Thinkers - #ClimateChange - #Human #Nature - #Moyers - #PBS : #Obama #Politics #Lobbyists #47%

#ClimateChange #Obama #Human #Nature  #47% #Moyers -  WI 1848 Forward: Hot Thinkers :#PBS > #Politics #Lobbyists

#ClimateChange #Obama #Human #Nature  #47% #Moyers -  WI 1848 Forward: Hot Thinkers :#PBS > but not #Trump

Big Brother Walker - Tactics of Intimidation Wi Capitol - SolidaritySingers

Is it compliance with "administrative rules" or intimidation and piling on ... support Solidarity Singers!

Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative

From their story ... McCarthyism Is Alive and Well at Wisconsin Capitol He’s making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice….

The Holidays are here, and Capitol police officers are invoking the spirit of Senator Joe McCarthy by compiling a list of regular attendees of the Solidarity Sing Along, the weekday noon hour singing protest at the Wisconsin Capitol. Police appear to be checking names off on a spreadsheet that lists certain regular visitors to the Capitol, many of whom have received citations during the Capitol Crackdown that began after the arrival of new Capitol Police Chief David Erwin last summer.

A-F of the alphabetized list of citizens that regularly attend the Solidarity SingAlong

“McCarthyism” is the term that describes the hunt for Communists in the United States in the 1950s, and it appears to be alive and well in Wisconsin several decades later, as citizens who sing at the Capitol over the noon hour are targeted, identified, watched and documented.

Big Bro' #1% #Walker #WI 1848 Forward: Tactics of Intimidation #Capitol - #SolidaritySingers : #WIUnion #WiVote #47%

Walker continues WAR ( #D&C ) Divide & Conquer: Healthcare

(File under "Secret Agenda" and "Stealth Government" ) - Oh! and by the way, as I understand it as an employee you may have to read it online ... hard copies not supplied (seems retirees got hard copies!?)?

It seems ironic that as  a Republican and champion of "small government" Governor Walker has proceeded to make healthcare more expensive and complicated to obtain.   Take a a look at... just a few examples of making you unhealthy and healthcare less affordable.

Pharamacy - Navitus Health Solutions - UW Employees & Retirees & others & State Employees????

This is from page 74 of the Decision Guide .... understand it?  So just as we get ObamaCare going Walker improvises to make "healthcare more expensive" for everyone.  I say everyone because these kind of changes will "trickle down" to the private sector where management or executives can get special plans or special compensation but you cannot.  Duh ...

What’s New for 2013
Level 4 Copayments for Specialty
Medications
Effective January 1, 2013, a $50, Level 4
copayment now applies to covered,
formulary and non-formulary prescription
drugs classified as specialty medications.
A reduced, $15 copayment applies when
a covered, formulary specialty medication
is filled at Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy.
These formulary specialty medications are
marked with “ESP” on the formulary. Please
see additional information in the Specialty
Medications Program section on the next
page.

...

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
All Medicare-eligible retirees, as well as
Medicare-eligible dependents of retirees,
will be automatically enrolled in the Navitus
MedicareRx (PDP), underwritten by Sterling
Life Insurance Company. This is Medicare
Part D coverage through an employer group
waiver plan.

 ...

Prior Authorization (PA) Requirements
A prior authorization is initiated by the
prescribing physician on behalf of the
member. Navitus will review the prior
authorization request within two business days
of receiving all necessary information from
your physician. Medications that require prior
authorization for coverage are marked with
“PA” on the formulary.

WI 1848 Forward: #Walker continues WAR ( #D&C ) Divide & Conquer: #Healthcare : #WiUnion #WiVote #47% vs #1% #Elites 

#Independents & Women & #GOP #WORT 89.9 #Madison #Wi @ #RNC Tampa -2012

Womens Issues At The 2012 Republican National Convention 

Channel:  WORTFMnews

http://www.facebook.com/WORTFM

https://twitter.com/WORTnews

www.wort-fm.org


Coverage 5pm to 6pm during convention!!

Their report ...

Democrats and Republicans are fighting over the women's vote, but they are doing it in very different ways. Outside of the 2012 Republican National Convention pro-choice continues to be a hot topic. For example, there was at least one Code Pink protester dressed as a giant pink vagina. We were also getting emails from Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan warning about Republicans' anti-abortion stance.

Inside the 2012 Republican National Convention, however, 89.9 WORT FM reporters Kate Golden and Cristalyne Bell found that most Republican women didn't want to talk about abortion.

see Rebel Reporting for following C J Bell.

WI 1848 Forward: #Independents & Women & #GOP #WORT 89.9 #Madison #Wi @ #RNC Tampa -2012 : #47% #99% vs #1% #elites

TheNation - Chris Hayes : The Twilight of the Elites -Colbert Report

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Promo for his book ... Chris Hayes ...

The Twilight of the Elites 

"Destructive Intelligence" 

"Oligarchy was inevitable"

From the YouTube intro ... hope you don't mind the ad ...

Have the elite leaders of our meritocratic society failed us? Nation Editor-at-Large Chris Hayes speaks with Editor and Publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel about the ways intelligence is used to detrimental ends, and how we can ensure it is used for good.

Hayes essay from 6/25 The Nation

Sources:

Robert Michels - 1911 "Political Parties"

WI 1848 Forward: #TheNation - Chris #Hayes : The Twilight of the #Elites #Colbert Report : #47% #99% #AARP vs #1%

v2 Real Enemies of the State : WI & GOP ... camera shy

WPR 1/9/2013 : Vos wants Assembly to dress up, wear jackets, ties?  Implicitly sexist - I wonder if Vos has binders full of qualified women - I really don't mind if they wear suits, but make the ties optional, please!
~~~~~~~~
From Dane101.com ... Emily Mills ... 11/2011

As the Wisconsin Assembly met again Thursday evening in open session, still more citizens sitting in the public viewing gallery engaged in a silent protest of rules prohibiting signs or cameras but now allowing weapons to be carried in that space. Several arrests were made, and one 12-year-old girl was told to put down her sketch pad.

According to a post on Rep. Mark Pocan's (D-Madison) Facebook page, "Tonight alone people have been arrested for holding pictures of an apple pie, Ronald Reagan, Jesus, the American flag, Mother Theresa, and a 12-year-old little girl had her notebook taken away with flower doodles. Now I know those are all highly revolutionary, and they could cause problems, but that's what's happened so far tonight."

WI 1848 Forward: Real Enemies of the State: #WI & #GOP ... #camera shy : #Walker #Guns in the Galleries but NOT Cameras 

WI 1848 Forward: Real Enemies of State: #WI & #GOP ... #camera shy : #Vos suits #Guns in the Galleries but NOT Cameras 

WI 1848 Forward: Real Enemies of #WI - #Vos #GOP - #camera shy : #Vos #sexist ties #Guns in the Galleries - NO Cameras 

Holperin vs Simac from Daily Kos

For example, on the simple question "How are you going to create jobs in Wisconsin?", Holperin says infrastructure. He talks about how the state can foster job creation by building and maintaining snowmobile, ATV, and biking trails to attract tourists. He mentions sensible fish and game policies to attract hunters and fishermen. He mentions a state "Main Street" program that has been helping small towns maintain their downtown business districts. Holperin says he has been very good at getting northern Wisconsin's fair share of these programs. Later he talks about a tax credit he got  passed for equipment used to harvest or process woody biomass, a "one-day" fishing license provision, and a hunter mentor program.
Simac responds by stumbling through a canned, non-specific "lower taxes, reduce regulations" answer that could be heard from any Tea Party candidate anywhere in America. Then, in a bizarre follow-up, she seems to endorse the state paying for high speed internet in the North Woods region of Wisconsin, presumably because she wants high-speed internet. I happen to agree with her on that, but I wonder how she proposes to pay for it when she also wants to eliminate gas and sales taxes, and wants to reduce or eliminate business taxes.
But the true depth of her ignorance was revealed when she responded to a question asking her which specific bills in the current legislative session she would either endorse or oppose:

Simac: I'm sorry, would you repeat that? Moderator: Sure. What specific legislation is moving through the Capitol right now that you look forward to - if elected - supporting or challenging?
Simac: Hmm, well, I think that . . . I guess I would have to say that with all of the things that I've been looking at, I think you just stumped me. All the things I've been looking at for all the last couple months here trying to get up on board as a new candidate, I've been trying to stay up with the issues, but I would have to say that I can't name you a single one right now.

It's an amateurish forum hosted by a radio group that used to air a program co-hosted by Simac and is generally hostile to Holperin. (The radio show archives have been deleted. I wonder why.)
The questioners consistently drop the ball when obvious follow-up questions are needed. At one point, they "remind" the candidates against personal attacks after Holperin quotes well-documented, anti-education statements that Simac has made.  Despite the bias, Holperin crushes Simac. Let's hope the same can be said Tuesday night. You can help by visiting Holperin For Senate to donate or volunteer

 Excerpted from Daily Kos

Originally posted to Giles Goat Boy on Thu Aug 11, 2011 at 08:07 PM PDT.

Also republished by Badger State Progressive and J Town.

UPD: Bankers tell stories but politicians are worse!!

Several years ago (~early 2008) in reading The Black Swan (not the movie) by Nassim Nicholas Taleb I was reminded about how many times bankers and financial markets have got all of us into serious trouble.  Test yourself - what previous financial catastrophes or disasters can you recall.  I am sure you can all remember the current one, let's call it "derivatives" or maybe "real estate crash" - the latter probably makes it more personal and memorable.


Within our lifetimes anyone remember one from the 1980s or the savings and loan crisis!  I am not going to go into them - but read the book - I hope you are curious enough to do so!  

My takeaway from Taleb is that we collectively buy into and make up stories about events.  The worst of this is when we get the story wrong or perhaps do not even recall the past.  At the same time groups such as ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) act over a very long time horizon pursuing the goals of special interests, such as the Koch brothers, among many other targets.  Politicians buy into these agendas because (my narrative) they present what the politicians need to get elected - support from well organized groups, money and "pre-packaged ideas".  We the consumer only discover far too late what has been going on ... and then bankers and politicians start making up stories to exempt themselves from accountability.

They blame Keynes, the economist.  They blame regulation.  They blame NAFTA. They blame bankers.  They blame Wall Street. They blame the other politicians.


As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Do I have a point?  Stay alert, even skeptical, stay informed, remember the past and realize that "politicians" may be well intentioned but whose methods and motives may not be well understood even by them!

After the London Riots, Politicians Inch Toward the Blame Game

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2088113,00.html#ixzz1UlD3TLZ0

WI 1848 Forward: UPD: #Bankers tell stories but #politicians are worse!! #47% #99% #ows vs #1% #elites

WI Progressive Liberal Democrats defeat two Incumbent Republicans

Alternative Reality !  See how easy spin is!

Upd: Did Wisconsin recalls cost more or less than $137 million?

The paragraph below should resound very loudly if Democrats pull it off.  On the whole "The Wisconsin Voter", which the quote is from is always an interesting read.  The model is to present some facts and some interpretation.  In this particular column, Craig Gilbert, points out that this particular situation is extremely difficult to handicap.

 In short, five of the six districts in play Tuesday are clearly GOP-leaning in their makeup. That’s no surprise. These are all Senate seats held by Republicans in a terrible GOP year (2008). The GOP advantage isn’t huge. It’s not big enough to make these districts “safe” for Republicans. But it’s real.

JSOnline: The Democrats' big challenge in Tuesday's Wisconsin recalls: winning on GOP turf  8/8

There is no precedent for the amount of money spent.  If you add it to the money spent on Kloppenburg and Prosser and the money that is from the Citizens United camp it must be somewhere north of $137 million.

That number seems familiar?!  Oh yes that was the number Governor Walker used to claim that the "state is broke."  A few months later Wisconsin had a $600 million dollar surplus even before the so called "budget repair" was passed (as I recall).

8/12 : Governor Walker was on MSNBC this morning talking about the $30 million spent on elections (that could be counted) as if it was bad outside money  ... back in February he thought he was asking the Koch brothers for all of this outside money to support Republicans in the state since what he was forcing them to do was going put his majority in question ... how we spin and spin!!

8/2011 Proposal? Why is Luther Olsen giving Charter Schools access to State Retirement System?

Perhaps everyone in the state should be able to participate in the WRS (Retirement System) ... what's the deal with certain Charter School employees?   Don't miss other provisions ... unlicensed teachers - what are the requirement going to be?  Who is being paid off here ... major contributors to Olsen (etc.) like Presidential Coalition, LLC, Citzens United, Presidential Coalition?

See Luther Olsen -- Presidential Coalition - More Out-of-State Money as one example.

Committee: Joint Committee on Finance
  AB-51 was referred to joint committee on Finance in the Assembly on August 2, 2011
      Bill History: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2011/data/AB51hst.html
      Relating to: creating a Charter School Authorizing Board, providing additional charter school author...
 
All in Favor ---

Introduced by Representatives Vos, Kestell, Marklein, Van Roy, Kleefisch, Pridemore, Bies, Nass, Honadel, Ballweg, Knodl, Mursau and Jacque; cosponsored by Senators Darling, Olsen, Lazich, Vukmir, Kapanke and Galloway.

Authorizing Board, providing additional charter school authorizers, eliminating the limit on the number of pupils who may attend virtual charter schools, modifying teacher licensure requirements, eliminating the limit on the reduction in general school aid used to fund independent charter schools, covering certain charter school employees under the Group Insurance Board health coverage plan for local government employees, allowing a charter school to elect to participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation.

WI 1848 Forward: 8/2011 Proposal? Why is Luther #Olsen giving #Voucher Schools access to State Retirement - #WRS?

Luther Olsen -- Presidential Coalition - More Out-of-State Money

More ads and more ads basically promoting school choice, vouchers and firing old teachers ... that's the gist of this mornings ads MSNBC 8:15am - paid for by Presidential Coalition, LLC - another out-of-state organization.   Knowledge is power ... this kind of information is not knowledge

Their mantra from website -

The Presidential Coalition exists to educate the American public on the value of having principled conservative Republican leadership at all levels of government. From Abraham Lincoln to Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, principled Republican Presidents have displayed the courage and wisdom necessary to guide our nation through some of our greatest and most difficult times. Their leadership has stood the test of time and made America great. These principled Republicans are the ideal role models for America's future leaders.

... 

As an affiliate of Citizens United The Presidential Coalition was organized to teach Americans about the significance of having Republican leadership throughout all levels of government. The conservative principles that Republican leaders believe in have made our country what it is today.

The Presidential Coalition teamed up with Dick Morris to promote the conservative values that we believe in. Dick Morris has played a pivotal role in advancing The Presidential Coalition’s mission of stopping the liberal agenda. He, like the rest of the top Conservative supporters, is concerned and ready to do his part to make America great again.

OUR FOUNDER

DAVID BOSSIE

David Bossie is the former chief investigator for the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. Bossie is the president of Citizens United and the executive producer of several critically acclaimed documentaries, including “Perfect Valor”, “Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous With Destiny”, “We Have The Power”, “Blocking ‘The Path to 9/11’”, “HYPE: The Obama Effect”, “Hillary The Movie”, “Rediscovering God in America”, “Border War: The Battle over Illegal Immigration”, “ACLU: At War with America”, “Broken Promises: The United Nations at 60”, and “Celsius 41.11”. Bossie is also the author of “Intelligence Failure: How Bill Clinton’s National Security Policy Set the Stage for 9/11” (2004; Nelson Current), “The Many Faces of John Kerry: Why This Massachusetts Liberal Is Wrong for America” (2004; Nelson Current) and “Prince Albert: The Life and Lies of Al Gore” (2000; Merill), which he co-wrote with Floyd Brown.

Bias in Not-For-Profit Online News - PEW Study

The question of bias in "news" is like being asked ... "Do you still beat your dog?" On The Media: Ideological Bias at Non-Profit News Organizations takes up the story via a Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. The report  investigates The New Landscape of NON-Profit News Sites.

My quick take away from their story is how incredibly tiny (2 and 3 people, sometimes with one reporter) these organizations are. Second the more "funders" you have the more "independent" you are. Lastly PEW is advising us all to be informed and asking these organizations to be more transparent about agendas and funding!

Two asides -

1. Why did OnTheMedia not include any direct links to the PEW study ... I had to go looking!
2. The PEW site has a three-way interface to the report, the data and a guide.

The links are worth following ... and interestingly harder to set up than usual to make it more certain they will remain correct and active over time!

#Bias in #Not-For-Profit Online #News - #PEW Study

Who is Luther Olsen? I think he likes school vouchers?

It appears from the "special interest" groups supporting Luther Olsen that he is all in favor of public schools ... but is he really?! Just watched an ad (6:20pm, WISC-TV, 7/28) put out for him by "The American Federation for Children" ... take a look at their website ... excerpt below .. click for site ... sure not a local group ... more out of state money pouring in to support him!

The American Federation for Children is a leading national advocacy organization promoting school choice, with a specific focus on advocating for school vouchers and scholarship tax credit programs. The American Federation for Children is a 501(c)(4) organization. We are affiliated with the American Federation for Children PAC, a political committee that supports and opposes state-level candidates for elected office, and we work closely with our educational partner, the Alliance for School Choice, a 501(c)(3) organization, to promote the benefits of—and the need for—school choice.

Luther Olsen supported by Out-of-State "Club for Growth 

William A. Gates: Looks who’s getting out-of-state backing - Mail Bag CapTimes

Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/mailbag/article_57dfb1b7-b541-51d5-b156-80d4c703ceae.html#ixzz1TRgzJZFs

Thunda in Wisconsin - video reminder

Remember back when there was "Thunda Round the Rotunda" as loud as our summer thunderstorms ... let's vote in the recalls ... so the message gets through!

#Thunda in #Wisconsin Around the Rotunda - Square #2011 - video reminder

Beware Corporate and Political Greed

Forget the Eisenhower warning about the Military-Industrial Complex ... we have known the problem forever and must always be cautious of the latter-day minstrels of new and better.  This article in pictures and words could only be better if it was a video and narrated ... wish that was legal.  But a greedy corporation would come after me if I did it!

Take a look and read!  Think U.S. and Dick Armey, Tom DeLay and Paul Ryan!

FP: Europe's Economic Meltdown: How Did We Get Here?

#Corporate Greed #GOP #GriftersOnParade #Walker #1% #elites vs #wwJd #AARP #47% 

Walker in Beloit 7-18-11 - Anti-Fitzwalkerstan Rally -Video

The last time I checked this video taken in Beloit, Wisconsin of an anti-Fitzwalkerstan rally attended by Governor Walker had about 14,000+ views.  What was significant to me were the comments left my many viewers ... both negative and positive!  At least we may be listening to each other ... maybe some of us will start thinking again about what our personal and collective interests really are?!

I hope!  Take a look at the comments by going to the YouTube site!  Don't get angry ... start thinking about what positive things you can do and do them!

Madsion.com - Unemployment benefits at risk under GOP move 7/26 still in limbo

Do you know one of these 40,000 people?  Do you think they do not have a job because they are too lazy to look for a job?  Do you think they will thank a Republican if they manage to keep their home or avoid bankruptcy?  Do you think they have health insurance?

Unemployment benefits at risk under GOP move

... The extension, which amounts to $88 million in federal benefits, was estimated to help up to 40,000 out-of-work residents. Passing it was recommended by a state council that oversees jobless benefits. ...

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/state_and_regional/article_8490f31c-d66a-57e6-b35e-0ea071495ae3.html#ixzz1SkO2fLZp

Paul Ryan's version of the "700 Club"

2 x 350 = $700 ... wine with HedgeFund fundraiser!

Paul Ryan Wine Tasting Protest at Racine Office, Tuesday July 19th from Matt Brusky on Vimeo.

WI 1848 Forward: Paul #Ryan's version of the "700 Club" #elites vs #47% #1% #Janesville