Scott Walker or Tom Barrett? (Milwaukee: costs, bill, food)

[EastSideMKE]

Originally Posted by quijote

I know many Dems who have voted for Republicans, and I know at least one who has voted for a conservative Republican.

Perhaps registered Republicans do roam more freely around the electoral spectrum than registered Dems do, but perhaps that's because there are more and varied conservative Democrats than liberal Republicans.

If there were a Republican running for office who is fiscally conservative and pro-business yet willing to invest in key public sectors, and who supports equal rights and civil liberties for all people, then that person would get my vote. Unfortunately, there are very few Republicans like that anywhere in this country--mostly on the West Coast and Eastern Seaboard.

I totally agree. Contrary to popular belief, the US has moved further to the Right over the last few decades, so each election it gets harder and harder to make Lefties excited about voting for a particular candidate. It's not that I love Democrats so much, quite the opposite actually, it's just that 99% of Republicans scare the living bejeezus out of me. So it's more a vote against the Republicans than it is a vote for the Democrats. I could have easily voted for John McCain circa 2000 (too bad I was only 17), but the John McCain of today is merely a shell of his former maverick self.

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I'm not going to get into a urination match but you are aware Gov.Jim Doyle has taken out over a billion dollars out of the transportation fund to use for "other" things. I'm just saying.

Fight over state transportation fund takes a new turn - JSOnline

Nets to catch falling chunks from Hoan Bridge - JSOnline

" But Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Wausau) said Vrakas' stance was ironic because Vrakas voted to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars from the transportation fund when he was in the Assembly and his fellow Republicans controlled both houses of the Legislature."

Also note that Waukesha County is the most Republican County in the state.

The problem is sufficient taxes to maintain infrastructure and necessary programs.

Both sides are guilty for diferent reasons:

Republicans love tax breaks for business; WMC is one of their top backers- $-wise. Remember when the GOP (under Tommy Thompson, who wracked-up most of our deficit before the Dems fixed it when Doyle first got in the office) decided that if any Wisconsin business had a mailbox in Las Vegas they could claim to be an out-of-state entity, and therefore pay no tax?

Yet, they are afraid to do the logical other half of the equation: cut public services. I was in Grad School way back in the late 80's and had to take Public Finance. The Prof- an admitted conservative type- spoke about the so-called 'Tax Payer Bill of Rights' which had just failed to win approval- although the GOP controlled the Assembly, Senate, and Governor's Office at the time.
'They know that if it were to pass that the look of the cities in Wisconsin would change for the worse.' was his summation.

But, the Democrats do not have the honesty to level with the general public: to tell them that the only reason why we have such a high percentage of our roads paved (we are first in that area), or have good schools- why a cop or fire crew will get to your house in a timely manner- is because we have had the willingness to pony up the money for said operations.

So both sides skate around the reality, and the general public is mostly clueless about what it is they are reallly voting on when they fill-in that line with the felt pen.

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by EastSideMKE

I totally agree. Contrary to popular belief, the US has moved further to the Right over the last few decades, so each election it gets harder and harder to make Lefties excited about voting for a particular candidate. It's not that I love Democrats so much, quite the opposite actually, it's just that 99% of Republicans scare the living bejeezus out of me. So it's more a vote against the Republicans than it is a vote for the Democrats. I could have easily voted for John McCain circa 2000 (too bad I was only 17), but the John McCain of today is merely a shell of his former maverick self.

This is pretty much my response as well.

[breakpoint]

I'm going for Walker

I don't trust Barrett in leading Wisconsin, he will raise our taxes and charge us for every little thing. Look at your bills already!

I know he is going to do nothing for the state but bad things like Doyle.

[Milwaukee City]

I would like to say Congrats Scott Walker!!! and to David Clark and of Course Ron Johnson.

[TraceyB]

Originally Posted by EastSideMKE

I totally agree. Contrary to popular belief, the US has moved further to the Right over the last few decades, so each election it gets harder and harder to make Lefties excited about voting for a particular candidate. It's not that I love Democrats so much, quite the opposite actually, it's just that 99% of Republicans scare the living bejeezus out of me. So it's more a vote against the Republicans than it is a vote for the Democrats. I could have easily voted for John McCain circa 2000 (too bad I was only 17), but the John McCain of today is merely a shell of his former maverick self.

Too funny - I think the same thing about Democrats! (99% of Dems scare the living bejeezus out of me)!! I'll definitely be voting for Scott Walker. Tom Barrett seems like a very nice person, but I personally don't believe in liberal fiscal policies, and I DEFINITELY don't believe in the liberal social agenda. I'm excited to see Doyle leave. I think Walker can lead our state in the right direction

[everwinter]

I agree. Barrett seems like a nice man, but with the state Wisconsin is in financially Walker would be the better candidate. I like what he has to offer.

[HookerButt]

I tend to look over the candidates carefully and Tom Barrett got a pretty good plan for jobs right here.

Tom's Plan to Create Wisconsin jobs (http://www.barrettforwisconsin.com/issues/creating_jobs - broken link)

To compare him to Doyle is rather foolish because he was the person competing against Doyle in the 2002 race for Governor. I believe he was also much more organized as well and with his plan for Wisconsin I sincerely can't see why the people chose Doyle over Barrett.

While Lower Taxes ideally seem like something awesome we still need taxes to maintain services such as road ways, public schools, keeping us as one of the best schools in the country. (Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha aside) I'd be willing to pay affordable taxes for helping families, making sure roads fall into ruin or bridges or buildings don't fall apart.

Despite how ideal it seems to have no taxes, you have to realize without those taxes, our state cannot fund for many aspects that we take for granted. His suggestions for jobs are pretty excellent ones too. Make sure to give it a good read before you make your judgments.

Scott Walker I was looking forward too, but his debating is not too hot, his issues don't sit well with me, he's being pushed too far right even if it isn't his actual beliefs and considering I read his plan of vague commentary ... But...

Presenting Scott Walker's 68 Page Plan to Create 250,000 Jobs | Scott Walker for Wisconsin Governor

This had to be the kicker for me not to vote for him? It’s hackish and sophomoric. It might have been a giant joke that back fired but I don't like our jobs being treated like that. I know a few friends of mine that tried that in middle school and they got an F.

So I'm voting for Tom Barrett. The only good news about Scott Walker running is now that the mental health facility some of my family is at finally has some proper funding.

Walker seeks extra $5.5 million for mental health - JSOnline

It's pretty good. Except now he's spending... Oh, I'm glad the facility is cared for now personally. It's just he went against what he was for before and might possibility put us further in the deficit.

[Milwaukee City]

Barrett berates Walker over aide's online post - JSOnline

Well, at least Barrett is attacking Walker on the hard issues.

[Geechie North]

I would like to point-out the obvious- that thanks to a Supreme Court which last year struck down limits on how much corporations can give to candidates which had been in place since the 1890's, these will be our first auctions, rather than elections, for public office.