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I was gonna blog about the Oshkosh Mayoral election...

...but the Chief has said it better than I could.

A Thought About Tomorrow's Oshkosh Mayor's Race...

Candidate Paul Esslinger will still be on the council if he looses.

Mayor Frank Tower will be off the council if he looses.

So, should Mr. Esslinger win, would it not be fair for him to appoint Mr. Tower to the council?

Vote for Frank Tower anyway...

OshNW & Post-C Get it Right!

OshNW: Editorial: Harris clearly best choice for county executive

Rarely do voters get an opportunity to send someone to office as well-qualified and accomplished as Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris. He deserves your vote April 7 for a second term.

Post-C: Editorial: Harris deserves second Winnebago term

Mark Harris has a solid record of leadership in four years as Winnebago County executive. He's knowledgeable about financial issues, pragmatic about budget constraints and works to protect the services county residents rely on.

Message to WCDP... Lit drops Saturday!

Hello Members and Friends of the Winnebago County Democratic Party!

I am re-attaching this month’s newsletter, it seems I emailed out an incomplete copy. If you skip to page 3, you will see the additions. Sorry for any inconvenience…

The newsletter online is updated as well here: http://www.jef4wi.com/newsletters.html

Lit Drops for endorsed Candidates!

On April 4th, we will have 2 lit drops for endorsed candidates. They will be out of the Labor Hall in Neenah and Jef Hall’s house in Oshkosh.

If you can volunteer part of your Saturday for our candidates, please let me know. Call 920.203.6883 or email jef@jefhall.com (or just hit reply!).

Locations:

Labor Hall - 157 S Green Bay Rd, Neenah

Jef Hall’s – 112 E Irving Ave, Oshkosh

Here is a list of our endorsed candidates that we urge you to cast a ballot for on April 7^th:

Mark Harris - Winnebago County Executive

mharris1@new.rr.com - www.harris4exec.com

(920) 232-8688

Dennis Kavanaugh - Oshkosh School Board

dkavanaugh@ntd.net - (920) 231-3397

Jessica King - Oshkosh Common Council

jking@oshkoshlawyers.com - (920) 424-3938

Susan Rubick - Clayton Town Supervisor

920-836-1887

Shirley Abrahamson - State Supreme Court

www.abrahamson2009.com - (608) 222-8806

Tony Evers – Superintendent of Schools

campaign@tonyevers.com - (414) 755-2343

Stan Sevenich – Menasha City Council

www.sevenichforalderman.com – (920) 725-2429

Tim Hamlin – Neenah City Council

(920) 722-4593

Jef Hall

Chair, Winnebago County Democratic Party

2nd Vice Chair, Democratic Party of WI

224a Scott Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901

920.203.6883

jef@jefhall.com

www.winnebagodems.com

www.jefhall.com

Authorized and Paid for by the Winnebago County Democratic Party – Jef Hall, Chair

The Truth (in drawings)

Film Credits are Good for WI

Take is away Chief.

Here's Citizen Dedow.

Tea Parties, Racism and Homophobia in Green Bay

I stumbled along this in the WI blogosphere...

The first photo is labeled as coming from a "Proud Member of the Nationalist Movement" and urges people to go to nationalist.org (I do not encourage you to).

I think that Wikipedia nails the organization in the first sentence:

The Nationalist Movement is a Mississippi-based, white supremacist organization that advocates what it calls a "pro-majority" position. It has been called white supremacist by the Associated Press and Anti-Defamation League, among others.

Quite the company to keep....

The next shot uses some snarky, homophobic language (from GOP Chair-in-all-but-name Limbaugh) "Banking Queen" in reference to Rep. Barney Frank (look at the black sign).

The last is my favorite for pure irony...

Ignore the man on the right-bottom of the center with the 'Hitler' sign. Instead, direct your attention at all the people crowding around the free t-shirt van at the rally protesting handouts...

WCDP Announcements

Hello Members and Friends of the Winnebago County Democratic Party!

Do not forget the Indigo Dinner this Saturday.

We do have a few extra tickets available at the door. We hope you can make it.

Speakers will include:

WI DPI Superintendent Candidate Tony Evers

DPW Chair Candidate Mike Tate

County Executive Mark Harris

WI Assembly Representative Gordon Hintz

Other local candidates

A tribute to Don Wyman

Fellowship begins at 5:00PM, dinner is at 6:00PM. Tickets are $30 at the door if you have not yet confirmed.

Hope to see you there!

CALL TO CONVENTION - 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Saturday, April 18, 2009

WHERE: Feil’s Supper Club

Hwy 73 South , Box 124

Randolph, WI 53956

Phone: (920) 326-5544

TIME: 9:00 AM Registration opens

10:00 AM Convention Opens

Pledge

Speeches by Elected Officials, Invited Guests

Candidates for State Party Offices (Elected at State Convention)

Candidates for Public Office

12 Noon Registration Closes / Lunch is Served

1:00 PM Convention resumes / Election of CD Officers 2009-2011

Chair

1st Vice Chair

2nd Vice Chair

Secretary

Treasurer

Admin Rep

Platform & Resolutions Member

Alternate Platform & Resolutions Member

1:00/1:30 PM Congressional District Business meeting

Officers Reports:

Chair’s Report

Secretary’s Report

Treasurer’s Report & Budget

Goal Setting for Year:

JFK Dinner (TBA)

Conclude all unfinished business

PRICE: $20.00 Per Person – Pre-registered – Delegates, Alternates and Guests

$25.00 Per Person at the Door

Resolutions Needed for Submission to the State and CD for the DPW Platform

This is your opportunity to influence the Democratic Party of WI Platform.

Resolutions need to be presented at either the March or April Winnebago Dems meeting. They must be no more than 100 words and in a ‘Whereas” “Therefore, Resolved” format, such as this one:

1 Whereas, Social Security is a benefit that survivors, disabled and retired millions rely on;

2 Whereas, full benefits can be paid until 2052 according to the Congressional Budget Office 3 and 80 percent thereafter;

4 Whereas, increasing the income cap on FICA will make Social Security solvent beyond 2075;

5 Whereas, private Social Security accounts will cause the government $2 trillion in transition 6 costs; and

7 Whereas, Social Security is the principal income for 2/3rds of retirees, and for 1/3rd it is their 8 only income;

9 Therefore, resolved, the DPW opposes any privatization of the Social Security system and 10 favors an increase in the income cap.

Please have any resolutions ready for the meeting March 11^th.

Fox Valley ACLU Prisoner Rights Forum

On March 12^th at 7:00 PM the Fox Valley ACLU will host a forum discussing Prisoners Rights presented by George Curtis. The forum will be held at the Oshkosh Public Library.

Other Upcoming Events:

Fri Feb 27^th – Fox Valley Dems Unity Breakfast

7:00AM – BJ Clancy’s - 3341 S Oneida St, Appleton

Sat Mar 7th – WCDP Indigo Dinner

5:00PM - LaSure’s Banquets - 3125 S Washburn St, Oshkosh

Wed Mar 11^th – WCDP Monthly Meeting

7:00PM – Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh

Fri Mar 27^th – Fox Valley Dems Unity Breakfast

7:00AM – BJ Clancy’s - 3341 S Oneida St, Appleton

Wed Apr 8^th – WCDP Monthly Meeting

7:00PM – Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh

Fri Apr 24^th – Fox Valley Dems Unity Breakfast

7:00AM – BJ Clancy’s - 3341 S Oneida St, Appleton

Wed May 13^th – WCDP Monthly Meeting

7:00PM – Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh

Fri May 29^th – Fox Valley Dems Unity Breakfast

7:00AM – BJ Clancy’s - 3341 S Oneida St, Appleton

Sat Jun 6^th – Town of Algoma Parade

Wed Jun 10^th – WCDP Monthly Meeting

7:00PM – Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh

Jun 12-13^th – DPW Annual Convention

Convention will be hosted in Green Bay

Sat Jun 20^th – Claytonfest Parade

Fri Jun 24^th – Fox Valley Dems Unity Breakfast

7:00AM – BJ Clancy’s - 3341 S Oneida St, Appleton

Sat Jul 3^rd – Neenah/Menasha Light Parade

Sat Jul 4^h – Oshkosh & Omro Parades

Wed Jul 8^th – WCDP Monthly Meeting

7:00PM – Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh

Sat Jul 18^h – Winneconne Sovereign State Days Parade

Aug 4-9^th – Winnebago County Fair

Volunteers needed to staff the booth!

Wed Aug 12^th – WCDP Monthly Meeting

7:00PM – Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh

Sat Aug 29^th – WCDP Annual Corn Roast

1:00PM – Winnebago Community Park - Oshkosh

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime!

-jef-

Jef Hall

Chair, Winnebago County Democratic Party

2nd Vice Chair, Democratic Party of WI

224a Scott Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901

920.203.6883

jef@jefhall.com

www.winnebagodems.com

www.jefhall.com

Authorized and Paid for by the Winnebago County Democratic Party – Jef Hall, Chair

Keep It Classy, Winnebago GOP!

How did Rep. Kagen got the spot right outside the door?

Just asking...

Change Has Come, Share it with Local Dems Tomorrow (Tues, Jan 20th)

Hello Members and Friends of the Winnebago County Democratic Party!

Tomorrow, we will join with people across America in celebration of the Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

We will meet at 6:00 PM at the Neenah Labor Temple: 157 S Green Bay Rd. We will replay the Inaugural events, including the swearing in, parade and other coverage.

We will provide refreshments and some snacks. You are encouraged to bring a dish to pass, and in honor of President-elect Obama’s call to service, a non-perishable food item we will donate to local food pantries.

Please come out and join us in friendship and celebration.

Other upcoming events:

Mark Madison Retirement Party
Local Dem Mark Madison is retired – celebrate with him at Fratello’s in Oshkosh Friday Jan 23rd after 4:00 PM

Green Lake Area Dems Meeting
Caestecker Library, 518 Hill St – Green Lake
Sat, Jan 24th, 10:00 AM

WI Council of Senior Citizen’s Discussion with Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber
Neenah Labor Temple, 157 S Green Bay Rd – Neenah
Mon, Jan 26th – 9:30 AM

Waupaca/Waushara United Dems January Potluck
Chez Marche, 108 S Main St – Waupaca
Mon, Jan 26th – 5:45 PM

Fox Valley Dems Unity Breakfast
BJ Clancey’s, 3341 S Oneida St – Appleton
Fri, Jan 30th – 7:00 AM

WCDP Monthly Meeting
Delta Restaurant, 515 N Sawyer – Oshkosh
Wed, Feb 11th – 7:00 PM

Winnebago Dems Indigo Dinner
La Sure’s Hall, 3125 S Washburn – Oshkosh
Sat, Mar 7th – 5:00 PM

Join the WCDP (Winnebago County Democratic Party) & the DPW (Democratic Party of WI). When you join one, you join both. Go here: http://www.wisdems.org/membership_sign-up.asp

As always, contact me anytime with questions,

-jef-

Jef Hall
Chair, Winnebago County Democratic Party
2nd Vice Chair, Democratic Party of WI
224a Scott Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901
920.203.6883
jef@jefhall.com
www.winnebagodems.com
www.jefhall.com


Authorized and Paid for by the Winnebago County Democratic Party – Jef Hall, Chair

Details for Don Wyman's Memorial

Long-time Democrat and former Winnebago County Dems Chair Don Wyman passed this morning. He will be missed.

If you would like to attend his service the details are:

Date: Saturday, January 17th

Location:
Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home
100 Lake Point Dr.
(Corner of Witzel Ave & Lake Pointe Dr.)
Oshkosh, WI
Map & Directions
(920) 232-5485

Times:
Visitation: 10AM - 1PM
Funeral: 1PM
Burial Ceremony to Follow

Nursing Home Care: Gov't does it better.

I had been meaning to post on this since the ratings come out, but the Northwestern beat me to it with

You've probably heard the mantra "Private business can do it better." But, when it comes to nursing homes, can it?

A new study and sweeping round of nursing home ratings sizing up more than 16,000 sites around the U.S. shows, in Wisconsin, it's our state-, county- and city-owned facilities earning the higher average overall grades, followed by nonprofit nursing home operators, followed by for profit operations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released its ratings, based on a new system. Some nursing homes are ecstatic with the findings. Others, a little baffled by them.

To be fair, any ratings glance is just that – a snapshot of a nursing home at a moment in time. Staff performance may have been uncharacteristically stellar or subpar during a rater's visit. There's a degree of subjectivity involved with any rating system. That said, a Northwestern analysis of the ratings statewide does back up the overall findings showing nonprofits and government nursing home operations are earning higher marks.

In Wisconsin, the average overall scores on the CMS's five-star scale for government-operated nursing homes was 3.76. That was followed by nonprofit operations' 3.42 average score and for profit operations' 2.57. Winnebago County's taxpayer-owned Park View Health Center (even before it opened its new facility north of Oshkosh) earned five-star marks, a testament to the quality of care delivered within these top-rated organizations, not just their physical environs.

It should be obvious that Govt would do a better job in nursing and senior care. There is no place for profit in providing this service on a large scale.

The customers are, as a general group, people who are either beyond their earning years, or unable to earn. Therefore the incentive to supply high-quality care to all but the most affluent families is not there. The profit incentive can only be in the cutting of costs (and therefore quality of care).

However, a public facility is not accountable to a profit margin, they are accountable, in the end, to voters and elected officials. As long as expenses do not get to out of hand, the incentive is to provide a high-quality product.

Let me repeat, as long as these facilities are respectfully frugal with the taxpayers dime, all of the incentive is in providing quality of care.

Now that we have seen real numbers as to how gov't can supply this nursing care, when will the public make the logical jump that it will be the same for general medical care?

Winnebago County Single Stream Recycling

For anyone that is interested in the single-stream recycling presentation that was done for the Winnebago County Board yesterday, I have a copy of it linked here.

From MSNBC - The Bush years -- then and now

Results of GOP rule:

The Bush years -- then and now

From NBC's Mark Murray
With President Bush set to leave the White House less than two weeks from now, here's a "Then and Now" to show what the United States looked like when Bush was entering office and what it looks like now as he's leaving. The "Then" is the best-available figure as Bush was taking office in 2001. The "Now" is the most recent figure.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Then: 4.2% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2001)
Now: 6.7% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2008)

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE
Then: 10,587 (close of Friday, Jan. 19, 2001)
Now: 9,015 (close of Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009)

BUSH FAVORABILITY RATING
Then: 50% (1/01 NBC/WSJ poll)
Now: 31% (12/08 NBC/WSJ poll)

CHENEY FAVORABILITY RATING
Then: 49% (1/01 NBC/WSJ poll)
Now: 21% (12/08 NBC/WSJ poll)

CONGRESS APPROVAL RATING
Then: 48% (1/01 NBC/WSJ poll)
Now: 21% (12/08 NBC/WSJ poll)

SATISFIED WITH THE NATION'S DIRECTION
Then: 45% (1/01 NBC/WSJ poll)
Now: 26% (12/08 NBC/WSJ poll)

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE (1985=100)
Then: 115.7 (Conference Board, January 2001)
Now: 38.0, which is an all-time low (Conference Board, December 2008)

FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY
Then: 6.4 million (Census numbers for 2000)
Now: 7.6 million (Census numbers for 2007 -- most recent numbers available)

AMERICANS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE
Then: 39.8 million (Census numbers for 2000)
Now: 45.7 million (Census numbers for 2007 -- most recent available)

U.S. BUDGET
Then: +236.2 billion (2000, Congressional Budget Office)
Now: -$1.2 trillion (projected figure for 2009, Congressional Budget Office)

Which Side Are You On?

I saw the movie "Harlan County, USA" this weekend. I recommend it very highly. It is about the 1973 Coal workers strike.

During a previous strike in the same county, Florence Reece - the wife of a striking worker, wrote the song "Which Side Are You On?" and I think it may be the greatest song ever written.

Mrs. Reece sings a few verses of it on the movie, and many people have done versions of it since.

Here are some:

Pete Seeger


Dropkick Murphy's


Natalie Merchant (w/ Mrs. Reece in the beginning)


Billy Bragg


The Washington Squares


Movie Trailer:

DPW Chair

No, really... a chair made from DPW (Department of Pubic Works) barriers.

This is what you get when you look up 'DPW Chair' in Google:


Here is the blog I got it from...

A Good Point Stolen...

From the Illusory Tenant:

The Martyrdom of Saint Alberto

Spc. Tony J. Gonzales, 20, of Newman, Calif., died Dec. 28 in Sadr City, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. — USDoD 12/30/08

Hang on a minute, wrong Gonzales:

I consider myself a casualty, one of the many casualties of the war on terror. — WSJ 12/31/08

:rolleyes:

The Chief Takes on Blogging Candidates and Candidates Who Blog

The discussion is here.

Read it and respond if interested...

Koschnick, Gossett, the Swift Boaters and Abramoff

Right-wing Judge and candidate for WI Supreme Court Randy Koschnick has recruited our Republican DA to be the treasurer for his spring campaign, according to the footer of his website.

That would mean that Gossett is in charge of fundraising. Funny thing, they are using a service called donationreport.com for online collections.

This is a service of the Donatalli Group. Where do we know them from? The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth:

The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's SWIFTBOATVETSFORTRUTH.ORG website was registered July 30, 2004, with CD, Inc. (Connell Donatelli Inc.) as registrant, administrator, and the tech organization. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's SWIFTBOATVETERANSFORTRUTH.COM website was also registered July 30, 2004, with CD, Inc. as registrant, administrator, and tech organization for the website.

The Donatelli Group were also fundraisers for Abramoff lackey Ralph Reed:

The Network was coordinated by Gary Marx, "a political consultant for George W. Bush's campaign at Century Strategies in 1999, when its founder and president Ralph E. Reed was allegedly helping his long-time friend Jack Abramoff swindle over $1.2 million from the Choctaw Indians" and "coalitions organizer for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2004" [12], and Wendy E. Long, a "former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas" [13].

Other Donatelli/Donationreport.com hits include a David Horowitz Red Cross scam.

Why is it important that DA Gosset is the Treasurer using this service? A Treasurer has an important role in a Judicial campaign. Judges are not allowed to collect money themselves. All of this needs to be done by the Treasurer.

It was Gossett that had to approve this. I would hope he would look deeper into the people he chooses to work with.

Ziggy tries to get by on $125,900

Manitowoc County Exec and State rep Bob Ziegelbauer announced today that he "will be returning my scheduled pay raise for this session."

Brave action Ziggy, maybe in your press release you should have mentioned that you also will be receiving $75,813 in pay as County Exec in Manitowoc.

Ziegelbauer, however, rightly points out in his press release:

Note to the press: Since these raises occur only once every two years, in fairness, this increase ought to be described as a "5.3% over two years" or "equivalent to a 2.65% annual increase", not simply as a "5.3% pay increase".

What he doesn't point out is that his scheduled annual pay increase as County Exec is about 3.5%, from $78,500. Even greater than his increase in Legislative pay.

Now, I don't point this out specifically to dump on Ziegelbauer. I do it to point out the stupidity of the entire exercise.

Lawmakers, like any other worker, are entitled to a fair wage. It is not out of line to increase their pay by a level close to inflation.

But, stupid politics dictates that these leggies need to deny themselves this raise. If a Rep had some guts, they would say that the raise is not out of line, and they have bills to pay just like any other WI resident. Most of them are your representatives as their only full-time job.

If anything else, we should let the market speak, maybe if salaries were larger for these people, we might get a better quality employee to run...

Either way, Ziegelbauer is not a hero for refusing the raise, he is just another politician - making a symbolic stance that is in essence meaningless and of no consequence to his entire pay package.

Great Video

Wal-Mart Shopping Death - Jonathan Krause is Right On!

I could not say it better myself, so I will leave it to him:

Click here.

Dems Gain Nationally:

Recount in the 18th? Results below...

180 votes out of over 83,000 cast in unofficial results.

County - Jess King - Randy Hopper - Difference
Dodge - 981 - 1,303 - (322)
Winnebago - 24,451 - 20,213 - 4,238
FDL - 16,232 - 20,328 - (4,096)
Total - 41,664 - 41,844 - (180)

There are also provisional ballots to be decided, as well as the results being unofficial.

In Winnebago County we use 2 types of voting machines - touchscreen and scanners. The results on the county website are sometimes shown as complete for a ward even if the ward only has one of the machine types reported.

There are several questions about these results. Lets get to the bottom of this.

My Electoral Prediction...

(The map is from the DailyKos)

Help Get Out the Vote in Winnebago County

Hello Members, Friends and Volunteers for the Winnebago County Democratic Party!

It is time to Get Out the Vote (GOTV)!

After the long primary, the general campaign, it comes down to these last 3 days.

Your Winnebago County Democratic Party will be working for the election every day, through Tuesday evening.

To volunteer, please contact:

Winnebago County Office – (920) 426-2262

Scott Jacobs

(920) 426-8060 - sjacobs@obamacampaign4change.org

Info on our Victory Party:

Winnebago County Victory Party!

Come out to celebrate our hard earned victories!

8:01 PM – Tues, November 4^th

Beckets Center Court – 1 City Center (Old Park Plaza Mall Center Court, Oshkosh

Refreshments, DJ, Returns on the Big Screen and Fellow Democrats!

Please help out whenever you can! Every vote will count for all of our local candidates as well as Obama/Biden!

Why I love YouTube...

I woke up this morning with an obscure 90's song in my head.

I went to YouTube.

There is was...

Everyone, Mr Bungle:



I have this on cassette tape...

Volunteer for Election Day...

Don't let this happen:



Call 920.426.2262 (920.42-OBAMA) to volunteer at the Winnebago County Democratic Party Headquarters.