Kim Simac, the founder of the Northwoods Patriots... is challenging [Democratic incumbent Jim] Holperin...Here's an ad of hers from the end of July, in which, appearing in overalls, Simac makes a point of displaying her lack of wealth, apparently in response to a criticism from Holperin — which I haven't found on line and can't quite extrapolate. At the beginning of this ad, she says "Jim Holperin's campaign ads imply that any person who has a low income should be ashamed and should not run for public office."
“It has been on our minds and in our plans for two years now to have someone from the tea party movement in the state Senate,” says Tim Dake, chair of Wisconsin GrandSons of Liberty, a Tea Party Patriots organization. “If she wins, it is going to be huge.”...
In addition to the new ads hitting radio and TV audiences Wednesday, Simac launched a six-day, 2,000-mile tour of the district that will take her through each of the 11 counties in Senate District 12.
“Our goal all along has been to meet as many people face to face as possible. The voters are the most important in this election,” Simac says on her campaign website. “It was the people in the 12th Senate District who were left without representation when Jim Holperin fled the state. I intend to go to every house I can to tell them personally I won’t abandon them when the times get tough.”
Simac will be driving around the 12th District in her green GMC truck with a campaign sign rigged to the back....
Poking around on the internet, I think what she's talking about are ads against her that say she didn't pay taxes in various years, when she simply didn't have enough income to owe taxes. Here's her press release on the subject.
Here's a new article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with some information on both candidates. Holperin is a Democrat who, despite fleeing Madison with the other Democrats last winter, did in the end vote for the GOP's budget repair bill.
Posts
98 comments:
Wisconsin Dems need to tie Simac to excess Koch money pronto!
Garage?
Garage?
Anyone?
Holperin is a Democrat who, despite fleeing Madison with the other Democrats last winter, did in the end vote for the GOP's budget repair bill.
So, Holperin defied Erpenbach? Is that the implication?
That is such a huge district.
So Holperin wanted to eat his cake and have it to? If he voted for the bill, he must have feared the voters at least a little bit.
I dont care if Holperin voted for the bill, he fled with the rest of them and caused this whole mess. plus I want a Dem scalp to hang on the wall.
"FLICK THE FLEEBAGGER"
Bumper stickers available on request.
Damn!! She has a Chevy truck with 340,000 miles?
I'm pretty sure she knows the value of a dollar.
"did in the end vote for the GOP's budget repair bill"
This is techically accurate but leads to false confusion. Holperin did vote on the BRB, which waas the financial portion of the original. He did not vote on the non financial measures (elimination of collective bargaining for non wage, requirement of public union to pay into pension and healthcare etc. You know, the necessary changes for this years buget cuts to work.
Glad I could clear that up. I guess you don't need to be a law prof to be concerned with the details.
I have lake home in in Hazelhurst. Lot's of Simac signs. Lot's.
Well, if she was a 1/2 black male born out of state with two autobiographies under her belt before the age of 45 even though she'd done nothing of note whatsoever, she'd be the most qualified candidate for office, like since forever, no matter if she'd paid income taxes or not.
As long as she was a Democrat, that is...
Wow...the comments to the Sentinel Journal article reek of desperation.
So if I understand correctly, Holperin's ads used things like the water spring to suggest that she was living the high life while not paying taxes?
Setting aside the election for a second, handymanship is a wonderful thing that's a lot easier to learn than most people fear. It's not hard to understand how the Simacs managed to have nice things for next to zero dollars once you've done a few simple DIY tasks. Whether or not she's electable, mad ups to that family for taking care of themselves.
Thanks Curious George. I was wondering how one could leave to State to avoid voting for the bill and then come back and vote for it.
Fun fact: Holperin survived a recall in 1990 when he was in the assembly, over spearfishing rights, which he supported. I wonder where our resident conservative Ojibwe comes down on that.
"madAsHell said...
Damn!! She has a Chevy truck with 340,000 miles?"
So do I. '94 1500. It's red. 4 speed plus OD bus shifter on the floor. 4.3 L I6 Vortec. No muffler. Awesome truck. I thought of pulling it on to the lake and ice fishing through the hole in the floorboard.
Good ad. It reminds me that all politics are local.
How anyone can support a candidate who can not name one bill that she either supports or opposes just amazes me.
Refreshingly unpolished. I'm, thoroughly sick of polished politicians. I'm not hiring a game show host.
From the MJS: The trip to Illinois was necessary to give the public time to become familiar with the legislation and provide public employees an opportunity to object or comment on the bill, he said.
Nice spin but the cowardly "trip to Illinois" was necessary for one thing - for giving the protesters time to illegally besiege and occupy the state capitol.
There is a lot of animosity "Up Nort'" toward public workers, and specifically teachers. People working their asses off to eke out a living because they love the life up there...fishing, hunting, snowmobiling...and they see teachers making more and working less. Great pensions and health plans. Lake homes.
Simac's "overalls" ad most certainly struck a chord...
@ garage - Care to make a friendly bet on next Tuesday's elections? I'll stick my neck out and predict a Republican sweep.
I grew up in a humble, rural area -- we even built our own house also -- yet urban liberals seem to hold that against me.
Anyone know the rules/limits on out-of-state donations?
There is a lot of animosity "Up Nort'" toward public workers, and specifically teachers.
You just made that up.
Is it too late for me to get an absentee ballot?
I've never live in Wisconsin, never even set foot in the state. How much more absentee can you get?
I'd vote for her in a heart beat.
There will be Lefties going all, "How dast thou?", over the fact she was poor and doesn't want to be a Democrat the rest of her life.
Good for her.
Serve them right if she wins.
"garage mahal said...
You just made that up."
Nope.
My cabin is in Kim Simac's senate district. I worked there this summer, and had a good opportunity to gauge Holperin and Simac's campaigns.
Both candidates walked in several July 4th parades. In the ones I attended, Holperin received little applause and more than a few boos as he passed by. He was followed by a group of about 30 supporters (all from a local high school faculty) wearing identical tee shirts and chanting "Thank you Jim! Thank you Jim!" loud enough to drown out he booing.
Kim Simac recieved loud and sustained applause and shouts of encouragement as she passed by, and no boos. She didn't need supporters trailing behind.
Many of the local business peoples' floats carried Simac signs.
I spent time with her last weekend at a volunteer fireman's pig roast in Phelps. The crowd was very friendly and supportive, and she seemed to know many by first name.
The majority vote in the district was for Walker during the gubernatorial contest. It trends Republican.
Simac's chances are good, although the district has been money-bombed for Holperin. Holperin's funding is about four times more than Simac's, most of it coming from unions and DNC-related sources.
Simac has a good chance of winning.
Tosa guy,
"I grew up in a humble, rural area -- we even built our own house also -- yet urban liberals seem to hold that against me."
I don't understand what this means, what are trying to say here?
Curious George- I just spent 10 days in the Northwoods: Menomonee, Chetek, Hayward, Chippewa Falls. I went to UWSP so I've got lots of peeps north of Madison. Not picking up on the "animosity toward teachers" vibe.
You might be full of shit.
Also, Kim Simac admitted she was "stumped" when asked if there was ANY current legislation she was happy to support or planning to vote against. She really couldn't think of anything. Overalls are cute, though.
Simac didn't go to Harvard. Or Yale. Or Madison or even Whitewater.
She . . . did . . . not . . . go . . . to . . . college.
How do you like them apples, elitist snobhobbits?
"Lukedog said...
Curious George- I just spent 10 days in the Northwoods: Menomonee, Chetek, Hayward, Chippewa Falls. I went to UWSP so I've got lots of peeps north of Madison. Not picking up on the "animosity toward teachers" vibe.
You might be full of shit."
Well, I've been going up there for 35 years, am a home owner, and my parents lived there for 25. Been involved in local Lions, VFW, and homeowner's association. Deal with a lot of local small business and service people.
But let's go with your two week impression. You're snarky "overall" comment put you over the top douchebag.
...30 supporters (all from a local high school faculty) wearing identical tee shirts...
How does one tell sheeple from people?
"How anyone can support a candidate who can not name one bill that she either supports or opposes just amazes me."
Yea, it's almost like she's voting "present" or something.
Holperin's funding is about four times more than Simac's, most of it coming from unions and DNC-related sources.
That figures. Garage is always on the side of the goliath.
Odd Simac would go to a firefighters picnic after she called them "mutinous cowards".
Curious George said,
"Well, I've been going up there for 35 years, am a home owner, and my parents lived there for 25. Been involved in local Lions, VFW, and homeowner's association. Deal with a lot of local small business and service people."
I have far more of a "Northwoods resume" than a 10 day trip 1 summer. I'd go over it but it seems like a waste of time.
Sounds like you have a place in Hazelhurst; hardly gives you the authority to speak on behalf of the Northwoods.
"garage mahal said...
Odd Simac would go to a firefighters picnic after she called them "mutinous cowards"."
You do understand that in Simac's district most firefighters are not public employees, but volunteer units. No pension. No healthplan. People like her that have other jobs, but volunteer because they simply love it.
Of course you don't.
@GarageMahal - This was a volunteer firefighters' pig roast. Volunteerism is the anthithesis of unionism. She was in a crowd of friendlies.
@Lukedog wrote: "I don't understand what this means, what are trying to say here?"
You are a UWSP graduate, aren't you. High school with ashtays.
Can't wait for next Tuesday night...
BTW, since Simac didn't attend college how would she even know a word like "mutinous?"
garage
Are you positive he's Ojibwe?
There's always been a huge hint that he's Algonquin.
You know, this is Harry S. Truman's story, as well.
He had dreamed of going to West Point. He had great grades in high school. But his dad went bankrupt. And, Harry had to return to the farm.
You know, he doesn't even marry Bess (whom he met when she was a student at school). Until he's in his 30's. By then, he was a soldier who had gone to WW1's battlefields. And, Bess and he decided to wait to see if he'd return, alive.
Kim Simac doesn't have the money in her campaign to send this ad far and wide.
That, however, can be the reach of Althouse!
Oh, I hope this story goes VIRAL! This is America! AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!
And, this is Tea Party, huh? I hadn't put a face to it before I saw this one.
Good luck ahead!
Of course you don't.
Garage Mahal completely identifies with the Jimmy Stewart character in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The John Wayne character is alien to Garage because he harkens back to an earlier, more "bottoms-up" self sufficiency rather than the top-down imposition of The Law.
"Lukedog said...
I have far more of a "Northwoods resume" than a 10 day trip 1 summer. I'd go over it but it seems like a waste of time.
Sounds like you have a place in Hazelhurst; hardly gives you the authority to speak on behalf of the Northwoods."
Ha ha sure you do. Having a place alone would not qualify me to speak of the view of the Northwoods. My neighbor on the lake, who just comes up for vacation would have no clue. But of course that is not my sole connection. Maybe in addition to being a douchebag in your views of the likes of Kim Simac, you also having a reading comprehension problem.
Michael Haz said...
Both candidates walked in several July 4th parades. In the ones I attended, Holperin received little applause and more than a few boos as he passed by. He was followed by a group of about 30 supporters (all from a local high school faculty) wearing identical tee shirts and chanting "Thank you Jim! Thank you Jim!" loud enough to drown out he booing.
Kim Simac recieved loud and sustained applause and shouts of encouragement as she passed by, and no boos. She didn't need supporters trailing behind.
Unfortunately, this may not be indicative of the outcome of the recall. Believe it or not, there was recently a Harvard study (no doubt stimulus funded) that ominously concluded that attending as few as one 4th of July parade could increase the likelihood that your kids will vote when they grow up and could even turn them into dreaded Rethuglican capitalist-roader racist homophobes:
Warning: Harvard says Fourth of July parades could turn your kids Republican
The leftlings don't celebrate the founding of this country. They party on the birthdate of St Karl of Marx instead, with lots of bongs and snorts.
But ya he's going to throw out every other value he has because-
he wants to wompom him some fish....
And he owes you democrats-for having pity on his minority like that-
Damn it!
Michael Haz said,
"You are a UWSP graduate, aren't you. High school with ashtays."
Wildlife from UWSP
Nursing from Cardinal Stritch.
Turns out, Wildlife majors don't usually make much $
Also, I didn't/don't smoke
Wait....
In Wisconsin the Democrats are the -
fish KILLERS!
Say it isn't so....
The humanity!1!
*****
What happens if I spear a snail dart?
"Michael Haz said...
@Lukedog wrote: "I don't understand what this means, what are trying to say here?"
You are a UWSP graduate, aren't you. High school with ashtays."
Hey, that's unfair.
He said he "went there", not graduated.
"Lukedog said...
Turns out, Wildlife majors don't usually make much $"
You make fun of Kim Simac, and you didn't know this before you got your degree?
Really, who is the idiot?
I couldn't find any "crazy eyes" photos of Simac being used to energize the Dem base. That could make a big difference.
In Wisconsin the Democrats are the -
fish KILLERS!
I grew up in Holperin's district, Indian spearing rights was a pretty explosive issue at the time. Boat landings were packed with a lot of pissed off people - I remember national news covering it.
If Rhinelander is any indication of Holperin's support throughout the district he should be okay. I saw an absolute blizzard of signs there a few weeks ago.
I'm sure she's a crazy batshit religiosu whacko and Madison hates her guts. Fuck poor people!
Is this post an in-kind contribution by Althouse to the GOP campaign? Inquiring minds NEED to know.
How anyone can support a candidate who can not name one bill that she either supports or opposes just amazes me.
Perhaps she's from the Marxist wing of the Tea Party.
Whenever new spending bills are proposed, they arise as one and shout, No pasaran!
She seems like a nice lady and someone you'd want as a neighbor, but as a political ad this is the kind of identity politics I'm not a fan of, and which is usually a tool of the left. It says vote for me because of what kind of person I am, not what I'll do.
I'll give it half a pass if it's legitimately a response to what her opponent is saying, but it kind of smacks of, "I'm not rich, so that makes me good." No, it really doesn't.
garage
Didn't Walker win that district by more than 53%?
If you look at the recent recall elections (-taking out Hansen, and Hopper)- Republican candidates, where Walker won by more than 53% last time-managed to hang on.
I think Walker might have hit an even higher percentage than 53 in Holperin's district.
There is a big difference however between hanging on as an incumbent-and overtaking the incumbent.
That probably changes the math.
"garage mahal said...
If Rhinelander is any indication of Holperin's support throughout the district he should be okay. I saw an absolute blizzard of signs there a few weeks ago."
It's the county seat, lots of public union folk. It's like saying "if Madison is any indication of Wisconsin..."
garage mahal said...
Fun fact: Holperin survived a recall in 1990 when he was in the assembly, over spearfishing rights, which he supported. I wonder where our resident conservative Ojibwe comes down on that.
You talkin to me? I'm fine with spearfishing, as long as it's done on reservation property.
" AllenS said...
You talkin to me? I'm fine with spearfishing, as long as it's done on reservation property."
No spearing on my lake. No public access. And I'll add when they spear from homemade birchbark canoes, and from the light of a torch, only for their own consumption,...then sure, no problem.
Simac's chances are good, although the district has been money-bombed for Holperin. Holperin's funding is about four times more than Simac's, most of it coming from unions and DNC-related sources.
"I am thoroughly disgusted at the current wave of negative political mailings - especially those mailed from Madison by the "Greater Wisconsin Political Fund" that was given $1 million in seed money from the unused war chest of the ex-governor of Planet Madison, and funds from state and out-of-state unions telling us that they know 'Northwoods Values.'" -- Lakeland Times, Letter to the Editor
So Simac wants to join the crowd of state worker mutinous cowards? Weird!
She fights like a girl protecting her family
She is a Momma Grizzlie.
I dare Newsweek to do her cover photo!
garage - why do you hate lower middle class people like the Simacs?
If Simac wins she will be a filthy rich mutinous coward state worker sucking at the teat of big government. Think of the taxpayers!
Tosa guy,
"I grew up in a humble, rural area -- we even built our own house also -- yet urban liberals seem to hold that against me."
The other guy said:
"I don't understand what this means, what are trying to say here?"
It means exactly what I said. Urban liberals look down their noses at people who grew up out in the sticks, nevermind if they went on to get several college degrees, work in a professional field, etc.
Having failed to understand that difference between union and volunteer firefighters, garage tries to flipflop it to save face.
This is exactly why it's okay to mock him at every chance. A liar, or an idiot, but likely both.
garage mahal said...
If Simac wins she will be a filthy rich mutinous coward state worker sucking at the teat of big government. Think of the taxpayers!
Hey, we're just taking a pointer from how the left has managed to undermine this country for the last 100 years. The best way to change what's happening is from the inside.
I know you'd prefer we just cede all the power to you Marxists without a fight. Sorry. Homey don't play that game no more.
Having failed to understand that difference between union and volunteer firefighters
Yea asswipe, without your awesome work here I would have never known the difference.
If Simac wins she will be a filthy rich mutinous coward state worker sucking at the teat of big government.
yes, that's what usually happens when someone goes to work for the state. what's your point? that it happens 100% of the time?
"garage mahal said...
Yea asswipe, without your awesome work here I would have never known the difference."
For those of you scoring at home garage is going with liar this time.
garage mahal said...
If Simac wins she will be a filthy rich mutinous coward state worker sucking at the teat of big government.
There's an element of truth there, just think about the Clintons. They didn't have a thing until Bill became POTUS, and then, whamo! Multi-millionaire! Except that the Simacs can actually use their hands, besides holding and using a cigar.
@Joanna, is there a difference between the Lakeland Times and the Vilas County News-Review?
Because I see that that same letter was in both of them.
(Link #2)
Country boy (girl) can survive!
I grew up lower-middle/upper-lower class up north, and it was the dream of my father to see his kids have it better than him. I had always assumed that's how everyone felt. Being poor and uneducated are not characteristics to be proud OF, but ones which you can be proud IN SPITE of. When I hear people tout ignorance as a desirable quality, it absolutely drives me nuts. And I can guarantee you this is one urban liberal that does NOT look down his nose at anyone, raised amid sticks or concrete, as long as they aspire to greater things.
Hers is one of the greatest ads I've ever seen.
It's a terrific attack, it's also a terrific 'this is who I am'. It's impossible to ignore, and it's just ... it feels honest.
I really like that woman, and think she should be elected. Hope she wins against the fleebagger.
BTW, Chevy trucks are not really like other Chevies.
They can last a long time if you don't mind replacing alternators and occasionally the transmission.
"jimspice said...
I grew up lower-middle/upper-lower class up north, and it was the dream of my father to see his kids have it better than him. I had always assumed that's how everyone felt. Being poor and uneducated are not characteristics to be proud OF, but ones which you can be proud IN SPITE of. When I hear people tout ignorance as a desirable quality, it absolutely drives me nuts. And I can guarantee you this is one urban liberal that does NOT look down his nose at anyone, raised amid sticks or concrete, as long as they aspire to greater things."
So you look down on your dad?
I just replaced a leaking brake line in my 84 Chev pickup. Every fitting was a struggle. Blew the flexible hose from the union that connects to the two rear brake lines, when using the torch to heat the fittings. I had to replace that and the old brake line with a 3', 8" and 4' steel lines from Carquest.
Nope. He was born in a lumberjack camp, and had to drop out of school after 6th grade to support the family. WWII vet. European theater sniper. Er, I mean scout forward. He went on to run a series of his own businesses. You'd never see him without a book very close by. Great man.
sounds like a great man, Jim. I have the ultimate respect for people who have even some of those things your father has done. Unfortunately, the liberals that I know don't think much of people today in the military, work with their hands, or run their own business....if it is the wrong kind of business. Pure elitism on display. The Democrat Party would dominate this country like it did for 75 years if it looking down it's nose at people who strive to succeed.
And I can guarantee you this is one urban liberal that does NOT look down his nose at anyone, raised amid sticks or concrete, as long as they aspire to greater things.
And one of the greatest aspirations is to NOT be an urban liberal.
I aspire to be left alone and at peace to live my life the way I want.
Alas...liberals are unable to leave people to their own devices or live life differently from the liberal viewpoint. They must meddle and meddle and screw up everything they touch.
if it stopped looking down it's nose.....
"I just replaced a leaking brake line in my 84 Chev pickup. "
I had a friend buy a corvette and accelerate and then slam on the brakes the first day he owned it, blowing out the brakes lines.
He had the car towed back to the dealer and refused to keep the car.
Still drives a Silverado.
I'm an F-150 fan myself. Ugliest trucks on the road, and yet the best ones.
Ya know what?
Because Ronald Reagan had been a democrat, he knew how to reach voters, themselves! He cut through the bullshit!
Ad money's just bullshit by another name.
Some people fear going into politics because they think the "circus" will expose them to ridicule.
Others fear the money bombs.
When in America there's nothing to fear!
Or as FDR said "fear itself."
I think Kim Simac just got an Internet boost ... that you couldn't even buy for money!
Voters going to the polls? On BOTH SIDES ... people go in hoping. And, on BOTHS ... it's like a menu choice. It's a pleasure to serve!
Kim Simac, today, recieves a boost in public perception, though ... because all of us are waiting to applaud TALENT.
Now? Now, I have something to watch come Tuesday.
Nice.
@jimspice said...
Ok, so how about all those guys that worked for your dad...or just stayed lumberjacks? The northwoods is full of them.
"AllenS said...
I just replaced a leaking brake line in my 84 Chev pickup. Every fitting was a struggle. Blew the flexible hose from the union that connects to the two rear brake lines, when using the torch to heat the fittings. I had to replace that and the old brake line with a 3', 8" and 4' steel lines from Carquest."
I had to replace all the brakelines on my '84. As well as the front disks and calipers. Wasn't that hard...although bending the brakeline was a bit chellenging to make it fit correctly.
@Madison Man - Those are different newspaperes. The unions have been sending many. many. many letters tot he local newspapers. The letters are usually identical, or nearly so.
Some make the most bizzare and unchallenged allegations. One example is Mr. and Mrs. Simac and another couple showing up at the courthouse at the same time to divorce one another, then remarry each other's former spouses.
The small newspalers seem willing to print this stuff, and then it gets repeated by the Holperin sychophants as being true.
The small newslimers seem willing to print this stuff, and then it gets repeated by the Holperin psychophants as being true.
FTFY
Just heard on Twitter Althouse, Meade, and some Kansas preacher with them them got into some sort of confrontation at the Capitol. LOL
In my "home town" there is a lot of animosity towards anything to do with public schools among farmers.
The thing of it is, that the "majority" votes on bond issues to build huge auditoriums and what-not and it's based on property tax so the "minority" ends up paying the most, and that's farmers. As if any of the farmers are doing well. They're not.
So it depends on who you talk to. Obviously there's animosity towards schools, teachers and school bond funding among those whose money is taken by the majority, but the majority is still the majority. Else they wouldn't get away with it to begin with.
It's possible the same dynamic would be going on there in northern Wisconsin. Maybe not farming so much, but that just means that people who own land make even *less* money, and schools are still funded mostly by property based bonds and property taxes.
That many people are hostile towards teachers as a result makes a lot of sense. If they are a majority is less likely.
"...And I can guarantee you this is one urban liberal that does NOT look down his nose at anyone, raised amid sticks or concrete, as long as they aspire to greater things....'
That makes you a minority among your fellow travellers.
garage mahal said...
You just made that up.
Sigh. You're still a loser. Your ideology is a loser. Give me your address so we can take up a fund and send you to the UK to teach your 'brethren' a thing or two about how leftard thuggery is really supposed to work.
garage mahal said...
So Simac wants to join the crowd of state worker mutinous cowards? Weird!
Garage the scumbag rears it's ugly head again. Trying to convince the little people that it knows better than they do because after all, public employee union thuggery is where all the action is and poo-poo's those beneath it's heels. Leave it to a leftard to utter nonsense.
Dustin said...
BTW, Chevy trucks are not really like other Chevies.
They can last a long time if you don't mind replacing alternators and occasionally the transmission.
Grew up with Chevy's all my life. My dad still has his 74 Monte Carlo. Love that car. However, I'm a proud owner of a 2000 F150 that has nearly 250k on it and outside of regular maintenance, then only thing I've had to replace is 1 battery, 1 alternator, and a water pump due to a leaky water pump gasket, and the serpentine belt. Tough truck and I love it.
I can't stand slick campaign ads!
She seems like a nice lady and someone you'd want as a neighbor, but as a political ad this is the kind of identity politics I'm not a fan of, and which is usually a tool of the left. It says vote for me because of what kind of person I am, not what I'll do.
I kind of agree with this. I think she takes it too far, and it's too long. I get it ... you're not rich. I guess she might be better-suited to understand the struggles of the lower-middle class people she'll represent. I'd rather hear more of her governing philosophy and less about her hand-built house.
I'm a sucker for production values, but I think the basic video approach really works for her message.
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