February 5, 2015

Why did Scott Walker attack the University of Wisconsin's century-old "Wisconsin Idea" slogan/mission?

"On the one hand, the Wisconsin Idea is a relic of Progressive-Era gasbaggery. The idea that the Wisconsin public university system could reach its fingers into every corner of the state was cooked up by university leaders like Charles Van Hise when he wasn’t trying to rid the state of 'defectives' through the practice of eugenics. In the past 100 years, anyone who rightly criticized any wasteful practices at the UW were met by howls of 'but the Wisconsin Idea!,' as if the mere invocation of the term constituted the last word. On the other hand, the Wisconsin Idea is a pleasant, optimistic goal. With the Wisconsin Idea as its guiding principle, the UW-Madison has become a world class public university.Further, discovering and disseminating knowledge, stimulating society by developing heightened cultural, intellectual, and humane sensitivities, and public service to improve the human condition are all wonderful things. And if it brings pride to those who work for or attend the university that those things set the UW apart from other public universities, then great. Which is why when Gov. Scott Walker decided to strike portions of the university’s mission statement and add sections of his own, it came off as a really weird fight to pick. For instance, Walker struck the portion of the statement that says, 'Basic to every purpose of the system is the search for truth.' Should the university be researching more lies?"

Writes Christian Schneider on a topic I feel compelled to explore in greater depth, but I haven't got time right now, so I'll just say, in answer to that last question above that the statement — "Basic to every purpose of the system is the search for truth" — is itself a lie. Of course, it's politically weird, to cross out truth, but that statement about truth is a lie. So if you really, seriously, wanted to be meticulous about truth, you would cross out that lie about truth.

But who can be that meticulous in political discourse? Not Scott Walker. And not the university that must inspire and retain the confidence of the people of the state. Inspiring the people of the state to care about us and love us and support us, we obviously have a purpose to which the search for truth is not basic — a purpose that we serve by asserting that truth is basic to all of our purposes.

But there is much more to be said about what Scott Walker (or his people) had in mind when they struck out the famous old mission statement. He's backtracked, tweeting: "The Wisconsin Idea will continue to thrive.  The final version of budget will fix drafting error - Mission statement will include WI Idea." That's his story and I'm sure he'll stick to it, since he's the most doggedly on-message politician I can think of. I assume there actually was a reason, but for now, I'll throw that question over to you.

ADDED: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reviewed "the drafting file Thursday for the budget bill [and] found at least two references in which the Walker administration's budget shop requested the changes." Walker has a new press release:
[M]y staff, the state budget team, and I did not have much discussion about the mission statement. The only real mention was about adding something to existing language related to workforce development.... Unfortunately, when my office told the budget staff to keep it simple, they took that to mean that we only wanted workforce readiness language in the mission when we really wanted the language added to the existing mission statement.... Clearly, changing the Wisconsin Idea serves no purpose.  That is why I made it clear on Wednesday that we would not change it in the budget.  It is not a change of heart.  It was a simple miscommunication during the natural back and forth of this process.
AND: That MJS article about reviewing the drafting file ends with a pugnacious quote from Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton):
"This isn't something that would be an oversight. This is the governor directly aiming his arrow at the heart of the UW and what it's all about," Erpenbach said. "Let me put it to you this way, given the magnitude of the change, this is something that I would have thought that the governor and his budget writers would have went over with a fine tooth comb...They had to know that this was going to generate a tremendous amount of attention."
Would have went over with a fine tooth comb? Maybe somebody at the UW can reach beyond the boundaries of the campus and help Erpenbach with his grammar.

193 comments:

Mark said...

Of course he takes no responsibility for what happened, calling it a drafting error and point blame elsewhere.

I always though a good executive took responsibility for what he directed his people to do.

MadisonMan said...

Because it distracts from the monetary cuts?

I'd like to see Walker more enthusiastically promote the University. It's a superb asset to the state, doing ground-breaking research (UW was 4th in the nation in attracting outside research funds from Federal, state and Private sources). He was just on Meet The Press (or whatever) on Sunday. How much time was spent promoting the Great State of Wisconsin vs. promoting the Great Scott Walker?

traditionalguy said...

Ah ha. The secrets have leaked out of the strange pulsing router. And soon Walker will rip off his mask and a be seen as the man from Krypton sent to earth to destroy The Wisconsin Ideal of truth, justice and the American way. He is the ANTI-Superman.

Roger Sweeny said...

More and more I realize how limited time is and how little one person can know--at least know enough to make a truly informed decision about.

I suspect governors (especially governors who are also running for a different office) are constantly being presented with "we should do X" and often they go along because you have to trust and rely on the people around you.

I suspect that Governor Walker gave very little real thought to this possible change.

Anonymous said...

If we take him at his word there was never any reason, rather it was just a "drafting error"; a mistake that occurred because he and his team wasn't paying enough attention to what they had written. (Distracted by the Iowa primary perhaps?)

Of course not even his strongest supporters, like Althouse, are buying that excuse. But will she hold the Governor accountable for this latest lie of his or will he get yet another free pass from her once again?

Sigivald said...

I hear "The Wisconsin Idea", and all I hear is "the Juche Idea".

Not the same, I know, but ...

traditionalguy said...

The folks at Atlanta's Georgia Tech do appreciate Judith Curry who came from UW/Madison. She is universally recognized as the only Climatologist in captivity attempting to do real science today.

Fernandinande said...

Interesting:

"The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes. Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11. Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

Bryan C said...

I can't imagine anyone getting sentimental over a mission statement. Even an old one. They're among the most utterly vapid and useless scribblings ever written.

"why lift up that rock when there are less antagonistic ways to make changes to the system"

Being antagonized about this may say more about them then about Walker. But assuming that was his intent, "less antagonistic" isn't necessarily desirable. Antagonism can be a wise and honest approach. We'd be better off with more honest antagonism in politics.

Lewis Wetzel said...

"progressive-era gasbaggery" is a good characterization of the "Wisconsin Idea".
"the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state"?
Really? Progressing towards fascism in 1904, lol.
As a Christian I understand the reasons for charity. What is the purpose of the secular state in asking for (or demanding) "public service" of its citizens? Fuck the state. My labor is my own. My idea of "public service" may be completely at odds with building shelters for the homeless, teaching at an inner city school, or putting in voluntary overtime in the cane fields.

Fandor said...

"Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Pilate said to Him,

"What is truth?"

MadisonMan said...

We have to pass the budget to know what's in it.

Rob said...

And here I thought the Wisconsin Idea was More Cheese.

Michael K said...

"But will she hold the Governor accountable for this latest lie of his or will he get yet another free pass from her once again?"

Well, we know what Inga thinks. All those lies about school districts budgets and all that other dull stuff.

Amusing when seen from a distance.

Hagar said...

There are a lot of Norwegians in Wisconsin, aren't there?

"Peer Gynt"

traditionalguy said...

The Progressive Idea is life in a community collective just like Massachusetts Bay Colony was first envisioned by wealthy Puritans. They quit doing that because it was impossible, but the Warm Fuzzy Idea sure as heck has won the day all the way across the northern third of the USA to Portland, and centered in Madison, Wisconsin.

Walker is assumed to buy into that idea to get the Northern/Midwest support with coastal.

Walker is assumed to buy into Evangelicals morality of the individualistic Baptist that he walks and talks like.

Walker is assumed by conservatives to be a budgetary an honest accountant Technocrat.

Walker is walking this tight rope very carefully. And by walking it he has shot to the top overnight. He is self aware enough of his skill to dare anyone to bet against him.

Stay tuned.

garage mahal said...

Of course he takes no responsibility for what happened, calling it a drafting error and point blame elsewhere.

He lied. Of course.

buwaya said...

Is UW unique in its eminence vs other such public university systems in states with similar economies, per capita income and educational attainment short of university (best to use NAEP scores here) ?
It doesn't seem that way to me.
It seems rather that the people of Wisconsin have the university they deserve, more or less. Whatever is good or bad about the university is downstream of the quality of the people it serves.

Lewis Wetzel said...

Well, buwaya, the goal of any institution is to make itself unaccountable to the people who provide its funding.

Anonymous said...

This is just terrible.

Terrible.

Wait, what were we talking about again?

Ann Althouse said...

A post of mine from 2 years ago:

--------------

"The Multicultural Student Center at the University of Wisconsin shifts from "a focus on cultural diversity to one of social justice."

The University's website reports what it calls a "transformation."

“We’re building on the legacy of this campus,” says [MSC director Donte] Hilliard. “A social justice approach is our interpretation of the Wisconsin Idea. If the borders of the campus are the borders of the state, or the world, the educational access that we get by being here in Wisconsin includes a responsibility to help transform our surroundings into more just, equitable places.”...

"It’s comforting to think, 'If we just fix the race or gender issue, the rest will be fine…' No. Oppressions are linked. We can’t get racial justice but keep destroying the environment. In America, who lives in neighborhoods with the worst environmental problems? Poor people – who are, overwhelmingly, people of color."


(If you don't know what "Wisconsin Idea" refers to — here, it has its own Wikipedia article. It's a tradition going back more than 100 years.)

Anonymous said...

Curious Mom Jeans in Vermont said "Amusing when seen from a distance"

I'm sure it does amuse those of you who don't actually live here...especially people like yourself who enjoy seeing others suffer...but the folks in Wisconsin have to actually deal with and live under this untruthful Governor. And there really is nothing amusing about it.

But enough about me - please share your opinion: Do you believe that the Governor simply made a "drafting error" and he actually had no intentions at all of actually changing that language?

Ann Althouse said...

" a responsibility to help transform our surroundings into more just, equitable places" ≠ a search for the truth

buwaya said...

What I mean to say that there is no reason to credit the mission statement, or its supposed ideology for the qualities of the institution. Its just a tribal marker and any other tribal marker, in its environment, would have served its purpose as well. The school colors, coat of arms and athletic team names are just as insignificant.

Meade said...

"'This isn't something that would be an oversight. This is the governor directly aiming his arrow at the heart of the UW and what it's all about,' Erpenbach said. 'Let me put it to you this way, given the magnitude of the change, this is something that I would have thought that the governor and his budget writers would have went over with a fine tooth comb...They had to know that this was going to generate a tremendous amount of attention.'"

Here's a Wisconsin idea, Fabulous 14 Jon:
Retake freshman English.

Anonymous said...

Scott Walker said "We didn't ever talk with my budget team about altering the Wisconsin Idea"

His team did things they never talked about with him nor was he ever made aware of?

That seems to be a common excuse for him.

buwaya said...

In California we live under a regime of organized crime, on an enormous scale. No politician here is clear of taint. And its been that way for two decades now, at least.
The most powerful politician in the state, Willie Brown, openly boasted of receiving bribes and being untouchable in this regard.
One of our Senators boasts of arranging billion dollar Federal contracts to go to her husband.
In Wisconsin you seem to obsess over trivial points of political rhetoric.
These seem like schoolyard fights by children.

Meade said...

"[Walker] lied. Of course."

Ideagate.

lawyapalooza said...

This is more than just changing some words that to outsiders might seem meaningless. It is part of his attack on the university in general, and the right-wing Republicans attack on education overall. His budget guts public school funding and university funding, increases funding for charter schools. It is a fact that children in charter schools in Wisconsin are not performing nearly as well as children in public schools, and yes, even accounting for income and demographics.

We now know for a fact that Scott Walker lied that it was a drafting error, as there are many documents proving this was deliberate and he knew about it. The man is a pathological liar. So no, this is not meaningless to those of us who live here and value education.

garage mahal said...

We now know for a fact that Scott Walker lied that it was a drafting error, as there are many documents proving this was deliberate and he knew about it.

Oh no no no no. The Wisconsin Idea itself is a lie!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Meade is another Walker supporter who won't hold the Governor accountable for his lying and instead decides to attack those who dare to criticize Scott Walker. He will stand with Walker, even when the Gov is being untruthful.

Or perhaps Meade disagree with Ann that there was a reason for the proposed change and instead he thinks it truly was just a "drafting error" due to a lack of oversight and proofreading.

Meade said...

"The man is a pathological liar."

Lawyapalooza isn't just a lawya, He's a docta. Of psychology!

Meade said...

"Or perhaps Meade disagree with Ann that there was a reason for the proposed change and instead he thinks it truly was just a "drafting error" due to a lack of oversight and proofreading."

Why can't it have an element of all three — an error, a lie, AND the truth?

traditionalguy said...

Walker is walking the tightrope like a flying Wallenda. So my guess is that Scott wanted to pick this fight with the University Progressives that already hate him for not being one of them.

That is a political optics contrast created for the voters in GOP primaries all over the USA.

Poor old Wisconsin can keep its Sacred Mantra of Truth Seeking. Who cares. Not President Walker.

Seeing Red said...

If U of W wants to live up to its mission statement, they're going to have to hire more conservatives.

damikesc said...

Looking at how their current students behave when they don't get their way --- the university failed their mission statement many, many times over.

Of course he takes no responsibility for what happened, calling it a drafting error and point blame elsewhere.

He lied. Of course.


Glad you're here garage. Do you wish to comment yet about the GAB'S usage of secret routers? It's been a while and you may finally have some views on the topic.

buwaya said...

"It is a fact that children in charter schools in Wisconsin are not performing nearly as well as children in public schools, and yes, even accounting for income and demographics."

This is a very difficult thing to prove, particularly the part about taking income and demographics into account. This can be done right or wrong, and is easily manipulated. I have seen any number of such shenanigans over the last 20 years. If you have a study to point to in this respect I can give an opinion on its quality.

" It is part of his attack on the university in general, and the right-wing Republicans attack on education overall."

This is very difficult to credit. The general attitude of Republicans, anywhere, is an extreme distaste for the ineffectiveness of the educational system given the enormous resources it has been given. This is true anywhere in the US, and international comparisons justify it. As a foreigner, I can add that it seems absurd that such riches achieve so little.
Republican politicans and their voters are extremely concerned with educational attainment. It has been a priority on the right side of politics for many decades and enormous efforts have been devoted to improving educational effectiveness. The entire modern literature of process improvement in education is a conservative enterprise. It is bizarre to hear such ignorance from a supposedly educated person.

Meade said...

Hey, here's another Wisconsin idea: Facebook all your blue fist comrades, rush up to the rotunda, camp in the Capitol building night after night until you get your demands met.

Suggested chants:

Whose idea? OUR idea!!!

What's disgusting? IDEA-busting!!!

Anonymous said...

Why can't it have an element of all three — an error, a lie, AND the truth?

It truly is precious the way you and your wife rationalize your unwavering support for this liar of a Governor.


Lewis Wetzel said...

Since they view updating a century old charter statement by duly delegated, democratically elected representatives, as blasphemy, can we quit calling them "progressives" now?
The "progressives" of the late 19th-early 20th century believed that the principles that had made industrial economies more efficient in the 19th century (technology and economies of scale), could achieve the same results with government.
We kind of saw how that worked out, didn't we?
You can move whole populations with trains! One order transmitted via telegraph or telephone can kill thousands! Xyklon B instead of firing squads! Science can tell the government who should live and who should die!
Imagine what the federal government can accomplish with 21st century data-mining technology.

Lewis Wetzel said...

madisonfella:
Your outrage seems selective.

Obama: 'If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan'

Here are the 37 instances we could find in which President Barack Obama or a top administration official said something close to, “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan,” referring to health insurance changes under the Affordable Care Act


http://www.politifact.com/obama-like-health-care-keep/

No need to worry about the president lying 37 times to push a political agenda that affects every American. Walker tried to edit the Wisconsin Idea!
You lefties never seem to realize how absurd your arguments sound to a normal person.

buwaya said...

The proper pushback to a proposed budget cut, in a responsible system, would be to analyze the cuts effect on operations, identify areas that would be cut in order of priority (and this prioritization should be done responsibly, with oversight), and state what specific reduction in services would result.
Then there is some basis for rational decisions. There will be good arguments for restoring some cuts if the service reduction seems not justifiable.
The rest of this is really a tribal wardance, making noise and shaking symbols in the air.

walter said...

If you actually read revision:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/scott-walkers-uw-mission-rewrite-could-end-the-wisconsin-idea-b99439020z1-290797681.html

It basically removes pompous, unnecessary blather. Maybe that's the idea.

robother said...

No doubt Scott Walker (or more precisely the intern crafting the budget) was simply trying to embrace the Post-Modern deconstruction of the very notion of Truth. Or the (B-School grad) intern thought the whole notion of a Mission Statement so 90s a thing. So, when the shite hit the fan, Scott Walker asked "who drafted this guy?" Any NFL fan can relate to drafting errors.

Larry J said...

Ann Althouse said...
" a responsibility to help transform our surroundings into more just, equitable places" ≠ a search for the truth.


Indeed. For a great percentage of academia, "the truth" is whatever furthers their cause and gives them more power over others. Is political correctness about the truth? No, it's just the opposite. Social justice isn't about a search for the truth. Grievance studies programs are about pushing their agenda, not about the truth. They're entitled to their own opinions but not their own "facts."

Curious George said...

I said it yesterday, it's a way to justify any and all programs.

But hey, put it back. Just cut their budget. And let's make it a half billion.

And this:

"garage mahal said...
He lied. Of course. "

There is nothing in your link that proves he lied.

You lied. Of course.

kjbe said...

"Hey, here's another Wisconsin idea: Facebook all your blue fist comrades, rush up to the rotunda, camp in the Capitol building night after night until you get your demands met."

Didn't need to.

Ann Althouse said...

Here's a boring issue that is being overlooked: What does the term "drafting error" mean?

garage mahal said...

There is nothing in your link that proves he lied.

Right on cue.

Ann Althouse said...

Is this a drafting error:

I had an idea in mind that I tried to put into words, and then someone else read it and said the language included some other idea that I hadn't been thinking about and had no intention to say, so I rewrote it to exclude that idea.

If your answer is no, this is really a tempest in a teapot painted with a picture of Scott Walker as a cupid with a little bow and arrow at the statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting at the top of Bascom Mall.

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...
There is nothing in your link that proves he lied.

Right on cue."

Just another example of you being the bear hunter.

Lewis Wetzel said...

"Drafting error" is ambiguous. It means only that an error was made, presumably by Walker aide Schwanz (a young and probably inexperienced person).
Was I the only one who read Mahal's link? He didn't read it, or he misrepresented what the article said.

Lewis Wetzel said...

"Drafting error" is ambiguous. It means only that an error was made, presumably by Walker aide Schwanz (a young and probably inexperienced person).
Was I the only one who read Mahal's link? He didn't read it, or he misrepresented what the article said.

Unknown said...

The Wisconsin Idea is pretty harmless, but also pretty inane. Did anyone ever defend some UW activity based on it? Did anyone ever NOT do something because of the mission statement? Did it ever influence the way the university operates? Does it focus, alter, or impact the university in any way? Did it ever really mean anything except "we good"? This is not a mission statement in any sense of the word connected to reality. Why couch this in terms of attacking the university? Will it affect how the State manages the University whether the slogan is changed or not? It's not a bad statement of philosophy and it sure warms the cockles of my heart, but it's not worth either changing or arguing about changing.

Hagar said...

"Never complain; never explain."

Curious George said...

"Terry said...
Was I the only one who read Mahal's link? He didn't read it, or he misrepresented what the article said."

I read it and called him on it. I knew it was bullshit. It always is.

President-Mom-Jeans said...

I knew this post would bring out a sputtering Bitchtits.

The added bonus of Inga forgetting which of her sock puppets she was posting under and being so offended by Walker that she responded to Michael K anyways is just icing on the cake.

Just fantastic stuff all around.

Anonymous said...

@Terry: You've been forced to believe I'm a leftist and that simply isn't true. Matter of fact is that I've called out many times on this blog for Obama to be impeached, with the main reason being his dishonesty and the lies he has told.

It is you, and Meade, and Althouse, and all the other Walker supporters on this blog who are being selective with their outrage. You assume that because you are extremely partisan that everyone else is as well and your assumption is incorrect.

garage mahal said...

"Documents show Walker administration sought removal of UW's Wisconsin Idea"

This of course means that Walker had nothing to do with the removal of the Wisconsin Idea. All his dopey followers were out defending the removal of the language yesterday, and even Walker himself, and Walker is now saying it was all a big mistake. It, of course, as always, was someone else's fault. Just like a kitchen cabinet caused his bald spot.

Curious George said...

"garage mahal said...
... defending the removal of the language yesterday, and even Walker himself..."

More bullshit.

drywilly said...

The Wisco Idea is more a pr slogan and a rationale for lobbying. Looks good on plaques, though.

trumpetdaddy said...

There is nothing the average conservative loves more about Scott Walker than his ability to get the raving Leftoids to piss themselves over trivialities.

I'm just Machiavellian enough to imagine that Walker's people performed this entire trivial exercise to get the Leftoids to act like the little entitled assholes they truly are. Leftoids are like trained yapper dogs responding to the tribal signaling dog-whistle right on cue.

His people certainly succeeded in that endeavor, as evidenced by the comments on this blog from the usual suspects. Walker is inside your heads, Leftoids. He's fucking with you over items both trivial and momentous, and you are powerless to stop him.

It's truly entertaining to see.

Curious George said...

"Terry said...
You lefties never seem to realize how absurd your arguments sound to a normal person."

Because they live in a lefty bubble. They pick up a whacky argument, it get's passed on, and on and on, and never ever gets questioned.

Here is an example posted yesterday on the budget thread by resident lefty lefty knucklehead Mark:

Mark said... raise their county levy limit or ask voters to pay - Walker removed that ability four years ago."

This is a false statement. But I've seen it over and over posted by lefties regarding Act 10. There isn't a blue fister that would argue this point. Not one.

MadisonMan said...

Never complain; never explain

You don't have any problem complaining.

(That might not be a direct quote of LE)

Lewis Wetzel said...

"This of course means that Walker had nothing to do with the removal of the Wisconsin Idea."
Good God, I hope you are not a law student, Mr. Mahal.
Adam Smith showed that free markets are guided by the invisible hand of competition. Garage Mahal shows that Wisconsin progressives are guided by the dead hand of Charles Van Hise.

Drago said...

madisonfella: "His team did things they never talked about with him nor was he ever made aware of?

That seems to be a common excuse for him."

Yes, a lefty in the age of obama actually has the unmitigated gall to post this.

Can someone point me to the posting by madisonfella demanding that obama come clean on his IRS abuses towards conservatives?

Or have we "garage mahal-reset" to "it's just a couple of guys in the Cincinnati office" again?

Anonymous said...

From the link that Curious Mom Pants allegedly read:

In a rapid revision Thursday to his own comments on Wednesday, the Republican governor acknowledged that UW System officials had privately raised objections about the controversial proposal from his administration and been told the changes were not up for debate.

While backtracking on earlier comments to reporters, Walker continued to insist in a 500-word statement that he hadn't known what his own administration was doing until after the proposal became public amid a firestorm of criticism Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Walker backed away from the changes by saying they had been included because of a drafting error or oversight in his budget bill. He further implied that UW System officials saw the changes and "somehow overlooked" them.

But in his Thursday afternoon statement, Walker acknowledged that in fact UW System officials had thrown up red flags and been rebuffed.

Walker made his comments after the Journal Sentinel reported Thursday that the drafting file for the budget bill contained at least two references — one in December and another in January — in which the Walker administration's budget shop requested the mission statement changes in very specific detail.


So which is it?

Was it a drafting error that the Governor didn't know about until after it was released to the public or was it something he talked about with UW System officials beforehand and he told them the issue wasn't up for debate?


Meanwhile, the hardcore Walker supporters are making a big fuss about Erpenbach's grammar in a desperate attempt to make it seem that is the actual issue. Never ceases to amaze me what lengths partisan hacks will go to in order to defend their beloved party.

Drago said...

Terry: "Good God, I hope you are not a law student, Mr. Mahal."

mahal is not a lawyer. He used to be in a commissionable sales position prior to becoming an IT expert who resides in Minnesota.

He once spoke about going to Cuba to clean up on all that sweet sweet cash improving the Castro brothers systems. He should have just dialed up "Mr Verencemos Brigade commando" ARMeltdown who probably still has contacts in the peoples paradise of Cuba.

Curious George said...

"madisonfella said...
His team did things they never talked about with him nor was he ever made aware of?

That seems to be a common excuse for him."

Could you give us some examples of this common excuse?

And if you're going to bail as usual with a "Google it" link then please don't waste our time. We know you have nothing.

garage mahal said...

Never ceases to amaze me what lengths partisan hacks will go to in order to defend their beloved party.

With Walker followers, it's a cult. Like debating a duck.

Drago said...

If you lefties like your Wisconsin Idea, you can keep your Wisconsin Idea. Period.

Drago said...

garage mahal (in temporary non-reset mode): "Like debating a duck"

"Like debating a duck".

One can only guess.......

Lewis Wetzel said...

Drago wrote:
"mahal is not a lawyer. He used to be in a commissionable sales position prior to becoming an IT expert who resides in Minnesota."
So in Minnesota an IT expert is a person who just randomly throws things around and connects them together while cursing Scott Walker?
I weep for my home state.

Anonymous said...

Curious Drago in Vermont said: Yes, a lefty in the age of obama actually has the unmitigated gall to post this.

You've been forced to believe I'm a lefty and that simply isn't true.

Can someone point me to the posting by madisonfella demanding that obama come clean on his IRS abuses towards conservatives?

Wow, talk about coming out of left field. Is that the new litmus test to determine who is and isn't a liberal now-a-days? It isn't enough that I've repeatedly called for Obama to be impeached due to his dishonesty, you want to keep moving the goal post further and further back in your desperate attempt to paint me as something I simply am not.

Anyways, since you brought it up: When have you demanded Obama come clean on anything at all? Can you point to where you have said that or is this another one of your double standards?

Meade said...

mrs.e said...

"Didn't need to."

Really? Why not?

Lewis Wetzel said...

According the Wikipedia article on the "Wisconsin Idea", it was based on social reforms by Bismarck. The ideas were brought to Wisconsin by German immigrants.
That explains the fascist, state-worshiping core of the "Wisconsin Idea".

Drago said...

Terry: "So in Minnesota an IT expert is a person who just randomly throws things around and connects them together while cursing Scott Walker?
I weep for my home state"

Actually, garage mahal is not in minnesota, nor an IT guy etc.

I'm just riffing off his many posts.

Krumhorn said...

Hmmm...the Wisconsin Idea. Is that anything like the Beloit Plan?

I think we would be all far better off if the limits of the University were the campus geographical boundaries...except, of course, for the agricultural extension.

The looselugnut libs have nothing constructive to contribute.

- Krumhorn

Drago said...

madisonfella: "Curious Drago in Vermont ...."

LOL

madisonfella does not like it when you accuse him/her of being a sockpuppet.

garage mahal said...

defending the removal of the language yesterday, and even Walker himself..."

More bullshit.


Not that it matters, and not that you care, and not that you will simply deny more plain facts, but:

"Walker initially defended the move at an event Wednesday afternoon. Hours later, his office called it a "drafting error." Thursday, Walker said the switch was "not a change of heart" but a "simple miscommunication."

Drago said...

Walker should have said that he just heard about it for the first time when he read the paper that morning.

The lefties buy that one every single time.

Drago said...

And yes, this is the complaint that "reality-based" secret-router boy garage mahal has been reduced to offering up.

This is it.

Well, until they find some kid who claims Walker took too long on the swing for "his turn" when Walker was in Kindergarten.

Anonymous said...

Not that it matters, and not that you care, and not that you will simply deny more plain facts

They know Walker is lying. That is why they are trying to divert attention away from this with comments about the IRS scandal and your personal life and Erenbach's bad grammar and Obamcare and climate change and whatever other squirrel they can point to.

Since there is no defense for Walker they have to go on the offense. And nobody can be as offensive as Althouse's troupe of Walker supporters.

walter said...

By the way, since you fixate on words, nice choice of the word "attack".

Anonymous said...

Walker should have said that he just heard about it for the first time when he read the paper that morning


From the article linked earlier: "Walker continued to insist in a 500-word statement that he hadn't known what his own administration was doing until after the proposal became public"

Drago said...

madisonfella: "From the article linked earlier: "Walker continued to insist in a 500-word statement that he hadn't known what his own administration was doing until after the proposal became public""

That's my point.

Saying that vs the "just read it in the paper this morning" in no way carries the same weight.

Drago said...

madisonfella: "That is why they are trying to divert attention away from this...."

LOL

I'm quite pleased that this is truly, honestly, the best you can do in critiquing Walker.

I'll be even happier if you stick to this for months.

I don't want you to change the subject.

I want you to double and triple down on this, for this, in human terms, is the greatest tragedy to befall the human race in a thousand years.

Anonymous said...

Saying that vs the "just read it in the paper this morning" in no way carries the same weight

That is the big difference between me and you. I think both Obama and Walker are full of shit when they spew this kind of nonsense. You, on the other hand, only call out Obama while giving Walker a free pass on everything.

You're a partisan hack, plain and simple.

Mark said...

Meade said:

"Here's a Wisconsin idea, Fabulous 14 Jon: Retake freshman English."

There you go again acting the elitist, bashing the guy who never finished college [Erpenbach].

Oh wait, you only care when they're bashing your guy who didn't finish college.

Gotta love Wisconsin conservative hypocrites. Decrying the elitists one day, bashing people without degrees the next.

Erpenbach should just blame one of his staff members for it, you would forgive it just like you forgive Walker here.

Meade said...

Erpenbach never finished college? News to me.

Drago said...

madisonfella: "You, on the other hand, only call out Obama while giving Walker a free pass on everything."

LOL

Yes, on the one hand a federal takeover on healthcare.

On the other, a potential change to a state university mission statement.

Thanks for maintaining that delicate "on the one hand this, on the other hand that" balance!

Drago said...

Mark: "Decrying the elitists one day, bashing people without degrees the next"

Typical leftist hypocrite.

Bashing people without degrees one day, decrying the elitists the next.

Drago said...

Mark: "Erpenbach should just blame one of his staff members for it, you would forgive it just like you forgive Walker here."

Works for obama.

Every single day for how many years now?

donald said...

"Drafting error" is ambiguous. It means only that an error was made, presumably by Walker aide Schwanz (a young and probably inexperienced person).
Was I the only one who read Mahal's link? He didn't read it, or he misrepresented what the article said.

2/5/15, 1:59 PM

Both.

bad touch said...

I think a 'drafting error' covers a wide array of space. He acknowledges that it was a mistake. That people are sensitive to a hyper degree over anything Walker makes this a big issue, but it really doesn't amount to much...btw, Walker's staff has let him down a number of times, so that part's pretty believable.

Mark said...

"Erpenbach never finished college? News to me."

Drafting error?

Meade said...

Here's another Wisconsin idea: Before Walker, Governor Doyle cut state funding to the UW by $250 million. UW made up for it by raising tuition. Good idea? Or bad.

Meade said...

"Drafting error?"

Did I say he needs to finish college or did I suggest he retake freshman English? See the difference?

walter said...

But Meade...Doyle didn't "attack" the idea.

I Callahan said...

Was I the only one who read Mahal's link? He didn't read it, or he misrepresented what the article said.

Garage can't laugh in English, let alone read or comprehend it.

garage mahal said...

They know Walker is lying.

Of course. They prefer it that way. He's sticking it to libtards!

Drago said...

This week a potential change to a university mission statement, next week we invade Poland!

Drago said...

One loses ones breath when one considers the vast number of statutory violations stemming from this latest Walker crime against humanity.

Walker would be best served if he blamed it on a video.

MadisonMan said...

I think if Walker wants to KO the Wisconsin Idea -- and it's plain he does, per the emails that have surfaced today -- he should own it.

He claims Republicans should have Big Ideas, and here he has one, but suddenly it's a "drafting error".

Maybe he genuinely didn't know this was going on -- doubtful. If that is the case, he doesn't look very much like a Leader. Exactly who is in charge of writing *his* budget? Maybe he just tried to float a Balloon? His method of escape from the leaden balloon wasn't very well executed. Of course, the play hasn't finished.

garage mahal said...

Maybe he just tried to float a Balloon?

Could just be trolling to whip up the meat heads. Or maybe he's trying to look "reasonable" in only asking for acceptance of the "Public" Authority, the end of tenure, the end of faculty governance rights, and the end of the sabbatical policy.

damikesc said...

Exactly who is in charge of writing *his* budget?

Do you think governors/Presidents actually write their own budgets?

They have staff to do that.

The smart executives are the ones who surround themselves with smart people.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Now that Walker has declared people like Althouse to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution I was hoping that we might be spared further Walker posts.

Hopes now dashed.

tim in vermont said...

Is that like "The Juche Idea"?

garage mahal said...

Do you think governors/Presidents actually write their own budgets?

Flashback to last year when Mary Burke not typing out every word in her jobs plan was deemed worse than the holocaust from the resident conservatives.

tim in vermont said...

I was hoping that we might be spared further Walker posts.

I didn't know there was a blog shortage. Maybe not everybody looks at politics from a completely self interested pointy of view the way "moderates" apparently do.

richard mcenroe said...

"Should the university be studying more lies?"

*stares at gender and ethnic curriculae*

Ann, when you hang a curve ball...

tim in vermont said...

.but the folks in Wisconsin have to actually deal with and live under this untruthful Governor.

From here.. it looks like your idea of "untruthful" means disagrees with you.

MadisonMan said...

Do you think governors/Presidents actually write their own budgets?

They have staff to do that.

Perhaps he should hire someone smart to read it to him so he knows what's in there.

tim in vermont said...

in her jobs plan was deemed worse than the holocaust from the resident conservatives.

Damn straight.

MadisonMan said...

damikesc, putting aside the snark about the Governor reading what he's proposing before proposing it, I think it would be interesting to learn who actually writes it. Seeing how it's done would be fascinating, and very illuminating for everyone in Wisconsin.

Meade said...

"Mary Burke not typing out every word in her jobs plan was deemed worse than the holocaust"

We expect better from someone with an advanced degree from Harvard who led her corporation's European division.

tim in vermont said...

Wait a minute, this is about the wording of a mission statement? Ha ha ha ha! What other horrors do you have on Walker?

You guys make him sound like a saint, having to deal with a state half populated with nutjobs.

Meade said...

"You guys make him sound like a saint, having to deal with a state half populated with nut jobs."

That's what we're saying. And he does it all without a college degree! AND a bald spot! How does he do it?

Drago said...

Lol

Right, the complaimt about dear Mary and her jobs plan was that she didnt type out every word.

That was the complaint.

steve uhr said...

Walker is a moron. The UW system indeed has reached all corners of the state with improved farming methods, medical breakthroughs, engineering, etc. etc. This is a GOOD THING.

He seems to be over compensating for the fact that he did not get a college degree and has been on the public dole ever since.

Hope he gets smarter advisers quick or his presidential run will be over before it begins.

MadisonMan said...

We expect better from someone with an advanced degree from Harvard who led her corporation's European division.

Really? I don't think Walker should get a pass on the excuse that he doesn't have a degree, nor has led a Company.

I expect better from everyone.

walter said...

Considering it was such a non-issue (to supporters and Burke), has anyone checked in on the staffer she fired..you know..for that non-issue. She seemed a bit conflicted there.

Paco Wové said...

From the Wikipedia article Althouse linked: "The Wisconsin Idea is a philosophy embraced by the University of Wisconsin System, which holds that research conducted at the University of Wisconsin System should be applied to solve problems and improve health, quality of life, the environment, and agriculture for all citizens of the state."

That's nice, but isn't that what all state and land-grant colleges and universities are supposed to do? Serve the interests of the citizens of the state that funds them? I didn't think that was unique to Cheeseland.

I see a lot of words written about the "Wisconsin Idea" being changed by Walker and his minions, but is there anyplace that prints out the full text of the proposed changes?

walter said...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/scott-walkers-uw-mission-rewrite-could-end-the-wisconsin-idea-b99439020z1-290797681.html

tim in vermont said...

Seriously, the utter insignificance of the whole thing makes these 'slams' at Walker funnier and funnier.

MadisonMan said...

Why should Walked lie about it? I think that's a good question. Because that's what Walker did when he foolishly claimed it was a drafting error. (A claim no longer circulating).

That explanation has now gone away as drafts have come to light that show System Administrators objected to the removal of the line and were told it wasn't up for debate.

Sunshine really is the best disinfectant. I can see why politicians don't want the public to view behind the curtain.

Meade said...

Here it is, Mr. Wove. Note the section where Walker's "staff" mandates all Wisconsin citizens convert to Republicanism or else report to the proposed "work camps".

MadisonMan said...

Walter, you're several news cycles behind the times.

Tim in VT, it's not insignificant when politicians lie.

It was a drafting error. (I guess he could have used the old stand-by Mistakes were made)

If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.

I did not have sex with that woman.

tim in vermont said...

I hear that Jeb Bush was going to try to change the state bird of Florida from the Mockingbird to the Ibis! The horror! :^O

I hear that Rand Paul once said something off putting about the mint julip! OMG! :^O

And now, you say that Scott Walker has suggested a change to "The WISCONSIN IDEA???"

Next thing you know he will start messing with fish boils? 8^O

tim in vermont said...

Tim in VT, it's not insignificant when politicians lie.

Sorry. I take him at his word. I have seen him hounded by "progressives" in Wisconsin for years with trumped up charges, talk of "secret routers" when, if he had not used his own private routers, he would have run afoul of laws using state assets for political purposes, etc etc etc, that this kind of crap, by crap, I mean the outrage over this, just makes him more appealing to me.

To compare it to an outright and indisputable like like Obama told to get his health care takeover passed just adds to the hilarity.

Honest it does. Your apoplexy makes it even funnier yet.

walter said...

Sorry MadMan. Trying to follow this important development. Did the new info change whether it was removing unnecessary blather?

damikesc said...

Flashback to last year when Mary Burke not typing out every word in her jobs plan was deemed worse than the holocaust from the resident conservatives.

No, she PLAGIARIZED an economic plan.

But, since you're talking to me --- any views on the GAB using secret routers?

Perhaps he should hire someone smart to read it to him so he knows what's in there.

Should they also tell him every time the word "a" is used? It's about as relevant.

"OH NO! YOU CHANGED OUR MISSION STATEMENT!!! WHATEVER WILL WE DO?!?!?"

So, without that statement, we'd have Wisconsites just raping and slaughtering one another. Mass chaos --- all for the lack of a mission statement.

The phrase "If not for a mission statement go I" is not one I'd hear serious people utter very often...but in WI, apparently, it's a huge fucking deal.

In the rest of the world, a mission statement couldn't possibly mean less.

I'd call it a mountain out of a mole hill but wish to not insult mole hills.

Paco Wové said...

Thank you, Mr. M.
Strange. To a non-cheesehead, those changes seem fairly trivial, (except for the 'workforce' one as noted above) and therefore kind of pointless. I don't see any significant changes there, which makes me wonder why they monkeyed with it at all.

MadisonMan said...

Here's a link from the Milwaukee Paper, updated within the hour.

MadisonMan said...

Your apoplexy makes it even funnier yet.

I should not be sounding apoplectic. This is expected behavior for a politician and totally SOP and expected.

But you come across as too forgiving of a politician. Your cynicism of criticism is not helping you.

MadisonMan said...

Wow, that was redundant. Time to walk home!

I wish it was warmer here.

walter said...

Yeah well..seeing how unis are deciding to solve problems, I can see the wisdom in limiting the reach.

Phil 314 said...

Drafting error

Drago said...

Tim in Vermont: "Your apoplexy makes it even funnier yet"

I don't think it is appropriate to label MadisonMans comments as apoplectic.

Garage is doing his usual routine about the rise of the 4th Reich, but MadisonMan is not.

Francisco D said...

I have not followed the thread, but had to react.

I am amazed to see that GM has taken his fat ass off the sofa to participate. Sorry that you are depressed.

What I really wonder is whether GM has a chubby for
Walker.

chickelit said...

Meade wrote: Retake freshman English.

I went to HS with Jon. I'm not sure he finished.

Laslo Spatula said...

I'm in Seattle -- big university, too. As elsewhere, when belts need to tighten everyone argues of all the great things and funds and grants etc the school brings.

My question: how many of these great things come from the non-science studies?

I understand the pay-off from math, science, engineering etc -- but what are the numbers on the outside of that Venn diagram? A dozen HR people hired? Another teacher waiting for their teacher to leave and open up a space?

It seems to me the sciences are a big cloak under which others huddle to get financially warm.

I am Laslo.


chickelit said...

Regarding the origins of "The Wisconsin Idea" and Wisconsin-based "Free Thinkers": they both stem from the influx of German immigrants in the mid-19th century. I wrote a blog post about the "Free Thinkers" here. The "Wisconsin Idea" was a wholly Madison-derived ideology, as distinct from what was going in Milwaukee. I think the dichotomy still exists, though the distinction is blurred.

Laslo Spatula said...

Next semester: the yin-and-yang of Bruce Jenner's penis, and how his ass functionality will better help one understand America.

I think Microsoft will pay money for that.

I am Laslo.

Smilin' Jack said...

Further, discovering and disseminating knowledge, stimulating society by developing heightened cultural, intellectual, and humane sensitivities, and public service to improve the human condition are all wonderful things. And if it brings pride to those who work for or attend the university that those things set the UW apart from other public universities, then great.

In other words, the Wisconsin Idea is that all other public universities exist to make people ignorant and miserable.

MadisonMan said...

Phil 3:14: That was excellent. LOL.

garage mahal said...

I see the fake psychologist has showed up to join the fake lawyer, and the fake chemist. The sad, miserable baby boomer gang is all here!

chickelit said...

Glad to see back too, garage.

chickelit said...

garage mahal said...I see the fake psychologist has showed up to join the fake lawyer, and the fake chemist. The sad, miserable baby boomer gang is all here!

You mad about something garage? You have a ringside seat for the Republican Primaries. Why, you might even be able to sell your stories to Soros!

Bricap said...

Me, I always tell the truth, even when I lie.

richard mcenroe said...

"Should the university be researching more lies?"

*stares at gender and ethnic studies curriculae*

Boy, Ann, when you hang a curve...

ken in tx said...

You Wisconites need to stop bickering. Don't you want more federally funded bike lanes, areas declared national monuments where nobody can do nothing, nowhere, no how, bridges to nowhere and new airports when you get there? You have a chance to get your man on a national ticket. Don't flush it down the drain, or some other state will get it, like Texas.

chickelit said...

ken in tx said...You Wisconites need to stop bickering.

Es-Wisconsinite here. I haven't lived there since 1984.

But garage opposes every new venture proposed for Wisconsin, for example, taconite mining and silica mining. He wants the Wisconsin economy to revolve around GEF office workers in Madison.

chickelit said...

"Ex" not "Es"

Meade said...

Phil 3:14, thanks. I find it alarming whenever, on a very few rare occurrences, MadisonMan's sense of humor escapes him. So thanks for that.

furious_a said...

It seems to me the sciences are a big cloak under which others huddle to get financially warm.

Like the Title IX sports under the Football/Men's Basketball programs' umbrella.

chickelit said...

It's interesting that the Wiki article on "The Wisconsin Idea" makes no mention of La Follette's early Republican affiliation. It must be hush-hush embarrassing for Democrats -- much like Lincoln's political roots.

Alex said...

Notice that garage only comes out on an article that shows Scott Walker in a bad light.

Garage was absent when the Packers lost.

He was absent on the previous stories that showed Walker leading in the polls.

Typical vulture liberal.

traditionalguy said...

It's working. MSNBC is pushing this brilliant accidental move as part of Walker's attempted 13% cut in University budget that prohibits tuition hikes so that "pointy headed Professor's "salaries will be cut.

What a perfect Walker champaign ad for 20 minutes and for free.

I would not bet against Walker. He must be getting help from Axelrod.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"It seems to me the sciences are a big cloak under which others huddle to get financially warm."

No doubt. 15 minutes browsing the stacks in the Engineering Library makes it obvious why that is the case.

buwaya said...

Weird.
I thought that the University of California was supposed to do the same things (improving agriculture and the like) around here, California, and so it has done, without any sacred mission statements.
UC Davis has quite a reputation along these lines. I doubt UW can compete here.
Interestingly the left these days has a bitter consensus against all engineering and agriculture. They hate such things and all who engage in it, with an exterminating zeal.

Rusty said...

trumpetdaddy said...
There is nothing the average conservative loves more about Scott Walker than his ability to get the raving Leftoids to piss themselves over trivialities.

I know, right!

It's like watching a toothless sideshow geek trying to bite the head off a chicken. You can smell the frustration.
Smells like.............warm milk and butter cookies.

Curious George said...

I say we let the UW have two mission statements. But we also double the cuts to $600 million.

garage mahal said...

Walker lying about directly attacking higher education in Wisconsin will net him a good 1%-2% bump in primary polling out of state. He doesn't need any votes in Wisconsin any longer. He'll never win Wisconsin if he were to get the nomination.

kjbe said...

I say we let the UW have two mission statements. But we also double the cuts to $600 million.


A sound plan, severely cut funding to one of the most successful job producers and economic engines in the state. You seem blinded by your ideology.

Meade said...

mrs. e: "Page Not Found"

Mark said...

"Dane County is creating 73% of the net new jobs in Wisconsin"

And you can bet that sticks in Walker's craw, apparently enough to want to hobble the UW just so he can punish Madison.

Meade, the correct link [guessing] would be here:

http://www.jsonline.com/business/dont-cut-research-in-a-knowledge-economy-tech-chiefs-say-b99439757z1-291016191.html

Penny wise and pound foolish they used to call it.

tim in vermont said...

Sounds like Dane County should be right behind Walker then. But I bet it sticks in their craw to be doing so well with Walker as governor.

See, anybody can do it.

garage mahal said...

"Dane County is creating 73% of the net new jobs in Wisconsin, and that is all being driven by UW-Madison and companies in the technology ecosystem that surround the university," said Aaron Olver, managing director of Madison's University Research Park and a former state commerce secretary.

damikesc said...

"Dane County is creating 73% of the net new jobs in Wisconsin, and that is all being driven by UW-Madison and companies in the technology ecosystem that surround the university," said Aaron Olver, managing director of Madison's University Research Park and a former state commerce secretary.

So, the college clearly doesn't need the same level of funding it had.

Problem solved.

Also, I note he doesn't provide evidence of his claim.

Just sayin'.

Hint: when a company is doing badly, they don't make up the losses in their training department.

Walker lying about directly attacking higher education in Wisconsin will net him a good 1%-2% bump in primary polling out of state. He doesn't need any votes in Wisconsin any longer. He'll never win Wisconsin if he were to get the nomination.

Just like he'd be recalled and lose to Burke, per you.

And, again, any thoughts on GAB using secret routers? It was a HUGE issue when you accused Walker of doing so but you seem oddly quiet when the GAB was nailed for doing it.

buwaya said...

So don't cut the parts that are doing the business development and attracting grants. Cut the deadwood and overhead. Cutting overhead and bureaucracy is GOOD for efficiency.
That should make the economic development effect even better. Get rid of useless academic departments and administrators. Get rid of worthless core classes and get more actual engineering into engineering and etc.
Sheesh, don't you guys in WI have a business school?

walter said...

Despite the large sounding figure being tossed around..the actual impact on the UW budget is around 2.5%.

Ann Althouse said...

"Despite the large sounding figure being tossed around..the actual impact on the UW budget is around 2.5%."

Thanks. I was wondering about that myself. The number sounds large, but you can't understand it without knowing the base amount. Those who advocate the cut should do a better job of getting the percentage out.

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute, this is about the wording of a mission statement?

Not exactly. It's about how his story keeps changing as the story unfolded.

Once again, the Governor was caught in a blatant lie and once again Althouse gives him a totally free pass on it. And given the complete meltdown mode you and the rest of the sock puppet brigade is in, obviously this issue has hit a nerve.

Anonymous said...

talk of "secret routers" when, if he had not used his own private routers, he would have run afoul of laws using state assets for political purposes

Exactly. They had to install private routers so they wouldn't get caught doing campaign work during business hours. Why do you find it "nutty" that people would object to his staff doing campaign work while they are on the county's time clock?

Do you work for a business or company? If so, how would they react if you installed a private router on their property so you wouldn't run afoul of their internet usage policies?

Drago said...

madisonfella: " And given the complete meltdown mode you and the rest of the sock puppet brigade is in, obviously this issue has hit a nerve."

LOL

"meltdown mode"

Nothing could be better for Walker than to have you and the rest of the crazy left keep banging on this potential change to state university mission statement.

Keep it up.

Drago said...

Althouse: "Those who advocate the cut should do a better job of getting the percentage out."

They could scream it from the rooftops and it wouldn't be covered by the majority of the "mainstream" media.

Drago said...

madisonfella: "Once again, the Governor was caught in a blatant lie and once again Althouse gives him a totally free pass on it."

"Once again,..."

Wow. There must be alot of them.

Would you care to list a few?

walter said...

Just like reporting stock market movement in points..or unemployment figures based on applicants..the news ops go with whatever's more sensational or fits the narrative.
But yes, I've heard Walker in recent interviews and he does miss opportunities to clarify. But then, Repubs missed the chance to nail Obama on promising to "skyrocket" electricity costs...twice. Imagine if that clip had been repeated over and over in commercials. It was a Mondale moment.

Anonymous said...

Would you care to list a few?

Happy to help fill in the gaps of your ignorance, so here are more than a few:

http://tinyurl.com/74abp7g
http://tinyurl.com/lgcczrc

It is kind of sad the way you live in an echo chamber. Because you only read that which agrees with your opinion you were completely and totally unaware of the lies and falsehoods this Governor has said, and instead you believed all the sunshine and rainbows that Althouse spoon feds you about Scott Walker.

Anonymous said...

"Headline ‘State spends millions for 202 jobs’, missed rest of sentence:, ‘under program approved by Gov Doyle.’"

One of Scott Walker's biggest lies.

Not only was Doyle NOT Governor when the bill as passed and signed into law, but Scott Walker (as a member of the State Assembly) actually voted for it himself.

Anonymous said...

"Years later, documents released from the Soviet Union showed that that exactly was the case."

Another example of Scott Walker pulling crap out of his ass.

Where are these alleged documents? Nobody but Scott Walker has seen them.

Anonymous said...

"This week, I signed a bill bringing $100 million in property tax relief to Wisconsin’s families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses," Walker’s e-update said. "With this bill, the typical Wisconsin homeowner will save approximately $680 over four years."

Nobody else can make that math work. A Walker aide later admitted it was a "hypothetical" situation rather than reality based.

Anonymous said...

"We just had someone last week in Neenah near a school kill someone with a bow and arrow."

Scott Walker made this statement in reference to questions about gun control, however the incident he described never happened.

Several days later, in response to repeated questions from reporters, an aide to the Governor finally issued a statement which said that Scott Walker "misspoke"

Anonymous said...

"This new tuition reciprocity agreement with the State of Minnesota makes college education more affordable for Wisconsin residents. Smaller tuition bills widen access to higher education, and that’s a win-win situation for students and Wisconsin."

Actually, the agreement made it about $1400 a year more expensive for students from WI to attend college in MN.

Rusty said...


I see the usual suspects are all revved up.
Did somebody drag a router through a trailer park?

walter said...

"During the dispute outside the house, "the son shot an arrow at the father, but the arrow did not strike the father," Mack said. Instead, it hit a vehicle."

Yes...would have been more accurate to say there are many potential weapons besides guns.

walter said...

Links to Walker's statement within Politifact article are both dead. So poked around.

http://patch.com/wisconsin/hudson-wi/quotes-minnesota-accepts-new-tuition-reciprocity-deal623287d3ce
"The new reciprocity agreement between Wisconsin and Minnesota has one major difference than past years. In the past, Wisconsin residents going to Minnesota schools paid Wisconsin tuition rates.With Minnesota tuition rates rising faster than Wisconsin rates, Wisconsin students have been paying less at Minnesota schools than even Minnesota residents."

"With the past agreement, the state of Wisconsin made up the difference. Now students from Wisconsin and their families will pay the same rate as Minnesota students. While it is still a good deal, Wisconsin residents will be paying more than in the past to attend Minnesota colleges and universities."

<
""This agreement protects Wisconsin students who are attending college in Minnesota from having to pay out-of-state tuition rates that are up to nearly two-and-a-half times higher than resident tuition rates."

"Over 10,000 Wisconsin students take advantage of this program every year. It is important that we keep our state’s commitment to those students currently participating in the reciprocity agreement while ensuring that the tuition reciprocity agreement continues to provide additional options for Wisconsin students."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/wisconsin-minnesota-compete-for-students-p47f17n-180716601.html
The State of Wisconsin for years paid the difference for Wisconsin students to attend the more expensive Minnesota public institutions.

But starting this fall, Wisconsin students in Minnesota must pay full freight .

Gov. Scott Walker had called for fully funding reciprocity, including the supplemental tuition payment, but the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee eliminated the supplement last year under pressure to make budget cuts, saving the state an estimated $2.6 million over the 2012-'13 biennium and more in subsequent years, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau."

Anonymous said...

"My understanding – my mistake yesterday when I was first asked , I thought the question when I was in De Pere was about adding that. Obviously, we learned later it was about when they took it out. Then I mentioned in Oconomowoc we had run it past the UW staff. We had. But as Eric Schutt my chief of staff mentioned last night when talking to them, they said at the tail end they had actually brought it up. So with all deference to them they did review it and raise the concern about it. The drafting part of the concern part, was on the policy team, the budget team, on other parts of the budget our office had communicated that we had got to the point where we needed to wrap it up and we weren't adding more things. That was really directed at more fiscal, other small items, and they took that as meaning we weren't going to make that change. So that's where the drafting – not in terms of the drafting attorneys, but in terms of how it was drafted."

Well, since he put it THAT way it surely all makes sense.



not

garage mahal said...

""My understanding – my mistake yesterday when I was first asked , I thought the question when I was in De Pere was about adding that. Obviously, we learned later it was about when they took it out. Then I mentioned in Oconomowoc we had run it past the UW staff. We had. But as Eric Schutt my chief of staff mentioned last night when talking to them, they said at the tail end they had actually brought it up. So with all deference to them they did review it and raise the concern about it. The drafting part of the concern part, was on the policy team, the budget team, on other parts of the budget our office had communicated that we had got to the point where we needed to wrap it up and we weren't adding more things. That was really directed at more fiscal, other small items, and they took that as meaning we weren't going to make that change. So that's where the drafting – not in terms of the drafting attorneys, but in terms of how it was drafted.""

Holy crap. That is Sarah Palin word salad right there. LOL

Meade said...

"A sound plan, severely cut funding to one of the most successful job producers and economic engines in the state. You seem blinded by your ideology."

Leaving 87% of state funding to the System over the next 2 years is "severe"? After 6 recent consecutive years of 5.5% tuition hikes? Now who's failing to search for truth?

walter said...

Meade,
It's the "idea" that's so offensive. so never mind it's complaining about a bad haircut while neighbors are getting scalped.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

""My understanding – my mistake yesterday when I was first asked , I thought the question when I was in De Pere was about adding that. Obviously, we learned later it was about when they took it out. Then I mentioned in Oconomowoc we had run it past the UW staff. We had. But as Eric Schutt my chief of staff mentioned last night when talking to them, they said at the tail end they had actually brought it up. So with all deference to them they did review it and raise the concern about it. The drafting part of the concern part, was on the policy team, the budget team, on other parts of the budget our office had communicated that we had got to the point where we needed to wrap it up and we weren't adding more things. That was really directed at more fiscal, other small items, and they took that as meaning we weren't going to make that change. So that's where the drafting – not in terms of
the drafting attorneys, but in terms of how it was drafted.""

Daily Kos
2/6/15, 1:40 PM