1 What does Ann know about WI and the way things are handled here?

2 why Ann chose to make this point within a couple of hours AFTER the Wisc GOP had finally dropped the hammer is not explained.

3 At first I thought Ann has flipped, but then I realized she was talking about Walker's low visibility.  Yes, I agree!  He should've been doing tv, radio, webcasts, etc to drive home the point that public unions are literally sucking the future of WI away.

More Repubs need to learn from this and not shy away from a good media bitchslap fight.

4 Seems to me Walker has done a good job of letting the rioters hang themselves with their own rope. However, more visibility would be nice. A good WSJ editorial piece is a start but perhaps not enough. Republicans should answer every question with our own talking points, just as Democrats do. Fortunately ours can be truthful and proven.

5 Master of Puppets

6 Geez, Ann. Walker is head and shoulders above Christie. Plus, the fleebaggers were getting so much press, the issue was squarely before the public at all times. Walker  did this just right. Calmly, quietly, giving the lefties just enough rope to hang themselves.

7 I think Walker's mistake was lolly-gagging.  The second Democrats left the state he should have broken out the union stuff and passed it, before the unions could organize this astro-turf campaign.

8
Yeah, it appears Walker is a graduate of the George W Bush School of Politics.

9

Or the rule, "negotiated" with politicians looking for union donations, that if a public employee takes a single call of even a second's duration, that employee may bill the state for a half hour of overtime pay.

 

So they get to be like lawyers?

10 I agree, it does seem like a lot of Republican leaders just priggishly stand on the rectitude of their position, martyr-like, instead of trying to persuade.   Rhetoric matters, especially if you're interested in WINNING.

11 If he had done as she suggested, the state of Wisconsin would have absolutely turned against him forever. They are not happy about how they've been embarrassed by all the trucked in liberal garbage and union shills, and are deflecting that anger and shame onto him NOW. If he'd done what Ann suggests, that would be even WORSE. These are not "out there" people like New Jerseyans. Scott Walker cares about the people of his state and understands them. Ann does not. She may have a point nationally for the R brand, but Scott Walker is the Governor or Wisconsin. That is his job.

12 I'm not in Wisconsin, maybe he's been on a lot of state tv and just not national tv

13 "...Governor OF Wisconsin." Damn it.

14 FACE TIME

15

Town Halls.

I know I sound like a broken record, but Town Halls so simple and effective ways of connecting to the people. And they make for excellent optics, too.

16

From Biggovernment: A Letter to the repubs in Madison.

"This includes, your house, your car, the state capitol, and well I wonÂ’t tell you all of them because thatÂ’s just no fun. Since we know that you are not smart enough to figure out why thisis happening to you we have decided to make it perfectly clear to you. If you and your goonies feel that itÂ’s necessary to strip the rights of 300,000 people and ruin their lives, making them unable to feed, clothe, and provide the necessities to their families and themselves then We Will “get rid of” (in which I mean kill) you. Please understand that this does not include the heroic Rep. Senator that risked everything to go aganist what you and your goonies wanted him to do. We feel that itÂ’s worth our lives to do this, because we would be saving the lives of 300,000 people. Please make your peace with God as soon as possible and say goodbye to your loved ones we will not wait any longer. YOU WILL DIE!!!!"

So I guess the group hug is out of the question?

17

Christie is weak on immigration, Obamacare suit, Ground Zero mosque, and campaigns for Castle and other RINOs.

Has Ann bought in for form over substance??

18

One thing Coulter does right is spotlight a bus drivers salary. What about the cost of the buses, fuel , insurance ect???

19

Here is the point she doesn't actually make but should: Republicans have gotten into a bad habit of flinching from public fights.

 

THIS!!!

20 Walker knocked his one press conference out of the park despite consistently hostile questioning.  So one has to wonder why he stopped doing that. 

21 I dunno. Leting these rabid animals and the nonfeasance of the Dimtitted Dems show themselves for what they are may be the method to his madness.

22
Walker's biggest miscalculation: Giving time to the Democrats in between his proposal and  his action.

23

 Please make your peace with God as soon as possible and say goodbye to your loved ones we will not wait any longer. YOU WILL DIE!!!!"

The teachers are Muslims?

24

Sooo...Ann's tired of R's that don't fight.

Welcome to the party, Ms. Coulter.

25 Ace said: Republicans assume from the outset that they cannot win the media war as the media itself is too biased against them to even get their words out, and that the natural stupidity of the American people makes them suckers for the Democrats' promises of endless hand-outs and Buy Now, Pay Later funding schemes.

Because they assume this is a losing proposition, they give up this fight far too early, and begin looking for ways around public opinion. Rather than taking the more direct and ultimately much more effective route of moving public opinion.

I disagree, the actually GOP made the opposite mistake here: They mistakenly believed they could win the short-term fight over public opinion, despite the fact that the media playing field was hopelessly rigged against them, and so they spent weeks making their case- part of which inevitably included trying to appear reasonable and nice, since that's what you have to do to sway indies- when they should have just split the bill and passed the thing on day 3 or 4, then made the case for it after it was a fait accompli.   That's what the Dems would have done.   

26 Truth be told, Walker is fit and trim.  Christie?  Not so much.  And to be honest, I'm a chubby chaser.  Thus, the unfledgling support.

27 Walker has been on State TV and radio CONSTANTLY. That the East Coast Media doesn't like the way he goes about the business its not our problem.

28 Ace said: Republicans assume from the outset that they cannot win the media war as the media itself is too biased against them to even get their words out, and that the natural stupidity of the American people makes them suckers for the Democrats' promises of endless hand-outs and Buy Now, Pay Later funding schemes.

Because they assume this is a losing proposition, they give up this fight far too early, and begin looking for ways around public opinion. Rather than taking the more direct and ultimately much more effective route of moving public opinion.

I disagree, the actually GOP made the opposite mistake here: They mistakenly believed they could win the short-term fight over public opinion, despite the fact that the media playing field was hopelessly rigged against them, and so they spent weeks making their case- part of which inevitably included trying to appear reasonable and nice, since that's what you have to do to sway indies- when they should have just split the bill and passed the thing on day 3 or 4, then made the case for it after it was a fait accompli.   That's what the Dems would have done.   

29 Why do TPTB in GOP commentary circles almost ALWAYS stab the folk on the ground doing hard work, in the back? Dems don't do this. Is Ann jealous that Walker is out there accomplishing something?

30

Walker is going to take a hit for fighting the status quo--just like Reagan did when he fought for his policies in 1981-82.

Once implemented, if the voters see results, he will be vindicated.

I think Ann is nitpicking a bit.  Yeah, he could do better.  We all could do better. 

The Repubs. need to finish this decisively and quickly, and stick a fork in it.

31 Hell, Republicans can't even win the media war here on AOS, let alone on TV.

32
The Republicans and most conservative pundits, (even Ann, to some degree), are years behind AoS in the learning curve.

What's now finally dawning on them is what we've known and said here at AoS for the past few years.

33

go on tv all the time?  and be talked over on any station but fox?  what's the point? 

34

Republicans have gotten into a bad habit of flinching from public fights.

Ya think?

35 In this case, I think Walker has had a little too much on his plate right now to spend much of his  time getting made up and hairsprayed for media appearances. ( Even so, I have seen him on TV in the early mornings and late evenings.)  He is a governor in the middle of a crisis, after all, not a media personality.

I heard Ann Coulter say this on Hannity last night, and felt like telling her:  polemics are your job, Ann, and your colleagues' job: right now Governor Walker is busy governing;  maybe less Chris Christie fan-clubbing  and more attacks on these voracious public sector unions is the ticket, no?

36 I really hate the lack of an edit function on this board.

37

The teachers are Muslims?

Posted by: garrett at March 10, 2011 11:43 AM (nNQ3Y)

The next field trip to the local mosque is next tues, dont tell your parents as its a 'surprise'

38

Watching live coverage at the Capitol and wondering why there appears to be such a minimal police presence. It looks like about 5 or 6 holding off the mob.

It seems as though there are literally only a handful at the entrance and the protestors are feeling bold because they have them so out numbered.

39

Hey, Walker dropped the hammer. The point is made. And now we know we have a number of Governors with stones. Ann has to sell articles. Constructive critisism is welcomed. Lets see what Kasich can do.

40 Us armchair generals have many criticisms but we still like the overall performance, I guess. I hate the idea of rioters in a state capital trying to overturn or prevent a vote. Especially when these people are ostensibly state employees...you know, the government. Walker should not allow disloyalty by the police to stand and should get the national guard to arrest everyone in the capital building and fire every cop who refuses to do his job.

41 Slightly tangent to this topic, the NYT has a piece on The Fat Man's tendency (in their opinion) of playing a little loose with the straight truth.  So, maybe they've decided he's a threat after-all.

As for Gov Walker, there is a balancing act between getting your message out and becoming the message (see Obama, B.--Statist, IL).  Walker tried to not be the story, IMO, letting the demos actions be the story, because in the long run, that's more damaging to them than anything he could argue.

History will judge the effectiveness of his actions (and then the MFM will distort that).  But, if you are becoming a lightning rod, in some respects, putting yourself out there even more probably isn't the answer, even if the truth is on your side.

42 You are right, Ace.  And this is my biggest problem with the current state of affairs in Washington, AZ, WI, OH, IN, and anywhere else we have a front line of battle.

We. Cannot. Get. A. Meme. Going. And. Keep. It. Up. Ad. Nauseum.

They can.  We can't.

Are the Rs in charge in most all those places too dumb?  Too timid?  Too inexperienced?  Are the people too tame?  Too timid?

They all learn tough and organization right from the start.  They study and use Alinsky tactics.  They understand what it means to twist a message so as to make it stick.

43 Walker has been on State TV and radio CONSTANTLY. That the East Coast Media doesn't like the way he goes about the business its not our problem.

Posted by: H. Badger at March 10, 2011 11:44 AM (n/0Nw)

After I made my comment my first thought was "maybe Walker's being ignored by the MFM precisely because he made them taste his ass in his press conference."

Thanks for confirming that.  I'm slowly getting used to the new media paradigm: if we don't cover something it didn't happen. 

44 I'm guessing that in some cases, death threats directed towards you and your family, combined with the knowledge that the MFM will eagerly engage in character assassination without remorse, probably tends to put a little damper on that type of zeal.   


Then it's time for some heads on pikes. (metaphorically speaking....maybe)

Thugs and bullies do what they do because they know they can get away with it.

45 If Ann thinks Walker was late to the "game", I think she was late to her criticism.  After they finally do what was called for, then she brings this up?  Closing the barn door after the horse has escaped and all that.

46 CNN is reporting (yeah, I won't link) that the WI capitol is on lockdown.

47 What he said...

48
If just a single reasonable person out there thinks that Gov Walker 'took away union rights and hurt people's  livelihoods'  then the Gov and the Republicans FAILED in their jobs to make their case.

49 They mistakenly believed they could win the short-term fight over public opinion, despite the fact that the media playing field was hopelessly rigged against them, and so they spent weeks making their case- part of which inevitably included trying to appear reasonable and nice, since that's what you have to do to sway indies- when they should have just split the bill and passed the thing on day 3 or 4, then made the case for it after it was a fait accompli. This in retrospect may have been at least as good of a strategy as "wait until they return." It would have the benefit of momentum.

50 Ridonculous

Please report to the station at your earliest convenience.

51 Walker is trying to take the high ground and I understand that.  On one hand he probably doesn't want to sound like Michael Moore complaining about someone else's wages.  On the other hand,  Walker's signing those paychecks and the money to cash them is coming from the  taxpayers bank accounts.  So I think he should call out the bullshit involved in the union workers pay.  Most people don't know.

52

Ace, you and Ann are abso-friggin-lutely correct.

It may not be best defined as the Country Club "I don't get involved in disputes which disturb my Grey Poupon" Republican syndrome as much as the pussified "I can't be loud or they'll blame me" syndrome, which is not exactly what I call leadership.

BRING IT ON!

53 The proof is in the pudding.  If the Wisconsin GOP pulls this off with no or only symbolic compromise, then Walker's approach was the right one. 

And, in any event, politicians should govern in the way that is best and natural for them.  Walker's style is different than Christie's and that's fine.  I think Walker and the GOP leader were playing good cop, bad cop pretty darned effectively.  What they did made the Democrats (and the White House and the media) play their hands, exposing them for the bullies and liars that they are. 

I still worry about violence and the example that is being set of the lawlessness and mob rule in the Capitol.  Walker has some work ahead of him in rectifying the failures of the police and firefighters.  But that will have to wait.

But somebody - multiple somebodies, actually - needs to hammer every day in the media the mob rule mentality demonstrated in Wisconsin.  And they need to show Obama's hand in this.  And they need to point to Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, and whatever other states where this strategy is being planned  or played out. 

I would prefer that somebody not be someone with presidential aspirations.  Obviously we need Rush and some of the Fox pundits, but I think I'd actually like to see GHW Bush be one of those people and perhaps others.  Hell, I'd even take an Ed Koch or Evan Bayh or whoever is posing as a moderate/centrist ex-Dem politician these days. 

54 What is MBM?  I thought it was MFM, you know, muthafuckin' media.  What does MBM stand for?

55 Ann is a bit off. Walker did not do this wrong. The problem is that there is no perfect or even better way to do what Walker had to do. He's dealing with a population over paid and under performing and just too stupid to understand there is no more money. The whole mess is Madison is simply the parent saying no to two year olds having tantrums.

56

Coulter has made a good point, repubs shy away from every fight it makes them look weak and feckless, even though we appear to have won this round in a way we also lost because we did not truly press a very clear and strong case, the inability of our repub congresscritters and other elected officals to articlulate the clear, simple conservative values that are (alledgedly) driving their actions hurt us in the realm of public opinion over and over again.

many of the commentors here do a much better job of expressing clear, consistent conservative ideas and values.

it's just sad that our leaders can't, and i'm not willing to put up with that anymore... "stand up, speak up or lose your seat" should be the ralling cry for the up coming primaries.

57

We. Cannot. Get. A. Meme. Going. And. Keep. It. Up. Ad. Nauseum

Well I'm pretty sure this isnt' the meme we want to adopt...

58 If just a single reasonable person out there Well, we are talking about Madison, WI, so reasonable is in short supply on the ground.

59 I have really liked Walker's grown-up, calm, more-in-sorrow-than-anger demeanor

Then you will love Boehner's..."we really tried to cut spending, bot obama and the dems..."

60  47 If Ann thinks Walker was late to the "game", I think she was late to her criticism.  After they finally do what was called for, then she brings this up?  Closing the barn door after the horse has escaped and all that.
Posted by: Guy Fawkes

Ouch.  Good point.

61 If Walker and the GOP did anything wrong, it was letting the mess go on too long.  It would have been better to do this after the first week.

In the end, I think people will back decisive action, and they finally got off their butts and did something.

62

Ann Coulter??

...check the neck!

I think were all splitting hairs here..the final outcome is what is important.

The leftist commies give us all the positive PR we need. Could we use more balanced coverage from the MFM? Duh..yeah! But we know that will never happen. I'm not gonna beat Walker up on style points.

  Its a start, Walker and Christie etc. have layed the ground work for which other Govenors can operate.

I hope.

 

63 Can we all agree Daniels is blowing it in Indiana? 

64 In the end, I think people will back decisive action, and they finally got off their butts and did something.

  If they can get in  alive and vote...

65 Coulter has opened her mouth without knowing the facts. Governor Walker has been all over the state meeting with constituents and talking on local  radio and television. Some of the individual state senators could have been more articulate, but Walker has stayed on message without looking like a child.

66 What's now finally dawning on them is what we've known and said here at AoS for the past few years.

Better late than never.

The Republicans, on all levels of government, have to step-up their communications game.  Not every situation needs the Chris Christie touch (and some people cannot pull off the righteous anger like he does, and sometimes a sorrowful tone comes across better), but we need to find ways to get through the MFM filter and go right to the people.

67 I would be more supportive of Walker, but I'm too busy sleeping on a bed of money with many beautiful ladies, er, men.

68
idiots are, generally, not reasonable people

But if we want to defeat the Democrats we must accept the fact that there are reasonable and even conservative-leaning people out there who buy into the bullshit the Left is selling.

btw, you know who else buys into the Left's lies? Republicans in Congress.

69 Walker can still win the PR war. The unions are helping him as much as they can. It remains to be seen how well he puts that help to use.

70 Besides, this is war now. The left knows that we're near the tipping point and if they can just drag us all a few more feet to the left, the end is near. They are pulling out all the stops and our politicians need to understand this. Rush had a saying a few years back along the lines of "if all we have are our traditions of behavior stopping the dems, then there is no stopping them," as they don't care about comity, tradition, america, you, me, or anything else other than winning.

71 Walker's style is more Wisconsin, Christie is New Jersey.

I think the liberals blew their wad to early on this.  They should have bitched, then waited for some "event" closer to election day to flash - all angry.  This will burn out as Walker and he RNC slowly saturate the public with the numbers.  If Obama loses Wisconsin in 2012, he goes home.

72

This is what my husband and I were arguing about last night.  Ann is in love with Chris Christie.  Chris Christie has a totally different style than Walker.  Scott Walker was on TV everyday.  Christie is all over you yube.  I did a search and the first page was 22 videos featuring Christie.  Another earch for Scott Walker turned up ONE video.

I'm literally sitting here flabbergasted that Walker has done the right thing and people are still bitching.  Good grief.

73

Gird your loins, the media hasnt even started yet with the deception, next few months the mbm propoganda machine is going to ramp up and it will be epic. 

74 Again, governors should learn from Shwarzenegger's example. He caved in the short term, but is losing because he gets blamed for the long term pain he failed to prevent.

75

Sock be holed! to the trash with you

76 Check is in the mail, Ann.  Thanks much!

77
You guys crack me up.

Not everyone thinks like us. Not everyone thinks likes us.

Not everyone thinks like us. Got it?

78 love the ridonculous....how about rinoculous? not that walker is a rino......

79

Gee, that Gov Walker sure convinced *me.*

Wow!

80 The problem that conservatives face is that our core solutions come about from thinking and research, they can not be sound bited.  Lib values come from emoting, "its for the children".

Explaining why welfare, for instance, makes things actually worse takes a lot more time than saying "the poor children are starving".  Its tough in a sound bite world.

81

Gas is over $4.00 p/gallon and nearing $5 in some staets.

I don't think there's much of a 'PR War' to be one or lost right now as people can see the tangible effects of a shit economy in their day-to-day-lives.

In other words, regardless of what this Gov (or any other) is or is not publicly saying, people don't have a lot of sympathy for the union goombah's bitching about having to pay towards their health care. Not at a time like this.

82

I don't feel like Ann is bashing on Walker, she is simply saying that given some more agressive communications tactics this episode could have been more than a mere win, it could have been a crushing defeat for the unionista's.

say it loud, say it proud, and don't play their rhetorical gotcha games.

83 Did the nationwide high-school-student walkout called for by the Giant Marxist Whale happen?

84 I'm a little ashamed by Walker's caving and now my penis hurts.

85

Posted by: HPNQ420 at March 10, 2011 11:57 AM (ck3Uv)

Agreed, up intil last week, he was all over Folks News.

Coulter's head is in the clouds...literally.

 

 

86 Oh, and don't forget to buy my latest book.

87

I made the point last night on the initial WI thread that Gov. Walker differs from Chris Christie in that Walker's pressers never went particularly viral.  If they did, I never saw them.  Other commenters have mentioned that he held plenty of press conferences, but to folks like myself who never watch the news and try to avoid the 24 hour news networks like the plague, that's not going to make a difference.  Does that mean the content of Walker's statements was any less valid and striking as Christie's?  Absolutely not.  They're different men, with different styles, in different situations. 

But the importance of an online presence, especially viral video, cannot be overstated.  Christie is a natural mascot for this.  He's instantly recognizable, whereas Walker can blend into the crowd.  Christie's blunt truths play well to the wider conservative base, wheras Walker's equally valid in-sadness-not-anger tone is much more sedate and doesn't play so well to folks who don't understand what the difference is between "collective bargaining powers" and "civil rights."

I understand where Coulter's coming from, and to an extent I agree, but a lot of this situation was out of Walker's hands.  He's done what he had to do in an incredibly virulent atmosphere.  Christie made his key target the Teacher's Union, and from that narrow focus he managed to expand to confront other unions.  Walker's target also included the teacher unions, but the issue almost instantly expanded to be characterized as an "attack" on ALL unions, public and private.  It was an unfair characterization and not something he ever asked for, but once the meme got started he had to take on a calm, solid demeanor to ensure his actions and those of the republican legislators couldn't be classified as vindictive.  I applaud him for it, but by its very nature such rhetoric wasn't going to make him an internet sensation like Christie. 

88 Ann makes Monday-morning quarterbacking look so easy.

89 77...I made this point last night about the R Squish who voted against the bill.  He not only caved, did the wrong thing and acted like a biatch.  He'll still lose in his reelection. 

Do the right thing and let the chips fall where they may. 

90
Some of you might remember a few years ago the Republicans (RNC, I think) had a Rapid Response team set up.

They don't do it anymore. We need it again.

91 All I know is I got pudding stains in my underwear.  And that makes me smile.

92 Yes, he should have gone on that popular state-wide TV show (with interested national affiliates grabbing the feed) every night explaining things to the voters who put him in office in the first place.

What's that show called, again? Can't seem to find in the guide...

93 On the other hand,  Walker's signing those paychecks

The school boards are.  There's been reports of school boards rushing through new contracts (with raises and bonuses) before this bill gets signed, so their districts' teachers aren't affected. The money will come from property tax hikes--the other thing the bill does that I think is awesome is put caps on how high localities can set/hike property taxes.

/Hey, property owners have plenty of money, right? Or they wouldn't own property. Oppressing the workers with their capital like that.

94 WTF "Low Visibility"? The man was constantly on local TV! He did local radio, did local TV, was on nationally several times and TOOK ON THE FREAKING LIB LIES THROWN IN HIS FACE ON CBS... He was on Mark Levin's show, he was stumping all over the state pushing this plan to the people... and yet one poll, which I can speak from experience is not an accurate indicator, and suddenly Ann sees another opportunity to lay prostrate on the altar of Chris Christie and try to get the focus back on HIM. WHICH btw is why she waited until AFTER to make this criticism. Deflect attention.

And for the record, the reason it was allowed to go on this long? To prove to people that they WERE trying to have a debate, and the Dems wouldn't come back. We now have a paper trail and e-mails that conclusively prove this. And there you boys have it.

95 95
Some of you might remember a few years ago the Republicans (RNC, I think) had a Rapid Response team set up.

They don't do it anymore. We need it again.

Posted by: Soothsayer Grande at March 10, 2011 12:05 PM (uFokq)

Yes! That was brilliant don't you think??  Homey.

 

96 I grew up in Milwaukee, and on local talkshow host Mark Belling since I can remember. I've been listening to his show via podcast for weeks now, and while I'm currently getting caught up on past shows, so far they carried Walker's press conferences almost every day of last week. The reason I think you don't see more of a national outreach is because this isn't a national fight (for Walker). They are trying to win the battle in Wisconsin. Walker has been travelling to multiple districts represented by the fleebaggers almost every day, giving speeches and press conferences there about what they are trying to do and why. Also remember, this is only the first step. After passing this bill, they need to get the other financial matters pass, along with Walker's budget that he announced last week. This is only the first step in what's going to be a long-haul.

97
All I know is I got pudding stains in my underwear.  And that makes me smile.

As long as they are in the FRONT..... ;-)

98 56 What is MBM?  I thought it was MFM, you know, muthafuckin' media.  What does MBM stand for?

Posted by: EC at March 10, 2011 11:53 AM (GQ8sn)

Make Believe Media.  Try to keep up junior.  You probably don't know what a Honey Badger is do you?

99 I would love to see the what the union dues collection looks like month to month going forward.  It will stay high while they are angry, then summer will come and gas will be high - so people will need a little extra cash to top off the jet skis, then a new year - a small bump, then Christmas - drop again -- and so forth until the Union is meaningless.

100 This "two-year-olds throwing tantrums" bullshit is dangerous thinking. The hearts of Erik and Lyle Menendez beats in the breast of every leftist.

101 Keep yo eyes on the prize people. Oh, and every human has an Adams Apple.

102 Did the nationwide high-school-student walkout called for by the Giant Marxist Whale happen?

He called it for Friday, so they can get a head start on being drunk all weekend.

Which means I should probably go to the mall today, because tomorrow it will be unsafe.

103

>>> Still, this was a major story on radio and on the internet; if there was a great deal more of the public persuasion campaign, wouldn't I have seen more of it?

Ace - Why would you think this?  Do you all of the sudden think that the media is going to start covering this in an unbiased fashion?  You are not going to see more of it because they don't like the message, but something tells me you knew that already.

104

neither am I bashing on Walker, I like him if I could I'd vote for him tomorrow... twice even.

we should be blowing the commies out of th water, but we haven't, because no one will get out there on TV everday and make a clear, simple and consistent case, they are all afraid of the heat from the MBM,  I and others grow weary of their timidity as a group, as a whole.

105

Gas, today alone, went from 3.49 to 3.64

I don't think this union thing will stay in the news long, and i think that was the point. Once this passes the assembly, it's done with. We can move on to the next story of the day.

Part of the thing that made Obamacare so damaging was the delay. The longer it was up for public debate, the lower his polls sank. I think Walker was noticing the same thing and decided to bite the bullet and push forward. Whatever potential damage is done to his election chances wasn't going to get any better if this stayed out there any longer.

I think passing this was the smart move. He waited three weeks, he made his case publically, he even offered concessions to the democrats that would have allowed them to save face and come home victorious only to be rebuffed. I think this was well played by Walker.

I hope the assembly passes it today and we can move forward.

It should be pointed out that while all this played out in Washington, several other states were able to push through similar laws.

106

Posted by: SarahsWithMe2012 at March 10, 2011 12:08 PM (MWXXs)

Ahoy!

107 Here's a major, serious death threat as contrasted with the Twitter shit. [Hat tip to Small Dead Animals.]

108 @96 Dang, why are you wearing underwear?

109

The Assembly is expected to convene at 11 a.m. (12 p.m. ET) to vote on the revised measure, which was left only with provisions taking away collective bargaining powers and increasing health insurance and pension fund contributions.

110

It's hard to shake the feeling that this upcoming constitutional crisis is best compared to the problems of the pre-Civil War days.  There are two competing ideas of the United States which can't coexist.   One is limitless federal government power the other is enumerated powers.  When Kagan and Sotomayor didn't even make a pro forma statements of enumerated powers in their hearings and still were confirmed we crossed the Rubicon.

The litigation where a majority of states are trying to shake the ACA and Obama's political allies are getting waivers is a toxic situation not enough unlike the debate over the expansion of slavery.  Now we have angry mobs attacking legislative bodies.  What happens when the unions start carrying out their murder threats?   

 

111 Walker is governing.

The messaging (outside of his state) should being done by the GOP. 

112 I think she's wrong too. He has been working on this pretty regularly, and we all know it's an uphill fight with the ridiculously prejudiced media.

Moreover, now is not the time to be nipping at his heels about this or that. The Democrats took tremendous hits on ObamaCare while they were passing it. They focused on getting it done and worried about fixing the political damage later. That's what the GOP has to do now.

Destroy the union power. If what Walker wants to do works, he'll have time to show that and win PR between now and next election. If he loses, though, then he takes the hit and has nothing to show for it.

So keep your eyes on the prize, people.

113 I'm guessing that in some cases, death threats directed towards you and your family, combined with the knowledge that the MFM will eagerly engage in character assassination without remorse, probably tends to put a little damper on that type of zeal.  

Non-Newtonian Liquid bullet proof jacket (I think they're slated to come out in a couple of years, but even motorcycle jackets now will stop some of the light caliber ammunition)
Concealed Handgun.
Krav Maga classes.

That is all.

114

OT

Heh.

115 "Dang, why are you wearing underwear?" He didn't have any cheesecloth?

116 sock off

117 I saw Walker on TV a lot. I also got tons of FB messages an tweets. He just didn't get much MFM play. Shocking I know.

118 I don't understand why there hasn't been more emphasis on the real heart of the matter - what these Salaries and benefits are supposed to accomplish for the people of Wisconsin. It's almost as if it has been forgotten. The point of these expenditures on public education * is to provide public access to minor children to an education. * THe only extent to which compensation of teachers or public school employees is of interest is the extent to which spending is necessary to attract anyone into working in the education system as opposed to some other education system or some other form of employment altogether, and all to accomplish one specific goal - teaching children to read, write, do math, read and interpret information of all kinds, so that they will be useful in maintaing the ordered liberty of the republic. That's it. There should be some reasonable tie to what employees might be able to command elsewhere, and what it actually costs to educate a child. WI education is not a jobs program for teachers or a means of assuring a standard of living for anyone who enters that line of work. The goal is to pay the least that is reasonable to effect the purpose of that work. There are many ways to educate a child, now more than ever, since there is so much access to information and brick and mortar classroom instruction really isn't necessary for anything but the free babysitting some families rely on. Should there be a general strike I think it might be shocking to the strikers how many parents suddenly discover new ways o educating their children, and deman diversion of their taxes into funding these methods. They may suddenly realize that WI teachers are charging too much for their services and decide they aren't needed. I homeschooled my kid, he's metriculated and is doing well, and is praised for his work ethic and abilities. Parents who have not the time to educate their own can hire masters, or enroll a child in private school, or work out cooperative arrangements with other parents to hire teachers. If the money poured into salaries, benefits, and infrastructure of the public school system as it exists there were diverted to vouchers, parents could pick and choose so many other ways to educate - and if the ways cost far less and are far more effective, why shouldn't they?

119 Make Believe Media.  Try to keep up junior.  You probably don't know what a Honey Badger is do you?

Did Ace send out a memo?  When did this happen?

120 @30

No, I'm seeing a lot of myopia on the right, this isn't about informing Wisconsin this is about demonstrating the bloodsucking nature of public employee unions to the American public. The fight in the state is merely the means to set the precedent which may determine the fiscal solvency of the nation.

121 Walker has been giving press conferences nearly every single day since the stalemate started.  He wasn't firm and tough enough in his speeches/daily updates, but it's ridiculous to say he "went dark." 

And anyone who knows Scott Walker realizes that he will NEVER be a bomb thrower.  He's just too nice a guy.

122

Eh. I'm usually on board with that argument, but not this time.

Once it's over, people will see that the teachers aren't losing their homes and health insurance AND DYING and wonder why they were freaking so much.

Such as a bus driver making $159,000 per year

I would hope that after the teachers, he would focus on the other staff, but while he was focusing on the teachers??

123

Still, this was a major story on radio and on the internet; if there was a great deal more of the public persuasion campaign, wouldn't I have seen more of it?

Ace, much in the same way Hollywood typecasts all conservatives as tard, the media doesn't want to provide an outlet for Walker to make his case, because it's all too convincing.

It's more important that they be a filter and transmit the message as they see fit, thereby preventing Walker from doing it correctly.

124 All you need to know is that the FINGER OF GOD IS ON WALKER!

125 OT, I am watching Peter King's hearings (C-Span 3) on radical islam. I have to say, Sheila Jackson Lee may be incredibly stupid, but at least she is loud, rude and obnoxious.

126 Ann brings up a good point, but I don't think I can agree with it entirely. As the local Wisconsin commenters here have noted, Walker is all over their local media. The downside is that other states are watching it through the CNN filter and saying "We dont want that to happen here in (fill in your state)." What's important is what happens from today on. I'd like to see Walker and the GOP senators take their case to the constituents, set up townhalls, in person, on FB, wherever. Take their case to the people, and reinforce why they passed the bill in the first place. Get out there now before it gets out of control.

127 OT stray thought that just popped into my head:  Leftists are always quick to assert that Obama is a Christian, but bringing up Jeremiah Wright is irrelevant/meaningless/ out-of-bounds.

128 Looks like the kids in Madistan are working a four-day weekend. MacIver reports "Madison East Students hold another walk out. A group of about 200 of them were just given a police escort down East Washington to the Capitol."

Their twitter.

129 Ann will probably end up having to eat some crow.

130 As much as I like Ann's style, she is way off base here.

Had Walker gone on all the talk shows and been in front of cameras as much as she is demanding she would have been crucifying him for trying to make this all about  him.

131 Chris Christie? Meh. What a back-bencher...

132 Well, you guys know what's next, don't you?  A boycott of the state of Wisconson, just like the boycott of Arizona (although, I'm not sure if people are still boycotting Arizona).  But, we should expect to hear certain celebrities say they won't perform in that state, yada yada yada...

133 125 Make Believe Media.  Try to keep up junior.  You probably don't know what a Honey Badger is do you?

Did Ace send out a memo?  When did this happen?

Posted by: EC at March 10, 2011 12:13 PM (GQ8sn)

I had to ask too.  I guess it happened a while ago.  BTW, I don't know what the whole Honey Badger thing means either.  I've had to travel and work lately.

134 What's really nuts here is people acting as though Coulter is a serious person who knows how to do anything other than write jokes and satire. 

Memo to her Coulterness:  "It is not the critic who counts.  ... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.  ..."  etc. etc.    Everything you say is easy to say from the front porch of your Palm Beach mansion.  Come back when you've actually been in an arena and actually picked up some actual mud, sweat, and blood.     

135 Abe Vigoda:  Still Alive.

136 Conservatives have to understand that we'll never be able to achieve "memes" like the left does. You need mass media pushing them and that's why it's so easy for Dems to get their message out. I do, however, agree with Coulter that conservatives need to get out in the media more. Even if they are going on MSNBC, CNN, whatever. It doesn't matter. Yeah, you're not going to change the minds of the reporters and news anchors, and you're not going to win over a majority of the viewers, but if you can reach just a FEW people, you've accomplished something. There are SO many people out there who just don't understand the current situation regarding teacher's unions, their compensation and benefits, etc. Heck, I know public teachers here in IL who just complain about how they don't get paid adequately, etc, but all they are doing is repeating what their union tells them. They never get the full story. So the more you can get out there and actually present an idea that's different from what they are hearing, you might change a few minds, or at least get them to start asking questions instead of accepting with the MFM spoon-feeds them.

137 Like they say in the NFL: "It's a W. We'll take it."

138 Ann should follow Walker's tweets. Shows him going all over the state, talking to HIS CONSTITUENTS.Gosh, what a concept. But no...it's never GOOD enough for national commentators.

139 I'd like to see Walker and the GOP senators take their case to the constituents, set up townhalls, in person, on FB, wherever.

One of the WI GOP senators did just that, and the thugs and goons shut her down.  Videos in the comments.

It's like we're using HS debate rules and the pinkos are using UFC rules.

140 It's easier for liberals to make their arguments because they only have to appeal to emotion, not reason.

141 @140 Hear, Hear!

142

Coulter's new haircut does look good.  She is right about the need to  take on the fight for hearts and minds. 

Will Republican pols lose some of those fights?  Yes.  But they will lose all of the fights they don't show up for and the more experience they get trying to make their points the better they'll get at the whole message delivery battle.

Are the American people stupid?  No.  The American people are uninformed and that is largely the fault of Republican politicians.  I trust the American people to do the right thing when they start to get the view of the whole picture.

143

The Republicans need to understand that even where they have the high moral ground by virtue of a recent elections, the coastal media will filter and shape the coverage to imply they are working against the interests of the middle class. 

State-level Republican leaders who have the cojones to stand up the Democrat thugocracy need immediate national-level visibility and support from prominent conservative figures, or only the narrative and images of the thugs will get out to the nation, and the world.

We cannot let the national media strangle state-level victories at the ballot-box in the crib.  And that is exactly the service our national media whores to perform for their clients.

144
Ann is right, as usual. It's nice that we True Believers are convinced by Walker's case, but not everyone thinks like us.

This is about politicking. Walker gets a "D" for politicking this issue.

For instance, death threats. We're all sitting here going WTF, where's the outrage?
Okay, Walker should have called an emergency press conference every time he or another Republican received a threat.

That's just one example of blowing an opportunity to ding the Left.

145

It's easier for liberals to make their arguments because they only have to appeal to emotion, not reason.

Well that and also they don't get death threats, so they certainly have that going for them.

146 I've had to travel and work lately.

Posted by: Hedgehog at March 10, 2011 12:16 PM (Rn2kl

Eh...sucker!!

147 So 200 truant students are given a police escort to the Capitol building, but the police ignore threats against the Legislators trying to do the peoples business.Heads should roll on this one.

148 You notice a distinct chronological correlai5ton between when the WI repubs found out their recalls were being coordinated out of Chicago and the decision to split the bill and get the job done.

I guarantee you Chicago's involvement pissed the Rs off something fierce, causing them to ACT.

149 BTW, I don't know what the whole Honey Badger thing means either.

Honey Badger don't give a shit.

150

Ann might be wrong when it comes to how much Walker actually has been in the media, and I also disagree about him changing his tone.

But she is spot on, as are Mark Levin and many others, in her advice around making this "fact based."

The Bus Driver, the crazy overtime rules, etc.

Remind the public, again and again, that those who "serve" are making a LOT more money than the people they serve - typically for jobs that aren't particularly difficult.

This is the point that must be driven home day after day after day. 

151

 I've had to travel and work lately.

Despite your screwed up priorities, here you go:

Honey Badger post.

152

We cannot let the national media strangle our state-level victories at the ballot-box in the crib.  And that is exactly the service our national media whores to perform for their clients.

153 Only a wonk like Coulter would think the problem is Walker not on TV. 

The travesty here is the silence of the R leadership.  Walker has the courage to actually do what they've been talking about.  Every Republican leader, including Palin, should be loudly and consistently supporting him.  There should be no doubt.  He should be able to count on all who call themselves conservative. 

 

154 If it wasn't for teh iternet how many of us would know what the issues are? As long as the MBM has "journalists" who are seeking to further a political agenda, you will always get biased version of the events.

Their will be little MBM coverage regarding the death threats made against the WI GOP legislators because it does not fit within the agenda.

155 I don't agree with Ann here. Walker, and others were on cable and the Sunday shows. Christie would not be so in their face if the people were illegally occupying the space in front of his office and the police just threw their hands in the air for the most part. Walker, and the Wis. Rs response has been too slow IMO but not inappropriate given the situation.

156 144 Ann should follow Walker's tweets. Shows him going all over the state, talking to HIS CONSTITUENTS.Gosh, what a concept. But no...it's never GOOD enough for national commentators.

Posted by: Lemonade=lemons according to Coulter at March 10, 2011 12:18 PM (JZBti)

Coulter's point is that this is no longer just a WI issue.  As soon as it started making national headlines, it became a NATIONAL issue.  That means the points that Walker has been making regularly in local WI coverage needed to have an equally powerful platform to be heard nationwide.  They weren't.  In the conservative blogosphere, yes.  But trust me, local news stations in other states weren't covering it like WI -- I'm in NH, and they didn't even mention WI this morning on the local news.  And the MFM?  We know which way their coverage slants.

So I agree with Coulter that the conservative arguments in this fight needed a bullhorn to reach the rest of the country.  Where I disagree is with her argument that it was Walker who failed to do that.  He didn't.  He did his job, which is first and foremost to govern in the best interests of the people of WI.  As Y-Not said a few comments up:

116 Walker is governing.

The messaging (outside of his state) should be done by the GOP. 

Posted by: Y-not at March 10, 2011 12:10 PM (pW2o

BINGO.  But as we all know, the national GOP is made up largely of wussified establishment elites.  Hence the problem, and hence the absolutely crucial need for the Tea Party to remain strong.

157

Still, this was a major story on radio and on the internet; if there was a great deal more of the public persuasion campaign, wouldn't I have seen more of it?

Posted by Ace at 11:31 AM New Comments Thingy

No because as many have been trying to tell you, you live in a media bubble.  What the NE hears and sees  is not what the rest of the country sees and hears  on most issues.

158 I really think it's very important to pursue a strong, principled ideological agenda while not appearing very ideological at all, and definitely not partisan.

Noted

159 Besides, this is war now. The left knows that we're near the tipping point and if they can just drag us all a few more feet to the left, the end is near. They are pulling out all the stops and our politicians need to understand this. Rush had a saying a few years back along the lines of "if all we have are our traditions of behavior stopping the dems, then there is no stopping them," as they don't care about comity, tradition, america, you, me, or anything else other than winning.

160 156 BTW, I don't know what the whole Honey Badger thing means either.

Honey Badger don't give a shit.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 10, 2011 12:21 PM (nAOMZ)

And Mama AJ, thanks, got tears now...

161 @150 Totally disagree. To quickly push it through was exactly what the media would have liked. Letting it simmer a bit was brilliant. There was no doubt as to the outcome. The 'delay' allowed folks to become informed. Period.

162

Actually, Rush just got through saying that the media battle, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, news media, etc. is unimportant. What matters is the policy and its eventual results.

It sounds like he disagreed with Ann, here.

163 Rush just blew this out of the water, if your vision of victory is getting a fair shake and balanced view of any republican or plan, you are to be ever disappointed, not going to happen.

164 Question: isn't the national news a pretty strong component of where you get your new? Even in Wisconsin as in the Northeast? If Walker's been doing a lot on local radio and television programs, fantastic, but I have to think that a bunch of people in the state still get a large portion of their news from the national network. That would also explain why poll numbers have become less favorable to us over the last few weeks even as he's been campaigning.

165 "Republicans have gotten into a bad habit of flinching from public fights."

Pussies.

To make my point; does Boehner look like he ever took a punch? Cantor? Oh wait- McConnell? They resemble a bunch of little girls.

I rest my case.

166 My only gripe about the way Walker handled this was the amount of time he let it drag out.  He should have known from the outset that the media was unsympathetic and would let his opponents drive the narrative.  He let the unions, democrats, and lefties run a non-stop PR campaign for 3-weeks.

He should have stuffed it up their ass the day the Dems ran to Illinois.  There would have been about 3-days worth of outrageous outrage coverage instead of 3-weeks and then the media would have found something else to do.

Tactical mistake on his part.

167 also, slightly ot, every news update on the radio,' Republican Gov Walker said he want to sign the bill stripping unions of collective bargaining rights as quickly as possible.'  and thats just about the depth of the report too.  Reporting is dead people

168 The idea with the media is not to win the media war. The idea is to make the situation more favorable. If you toss that away and don't even fight, you make the same mistake Karl Rove did. You make the same mistake George Bush did. You make the same mistake McCain's camp did in doing little to counter the anti-Palin smears. The is the same damn mistake being made over and over again and people still defend it.

169

I think her criticism is better directed to Mitch Daniels.  Indianans are naturally more sympathetic to conservatism and to Daniels specifically.

And Walker's numbers (last I saw) are not that low.  We'd like them to be over 50%, but it's not a death sentence.

170 What is the RNC doing?  Anything?  Are they at least using this incident as a motivator to drum up donations? 

171 @176
Bingo.

172 indeed, Robert Conquest talked about this stuff. He'd recognize it.

173

They have legions of people doing this, from Journolist to 4chan, paid and unpaid.

If this is what we want, we better start recruiting and building.

174 176

There's no doubt his support has eroded somewhat among the middle-of-the-road-but-pretty-much-uninformed demographic.  People are against taking away workers "rights" but they agree with the specifics of the plan when asked.

The lefties that hate him will always hate him with a hot hot hate.  There's nothing to lose there.  His actions consolidated his support with conservatives.  That leaves the middle.  When the world doesn't end and the media coverage dies down, his numbers will come back.

Read my 173.  The great unwashed middle has been listening to Michael Moore and Jessie Jackson and Chris Mathews for three weeks.  He should have pulled the trigger on this right away instead of waiting.

175 If you've noticed, my legal problems are much bigger national news than the likes of a nobody flyover state.

176 Because we know the media wants a thoughtful accurate discussion.  check out Althouse's top post and the way NYT's presented the information.

177 @177

Considering that Priebus helped get Walker and the rest of the GOP elected in this State I would bet that they have something up their sleeve. I hope...

178 the poor gvt.  wanting more money for its personal stash . see gvt workers fight the man!  heck i gues we are now the man, how strange.

179 Doesn't matter what the RNC does...I'm still not giving them money. Me and Honeybadger don't give a shit. 

180 @186 Indeed

181 Please make your peace with God as soon as possible and say goodbye to your loved ones we will not wait any longer. YOU WILL DIE!!!!"

Someone's threatening, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's threatening, Lord, kum bay ya;
Someone's threatening, Lord, kum bay ya,
O Lord, kum bay ya.

182

Still, this was a major story on radio and on the internet; if there was a great deal more of the public persuasion campaign, wouldn't I have seen more of it?

Ace, this is flyover country.  Even if the narrative were one that NBCCBSABCCNNNYTetal approved of, you would still have only a 50% chance of hearing about it.

183 Walker I think has had a press conference every day - sometimes even two.  Belling was actually talking about this yestarday how even local stations refuse to televise or broadcast them.

184 Thank you, Ann Coulter.  But, where the hell was this insight when George W. Bush was hiding from the media and public while every single night the left shouted that he "lied us into a war"?  GWB did more damage to the Republican brand by being a coward and allowing the opposition to paint events with their version of "the truth" than anyone else in my memory.

185 @193

Amen.  One thing you can count on is that the media has a short attention span.  If he'd pulled the plug on this three weeks ago, this would be ancient history by now.

186 Love Ann but Walker's doing the best he can with the tools at hand.  Everyone has their own style and Walker is low-key.  I'd give him some kind of gonad award just for going toe-to-toe with the unwashed masses.  He's probably stepping well outside his comfort zone.  It's the same deal in business.  Those that can bandy the verbiage will always get well ahead of those who can't, no matter who actually gets the job done.

187 #194 you are as wrong about Bush as Coulter is about Walker.

188

I like Ann and Chris, I really do, but East Coast confrontationalists do not play well in the Midwest outside Cook County, IL.

Yeah, anything less than bitchslap seems buttmunch to Cornell grads, but we have plenty of imports running our state bureaus and agencies-we do not care for them.

Ace's hope and prayer that once MO gets to know them and love them is just that,  Pollyanna wishcasting.

189 "But it's not true that it's an unwinnable fight."

Let's remember that the American people have been systematically lied to for 50 years about the trust cost of the welfare state, by government and academia and the arts and especially the media. They aren't so much stupid as uninformed. This has been an almost totally successful long march through the institutions--because the workers simply will not cooperate and revolt against their masters. (They realize that if they work hard they can become masters too.) Americans are waking up. Parents are teaching their kids that this is all a big lie. This takes time in a country of 300 million.

I am thus, on a good day, quite optimistic about our prospects. The tea party sentiment is stronger than the union sentiment. One system is going down hard, and another has sprung up spontaneously from an innermost sense of aggrieved individual dignity.  It will be tough, but we will win.

But yes, GOP and Heritage and Coulter, et al., go out there and sell. The media will never support you, so you have to do it.

190 @167:Honey Badgers aren't new to me, at least.  There's a bit on them in Jamie Uys's Animals are Beautiful People, and a cameo of one in the same's The Gods Must Be Crazy II.

191 Walker did something unprecedented. The process and it's idiosyncrasies was unprecedented. Walker is a hero without a doubt just for holding 18 senators firm through all of this. We'll never know all the politicking he's been doing behind the scenes these last weeks.

 All you losers trying your best to cover for the Fat Man's comparably tinsy tiney accomplishments should save your breath because Ann and the MSM are already on the case.

192 One thing Coulter doesn't take into account is that the people of Wisconsin for the most part (other than the goons at the capitol) are very friendly, helpful and courteous to others. On the east coast, it's the opposite. So Chris Christie's style would not play very well here with most folks. Walker's demeanor is an attribute and underneath it all, he is a pit bull that loves a good fight.

193 Ace didn't see it, so it didn't happen?

If you wait for the MBM to report on the death threats, union thugs intimidating teenaged girls, or Republican arguments, you will die alone and unsatiated.

194 Bless her heart, Ann is a bombthrower. She doesn't really approve of anyone who is not also a bombthrower. There's room for cooler heads inside the tent.

195 I'm a big fan of Coulter, but she's just wrong here. Lately she's going off the deep end with her adulation of Christie.

196 Love Ann, but if the MFM will not report the mob violence and Hitler posters, what makes her think they will report ANY story positively from/about Walker? He maybe should have done this earlier, but he did it. Now stop sniping on him Ann, and mock the hippie wanna-bes trashing the capitol.

197 You look silly holding a press conference when there is nothing to announce. Walker would have reinforced the Dem position, if he looked desperate and harped on their absence too much. His timing was perfect, mocking the letter requesting a meeting in IL, explaining why he wanted to include collecting bargaining in the budget bill, then deploying the nuclear option when it was made clear to the public (by releasing emails about concessions) that they had reached an impasse. His attorneys have likely made sure the bill was airtight. It's over, the Dems are vandalizing public property after protesting for weeks and calling in Michael Moore, and Walker avoided getting too partisan. He was calm and dignified, like a leader should be.

198 Coulter is just promoting Christie again, and it's unclear why.

199

Christie makes YouTube videos, while Walker gets results. Thanks for reminding me why I don't listen to Coulter. IMO there is a big difference between a big mouth and big brain.

Thank you Governor Walker for all you are doing.

200 #209 He was calm and dignified + It's unclear why

 That's a good description of Walker's style. I'd also add brave. He's definitely not playing for the national spotlight. He's not thinking about some future office. This is what he said he'd do and he immediately, after assuming office, started doing it. No you tube videos to set the stage.

Christie backers are pissed because 1.it steals his thunder and 2. It raises the bar. The Fat Man can't do the video thing anymore.

It is unclear. I don't know why AC is hitching her star to CC. It seems like an honest crush. Maybe it's east coast solidarity. I always pegged her as primarily a social conservative and a hawk so it is confusing. She's definitely hurt her brand though.

201 Ann is one of those ppl who pay way too much attention to poll numbers to tell her how well a candidate is doing. Christie had poor numbers too at first, but improved when the dust settled

202 the good thing about ann is that she has a lousy record in picking candidates, so we can count on her as a good indictator at being wrong

203 Agreed w/ the Honey Badger. Walker has been on TV and radio almost every single day. I drive to work and he's on the morning radio show. I'm at work and they're holding press conferences. I get home and there's "fireside chats". When you watch TV on any channel in WI there is at least one anti-Walker ad in every single commercial break - always paid for by prog/union groups. There is so much debate going on in this state it is completely un-fucking-avoidable. Facebook is nothing but people complaining about all the political talk, like it's 2008 again. Coulter is full of shit and she's getting really annoying with this Christie business. Walker has been doing a great job and she bashes him because he's not being flaunty(word?) about it. I'd really like to see how Christie would respond to a mob scene in Trenton.

204 Walker - 1; Christie - 0. Christie has yet to achieve anything. He talks big, and then what? Windbaggery.

205

216.  NJ has bills in legislature, A3147 and S2250, set to repeal its participation in RGGI.  Christie is silent on any push, but has announced his intent to use the $65 million gleaned in 2010 for deficit help, in opposition to the clean energy purpose intended by the law.

Dude!?

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207 Thank you for this article.