Jud Lounsbury's blog

As Roger Clemons is finding out, lying to Congress is a felony.  So is misrepresenting key facts:

18 U.S.C. 1001:

a)Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—

Tom Barrett already lost in 2010. How can he possibly win in 2012?

• 2010 was one of the worst years for Democrats in modern history. There were very few Democrats left standing.
• It can't be understated that Barrett was still recovering from being beaten repeatedly in the head and upper body by a maniac wielding a tire iron.  He was not only hospitalized after the attack, but had to return to the hospital to have his right hand surgically reconstructed.  So, with pain medication, ongoing therapy, and the physical drain of such a serious injury, he wasn't in peak physical condition to run for governor in 2010.  Barrett simply wasn't on his game the same way he has been historically, and the way he is now.
• Jim Doyle had the unfortunate luck of being governor during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.  Even though Wisconsin was recovering when he left office, most Wisconsinites weren't going to give the incumbent party a third term. 
• Even with all that wind at his back, Barrett only lost to Walker by a 52-47 margin-- and most of that was due to Democrats not getting out to vote. We'll be getting out to vote this time around.
• Barrett is very likeable, and will be a welcome change for those many independents suffering from Walker fatigue.
• Lot of Irish and lot of Catholics in Wisconsin-- in a close election, now is a good time to be running an Irish Catholic Democrat like Barrett.

State Employee Recognition Nomination Form

Step into the time machine.  We're going back one year, to May 2, 2011.

A few weeks earlier, Governor Walker not only decided to balance the budget on the back of teachers and other public workers, but he also stripped them of their collective bargaining rights and ability to unionize.

According to master political scientist and former Madison mayor, Dave Cieslewicz, this recall election is all about the approximately eight percent of undecided voters in the middle and those eight percent have a gag reflex when it comes to public sector unions.  So if you want to win the recall election, Dave's advice is to keep crazy ol' uncle public sector union locked up in the attic until after the electon.