Sean Duffy

Rachel Campos-Duffy, wife of Congressman Sean Duffy, gained fame back in 1993 on MTV's Real World, where her relationship with David "Puck" Rainey sent ratings skyrocketing.

It took 66 days for the US House of Representatives to get around to appropriating a fraction of the relief dollars needed to help homeowners and businesses get back on their feet after Superstorm Sandy swept the East Coast. The House finally acted today after backtracking Speaker John Boehner reversed his decision to ignore the measure in the wake of widespread criticism, including from some GOP congressmen. The US Senate acted much earlier.

 Greg Sargent in Plum Line blog on Washington Post:

Over the weekend, GOP Rep. Paul Ryan confirmed that the House Republican budget would again contain key elements of his plan to transform Medicare — even though some polls have shown the idea to be deeply unpopular and Dems have vowed to run on it in 2012.The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is set to go on the offensive on the issue in the increasingly close battle for the House — and it’s very possible the issue could have a real impact on the presidential race.

The DCCC went out Thursday, Groundhog Day, (that's a Green Bay groundhog pictured) with what it called  a “Groundhog Day Alert” in the districts of some 70 vulnerable House Republicans, reminding voters of their last vote on Medicare and warning of the next one to come. [That presumably included at least three Wisconsin districts now held by Reid Ribble, Sean Duffy, and Ryan.]

Politico reports:

The Democratic super PAC will go on cable with spots attacking Republicans Dan Lungren (California) and Sean Duffy (Wisconsin). It is the second wave of a six-figure campaign, timed with August recess, which already targeted Tim Griffin, Scott Tipton and Chip Cravaack.

The new ad features footage of a sprawling mansion, a taxiing private jet and a speeding power boat, over which a narrator intones:

 “Maybe you live here or own one of these. If so, Congressman Sean Duffy just voted to give you a big tax cut and for tax loopholes to keep corporate profits sky high. But what about the rest of us?...If you have to make millions to get our congressman's attention, it’s time to find a new congressman.”

There's a secret Congressional redistricting plan for Wisconsin being discussed behind closed doors by Wisconsin's GOP House members -- perhaps in preparation for jamming it through during an "extraordinary session" of the state legislature before Republicans lose control of the State Senate in recalls later this summer.

According to Craig Gilbert of the Journal Sentiel, Paul Ryan took the lead in crafting it -- and got outed. The plan is designed to protect incumbent freshman Republican Sean Duffy, Gilbert says.

Democrats, assuming the worst, are outraged. State Chair Mike Tate calls it "normalizing the outrageous."

More at The Paul Ryan Watch.

UPDATE:  Obey to join DC lobbying firm.

I thought onetime campaign guru Bill Dixon was long past his Hunter Thompson outlaw days. But he and Dave Zweifel of the Capital Times have teamed up to promote a fresh new face as a Democratic candidate to run against Gov. Scott Walker in a recall.

Dave Obey.

Really.

It does not appear to be a joke. Well, not an intentional one, anyway.

Am I the only one hoping the Dems field a candidate younger than 73?

If Obey wants to get back into politics, why doesn't he challenge Rep. Sean Duffy?

On today's BlogTalkRadio show, Carol of Blue Cheddar and I interviewed Pat Kreitlow, who is currently running for the 7th CD seat that is held by Sean Duffy.  Listen in.

Pat Kreitlow Interview