How can Paul Ryan get re-elected after everything he's said ?

[steve2470]

I see he's from Wisconsin's first Congressional District. Is that district really that right-wing ? If you are from that district, I mean no offense to you personally, of course.

[elleng]

1. Dunno, but don't understand Wisconsin any more.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. We pride ourselves on not being quite like anyone else.

Some of us, like Ed Ghein, Jeffrey Dahmer and Joe McCarthy, take that notion a little too far.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. The 1st is a swing district.

Went for Obama in 2008.

[Bubba Kush]

3. So Ryan himself should be out on his ass in 2012.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Depends a lot on how effective the Voter Suppression law is.

Racine & Kenosha have some rather large minority populations, but part of the district extends into Waukesha County.

[elleng]

12. Any talk about challenging the law? BIG issue across country imo.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Sure, there's talk, but it will have to be a legal challenge

and those generally take time.

[elleng]

14. Yes. Anyone(s) planning to challenge?

IMO Dems thru the country MUST challenge EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE, as repugs will try to steal dozens of elections and hence State governments and the House of Representatives.

[Jackpine Radical]

20. There is a very large and dedicated group of activists in WI.

As usual, the amateurs are 'way out ahead of the Party. There is no sense anywhere that people are giving up. On Saturday I attended an event, a sort of "Progressives Fair," called Fightin' Bob Fest (named for Robert LaFollette) at which there were a number of speakers and breakout workshops on organizing and carrying out political action. One group I attended was led by 4 teachers who had organized their colleagues to collect signatures in 2 nearby State Senate districts. About 120 of them went out on buses each weekend.

You won't hear much about that, though. Even the local paper didn't find it newsworthy that 1,000 or so progressives had gathered at the fairgrounds, and it was totally ignored by the talking-head media.

The protests continue, BTW. Every year there is an event called the "Governor's Fishing Opener" in which the Governor and his entourage celebrate the opening of fishing season on the 1st weekend in May. This year, there were a whole mess of boats, pontoons, canoes, etc. all over the lake with protest signs.

As a bit of background information, the regular party structure was waffling on even going ahead with the recall petition drive, but the activist core basically went out on their own and forced the issue.

Anyway, everybody knows about the Voter ID law, and the first remedy to be applied is to do everything possible to register people so they can vote in spite of it.

All in all, I can assure you that people here are not quitting. Walker awoke a sleeping giant. It's going to be an interesting year.

[elleng]

21. Excellent to hear that people won't quit. Am concerned, tho,

that 'professional' Dems won't challenge the highly damaging 'new' laws, in court. People-power necessary, but legal action mandatory, imo.

Thanks

[Andy823]

6. Well

After last nights win in NY, I don't think any district is completely safe for republicans anymore! Along with all the other things republicans have been doing in Wisconsin I would think that Ryan could be in trouble, especially if they can find a democrat there who is well known, and willing to take him on!

[myrna minx]

7. I'm grew up there and the district was customarily a Democratic district.

The district has changed in the last years - especially since the GM plant in Janesville closed down. The face Ryan presents while at home is quite different that the boy wonder status he's attained in DC. At home he's the aw shucks local boy does good. Until now, I can guarantee that most of his constituents had no idea how radically conservative he is. If you check out some of his ads, they seem almost populist - which is all part of this deceptively well crafted image at home. Don't get me wrong, there's crazy baggers in janesville etc - but he does not represent the make up of his district.

on edit - i've been sounding the clarion call about him since 1998 when he first ran for Congress. I knew he'd be marketed at the right wing JFK. I'm glad he was taken down a peg this week.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. I never knew you were from that neck of the woods, Myrna.

[myrna minx]

10. I went to HS with Ryan. Lucky me!!

:D

[Jackpine Radical]

11. All my Kenosha relatives used to be staunch labor Dems.

Nash/American Motors & all that. Last I checked, a lot of them had gone off the deep end.

[steve2470]

15. thank you for all the good info nt

[elfin]

8. Because he is just so darn cute

Wisconsonite here, but not in his district.

He looks like everyone's dream son or grandson and SEEMS so bright and Eagle Scoutish.

His district has no reason in the world to keep sending him back after the huge hit taken by the Janesville auto industry closings. Ameliorated a bit by extended unemployment and re-education grants (Dem provided, of course) , which may yet save him on future elections. That, and there has not been a credible challenger in the past. That may change, given the upheaval in Wisconsin.

But face it, his hair is GREAT, especially after he changed his part to the RIGHT.

Who will notice that he was a beneficiary of Soc. Sec. funds after his dad died? Yes, the same program he would like to curtail.

He is very ambitious, despite his demure denials. Predict he will be the VP choice on the 2012 ticket, despite his "magic math" and the scrambling of any Rethug with a three digit IQ away from his proposal.

[EC]

16. Some of it yes.

There are some fundies and some richies. Then there are some union towns. So we may have a chance this time. Many thought he was a moderate.

[Hannah Bell]

17. because he cheats. sriously.

[msongs]

18. voter suppression for a federal candidate = federal crime = Obama DOJ should be on this nt

[elleng]

19. They and Dems MUST be on this, throughout the States.

This will KILL us, imo.