My paper's editorial about what GOP gov-elect Walker has already done to Wisconsin:

[elocs]

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/article_fdd93422-04af-11e0-8ef2-001cc4c002e0.html

Scott Walker isn’t even governor yet, and he has lost an $810 million game of chicken with our money. He has undoubtedly lost jobs and certainly will lose the company that moved to Wisconsin to help build trains for high-speed rail.

And, he’s declaring victory.

He told us that he didn’t want to contribute to runaway federal spending. He didn’t want to invest in high-speed rail. Instead, he wanted to use the federal money to improve Wisconsin’s roads.

That was a wonderful theory — but the federal government repeatedly told him that the money would go for high-speed rail project.

A gift at the expense of Wisconsin from Walker: $624 million to California, $342.2 million to Florida, $161.5 million to Washington, and a paltry $42.3 million to Illinois. Goodbye to thousands of jobs as well. Yes, and as the editorial stated, some of that money did come from Wisconsin taxpayers as well. It's going to be a long 6 years here with this guy and the nutjob who beat Feingold.

[HereSince1628]

1. Yes, but Walker will need that time to privatize all the state parks.

get more gold-mining around Ladysmith, and to develop the response-for-fee state police funding system that will move the private prisons to full capacity.

[WillParkinson]

2. I get depressed...

Every time I think about how my state allowed this...this...ick to become governor. I hope the people who elected him are happy with the results.

[a kennedy]

16. this ick to become governor is right, and that sh*t hole johnson

to become senator!!!! WHAT THE H*LL IS WRONG WITH WISCONSIN???!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :cry: :cry: :cry:t

[Initech]

18. Until we learn from our mistakes, I say we deserve what we get.

I hate that we keep electing these grossly incompetent fools to the highest levels of government. But the thing is - people get so worked up over the reich-wing talking points parroted to us through AM hate radio, Fux News, and the non-existent "liberal" media that we keep electing the same idiots to power. Until things change, I think we need to learn from our mistakes otherwise we deserve what we get.

[madrchsod]

3. that 42 million we got is going to rebuild a rail line.

the rail line goes from chicago to galena ,il. so the folks in southwestern wisconsin can drive to galena and enjoy a scenic ride to chicago!

i bet minestoa is`t thrilled with not being able to cut travel times to milwaukee and chicago.

ridership? depending on the day it means the sports fans will still have to drive or take a bus.

[trotsky]

4. That high-speed line would have been fantastic.

Driving from Mpls to Chicago is a 6.5 hr drive - unless you want to take your chances with the 'Sconny Troopers. :)

Flying is now absurd, so that even for a 50 minute flight you have 2-3+ hours of frustration. Might as well drive.

Train would have been a great solution, and now it's dead. Thanks, Wisconsin!

[mopinko]

5. woooohooo can't wait to take the blackhawk

out to visit my friends in galena.

[madrchsod]

9. when i read this was going to happen i thought of you.

i`ll drive to rockford just for the scenery to galena.

[mopinko]

13. hope it pays off.

lots of folks commute between the 2. i know my cost for gas when i have to drive my truck is nuts, just nuts.

[alterfurz]

6. arrogant, ignorant, incompetent...

...Badgerland's own little version of Bush!

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Another Governor Christi....WTF is wrong with the voters. How could they vote for these idiots????

One must believe that the messaging is all screwed up. The people of Wisconsin would not have intentionally elected someone like this..would they???

[GoCubsGo]

8. I suspect it's the ones who didn't vote who are the real problem.

To the lot of them, I say, "Bed. Made. Lie." I feel sorry for the sane people there. I know how they feel, living here in South Carolina.

[madmom]

10. yup...and ohio helped, enjoy all you more progressive states, wish we were there with you!...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101209/ap_on_bi_ge/us_high_speed_trains

[Merlot]

21. You have no idea how long they've been putting off high speed rail in CA

The money we're getting for HS rail plus the 7 billion we already have gotten - is that enough? I hope they at least get this damn thing started!

So sorry Ohio, your loss is our gain. At least those of you who are progressive can know it's going to a good cause.

[southernyankeebelle]

11. Wis citizens only have themseleves to blame. I don't pity the state. They let a good HONEST man go

[elocs]

12. Not in the governor's race since there was no incumbent.

If it is Feingold to whom you are referring, then what about those of us who did support him and vote for him? Don't we deserve some pity? How about children and others who cannot vote, don't they deserve some pity as well? Empathy is usually a Democratic trait.

Be careful about being tight and stingy with your pity because there may not be some for you when you or your state are deserving of it.

[Javaman]

14. Like NJ, wasn't it a case of them not filling out the paper work properly? nt

[jeff47]

15. No.

In both WI and OH, the governors-elect explicitly rejected using the funding for it's designated purpose.

In both cases, they were warned that this was the only possible use of the money. Congress would have to pass a bill to re-allocate the money to another purpose.

Apparently, this did not change the minds of the governors-elect. So they lost $1.2Billion for their states, tens of thousands of jobs, and at least one large company is moving out of WI.

[gratuitous]

17. I'd be curious to know

Did the LaCrosse Tribune endorse Mr. Walker for governor?

{Quick check}

Yep: http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/article_1fb9ca8e-e14c-11df-8beb-001cc4c002e0.html

Although, to be scrupulously fair (as I always am), the Tribune did note that candidate Walker opposes building high speed rail, and that Walker is incorrect to do so. Walker's just doing what he promised he'd do, deep six federal funding for development of something that would have improved the business climate in Wisconsin.

[Scruffy1]

19. It can go through Iowa too

[pscot]

20. They endorsed him?

And now they want to kick his butt? Before he even takes office? That's some buyers remorse they got goin on dere. :rofl:

[elocs]

24. Yes, but they also endorsed Feingold and our Democratic rep, Ron Kind. n/t

[hfojvt]

26. did Kind win?

I used to live in that district and never checked.

[Canuckistanian]

22. Astounding short-sightedness

Combined with breathtaking ignorance.

Never a good combination.

[Bjorn Against]

23. He screwed us over in Minnesota too...

That rail line he turned down was supposed to connect the Twin Cities to Chicago, but considering most of the route to Chicago from the Twin Cities goes through Wisconsin that plan is now basically dead in the water. I was really looking forward to that rail line, I think I may have to limit my travel to Wisconsin until he is out of office.

[MadMaddie]

25. What is the response of the citizens?

30,000 jobs in a state like Wisconsin would have been a boom.