Outgoing Republican WI State Senator Rips GOP: ‘How Much Pain Do We Have to Dish Out?’

[Triana]

. . . “moderate Republicans” are going the way of CD’s and flip phones. In fact, I’ve told the few moderate Republicans that I’ve met the last several years that they’re better off siding with Democrats than this new wave of ultraconservative tea party Republicans. Because that’s the truth. Ronald Reagan, the conservative icon himself, is closer to being a Democrat by today’s radical right-wing standards than he is a modern day Republican.

. . .

Well, one outgoing moderate Republican in Wisconsin, state Sen. Dale Schultz, blasted his party for many of the tactics they’ve been using, not just in Wisconsin, but all over the country.

“We are now literally dismantling the state government, and people need to think long and hard about what they want for a future in our state,” he said.

And dismantling the government is exactly what Republicans want to do. These GOP politicians run on the premise that the government is corrupt and inefficient. Then when they’re elected, they do just about everything within their power to make the government as inept as possible so voters will get on their “anti-government” bandwagon.

They’re literally causing the very problems within our government that they tell the American people are so awful. It’s a great scam. But the Wisconsin state senator wasn’t done there. “How much pain do we have to dish out in this state to one another before we finally realize that we have to get along and we have to compromise with one another?” Schultz continued.

THE REST:

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/outgoing-republican-wi-state-senator-rips-gop-much-pain-dish/

[Mr.Bill]

1. It's like I heard so long ago I can't remember where I heard it:

"Republicans run for office saying government doesn't work then they get elected and prove it."

And I wondered since the day he said it, If Reagan thought "government is the problem", why did he want so much to be in charge of a problem?

[TexasProgresive]

33. Don't know if its original with him but Paul W. Hodes used it in October 2014

The choices are clear. If you favor more economic opportunity, a safer, healthier environment, greater inclusion and a stronger nation, vote Democratic. If you believe in the policies of the past, state and federal, that brought our state and the nation to the brink of bankruptcy, plunged us into endless war and ignored the challenges we must face together, then by all means vote for the Republicans.

But be forewarned. The Republicans run for office saying government doesn’t work and when they get elected, they prove it.
http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/14094074-95/my-turn-republicans-will-take-a-right-turn-to-the-past

[Mnpaul]

54. Al Franken?

He has been using it since his radio days.

[Beartracks]

57. Nothing wrong with govt that getting Republicans out of it can't fix!

http://www.zazzle.com/government_right_wrong_t_shirts-235988199034566328?rf=238682849495657271

Or, to put it another way: there's nothing wrong with government that getting Republicans out of it can't fix.

====================

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. While it was not his place ...

He could have, accurately added, that it is not just the tea party right working to destroy the public ' s confidence in government. They are getting a lot of help from "progressives".

[delrem]

3. That is complete bullshit.

It's not just a false equivalence, it's a blatant lie.

[SomethingFishy]

6. Really? Are you saying that there are people who claim to be progressives and aren't

or that progressives just don't vote for incredibly bad right wing tea party bills?

Because if you need a list of "progressives" that supported the invasion of Iraq, I can provide one. Or a list of those who voted for the crappybus bill. Or to add more boots to the ground in Iraq in January. Or who supports the secret trade bill knows as the TPP, which is so good for you they don't want you to know what is in it.
Or maybe you can explain why "progressives" voted to put Tim Geithner and Larry Summers in charge of the economy. They did a great job.. for the already rich, the rest of us, can eat cake.

[delrem]

9. If you put it *that* way, then yes, there's a lot of blame to spread around.

But I don't think that's the way the accusation was put. I think the accusation was put to link "tea party" and "progressive" as bad guys who undermine the good gov't of "moderates" like, well, "moderate (haha) republicans" and "moderate third-way dem's".

If my reading is wrong, then my bad! I apologize!

[cui bono]

26. "Progressives" was in quotes and written by an apologist so yes, it was a stab at people

who are progressives and dare to criticize Obama because, well, that hurts the apologist's feelings and if they are criticizing Obama then they can't possibly be progressive for some twisted reason that makes no sense what so ever since Obama is a self-described moderate Republican.

[brush]

39. "Since Obama is a self-described moderate Republican"?

C'mon, where did you ever hear Obama describe himself as a moderate Republican?

That's a bit of exaggeration, don't you think?

[Ino]

46. I heard it here...

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/obama-considered-moderate-republican-1980s/story?id=17973080

"The truth of the matter is that my policies are so mainstream that if I had set the same policies that I had back in the 1980s, I would be considered a moderate Republican."

[brush]

52. But it's not 1980

I understand the sentiment if it's from the perspective that even Reagan would be too moderate to fit in the present day teapublican party.

[bvar22]

55. In the 70s and 80s,

I fought hard against "Moderate" Republican policy because I was an FDR Democrat,
and didn't believe in in the Republican lies of "smaller government", deregulation of Corporations, and the (so called) Free Trade.

Why should I now support the same policies I fought against in the 70s and 80s?
My values haven't changed. I was an liberal Democrat THEN.
I'm STILL a liberal Democrat who refuses to help the Democrats or Republicans implement "Moderate REPUBLICAN policy".



[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

[brush]

58. I'm with you 100%. nt

[cui bono]

65. So we agree.

[cui bono]

59. No exaggeration at all...

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/272957-obama-says-his-economic-policies-so-mainstream-hed-be-seen-as-moderate-republican-in-1980s

[Marr]

45. +1, I think your interpretation was correct /nt

[duhneece]

36. Looking at the 'nays' of IRW

House: 133 nays total, 126 were Dems...about 95% of the nays were Dem in HOuse
Senate: 23 nays total, 21 were Dems... about 91% of the nays were Dem in Senate

That was when I became an active Dem, proud of the % of nays that came from the Dems.

Not perfect, by any means, but that remains the acid test for me, as so many citizens seem to cry out for revenge...and that's when I found (thanks to LoudSue) DU. Not perfect, again, but I found my home.

[7962]

4. Oh, come now. I dont see a Democrat equal to Ted Cruz!! nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. I didn't say there was ...

But do you wish to argue that there isn't a contingent of the left that is as anti-government as the anti-government right?

[7962]

21. I guess that is a good point;

my brother has said for years that the further right you go, the more likely you are to run into the far left coming the other way!

[1StrongBlackMan]

22. Yep ...

Makes one wonder ... if the two have the same goal (i.e., discrediting government) ... why should I attempt to distinguish them?

[cui bono]

27. No. Not the left that belongs to the Dem Party.

The left that is anti-govt is so fringe you can't hear from them, they aren't given a voice in this country at all. The left that isn't so far left as communism or pure socialism and is Democratic or even Green or other parties embraces govt, loves the New Deal and thinks govt should be doing more for the working people. If they are critical of the govt it's because it is failing to do that and is only helping banksters and big corporations. Criticism does not mean you are against something. Perhaps that's what makes you think people hate Obama or are bashing him when in reality they are merely criticizing him.

[NewDeal_Dem]

29. +100

"Perhaps that's what makes you think people hate Obama or are bashing him when in reality they are merely criticizing him."

[CrispyQ]

43. This:

The left that isn't so far left as communism or pure socialism and is Democratic or even Green or other parties embraces govt, loves the New Deal and thinks govt should be doing more for the working people. If they are critical of the govt it's because it is failing to do that and is only helping banksters and big corporations.

They can't win without us, they blame us when they lose, but they won't represent us. Sure, they toss us a few social crumbs, gay marriage, women's rights, but real economic reform? Too many of them are beneficiaries of the corrupt system.

I'm glad dems support social issues, but if you are homeless, how important is gay marriage to you? If you can't afford to see a doctor or buy food, how important is legal abortion to you? The foundation of social justice is economic justice. I think a lot of people don't vote because they don't see either party helping them out economically.

I hope this president swings hard left these last two years & uses his veto pen until it's dry of ink, on the right wing legislation that we are sure to see.

A girl can dream.

[freebrew]

53. I think the left that's anti-government...

is mostly anti-present from of government.

The RWNJs seem to want a corporation to run everything.
Some seem to want just plain anarchy.
The progressive left, I think, just wants a government of the people(not the CU kind).

[MrScorpio]

11. Agreed...

Especially as it's being run by a certain Black President.

[azureblue]

17. and here comes

Mr. False Equivalency, with his false allegations. A twofer...

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. Who me? ..

Can anyone argue that there is a contingent of "progressives" that are as anti-government, is the tea-partyist, of the tea partiers?

Hint ... they are the libertarian Left.

[cui bono]

28. Who is the libertarian left? I'm not sure there are any of those.

As Bill Maher always says... libertarians are Republicans who like to smoke pot. The beliefs of libertarians are in direct conflict with the left. The left loves the New Deal, they believe in a social democracy, in regulations to protect the people. Libertarians do not believe in govt.

[BumRushDaShow]

48. Here

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/19/1121911/-Anyone-here-a-Left-Libertarian-Can-you-please-explain-that-to-me

[cui bono]

60. That post isn't talking about Libertarians. They define them incorrectly.

The person they describe as left-libertarian is not that at all. They described them like this:

he's all for universal health care. Hell, he's a socialist on this front, going further than I would. He thinks that we should fund our public schools more, and model ourselves on Scandinavia.

What about that is Libertarian or anti-govt?

[BumRushDaShow]

63. The dKos OP asked the question

and a number of posters responded, including some who claimed the designation and further clarified the distinctions. If you couldn't read beyond that OP's initial article, then information beyond your own biases, is not what you seek.

[cui bono]

64. LOL

Wow.

[mazzarro]

49. Can you expound on what a libertarian left is? - n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

50. Those standing with rand. n/t

[Volaris]

32. That you put the word progressives in quotation marks,

is the only reason I'm not going to yell at you this morning =)
Merry Christmas to you.

[Odin2005]

35. You just had to find a reson to shit on Progressives.

If being against torture, and police-state BS makes me anti-government, then so be it.

[stillwaiting]

38. Just keep on stating the truth.

They'll hate it every step of the way, but it still needs to be said.

And the truth is that the complete hold that the Third Way/"New Democrats" have on the Democratic Party (particularly within the Senate where there are only a few that haven't been captured by them) will prevent ANY change in the direction we've been headed for the past 3 to 4 decades economically.

The solutions that will help average Americans are found NOWHERE within the Republican Party and are found OUTSIDE of the Third Way/"New Democrat" Democrats (which unfortunately includes party leadership and major party organizations, i.e. DCCC, DSCC, DNC,etc.)

We have to keep on building awareness for the need for a progressive agenda and solution, and I think we've been making progress since the '14 elections (i.e. Elizabeth Warren's rising visibility).

Democratic strategies of the past few decades continue to produce such horrible results that the fucking Republican Party that was completely exposed and humiliated after Dubya now have their largest majorities in Congress in a very, very long time. That couldn't happen if Democrats were FIGHTING for the interests of average Americans. They don't appear to be fighting for average American interests to a lot of Americans because they clearly are serving Wall Street interests over Main Street interests. We must change that or our country will continue on its path towards becoming a Third World nation.

[cprise]

44. Was about to comment how R's are in love w/ The Police State

So the "anti-government" label isn't even accurate. They see public services as a "swamp" that needs to be drained, and the threat of punishment against the lower class maximized.

I call them Police State Conservatives. They love any government institution where you can hire a bunch of their prejudiced, reactionary pals.

[Andy823]

5. The key word is "compromise"

Republicans have refused to compromise for the last 6 years. It's my way or the highway and that doesn't work. Same can be said for those on the left who want to do the same as republicans and refuse to compromise on anything. Congress has to work together to get anything done, and until the do nothing is going to change, not even getting a new president in the WH, be it Clinton, Sanders, Warren, or anyone else.

[Brigid]

7. Hey Senator Schultz!

Come on over --we don't bite.

[blkmusclmachine]

13. "Big tent." Too bad it's not big enough for liberals/progressives.

[Brigid]

15. He sounds like he has more in common with us . . .

Than with most of the idiots in the other tent.

[TheMastersNemesis]

8. Doesn't Matter How Much Pain The GOP Inflicts. It's A Winning Strategy. Look At 2014

[Triana]

23. A few things I blame for that...

...

DINOS (which are most of the Dem party now with exception of a few) and therefore low voter turnout due to lack of enthusiasm plus it was a mid-term - those who didn't vote did the most damage
Gutting of the VRA and voter suppression
Citizens United and other rulings that basically said "Gov't for Sale to Highest Bidder"
Gerrymandering most CDs such that it takes up to 4 Dem votes to equal one Repub one

[Scuba]

10. I knew it was Dale from the headline. Last sane Republican in Wisconsin, perhaps anywhere.

As Dale noted, pain is stock-in-trade for the Republicans; red meat for their base.

[blkmusclmachine]

14. Authoritarians feast on misery they cause. It empowers them to keep dishing it out.

[Scuba]

18. Clearly true here in Wisconsin. Wanker's disciples love it when he punishes state workers, teachers.

[Odin2005]

37. It's about "punishing" those they consider "leeches" and "parasites".

[brush]

40. "Red meat for their base"

And their base won't, if they keep voting for government gutters and job exporters, won't be able to afford any red meat (it's already high as hell).

[Cha]

12. Wow.. a dying breed.. we are experiencing it. Here's to its resurgence some fine day.

Mahalo Triana Dale Schultz

[azureblue]

16. what Repubs mean by "Government"

is:
No regulations
No taxes on the rich
No taxes and big tax breaks fro corporations
Freedom to underpay and overwork their workers and treat them any way they please.
Any laws that prevent them from taking money from the middle class and the poor.

IOW - anything "governmental" that prevents them from doing what they damn well please, without consequence or penalty.

[freshwest]

25. Also, small enough to get the bedroom while allowing them to rob unchecked. Crooks love tiny govt.

[freshwest]

24. Thanks, Triana, excellent to hear someone say what we all know.

[freshwest]

30. Wow, finally came back and looked at the embedded link. Ronnie is almost off my RIH list.

[CJCRANE]

31. The GOP is voting itself into irrelevance.

Right now they are powerful corporate lackeys.

Once the government is dismantled they'll be powerless corporate lackeys.

[riversedge]

34. But still will be laughing all the way to the bank

[pangaia]

41. This is EXACTLY what reagan DID do.

Just insert "Reagan" for "Republicans"... GOP, and HE for they...
and see how THAT reads. You can start with the U S public education system...

"And dismantling the government is exactly what Republicans want to do. These GOP politicians run on the premise that the government is corrupt and inefficient. Then when they’re elected, they do just about everything within their power to make the government as inept as possible so voters will get on their “anti-government” bandwagon.

They’re literally causing the very problems within our government that they tell the American people are so awful. It’s a great scam."

[CrispyQ]

42. Oh my, does this hurt:

Ronald Reagan, the conservative icon himself, is closer to being a Democrat by today’s radical right-wing standards than he is a modern day Republican.

Tells so much about the democratic party & where it's gone.

Now off to read the rest.

on edit: Great article. I'd love to post it to FB.

“
If I hadn’t told you Schultz was a Republican, I doubt anyone reading this who had never heard of him would have ever guessed that he was. These are the kinds of comments you almost never see anymore coming from someone “on the other side.”

A Republican who sees the value of unions, education, compromise and bipartisanship? Yeah, those kinds of Republicans aren’t getting elected anymore.

Instead we get climate change deniers, creationists and people who based their entire political ideology on the sole premise of “whatever President Obama supports, just say the opposite.”

I just wish more Republicans were looking to politicians like Wisconsin state Sen. Dale Schultz instead of right-wing clowns like Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan. -

See more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/outgoing-republican-wi-state-senator-rips-gop-much-pain-dish/#sthash.dpIZdnHJ.dpuf

I would so like to post that segment on FB, but maybe Christmas day isn't the best day to.

[DeSwiss]

47. ''These GOP politicians run on the premise that the government is corrupt and inefficient.''

- That part is TRUE.

[Jamaal510]

51. If Reagan is closer to

being a D by today's standards, then that says a ton about how more backwards and extreme his party has become. Even when Reagan was president, his rhetoric and policies were messed up (especially if you were black and/or poor), his administration escalated the Cold War, and it was responsible for an increased deficit and unemployment. And since before Nixon, this country has been in need of more than one party working on behalf of the country. The GOP has put forth corrupt presidents since Eisenhower.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

56. Republican tactics are most visible at the DMV....

If you see long lines and a bunch of empty work stations that means a Republican is in power.

[Cha]

61. KICK

[ChosenUnWisely]

62. Is not this what the people of WI want? They had now 2 chances to get rid of Walker

and the Pubs but the response of the people has been elect more Republicans.

Well Wisconsin you made your bed now sleep in it,

When states go red and the people respond by electing more Pubs, my response is not no care what happens in that state, why because it is what the people want.

I may not like it and I don't but I also don't live in WI so I also don't care.