Wisconsin Recalls

David Obey Would Consider WI-GOV Recall Bid -- But Wants Kohl Or Barrett To Run

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2011, 12:02PM

Former longtime Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) is joining the call among Democrats to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2012. He would also consider running as a candidate himself in such a recall -- but would prefer to see candidacies by either Sen. Herb Kohl, who is retiring in 2012, or Milwaukee Mayor and unsuccessful 2010 Democratic nominee Tom Barrett.

However, Obey also said that when he has talked to the other two men about running for governor, they politely told him to stop "pestering" them about it.

Obey told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board that "there is so much anger out there" against Walker, predicting that Democrats would successfully collect enough signatures for the effort. (The Dems need to collect over 540,000 signatures, plus a significant buffer that campaigns routinely collect in order to protect against signatures being disqualified over one imperfection or another.)

At the same time, Obey touted Kohl and Barrett as alternative candidates to himself:

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Wisconsin Recalls

Poll: Wis. Voters Unsure On Walker Recall

Eric Kleefeld | August 16, 2011, 12:41PM

Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)

Is it still possible for Wisconsin Democrats to recall Gov. Scott Walker, following their narrow failure last week to take control of the state Senate via recall elections? New survey numbers from Public Policy Polling (D) suggests that the answer is unclear -- and a lot would seemingly depend on whether they can recruit a top candidate, such as former Sen. Russ Feingold.

Walker's approval rating is still underwater, with 45% approval to 53% disapproval. However, a later question asked: "Would you support or oppose recalling Scott Walker from office before his term is up?" The answer was 47% support, to 50% oppose -- down slightly from a 50%-47% support margin in a PPP survey from late May, though both are within the margin of error.

However, Wisconsin recalls do not function as an up-or-down vote on the incumbent. Instead, if a number of people equal to 25% of the number of votes in the last gubernatorial election were to sign petitions (plus a buffer for disqualified signatures), then the election would be called. At that point, it would effectively become a special election, with the incumbent challenged by other candidates.

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David Obey

Obey: Wisconsin Gov. Walker Is Channeling Mubarak

Susan Crabtree | February 17, 2011, 4:23PM

Fmr. Rep. David Obey (D-WI)

As Democratic legislators flee the Wisconsin state capitol in protest of Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget and its limits on bargaining powers for public employee unions, one of Wisconsin's most prominent progressive leaders is coming out swinging.

Former Rep. David Obey (D-WI), a 41-year veteran of the House, the former chairman of the Appropriations Committee and an icon in Wisconsin politics, assailed Gov. Scott Walker for engaging in "political thuggery" and accused him of channeling toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak before his fall.

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2010 elections

The Goodbyes Of 2010: Politicians Who Are Going Home

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2010, 1:52PM

Russ Feingold

As the year 2010 comes to a close and the year 2011 begins, it's time to look back on some of the politicians who are leaving office because of defeat, retirement, or the strange spaces that seem to fall in between.

These are folks who had a presence on the political scene, either long or short, but who have made their marks in different ways on the political consciousness in their arrivals, their service and their ultimate departures.

As is the fashion with these sorts of lists we do around here, the folks we've chosen to highlight include the folks that we and you, our readers, think of as being great -- and others who are so bad that they're good. Of course, there are plenty of departing pols who aren't here. This is just a sampling.

So goodbye to 2010, and goodbye to these politicians. But who knows, perhaps we'll be seeing some of them again, soon.

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WI-07

Sean Duffy Spins Logs In New Ad (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2010, 1:31PM

Campaign ad from House candidate Sean Duffy (R-WI) "Get America Rolling Again!"

Sean Duffy, the Republican nominee (and former Real World star) running for the northern Wisconsin seat of retiring long-time Democratic Rep. David Obey, has a new ad that continues the lumberjack motif from his previous spot.

The last ad focused on chopping wood, while the new one is based on rolling logs through the water -- first with a career politician spinning various folks into the water, until Duffy comes along and triumphs.

"Washington's reckless spending and government growth is spinning our country out of control. The economy is suffering. And our working folks have been tossed aside," says Duffy. "Our government is trillions of dollars in debt. And our kids are left to soak up the cost. It's so bad, even our seniors have lost their footing. I'm Sean Duffy, and I approved this message -- because it's time we dunk our career politicians, and we get America back on track."

You have to wonder about this lumberjack gimmick in Duffy's ads. It's possible that he misread the Republican strategists' memos about appealing to Sarah Palin's voters -- and is instead copying Michael Palin.

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WI-07

Sean Duffy Ad: 'I Come From A Long Line Of Lumberjacks' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 16, 2010, 12:08PM

Ad from Sean Duffy, Republican candidate for Congress, "Sean Duffy Bringing the Axe to Washington"

Check out this new TV ad from Sean Duffy, the district attorney, former Real World star and now Republican nominee for the northern Wisconsin House seat currently held by the retiring Democratic Rep. Dave Obey. The spot shows the beautiful great outdoors of Wisconsin -- and Duffy in a red plaid shirt and swinging an ax.

"I come from a long line of lumberjacks. My family has a proud heritage of swinging the ax. I've always been quick to take on a big piece of timber, and I'm just as ready to topple the big spending in Washington," says Duffy, proceeding to chop some wood. "Our national debt has grown sky high, thanks to the liberals in D.C. I'll work in Congress to cut the spending, and balance the budget.

"I'm Sean Duffy, and I approve this message, because I'll bring the ax to Washington."

Must...not...make...Monty Python reference...

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David Obey

Top Dem Rep Wants 'Reckless, Renegade' McChrystal To Resign

Justin Elliott | June 22, 2010, 1:18PM

Rep. David Obey (D-WI)

Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, just released this statement calling on Gen. Stanley McChrystal to resign in the harshest terms, and calling him the latest in "a long list of reckless, renegade generals."

After referencing a speech McChrystal gave in London last year in which the general made strong statements about his policy preferences, Obey says:

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WI-07

Dems Get Top Recruit For Obey's House Seat

Eric Kleefeld | May 11, 2010, 12:37PM

WI-07 House candidate Julie Lassa (D)

Democrats have gotten their favored candidate to run for the northern Wisconsin House seat held by retiring Democratic stalwart David Obey, with state Sen. Julie Lassa entering the race on Monday.

Last week, when Obey announced his surprise retirement, Lassa's name was at the top of the list of potential candidates. In addition, the party made it clear its intention to a) get a candidate quickly, within ten days of Obey's announcement, and b) to coalesce around that candidate and avoid a primary. Lassa's likely Republican opponent is Sean Duffy, the Ashland County district attorney and a former cast member on MTV's The Real World reality show.

Some of the Dems who had been mentioned as potential candidates, such as state Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker and State Sen. Pat Kreitlow, have endorsed Lassa, but two other Dem names are still floating out there: Former state Sen. Kevin Shibilski, and state Rep. Louis Molepske. A Dem source in Wisconsin told TPMDC: "Julie stepped up and announced her intentions within just a few days of Dave Obey's retirement. I think other people can still run, but everything I've heard makes me think that Julie will run a very strong campaign and be the nominee."

WI-07

Obey's Once-Safe Dem Seat Could Be Up For Grabs This Fall

Eric Kleefeld | May 7, 2010, 8:32AM

Rep. David Obey (D-WI)

So how competitive will the race be for Democratic Rep. David Obey's northern Wisconsin House seat, now that the 41-year incumbent is retiring? Both parties argue that the district is looking to go their way -- with the truth appearing to perhaps put the race as more of a toss up.

The district voted 56%-42% for Barack Obama in 2008, but was much closer in the previous elections, with John Kerry and Al Gore carrying it by only a one-point margin each time. Obey himself has consistently won with over 60% of the vote, but an open-seat race is obviously a different affair, with the district's general partisan leanings becoming an important indicator.

For some neutral analysis, we turned to University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Charles Franklin -- who, as luck would have it, was basing an elections class of his for the last few weeks around a comprehensive look at data from Obey's district.

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WI-07

Dems Scrambling To Pick New Candidate For Obey's Seat

Eric Kleefeld | May 6, 2010, 12:50PM

Rep. David Obey (D-WI)

With Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI) retiring after over 40 years in Congress, a whole lot of Democratic names are being floated for his northern Wisconsin seat.

Democratic sources say the list of candidates includes as many as nine names: State Sen. Julie Lassa, state Sen. Pat Kreitlow, state Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, state Rep. Donna Seidel, state Rep. Ann Hraychuck, state Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, Judge Greg Huber, attorney Christine Bremer, and former state Superintendent Libby Burmaster.

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David Obey

Rep. David Obey Announces Retirement

Jillian Rayfield | May 5, 2010, 1:46PM

Rep. David Obey (D-WI) announced his retirement today, telling reporters "there is a time to stay, and a time to go, and this is my time to go."

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2010 elections

Reports: Dave Obey To Retire

Christina Bellantoni | May 5, 2010, 11:51AM

Rep. David Obey (D-WI)

Rep. Dave Obey, the powerful chairman of the Appropriations Committee, will be announcing his retirement, multiple news outlets are reporting. Obey (D-WI), has served in the U.S. House since 1969 and he is a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Politico is reporting that Obey will announce his decision today. His office announced a 1 p.m. press conference for a "major announcement."

The retirement comes as Democrats are facing a potentially bruising fall midterm election cycle where they could lose 20 or more seats, and as Republicans say they believe they have a fighting chance to recapture the House. Obey's district went for Barack Obama in 2008 by 14 points, but was much closer in 2004 and 2000. John Kerry and Al Gore each won it by one point in those years.

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Moneybomb

Palin-Backed Moneybomb Fizzles

Eric Kleefeld | February 18, 2010, 12:06PM

Sarah Palin and WI-07 House candidate Sean Duffy (R)

Sarah Palin's political appeal among the GOP base is undisputed, insofar as it applies to her own political fortunes -- but she might not be able to transfer her popularity to someone else.

Yesterday, in a posting on her Facebook account, Palin promoted a moneybomb fundraiser for Sean Duffy (R-WI), a district attorney and former Real World cast member running against longtime Democratic Rep. David Obey. "On this first anniversary of the stimulus, let's send a message to the big-spenders in Washington by helping Sean Duffy unseat the author of the stimulus," Palin wrote. "Let's put government back on our side and get to work revitalizing America!"

For his moneybomb, Duffy set a very low goal of only $25,000, which seemed like a depreciation of the "moneybomb" term compared to the events that usually attract six figures or even more -- and he still didn't get it. At midnight Central Time last night, the end of the original countdown on Duffy's site, the moneybomb had only taken in $24,585. As of this writing, he has $27,118.

WI-07

Real World Wisconsin: Tea Partier vs. Former Reality TV Star For Obey Seat

Christina Bellantoni | January 12, 2010, 2:39PM

Dan Mielke, Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), and Sean Duffy

National Republicans are excited about Sean Duffy, a Wisconsin district attorney and one-time "Real World" star who is attempting to unseat Rep. David Obey (D-WI). Duffy is raising money, nabbing mentions on conservative blogs and has earned attention on the National Republican Congressional Committee "young guns" list of potential stars.

But he's got a tea party candidate, produce and dairy farmer Dan Mielke, labeling him as the establishment's favorite at every turn.

Will this primary stop being polite?

The usual indicators of cash and organization suggest that Duffy will at least mount a serious challenge against Obey and the NRCC freely praises him despite not officially taking sides in GOP primaries.

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Afghanistan

Uncle Ben? Nelson Says America Should Finance Afghanistan War With Bonds

Brian Beutler | December 1, 2009, 5:16PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).

President Obama is preparing to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, and liberals in the House say the government better be ready to pay for it. Led by Rep. David Obey (D-WI) they're proposing a war tax, which would be levied on wealthy Americans.

At least one key senator says no way no how.

"Some people jumped right out and said you need a war tax, and I said, Whoa! We didn't have a war tax in the Second World War," Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) told reporters. "Fortunately or unfortunately I'm old enough to remember some of that."

Nelson was born in 1941. In fact, tax revenue increased, during World War II, thanks to a consensus that rates should rise and the base should broaden--though not as much as President Franklin Roosevelt wanted.

"The fact that we had bonds, war bonds, and people invested in their country in that fashion made a lot of sense back then. I don't know why it might not make sense today, certainly in lieu of jumping to a tax."

Perhaps Nelson's correct on the narrow question of whether there was ever anything called a "war tax" back in the early 1940s. In any case, war bonds, like all bonds, have to be repaid, and, like deficit war spending, kick the pay date down the line. But with a growing demand that the continued war effort be paid for, expect to hear more about this throwback idea in the near future.