“When Democrats faced a tremendous budget shortfall, we balanced the budget without kicking tens of thousands of people off health care."

Here's the thing you have to start being honest about Cory - you guys never really balanced the budget! Instead, you took a lot of federal government aid (borrowed money), illegally raided segregated funds, raised taxes against your express campaign promises, used accounting gimmicks, and kicked debt with other states down for the road for Walker to have to deal with.

So explain to us Cory, when did you ever actually effectively balance a budget? Try NEVER!

“This plan is nothing more than a hidden tax on all of Wisconsin’s taxpayers, businesses, and health care providers.”

So, where’s the hidden tax Cory, and how much will it cost us? It’s easy to throw out rhetoric Cory, much harder to provide actual details.

So Cory, where’s your blistering talking down about how Obamacare cuts over $.5B from Medicare?

Give it up Cory – you’re nothing but a partisan hack who needs to be voted out of office. Remember, this is the same guy who was being critical of the Republicans for not coming up a jobs bill during the jobs session, and yet, never even drafted or proposed a jobs bill himself! Nothing but a hypocrite!!!

Alias Mr. Hoffa:

I am sick and tired of the tone of your comments while hiding behind a factitious name. To those of us who use our real names at least we must be mindful that everyone "knows" who is the real contributor and act accordingly.

You always take the opposite point of view and slam people needlessly just because you can hide yourself without letting others know exactly who you are. Don't you ever agree with anyone? I personally feel you are disingenuous because of this and much less credible as a result. I feel you would not be as rash if you used your real name just like I feel you would not be that way in person. The comments merely incite emotional responses. There is little constructive nor much room for consensus building in your comments.

Please consider using your real name. If we all did this it would go a long way to building a sense of real community. This concept will become much more important as time goes forward as we all will need to band together to solve problems instead of merely complaining about them. Respect of your community of individuals goes a lot toward creating solutions to issues.

I honestly am hoping that this is not merely picked apart but instead taken at face value with the understanding of how we can work together. Use your real name please.

Mr. Hoffa

Thank you for your reply. My conclusion is there are ways to share what you think without eliciting people to threaten you or your family. My apologies if you actually experienced this. However, my comments above went to the heart of why people might be reacting to your posts, including me. A little diplomacy goes a long way. If someone spoke to you in the way you speak to others how would you feel? I felt attacked.

We all have opinions. And that is a good thing. But to attack someone verbally or elicit a response so large that it would create emotions from people who would want to do you harm should send you a message of concern.

That message should not have been to just go about doing the same things with a factitious name but rather to tone down the rhetoric so people have some wiggle room to respond. Remember, when you corner someone you are creating the environment for them to lurch forward to protect themselves. That is not the kind of place that helps people work out their differences.

I hope you take this comment in the spirit it was created and you give some thought to why I responded.

Sincerely,
Rees

I would have said the same things to Cory. In fact, this goes to the root of most of the issues we have today in politics. Whether it is Congress, State Legislators or local, our society has become extremely complex and we need to just slow down and really listen to one another. The days of just arguing democratic/republican or liberal/conservative I feel are over. Only one problem. The memo hasn't been read yet.

I'm just hoping that we can work together to create a more creative form of dialog. To take the best of all sides. I don't think that is too ideological. It's really simple. If we start sharing ideas that provide insight to solving problems in a specific concrete way and them debate in a civil fashion, we will all benefit.

Hopefully, we will get an opportunity to meet some day.

Cheers

*nodding* YES! you guys get what Patch is trying to do. Hoffa runs a restaurant and blogs... what a multi-tasker ;)

I would like that "James". Give me a few more weeks because I am currently recovering from surgery. Kinda painful to get around right now.

Yeah, the restaurant is a family affair. We've had our ups and downs, but overall, It's been going strong since 1986!

I also work full time independently contracting professional legal analysis services to the US federal government.

So, Hoffa tends to stay pretty busy :-)

@Rees - Take all the time you need. Hoffa will be around on the Patch. Just give me a holler when you’re up for it! Hope you heal up well and soon so that you're able to fully enjoy the holiday season!

The surgeon actually told me it would take another 4 to 8 weeks before I get rid of the pain I have from the surgery. I guess I was hoping for less when I said a couple of weeks. (grin) You actually have an easier time contacting me because I am in the phone book. Give a call sometime. I live in Racine. I'm not going anywhere. Where are you, by the way? After this I guess we should quit our personal conversation stuff and make way for others who might want to contribute to the actual subject of this thread. Talk to you soon.

Always kinda chuckle when I read... "the Patch."
@Rees hope you feel better man.

Cory Mason continue to rip republicans, saying they are only helping billionaires at the expense of "workers". As a Rubberville resident, I counted on Mr. Mason to represent all of the taxpaying citizens in his district. Unfortunately, he's only representing those that are union members. What about the rest of us? He doesn't care about us if we're not union members, so we turn to republicans, who represent all taxpayers.