Random Thoughts

[larry kremis]

I couldn't find it. Let's do it again.

[DannyO]

If gay marriage is made illegal, then only gay outlaws will have inlaws.

[Bob Stepp]

[Slayer Dug]

Take away their exo-skeletons and crustaceans make great bait.

[funesthememorious]

There's always free cheese in a mousetrap.

[BethD]

on Yahoo there is no mail to yahoo about.

[Snagg]

I, on the other hand, have had great success Googling myself.

[Snagg]

...You mean pronouncing the "t" in "often"? Elitist.

[P.A.]

We all have accents of some sort or other but many are becoming less distinct because of television and movies. The people on TV must not be from anywhere.

[funesthememorious]

It's good to practice impulse control at traffic court when the judge asks you if there is anything you would like to say.

[funesthememorious]

Especially if you are standing next to people with guns and riot sticks.

[Snagg]

I'm extremely grumpy.

[Snagg]

Not just him, either...

 

Scott Walker Gives $81,500 Government Job To Top Donor’s 26-Year-Ol...

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R)

Since taking office in January, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has stripped public workers of their collective bargaining rights, proposed wage cuts to local government employees, and insisted that his “state is broke” and that its public workers are overpaid. But Walker applies a different standard to himself.

Today, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reveals that Walker is using state funds to pay more than $81,500 a year to the 26-year-old son of a major campaign donor with no college degree and two drunken-driving convictions.

Despite having almost no management experience, UW Madison college dropout Brian Deschane now oversees state environmental and regulatory issues and manages dozens of Commerce Department employees. After only two months on the job, Deschane has already received a 26 percent pay raise and a promotion.

Deschane’s father, Jerry Deschane was a major financial backer of the Governor’s campaign:

Jerry Deschane, executive vice president and longtime lobbyist for the Madison-based Wisconsin Builders Association…bet big on Walker during last year’s governor’s race.

The group’s political action committee gave $29,000 to Walker and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, last year, making it one of the top five PAC donors to the governor’s successful campaign. Even more impressive, members of the trade group funneled more than $92,000 through its conduit to Walker’s campaign over the past two years.

Total donations: $121,652.

Deschanes’ father admitted that during the gubenatorial campaign he may have put in “good words” for his son with Walker campaign manager (and current chief of staff) Keith Gilkes. A state official has confirmed that Gilkes “recommended Deschane for an interview at the agency.” Michael McCabe, the executive director of the Wisconsin democracy Campaign, said the appointment had “all the markings of political patronage.”

In the coming months, we may be seeing more cases of Brian Deschanes. The anti-union law Walker signed last month also included provisions that would convert more than thirty-seven civil service positions into political appointees chosen by the Governor.

– Kevin Donohoe