Surprise! Obama doesn't ask Big Jim's advice

Big Jim Sensenbrenner is unhappy that (a) Louis Butler has been nominated for a federal judgeship and (b) even more importantly, that Sensenbrenner wasn't consulted. Sniffs Jimbo:

"The fact of the matter is that Mr. Butler lost a state-wide election, held by the people of Wisconsin, to continue serving on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court," Sensenbrenner said. "Now, the man who was voted off the bench in Wisconsin is being given a promotion, a lifetime appointment and a pay raise."

Speaking of elections, we had one for President last year and Sensenbrenner's guy lost. We also had one awhile back in which Democrats took over the House. All of that helps explain why Big Jim, former House Judiciary chair and friend of the Bush White House, is out of the loop these days.

And, speaking further of elections, we find that Louis Butler received 402,798 votes from the citizens of Wisconsin last time he ran. Jim Sensenbrenner got 47,144.

Illusory Tenant has little patience for his whining:

Neither your advice nor your consent are required, Congressman. So why should they even be solicited. When the Sarah Palin/Sean Hannity ticket triumphs, then you can nominate Michael Gableman.

And Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now asks:

"Where was Sensenbrenner's outrage when George Bush made John Ashcroft the Attorney General immediately after Ashcroft lost a statewide election to someone who had died?"

Good question.

Sensenbrenner's consistent -- consistently wrong

Big Jim Sensenbrenner isn't one of those politicians who says one thing to one audience and something else to another. Whether he's in Washington, Wisconsin or China, Sensenbrenner sticks to the same kind of unfounded, misleading rationale for ignoring climate change.

Cory Liebmann has the details.

Cow fart tax just a lot of bull

Jim Sensenbrenner's been getting some media mileage with a claim that Democrats want to tax cow flatulence as a way to fight climate change (which he doesn't believe is happening.) Actually, prim and proper F. Jim says farts, not flatulence, because that's more likely to get attention.

Only one problem: His "fears" are total bullshit.

Hard times for the Sensenbrenners

Who says Jim Sensenbrenner doesn't have any empathy for poor folks who are hit hard by the economic recession?

He no doubt feels their pain, even if he doesn't vote to offer them much in the way of help.

The Journal Sentinel reports that hard times have befallen the Sensenbrenners:

The Menomonee Falls Republican reported a net worth of $8.9 million as of March 31, a more than 20% decrease from the previous year. Most of the $2.4 million drop in the value of his assets could be attributed to declines in the stock market that have posed serious investment losses for millions of Americans.

It's a good thing he lets the special interests pay for his all-too-frequent junkets or he might have to consider trimmming the family travel budget -- or sell the stamp collection, valued last year at $110,000. the same as Gwen Moore's net worth.

Sensenbrenner meets his match

Separated at the dinner table?

Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. [l] and His Serene Highness Johannes "Hans" Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d'Aviano Pius von und zu Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg, Reigning Prince of Liechtenstein and Sovereign of the Princely House of Liechtenstein, pictured at Vaduz Castle, the Royal Residence.

Lichtensteiners celebrate another Sensenbrenner visit.

Michael Horne has the gory details.

Sensenbrenner to run again on Obstructionist ticket in 2010

From F. Jim Sensenbrenner, some kind words:

some of the goals of the Obama plan are admirable, like improving our economy and reducing the federal debt

Unfortunately, he totally disagrees about how to do those things, so will work his heart out to try to stop anything Obama might propose.

That was the gist of his message as he announced to the Repubs in his district that he will run again in 2010, despite having recently reached Medicare age. Sayeth Big Jim:

“The residents of this District certainly know by now that I say what I mean, and I do what I say. There isn’t a lot of sugar-coating here. What you see is what you get. I am humbled by the support and faith from those I represent. Together, we can dig our heels in and show our resolve."

Humbled? We'd like to see that.

"Sensenbrenner should resign'

From Milwaukee BizBlog:

Dear Congressman Sensenbrenner:

I believe it may be time for you to move on.

To say I was flabbergasted by what I read this morning about your trip to Liechtenstein would be an understatement.

What color is the sun on your planet?

Your constituents are fighting for their economic survival. They are struggling to keep their homes. Some of them have been laid-off or experienced foreclosure. Your actions are a slap in the face to each of us trying to work harder, create and save jobs, and set an example for our employees, neighbors and children...

Mr. Congressman, as the owner of three businesses, I see every day the anxiety in my clients' and customers' eyes. They struggle to keep their doors open. Worry about getting credit from the bank to make payroll. Or question if they even have enough money in their grocery budget to buy a six-pack of beer.

Junkets and freebies are no longer acceptable...

You have had a long and impressive career. I have admired your conservative voice in the crowd of moderates. But perhaps there are other conservatives standing in the wings who know what it is like to sign the front of a paycheck, not only the back...

You no longer have my support or my vote.

Sincerely,

Craig J. Peterson
Chairman and CEO
Zigman Joseph Stephenson
Buffalo Water Beer Company
Hunter Industries

Does Peterson see himself as a conservative alternative "standing in the wings who know what it is like to sign the front of a paycheck?" Don't expect him to run, but maybe it's crossed his mind.

Sensenbrenner boo hoos; Who cares?

Long time no post.

F. Jim Sensenbrenner seems irrelevant these days.

In fact, that's what prompts this post. He doesn't want to be treated like he doesn't matter, even if he doesn't.

Now that there is a Democrat in the White House the Democrats control both houses of Congress, and both of Wisconsin's U.S. Senators are Democrats, no one is consulting Sensenbrenner -- who used to be in the loop when there was a Republican president -- about federal judicial appointments.

And why should they? They are playing by the rules, which say:

According to the (federal nomination) commission's charter, the senators each appoint four members to the body when they belong to the same party as the president.

F. Jim boo hoos.

Who cares?

JS picks challenger in GOP primary

Sunday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial endorses Jim Burkee, a 40-year-old college professor who began his campaign as a political science experiment:

Jim Sensenbrenner has the support of the party apparatus in the 5th Congressional District. He consistently earns high ratings from taxpayer rights groups and conservative organizations. He has a strong sense of constituent service. He’s tough. He’s outspoken.

But Sensenbrenner too often has been a roadblock in Congress, even to the point of splitting his own party over illegal immigration because he couldn’t find it in himself to compromise...

Sensenbrenner, though solidly conservative, did little to advance Republican priorities while entrusted with the powerful chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee. Instead, he alienated an entire voting bloc — Latinos — with his dogmatism on the immigration issue.

His extreme stance on illegal immigration helped inflame the public, split his party and poisoned the atmosphere in Congress for reform. Sensenbrenner authored an enforcement-only measure that would have made felons of undocumented immigrants, split up families and built a 700-mile border fence.

At least Burkee will have something nice for his scrapbook.

Bllnd pig finds an acorn

Jim Sensenbrenner makes an admittedly small gesture to help Tibetan refugees, as reported by the International Campaign for Tibet:

U.S. Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced the Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act on July 17 to provide 3,000 immigrant visas to long-staying Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal. Congressmen Miller and Sensenbrenner traveled to Dharamsala, India, as part of the Congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in March to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, express concern for the volatile situation in Tibet, and explore ways to demonstrate support for the Tibetan people. The Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act extends support by providing 3,000 immigrant visas to qualified Tibetans over a three year period...

"The plight of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhists is well-known," said Representative Sensenbrenner. "During the course of the trip in March, I had the opportunity to experience one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life - the privilege of meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, head of state and spiritual leader of Tibet. The meeting provided the delegation with the opportunity to have a frank and comprehensive discussion about the plight of the Tibetan people...with very few options available to them...the legislation Congressman Miller and I introduced today will provide relief..."

That trip to Dharamsala actually did some good. Pelosi should share the credit for bringing him along, assuming she had a choice of traveling companions.

Since Dems took over, it's all gone to hell

Emergency! Emergency!

Those damned entitlement programs are eating up the whole budget, and those damned Democrats won't do anything about it, says Jim Sensenbrenner in a recent op ed. He says, among other things:

While these statistics may be shocking to some, my constituents know I have spoken out about this looming crisis for years...

In recent years, Republicans in Congress have introduced a number of legislative and administrative proposals in an attempt to slow the growth of Medicare spending, only to be criticized for trying to cut the program...

It is time for Democrats controlling the agenda in Congress seriously to debate the crushing costs of entitlement programs and start implementing real reforms.

OK, here's the rub: Weren’t the Republicans in control of the House from 1995-06? And didn’t they control both houses of Congress and the White House 2003-06?

Why, pray tell, didn't they do something? Now that the Dems are in charge, the sky is falling.

Crossover time?

While fielding a candidate for nearly all 99 Assembly seats, Wisconsin Democrats did not find an opponent against Jim Sensenbrenner for the Congressional seat he's held for 30 years. But he has a Republican primary and an independent in November.

There is a hot Democratic Assembly primary for Sheldon Wasserman's seat, so that may keep those Democrats in their own primary. Those northern suburbs are probably the most Democratic part of the district, but that's only about 10 per cent of the voters.

But what an opportunity for the other 90 per cent of the Dems to vote against F. Jim, in the privacy of an open primary voting booth.

In practice, however, many people find it very difficult to vote in the opposing party's primary, even if there is no good reason to vote in their own. When they do, they generally vote for the candidate they like the best, not to try to do any malicious damage.

It looks like Big Jim probably skates again.

Here's the Journal Sentinel story.

Better gas mileage is ruining the economy

Well, Jim Sensenbrenner's certainly not one to follow the crowd. He has a mind of his own -- or half a mind, anyway.

The Journal Sentinel says Big Jim has figured out who's to blame: It's those darn Democrats!

Washington - As his Democratic colleagues blamed globalization for some of the problems facing the U.S. economy, Rep. James Sensenbrenner said Tuesday many of those problems are being exacerbated by Democratic tax and energy policies.

"This is not a question of outsourcing jobs to China, India or any foreign country," Sensenbrenner, a Republican from Wisconsin, said after attending a House hearing on American job losses in a new global economy. "It's a question of Congress advocating for policies that make it impossible to sell."

For instance, he said policies that have limited domestic oil production and increased the fuel economy standards in vehicles have hurt the economy.

He seems to have put his finger on it. Better gas mileage. That's what's wrecking the economy.

What planet does he represent again?

Skinflint Sensenbrenner stiffs House GOP

Roll Call, the Capitol Hill insider newspaper, reports:

House GOP leaders are privately grumbling about the level of fundraising and donating by some committees’ ranking members, suggesting that would-be chairmen should be steering more money to the party’s effort to retake the majority.

Hmmmm. Who could they be talking about?

Our guy, Jim Sensenbrenner, didn't accumulate his big campaign warchest or his personal fortune by throwing money around. He's a well-known cheapskate who never pays his own way if he can find someone else to buy the ticket or pick up the tab.

No surprise, then, that Sensenbrenner, the top Republican on the House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming, hasn't given a nickel, according to the Indianapolis Star. Next lowest is Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the top Republican on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, who's given or raised $28,500.

Sensenbrenner's stamp collection equals Gwen Moore's net worth

Apparently tired of running the same story -- "Herb Kohl richest in Wisconsin delegation" -- every year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel instead decided to write that all Wisconsin members of Congress are better off than the average Wisconsinite.

They led with Gwen Moore, "the least wealthy member of Wisconsin's congressional delegation", saying correctly that her $170,000 salary and the pension she will receive makes her better off than her constituents:

Moore estimates her net worth is at least $110,000 - almost double the median household net worth in the country in 2002, the most recent census figures available.

The paper was so busy telling us how well off Moore is that you had to read the small print in a box next to the story to find this:

Jim Sensenbrenner owns a stamp collection worth $110,000.

His stamp collection equals her net worth. For some reason, Sensenbrenner's net worth didn't even make the story, although all of the others' did. The Center for Responsive Politics pegs it between $21-million and $31-million.

Let the unemployed eat cake!

From Scot Ross at One Wisconsin Now:

Gazillionaire Kotex heir F. Jim Sensenbrenner spent today doing his best to keep Wisconsinites who have lost their jobs because of the endless Bush economic policies he has supported away from extended unemployment benefits.

Sensenbrenner, famously characterized by Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone as…well, read the story here, was the only member of the Wisconsin House delegation to vote against a plan to extend unemployment benefits for workers by 13 weeks.

This despite the jobless rate skyrocketing by the largest percentage in over 20 years and despite the fact 325,000 jobs have been lost so far due to the failed Bush economy.

F. Jim’s birthday is this Saturday. How appropriate his message to Wisconsin’s unemployed is “let ‘em cake.”

Is Sensenbrenner's son a leaker?

Was it Jim Sensenbrenner's son who leaked the Canadian memo awhile back that caused Barack Obama some problems over his stance on NAFTA?

Dan Bice asks the question in the Journal Sentinel "Dogged" blog.

Young Sensenbrenner indignantly denies it.

And at this point it doesn't much matter.

More intriguing are questions of how and why he got the job in the Canadian embassy in Washington in the first place. The Toronto Star reports:

The ambassador, Michael Wilson, didn't want him there.

The diplomatic corps on Pennsylvania Ave. didn't want him there and ultimately were so distrustful of the son of a right-wing Republican congressman, they muttered that they wanted his door left open so they could hear who he was talking to.

But officials in Stephen Harper's office wanted him there and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day particularly wanted him there, based on Sensenbrenner's long links, dating back to school days, with the former Reform party, the precursor of today's government in Ottawa.

It wasn't the first time a partisan posting trumped diplomacy at a Canadian mission, but his appointment was rare in that he seemed to work under the radar, having won the post by telling his buddies in Ottawa that he could do a better lobbying job of Congress than the diplomats already there.

When the Toronto Star first looked into Sensenbrenner's short-lived, no-bid contract last year, he had not registered as an agent for a foreign government, even though he won plaudits for opening some Republican doors on Capitol Hill.

But here's the strangest part of the story:

The push to get him on the payroll came particularly from Day, sources said, when he took over the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative file, the name given to the Republican move to require all Canadians crossing the U.S. land border to carry passports or secure driver's licences.[Canada opposed that move.]

His father also stood as an impediment to everything the embassy staff was fighting for.

Jim Sensenbrenner, chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee before Democrats took control of Congress in 2006, is a hawk on immigration and authored the Enhanced Border Security Act of 2002. He was also the man who introduced the U.S. Patriot Act.

Young (27) Sensenbrenner's name is Frank, named for the great-grandfather who was president and CEO of Kimberly Clark and who invented Kotex. F. James Sensenbrenner's first name is also Frank, as is his cousin's, F. Joseph Sensenbrenner, onetime Madison mayor. (What you can learn on this blog is endless, although perhaps useless.)

'The Sensenbrenner Tax' and Real ID

Last year, Wisconsin legislators raised the driver's license fee by $10 to pay for state compliance with Real ID, the national ID law authored by Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner. The fee, which raised Wisconsin taxes by $22 million, will now be used to balance the Wisconsin state budget.

Now Congressman Sensenbrenner is mad. He calls the deal, negotiated by Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) and Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston), a "breach of faith with the people of Wisconsin" and a "fiscal shell game."

This turn of events leaves many Wisconsin conservatives scratching their heads in wonder: Congressman Sensenbrenner purports to be a foe of big government. So why is he complaining that Wisconsin legislators aren't spending his tax increase the way he wants them to?

That's the question asked by Sensenbrenner's opponent in the Republican primary, on the Small Business Times blog, which -- besides calling the new fee the Sensenbrenner Tax -- includes a lot of reasons for both the left and right to oppose Sensenbrenner's Real ID law. Read it here.

Sensenbrenner meets the enemy, and it's the Assembly GOP

Republicans are eating their young at the state GOP convention, Mike Mathias says, and who's there to get a big helping but Jim Sensenbrenner.

We've got to get our metaphors straight, though. Mathias says Sensenbrenner "threw Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch under a bus" by ripping on him for the budget repair bill the GOP Assembly recently passed.

But the headline says the GOP are "eating their young."

That would seem to suggest that Sensenbrenner is dining on roadkill.

Says the Recess Supervisor:

If Democrats are attacking Republicans and Republicans are also attacking Republicans, this is going to be one hell of an election season in Wisconsin. In throwing Huebsch under the bus (and for what, cheap applause?), Sensenbrenner once again proves that the only guy he cares about is Jim Sensenbrenner. He's just another wealthy pig with a nose for the populist breeze, constantly rooting out issues that he can use to exploit Joe and Jane Sixpack, all the while supporting tax policies that pad his own wallet.

We'll drink to that.

Top 10 reasons Big F. Jim has to go

Why should Jim Sensenbrenner be replaced?

Let us count the reasons.

So, is no Democrat even going to run? Bad strategy.