Wisconsin State Senator Quits Dem Caucus

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

Source: TPM

Wisconsin state Sen. Tim Cullen quit the Democratic caucus Tuesday — throwing a cloud of uncertainty over the party’s narrow 17-16 majority, their biggest victory from the waves of state recall elections.

Cullen announced his decision Tuesday after Majority Leader Mark Miller unveiled a list of committee chairmanships in which Cullen was the lone Democrat missing.

Cullen’s statement leaves some ambiguity as to his new intentions:

As of the sending of this email, I am no longer a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus. I will decide over the next few days or weeks whether to become an Independent. I will not become a Republican.

This entire episode makes clear to me that Sen. Miller has no time for my independent ideas and my support of bipartisan solutions to the state’s problems.

read more:
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/wisconsin-tim-cullen-quits-dem-caucus.php



Read more: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/wisconsin-tim-cullen-quits-dem-caucus.php

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WTF?!??!?

[Panasonic]

1. Cullen is an idiot.

Why would anyone want to quit the Dem Party and go independent when the Dems are on the verge of a clean sweep in 2012, removing about 75% of Republicans and Blue Dogs from their elected positions and recapture the House and strengthen the Senate.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. Are you talking National or Wisconsin?

[valerief]

2. He's either another craven asshole or he got an offer he couldn't refuse. nt

[milwaukeelib33]

8. He claims he will remain independent, but

word has it the pukes have dangled a committee chairmanship out there for him. Don't know what he will do, but with the senate out of session until next year I don't believe much will be happen either way.

[sybylla]

29. Cullen can definitely be bought. I would be surprised if he wasn't.

The last thing the pukes want is a branch of the legislature in control of Dems passing real legislation and making their last session look like a circle jerk. It's worth a lot of money/power to them to keep the Dems from taking full control.

Whether Cullen's defection turns control over to the pukes or only goes so far as to take us back to joint control so the Dems can't do an effing thing, rest assured he's getting something for it.

[secondwind]

3. Paid off?

[Bjorn Against]

4. And here this guy said he wanted to run against Walker in the recall

What a backstabber, he had no problem with the recall when he saw an opportunity to be Governor but when he did not get adequate enthusiasm for his campaign he suddenly decided it was too partisan. Asshole.

[bonniebgood]

6. when your the tie braker vote you can

name your price. end of story. MONEY

[salib]

7. Shades of Mr. Constipated.

Lieberman.

[SoapBox]

13. Funny and ditto!

[TDale313]

9. I am so beyond tired

Of these wannabe Republicans in Dem clothing holding the party hostage while those who want some actual liberal (or even not right-of-center) policies are told to sit down and shut up cause without the centrists we'd lose. Guess what? 30 years of chasing the "center" while republicans move the goalpost futher to the right, and we're 3/4 of the way to batshit crazy with the "center" way in the rearview mirror. I used to consider myself a moderate. I believe my views haven't moved that far.

[Scuba]

35. Well said, thanks.

[julian09]

10. The dems will have to get another candidate to replace him for Nov election.

Didn't get a committee chairmanship, so he wants to take away Sen Millers majority.

[calimary]

14. Sore Loserman 2.0.

Actually, the "2.0" part is in error. It's more like 2.0 MILLION. Or MORE: the number of republi-CONS in Congress and elsewhere in power and every last teabagger who's ever drawn breath, who are the ULTIMATE Sore Losermen because they didn't get their way (as in - THEIR guy in the White House). Like spoiled snot-nosed brat-children throwing temper tantrums.

On second thought, it's not "LIKE spoiled snot-nosed brat-children throwing temper tantrums." The ARE "spoiled snot-nosed brat-children throwing temper tantrums."

[myrna minx]

16. His district voted for Barrett in the recall in spite of his whining.

Janesville Wisconsin has traditionally been a progressive town with a strong UAW. (Despite it being Paul Ryan's hometown.) On the upside, it's Russ Feingold's hometown too.

[calimary]

20. Well, that's encouraging. I just really have to wonder about the intellect (or lack thereof)

or rationality (or lack thereof) or sensibility (or lack thereof) or logic (or lack thereof) or simple human decency (or lack thereof) among the voters who send people like michele bachmann or joe walsh or alan west or any of those irrational reactionary dickheads to Washington and install them in positions of power and influence. THAT is what they like and approve of? THAT is what they want speaking for them in Congress or the Senate? THAT is what they want? THAT is what they think is correct and moral and Christian? Seriously???? WHAT ON EARTH IS WITH THESE PEOPLE??????????

[myrna minx]

22. Paul Ryan pretends that he's Mr Moderate when he's home campaigning, but now his district is

beginning to see his deception. I don't know if they'll throw him out this time around, but his "aw, shucks small town boy makes good" image that he's carefully cultivated for the last 12 years, doesn't match up with his horrendous budget. Unfortunately, the GM plant and the UAW are gone from my hometown, changing the face of my old community, but the old timey Wisconsin progressive spirit lives on, in spite of Tim Cullen and Paul Ryan.

[sybylla]

30. Cullen's term isn't up until 2014

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Tim_Cullen

But he is 68. Anything could happen between now and then.

[milwaukeelib33]

34. Damn, didn't realize that

Was hoping there would still be time to get someone to primary him yet this fall. Guess not. So, we're stuck with him for two more years? Damn, damn, damn.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

39. "He is 68". Maybe he plans to sell every vote for top dollar, to

ensure a comfy retirement. Committee chairmanships? Nah, too indirect and limited payoff possibilities. Independent? Yeah, profit opportunities with every vote. He'll be at the top of every lobbyist's quick call list.

[Tx4obama]

11. Does it even matter right now? Aren't they in recess until after the next election? n/t

[SoapBox]

12. Definitely another WTF moment

...but...are we going to see a trend here?

In California (South Bay area) there is a guy running against Waxman for the House...his name is Bill Bloomfield.

I am so over Waxman (as with Feinstein) being essentially worthless (or in her case, a DINO). So this Bloomfield
is running with NO party tag...nada, not even Independent.

My problem is...he was Republican and has always been involved with Republicans (he was with the McCain
campaign). I just don't trust where he will draw on experience from, to make decisions.

So...will there be more and more giving up an affiliation but will swing to the Radical Right for money and power or whatever?

[calimary]

21. Don't trust ANYONE who says they're independent. Just don't.

Especially if his or her background is as a former republi-CON. That should tell you all you need to know about which candidate should get your vote. Waxman's not completely worthless, and he has a lot of seniority, which means more clout and better positioning. With some newbie, we'd have to start over. And again, if they're fudging on their party affiliation, if they don't have the courage or honesty to put in their ads or on their bumper stickers or yard signs who they are and what affiliation they have, then they're just being sneaky-ass weasels hoping they can fool good voters like you and slither into power in Washington.

Do NOT reward bad behavior like this! And do NOT trust this bloomfield guy. Your instinct not to trust him is spot-on. I'd pay attention to that.

[TDale313]

24. I refuse to vote for any candidate...

Who won't list a party affiliation. I may be paranoid, but my gut tells me that the ballot measure that allows candidates in Ca to not list it, as well as the measure which allowed top two vote getters to move on in a race, regardless of affiliation (so you could have two Repubs or two Dems or two who just didn't declare) were attempts by Republicans to try and worm their way into more offices here in California. They just felt like Trojan Horses to me. Am I crazy?

[sybylla]

31. Cullen is different. He's gone off his rocker.

He's been a Dem legie in WI since the 70's. But last year he was the one member of the Fab 14 hiding out in Illinois who continually threatened to go back to the capitol and give the pukes their quorum to pass their budget loaded up with all that crap legislation including the union busting bill.

Got his ass kissed the whole time they were in Illinois just to keep him there. Guess he got used to it.

[myrna minx]

15. When Walker was caught on tape speaking to who he thought was a Koch brother,

Cullen was the Senator that Walker thought would "play ball" so to speak. He was weakest link of the caucus - he wanted to return to Wisconsin from IL to bring quorum, over the protests of the other Senators. He never appeared with the group on the Ed Show. He's a Joe Lieberman/Max Baucus-esque Dem.

[julian09]

17. do Dem's have another progressive to replace him on ballot?

I think he just committed political suicide, unless Wisconsin is hopelessly worse than I thought.

[milwaukeelib33]

19. Lori Compas ran a good campaign

in the recent recall in the county adjacent, Scott Fitzgerald's seat. Unfortunately, she came up just short. Maybe she could be coaxed into moving a few miles west into Cullen's district? She is a very good, fresh, young progressive.

Running back-to-back campaign's over a period of 6 or so months must be a grueling undertaking and might be too much to ask out of anyone, though, residency aside.

[myrna minx]

23. She's a great choice. There's all sorts of wonderful progressives to choose from,

that's why it's so frustrating when we're saddled with drips like Cullen.

M'waukee.

[sybylla]

32. His seat isn't up until 2014

Lots of time to find a candidate.

[midnight]

36. Here is a copy of that conversation...

Playing Ball

During the call, Walker talked about speaking with state Sen. Tim Cullen, one of the Democrats hiding in Illinois to stop the bill. The governor said he told the senator he would not budge.

After Walker said he would be willing to meet with Democratic leaders, the impostor said he would bring "a baseball bat." Walker laughed and responded that he had "a slugger with my name on it."

The caller suggested he was thinking about "planting some troublemakers" among the protesters, and Walker said he'd thought about doing that but declined. The governor said the protests eventually would die because the media would stop covering them.

At the end of the call, the prankster said: "I'll tell you what, Scott, once you crush these bastards, I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time."

Walker responded: "All right, that would be outstanding. Thanks for all the support and helping us move the cause forward. We appreciate it, and we're doing the just and right thing for the right reasons, and it's all about getting our freedoms back."
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/23/133996736/wisconsin-governor-pranked-by-caller-posing-as-billionaire

But I'm still looking for a report about a Dem. who said he would vote with walker via walker being sworn in as gov. I'm trying to determine if it is this same guy...

[myrna minx]

38. Here's a link ~

http://uppitywis.org/blogarticle/can-tim-cullen-survive-walkers-kind-words-about-him-fake-call-da


From the transcript of the fake Koch-Walker conversation:
KOCH: Now, you’re not talking to any of them Democrat bastards are you?
WALKER: There’s one guy that’s actually voted with me on a bunch of things that I called on Saturday for about 45 minutes mainly to tell him that while I appreciate his friendship, and his work with us on other things and tell him well, I wasn’t going to budge. Mainly, because he’s about the only reasonable one over there,
KOCH: Goddamn right.
WALKER: I figured if I go talk to him, he’ll go back to the rest of the gang and say you know I’ve known Walker for 20 years and he’s not budging.
KOCH: Now what’s his name again?
WALKER: His name is Tim Cullen.
KOCH: All right.
WALKER: He’s …
KOCH: I’ll give that man a call.
WALKER: Actually in his case, I wouldn’t call him, and I’ll tell you why. He’s pretty reasonable, but he’s not one of us. So, I would let him be. I think he’s in a position where maybe he can motivate that caucus but he’s not an ally, he’s just a guy, he was in the senate years ago, he was actually the Senate democrat leader back in the 80s and Tommy Thompson hired him to be the head of health and human services, he went into the private sector, made real money, and then became a little more open minded, and last fall he got elected into the senate seat he was in 25 years ago. And he’s kind of one of these guys, he really doesn’t care, he’s not there for political reasons, he’s just trying to get something done. So he’s good to reach out to for me, but he’s not a conservative, he’s just a pragmatist.

[tabasco]

18. Follow the $$$$$

Yep.

[Teamster Jeff]

25. Wisconson...... Up for another recall? n/t

[Politicalboi]

26. It's all about

ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[global1]

27. I Wonder If He Now Has A Nice Bank Account In The.....

Caymans or Switzerland?

Koch Brothers bought another one.

[Zoeisright]

28. Jackass.

That is the only term for Cullen.

[sybylla]

33. Another take on it - sounds like he didn't get the committee chair he wanted

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/press/one-wisconsin-now-statements-on-cullen-escapade.html

...Sen. Tim Cullen will refuse to caucus with Senate Democrats because they would not remove Jon Erpenbach as chair of the Senate Health Committee in favor of him.

“Congratulations to Sen. Mark Miller for refusing to buckle to Sen. Tim Cullen’s self-serving demands. One wonders on what planet Tim Cullen resides where he thought the unprecedented uprising against Scott Walker’s attacks on Wisconsin was done to put a millionaire, 20-year insurance company executive and opponent of ObamaCare in charge of the committee overseeing healthcare reform in the State Senate.”

I still wouldn't put it past him to be seeking a BBD from the pukes, if they haven't already offered him one.

[undeterred]

37. What a whiner.

He can go caucus himself.