57
There are 100 members of the US Senate. 57 of them, including Russ Feingold, are lawyers.That would be fine if we had a lawsuit to settle. But we have an economy to fix.
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before you make a comment like your opening in your add, I’d like to know if any of you could READ OR UNDERSTAND anything real people write or ARE ALL OF YOU AS SMART AS G. BRUSH???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? I WOULD HAVE TO BE OUT OF MY MIND TO VOTE FOR SHOULD A BUNCH OF DISTORTIONISTS AS YOU PEOPLE ARE.
umm… that rant made absolutely no sense…
The health care legislation is written in legal format, not because the democrats wanted it that way. All legal documents are written that way. 2″ margins and muliple spaced (double or more) for the entire document. If you format the bill normally, it would be about 10-15% the size in terms of page numbers.
At least this republican can write a decent sentence. If all democrats wrote like you, it is no wonder that the health care bill took so long to read and went over 1000 pages. Half of it probably had all caps and thirty punctuation marks after every sentence.
If you choose to represent your political party in a post, I would at least talk as if you had a brain, or else, you end up disgracing the well educated political voters.
What changes does Ron Johnson stand for? Why doesn’t he come out and tell us? Why doesn’t he debate Russ Feingold?
It’s always concerning when a challenger won’t debate an incumbent, even though Russ has asked several times. The incumbent is expected to not want to debate, and it’s usually best for him not to, but not the challenger. Challengers need to show they are an upgrade and not a downgrade. If a politician can’t debate their views in front of his own constituents, or even talk specifically about them, how can he aggressively debate his views against some of the top politicians in this country, many of which are lawyers? Ron Johnson needs to prove his value to us. We need to be sure Wisconsin is sending the best to Washington.
If someone knows what specific plans Ron is for, please post a reply.
I should clarify I meant specific plans for the economy. He says he wants to spend and tax less, which is a good thing, but the devil is in the details.
Are millionaires like himself going to get hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax cuts while middle class families only get a couple hundred? Will farmers get less of a break than oil companies who have contributed large amounts to his campaign? Will he cut Medicare and Social Security? What specific spending cuts will he make, and how will it impact our deficit? This should be easy for an accountant. In a fragile economy we must make careful decisions.
Your right, this should be “easy for an accountant.” Of course there is a little sarcasm in the “easy” part, but you’re right that an accountant has better awareness of the effects of everything you said than a lawyer does. Who better to make important decisions in a fragile economy than someone who understands the effects of these decisions, i.e an accountant.
Who said to spend and lower taxes is a good thing? Can’t spend unless you raise taxes. If you want lower taxes, then spending has to be cut. Can’t have the best of both worlds.
Certainly I did not say that!
I should have phrased that better. I meant spend less and tax less. However, I did want to emphasize that a document full of numbers coming in and going out should be easy for an accountant. Ron needs to explain what taxes he’ll cut and what spending he’ll cut. It needs to make sense for where the economy is right now. For example, we can’t cut unemployment, not saying Ron is saying that, because right now that would leave millions of people homeless and probably spur another recession if not a depression. Also, economists say that cutting middle class taxes stimulates the economy more than the few richest at the top who will simply give it to Wall Street. So we need to know who will get which tax cuts. For example, Ron Johnson has reason to give corporations and the richest few more tax cuts because it would benefit him more in the short-term. This is not a consideration for Russ Feingold.
I’m also not the only one to take notice. Politico ran this story about Ron Johnson the Invisible Candidate on their front page today, http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43121.html.
But ya, I agree with you on the “come out and debate part” to clarify where he stands on certain issues.
I don’t know why there are so many lawyers in the U.S. Senate. It could have to do with the complexity of writing laws. They could certainly earn more money practicing law I would think.
Russ is only one of a handful of Senators that is NOT a millionaire. Electing you will add one more millionaire to that bunch & I personally don’t think that is a good thing. You don’t represent me nor most of people from Wisconsin. You are fooling people with your ads. You represent BIG BUSINESS.
Barb,
A wonderful thing about Ron Johnson is that he is a regular guy like the rest of us. He has lived the American dream and in the real world, unlike many of our arrogant academic and lawyer politicians. He wants that same dream to be available to future generations of Americans and is smart enough to recognize that this can only be possible if we make dramatic changes in Washington. Instead of drifting off into a cozy retirement, he is spending millions of his hard earned money on this campaign. He does not represent BIG BUSINESS, but rather you and I. He wants to help save our country from otherwise almost certain financial ruin. Russ Feingold and friends have been reckless with our money.
I cannot imagine anything more demoralizing than being willing and able to work, but without a job. Most jobs in America come from entrepreneurs like Mr. Johnson who take on significant risk in starting a small business. Think of all the jobs that you and your friends and family have ever had – either from government or a private business. But where does goverment get money to pay for public service employees such as policemen, teachers, etc? From the private businesses and their employees. To loathe busienss is to loathe jobs. Do you really want American companies to fail?
Finally , if you really have trouble with millionaires in office, I hope you remembered that when you voted for John Kerry, Al Gore, and Herb Kohl. And don’t forget that govenment cannot spend any money that they do not first take from somebody else.
Barbara, you are right about lawyers to write laws. But the problem is that in the end, those laws need to serve the people and solve the problems we face to today. Being able to _write_ legislation does not do that if there is not the content to back it up. And let’s face it, lawyers are not known for _solving_ problems because that is not part of their job description. Part of the problem with that is the classic “when the only tool in your tool box is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail.” Similarly, when the only tool in your tool box is writing legislation…
So the real solution, is to get people in office who actually know how to solve problems because that _IS_ something they normally do for a living. So to that end what we need are more engineers, doctors, teachers, scientists, economists, and yes businessmen. When small businesses are a major component of our economy that delivers goods and services, then businessmen need to be a part of the solution process. AND they bring to the table the part of the job where they have to run a fiscally responsible and financially sound enterprise or go out of business.
As long as we continue to elect lawyers we will continue to have more laws that lack substance. A law without pragmatic purpose is useless. And lawyers are not going to be the source of pragmatic purpose because that is not their job.
Yes, many of us for years have said to stop hiring lawyers to go to Washington. There are way too many of them. The problem being they are trained to think a certain way and trained to find loopholes and avoid the truth. It is how they get paid.
Ron. Good ad. Russ has been there long enough. Actually democrats have ruled long enough. Just look at our budget shortfall of 3.4 billion this year.
Amen Ron. I am also an Accountant and work with the budget for one of the largest companies in Wisconsin. Our budget is balanced, and so should the budget in Washington. It’s time for Russ Feingold and many of his lawyer friends to get kicked out of Washington. They lack the competence to lead our country out of this recession. You have my vote, and there is no doubt in my mind that you will win in November.
I like the ad. It is not negative; it makes a point. And I have always wondered why so many of Congress is made up of such a one-sided majority as far as career and training and education and experience is concerned. Where are the contractors and teachers and accountants and distribution chain and social welfare and natural resource people? And, 18 years in Congress is long enough. Get in, do the best you can in a reasonable time and move along. Go get ‘em Ron Johnson (just like Russ did back in 1992). I am proud of what Russ had done. Now it is time for a change. And a manufacturer and accountant and someone from the Fox River Valley will be a welcome breath of fresh air. Note-I am 56, from Appleton originally, still joyfully marrried to my high school sweetheart, a CPA, a business owner, a college instructor, a father of 5 and a grandfather of 7 and I am worried about the economic situation in Washington.
Ron Johnson is from Indiana. Russ Feingold was born in Janesville, Wisconsin. He grew up in Wisconsin, and went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I would say Russ has many more connections to this state.
Ron Johnson has been a resident of Wisconsin since 1979. I find that he spent the first 24 years of his life outside the state to be a moot point. Just my opinion though.
I saw your ad tonight…and my question is…if you’re an accountant, then you should ensure the numbers balance…what is the background of the other 42 senators?
Seems to me our founders thought that “citizen legislators” were a good idea. Serve a term or two and go back home. I am strongly in favor of term limits. For every good legislator we would lose there would be three or four doorknobs sent home as well.
Russ Feingold is an arrogant SOB and is nobody’s senator but George Soros’s. He doesn’t care one whit what the people of Wisconsin want. Good riddance.
You have my vote, Mr. Johnson.
Ron, having you in the Senate will certainly be a breath of fresh air. You will replace a lawyer-politician with a record of failures. Feingold’s signature legislation, the McCain – Feingold act, was overturned by the Supreme Court. As an author of the Patriot Act, he voted for it then 2 years later he voted not to renew it. Is that Kerryesque or what!! With that kind of lawyering talent, he is certainly proof that we don’t need a lawyer for the job!!
I wish you well and you can count on my support.
Um, Russ Feingold did not vote nor write the Patriot Act. In fact, Russ is the only senator who took the time to read the Act and vote against it, realizing how much it violated our liberties. That’s the problem with the Republicans and the Tea Party you just say whatever you want as fact and everyone accepts it. Please, people start thinking for yourselves. No independent would vote for Ron Johnson who willl strictly vote down party lines, unlike the very independent Russ Feigold. And you can check the congressional record on that!
By the way, as a small business owner specializing in business consulting, I’ll tell you that there are many, many business owners who lack common sense.
Sadly, people are forgetting what runs this country—business owners, some of which, if they are smart and savvy, are millionaires. I don’t understand the preoccupation with people who make a substantial amount of money. Without citizens like Ron Johnson, we would not have such a robust middle class, diversity in small business options, or the ability to fund so many stimulus, health care, and educational programs throughout our state and the country. The taxes they get slammed with allow for these programs and their monies directly support and sustain small businesses such as landscaping, salons, day care, cleaning, etc (a majority of which in Wisconsin are minority and/or women owned). It’s time to focus on the real issues and stop criticizing someone’s salary.
Well said Jessica, I also don’t understand why democrats try to portray rich people as the enemy. Rich people create jobs in several ways, through the companies they own that hire people, and through the very high taxes that they pay that fund social programs, education, and all other public sector jobs. Without rich people there wouldn’t be any jobs at all. Remember during the depression when no one was rich? No one had a job either!!
Ron Johnson,
Do not be dismayed by the moronic hysterical liberalism posted here.
WE ARE AWAKE. The Liberals–meaning the irresponsible spenders and proponents of Big Brother Government–are about to have the Arse-Whupping of a Generation.
We’re done with the creep of Socialism and the intrusion of government into every corner of our lives. Turn of the hand-out/entitlement spigot, and cut taxes so that we can invest our money our put people to work through entrepreneurism.
ELECT RON JOHNSON!
Did you forget who took us from a record budget surplus to a record national debt in eight years? It was only 2 years ago! The Republicans spent and spent, without regard for the national debt. How quickly you forget.
That’s because the Bush administration spent like democrats and taxed like republicans. I think both sides can agree that the probability of succeeding doing this is null.
You know the rhyme they say for Feingold? Russ is for us. Why don’t you say no fuss, Russ this is what you get for not listening to us you’re not for us!
If I understand the previous comment success is a bad thing? your comment about having Mr Johnson as a senator would be bad because he is worth a million dollars or more! I would be willing to bet and if you were honest and told the truth you probably voted for Herb Kohl ( and how much is he worth?)
“Russ is only one of a handful of Senators that is NOT a millionaire.”
So…Russ is one of only a handful of a corrupt group that is NOT competent at enriching himself from his office?
Your argument is specious. Is George Soros obviously a bad person because he is rich? Does possession of money confer evil nature all by itself? I don’t even know what Ron Johnson’s portfolio looks like, but I’d not be stupid enough to draw conclusions from what the bottom line says.
Agree on the argument not holding water. The reason Ron Johnson is a millionaire is because he started a successful business; the american dream. Fiengold went into politics 2 years after law school. Johnson spent his entire life operating a successful business, while Fiengold spent his entire life in politics. Their is nothing wrong with either side. One was just more financially rewarding.
I have no problem with any either being a lawyer or a millionaire. What I do have a problem with is the midnight bill that our hometown boy, Russ Feingold voted for that is in the Healthcare Bill. I am told that after 2012, which is after the President hopes that he has been re-elected ALL real estate sales will be subject to a 3.8 Sales Tax. That would be $3,800 on a $100,000 home. Many of us seniors plan to down size as we go into retirement and I am no millionaire by a long shot. If this is correct, I will say this is “CHANGE” for sure and Russ Feingold voted for it without knowing what was in it.
Have no fear. There is no set increase federal tax on real estate from the health care bill. However, I’m sure you or someone you know has been helped by the laws in the bill.
Seriously, health insurance companies are raping us, and then when we get sick, dropping us. Health care reform stops this. Do you want to go back?
Also, Ron Johnson wants to privatize your retirement. Remember where the stock market was 2 years ago, heck, compare the stock market to 3 years ago. If you had all your retirement in the stock market you would be in big trouble right now, which is privatized social security. Instead of paying exorbitant fees to wall street and risking your golden years, we have social security which is a guaranteed recurring payment. Do you remember a few years ago when Bush tried to privatize social security? Thank god we rejected it and it didn’t get passed!
Even if that is true, don’t worry. Find a good CPA. There are so many ways to “get around” that tax, for lack of better words, especially in your circumstances considering your age (post-retirement I’m assuming) and the fact you will be downsizing.
And to clarify, tax evasion is ILLEGAL. Tax AVOIDANCE is encouraged by the Constitution of the United States of America. Issues like these are why we need more accountants and businessmen in politics and less lawyers.
We need more people in government who understand business. People who understand that every “program” must be paid for by someone, ie: Taxes. If a business operated like our state and federal government, they would be bankrupt and no longer be in business.
Small government & tax benefits to small businesses will bring jobs, broaden the tax base, and fix the economy. NOT irresponsible spending!!
Johnson, you have my vote.
This is a great ad. What a an eye opener! Not surprising, however, given the decisions this Congress and admininstration have made. Certainly not pro-business. We’re extremely fortunate to live in America, the greatest country on earth. A country that offers freedom of choice (rapidly disappearing) and free enterprise (which is being systematically crippled by federal regulations and balooning national debt under Obama). How refreshing that Ron Johnson, a business owner that understands the importantance of protecting freedom of choice and free enterprise, has the courage and conviction to run for public office. Entrenched politicians and liberal idealogs like Russ Feingold have got to go. Feingold supports neither freedom of choice (voted for the national health care program) nor free enterprise (supports cap and trade). Thank you Ron Johnson!
Ron I don’t see a big difference in accountants and lawyers, both look for ways to go around the law. And if we have people writing laws, isn’t it important to have people that understand how laws are written? Seems like a poor argument. Weren’t there alot of accountants working at Morgan Stanley and the others when they went broke. I think you have a bigger issue explaining how many Senators have testified against pedophile laws when they worked for the Catholic Church who had a problem with molesting priests. I think you have seen your Waterloo.
Jerry, you really don’t see a difference between lawyers and accountants? Lawyers solve problems by successfully representing their clients, in this case the American people. Lawyers seek to have new laws passed, they seek to win lawsuits, they press appellate courts to overturn precedent, and lawyers always parse language to favor their side. Confined to the narrow practice of law, that is fine. But it is an awful way to govern a nation. When politicians as lawyers begin to view some Americans as clients and other Americans as opposing parties, then the role of the legal system in our life becomes all consuming. We are not all litigants in some vast social class action suit. When the most important decision for our next president is whom he will appoint to the Supreme Court, the role of lawyers and the law in America is too big. We cannot expect Lawyers to provide real change, real reform or real hope in America. Most Americans know that a country in which every major government action must be blessed by nine unelected judges is not what Washington intended in 1789. Most Americans grasp that we cannot fight a war when ACLU lawsuits snap at the heels of our defenders. Perhaps Americans will understand that change cannot be brought to our nation by those lawyers who already largely dictate American society and business. Perhaps Americans will embrace the truth that more lawyers with more power will only make our problems worse. I wish Ron Johnson all the luck in the world to defeat yet, another lawyer.
Nothing against lawyers, but you are completely off by not seeing the difference between lawyers and accountants. HUGE DIFFERENCE. Even bigger difference when it comes to understanding budgets and tax laws. Asking a lawyer to make budget and tax decisions is like asking a kindergarten teacher to do brain surgery. The teacher would have all the right intentions and want to obtain the best end result, but they won’t have any idea what they are doing.
Travis, while most of your comments have been well thought, your comparison between a teacher conducting brain surgery and lawyers balancing budgets is not even close to valid. Lawyers are some of the most intelligent people in this country, for the simple fact of how hard it is to get into good law schools, but they also need to be. Lawyers handle a wide array of problems every day from business relationships such as IPOs and mergers to complicated civil rights and moral cases where there is no simple right or wrong answer. Lawyers are trained to handle issues such as public policy, which includes taxes and budgets. So a lawyer is more equipped to balance budgets, and really aren’t we all intellectually capable of balancing a budget, than an accountant is to understand and write laws on things that will become increasingly important such as intellectual property. Seriously, how many non-lawyers know much more about intellectual property than that it includes patents and copyrights?
Now I am not an accountant, but considering the sheer complexity of the economy — shown by the educational rigor required to become an expert in the field, an economist — I don’t think Ron can fully understand the ins and outs and effects of every element of the economy. No one in congress does. They have experts who give them the scoop and possible solutions. It’s congress’s job to determine the best path for the country based on what the experts tell them, accountant or not. This is what lawyers are rigorously trained to do, combining advice from various experts to solve problems related to business, finance, technology, medicine, and really any field.
Ron Johnson did not start his own business Pacur. Pacur is the result of a restructuring of an existing company, Wisconsin Industrial Shipping Supplies, with Ron’s brother-in-law. This information is available on the Pacur website’s about page. The controversy over the government loan given to Pacur/WISS to build a railroad revolves around whether Ron owned the company yet, which he says he did not. Ron Johnson attended business school, but did not finish. Why couldn’t he finish his thesis? That is concerning, the economy is much more complex than an MBA thesis, just read a few and you’ll understand. It also was not a very wise choice considering his personal investment in his education. Will he start policies and pump millions of dollars into getting them started only to pull out right at the end?
Also, the Constitution that we love so much was written so well because the majority of collaborators were lawyers. The lawyers debated many issues in public forums, in newspaper editorials and in private meetings over many years, including the amendments. If it were not for their careful thought and problem solving skills, we may have needed to scrap the original constitution like many other countries have theirs.
This is a terrific ad because it gets its point across without the sound turned on. Congress has produced complicated laws which were too difficult for the very legislators to read and understand before voting for them.
These laws are not complicated because they have to be – they are complicated because they are produced by attorneys who are resistant to using plain English instead of legalese.
Jobs and the economy are what’s at stake – attorneys have no idea how to address either of those issues successfully. I’ll vote for someone who has met a payroll, employed people in this state and made an honest buck – Ron Johnson!
Rick
You people that have responded to this have your heads buried in the sand. Lawyers are the problem with this country. They have repeatedly created laws to feather their own nests. Just look at the benefits they have voted themselves over what the American People get. Take the health care bill for example. Politicians get free healthcare for life while we as American citizens not pay for our own healthcare, we pay for theirs as well. Any member of the Senate or Congress that serves one term in office has retirement for life. How long do you people have to work for retirement?
I would much rather have a manufacturer or accountant in that office than a lawyer any day of the week. Manufacturers create jobs for others, lawyers destroy jobs by putting others out of business with their frivilous law suits and self serving legislation.
All I can say is at least even the boat, when you have too much of anything you have a 100% chance of trouble. and 57 out of 100 lawyers spells big trouble.
As a business owner myself, I love the facts brought out in this simple ad. Nothing against attorneys, but those numbers are pretty unbalanced. We could use another business owner in the Senate. Small business is the backbone of the economy. Obama, Pelosi, and the rest of the left gang love employees, but hate employers. Where do they think the jobs will come from in the future?
Those of you that actually think a law degree is required to decide policy are part of the problem. I think someone that has run a business is a far better choice to right this ship than an attorney. I mean with attorneys, you can be guaranteed that 50% of the population will always be disappointed in an outcome. One party loses, the other wins, and the lawyers make money no matter what.
Any chance you might immigrate to CA?
Brilliant Ad. Well done. And the comments I see so far, forget about them, they are from a bunch of whiners who’ve never had to build a business in this country before, they have no clue how more and more and more regulations are killing this country…good luck in the race, I have to admit I like Russ because he’s the only honest Liberal/Progressive/Socialist I’ve ever heard speak, but for the sake of the country, would really enjoy having you in the Senate.
Jay
I love this appraoch. Wish you were running in Ohio. You would have my vote. I hope you win we need more like you!
Comments by 1/2/3 illustrate the defective thought process of the average progressive/leftist/Marxist that infest the Democratic party. Most people with IQ above 90 understand that the vast majority of lawyers are a scourge on the country and would easily pass a constitutional amendment to ban lawyers from Congress if they could ever get the chance. Great ad.
…maybe that’s because they make laws.
How much do you know about making laws?
Yes Eve, you are right we need 57 lawyers in the Senate, so that they can all get together to design a back door way to pass a health care law that the majority of the country does not want. Russ Feingold is one of these 57 lawyers, and it’s time for him to find a new employer. The people of Wisconsin will have their voices heard on November 2nd, and they will be telling Russ Feingold “YOU’RE FIRED”.
Ron, fantastic ad – a bit of fresh air! Although I am a California resident and live in Singapore, I wanted to let you know that “politics” need more “people” like you. I worked with attorneys and worked at KPMG…and prefer an accountant (during these times) over an attorney (nothing against attorneys btw). Good luck with your campaign!!!!
I guess being down by 12 has some people so disoriented they went to the wrong website. The poor dears.
I’m with you Johnson its about time someone stood up for the real world people and kicked the “theory” that they say is a fact,stop them from sucking us dry. I hope you can stop them from shoving everything down our throat.
I think he’s a great candidate! I really loved the ad. Short and to the point. ELECT RON JOHNSON. He’s not only humble, he’s also smart. Unlike a lot of others out there…
I like your ad. If I lived in Wisconsin, I would vote for you. Hope you win.
Cary Hewitt
Great commercial. To the point. No mudslinging. Positive. May your tribe increase!
Thank you Ron for making a commitment to the people of this great nation, I know that sounds premature but just tossing your hat in the ring puts a vast amount of responsibility on your shoulders.
I wish you well. God bless you.
I finally made my decision as to I feel could best represent me. I would appreciate it if you would install you sign at my home.
Thank you.
Ron, do NOT (ever) ALLOW Feingold DEFINE (anything), just ANSWER (all) of His charges, RIGHTEOUSLY, & to go ON with Your CORE ISSUES!!!!!!!!!!! The majority of the PEOPLE will (fully) BELIEVE in YOU, I THINK!!! YES, & they will VOTE for YOU, LIKE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am (very greatly) encouraging everyone that I know to VOTE for YOU, GOOD LUCK on NOVEMBER 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What will Ron Johnson do to protect our 4th Amendment Constitutional rights?
First off, I do not claim to be Republican or Democrat, but this was the greatest campaign add I’ve ever seen. There’s nothing wrong with having people with law backgrounds in Congress and Senate; they’re actually needed. But, I’ve been amazed that little to none of our politicians are accountants. As an aspiring CPA, I’ll tell you that budgets, and especially tax law are very complicated. Politicians pass tax laws under the intention of obtaining their objectives, but they don’t understand the secondary reverse consequences that occur. Every tax law has multiple loopholes and unintended results that occur because of the complexity of the tax code. Accountants/CPAs understand this. Why we don’t have more in politics making these decisions is astonishing.
Mr. Johnson is not interested in balancing anything. He stated in the last debate that he wants the unfunded tax cuts (1.2 trillion) for the wealthy extended, and he also wants to keep the unfunded wars going on and on as long as it takes. These two things alone will continue to add to the deficit. He would also like to see missile defense back on the table. Where is that money coming from, no Mr. Johnson talks a good talk but I dobut that he will walk the walk. To be honest I am tired of the middle class taking all the hits just so the wealthy can keep getting all the breaks. Get out of the two wars we are in, enough is enough. Both countries are so corrupt, it’s like throwing money down a black hole never to be seen again. Our soliders have fought long and hard, it’s time to bring them home.