Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee

The Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee Website has Moved

2009-01-06T09:15:00.003-06:00

The Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee has moved to it's new site, http://www.milwaukeeconservatives.com .

Special Thanks to Rep. Zipperer!

2008-12-03T10:42:00.003-06:00

Our Tosa Happy Hour last night was another successful event for the Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee. We had close to 30 people make it out to mingle with local young professionals and talk with one of the up-and-coming young conservatives in SE Wisconsin, Rep. Zipperer. While Rich didn't give an official speech (mainly because of the live band!) he was able to talk with almost everyone in attendance. Rich's wife was also able to make it and talk with those in attendance.

In addition, Daniel Gabler, candidate for Milwaukee County Circuit, stopped by to collect signatures. It's exciting to see local candidates and officials take interest in the group. Our hope is that future happy hours will offer an opportunity for candidates and officials to meet new conservatives in SE Wisconsin.

-Jake

Mobley Running for WI Superintendent of Public Instruction

2008-12-01T22:55:00.002-06:00

Van Mobley, a professor at Concordia in Mequon, has recently announced his candidacy for Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction. The position is a cabinet level position which has impact on the overall direction of education policy in Wisconsin.

Van brings strong conservative credentials to the race. He is currently a professor of History and Economics. In addition, he has served as a fellow at the United States Military Academy. You can find more information at his new website: http://www.vanmobley.com/index.html

The race is nonpartisan, so it is a perfect opportunity for conservatives throughout Wisconsin to present conservative policy points without being bogged down by partisan bickering.

-Jake

CYPM needs leaders

2008-11-23T16:57:00.002-06:00

We're hoping to get more people involved in planning/helping to an events and activities as well as increasing membership. If you're interested in being active, please let us know via email CYPMilwaukee@gmail.com. We will make sure you have teammates to work on a project of your choosing. If you have an idea for something that CYPM should do, please send it in.

Dec. 2 Happy Hour

2008-11-23T16:55:00.001-06:00

CYPM Happy Hour

Please join us for the next happy hour:

Tuesday, December 2nd

Mo's Irish Pub in Wauwatosa (10842 Bluemound Road; corner of Bluemound and Highway 100)

5:30-8:00

The elections did not go well for our side. So why not join us for a drink to commiserate and to look forward to the upcoming holidays?

Our special guest will be Rep. Rich Zipperer. Rich recently won reelection to the assembly district. He's known as an up-and-coming conservative voice in southeastern Wisconsin. Rich will talk briefly about getting involved in politics and what you can do to help.

CYP: Home of the Loyal Opposition

2008-11-06T14:33:00.007-06:00

Tuesday was not kind to our side (unless you worked for Alberta Darling, and if so, congratulations on her victory). The results, frankly, hurt. Soon, our side will move into the minority/opposition role.

In politics, however, nothing lasts forever. We have begun and we will continue our part in organizing the conservative movement in the greater Milwaukee area. With the election over, CYP will aim to grow and increase its activity level and contribution to the movement. In December, we will put together an organizing committee of people who want to become more involved in guiding CYP. We will need leaders and people with ideas. If you are interested, let Jake, Brandon or me know.

So, if Tuesday left a bitter taste in your mouth and you're not going to sit and take it, then you need to sign up on our email list, tell your friends about us, and get involved. We have to get up off our backs, dust ourselves off and get back into the fight. The pendulum will swing back, but there is no rule against giving it a nudge.

--Jason K.

Election Night Party in Pewaukee

2008-11-04T14:12:00.007-06:00

Several CYP Milwaukee members are going to be heading out to Pewaukee this evening around 8:00. It should be a great opportunity to meet conservatives from all over SE Wisconsin. Several of us will be there, so just swing by if you are interested.

WISCONSIN GOP ELECTION NIGHT PARTY

Hosted By

The Republican Party of Waukesha County, The Republican Party of Wisconsin
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner & Congressman Paul Ryan
COME AND CELEBRATE ON ELECTION NIGHT
At the
COUNTRY SPRINGS HOTEL - Grand Ballroom
2810 GOLF ROAD, PEWAUKEE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008
8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Please join us after your Election Day duties are done
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Huge TV screens with national cable returns and several smaller TVs with local channels
Free Admission - Snacks - Cash Bar - Public Invited
For special room rates call 262-547-0201 and mention the “Election Night Party”

Pics From the October Happy Hour

2008-10-31T23:17:00.005-05:00

Another Great CYP Event! Thanks Tim!

2008-10-31T22:35:00.004-05:00

Thanks to everyone who attended Thursday's Happy Hour at Bootleggers. We had another great turnout. Over 35 people were in attendance, matching our high from our first Happy Hour. What is even more exciting is that many of those in attendance were making their first appearance at a CYP event. What that means is that we now have a solid group of Conservative Young Professionals in the Milwaukee area that have shown a desire to network and get more involved.

A special thanks goes to Tim Michels for speaking to the group. He talked about some very important and interesting issues, including the upcoming election, how young professionals can prepare for future public service, and energy trends which he believes will affect the U.S. over the next fifteen years. As a former U.S. Senate candidate and Vice President of a 5,000 employee Wisconsin-based infrastructure construction firm, Tim is uniquely positioned to offer incite into these and other important issues. Hopefully all those in attendance had the opportunity to talk with Tim one-on-one (and note what that shows about Tim, many prime time speakers would not stay for as long as Tim did in order to speak to everyone in the room).

Wouldn't Tim make a great governor/senator some day!

Please look for an announcement within the next week or so regarding the last CYP Happy Hour for 2008.

-Jake

Wisconsin Forum--Eric O'Keefe

2008-10-31T00:10:00.002-05:00

Coming to the Wisconsin Forum on November 11--
ERIC O'KEEFE: Who Rules America - and for How Long?
Eric O'Keefe, chairman and CEO of the Sam Adams Alliance, has been an influential leader in political reform efforts for the past 25 years. O'Keefe drafted the plan for a term limits sweep across the country in 1992 and 1994. By early 1995, 23 states had limited the terms of their congressional delegations, but five judges on the Supreme Court reversed the decisions of voters. Fifteen states now have term limits on their legislatures. O'Keefe Who Rules America looks to the country's founding principles to make the case for term limits, winning praise from the late Milton Friedman himself.

$45 for dinner
Cocktails are from 5:30-6:30 P.M. Dinner at 6:30 P.M. Speaker at 7:00 P.M.
Location: Milwaukee Athletic Club
Questions or Reservations: brenricinc@yahoo.com

Free Fundraiser!

2008-10-20T22:40:00.002-05:00

Rich Zipperer Fundraiser

Tuesday, October 28

5:00 - 7:00

Mitchell's Fish Market, Brookfield Square

275 North Moorland

If you're asking why that doesn't make sense, it's because usually one has to contribute to attend a fundraiser. However, State Rep. Rich Zipperer has extended an invitation to our members to attend his next fundraiser. While obviously he would welcome all donations (maybe we could all throw in a little cash) he has made it clear he doesn't expect contributions from us.

Instead, he wants us all to come to Brookfield and experience how much fun a casual fundraiser can be. What is more, Congressman Sensenbrenner is going to be stopping by. And if that weren't enough, drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.

This is a great opportunity to continue to show the positive impact our group can have. Moreover, this is a very kind offer from Rich. Come out and support Rich, Congressman Sensenbrenner and all the other conservatives in SE Wisconsin.

Can't We Strive for Fair Elections?

2008-10-17T11:36:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but our very own Jon Waclawski was featured in the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the article did not paint Jon or the state GOP in a very positive light. I think the story needs to be set straight.

Jon is serving as the Director of the state Republican Party's election day operations. In this role, Jon coordinates efforts to ensure the upcoming election in Wisconsin is fair and free of fraud. In my humble opinion, this is a good thing.

Now let's break down the JS article. Based on past history, many polling places within certain parts of major Wisconsin cities have experienced irregularities. Keeping in mind that urban areas tend to vote Democratic, it would logically be a good idea for the state GOP to dispatch poll watchers to areas where irregularities are most likely to occur. As the largest city in the state, Milwaukee would seem to be a logical place to focus on. Therefore, it seems that Jon has focused some of his efforts on certain areas of Milwaukee. Understanding once again that past history indicates some of these areas can prove quite difficult for poll watchers, Jon was looking for volunteers that could withstand seemingly difficult encounters.

What type of people are most likely able to handle such stressful situations while remaining calm? If you answered police officers, firefighters and veterans, then you and Jon are on the same page. Jon's September 8th email sought people to volunteer "at inner city (more intimidating) polling places. Particularly, I am interested in names of Milwaukee area veterans, policemen, security personnel, firefighters, etc."

Apparently state Democrats think otherwise. They "labeled the e-mail a sign that Republicans were trying to blunt voter turnout in Milwaukee." According to a Democratic lawyer, "It just seems like it's part of an overall strategy to intimidate voters, particularly in areas where they think it will vote heavily for Democrats and Barack Obama."

Understanding that these areas are more likely to vote Democratic, doesn't it make sense for the state GOP to ensure clean voting in these areas? As the state GOP Executive Director commented, "We're not afraid of a high turnout. What we want is the law to be enforced."

I think that is a good thing. And I commend Jon for working to keep Wisconsin election's fair. I know that I will be working on election day to ensure a fair election. If the people of the state choose Barack Obama for president, so be it. All I ask is that the process by which he is elected is fair and free from fraud.

-Jake

Jobs with the McCain/Palin Campaign

2008-10-14T14:15:00.002-05:00

Be a part of history, and help decide the new President of the United States by working for the McCain Palin Campaign.
This position is more than a line on your RESUME.
It's an opportunity to NETWORK.
It's a chance to develop JOB SKILLS.
It's an opportunity to jump start your CAREER.

It's your chance to get future jobs that are even better. You will have an opportunity to learn about every aspect of a modern campaign and you'll be a part of a team. No prior experience necessary, but a strong desire to make a difference is required. There are a limited number of campaign opportunities available. ACT NOW!!! $10.00 - $12.00 an hour!!!

Questions? Information? Want to apply? Please contact Josh Dirkse at j.dirkse@wisgop.info or at 262-389-8347.

Happy Hour: Thursday, October 30th

2008-10-11T09:02:00.004-05:00

October Happy Hour

Thursday, October 30th

5:30 - 8:00

Bootleggers, Downtown Milwaukee

We are excited to have Tim Michels speak to the group this month. Tim ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, narrowly losing to Sen. Feingold. He is VP of Michels Corporation, an international engineering and construction firm that was recently ranked one of the Top 10 Utility Contractors in the U.S.

In addition, before becoming involved in the family company, Tim served as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer for 12 years in the U.S. Army.

Hope you can stop by. We have a great speaker and are expecting a big crowd. This will be a great opportunity to network with young professionals throughout Southeast Wisconsin. Plus, how can you pass up those great drink/appetizer specials!

Tosa Republican Pizza Party

2008-10-09T13:45:00.001-05:00

@ Alioto's Restaurant; Giuseppe Room; 3041 N. Mayfair Rd.
at the door registration: $35; pre-registration $25

5:00 social hour
6:00 dinner
7:00 Keynote Speaker: Jim Sensenbrenner

Call Vicky Ostry @ 414-475-7000 or email at victoriaostry@yahoo.com

-Jason K.

Obama and Free Speech?

2008-10-07T11:56:00.002-05:00

An AP article from earlier today outlines the deportation of American author Jerome Corsi from Kenya. A Kenyan immigration official announced that Mr. Corsi was picked up by police for "not having a work permit." Mr. Corsi was in Kenya to launch his book "The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality."

I want to make two things clear before I comment. First, I have not read the book. The AP seemed to think the book includes "innuendoes (sic) and false rumors." Having not read it, I cannot comment on whether that is in fact the case. However, I would have to agree with the title that there does seem to be a "cult of personality" today in American politics. Second, I do not claim to possess any special knowledge regarding Kenyan immigration law. However, I think most would have to agree that this does not pass the "smell" test.

Without digging into all the details, the most troubling aspect of the situation is not that an American citizen is being deported because he does not share the government's political opinions. No, what is most troubling is that Sen. Obama, the same Sen. Obama who had ten years teaching CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, initially had "no comment."

Obviously the 1st Amendment's Free Speech protection does not apply to Kenya. But don't you think Sen. Obama could have used the opportunity to declare in grandiose fashion the need for political opponents to be treated fairly? Couldn't the situation be seen as one in which Sen. Obama could have used his tremendous political capital in Kenya to encourage the acceptance of differing political views? Instead, Sen. Obama sits idly by as an American citizen is shipped off because he wrote a book which Sen. Obama obviously does not agree with.

I would expect the hope/change candidate to seize such an opportunity.

-Jake

WI Samsphere

2008-10-04T16:19:00.002-05:00

A Samsphere is chance where WI's top bloggers come together to network, meet with organization leaders and citizen leaders and enhance Wisconsin's online community (although you don't have to be a blogger to attend). The WI Samsphere is October 18th sponsored by SAA and Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin. The event starts on Friday evening with a mixer followed by a Saturday all-day Samsphere training.

The event is completely free, Friday's get together and Saturday's training which includes food all day. The event will be held in Milwaukee. You may register here: https://samadams.kimbia.com/samssphere

If you have any questions about the Sam Adams Alliance, this Samsphere, feel free to contact CYPMilwaukee@gmail.com .

Jason K.

Very Funny Campaign Video

2008-10-03T10:46:00.003-05:00

The following is a hilarious recap of the election so far. It is balanced, so you have to be able to see the humor in both candidates.

http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

(Thanks for the link Joe Bonow!)

Wisconsin Forum dinner--Oct 9

2008-10-03T09:01:00.003-05:00

Check out the Wisconsin Forum at www.wisconsinforum.org.

This organization hosts speakers (for all ages) for dinner throughout the year at the Milwaukee Athletic Club. The first this year is October 9. Cocktails are from 5:30-6:30 P.M. Dinner at 6:30 P.M. with the speaker starting after 7:00 P.M. Cost to attend is $45.00 and includes dinner.

October 9th Speaker: Dr. Samuel Gregg

What's Wrong with Europe?
By any standard of civilization growth and decline, Europe is in crisis. Marked by collapsing birthrates, stagnating economies, and denial of its historical roots, much of Western Europe appears to be in deep trouble. In his talk, Dr. Samuel Gregg, director of research at the Acton Institute, explores the reasons for contemporary Europe's problems, and outlines its future prospects. Gregg has written and spoken extensively on questions of political economy, economic history, ethics in finance, and natural law theory. He is the author of several books, including On Ordered Liberty (2003), and his prize-winning The Commercial Society (2007).

Feel free to contact Cindy Davis (cmdavis@foley.com) to register or more information. She and I, among others, will be there.

Jason K.

Thanks To Those Who Made Phone Calls!!

2008-10-02T13:21:00.005-05:00

I want to thank those that came out Tuesday night to make phone calls at the GOP Headquarters in West Allis. Jason and I were unsure how many people would show up. While we would have obviously loved even more help, those that took the time to help were enthusiastic about the task. I don't think I've ever had as much fun making phone calls.

A special thanks to Jeff Schaefer, Luke Steffel, Kyle Mayo and Matt Dambach for making a good number of calls.

Note our last volunteer opportunity before the election will take place Tuesday, October 28th. Refreshments and pizza will be provided by the campaign.

Reminder: Tuesday Phone Bank

2008-09-28T23:02:00.003-05:00

This Tuesday the CYP's of Milwaukee will be hosting a phone bank at the Milwaukee County GOP headquarters. The office is located southeast of 84th and Greenfield in West Allis.

If you have always wanted to volunteer but have hesitated because you were unsure about the process or didn't want to show up alone, now is your opportunity to help out.

We will be arriving around 6:00. The calls are extremely easy. If we get a good group together, we should be able to make a large number of calls in a short period of time.

Refreshments will be provided.

Now is your chance to "step up to the plate" and help elect Sen. McCain!

Congratulations Brewers!

2008-09-28T22:56:00.004-05:00

I know we normally feature serious posts regarding political updates and policy discussions, but today is a special day here in Milwaukee.

I was roughly three months old the last time the Milwaukee Brewers participated in a playoff game. Unfortunately, my baseball memories include a lot of average baseball, including the awful 2002 season in which the Crew won a total of 56 games. 90 wins just makes things a lot more fun.

I witnessed Braun's walk-off grand slam on Thursday and can confidently say this is a special team. So when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed with the whole election, just take a break and think about the 2008 Brewers. Enjoy the ride!

-Jake

Another Awesome Event!

2008-09-23T22:29:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us at County Claire this evening. Once again, it was exciting to see some new faces. Several people mentioned that they found out about the event via the McCain website. It is great to hear that word is spreading through different channels.

State Rep. Leah Vukmir, McCain Field Staffer Josh Ladd and Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Reince Priebus all talked to the group about the upcoming election and how we can all get involved. Thank you to them for taking time out of their schedules to stop by.

I hope that everyone who came had a great time. For those of you who couldn't make it, be sure to check the blog/emails/facebook for details regarding next month's event. We're hoping to have some more great speakers as we head toward the final stretch of the campaign.

Thanks again to everyone for making the night a success. Hope to you see you at the CYPM sponsored phone bank next Tuesday!

-Jake

More Evidence of Wisconsin's Importance

2008-09-23T10:51:00.002-05:00

As a follow-up to my earlier post regarding the "Big Ten" poll, there was some interesting news in the JS All-Politics Blog (note, while the JS is most definitely not conservative or even "balanced," it is a great source for breaking political news).

As I mentioned in the previous post, both Obama and McCain seemed to indicate early on that they were going to attempt to make inroads into previously uncontested states. However, as the polls suggest, political reality takes hold and states slowly shift to a "safe" or "leaning" category for the respective candidates.

As a perfect example of this, the JS notes that Obama is now moving field staff from North Dakota, a place where he thought he would be able to compete following the primary, to Wisconsin. This illustrates that the 50-state strategy at this point does not work and secondly, that Wisconsin is going to play a pivotal role in the election's outcome.

Also, note as an aside that spending resources on a 50-state strategy is something that must be done in off-years. If anything, the GOP needs to realize that for a conservative candidate to have a viable chance to pick up numerous Midwestern states, states that all things being equal have broken to the Dems over the past two presidential elections, it will need to commit resources in off-years.

I know it has been attempted. In fact, I worked for the Republican Party of Wisconsin in a joint effort with the RNC in 2005 to establish regional offices around the state. While it was definitely difficult work, I'm confident that work laid the foundation for a very organized state-wide structure. McCain currently has a field office in every major Wisconsin city. This effort needs to be carried forward so that the infrastructure can be used in 2010 for the gubernatorial candidate and future presidential, senate and congressional candidates. It's simply a matter of organizational will and resource commitment.

-Jake

"Big Ten" Poll

2008-09-18T23:06:00.006-05:00

A "Big Ten" polled released Thursday shows exactly where this election is going to be won and lost. Recent polling seems to indicate that many states that Obama and McCain thought they could make inroads into simply is not happening. Florida and Virginia, while still up in the air, seem to be tilting toward McCain. On the other hand, states that McCain had thought he could make inroads into, such as California, never really became a reality.

So here we are, back in the Midwest. The "Big Ten" polling tracks the Midwest states. The numbers are revealing. All but one out of eight states are statistical dead heats. The numbers are as follows:

Wisconsin: Obama 45% McCain 44%
Michigan: Obama 48% McCain 44%
Iowa: Obama 45% McCain 45%
Ohio: Obama 46% McCain 45%
Pennsylvania: Obama 45% McCain 45%
Minnesota: Obama 47% McCain 45%
Indiana: McCain 47% Obama 43%
Illinois: Obama 53% McCain 37%

I think these numbers reveal several things. First, depending on the undecideds, this election could actually turn into a blowout either way. If something were to happen where undecideds in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania shift to Obama, then the election is over. Same can be said for any shifts to McCain.

Clearly the Midwest is where the election is going to be won. Illinois and Indiana can be removed from the discussion. Illinois will go Obama (although I'm guessing Obama would like his home state numbers to be a bit stronger) and Indiana will go McCain. After these two states, things really get interesting.

McCain needs to win Ohio. I don't think the state's importance for Republican candidates has been overstated. If McCain loses Ohio, he is then forced to pick up states the GOP has historically not won. The fact that Pennsylvania is a dead heat is a great sign for McCain. A win in Pennsylvania and Ohio all but wins the election for McCain. On the flip side, Obama continues to perform well in Iowa. A win in Iowa could be an indicator of the remaining three states.

Minnesota remains a difficult state to figure out. One would think at this point that Obama would have solidified his position in Minnesota but McCain just won't go away. However, judging from the past, Minnesota seems like a state where independents will break to Obama on election day.

That leaves Michigan and Wisconsin. In my opinion, the election is going to come down to these two states. If McCain is able to win Michigan or Wisconsin or both, it sets him up for victory. It would allow him the flexibility to lose a state like Iowa or even Pennsylvania and still remain in a strong position. Losses in those two states would lead to a real need for victories in difficult states like Pennsylvania or Minnesota.

Michigan and Wisconsin seem to have large numbers of blue collar, independent voters that up to this point are not making firm commitments. If McCain is able to sell his candidacy to these independents, he very well might propel himself to the White House.

-Jake

Follow-Up to Van Hollen Post

2008-09-18T23:06:00.005-05:00

I found some additional background information which puts the AG Van Hollen situation in context. If anything, it leads one to wonder why this situation wasn't addressed sooner by the Government Accountability Board.

From the Journal Sentinel:

"The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 required states to create voter databases that could ensure voter information matches driver’s license records. The databases were supposed to be ready by Jan. 1, 2006, but Wisconsin’s wasn’t fully functional until last month.

The state started running the checks on Aug. 6. About one in five voters fails the checks, often because of typos or slight variations in names.

Van Hollen’s suit demands that the state run checks for those who registered or changed addresses between Jan. 1, 2006, and Aug. 5, 2008."

AG Van Hollen and Voter Integrity

2008-09-18T23:06:00.003-05:00

AG Van Hollen last week filed a lawsuit against the state Government Accountability Board. The suit attempts to force the Board to compare voter registration data to Department of Transportation licence records for at least 241,000 voters. This action is required under the federal Help America Vote Act, otherwise known as HAVA.

The debate is currently swirling around whether a GOP attorney contacted the AG urging him to initiate the suit. In addition, many legal issues are implicated, including whether there is a conflict of interest implicit in the AG's action. This is based on the fact that the Wisconsin DOJ is currently defending the Board on two separate matters. The AG has correctly noted that while it is not common for a situation such as this to arise, the DOJ has a responsibility to both defend and and if need be prosecute state agencies. I have not read any analysis with respect to what the current case law is regarding that point so I really can't comment on that angle.

HOWEVER, the whole debate misses the most important point. As Sykes pointed out in his program this morning, situations like this make it abundantly clear just how much the left has invested in ensuring the continuation of a completely dysfunctional electoral system.

The critics might be correct in arguing that what the AG's suit is asking is simply too much to accomplish in such a short time period. However, this review was supposed to take place in 2006. Why hasn't there been an outcry regarding the two year delay? In addition, instead of thanking the AG for attempting to uphold the integrity of the state's elections, the left and the media automatically attack him as being overly partisan. The non-partisan alliance he announced with the Milwaukee DA, a Democratic, apparently isn't the sort of bipartisan effort Wisconsin's left and media are looking for.

At the end of the day, the integrity of Wisconsin's electoral system must be maintained. Whether the AG's recent action can accomplish that is not clear. But at least he is making an effort and not turning a blind eye.

-Jake

Obama as Illinois State Senator

2008-09-12T15:45:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure how many of you have been following the coverage regarding Sen. Obama's record as an Illinois State Senator, but one vote for me stands out among all the rest.

In 2001, the Illinois State Senate was considering legislation which would have provided protection for babies which survived abortion attempts. The Born Alive Infant Protection Act provided "that a live child born as a result of an abortion shall be fully recognized as a human person and accorded immediate protection under the law."

As one who is strongly pro-life, there doesn't really seem to be much room for debate. However, even many on the left understood the barbaric nature of infanticide, which is basically what this legislation attempted to prevent. Sen. Obama felt otherwise.

When the bill came up for a vote, he first voted "present" and then voted "no."

Why? Because the act would "essentially bar abortions because the Equal Protection Clause does not allow somebody to kill a child." In addition, he argued "the state measure lacked the federal language clarifying the Act would not be used to undermine Roe v. Wade."
Obama 3/30/01

The federal language he was referring to was the legislation passed August 5, 2002. The U.S. Senate voted 98-0 for passage, including Sens. Kennedy, Kerry and Boxer.

While Sen. Obama has indicated he too would have voted for the federal measure had he been in federal office at the time, his vote as a State Senator is quite revealing. First, it shows just how extreme Sen. Obama is in his pro-choice views. However one falls on the issue, one would have to agree that according a child that survives an abortion attempt all the rights and liberties a naturally born child is given is a reasonable position (the fact that the child deserves those rights irrespective of the abortion attempt is obviously an argument outside the scope of this post, i.e. the kid possesses those rights anyway!). From a "judgment" perspective, what legislator votes present on such an important piece of legislation? Either he was truly confused, in which case one then has to question his ability to understand complex legislation (which is clearly not the case, the man is obviously bright) or he was unwilling to take a firm position on a moral issue. And when he finally did take a position, he voted against giving children which survive an abortion attempt the right to live.

I don't know about you, but that vote is revealing on so many different levels.

For a gut-wrenching analysis, click the link below. Note there are NO gruesome images.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdbYjmbFzo (thanks for the link Annette)

-Jake

Volunteer Opportunity

2008-09-11T22:40:00.002-05:00

This Saturday there will be a door-to-door "knock and drop" taking place on the north-side. The Sen. McCain campaign, along with local candidates Sen. Darling and Rep. Ott, will be knocking on doors in the Northshore area and Washington County.

There will be two shifts, one beginning at 9:00 am and the other at 12:00 pm.

Contact Andrew Davis at 262-825-6797 with any questions.

Judicial Nominations

2008-09-11T21:57:00.003-05:00

For those of you interested in the federal judiciary here in Wisconsin, there are two current openings that have yet to be filled. This week President Bush nominated Waukesha County Judge J. Mac Davis to fill the vacancy created in the Western District by the retirement of U.S. District Judge John Shabaz.

In addition to the opening in the Western District, right here in the Eastern District, Milwaukee County Judge Timothy Dugan has been waiting for the Senate to take up his nomination to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa.

Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that the Democratic-controlled Senate will act on the nominees. From a political perspective, it makes no sense. The Senate will simply wait out the next two months to see whether Sen. Obama can win the presidency. If he does, as I understand it, the President has the ability to request a new list of nominees.

However, as Daniel Bice points out in a JS posting, both judges indicated they would retire only if the successors were Bush nominees. Judge Shabaz was a Reagan nominee and Judge Randa was a Bush 41 nominee and is relatively active in the Federalist Society, so their convictions are in all probability strongly held.

To make things even more complicated, a recent Capital Times article indicated it was uncertain when Judge Shabaz would even be able to return to the bench after undergoing surgery. This makes it even more uncertain as to whether Judge Shabaz would be able to stand firm in his proclamation not to retire in the event a Bush nominee is not voted on in the Senate.

The impact of this election is real. I would think it is a safe assumption that a McCain presidency would result in a continuation of naming conservative jurists to the bench. While President Bush has certainly not run a blemish-free administration, from a conservative perspective, his nominees to the federal judiciary will have a positive, long-term impact upon the rule of law in this country. Judges that adhere to judicial restraint (something different from textualism) uphold our system of a limited government based on separation of powers.

If nothing else, this should simply serve as another example of the importance of this election.

http://www.madison.com/tct/news//296686

http://blogs.jsonline.com/dogged/archive/2008/09/11/waukesha-judge-nominated-for-federal-bench.aspx

-Jake

September 23rd Happy Hour, Special Speaker

2008-09-09T11:11:00.003-05:00

We are excited to announce the details for our second happy hour. The information regarding time and place are located in the upper right of the blog. I wanted to take a moment and highlight our featured speaker.

State Representative Leah Vukmir will be sharing her thoughts regarding the upcoming election, the issues which she feels will be important at the state and federal level, and the many ways in which young professionals in the Milwaukee area can become involved.

Rep. Vukmir has been a leading conservative voice on many conservative issues since her election to the State Assembly in 2002, including Wisconsin's tax burden and the challenges facing educators. However, she brings an especially unique perspective to the health care debate. As a Registered Nurse and Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, she has almost 24 years of of nursing and teaching experience. In fact, she continues to practice at St. Mary's in Milwaukee.

If you are interested in more information regarding Rep. Vukmir's achievements, please follow her link to the right.

Thanks and hope to see you all there!

-Jake

We've got a Facebook Account!

2008-09-08T23:30:00.002-05:00

Click here to join our Facebook Group:
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28591236758&ref=mf

Please invite anyone who is conservative to our Facebook group and to our happy hour. Thanks!

Speech Reaction

2008-09-04T23:17:00.002-05:00

The McCain and Palin speeches were both effective, but in different ways.

First, with respect to Sen. McCain, he did what he had to do. He made it clear to the conservative wing of the party that he would govern in a way that will make us proud. He talked about earmark reform, the need to control spending, choice within education, choice within health care, restraint within the judiciary and the overall tax burden. However, most importantly, he outlined a general theme for the final two months that to this point had been lacking.

His call for individuals to serve a purpose greater than oneself resonates. His personal journey as a cocky young man to one that lives to serve his country is a story that few live up to yet all respect. His call for an end to partisan bickering hints to his days as a "maverick" while at the same time emphasizing his focus as the real "change" candidate.

Overall, I thought it was a good mix of a forceful conservative message with a challenge to the American people to work together. At the same time, he seemed to put Washington on notice that he would bring Republican leadership the likes of which hasn't existed for some time.

With respect to Gov. Palin, she was simply brilliant. She clearly has the pulse of one of the most important policy debates this country faces: energy. As the governor of Alaska, she has been at the forefront of the energy debate. However, by being forced to deal with energy companies on a daily basis within the context of state government, she has proven to be a true reformer when it comes to forcing a substantive energy debate. Her leadership regarding the construction of a pipeline through the state serves as a perfect example.

More importantly, she brings excitement to the ticket. While most everyone respects Sen. McCain for his leadership and courage, there was a need for excitement. The Republican Party has been beat up the past three years, and her selection has added a sense of optimism that I'm not sure any other candidate could have delivered. While she clearly will have a positive influence as far as gaining moderate and independent support, her real benefit will be in adding a sense of purpose and confidence to the conservative base. Really for the first time since 2006, I get the sense conservatives are excited about the Republican leadership and are eager to help.

My hope is that as we march toward November 4th, conservatives throughout this state will see the opportunity we have in front of us to implement real change. Step up to the plate and make it happen!

-Jake

McCain/Palin coming to Cedarburg after convention

2008-09-03T19:49:00.004-05:00

John McCain and Sarah Palin are going to start the rest of the campaign in Cedarburg!
This Friday September 5th 2008

Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
Program starts at 10:00 a.m.
Downtown Cedarburg,
at the corner of Washington Ave and Columbia Rd
Please RSVP by calling (414) 326-4235

Networking Opportunity

2008-09-03T11:05:00.002-05:00

What: Grover Norquist Book Signing
Where: Americans for Prosperity Office
1126 South 70th Street, Milwaukee
When: 2:00 this Friday

Grover Norquist is President of Americans for Tax Reform. The first 50 people receive a free copy of his book, "Leave Us Alone."

Next Event: Tuesday, September 23rd

2008-09-03T10:47:00.002-05:00

Please take note that our next event will be Tuesday, September 23rd. We're planning on meeting around 5:30/6:00 again.

We are still working on a location and speaker(s). We'll be sure to let everyone know the details as soon as possible.

-Jake

Q and A

2008-08-30T07:51:00.003-05:00

Apparently, people have questions. Here are some answers:

Q: Do I have to know much about politics to come to an event? Do people come to your social hours and talk serious politics?
A: You do not have to know a ton about politics to get an involved. About all you need is a sense that taxes are too high and that the government is too big. People who come are interested in politics, so they talk about politics, but it's generally lighthearted and fun. They also talk about business, their friends, where they live, and other things, too.

Q: I'm 45. Am I welcome?
A: McCain's VP choice, Sarah Palin, 44, is being criticized for being too young, but we would welcome her with open arms (Jake is sending the invite now). We're inclusive and will go all the way down to age 21.

Q: I'm a Ron Paul supporter. Can I come?
A: Please do. We're a broad, inclusive group. Beyond being adverse to taxes and big government, CYP doesn't take positions.

Q: Great, how do I get information?
A: Send an email to CYPMilwaukee@gmail.com We'll put you on the list and let you know what's happening.

-Jason K.

Gov. Palin Speech

2008-08-29T17:44:00.004-05:00

Are you kidding me? If this doesn't get you fired up, there is something wrong with you.

Could be one of the better conservative speeches in some time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLcc3C-80Hg

-Jake

Sarah Palin: A Dynamic Choice

2008-08-29T14:45:00.002-05:00

Over the past few hours, the reaction regarding Sen. McCain's choice has been nothing short of amazing. Everyone I have spoken with is now downright excited about the election. Imagine what the reaction would have been had the choice been Sen. Lieberman or someone along those lines?

Without getting into the complete political analysis regarding the choice, I think the best way to illustrate the impact is by describing a conversation I had in the past hour. A secretary I recently spoke with was unaware of the news.

She asked me who Sen. McCain had chosen. My political curiosity quickly kicked in. Having had several conversations with this woman recently, I was aware that she was not overly political. I wanted to quickly assess what her reaction was so I just told her to look it up online. Now I might be over analyzing this, but a close reading of the words she chose to describe the pick are telling of what Gov. Palin's place on the ticket could do to the dynamics of this election.

She started out by simply stating "wow" (i.e. surprise), she then described the choice as "amazing" (really one of the best ways to describe it in light of the fact that there has only been one other female on a presidential ticket in this nation's history, and I'm not sure how legitimate the '84 ticket was), she then moved to describing the pick as "interesting" (i.e. maybe I can vote for this McCain guy), finally she described it as "exciting" (i.e. with Gov. Palin on the ticket, there is now a dynamic element to counter Obama).

Now, maybe the parentheticals are a bit over the top, but I think you get the point. This sort of thought process is probably taking place in the minds of many independent minded voters.

In addition, the Gov. Palin choice energizes the conservative base. As a true conservative reformer, Gov. Palin will add a unique voice to the ongoing debate over the direction of this country. She is a fiscal and social conservative who has had a "front seat" to the ongoing energy debate.

Noemie Emery from the Weekly Standard has a great list of of 14 things "Palin Does" for the ticket. Check it out: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/482nfeqo.asp

-Jake

Game on!

2008-08-29T10:27:00.002-05:00

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/29/mccain-to-name-running-mate-on-friday/

Brilliant pick. Sen. McCain could not have made a better choice.

Game on!

-Jake

McCain VP Pick should be Gov. Palin

2008-08-29T08:58:00.000-05:00

It is Friday morning and here we sit awaiting Sen. McCain's choice for his running mate. Last night Sen. Obama gave a stirring speech. While I disagreed with almost every policy position outlined by Sen. Obama, one cannot deny the fact that he is a moving speaker, albeit with no substance.

At this point, as Sen. McCain moves forward, he has a real opportunity to add a dynamic element to his ticket. From all accounts, Gov. Palin has governed conservatively. She is an able speaker. She has a compelling personal story. And most importantly, by adding a female to the ticket, Sen. McCain for the first time in the election would be able to steal attention from Sen. Obama, and for more than simply a day or two.

The media, which to this point has largely ignored Sen. McCain, would be forced to divert some attention from Sen. Obama to Sen. McCain and highlight the fact that now a Sen. McCain presidency would also add a fresh and dynamic element to American politics.

When was the last time you've heard "fresh" and "dynamic" used to describe a potential McCain presidency?

While Govs. Romney and Pawlenty would certainly each add certain strengths to the ticket, Gov. Palin would be the exciting and wise choice for Vice President.

-Jake

Wow....Awesome Event Last Night

2008-08-27T09:50:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank everyone for coming out last night and making the 1st ever CYP of Milwaukee Happy Hour a booming success. We had no idea what to expect.

At one point in the evening, according to my count, we had roughly 35 people in attendance! There were CPA's, bankers, mortgage brokers, attorneys, political operatives, candidates for public office, non-profit organizers and art gallery professionals (yes, that is a shout-out to my wife).

What made the event a real success in my eyes was that one gentleman simply looked us up online and came not knowing a single person. He told me he had been looking for a group like ours for two years since he had moved to the area. He made my night.

That is the purpose of this group: to serve as a resource and networking tool for young professionals in the Milwaukee-area who are concerned about the direction of this state and nation.

Those of you who are active and have political/business connections need to continue spreading the word regarding our group. We need to reach those who are looking for a way to network with fellow conservatives here in SE Wisconsin.

Please look for an email/blog post/facebook event posting within the next week detailing the September Happy Hour event. The format is going to be exactly the same: pick a bar in the area, enjoy some drinks, talk politics and network. However, assuming there is interest, we hope to line up a speaker. It will definitely be someone worth coming to listen to.

Sorry, that's all I can say regarding the speaker right now (I'm going to tease the group Barack Obama-style, just without the 3 am text message).

-Jake

Judicial Selection Process

2008-08-25T21:48:00.000-05:00

Following the recent Supreme Court election between Gableman-Butler, many individuals involved in the Wisconsin legal community have been calling for a change in the way jurists are selected in the state. Unfortunately, instead of advancing a somewhat reasonable alternative of a nomination process similar to the federal government, many have been advocating a judicial selection process wherein nominees are "selected" for nomination by a "nonpartisan commission." (sorry for all the quotes, but I just can't help pretending those are neutral terms)

A recent WSJ article highlighted the problems which exist in such systems. Missouri and Florida both use a system where nominees to fill vacant seats are presented to the governor. If the governor refuses to select any of the options, the nominees are simply sent back to the committee. However, it is the committee that then chooses the judge.

As the WSJ noted, "though the Missouri Plan is supposed to keep politics out of the process, it has instead transferred power from voters to state bar associations and legal groups that control the judicial commission. The result is a system that's contentious and opaque -- and has tipped the state courts steadily to the left."

At the end of the day, "merit selection states have already proven you can't get politics out of the court system. The real issue is who does the choosing -- voters through elections or their elected representatives, or lawyers working to help their own."

The WSJ nailed it. If Wisconsin were to support a "nominating committee" it would simply turn into a tool for the state bar to elevate jurists they believe to have the proper judicial outlook. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be the individual to make that decision. If a change must take place, I would then much rather have elected officials make such decisions. There must be accountability. A "nonpartisan committee" will be answerable to no Wisconsinite.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121944715202565133.html

-Jake

One-Term Pledge from McCain

2008-08-25T20:16:00.000-05:00

Peggy Noonan had an interesting OpEd in the weekend edition of the WSJ (my analysis follows):

"I still think a one-term pledge could win it for him, because it would allow America to punt. It would make the 2008 choice seem less fateful. People don't mind the chance to defer a choice when they're not at all sure about the product. It would give bitter Democrats a chance to regroup, and it would give those who like Obama but consider him a little half-baked to vote against him guiltlessly while he becomes fully baked. (Imagine the Q&A when Sen. Obama announces his second presidential run in 2011: "Well, Brian, I think, looking back, there is something to be said for the idea that I will be a better president now than frankly I would have been four years ago. Experience, if you allow it, is still the best of all teachers.") More, it would allow Mr. McCain to say he means to face the tough problems ahead with a uniquely bipartisan attitude and without having to care a fig for re-election. That itself would give him a new power, one that would make up for the lost juice of lame duckdom. It would also serve to separate him from the hyperpolitical operating styles of the Clinton-Bush years, from the constant campaign.

And Mr. McCain would still have what he always wanted, the presidency, perhaps a serious and respectable one that accrued special respect because it involved some sacrifice on his part.

A move that would help him win doubtful voters, win disaffected Democrats, allow some Republicans to not have to get drunk to vote for him, and that could possibly yield real results for his country. This seems to me such a potentially electrifying idea that he'd likely walk out of his convention as the future president." http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html

I think she is right in that a one-term pledge would placate both hesitant Democrats/Independents and disaffected Republicans. Note, I would not go as far as her by stating it takes a couple cocktails before heading to the polling booth to vote for McCain.

However, there is one major caveat. The one-term pledge is only effective if Sen. McCain chooses a conservative running mate. If he were to choose a Tom Ridge or Sen. Lieberman, the entire concept of helping conservatives look toward the future is neutralized.

Furthermore, from recent polls it has become clear age will in fact end up playing a deciding role for some individuals in November.

I'm confident a one-term pledge would go a long way in helping Sen. McCain secure many of those voters on the proverbial fence.

-Jake

Republican National Lawyers Event - This Thursday

2008-08-19T22:57:00.000-05:00

Mike Roman will be speaking this Thursday from 12:00 to 1:15 at the Milwaukee Athletic Club regarding the 2008 election. Mike is the National Election Day Operations Director for John McCain.

This is a great way to meet Republican lawyers and network with those involved in the Milwaukee legal community.

-Jake

Tuesday, August 26th Happy Hour

2008-08-12T22:54:00.000-05:00

We would like to invite everyone to our first Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee Happy Hour. On Tuesday, August 26th we are going to be getting together for some drinks at Flannery's, one block west of Cathedral Square.

We're hoping to have a good turnout. The special that night is $3 imports. So if you like a good Guinness, you better be there!

Just to be clear, since this is an informal organization, you are on your own as far as drinks go. However, we do offer the best political conversation one can find in Southeast Wisconsin! Shoot us an email with any questions.

Tuesday, August 26th

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Flannery's off of Cathedral Square

425 East Wells Street, Milwaukee

-Jake

VP Survey

2008-08-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

Please take a second, scroll down and register your choice for VP.

Also, follow this link to see a listing of the top 24 conservative picks for Sen. McCain. It is an interesting read as it outlines each individuals strengths and weaknesses. Note the interesting names that did NOT make the top 24.

http://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/02/john_mccains_top_22_potential.php

-Jake

McCain Networking Opportunity: This Thursday

2008-08-11T22:22:00.000-05:00

The McCain campaign in the Milwaukee area is hosting an event on Thursday August 14th at 6 pm at the Victory office located at 1470 South 84th Street in West Allis.

Please invite your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to attend. There will be an exclusive opportunity to participate on a conference call for a strategic briefing and ask questions of one of John McCain's top advisers and hear directly from Cindy McCain.

This first national event day is important for spreading the word at the local level and getting McCain supporters organized. Milwaukee County supporters are the best possible surrogates for John McCain's campaign. They are counting on Milwaukee conservatives to take the lead in convincing others in the community.

John McCain needs your help in getting your neighbors organized so McCain can win in November.

-Jake

Welcome!

2008-08-10T22:52:00.000-05:00

The Conservative Young Professionals of Milwaukee would like to welcome everyone to our blog. We are a group of young professionals in the Milwaukee-area who are confident this county, state and nation need conservative leadership to meet today's challenges.

Our purpose is fairly simple. We simply want to serve as a resource for area conservatives. We plan on maintaining this blog with the most current information regarding current events, conservative functions and candidates of interest.

Please look for an update in the near future regarding our first after-work event. In about two weeks we are planning on hosting a happy hour some place downtown. There will be no hidden agenda. It will be a great opportunity to network with local young professionals, talk about local/state/national politics and enjoy a drink in a great Milwaukee establishment.

Thanks for taking the time to visit the blog and we hope this is the start of a great organization here in Milwaukee.

-Jake

Obama's Lead in Wisconsin Shrinks

2008-08-10T12:19:00.000-05:00

WPRI has a new poll of Wisconsinites that shows that what used to be a 10+ point lead by Obama over McCain has shrunk to far more modest 6-point lead. See the poll at WPRI: http://www.wpri.org/Commentary/2008/8.08/Poll8.7.08/Poll8.7.08.html