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You Mean It’s Not Because He Loves Us?

Some days the crew at Kagen Watch could just kiss Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke for his candor.

State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Wineke said he expects that U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton) and U.S. Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wausau) will skip the party’s conventkion.

Kagen, for instance, faces a tough re-election battle this fall, squaring off against Republican John Gard. Kagen, in his first term, defeated Gard in 2006.

“He needs to spend his time in the 8th District,” said Wineke. ”Members of Congress who have re-election issues, I totally understand what they need to do.”

Wineke, who is due to arrive in Denver later tonight, made his comments in a telephone interview.

Re-election issues?  That’s not what Kagen told Gannett Newspapers two weeks ago.

Kagen, a superdelegate, will not attend the Democratic convention that starts Aug. 25 in Denver, spokesman Jake Rubin said Thursday.

“Congressman Kagen will be in Wisconsin working hard for the people he has the honor of representing,” Rubin said.

‘Working hard for the people’ huh?  Try working to save his political backside.

Most pundits understand why Gard’s not going to St. Paul for the Republican Convention.   Kagen’s absence from Denver, especially with his open public raffling of his Superdelegate Vote in February and the free media that went with it, shows just how vulnerable he really is.

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Sorry, But You Can’t Believe a Thing He Says…

Congressman Kagen is becoming a John Gard wannabe; first, he starts wearing Gard’s glasses, now, he’s trying to sound like Gard in his latest campaign commercial [sorry no link -- the campaign isn't savvy enough to post it on YouTube at the same time they run it on tv]…

“Rep. Steve Kagen, who is in a tight re-election race, is calling for more domestic oil drilling in a new television ad that began airing Monday.

The Appleton Democrat has recently begun arguing for an expansion of offshore drilling as one way to deal with high gas prices. In the ad, Kagen says the U.S. must drill for new oil domestically while ensuring that the gas drilled in the country stay in the country. He also wants to invest in alternative energy and prevent any manipulation of gas prices.

“Everyone in Wisconsin lives in their cars,” he says in the ad. “People are now taking part-time jobs just to pay for the gas to get to their full-time jobs.”

Kagen’s Republican opponent John Gard, a proponent of offshore drilling, has tried to differentiate himself from Kagen on the issue. Gard’s first ad during the campaign noted that Kagen has voted numerous times against expanding the nation’s off-shore drilling areas. ” Source: Kagen calls for domestic drilling in new ad - All Politics

Let me remind you that Nancy Pelosi has freed ‘at-risk’ representatives to say whatever they need to say in their campaigns in order to get elected, believing as she does that she’ll have a majority again and her at-risk reps will not be held accountable for their campaign promises. Knowing that, how can you trust a single word that comes out of Congressman Kagen’s mouth?

There’s Over-Reaching, Then There’s This

You know when you have an effective ad?  When so many people keep nit-picking about facts that don’t even exist in it.

Take another look at John Gard’s inaugural ad for this fall’s election.

It’s that final portion of the ad about Cuba drilling off-shore that has many liberal bloggers (and Green Bay Press-Gazette comment board dweller) believing they smell blood in the water. Read the full article

If Kagen is Looking Forward to a Spirited Discussion…

…then why is he refusing to debate John Gard? Fear, plain and simple…

“”I look forward to a spirited discussion,” Representative Steve Kagen, a Democrat, said, “and hopefully it’s going to be an intellectual one and hopefully it gives the voters an opportunity to see the clear differences that exist.”

“We’re going to talk about issues. We’re going to talk about things that impact people in everyday life,” Gard, the Republican challenger, said. “I think there’s just honest difference of opinion, and I think that’s all it has to be about.”" Source: WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: Kagen, Gard Go Head-to-Head Again Over the Airwave…s

His refusal to debate Gard over the issue of donations from oil company employees is pure bull!@#$. How long will it take for citizens of the 8th CD to demand a debate?

Kagen, Walter Mitty Moment Again

Jerry Bader from 1360 WTAQ coined Steve Kagen making things up ( L I E S ?) as a Walter Mitty moment. Jerry, looks like another one.

Steve Kagen was in Rhinelander as reported by Giles Morris from the Rhinelander Daily News.

“Last Updated: Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:12 AM CDT
In visit to Rhinelander, Kagen hits back on off-shore drilling
By Giles Morris - Daily News Staff” News

He made the following comment.

“Yesterday I had a conversation with (Speaker of the House Nancy) Pelosi and we’ve convinced her that we need to present a bill that supports off-shore drilling,” Kagen said.

He talked to Nancy Pelosi on August 19th and changed her mind on off shore drilling?

Steve, Steve, Steve, can you explain this. From the L A Daily News. Steve please click the link to bring yourself up to speed on what is happening in congress. Steve, Steve, Steve, didn’t you listen to Nancy’s weekly radio address on the 16th?

“Pelosi considers offshore drilling an option
Dina Cappiello
Article Last Updated: 08/16/2008 04:53:13 PM PDT

WASHINGTON — Democrats’ stance against offshore drilling has shifted more, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaling on Saturday her willingness to consider opening up more coastal areas to oil and gas exploration.

In her party’s weekly radio address, Pelosi said opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling would be a part of energy legislation that House Democrats intend to put forward in the coming weeks to address oil dependence and high gasoline prices.” Pelosi considers offshore drilling an option - LA Daily News

Psst, Steve this is from Saturday the 16th. You said you talked to her on Tuesday the 19th. Did you really talk to her or did you make that up talking to Nancy Pelosi? Steve, can we have verification on that call. As Jerry Bader says, Is this another Walter Mitty experience?

Steve Kagen is (as Jerry said) shooting his mouth off again. People Rhinelander, Steve Kagen is telling you anything to get your vote.

Can the voters believe anything Steve Kagen says?

What else will Steve Kagen tell you to get your vote. What will he make up next?

Damage control at Kagen4congress. Good luck Kagen staff.

It is time to send Steve Kagen back to private practice.

Cross post to Berry Laker