Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

So I guess that makes Barack Obama a Republican?

I hate Scott Walker. Seeing what he has done to my former state of Wisconsin is pretty depressing. And while I am not a fan of public funding of sports arenas, this is unfortunately status quo for such ventures, and one of the least egregious things he has done. I mean, we are talking about a guy who rerouted a train out of the state that was already federally paid for (the state had to pay tens of million of dollars just to get out of the deal) which would have brought economic growth, jobs, tourism, you name it. Since then he has slashed the budget of one of the greatest public universities in the country, denied the citizens of the state federal money towards medicaid. In just a few short years he has dismantled so much of what worked in Wisconsin and made it a great place to live (it still is). But he still claims he is a job creator, though he seems to hate education.

So actually, brokering a deal to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee isn't the worst thing he has done. Yes, the (out of state) owners get a break (and have since publicly scratched his back) but this is actually a deal that will keep some kind of economic growth in Milwaukee, a city which desperately needs it.

The issue that everyone likes to ignore is how quickly sports arenas are becoming "out of date" and owners are ransoming their host cities. Milwaukee's Bradley Center was one of the first in a wave of new arenas back in 1988 (replacing the still standing and operational Mecca), but within 10 years the "arena race" was in full swing (Delta Center, United Center, new Boston Garden, etc) and it quickly felt out of date.

I love sports (and concerts) but how often can a city be held hostage by "its" sports franchise, or rather, its rich owners. Even the most beloved franchise in the country, the Green Bay Packers, barely passed their stadium upgrade referendum in Brown County a few years back. The Atlanta Braves had an olympic stadium built for them in 1996 and they are already moving to a new one. If tickets were affordable, I could kind of see the rationale for public funding and the need for the latest stadium accoutrements. The Roman Colosseum somehow managed to operate for centuries, but I still can't afford to see the Knicks lose by 25 points.

The Braves are moving because the City of Atlanta failed to live up to it's promises. The area around Turner Field is still dangerous and is still a dump.

The Braves are moving because the City of Atlanta failed to live up to it's promises. The area around Turner Field is still dangerous and is still a dump.

Still, Cobb County is putting up $400 million to build a new stadium just 15 years after they moved to brand new Turner Field. That's a lot of free money thrown at a team that has already moved cities twice. Either Atlanta has the worst urban planning in the US (highly likely), or the Olympic stadium was built too efficiently (many are built quickly without much thought for long term use) but the team chased the money out of the city.

The issue that everyone likes to ignore is how quickly sports arenas are becoming "out of date" and owners are ransoming their host cities. Milwaukee's Bradley Center was one of the first in a wave of new arenas back in 1988 (replacing the still standing and operational Mecca), but within 10 years the "arena race" was in full swing (Delta Center, United Center, new Boston Garden, etc) and it quickly felt out of date.

I love sports (and concerts) but how often can a city be held hostage by "its" sports franchise, or rather, its rich owners. Even the most beloved franchise in the country, the Green Bay Packers, barely passed their stadium upgrade referendum in Brown County a few years back. The Atlanta Braves had an olympic stadium built for them in 1996 and they are already moving to a new one. If tickets were affordable, I could kind of see the rationale for public funding and the need for the latest stadium accoutrements. The Roman Colosseum somehow managed to operate for centuries, but I still can't afford to see the Knicks lose by 25 points.

Kansas City built a $276 million dollar arena in 2007, still with no primary NBA or NHL tenant. It has, however, brought more top-of-the-line concert acts back to KC as the previous city venue was way out of date.

The public financing of arenas and stadiums is ridiculous, but it is the way it is.

The waves of new arenas in the late 80s lacked enough luxury boxes. Gotta increase those revenue streams. The other driver is that now arenas and stadiums have to have amenities other than just sitting and watching an event or game.

The waves of new arenas in the late 80s lacked enough luxury boxes. Gotta increase those revenue streams. The other driver is that now arenas and stadiums have to have amenities other than just sitting and watching an event or game.

I'll never understand people who pay money for a ticket to a game just to sit in the stadium's sports bar and watch it on TV.

I'll never understand people who pay money for a ticket to a game just to sit in the stadium's sports bar and watch it on TV.

I was invited to a suite at FedEx Field last year to watch a Redskin game. It was nice because the Nationals were in the playoffs and that game was on the big screen television. Boomer Esiason and some guys from ESPN were there. All the drinks were comped and the food was plentiful and free. But the atmosphere was lacking.

My neighbor and I headed back down to the lower bowl at half time and took our regular seats. The fans and action were much, much better. The Redskins actually came back and won the game.

I've also had Club Level seats at a couple football games. I'm a lower bowl guy for football. Baseball is different, I like Club level as well as field level.

As far as the owners holding cities and tax payers hostage, it may well be the way it is, but only because the tax payers allow it. I'll never buy season tickets where I have to buy a seat license. This years Redskin season ticket package came with a lot more perks than years past as a result of so many people complaining about the crappy stadium, parking, team, and service.

Every single NFL owner is a billionaire. The NFL has plenty of money to build state of the art stadiums. They will never reach in their pockets as long as they can get the politicians to give them welfare.

Speaking of sports arenas ( ** Warning - Thread Jack ** ) have you seen this gizmo ?

Supposedly invented by a guy that was just tired of waiting in line for a beer at a game.

http://bottomsupbeer.com/howitworks

Gov. Walker signed the bill the people overwhelmingly wanted and their representatives approved on a bi-partisan basis.

Maybe someday the Democrats will learn how government is supposed to work.

Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

So I guess that makes Barack Obama a Republican?

This thread is about Scott Walker, Mr. Swerve.

The waves of new arenas in the late 80s lacked enough luxury boxes. Gotta increase those revenue streams. The other driver is that now arenas and stadiums have to have amenities other than just sitting and watching an event or game.

I'll never understand people who pay money for a ticket to a game just to sit in the stadium's sports bar and watch it on TV.

When the Royals completely remodeled/refurbished their stadium in 2007-2008 with $225 million in public funds, they added:

Two sports bars
Batting cages
A carousel
Miniature golf
Base running paths
The "Little K," a small little league sized diamonds for kids to run the bases
A Hall of Fame/conference center
Taste of KC food court
Two new souvenir stores
New group sales areas
Remodeled and expanded luxury boxes

Somewhere in all that is an actual baseball game. 😛

Gov. Walker signed the bill the people overwhelmingly wanted and their representatives approved on a bi-partisan basis.

Maybe someday the Democrats will learn how government is supposed to work.

Blindly pointing the finger at one party or another, as if they are so different from each, with blanket accusations of ignorance shows a lack of understanding how government works. Governor Walker hasn't done anything that has been overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of WI, though the Bucks stadium comes the closest. De-funding education at every level, paying millions to deny public transportation, all in the name of budget cuts, only to find $400 million in public funds towards a stadium for private out of state owners who in turn donate and work with your presidential campaign is apparently how government works.

[Edited on 8/12/2015 by porkchopbob]

Gov. Walker signed the bill the people overwhelmingly wanted and their representatives approved on a bi-partisan basis.

Maybe someday the Democrats will learn how government is supposed to work.

Blindly pointing the finger at one party or another, as if they are so different from each, with blanket accusations of ignorance shows a lack of understanding how government works. Governor Walker hasn't done anything that has been overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of WI, though the Bucks stadium comes the closest. De-funding education at every level, paying millions to deny public transportation, all in the name of budget cuts, only to find $400 million in public funds towards a stadium for private out of state owners who in turn donate and work with your presidential campaign is apparently how government works.

[Edited on 8/12/2015 by porkchopbob]

_____________________________________________________________________

Apparently reading comprehension eludes you.

1.) “Blindly pointing the finger at one party or another”
See the first line posted: Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

2.) “Governor Walker hasn't done anything that has been overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of WI”
You mean other than clamping down on union greed and being re-elected multiple times? He also brought the State out of deep financial hole.

The rest of your swill is all liberal spin and a misrepresentation of the facts.

[Edited on 8/12/2015 by Muleman1994]

Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

So I guess that makes Barack Obama a Republican?

This thread is about Scott Walker, Mr. Swerve.

So instead of wasting more of your time following me around the forum, make a comment about Walker.

Speaking of sports arenas ( ** Warning - Thread Jack ** ) have you seen this gizmo ?

Supposedly invented by a guy that was just tired of waiting in line for a beer at a game.

http://bottomsupbeer.com/howitworks

Better than talking about SW that's for sure...
What is amazing is the income generated by both less serving time, and less loss of product.
At a typical festival if you served beer in the traditional way @ $5:00 per beer for 16 hrs you would gross $29.000, vs $68.000 for the same time period with that system.
Dayum! 😮

The waves of new arenas in the late 80s lacked enough luxury boxes. Gotta increase those revenue streams. The other driver is that now arenas and stadiums have to have amenities other than just sitting and watching an event or game.

I'll never understand people who pay money for a ticket to a game just to sit in the stadium's sports bar and watch it on TV.

When the Royals completely remodeled/refurbished their stadium in 2007-2008 with $225 million in public funds, they added:

Two sports bars
Batting cages
A carousel
Miniature golf
Base running paths
The "Little K," a small little league sized diamonds for kids to run the bases
A Hall of Fame/conference center
Taste of KC food court
Two new souvenir stores
New group sales areas
Remodeled and expanded luxury boxes

Somewhere in all that is an actual baseball game. 😛

At the same time, they removed the most unique feature of the ballpark...the fountains. I wonder if Scott Walker had something to do with it.

I think it is a brilliant invention.

I saw one clip awhile back, can't seem to locate it now, where the guy was asked about the magnet at the bottom of the cup, he sells advertising on it and said users love to take the magnet home and put it on their fridge, brilliant !

Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

So I guess that makes Barack Obama a Republican?

This thread is about Scott Walker, Mr. Swerve.

So instead of wasting more of your time following me around the forum, make a comment about Walker.

he (?) follows me around too.

now THAT'S a waste of time... 😛

Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

So I guess that makes Barack Obama a Republican?

This thread is about Scott Walker, Mr. Swerve.

So instead of wasting more of your time following me around the forum, make a comment about Walker.

You first. 😛

Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

So I guess that makes Barack Obama a Republican?

This thread is about Scott Walker, Mr. Swerve.

So instead of wasting more of your time following me around the forum, make a comment about Walker.

You first. 😛

Post at 15:25. Is recess almost over?

Apparently reading comprehension eludes you.

1.) “Blindly pointing the finger at one party or another”
See the first line posted: Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

2.) “Governor Walker hasn't done anything that has been overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of WI”
You mean other than clamping down on union greed and being re-elected multiple times? He also brought the State out of deep financial hole.

The rest of your swill is all liberal spin and a misrepresentation of the facts.

1. It's obvious you didn't understand what I wrote at all, but thanks for blindly proving my point.

2. Nothing Walker has done has been "overwhelmingly" supported. Each of his elections, including a re-call election that only occurred because he was widely opposed (i.e., not "overwhelmingly" supported), were won by narrow margins (each has been roughly about 52%-47%, hardly a mandate). The Walker-spin would have you believe he is a job creator, but Wisconsin's economic growth has been far behind the rest of the country in the past 5 years. He claims the state has a $500 million surplus, while Walker has recently skipped a state debt payment to pay for moderate tax cuts. Experts estimate the state debt has increased at least $1 billion since Walker took office because the state has taken out additional loans to make it appear as if the state is paying off its debt.

I don't claim to be liberal or conservative, there is no spin. These are the facts.

The waves of new arenas in the late 80s lacked enough luxury boxes. Gotta increase those revenue streams. The other driver is that now arenas and stadiums have to have amenities other than just sitting and watching an event or game.

I'll never understand people who pay money for a ticket to a game just to sit in the stadium's sports bar and watch it on TV.

When the Royals completely remodeled/refurbished their stadium in 2007-2008 with $225 million in public funds, they added:

Two sports bars
Batting cages
A carousel
Miniature golf
Base running paths
The "Little K," a small little league sized diamonds for kids to run the bases
A Hall of Fame/conference center
Taste of KC food court
Two new souvenir stores
New group sales areas
Remodeled and expanded luxury boxes

Somewhere in all that is an actual baseball game. 😛

At the same time, they removed the most unique feature of the ballpark...the fountains. I wonder if Scott Walker had something to do with it.

You mean these? They are still there. Walked right past them on Monday night.

I could give a s--- about Scott Walker.

Apparently reading comprehension eludes you.

1.) “Blindly pointing the finger at one party or another”
See the first line posted: Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

2.) “Governor Walker hasn't done anything that has been overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of WI”
You mean other than clamping down on union greed and being re-elected multiple times? He also brought the State out of deep financial hole.

The rest of your swill is all liberal spin and a misrepresentation of the facts.

1. It's obvious you didn't understand what I wrote at all, but thanks for blindly proving my point.

2. Nothing Walker has done has been "overwhelmingly" supported. Each of his elections, including a re-call election that only occurred because he was widely opposed (i.e., not "overwhelmingly" supported), were won by narrow margins (each has been roughly about 52%-47%, hardly a mandate). The Walker-spin would have you believe he is a job creator, but Wisconsin's economic growth has been far behind the rest of the country in the past 5 years. He claims the state has a $500 million surplus, while Walker has recently skipped a state debt payment to pay for moderate tax cuts. Experts estimate the state debt has increased at least $1 billion since Walker took office because the state has taken out additional loans to make it appear as if the state is paying off its debt.

I don't claim to be liberal or conservative, there is no spin. These are the facts.

Both Scott Walker and Sam Brownback are ALEC governors, part of the Republican Grand Experiment at the state level. Cut taxes but also reduce revenue, while at the same time reduce funding to public education.

The waves of new arenas in the late 80s lacked enough luxury boxes. Gotta increase those revenue streams. The other driver is that now arenas and stadiums have to have amenities other than just sitting and watching an event or game.

I'll never understand people who pay money for a ticket to a game just to sit in the stadium's sports bar and watch it on TV.

When the Royals completely remodeled/refurbished their stadium in 2007-2008 with $225 million in public funds, they added:

Two sports bars
Batting cages
A carousel
Miniature golf
Base running paths
The "Little K," a small little league sized diamonds for kids to run the bases
A Hall of Fame/conference center
Taste of KC food court
Two new souvenir stores
New group sales areas
Remodeled and expanded luxury boxes

Somewhere in all that is an actual baseball game. 😛

At the same time, they removed the most unique feature of the ballpark...the fountains. I wonder if Scott Walker had something to do with it.

You mean these? They are still there. Walked right past them on Monday night.

I could give a s--- about Scott Walker.

Good, I'm glad they left some intact.

Apparently reading comprehension eludes you.

1.) “Blindly pointing the finger at one party or another”
See the first line posted: Just another Republican interested in making the rich richer and crapping all over the poor.

2.) “Governor Walker hasn't done anything that has been overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of WI”
You mean other than clamping down on union greed and being re-elected multiple times? He also brought the State out of deep financial hole.

The rest of your swill is all liberal spin and a misrepresentation of the facts.

1. It's obvious you didn't understand what I wrote at all, but thanks for blindly proving my point.

2. Nothing Walker has done has been "overwhelmingly" supported. Each of his elections, including a re-call election that only occurred because he was widely opposed (i.e., not "overwhelmingly" supported), were won by narrow margins (each has been roughly about 52%-47%, hardly a mandate). The Walker-spin would have you believe he is a job creator, but Wisconsin's economic growth has been far behind the rest of the country in the past 5 years. He claims the state has a $500 million surplus, while Walker has recently skipped a state debt payment to pay for moderate tax cuts. Experts estimate the state debt has increased at least $1 billion since Walker took office because the state has taken out additional loans to make it appear as if the state is paying off its debt.

I don't claim to be liberal or conservative, there is no spin. These are the facts.

_______________________________________________________________________

Wrong again son.

The recall was brought by Democrats and The Teacher’s Union.
Gov. Walker fought against union greed and won.
The citizens of WI crushed the re-call and even re-elected Gov. Walker again.

Union greed is bankrupting many jurisdictions.
Ask Detroit who went bankrupt due to corrupt democrat politicians and union demands.
Chicago is up next.

time to try something new pops, look at Chicago and Baltimore and years of democratic control have resulted in mayhem and exponential growth of low information voters. Look at our state of CT with nothing but tax increase after tax increase rubber stamped by democraps with no will to cut spending. The money is going to run out soon.

[Edited on 8/12/2015 by OriginalGoober]

Wrong again son.

The recall was brought by Democrats and The Teacher’s Union.
Gov. Walker fought against union greed and won.
The citizens of WI crushed the re-call and even re-elected Gov. Walker again.

Union greed is bankrupting many jurisdictions.
Ask Detroit who went bankrupt due to corrupt democrat politicians and union demands.
Chicago is up next.

You are very incorrect but I'd be happy to inform you of the facts. Read carefully.

The Teacher's Union indeed supported the recall, which was already in motion before Walker announced he would be cutting collective bargaining. A huge amount of citizens of WI supported the recall after Walker announced before he was even sworn in that he would turn down Federal money for a train that was paid for and already creating jobs in Milwaukee, as well as Federal money towards Medicaid. Incidentally, it wasn't just the Teacher's Union that supported the recall, but the Police and Fire Unions and NFL Players Union. The recall election was won 52%-47% (largely because the Democratic Party failed to rally behind a candidate together) which is not a mandate (or "crushed") unless you are making up your math like you are making up your facts.

I'm personally not a huge fan of unions, but that's not what bankrupted Detroit (it was banks and the housing market). I live in NYC which is run by unions, and it is far from bankrupt - in fact it's a capitalist mecca.

The amount of money that the state of WI saved by cutting teaching benefits did not even come close to closing any budgetary gaps. In the long run, it will cost the state money as teachers leave the state and education cuts decrease the quality of public education.

Facts aren't partisan, your rhetoric is. Get your facts straight because you sound like you get your news from sugar packets.

I guess I should be more clear in my point. The politicians most likely to scream about entitlements for the poor have no problem blowing gold dust up rich contributors asses. They don't care about Muleman, they don't care about alloak, the don't care about goober...

If you don't have money you ain't a person in America.

Welcome to the land of opportunity.