Advertisement When Hancock, a Holmen Democrat, complained last week on WLSU’s “Newsmakers” program that Huebsch’s position as Assembly speaker hasn’t resulted in any benefit for his district, the West Salem Republican was quick to counterpunch. He said he and his fellow Assembly Republicans were the key to keeping taxes in check during the budget debate.
And Huebsch and Hancock’s supporters were quick to duke it out in cyberspace. Here’s a sample of comments they attached to the story at www.lacrossetribune.com:
mullman71 wrote: “Mike Huebsch nailed it in his reply. God bless him for standing up for taxpayers and doing what he can to get government out of our pockets and off our backs as much as possible.”
Mr. Miagi wrote: “Republicans such as Mike Huebsch should be grateful that their supporters are so close-minded. All they have to do is say they won’t raise taxes, and they get support. ...”
Greenlite wrote: “Cheryl’s comment on a balanced budget in Holmen is a smoke screen. The school board doesn’t have much of a choice but to pass a balanced budget. ... Look to see what has happened to property taxes in Holmen in the past 15 years. ...”
The Real World wrote: “We are headed for a very serious debt problem in Wisconsin. Doyle wanted a billion in new spending, and if it weren’t for Huebsch, we would have gotten it. ...”
kegger wrote: “Who is using a smokescreen? ... Huebsch openly admits that he has been spending most of his time traveling around the state helping others get elected — is that what we elected him to do?”
ryeguy wrote: “One reason property taxes have gone up over the past 10 years is that the Republicans have systematically shifted the burden of services from the progressive tax based on income at the state level to the regressive tax based on home property at the local level. Mike Huebsch has been at the forefront in this effort .... Freezing taxes at the state level has not frozen my taxes at all!”
As the Favre turns ...
Brett Favre’s supporters weren’t as abundant among visitors at www.lacrossetribune.com as Green Bay’s longest-running soap opera — “As the Favre Turns” — was back on the air, at least for a while.
Here are some of the comments Favre’s detractors attached to a story in which the QB engaged one of his pastimes: denying “rumors.”
sfbailey wrote: “Welcome back, by all means. The other NFC North teams could use the help, and I would love to see him add to that interception record.”
Will U. Snugglewiffme wrote: “Since 2005, the theme song for Brett Favre’s professional life has been The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go.’”
laxgirl28 wrote: “Retire already, please! ... I feel like this is another Michael Jordan episode ....”
quay wrote: “What I think he wants, if he plays, is warmer weather and a line to protect him. Like the line he had with the Pack last year, and a strong running back, perhaps the Chargers.”
Will the price of gas calm down traffic?
Visitors at www.lacrossetribune.com had plenty to say in reaction to a story about the city of La Crosse considering ways to control traffic, especially in residential areas.
Here’s a sample of their comments about taming traffic:
wiseup wrote: “How about moving the traffic that wants to leave La Crosse quickly on a north-south corridor? No, that makes too much sense.”
Richard Cranium wrote: “To wiseup — As long as it doesn’t go through the La Crosse River marsh I’m all for it.”
daddylonglegs wrote: “How about the price of a barrel of oil (currently at $145) rises to $200, pushing gas prices in to the $6 a gallon range, causing people to seek alternative modes of transportation, reducing traffic on all levels?”
Chip wrote: “If you cut the King street circle just right, close to the circle, you don’t have to slow down at all. In fact, I take it as a personal challenge when I see one of these to speed up a bit. ...”
ryeguy wrote: “Too many people in La Crosse, like smart alec Chip, use the residential streets like arterials — fast, rude and often muffler-less.”
Chip wrote: “Fast, yes, rude, maybe sometimes, mufflerless, never. It’s too hard to sneak up on the bikers if your muffler has a big hole in it.”
By the numbers
Almost 1,300 people had responded to the daily just-for-fun online poll at www.lacrossetribune.com by early Saturday evening, and a majority of both fans and non-fans said they’d just as soon not see Brett Favre in the Green and Gold next season.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents (478 of 1,275) identified themselves as Packers fans who’d rather not have Favre back, compared with 27 percent who are Packers fans and want him to come back to Green Bay. Nine percent of respondents were fans who didn’t know which way to answer.
Only a handful of respondents who weren’t Packers fans registered an opinion, but 20 percent of respondents don’t care what he does.
You may reach Marc Wehrs at mwehrs@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8218.
