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I'M DAN JONES.
THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
LOTS TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
THE MAIN THREAD IS POLITICS.
REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS SEEM
TO BE RATCHETING UP THE
RHETORIC, TELLING THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE TO GET ITS HOUSE IN
ORDER.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE SENDS THE
MINING BILL TO THE GOVERNOR FOR
HIS SIGNATURE, BUT YOU HAVE TO
WONDER IF THIS THING WILL BE
TIED UP IN THE COURTS FOR YEARS.
AND HOW ABOUT NORTH KOREA
THREATENING THE UNITED NATIONS
WITH A NUCLEAR ATTACK?
ARE THEY CRAZY, OR SHOULD WE
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY?
LET ME INTRODUCE EVERYONE.
LONGTIME NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST,
JOEL MCNALLY.
KEVIN FISCHER, FORMER BROADCAST
JOURNALIST, POLITICAL ANALYST
AND OFTENTIMES A FILL-IN HOST
OVER ON WISN RADIO.
DENISE CALLAWAY, COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
PROFESSIONAL.
AND GERARD RANDALL, EDUCATION
CONSULTANT AND JOB CREATION
EXPERT.
RICK HOROWITZ WILL BE ALONG WITH
COMMENTARY AT THE END OF THE
SHOW.
FIRST THING WE'LL TALK ABOUT IS
THE REALLY KIND OF UNUSUAL AND
POINTED COMMENTS FROM SOME
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AIMED AT
MILWAUKEE MAYOR TOM BARRETT.
IN RECENT DAYS, THE GOVERNOR
SAID BARRETT SHOULD BE MORE
FOCUSED ON JOB CREATION.
POWERFUL STATE LEGISLATOR ROBIN
VOS BASICALLY SAID MILWAUKEE HAS
GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB GETTING
ITS FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER.
OF COURSE, BARRETT AND HIS STAFF
WONDERED WHY WALKER AND HIS
PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO ALIENATE
THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE
AND COMPLAINED THAT WALKER
WASN'T DOING NEARLY ENOUGH TO
HELP MILWAUKEE.
WHY THESE COMMENTS, AND WHY NOW?
>> I'M NOT SURE.
BECAUSE IT IS IGNORANT.
IT IS -- WE DON'T NEED ANYONE
ELSE OUT-OF-STATE TRYING TO TURN
THE LEGISLATURE AGAINST
MILWAUKEE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN A
PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.
THAT OUTOF STATE LEGISLATORS,
YOU KNOW, THINK THIS IS SOME
KIND OF FOREIGN COUNTRY.
THERE'S A BIG RACIAL DIVIDE.
THEY PUT A LOT OF RACIAL
ANIMOSITY TOWARDS MILWAUKEE.
THE NOW, YOU KNOW, ROBIN VOS, HE
DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
HE'S IGNORANT, HE DOESN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT MILWAUKEE, BUT IN
FACT, GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER
DOES.
AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO FEED
THAT.
HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
MILWAUKEE SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON
JOB CREATION, WELL, LET ME
THINK.
WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PUT NEW
INDUSTRY INTO THE NORTH SIDE OF
MILWAUKEE, WITH A TRANE COMPANY,
AN INTERNATIONAL TRANE COMPANY
THAT WAS TIED TO WHAT IT WILL
BE, HIGH-SPEED RAIL, ALL OVER
THIS COUNTRY, AND GOVERNOR
WALKER TRASHED IT.
AND BASICALLY THE ASSOCIATION OF
COMMERCE AND GOVERNOR WALKER RAN
IT OUT OF TOWN OR IS IN THE
PROCESS OF RUNNING IT OUT OF
TOWN AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE
HORRIBLE PROBLEM OF, YOU KNOW,
FORECLOSURES, THAT WERE NOT
CREATED BY MILWAUKEE, THEY WERE
CREATED BY THE BANKS, THEY WERE
CREATED BY BUSINESSES, THAT SOLD
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BY DEFRAUDING
THEM BASICALLY, MORTGAGES THAT
THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR.
AND NOW WE'VE GOT ALL THESE
FORECLOSURES AND THERE'S A MAJOR
NATIONAL SETTLEMENT, WHICH PUT
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW,
TO GO AFTER, YOU KNOW, A
SETTLEMENT OF, YOU KNOW, COMING
FROM THE BANKS, TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM AND, GET WHAT?
GOVERNOR WALKER SKIMMED
$25 MILLION OFF THE TOP TO PAY
HIS BILLS INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW,
GOING AFTER THE FORECLOSURES IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T HELP BUT
WONDER, KEVIN, AT THE SAME TIME
THAT THEY WERE SAYING THIS, ALL
THIS STUFF WAS TAKING PLACE IN
MICHIGAN WITH DETROIT GOING DOWN
THE TUBES AND THE STATE STEPPING
INTO TAKE OVER DETROIT
BASICALLY.
I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF THE
POLITICIANS IN MADISON WERE
SAYING OK, WE CAN'T LET THIS
HAPPEN IN MILWAUKEE, WE HAVE TO
HIT MILWAUKEE AND TELL THEM TO
GET THEIR SHIP IN ORDER?
>> IN TYPICAL MEDIA FASHION,
THERE'S A CONCENTRATION ON THE
CONTROVERSY WHEN IN REALITY,
EVEN THOUGH THERE IS THIS
BACK-AND-FORTH RHETORIC, HEATED
RHETORIC GOING ON, THERE'S
ACTUALLY A LOT OF COOPERATION AS
WELL BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH, YES,
HISTORICALLY, OUT-OF-STATE
WISCONSIN LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN
ANTI-MILWAUKEE, THAT'S TRUE.
HOWEVER, THERE IS AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT AS MILWAUKEE
GOES, SO GOES THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WHICH OF
COURSE INCLUDES THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE, ACCOUNTS FOR OVER A
QUARTER OF THE STATE'S CIVILIAN
WORKFORCE.
AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE HALF OF THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES IN THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE, UNEMPLOYED,
THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
IT'S WRONG.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS ON
THE PART OF THE STATE TO ASSIST
MILWAUKEE.
THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR RIGHT
ABOUT THIS TIME, ANNOUNCED WHAT
WILL BE A $200 MILLION
INVESTMENT CALLED TRANSFORM
MILWAUKEE.
>> WHERE IS THAT MONEY?
>> THE GOVERNOR IS CONSTANTLY
MAKING TRIPS TO MILWAUKEE TO
ANNOUNCE INITIATIVES AND JOB
CREATION AND GRANTS AND TAX
CREDITS AND SO FORTH.
THE PROBLEM I THINK AT CITY HALL
IS THAT EITHER THE MAYOR AND/OR
HIS STAFF ARE ALWAYS QUICK TO
SAY IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WE WANT MORE.
AN EXAMPLE THIS WEEK IS THE CITY
ASKING FOR MORE MONEY TO RAISE
BLITHED HOUSING AND THAT IS A
GREAT EFFORT AND I WISH THERE
WAS MORE MONEY FOR THAT, BUT --
>> THAT WAS $45 MILLION MORE
THAT NEVER CAME TO THE COUNTY.
>> BUT THE STATE GAVE $500,000
LAST YEAR TO THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE ALONE.
>> BUT --
>> AND ANOTHER $500,000 TO OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY.
I THINK THE CITY COULD AT LEAST
BE GRATEFUL AND ESPECIALLY TOM
BARRETT, LET'S TURN IT AROUND.
WHAT'S YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JOB CREATION PROPOSAL?
A STREETCAR THAT IS THE LAUGHING
STOCK OF THE STATE?
HE NEEDS TO AMP IT UP TOO, AND
PUT MORE EFFORT INTO WHAT HE'S
DOING AND WHAT HIS STAFF -- IS
DOING TO CREATE AND RETAIN JOBS.
>> IS IT RIDICULOUS TO THINK
THAT WALKER AND BARRETT, WHO
HAVE SUCH A LONG HISTORY OF
FIGHTING, ARE EVER GOING TO
REALLY GET ALONG?
>> IT'S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER
OR NOT THEY GET ALONG
INDIVIDUALLY.
AT LEAST I WOULD HOPE IT'S NOT
THAT -- THAT EITHER ONE OF THEM
WOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS.
IT'S A MATTER OF HOW THESE TWO
ELECTED POLITICIANS, BEING ABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE AND
SUPPORT THE LARGEST CITY IN THE
STATE, WHICH EVERYONE SAYS IS
DRIVING IS THE STATE'S ECONOMIC
ENGINE.
YOU CANNOT HAVE THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN REACH ITS FULLEST
POTENTIAL IF MILWAUKEE DOES NOT
REACH ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL.
PERIOD.
NOW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
WOULD RATHER SEE THE TWO OF THEM
FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE ABLE TO
REACH SOME COMPROMISE, BUT TO DO
THAT, YOU HAVE TO START FROM A
BASIC POINT OF SAYING, WHAT DO
YOU NEED, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU
GET THERE?
THAT'S NOT THE CONVERSATION
THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
THE CONVERSATION THAT'S TAKING
PLACE IS LIKE A PLAYGROUND
CONVERSATION, SOMEBODY POINTING
TO SOMEBODY AND SAYING, YOU NEED
TO DO BETTER.
NO, YOU NEED TO DO THIS.
YOU NEED TO DO THAT.
THE REALITY OF IT IS --
>> WHICH THE PRESS POUNCES ON.
>> THE PRESS POUNCES ON IT
BECAUSE OF WHO IS SAYING IT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE IN ESSENCE
SAYING TO THE MAYOR OF THE
LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE, YOU
NEED TO GET YOUR STUFF TOGETHER,
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
DO.
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION
TO THAT.
I THINK THE REALITY IS, THE CITY
DOES FEEL LIKE IT HAS NOT BEEN
SUPPORTED BY THE STATE.
FOR THE REASONS JOEL MENTIONED.
PLUS LET'S LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
TO SHARED REVENUE IN THE LAST
BIENNIUM BUDGET AND WHAT IS
BEING DONE IN THIS BIENNIUM
BUDGET.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MAYORS UNDER
STRESS, AND PUBLIC POLICY FORUM
DID A REPORT IN 2009 THAT SHOWS
THE CITY IS NOT MISMANAGING ITS
MONEY, THE CITY IS HOW CLOSELY
THE CITY IS DEPENDENT UPON
SHARED REVENUE FROM THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
THAT'S THE ISSUE.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT, AND I CAN CERTAINLY
UNDERSTAND HOW THE MAYOR IS
SAYING, I'VE DONE XY AND Z TO
TRY TO GET THINGS STARTED.
YOU KNOW, ON SOME OF THOSE
CASES, YOU'VE TAKEN X AND Y AND
I'M LEFT WITH LESS OF Z BECAUSE
I HAVE LESS STATE SHARED
REVENUE.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO COMPLAIN
THAT I'M NOT DOING WHAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE, DON'T TAKE AWAY THOSE
DOLLARS THAT HELPED TO SUPPORT
THOSE EFFORTS.
>> DOES GOVERNOR WALKER HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL MILWAUKEE
HOW TO RUN ITSELF?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE HAS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL MILWAUKEE
HOW TO RUN ITSELF, BUT HE DOES
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL
MILWAUKEE WHEN YOU'RE ON A
FINANCIAL BRINK, THAT THIS IS
WHERE THE STATE WILL HELP AND
THIS IS WHERE THE STATE WON'T BE
ABLE TO HELP.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT TWO COMPETING
VISIONS.
>> THE CITY IS NOT ON THE
FINANCIAL BRINK.
>> YES, IT IS.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR TAX
BILL, IT'S ON THE BRINK.
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT YOU
CAN LOAD ON THE PROPERTY TAX
BILL, AND IF, AS THE MAYOR IS
PREDICTING, YOU HAVE A DECLINING
TAX BASE, THAT MEANS YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES
MORE, OR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
RAISE ASSESSMENTS ON WHATEVER IS
LEFT, SO THAT YOU CAN GENERATE
JUST ENOUGH TAX TO REPLACE
WHAT'S MISSING.
THERE ARE TWO VERY, VERY
DIFFERENT VISIONS AN I DON'T
THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A HECK
OF A LOT OF COMPROMISE ON THAT.
>> I'M SURPRISED KEVIN MENTIONED
THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS ANNOUNCED
AT THE TIME THE GOVERNOR WAS
TRYING TO FIGHT OFF THE RECALL,
THAT WAS ANNOUNCED IN MILWAUKEE
AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN A DIME OF
THAT MONEY SINCE AND I DON'T
BELIEVE WE EVER WILL.
>> ACTUALLY, THE PRESS HAS BEEN
SUPPLIED WITH ALL THE FINANCIAL
DEALS.
THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE THE RESULT
OF THAT.
THEY'VE CHOSEN NOT TO PUBLISH
THOSE FOR SOME ODD REASON, BUT
THAT INITIATIVE IS FAR AHEAD OF
ITS FUND RAISING GOALS.
>> THREE AREAS WERE TARGETED AND
ONLY ONE HAS NOT GOTTEN SOME
FUNDING OR THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING
THAT THEY EXPECT TO GET AND
THAT'S 30th STREET.
>> THERE WAS A YEAR OF
PREPARATION THAT WENT INTO THAT.
THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WILL BE
LATE NEXT MONTH.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> NEXT TOPIC.
>> SO THE BILL LOOSENING MINING
REGULATIONS, WHICH SUPPOSEDLY
WILL MAKE WAY FOR THE CREATION
OF A FOUR-MILE LONG IRON ORE
MINE IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN, HAS
FINALLY BEEN PASSED BY THE
LEGISLATURE AND IS ON ITS WAY TO
THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE.
BUT THE ANTI-MINE FORCES ARE
ALREADY PREDICTING THAT THE
ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND INDIAN
TRIBES WILL HAVE THIS THING TIED
UP IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS
FOR YEARS.
KEVIN, IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE
HAPPENING?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT THEY PLAYED THEIR
HAND AND I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT
STEP, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY
REVEALING.
I THINK THIS SHOWS THE ENTIRE
STATE WHO THE REAL SINCERE
PEOPLE ARE, ABOUT REAL JOB
CREATION.
THERE IS NO ENVIRONMENTAL
THREAT.
THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS WILL STAY IN PLACE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AREA
THAT'S, WHAT, IT'S -- THERE'S
28,000 SQUARE MILES, BUT ONLY
THREE OR FOUR SQUARE MILES WILL
ACTUALLY BE AFFECTED.
YOU ARE GOING TO CREATE
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
$80,000.
LAST WEEK ON THIS PROGRAM, JOEL
SAID WE SHOULD BE TALKING ALL
ABOUT CREATING JOBS.
YET, WHEN WE HAVE THIS
PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY,
DEMOCRATS TOOK A POWDER AND
DECIDED, NO, WE'RE GOING TO
RAISE THIS RED FLAG OF, YOU
KNOW, THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS
GOING TO GO TO HELL IN A HAND
BASKET, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT
IS IF SUCH A SMALL AREA IS GOING
TO BE AFFECTED AND YOU'RE GOING
TO USE THE CURRENT STANDARDS IN
WISCONSIN AND THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHICH ARE PRETTY
STRINGENT, AND ALL YOU'RE DOING
IS TAKING THE PERMITTING
PROCESS, AND STREAMLINING IT.
SO THEY CAN GO TO COURT ALL THEY
WANT, AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT
ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT IS GOING
TO GO TO COURT WILL BE THE BAD
RIVER TRIBE, WHEN THEY HAVE A
HORRIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD OF
THEIR OWN, WITH THEIR SEWAGE
SYSTEMS.
IT WILL GET TIED UP FOR A WHILE,
BUT THIS GETS SIGNED INTO LAW ON
MONDAY, AND I THINK EVENTUALLY
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS PAYOFF
BIG FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
ECONOMICALLY.
>> DENISE, WE KNOW THAT LAWYERS
CAN TIE THINGS UP FOREVER AND
EVER AND EVER.
WILL WE EVER SEE THIS MINE
OPENING?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A
LOOK REALISTICALLY AT WHAT THE
ISSUES ARE AROUND WHAT'S
CONCERNING PEOPLE.
THE SAME COMPANY THAT'S
SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT FOR A
NEW MINE IS A COMPANY THAT'S
UNDER PRESSURE AND IS BEING
CRITICIZED BY OFFICIALS IN THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, BECAUSE A
FACILITY THAT IT HAS THERE HAS
NOT ONLY FAILED TO MEET
REGULATIONS BUT ALSO FAILED TO
CLEAN UP THE POLLUTION AND WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME
CAPRICIOUS WHIM ON THE PART OF
THE BAD RIVER RESERVATION TRIBE.
THEY HAVE A TREATY THAT DATES
BACK TO 1842 WITH THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THAT CLEARLY
INDICATES THEY HAVE RIGHTS AS IT
RELATES TO PARTICULARLY THE
WATER SUPPLY THAT THEY'RE
DEPENDENT UPON, THAT WOULD BE
IMPACTED BY THIS MINE.
THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO PROTECT
THEIR RIGHTS THAT DATE BACK, YOU
KNOW, OVER A CENTURY.
IT'S AN ISSUE OF NOT WHETHER OR
NOT WE NEED JOBS IN THE NORTHERN
PART OF THE STATE.
WE DO.
>> 12% UNEMPLOYMENT UP THERE.
>> THAT'S NOT A QUESTION.
KEVIN.
I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH YOU
ABOUT THAT.
THE QUESTION IS IS THIS THE
RIGHT WAY IN WHICH THIS NEEDS TO
BE DONE.
THE RISKS ARE TREMENDOUS.
YOU CANNOT GO BACK, AS THEY'RE
FINDING IN ILLINOIS WITH THIS
SAME COMPANY, YOU CANNOT GO BACK
AND UNRING THE BELL ONCE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN
DONE, AND THIS IS THE COMPANY
THAT'S SO FAR JUST TO OUR
NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH, HAS BEEN
UNWILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THE
DAMAGES CAUSED.
THAT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG FOR
ANYBODY WHO CARES ABOUT THE
PRISTINE BEAUTY OF THIS STATE.
>> I WILL ARGUE THAT THE PEOPLE
IN MADISON, THE LAWMAKERS IN
MADISON, FOR MANY OF THEM, THE
ISSUE IS JOBS.
>> WELL, THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THE
MINING BILL CERTAINLY HAD AS
THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY JOBS,
JOBS HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT LARGE
FIRMS LIKE CATERPILLAR.
>> GLOBAL.
>> THEY MAKE LARGE HEAVY DUTY
MINING EQUIPMENT.
YOU KNOW, THAT SITUATION IN
ILLINOIS, THAT WAS A COMPANY
THAT THE INCUMBENT COMPANY
BOUGHT, THAT WAS OWNED BY EXXON
AND EVERYONE DOWN IN ILLINOIS
AGREES THAT IT WAS EXXON THAT
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE
EGREGIOUS ACTIVITY AND THE
CURRENT COMPANY --
>> THEY AGREED TO CLEAN IT UP.
>> THEY'VE AGREED TO CLEAN IT
UP.
>> THEY HAVEN'T.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
AND CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
IN FAVOR OF THE MINING BILL FEEL
COMFORTABLE THAT THIS COMPANY IS
GOING TO BE TRUE TO ITS WORD.
WE'VE GOT A FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
THAT WILL -- IT IS, AND IT HACK
HISTORICALLY -- HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY.
THEY HAVE NOT INDICATED ANY
WILLINGNESS TO WANT TO RELAX
THEIR OVERSIGHT.
THIS MINE PARTICULARLY GIVEN
THAT THE SPOTLIGHT WILL BE ON
IT, THEY CERTAINLY HAVEN'T
ALLOWED THE BAD RIVER TRY TO
EASE UP ON ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAINTAIN CLEAN WATER FOR ITS
COMMUNITY.
THERE IS SO MUCH ENTANGLEMENT
THAT I REALLY FEEL BADLY FOR THE
JUDGE THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH ALL
OF THIS.
I DON'T SEE ANY QUICK RESOLUTION
TO IT.
BUT I DO THINK THAT ULTIMATELY,
WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS,
THAT MINE IS GOING TO COME ON
LINE.
>> CAN YOU BUILD A PERFECT CLEAN
MINE ANYWHERE?
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DIG A FOUR
MILE LONG HOLE AND WE NEED IRON
ORE, RIGHT, SO CAN YOU BUILD A
PERFECT MINE ANYWHERE?
>> YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE FOUR
MILES WERE MENTIONED, ULTIMATE
MY COULD GO AS FAR AS 21 MILES.
NO, YOU CAN'T BUILD A CLEAN
MINE.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE
INDUSTRIES ON THE FACE OF THE
PLANET.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT AMAZING ME
IS ALL OF THESE -- AMAZES ME IS
ALL OF THESE WILD CLAIMS, EVERY
TIME THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTH IT'S
GOING TO CREATE MORE JOBS, NOW
IT'S INTO THE THOUSANDS,
ORIGINALLY IT WAS 700.
I FINALLY SHAMED THE "JOURNAL
SENTINEL" OUT OF PUTTING IN
THEIR STORIES THAT THESE JOBS
WERE GOING TO PAY $80,000 A YEAR
WHEN WE KNOW THAT MINING
COMMUNITIES ARE THE POOREST
COMMUNITIES IN AMERICA, AND
THERE'S NOBODY MAKING $80,000 A
YEAR.
THAT'S ABSURD.
>> THAT'S WHAT ECONOMIC STUDY
SUGGESTS.
>> IT'S A BUNCH OF LIES THAT
YOUR SIDE HAS BEEN TELLING.
>> NORTH STAR PREPARED THAT
REPORT.
>> JUST AS THEY'VE BEEN SAYING
THAT THIS MINE IS GOING TO
PRODUCE, YOU KNOW, THESE
THOUSANDS OF JOBS WITHIN THREE
YEARS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCE SAYS
IT WILL BE AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS
BEFORE ANY JOBS ARE CREATED, BUT
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T THINK THE PEOPLE WHO
VOTED FOR THIS CARE.
WHEN YOU SAY WHAT THEY REALLY
CARE ABOUT IS JOBS, NO.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY REALLY CARE
ABOUT?
THE MILLION DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS THEY GOT FROM THE
MINING INDUSTRY.
THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THAT MONEY
IN THEIR POCKETS.
>> AND WHAT DID THE TRIBE PUT
INTO IT?
>> STORIES HAVE BEEN WRITTEN,
ALBERTA DARLING RIGHT HERE IN
OUR COMMUNITY GOT THE MOST MONEY
OF ANY POLITICIAN, BUT ALL THESE
PEOPLE VOTING FOR THIS MINE ARE
GETTING HUGE PAYOFFS FOR THE
MINING COMPANY.
>> THAT'S WHY THEY LET THE
MINING COMPANY WRITE --
>> I THINK WHAT THEY REALLY
LISTENED TO WAS THE HOURS AND
HOURS AND HOURS OF PUBLIC
TESTIMONY --
>> NOT IN THE AREA WHERE THE
MINE IS GOING TO BE BUILT.
>> FROM PEOPLE WHO SAID WE NEED
THESE JOBS DESPERATELY, OUR
TOWNS ARE DYING.
YOU HAVE UNEMPLOYED.
WE MUST HAVE THESE JOBS.
I THINK THAT WEIGHED HEAVILY.
>> EVERYTHING HE SAYS IS NOT
TRUE.
THEY REFUSED TO HOLD A HEARING
IN ASHLAND WHERE THE MINE IS
GOING TO BE BUILT.
THEY HELD ONE IN MILWAUKEE AND
THEY HELD ONE IN MADISON.
>> THEY HELD THREE PUBLIC
HEARINGS.
THEY LISTENED FOR HOURS AND
HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS.
LET ME TELL YOU, I WORKED IN THE
LEGISLATURE FOR 15 YEARS, AND --
>> AND YOU WERE NOT ANY MORE
HONEST THEN THAN YOU ARE RIGHT
HERE.
>> THERE WERE HEARINGS ON
MORNING DOVES ONLY IN MADISON
AND IF PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO
GET THERE TO TESTIFY THEY FOUND
A WAY.
>> BUT THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT,
KEVIN, THAN WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW MORNING
DOVES TO BE HUNTED.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PRISTINE
NATURE OF THIS STATE, WHICH
IS --
>> WE WANT TO PROTECT IT.
>> LET ME FINISH.
>> YOU SEE, WE MAKE WILD CLAIMS.
WHAT IS THIS, THE SKY IS
FALLING, OUR WATER IS GOING TO
GET DIRTY.
>> ALL I SAID, KEVIN, AND YOU
AGREE WITH THAT, PEOPLE IN THIS
STATE CARE ABOUT THE PRISTINE
NATURE OF THIS STATE.
THEY DO.
AND THIS IS -- THIS IS -- WAIT.
THIS WILL BE PROTECTED BY A
COMPANY THAT'S IN ILLINOIS RIGHT
NOW, THEY HAVEN'T CLEANED UP THE
MESS THEY HAVE THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> LET'S TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT
NORTH KOREA.
THE UNITED NATIONS PASSED
ANOTHER SET OF PRIMARILY
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AIMED AT
GETTING NORTH KOREA TO BACK DOWN
ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
SO HOW DOES NORTH KOREA RESPOND?
IT THREATENS THE UNITED STATES
WITH A NUCLEAR ATTACK.
IS THAT CRAZY, SUICIDAL, OR
SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL WORRY
ABOUT?
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID MANY
TIMES BEFORE, GEOGRAPHICALLY,
POLITICALLY, FINANCIALLY, THIS
IS MORE CHINA'S ISSUE THAN THE
UNITED STATES' ISSUE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THESE
SANCTIONS ARE TIED BACK IN SOME
MANNER TO THE CHINESE HAVING TO
IMPOSE THE -- OR EXECUTE THE
SANCTIONS, EITHER FINANCIALLY OR
MILITARILY.
THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY WOULD BE
ABLE TO HAVE A DIRECT ATTACK ON
THE U.S., MY GUESS IS, SOMEWHERE
IN THE PACIFIC, AND THE WAY WE
HAVE ESPIONAGE THESE DAYS, I
JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THAT
HAPPENING, BUT WE ARE OBLIGATED
TO PROTECT OUR ALLIES,
SOUTH KOREA BEING THE CLOSEST,
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE
NONSENSE IS GOING TO OCCUR, AND
AGAIN, IT WILL BE UP TO CHINA TO
STEP IN, MILITARILY OR IMPOSE
THESE FINANCIAL SANCTIONS WHICH
SEEM TO REST HEAVILY IN THEIR
COURT AND NOT IN THE U.S. COURT.
>> BUT KEVIN, CHINA DOESN'T HAVE
A GREAT RECORD OF TAKING ORDERS
FROM THE UNITED STATES?
>> NO.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO, IF
SOMETHING HAPPENS, INTERVENE,
WHETHER IT'S AN ATTACK ON
SOUTH KOREA OR JAPAN ORIGAMI,
WHICH ARE -- OR GUAM, WHICH ARE
ALL IN THAT PROXIMITY ESPECIALLY
SOUTH KOREA.
SEOUL IS 31 MILES AWAY FROM THE
DeMILLE TARRYIZED ZONE.
A STATE OFFICIALS HIT THE NAIL
ON HEAD.
IF THEY MAKE THESE THREATS, YOU
HAVE TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY,
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A LONG
HISTORY OF RHETORIC.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL
FOR A CONVENTIONAL MILITARY, SO
THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE THREAT
OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC
MISSILES.
THAT'S THE ONLY ADVANTAGE THEY
HAVE, SINCE THEY'VE ATTACKED
SOUTH KOREA TWICE IN 2010,
KILLING MILITARY AND CIVILIANS,
SOUTH KOREA SAID LOOK, IF YOU
TRY SOMETHING AGAINST US, WE'RE
GOING TO FIGHT BACK.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE -- THIS
IS SO MUCH SMOKE, YES, YOU HAVE
TO THANK IT SERIOUSLY, BUT I
THINK THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
MILITARY POWER.
CONVENTIONAL MILITARY THAT COULD
FORGE A VERY, VERY SERIOUS
THREAT.
EVEN THOUGH WE STILL HAVE TO
CONSIDER IT SERIOUS.
>> WE CAN'T FORGET THAT WE STILL
HAVE A LOT OF SOLDIERS IN
SOUTH KOREA.
>> WE DO, BUT TRUTHFULLY, NO
ONE -- OUR INTELLIGENCE DOES NOT
BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY
TO BACK UP TALKING ABOUT PUTTING
WASHINGTON IN FLAMES AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
>> EVEN AMBASSADOR RODMAN DIDN'T
COME BACK --
>> THAT GREAT STATESMAN.
>> HERE'S THE THING.
WE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, YOU
DON'T WANT TO START ANOTHER WAR,
AS SOON AS WE FINISHED THE TWO
THAT WE STARTED LAST TIME.
BUT AS A MATTER OF FACT, THESE
SANCTIONS ARE A NORM OF WAR.
AND -- FORM OF WAR AND THE BEST
THING ABOUT THE ANNOUNCED
SANCTIONS IS THAT CHINA AND THE
UNITED STATES CO-SPONSORED THE
RESOLUTION, BEFORE THE SECURITY
COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT
CHINA HAS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
BROKEN OFFICIALLY WITH NORTH
KOREA AND GERARD IS ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT, THEY DON'T WANT -- WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS KID IS
GOING TO DO.
HE'S NOT A VERY PREDICTABLE,
STABLE PERSON, BUT CHINA, YOU
KNOW, IS GOING TO KNOW AND IS
NOT GOING TO LET THAT GET OUT OF
HAND.
>> ANY TIME YOU HAVE A ROGUE
NATION, AND THAT'S WHAT NORTH
KOREA IS, IT HAS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION, AND THIS TIME WE
KNOW IT'S ACTUALLY A COUNTRY
THAT HAS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION, YOU HAVE TO TAKE
THAT THREAT SERIOUSLY.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY SAY THEY
HAVE THEY ARE GOING -- THEY WANT
AND PLAN TO HAVE A DIRECT ATTACK
ON THE UNITED STATES, AS KEVIN
POINTED OUT, THERE ARE LOTS OF
PLACES WHERE -- THAT ARE VERY
CLOSE TO THEM WHERE THEY HAVE
THE CAPABILITY TO LAUNCH WEAPONS
THAT ARE CONSIDERED PARTS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
WE CONSIDER OUR MILITARY BASES
PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE STRONG ALLIES THERE.
SO I THINK BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH
AN UNPREDICTABLE PERSON AND
BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE THESE
WEAPONS THAT CAN CAUSE GREAT
BODILY HARM TO GREAT NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT VERY
SERIOUSLY.
>> OK.
BACK TO PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.
YOU KNOW THAT TIME PASSING CAN
OFTEN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON
THINGS.
SOME PEOPLE WERE PRETTY EAGER TO
HEAR WHAT MITT ROMNEY AND HIS
WIFE HAD TO SAY WHEN THEY SAT
DOWN FOR THEIR FIRST
POST-ELECTION TV INTERVIEW AFTER
NEARLY FOUR MONTHS OF SILENCE.
ONE INTERESTED VIEWER, NO
SURPRISE, WAS OUR OWN RICK
HOROWITZ.
RICK?
>> MAYBE YOU'VE HAD SOME DOUBTS
LATELY.
SOME SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT WHY
YOU VOTED TO GIVE PRESIDENT
OBAMA A SECOND TERM.
BUT THEN, RIGHT IN THE NICK OF
TIME, A CLOUD OF DUST AND A
HEARTY "POLISH THE SILVER"!
THE ROMNEYS RIDE AGAIN.
ALL IT TOOK WAS ONE SUNDAY
MORNING APPEARANCE TO REMIND US
THAT THERE WERE REASONS THE GUY
WHO LOST LOST, AND WHY IT WASN'T
EVEN ALL THAT CLOSE.
ACTUALLY, THE ROMNEYS WERE VERY
GRACIOUS IN THEIR INTERVIEW WITH
CHRIS WALLACE.
FUNNY.
REGRETFUL, SURE, BUT NOT
ESPECIALLY BITTER.
AT LEAST NOT MOST OF THE TIME.
THERE WAS ANN ROMNEY SAYING IT
WAS THE MEDIA'S FAULT THAT MITT
COULDN'T GET HIS MESSAGE OUT.
OF COURSE, SHE WAS SAYING THIS
ON FOX, THE ROMNEYS' FAVORITE
WAY OF GETTING THEIR MESSAGE
OUT.
HOW'S THAT LIFE IN THE RIGHT
WING BUBBLE THING WORKING OUT
FOR YOU?
READ ANY ACCURATE POLLS LATELY?
AND THEN THERE WAS MITT HIMSELF,
EXPLAINING HIS INFAMOUS 47%
COMMENTS.
THE COMMENTS THAT MADE HIM LOOK
NOT JUST OUT OF TOUCH, BUT
UNCARING.
THE PROBLEM THERE WASN'T THAT HE
COULDN'T GET HIS MESSAGE OUT.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT HIS MESSAGE
WAS ALL TOO CLEAR.
WHAT I SAID, MITT ROMNEY TOLD
CHRIS WALLACE LAST SUNDAY IT IS
NOT WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
INTERESTING!
DOES HE MEAN HE WAS MERELY
PANDERING?
TELLING THAT NIGHT'S FANCY-DANCY
CROWD WHAT HE THOUGHT THEY
WANTED TO HEAR?
BEATING UP ON THE POOR AND THE
VULNERABLE, THE VICTIMS?
THE TAKERS?
BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE THE RICH
FOLKS ADMIRE HIM EVEN MORE?
OPEN THEIR CHECKBOOKS EVEN
WIDER?
THAT'S INSPIRING.
OR DOES HE MEAN IT WAS JUST A
SLIP OF THE TONGUE?
A RANDOM, ILL-CHOSEN WORD OR
TWO?
EXCEPT THAT IT WASN'T.
YOU SAW THE TAPE -- HE WENT ON
AND ON ABOUT THAT 47%, ABOUT THE
ONES WHOSE VOTES HE'D NEVER GET
BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO BUSY
SUCKING HARD-EARNED MONEY AWAY
FROM SOLID CITIZENS.
SURE DIDN'T SOUND LIKE A SLIP.
BUT WHAT A BAD BREAK FOR MITT,
THAT SOMEBODY WAS RECORDING IT.
EXCEPT THAT HERE'S WHAT'S
INTRIGUED ME, EVER SINCE THAT
VIDEO WENT VIRAL.
DO YOU REALLY THINK IT WAS THE
ONLY TIME HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
I MEAN, THAT THE ONLY TIME MITT
ROMNEY EVER EXPRESSED SIMILAR
IDEAS, IN ALL THOSE MONTHS OF
FUND RAISERS, WOO'ING ALL THOSE
SWELLS?
THE ONE AND ONLY TIME JUST
HAPPENED TO BE AT A TIME
SOMEBODY HAD A CAMERA ON?
SURE, BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WANT
TO.
THIS WAY TO THE UNICORN.
RIGHT THIS WAY TO THE AMAZING
UNICORN.
>> THANKS, RICK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
STAY WARM AND ENJOY THE REST OF
YOUR WEEKEND.