Wisconsin
updated
7:03 p.m.
This is bat-crap crazy!! WGN Radio has been my station to love and learn from for well over 30 years. But the changes to WGN Radio since Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels came on the scene has forced me to alter some of my listening. To show what I mean by changes, and by bat-crap crazy, I ask my readers [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - 6:20 p.m.
Without good ice cover, wind and warmth will probably hurt the levels of Lake Superior this summer. Climate change deniers can continue their head-in-the-sand approach. ...
The Political Environment - 5:41 p.m.
Over the past weeks I have reached a tipping point when it comes to those elected officials who have used their positions of influence and power to conduct themselves in unseemly and totally improper ways. The one that really tilted the scales for me was after news broke that New York Governor Paterson placed a phone [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - 5:41 p.m.
Milwaukee is getting into the corporate sweepstakes - - where the winner gets a big infusion of Google upgrades and other investments . In other words - - jobs and better Internet services, which also make the economy run smoother. It's a national and statewide competition, so citizen support is a must. There is a Facebook page up and running with the name Google Fiber for Milwaukee. ...
The Political Environment - 5:28 p.m. - 2 clicks 
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has analyzed Paul Ryan (R,WI-o1), much ballyhooed "Roadmap for America's future" and has found it to be a dead-end for most American's. The winners are the wealthy (given his donors, it isn't too surprising)with the report stating: it would result in massive transfer of resources from the broad majority of American's to the nation's wealthiest individuals...
Blogging Blue - 4:41 p.m. - 5 clicks
An interesting piece of Wisconsin political history surfaced today, courtesy of the Democratic Party -- the audio of Tommy Thompson's "Stick it to 'em!" campaign to stick southeastern Wisconsin with the costs of Miller Park through a new tax. You have to wonder how that would play in a Senate campaign if Thompson finally decides to run. If Tommy were the GOP nominee for Senate and ...
Uppity Wisconsin - 4:28 p.m. - 3 clicks
Madison continues to be an innovator in many ways. While the politics and processes within the city can be extremely frustrating, the direction that the community continues to pursue is a positive one. Beyond new high speed rail service, there are a couple of significant initiatives that are worth your attention and interest - the city's new cultural plan and the race to be selected as a Google ...
Blogging Blue - 4:27 p.m. - 4 clicks
Progressive Dane is a long-time supporter of regional transit solutions. While a significant step was taken when the RTA Board was formed, this is not the end of the process; there is still work to be done. Progressive Dane doesn't just support any old RTA, but rather an RTA "that provides affordable, available and accessible multi-modal public transit with subsidies for elderly, disabled, and lo...
Progressive Dane - 12:46 p.m. - 3 clicks
We're No. 1! Anyone at the State Capitol have a clue, a thought, about how to stop this from continuing? Any statewide media inclined to put reporters on the story? ...
The Political Environment - 12:46 p.m.
This is serious. Statewide media need to ramp up coverage, analysis. Watch for Particle Pollution The Wisconsin DNR has issued an Air Quality Watch for Particle Pollution effective 11:00 PM Wednesday, March 10, 2010 through 11:00 PM Thursday, March 11, 2010 for Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Cl...
The Political Environment - 12:46 p.m. - 3 clicks
Now if we could get some political leadership to address this ridiculous situation... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Contact: Katie Nekola, Clean Wisconsin Energy Program Director Dramatic Increase in Air Quality Alerts Too Many Coal Plants Cause Unhealthy Particle Pollution MADISON -- It's not something to be proud ...
The Political Environment - 12:46 p.m. - 3 clicks
Alan Grayson, D-FL proposes expansion of Medicare availability, where consumers could buy into the program at cost. ...
Blogging Blue - 12:45 p.m.
Late last night while reading I came across a quote from Winston Churchill. It is a grand quote; one that I am sure I should have already read somewhere over the decades. For whatever reason I had not. So as the ’snap’ of rain drops hit the window, (the first time this year to hear that welcome sound) I [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - 11:46 a.m.
The Journal Sentinel editorially expresses its strong belief in the UWM plan to buy land for an engineering school and related purposes on the County Grounds in Wauwatosa - - despite UWM's recent request to delay the proposed $13+ million land purchase agreement until July. I am hearing there may be hangups with the availability of tax credits to purchase some historic buildings on the site -...
The Political Environment - 10:41 a.m. - 3 clicks
A new study from the Citizens for Tax Justice shows just how far Ryan is willing to go to sell out the middle class for the sake of America’s richest one percent. ...
One Wisconsin Now - 10:05 a.m. - 3 clicks
When Steve Walters was reporting for the Journal Sentinel's Madison bureau, a lot of Democrats thought he just put Tommy Thompson's news releases -- or Jim Klauser's memos -- right in the newspaper, without bothering to edit them or ask anyone for an opposing viewpoint. So it was a pleasant surprise when Walters, now a producer at Wisconsin Eye and a WisPolitics columnist, said he has a few q...
Uppity Wisconsin - 9:26 a.m. - 4 clicks
I strongly agree with WIBA’s Mitch Henck on the need for citizens to take their responsibility to vote more seriously. While Mitch thinks more voters flooding to the polls would make for more conservative outcomes, I think a higher voter turn-out makes for a stronger and more engaged society. I have long lamented the listless nature of far too many when it comes to understanding [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - 9:26 a.m. - 2 clicks
Put a face mask on Bucky. We're into day four of unhealthy air. Below is the alert from the DNR: Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) The Wisconsin DNR has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) effective 9:00 AM Wednesday, March 10, 2010 through 9:00 AM Thursday, March 11, 2010 for Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, C...
The Political Environment - 8:08 a.m. - 4 clicks
Third Coast Diges t gets it right. Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines , also . Without action, the largest transit system in Wisconsin is going under. ...
The Political Environment - 8:08 a.m. - 2 clicks
New from Google: a "Grab Your Bike and Go" feature to give cycling directions for all maps. Some features: Identifies cycling facilities (for now in "hundreds of US cities") Shows which routes are considered safer than others, including......
Sprawled Out - 7:42 a.m. - 3 clicks
“He [Scott Walker] either has to come up on TV and spend his money to match us or he doesn’t and he allows our message to sink in." -- Mark Neumann to WisPolitics on Monday. Walker placed a TV buy Tuesday, to start Thursday in every market except Miilwaukee. And Neumann, who's been on TV already in every market but Milwaukee, starts in that market on Friday. ...
Uppity Wisconsin - 7:05 a.m. - 7 clicks
Here’s how health care reform will work, and what will happen if there’s no reform, according to an editorial in the New York Times: HOW REFORM WOULD WORK: Under the new system, all people would be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. If you are poor or middle class you would also get [...]...
Blogging Blue - 4:27 a.m. - 4 clicks
Eight days ago, I wrote about budget cuts proposed by South Milwaukee school district administrators, cuts that included eliminating the fifth grade orchestra program, eliminating a teaching position for the at-risk program, cutting the golf team, and raising fees for students and athletics. My original entry sparked a lively debate on the proposed cuts, [...]...
Blogging Blue - 4:27 a.m. - 7 clicks
Here is a list of things that are think are kinda cool: 1. Google Maps to add bike maps, directions : Bikers will be able to find bike-only paths, bike lanes on city streets, and bike-friendly streets when searching for directions using the tool. Google will also include an estimated travel time alongside the results that factor in hills and fatigue. Pretty impressive eh? 2....
Forward Our Motto - 3:46 a.m. - 2 clicks
I can only wonder if Freedom Eden was referring to yours truly as a liberal site “containing some of the most extreme and vile writings on the Internet.” At any rate, I’m honored to be included in such fine company. ...
Blogging Blue - 3:46 a.m. - 4 clicks
A couple of weeks ago, I pointed out the flaws in a recent study of Wisconsin’s public employee pension system. At the time the study was released, George Lightbourne, a former cabinet secretary in the Thompson administration who’s now associated with the right-wing think tank WPRI, touted the study as proof positive that Wisconsin’s [...]...
Blogging Blue - 3:46 a.m. - 6 clicks
The five-county Miller Park sales tax collection is a recession victim, thus is going to last some years longer than first planned, says the Journal Sentinel . So let's remember that it was then-Governor Tommy Thompson, "Tommy the Taxer" as Bruce Murphy labeled him long ago, that was the person most responsible not only for the sales tax add-on, but the shares he assigned City and County of Mi...
The Political Environment - Tue 10:24 p.m. - 5 clicks
As I noted on this blog, there was again Monday evening at a Waukesha public meeting on water policy pretty strong messages being sent about disinterest with linking water sales from Milwaukee to a willingness in Waukesha to address the region's social and economic problems. The message from Waukesha officials, including Council members: we're a sovereign entity, so don't involve us - - just ...
The Political Environment - Tue 10:24 p.m. - 4 clicks
The Inside Baseball Report, which may be more than you want to know about this subject: Rumors are rampant in the Capitol about a new version of the Clean Energy Jobs Act now being prepared for rollout sometime in the next week. It's being done in private, as usual, so it's impossible to say exactly what will be in the substitute version or omnibus amendment being drafted. But if you're p...
Uppity Wisconsin - Tue 8:04 p.m.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has launched a new website, BagScottWalker.com as a way to expose the real Scott Walker to the parts of Wisconsin outside of Milwaukee. Earlier this week, while Scott Walker and Jeb Bush were toasting each other with champagne and dining on caviar at the Pfister hotel, supporters from the [...]...
Blogging Blue - Tue 7:27 p.m. - 8 clicks
Bimbos like Lindsay Lohan are not the style here at CP. But today I heard the most incredible story with a legal twist that allows her to be a topic tonight. Let me state first that I like the E-Trade Ads. In fact I LOVE the ads, as I smile and laugh each time they are on television. So [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Tue 6:40 p.m. - 3 clicks
When Steve Walters was reporting for the Journal Sentinel's Madison bureau, a lot of Democrats thought he just put Tommy Thompson's news releases -- or Jim Klauser's memos -- right in the newspaper, without bothering to edit them or ask anyone for an opposing viewpoint. So it was a pleasant surprise when Walters, now a producer at Wisconsin Eye and a WisPolitics columnist, said he has a few q...
One Wisconsin Now - Tue 5:42 p.m. - 7 clicks
A tale of two ads - the DNC on insurance company greed and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce front group Employers for a Healthy Economy with their be afraid, be very afraid ad campaign. ...
Blogging Blue - Tue 4:28 p.m. - 3 clicks
From Citizens For Tax Justice : "Rep. Paul Ryan's GOP Budget Plan would collect $2 trillion less over a decade and yet require the bottom 90 percent to pay higher taxes." ...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Tue 3:26 p.m. - 5 clicks
From the Planning Commissioners Journal: The Alliance for Biking & Walking, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has released a remarkably useful report for anyone interested in bike, pedestrian, public health, and traffic safety issues. Bicycling......
Sprawled Out - Tue 2:29 p.m.
You and I and virtually everyone knows how important Medicare has been to the health and the economic well-being of every American family over the last couple of generations. Where would our families be without Medicare? Where would your family be? What would have happened to your elders, in this and in [...] ...
Hearts and Minds - Tue 2:29 p.m. - 2 clicks
The news that the Supreme Court will hear a case regarding the deranged Westboro Baptist Church and the language and means of conveying their thoughts will be most interesting to court watchers. Yet when the rhetoric is over the court’s ruling needs to be quite simple and direct. The First Amendment needs to stand solid and firm. As [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Tue 2:08 p.m. - 7 clicks
The gloves are off now. CRIST: He’s trying to pawn himself off as a fiscal conservative. And yet just in recent weeks, two weeks ago it has come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card that he charged $130 haircut, or maybe it was a back wax — we are [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Tue 2:08 p.m. - 4 clicks
A coalition of community groups has sent advice to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission through a public comment opportunity, urging the agency to link water planning with the region's socio-economic needs. Consultants studying these issues for SEWRPC are set to release their conclusions today at Heartlove Place, 3229 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee, at 7 p.m. ...
The Political Environment - Tue 1:28 p.m. - 4 clicks
Well, Brenda Konkel, Gayle Worland in the State Journal and WKOW all beat me to parts of this. I’m not sure if that makes my job easier or harder. It does create the need for some clarifications. Again, to review, the way things work now is that most items come to the Board as they sit [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Tue 12:24 p.m. - 5 clicks
At last night's public session at Waukesha City Hall, officials were asked by an Alderwoman to disclose how much had been spent producing the Lake Michigan diversion plan - - now pegged at $164 million to construct and another $7 million annually to operate - - that still has, easily, some years to go before final modification, approval or rejection. The answer was, 'we'll get to that.' I...
The Political Environment - Tue 11:29 a.m. - 5 clicks
Milwaukee and Brown Counties. No doubt power plants are playing a big role. From the DNR: Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) The Wisconsin DNR has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Particle Pollution (Orange) effective 12:00 PM Tuesday, March 09, 2010 through 5:00 PM Tuesday, March 09, 2010 for Brown and Milwaukee counties. [Daily Air Quality Hotline...
The Political Environment - Tue 11:02 a.m. - 5 clicks
This is a most unfortunate act. That it is deliberate and timed as it was during Vice-President Biden’s trip to that nation showcases the motives of Israel, and their level of disinterest in the rights of others in the region. It should be noted that Israel took the action just days after Palestinian leaders in [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Tue 10:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
When the University of Wisconsin-Madison Political Science department announced a new polling partnership with the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, one of Wisconsin's most prominent right wing think tanks , we were immediately worried about the credibility of the poll -- and more importantly, the credibility of the UW. And when through a public records request, we uncovered that the ...
One Wisconsin Now - Tue 9:29 a.m. - 8 clicks
The Journal-Sentinel is reporting that “Doyle drops plan on school funding.” I think they got that wrong. Replays show that Governor Jim Doyle never actually had a plan in his possession. What he had were some ideas scribbled on a cocktail napkin and trotted out to a gullible press. He also had little or no interest [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Tue 7:47 a.m. - 8 clicks
Finally, some logical consistency from the pro-birth lobby. Controversial Utah Law Charges Women and Girls With Murder for Miscarriages Next, criminalizing the refusal to conceive. You'll see. ...
The Motley Cow - Tue 6:24 a.m. - 3 clicks
The Journal Sentinel's Tom Daykin has the inside skinny on UWM faculty displeasure with siting the new School of Freshwater Science on the Reed St. Yards located near the Sixth St. Bridge. I'm told that the problem with that site is the inability of research vessels to easily dock at the school, which, after all, is a research-and-teaching facility. ...
The Political Environment - Tue 5:23 a.m. - 5 clicks
Thank you Mr. Zweifel for this column: Plain Talk: A case of Edgewater exaggeration The articles does some math for the Edgewater proposal. From the article: While the Edgewater addition is indeed a big building, the size doesn’t bother me as much as what appears more and more to be a series of exaggerated claims aimed at justifying a $16 million TIF subsidy from the city. ...
Forward Our Motto - Tue 4:45 a.m. - 3 clicks
Consultants from the UWM Center For Economic Development will disclose Tuesday night whether they believe there are socio-economic implications to regional water planning that includes diverting Lake Michigan water to Waukesha. The Tuesday meeting - - at Heartlove Place, 3229 N. King Drive, Milwaukee, at 7 p.m . , is the first of four such public sessions this month to be held in bo...
The Political Environment - Tue 4:26 a.m. - 5 clicks
Waukesha city officials took several hours of comments and questions Monday evening about the proposed Lake Michigan diversion scheme, and while there are more meetings ahead, and decision points down the road, the application will come to a very consequential vote by the Common Council on April 8th that feels like a foregone conclusion in light of the years of effort and preparatory money spent s...
The Political Environment - Tue 12:03 a.m. - 4 clicks
I saw an online ad the other day for Mark Neumann, a former Republican congressman who is now running for governor of Wisconsin. Curious, or bored — or both — I clicked through to his web site to see what he was all about. ...
DailyKos (Wisconsin) - Mon 6:23 p.m. - 11 clicks
"Instead of taking on the special interests, he's been taking them on as clients." -- Russ Feingold on Tommy Thompson. In other words, come on in, Tommy, and bring your full resume....
Uppity Wisconsin - Mon 5:24 p.m. - 4 clicks
Teasing for its 6 p.m. news tonight, and again in its program content, TMJ4 anchor George Mallet says "Waukesha is running out of water." That is misleading. While there are disagreements about which future water supply source the city should pursue, quantity is not an issue, as the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Waukesha Water Utility have repeatedly said. ...
The Political Environment - Mon 4:08 p.m. - 5 clicks
At 8:oo AM James and I were at ‘ground zero’ for an 84-year-old woman who fell and broke her hip. Climbing on a small ladder to get a sweater was not her best decision of the day. We found her literally minutes after if happened as we heard the crash. We called 911 and got involved with [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 3:22 p.m. - 2 clicks
Bad timing for Scott Walker's latest gimmick, a brown bag campaign to highlight what a frugal guy he is. Walker says he'll be holding brown bag lunches with regular folks all across Wisconsin to hear what's on their minds and talk about his campaign. However, if you want to be part of the roundtable discussion with Jeb Bush and Walker at the Pfister Hotel this afternoo...
Uppity Wisconsin - Mon 3:01 p.m. - 3 clicks
Milwaukee bus ridership declined 9% last year to the lowest level in 35 years, the Journal Sentinel reports: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker blamed the economy. Pointing to high city unemployment, Walker said in a voice-mail message, "If people don't have jobs . . . it makes it less likely that they're going to be riding the bus to and from work. . . . We've maintained our route...
Uppity Wisconsin - Mon 3:01 p.m. - 5 clicks
Wisconsin's dirty and unhealthy air alert continues [Note the update, extending Monday's alert through Tuesday.] Hard to enjoy the sunshine. And you think we don't need tougher air quality standards, regs and emission controls? Here's the official updated announcement: Watch for Particle Pollution Update: This Air Quality Watch has been extended for one day and w...
The Political Environment - Mon 3:01 p.m. - 4 clicks
All are in either Milwaukee or Waukesha because those two cities are at the center of the discussion of whether Lake Michigan water will be diverted to Waukesha from Milwaukee. The study to be discussed has been on a planning fast-track by the UWM Center for Economic Development. It is serving as the consultant to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, SEWRPC. SEWRPC ...
The Political Environment - Mon 3:01 p.m. - 4 clicks
Open house on the Lake Michigan diversion plan takes place from 5-7 p.m., followed by a public hearing. The location is the Waukesha City Hall, 201 Delafield St., in the Common Council chambers in the rear of the building, ground floor. There is ample parking in a lot at the building. Some information about the plan is here , here , and here. ...
The Political Environment - Mon 3:01 p.m. - 4 clicks
I'm telling ya' - - this deal is dying . UWM does not have a financial plan to build its engineering and innovation center out there because Michael Cudahy's pull out as the main donor sandbagged the entire effort. Imagine you are selling a lot to a buyer who wants it for his dream house - - big house! - - and then the buyer comes to you and says he wants several more months to get you your ...
The Political Environment - Mon 3:01 p.m. - 5 clicks
The Milwaukee journal Sentinel reports that county transit ridership has fallen 9%. This is a surprise? From "Left on the Lake":While the usual suburban suspects on right wing talk radio will no doubt giggle with glee over the numbers, the......
Sprawled Out - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 3 clicks
Below is a letter I sent on March 4, I invite to share your sentiments with him as well; and/or to join us Mon. March 8 from 5-6pm outside of downtown Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel. A.H. Dear Scott Walker: I am writing to you to ask that you publicly dissassociate yourself and your campaign from former Gov. Jeb Bush's open record of supporting terrorists. Please see some of the research belo...
One Wisconsin Now - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 3 clicks
In a surprise to no one, ridership is down on the Milwaukee County Transit bus routes. As the Journal Sentinel reports it, ridership is down 9% this year and is at a 35-year low. While the usual suburban suspects on right wing talk radio will no doubt giggle with glee over the numbers, the fact is [...]...
Left on the Lake - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 4 clicks
March 15–21 is Fix a Leak Week . This is an actual thing : Because minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are promoting “Fix a Leak Week,” March 15 through 21, 2010. Fix a Leak Week is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ...
Forward Our Motto - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 4 clicks
State Representative Phil Montgomery (R-Ashwaubenon) issued a press release called High-Speed Hypocrisy to defend deregulation of broadband carriers in Wisconsin. He also demonstrates he has no idea what the Google 1Gbps experiment is all about. First, from the Google Blog: We're planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the ...
Forward Our Motto - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 4 clicks
There is a charm to the old series of six books written by Allen Drury that starts with “Advise and Consent” and winds it way to “The Promise of Joy”. The series takes place in Washington and is filled with a continuing and evolving cast of politicians, reporters, and members of the media. The first of the series [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 3:00 p.m.
Nuts that need to be cracked. The call for gun owners to carry their guns openly in the normal course of business first drew broad attention last summer, when opponents of the Obama administration’s health care overhaul began appearing at town-hall-style meetings wearing sidearms. But in recent weeks, the practice has expanded as gun owners in [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 2 clicks
My love of history and deep interest of weather intersect at various times to propel me into discovering more about fascinating topics. The latest such example is the 1900 monster hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas in 1900. I started this latest trek after finishing the well-written and superbly researched “Isaac’s Storm” by Erik Larson. One of the finds [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 3:00 p.m.
In the cycle, this is a full Board meeting week for Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education. That means, most items on the agenda where initially presented and discussed during the Committee meetings last week. For an exploration of the full agendas of those meetings, see here; for a report on what happened at [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Mon 3:00 p.m. - 5 clicks
"The force of globalization can't be stopped," declares John Torinus in his latest Journal Sentinel rant. This type of thinking is typical of the business class. They believe in the magic of the market - an unstoppable force which always gravitates toward optimal outcomes. The problem with this paradigm is that it leads to a global race to the bottom, which ends up decreasing labor standards, wh...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sun 10:01 a.m. - 8 clicks
At issue: Should the handling of disruptive students be limited? http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/g... “There they go again” was stated recently over lunch discussing this bill. Many schools have the room of many names; recovery room, thinking room, reflection room, or the safe room. In non politically correct terms we’d just call it a kiddie jail. At our elementary school...
The Proletariat - Sun 7:00 a.m. - 12 clicks
Pretty big week this week. I focus a great deal on global warming this issue, but also on right wing support for domestic terrorism and some local stuff going on. The surge in support to defeat Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas, School Board elections in Texas, the downfall of Governor David Paterson in NY State and the EPA declaring the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn are among the topics I cover. More belo...
DailyKos (Wisconsin) - Sat 3:49 p.m. - 23 clicks
Pat is back attacking rail transportation. He finds buses to be a stellar alternative. McIlheran claims, "And taxpayers do not subsidize the tickets." Whom does he think pays for the roads that the buses travel on? He also spouts, "Building the [rail] line commits taxpayers to unbounded expense." Just as building more and more roads commits taxpayers to their maintenance. Not to mention the cos...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sat 10:01 a.m. - 5 clicks
In the past the Journal Sentinel has referred to the downsizing of America's manufacturing base as "the inevitable consequence of capitalism an democracy." But now, lawmakers should "act to bolster nation's industrial base." Better late than never, I guess. For Further Reading: NAFTA and the Myth of Free Trade ...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sat 9:43 a.m. - 10 clicks
Why must the effort to pass health care "be genuinely bipartisan "? Barack Obama won the election. He has a mandate to do the many things he promised during his campaign. If the Republicans want to be on the wrong side of history, that is their problem. To keep wasting time in the hope Republicans will suddenly manifest a conscious is counterproductive. The Democrats are trying to get important ...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sat 9:27 a.m. - 3 clicks
Hi everyone, Well, that was an interesting experience. The column traced the funding for Americans for Prosperity , and most of the primary foundations funding the Tea Party movement (the Cato Institute , the Heritage Foundation , Freedomworks , etc.) back to the massive and politically aggressive Koch Industries . I noted that Common Sense Citizens of Washington County, a local political ...
The Motley Cow - Sat 6:46 a.m. - 14 clicks
Anyone who's been subjected to my two-minute drill on the fine art of political campaigns and message has heard this: Campaigns are all about drawing distinctions. Voters ultimately have to choose between candidates. A candidate's job is to make it clear what the differences are, to give people a reason to vote for him/her instead of someone else. It's that simple. But it seems to be very ha...
Uppity Wisconsin - Sat 6:23 a.m. - 7 clicks
I've got some personal items to attend to in Milwaukee for the next few months and won't be as involved with things here in Madison except for STU stuff, so I won't be able to blog as much during this period. Though I will try to post occasionally regarding major progressive activity on campus, as I see fit. Regular blogging should resume during the summer. In the meantime, I'd suggest reading th...
Forward Thinking - Fri 1:03 p.m. - 9 clicks
Update: The district lists, presentation and impact statements are up here. Channel 3000 has an initial and likely misleading report up on the possible cuts that the Madison Metropolitan School District will be considering over the next months. There is a Press Conference scheduled today for 2:30 and the documents related to budget matters will be [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Fri 12:21 p.m. - 7 clicks
The latest talking point to trickle down from Fox News to the rest of the GOP is that an up or down vote, also known as reconciliation, on health insurance reform in the Senate is outside the Senate rules. GOPer talking heads have equated using reconciliation with the "nuclear" option -- which, gentle reader, you'll be surprised to learn, is a total lie. The latest liar to join the fracas is ...
One Wisconsin Now - Fri 10:03 a.m. - 4 clicks
Ed Thompson announced today that he’d be singing Grover Norquist’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.” In his latest press release , Thompson raises the roof for Norquist and his group, Americans for Tax Reform, for championing a belief in anti-working class tax policies. Score another one for the fat cats....
One Wisconsin Now - Fri 10:03 a.m. - 3 clicks
Sprecher Brewery , out in Milwaukee, turned 25 this year. Good job! If I may, I'd highly recommend their Black Bavarian , which is a very rich dark lager (Note: This beer tends to make me sleepy. Not a beer you could drink a lot of, but something good with dessert or a hearty meal). And since it's that time of year, if you can find their Irish Stout , I'd highly recommend that as well. 'Tis ...
Forward Our Motto - Fri 3:43 a.m. - 8 clicks
Words politicians don’t want said… By Jack E. Lohman When you already have 60 votes in the senate, demanding bipartisanship is a lame excuse for doing what your corporate funders wanted in the first place. It’s just more of the game the Dems have been playing. Neither party wants real fixes, because then the corporate money will cease [...] ...
Moneyed Politicians - Fri 2:45 a.m. - 3 clicks
No no no... it happened in California. Roy Ashburn ARRESTED: Anti-Gay State Sen. Got DUI After Leaving Gay Nightclub, Sources Say Maybe he too, was a meth addict -- easier for conservatives to swallow, if history is a guide, than being gay. ...
The Motley Cow - Thu 8:41 p.m. - 9 clicks
These guys don't want any more global warming research being taken seriously... not for a few years anyway -- and they can afford to fight it with money. The Big Money behind Americans for Prosperity ...
The Motley Cow - Thu 8:41 p.m. - 3 clicks
Rasmussen Reports, under fire for some questionable poll numbers that keep showing Republicans doing too well, insists its methodology is fine when it comes to measuring favorability and unfavoraability of candidates -- which also are a measurement of name recognition. Here's something we overlooked in their Feb. 18 poll: The poll was done on Feb. 17. We have no idea who paid for it, whi...
Uppity Wisconsin - Thu 6:49 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Journal Sentinel reported in November: Study says most adults read newspapers About three-quarters of U.S. adults, or nearly 171 million people, read a newspaper - print or online - in a given week, according to a new study by Scarborough Research. In a given week that's probably true, but if I were publishing a daily newspaper I don't think I'd be happy about once-a-week perusers...
Uppity Wisconsin - Thu 4:07 p.m. - 11 clicks
I have never promised nor discussed, let alone try (sic) to invent any of the following...14.10 A force field around Ringo Starr's drums that would isolate the drum sounds from the rest of the microphones in the studio. In this connection, I once had a conversation with John Lennon on this topic. I said that it was possible, theoretically, to create an ultrasonic barrier generated by ultraso...
Pundit Nation - Thu 3:26 p.m. - 7 clicks
Posted by Gary Storck Friday, March 5, 2010 Here is the latest event to help pass the JRMMA. Please join us, wherever you may be all day on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 and pray for compassion and the passage of the JRMMA. ...
Madison NORML - Thu 11:41 a.m. - 2 clicks
Posted by Gary storck Thursday, March 4, 2010 Some days it seems as if the entire establishment in Wisconsin has united to suppress AB554/SB368, the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act. Little news about the bill has made state news outlets since the public hearing in December. ...
Madison NORML - Thu 11:41 a.m. - 4 clicks
The news is out, Wisconsin was not among the finalists in the Race to the Top bribery to deform education con game. Here is the list from EdWeek: Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Most of the also rans, [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Thu 11:08 a.m. - 10 clicks
In keeping with my resolution to not only point out when politicians do something bad or wrong, it’s nice to be able to highlight another thing politicians got right. Yesterday, Gov. Doyle signed a bill that bans the chemical BPA from products used by children like baby bottles and sippy cups. The bill had bi-partisan support [...]...
Left on the Lake - Thu 10:49 a.m. - 4 clicks
Good news, Wisconsin taxpayers. There are more swimming pools in your future. Look for one in a backyard near you -- but not at the park. Campaign press release : Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive and Republican candidate for governor, told a crowd of over 125 at Sheraton Hotel this weekend that as governor he would keep his promise to “spend taxpayer money as if it were my own,”... Walk...
One Wisconsin Now - Thu 10:00 a.m. - 8 clicks
If you care about fixing public education funding, here's your change to ask Tom Barrett a question. Seize the opportunity! MadisonAmps has a good summary: Almost certain Democratic Gubernatorial nominee will be participating in a live video chat on Sunday, March 7 at 4:00 PM. You can submit questions in advance by clicking the image above or this link . Now is the time to get school ...
Forward Our Motto - Thu 3:47 a.m. - 10 clicks
Ars Technica has a nicerun down on some of the cities that are competing for the Google 1Gbps high speed internet. Here's their summary of Madison's pitch: Madison, WI hopes to compete with the techies out West, stressing its own credentials as a technology-driven city ("We are, big time," says the mayor on his blog ) and offering Google "a good start on fiber with strands running under some...
Forward Our Motto - Thu 3:47 a.m. - 7 clicks
Barack Obama gets a surprise visit in the night from ex-Presidents Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Ford, Reagan and Carter to get a few pointers about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and why it's so important. Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell ...
The Motley Cow - Wed 7:49 p.m. - 2 clicks
Exclusive: RNC document mocks donors, plays on 'fear' Shocking. Using fear to get elected? Mocking the donors? ...
The Motley Cow - Wed 7:20 p.m. - 4 clicks
Posted by Gary Storck March 3, 2010 When I first began publishing this blog in March 2005, on the fledgling Madison NORML website, the chapter itself was a mere 6 months old. ...
Madison NORML - Wed 7:20 p.m. - 4 clicks
I want start off with one of the most egregious aspects of a horribly underfunded public school system and what acts of desperations that can ensue, followed by some “respectable” examples of education reform percolating around the country and ending with the next big “shining object” that will command our full attention here in Wisconsin [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Mar 3 - 8 clicks
Competition. The ubiquitous cry of rabid free-marketers, Ayn Randites and conservatives as the answer to all that ills us. Just undo regulation and UNLEASH THE POWAH of the free market and competition! I can hear the bellowing now. Despite the repeated failures of total deregulation (current recession, runaway credit card industry, stock market crashes, etc.), conservatives still beat the “incre...
One Wisconsin Now - Mar 3 - 14 clicks
Did you know there was a race on for Wisconsin State Treasurer? In case you missed it, there was a heated comment thread over the race at Blogging Blue . Right now it's some back-and-forth between supporters of candidates on the Democratic side (Dan Bohrod (D) vs incumbent Dawn Marie Sass (D)). Oh, and there was also this recent editorial in the CapTimes: State treasurer [Dawn Marie Sass] sh...
Forward Our Motto - Mar 3 - 13 clicks
Wisconsin gets some cash-money from the feds for some technology upgrades. This is good. And I don't want to bring down a good news story but a quote from Governor Doyle in the article bothered me. Doyle's quote : "As governor, education has always been a top priority," Doyle said. "Through the Recovery Act, we have protected our schools in these tough times." Wait wait wait wait....wait ! Go...
Forward Our Motto - Mar 3 - 7 clicks
