Wisconsin
updated
7:22 a.m.
An cool Festival is taking place Feb 20 out by Mazomanie. Check it out: Making Change Happen - The 2010 Wisconsin River Valley Grassroots Festival - February 20, 2010, 8:30AM - 4:00PM Special Guests: Tammy Baldwin, Ed Garvey, Mike McCabe Talk Face to Face with State Legislators Effective Grassroots Organizing Meet Local Progressives Activist Training Issues Education Wisconsin Height...
Forward Our Motto - 5:09 a.m. - 2 clicks 
Faithful readers of Waxing America know we bring you critically acclaimed stories, keen analysis and otherwise obscure but culturally informative knowledge that you would never get at Daily Kos or the Huffington Post. Through dedicated scholarship and the good fortune on checking pictures from the Facebook group Jeffrey Manor, Chicago Il. Memories of Growing Up In Jeffrey Manor we bring you this p...
Waxing America - 2:50 a.m.
As a huge Elvis fan, let me set the scene for you. On the night of August 8, 1977 Elvis rented out Libertyland, a theme park in Memphis. The theme park was on land that was best known for years as the Mid-South Fairgrounds. It was there that Elvis often brought his famed ‘Memphis Mafia’ for fun and [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 8:22 p.m. - 2 clicks
It's just been too weird to have all of these Democrats in bed with bankers when it's the Republicans over the years who've really kept them warm at night. In a Message to Democrats, Wall St. Sends Cash to G.O.P. ...
The Motley Cow - Mon 8:05 p.m. - 2 clicks
Some Waukesha mayoral candidates say they don't want their to get entangled with Milwaukee's social problems. But still, they want water from Milwaukee's Water Works. Just without any responsibilities along the way - - no messy interactions with the big bad city to the East. Just send the water. The problem - - aside from those candidates' tunnel-vision and insensitivity - - is th...
The Political Environment - Mon 5:45 p.m. - 7 clicks
There is much to do and many ways to get it done. We know many of you would be interested in this festival and at the last meeting general membership voted to sponsor this by helping to spread the word. Progressive Dane will be tabling at the event, so stop by and find out what our members are working on and how you can practice what you learn here. Wisconsin River Valley Grassroots Festiva...
Progressive Dane - Mon 4:43 p.m. - 3 clicks
There will be plenty of push-back against Sarah Palin from all quarters. Especially after her display this past weekend at the Teabaggers Convention. Today the blow-back came from the daughter of Senator John McCain. ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 4:43 p.m. - 3 clicks
Digby: He was a complicated political figure, but he will be remembered for something very brave: it's impossible to overestimate how important it was to have this conservative, ex-marine, super patriot Democrat step up on Iraq at a time when the country needed him. He led the way for the Democrats to finally find the courage to oppose Bush and I'm not sure it would have happened without him. ...
Pundit Nation - Mon 4:26 p.m. - 5 clicks
The Fox Valley Fair Wisconsin Action Network will be meeting tomorrow night in Appleton for an open discussion on LGBT families. Come and share your family's story, or drop in and learn more about the experiences of LGBT couples in the Fox Valley! Tuesday, February 9th 7 P.M. to 8.30 P.M. Harmony Cafe 233 E College Avenue in Appleton Several people have mentioned they'll be attendin...
Fair Wisconsin - Mon 4:08 p.m. - 5 clicks
Sam Dillon of the New York Times has been doing some good reporting on the carrot/stick financing strategies of the Dept. of Educaction in the vortex of shrunken state budgets, stimulus money about to dry up in 2010 and Arne Duncan’s Race to the Top (RttT) funding proposal. In a piece from January 18th, Dillon quoted [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Mon 3:43 p.m.
The world is upside down. Those who think guns are the answer to everything have a problem to resolve in Texas. Lawmakers, some of whom regularly show up armed to the job, have to sort through an array of safety options. They range from prohibiting guns in the Capitol, making everyone who steps into the building go [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 1:34 p.m. - 2 clicks
After a successful launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour this morning comes the latest video of what happened to the Challenger 24 years ago. This video taken by an amateur is truly a testament to the disaster that took place. Gut-punch. I was working in radio that day and will never forget the wall-to-wall coverage we provided, or the sick feeling we [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 12:45 p.m. - 2 clicks
Transit Activists: Click here to see a preview of tonight's PBS Documentary "Beyond the Motor City". Just a quick reminder: tonight, at 10pm ET , PBS will be screening the documentary " Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City" which features the work TEN affiliate MOSES is doing to revitalize Detroit through transportation equity. ...
The Political Environment - Mon 10:45 a.m. - 3 clicks
Agreed. President Obama hasn’t held a full-scale news conference since July. Instead, he answered a dozen people’s questions last week on YouTube, most of them easily finessed and — extra bonus! — no annoying follow-ups of the kind posed by real, live journalists. It would be hard — impossible, actually — to argue that Obama hasn’t been [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 10:45 a.m.
More from Albany. There are some speculating that this could be more than a sex scandal, and might now include “a state deal he may be connected to.” Governor David Paterson is talking privately with key Democratic leaders about his political future. Paterson campaign spokesman Richard Fife says the weekend calls were “routine re-election campaign calls.” But a [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 9:21 a.m. - 2 clicks
Another reminder that you can attend publicly-sponsored, free and timely focus groups this week to weigh in on a critical issue: The need for regional planners and public officials to recognize the development potential of Lake Michigan water, and to spread those benefits to meet a more just regional agenda: better transit, more affordable housing, shared job opportunity, and environmental prot...
The Political Environment - Mon 8:40 a.m. - 2 clicks
With all of the discussion about high speed rail between Madison and Milwaukee, I missed the report which identified the best place to locate the local station. I know there is lot of discussion about the Dane County Regional Airport. I also caught the suggestion that there be an alternative or additional stop at the tracks across East Washington and First Street. I assume that airport station has...
Waxing America - Mon 8:08 a.m. - 5 clicks
Charles Barkley needs a brand new bag and Danica Patrick should not quit her day job. I saw about three quarters of the Super Bowl which means I probably saw about three quarters of the ads. I believe it was the third Super Bowl I watched in the past fifteen years. Come on, what gives? These ads were written by thirteen year olds for ten year olds. The humor was non-existent, the originality sucke...
Waxing America - Mon 7:09 a.m. - 3 clicks
It's all too funny watching Paul Ryan pose as a tribune of fiscal rectitude. It's not just because he voted for Bush's budgets, it's not just because he voted for the deficit-financed Medicare drug benefit. It's also because, just three......
Brew City Brawler - Mon 5:26 a.m. - 8 clicks
If the Tea Baggers are so angry about bailouts, they should consider fielding a candidate against US Rep. Paul Ryan, who convinced many conservative members of Congress to vote for the plan when it was first proposed by the Bush administration. Lou Kaye. Paul Begala thinks Democrats should put Ryan's entire Road Map up for a vote. Hullabaloo. It's all we can do to ...
Pundit Nation - Mon 5:08 a.m. - 8 clicks
Facebook advertising! I have a feeling we're going to see his money drop on TV, but that will be later. In the meantime, he's rocking his private sector experience via Facebook ads: Disclaimer: I have no intention of voting for Mark Neumann. That being said, I think this is a solid ad. Everyone is talking about jobs these days (Tom Barrett is, for example ). The sorry state of the economy...
Forward Our Motto - Mon 4:09 a.m. - 4 clicks
The Janesville Gazette continued to pile on Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan in both Saturday and Sunday editions with gangland style attacks, even bragging about how their trumped up story received statewide attention. JG Editor's Views Excerpt : (Feb.7, 2010) In nearly every case, the Gazette got credit for reporting the story first. We love to be first with any story. We parti...
Rock Netroots - Mon 3:22 a.m. - 6 clicks
Anything would be better than what we have; or not! By Jack E. Lohman Our politicians have ruined our economy by spending good taxes on bad policy. Who would complain about taxation if there wasn’t do much waste and special interest giveaways? A recent Institute for Wisconsin’s Future newsletter noted that “Due to state budget shortfalls, assistant district [...] ...
Moneyed Politicians - Mon 12:58 a.m. - 3 clicks
There is a political hurricane brewing, and it is aimed at Albany. It seems to be only a matter of time before the counter-clockwise winds of scandal strip New York Governor Paterson of his dignity, and his power. For starters, as we all know, there was no bombshell story about Governor Paterson in Sunday’s New York Times. (Many thought there would be [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Mon 12:06 a.m. - 2 clicks
One Wisconsin Now is helping publicize this week's focus group opportunity that is part of a regional look at the effects of water diversions on our region's social justice. Activists should check it ou t, then mark your calendars. ...
The Political Environment - Sun 11:27 p.m. - 6 clicks
It didn't get much play last week, so let's go back to word that the region's private sector power brokers - - I reprinted their text - - created a coalition of chambers of commerce and large businesses to influence the Waukesha water issue. Waukesha's quest for a Lake Michigan diversion, they say, should be granted because it is now the key to the region's definition a...
The Political Environment - Sun 10:45 p.m. - 10 clicks
It's nice to be mentioned in dispatches : 1) Announcements: a) Ed D announced that there are 4 members from our group that is running for a political seat. Members should be sending their editorial views to help the members that are running to the Daily News. b) Mark Peterson editorial placed some wrong information on his last editorial. All members should read this last editorial. Then all me...
The Motley Cow - Sun 8:59 p.m. - 4 clicks
Lord, forgive them. Welcome to Wisconsin Christian News “Why Do 1,000 Scientists (and Growing) Believe Darwin Was Wrong?” That is the banner on the “What’s the Evidence?” fair booth which has been at Waukesha and Washington Counties this summer and is scheduled to be at Dodge and Sheboygan County fairs. “A lot of folks come to the booth and admit to having questions about the Creation and ...
The Motley Cow - Sun 8:59 p.m. - 4 clicks
Actually, this was pretty funny. Would have been better if Conan had stuck his head in, asked if he could sit down and everybody shouted, "NO!" Update: Apparently, it was considered. ...
Pundit Nation - Sun 7:47 p.m. - 4 clicks
Week two of the agenda rundown experiment. The big important things are the La Follette Area attendance info (now including East Area and West Area) and the Budget Timeline. As explained in the first post in this series, the Madison Metropolitan School district Board of Education first sees most agenda items when meeting in committee [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Sun 6:24 p.m. - 8 clicks
At 4:43 p.m. In response - - and trust me he added - - to a caller who said he had heard Palin speak before he then saw how beautiful she was. There's your talk radio update for Super Sunday. ...
The Political Environment - Sun 2:51 p.m. - 5 clicks
I might be following today's sports contest on Twitter, where it's a veritable love fest between the local liberals and conservatives. The clip above is where Pete and Keith destroy their instruments and almost take the stage with them. I miss Keith. ...
Pundit Nation - Sun 2:42 p.m.
Greg Kowalski is an enthusiastic blogger and public citizen in Franklin and he's running for Alderman. Greg's blog has been a true public service , and he has good positions on open government, in-fill development and other issues - - and he chaired the city's environmental commission, which has plenty to do. He and I have sometimes had our differences, but I'm hoping he gets into office....
The Political Environment - Sun 2:21 p.m.
Weak regulatory proposals for the Payday lenders are like the weak reforms to the state's OWI laws: dinking around at the edges, creating the impression that something real is happening, when core issues and public protections are barely addressed. The legislature is terminally addicted to special interest influence. ...
The Political Environment - Sun 1:45 p.m. - 4 clicks
This picture in today’s newsaper is a classic. Words are not needed. Bill Schwartz on Tuesday fed his ballot into a ballot box at a polling place in the basement of a bungalow on North Rockwell. (Illinois Primary, 2010) ...
Caffeinated Politics - Sun 1:26 p.m. - 2 clicks
While listening to the morning news on WBBM (AM 780) before gettting out of bed this morning I heard Dave Ross provide the following concerning ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ It was perfect…..better than coffee to start the day. And oohhh so true! You know it’s Groundhog Day when the radio comes on with the same story you’ve [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Sun 12:41 p.m. - 2 clicks
From the obituary page of the Sunday newspaper comes this reminder of how far we have come in the world of televison. Frances Buss, who at the dawn of commercial television parlayed a job as a temporary receptionist into a pioneering career as a director whose work helped establish the talk show, the game show and the [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Sun 12:41 p.m. - 2 clicks
Didn’t Fidel Castro once wear a hat like this? Perhaps Glenn Beck needs to investigate! I wonder who is telling Mitt Romney today who his competition for the Republican nomination might me? I trust he is not allowed to snack on pretzels when being told, this being a football Sunday. We know what almost happened to [...] ...
Caffeinated Politics - Sun 10:05 a.m. - 5 clicks
James Rowen, at the Political Environment , has covered , in detail and with clarity, the expensive , sprawl-encouraging, Waukesha water diversion proposal. He also critiques the unthinking and misguided Journal Sentinel editorial page's support for such exurban development. Though the editorial does mention an environmental impact study, this seems more an obstacle than a true concern. The...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sun 9:45 a.m. - 5 clicks
I've been hammering at Bank of America and other big banks for their predatory lending and awful customer service. Seems I'm not the only one: Italy Seizes Bank of America Assets - Fraud Is Finally Catching Up With Wall St./Bankers From what I can tell, the bank near me that has done the best is TD Bank. I am switching to TD and so far I am happy. They avoided predatory lending (probably bec...
DailyKos (Wisconsin) - Sun 9:21 a.m. - 18 clicks
LONDON (Reuters) - Saxophonist Sir John Dankworth, one of the leading figures in British jazz for more than half a century, has died, his agent said Sunday. He was 82. He and Cleo Laine played Milwaukee every year for a stretch in the mid-70s into the 80s. Always filled the Hall--Uihlein Hall. She was the headliner, but their show was like few other collaborations. Cleo sang a capella this s...
Water Blogged in Waukesha - Sun 8:28 a.m. - 11 clicks
If the invasive and menacing carp get above the locks at the Chicago shipping canal, we'll all look back with regret and disgust at years of regional and Illinois' half-measures and inertia. ...
The Political Environment - Sat 10:01 p.m.
The Journal Sentinel says in a Sunday editoria l that questions about the relationship between Waukesha's access to and use of diverted Lake Michigan water and potential growth are not appropriate. Let's look at this differently. I would argue that these are perfectly reasonable and relevant questions, for three reasons, at least: 1. The Great Lakes Compact, under which the Waukesha di...
The Political Environment - Sat 10:01 p.m. - 4 clicks
CNN won't get any credit from the far Right for carrying Sarah Palin's speech to the Tea Partiers. Can you imagine Fox carrying a speech by whomever might be the left's leading celebrity? I was feeling like a goof myself for watching; then I channeled what John McCain must be thinking and felt less goofy. ...
The Political Environment - Sat 6:47 p.m. - 5 clicks
You know how sometimes in life you go through a bad moment, and when your friends hear about it later, they say, "Why didn’t you say something? Why didn’t you ask?" That’s where I am now, and that’s why I am asking for your help. ...
DailyKos (Wisconsin) - Sat 3:25 p.m. - 3 clicks
Dean Baker on: Defense Spending Government Spending Small Business Social Security & Medicare Underwater Mortgages ...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sat 9:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
Franklin's grand experiment in destination shopping-cum-sprawl ( hat tip, blogger John Michlig ) goes the way of Delafield's canceled Lang lifestyle mega-development, the troubled Pabst Farms , (still no '"upscale" mall underway, but some big box stores might find their way close by the subdivisions that are filled with "for-sale" signs), and that effort to pull motorists from afar to the reg...
The Political Environment - Sat 9:04 a.m. - 2 clicks
Journal Sentinel: A 21-year-old man whose mother shot him in the groin Thursday night told police he was trying to be funny by wearing a ski mask and pretending to rob her, but investigators aren't necessarily buying his story, a Milwaukee police spokesman said Friday. Also: Is there any idiot wielding an illegal gun Owen Robinson won't defend? Update: We are, of course, not surpris...
Pundit Nation - Sat 8:49 a.m. - 10 clicks
Hi everyone, I thought, after the flurry of resentful and angry letters all hot over the question of religion, something cool would be soothing to the fevered brows of the local heirs of Torquemada. Saturday's column. The Zen of ice fishing Crossing the spiritual divide one tip-up at a time This week, as we’re engaged in the heat of political battles, I thought I'd talk about somet...
The Motley Cow - Sat 7:42 a.m. - 6 clicks
Paul Ryan is wrong again. And, as usual, the Journal Sentinel is spreading his drivel . Paul Krugman addressed and debunked these fiscal fallacies and scare-tactics (such as those Paul Ryan purveys ) in his latest column . The economy is, historically, worse under Republican administrations. When conservatives are in power: deficits increase, wage-growth slows, and general socio-economic ...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sat 6:21 a.m. - 6 clicks
The sales tax used to help pay for Miller Park may be extended past it's 2014 sunset date to pay for Bradley Center replacement or renovations. These money losers - stadiums, convention centers, etc. - always have boosters and proponents pushing for the use of public dollars to fund such private playgrounds. In such instances, these normally government-averse, anti-tax crusaders, become big gov...
Brewtown Gumshoe - Sat 6:06 a.m. - 3 clicks
Play along at home! Created by: Princess Sparkle Pony. If you do follow along at home, bear in mind that following the speech, Palin is preparing to go rogue by answering a handful of pre-screened, pre-selected questions. ...
Pundit Nation - Sat 6:06 a.m. - 2 clicks
The Waukesha Water Utility has posted on its website a breakdown of estimated costs for three water supply alternatives, with its preferred plan - - a Lake Michigan diversion - - carrying a projected $164 million construction price tag. The posting is here . It would dwarf recent water utility capital project costs . And is about triple the entire City's 2010 operating budget . S...
The Political Environment - Fri 11:56 p.m. - 4 clicks
This is something that should be seriously considered. In a previous post, I mused over President Obama's casual remark at the Republican Caucus conference when he spoke of Ryan possibly getting a Republican challenge. Perhaps I misread the President. But if you take the congressman's own words at some of his townhalls, it's easy to think he isn't a republican. Although he's a solid party-line l...
Rock Netroots - Fri 10:05 p.m. - 3 clicks
The pose of victimization among the right wing, now turning up the volume. It's hard out there for a pimp. Wingnuts Are Sad that Progressives Don’t Take Their Nonsense Seriously But just to take one example, the total costs of all malpractice suits in the U.S. — frivolous or not — is about one half of one percent of our health-care costs. So why should I view the argument that tort reform is...
The Motley Cow - Fri 9:03 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Tony Evers takeover story was one of the first, and has 44 comments right now, including: I'm a high school teacher with 2 years of employment in the district. The state is playing budgetary politics and withholding funds will only help keep the status quo. The teachers that will be let go are the ones who work the hardest and are the most dedicated. The teachers who are not invested in ed...
Pundit Nation - Fri 8:07 p.m. - 12 clicks
Washington Wire: But a couple of political pundits say those who are lambasting the ad are missing the point. “The fact that you and I are talking about it means it’s not the worst ad of all time,” says Democratic consultant Kam Kuwata . Kuwata knows a thing or two about Golden State politics, having help run Sen. Dianne Feinstein ’s Senate campaigns. “The Fiorina campaign has to...
Pundit Nation - Fri 7:54 p.m. - 2 clicks
Poor Sarah Palin. She can't criticize Rush Limbaugh's ugly language. This is because no conservative is allowed to criticize Rush, lest the ostracism be swift and permanent. And they think they are creating a revolution of sorts out there on the fringes of the far right? Ha. ...
The Political Environment - Fri 6:52 p.m. - 3 clicks
Lisa Kaiser: Remember that Evers was a high-ranking member of DPI before he became state superintendent last spring. He defeated his challenger in a landslide. Evers favored working with MPS on its No Child Left Behind-mandated corrective action plan , while his opponent wanted to temporarily take over MPS. Remember: Evers defeated the takeover candidate in a landslide. Then came ...
Pundit Nation - Fri 6:40 p.m. - 4 clicks
...this might be a good time to update your Facebook profile picture . After all, social media needs do change. ...
Pundit Nation - Fri 5:25 p.m. - 12 clicks
The cops didn't ask for an ID? Waukesha - The former Waukesha County account clerk accused of stealing more than $300,000 donated by seniors for meals at nutrition sites evaded arrest for two days this week after telling a detective the person he was looking for was in another state, a prosecutor said Friday. The Waukesha County sheriff's detective went to Kham Sisaleumsak's residenc...
Pundit Nation - Fri 5:03 p.m. - 5 clicks
Thursday was a busy evening for Fair Wisconsinites! Our Milwaukee Fair Wisconsin Action Network welcomed Fair Wisconsin Education Fund board member Laura Gutknecht to talk about gender identity and expression. Laura led a vibrant and informative discussion on transgender issues and shared some of her own experiences, as well. Fair Wisconsin is excited to build grassroots support for advocacy re...
Fair Wisconsin - Fri 3:27 p.m. - 5 clicks
Including the Metropolitan Milwaukee (sic) Association of Commerce: From Biz Times Daily enews Feb 5 2010 Mission statement from their webpage: The Sustainable Water Supply Coalition (SH2OSC) is a growing alliance of regional businesses and organizations focused on advancing our region as a global water hub focusing on water technology, water conserv...
The Political Environment - Fri 3:26 p.m. - 6 clicks
Word had been circulating for weeks that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had decided to carry out a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review of Waukesha's proposal to divert Lake Michigan water and return it via wastewater discharged into Wauwatosa's Underwood Creek. The EIS is a matter of federal statutory authority, and comports with Wisconsin law, too. This is g...
The Political Environment - Fri 12:45 p.m. - 9 clicks
The State of Michigan continues to pressure the courts to force Illinois to shut off the Asian carps' access to the Great Lakes, according to the Journal Sentinel. ...
The Political Environment - Fri 12:22 p.m. - 4 clicks
In 18 poverty fighting pieces of legislation in 2009, Ryan voted against 15. View scorecard here . State of Wisconsin Population: 5,654,774 Poverty rate: 10.4% If you didn't think it was possible, one other Wisconsin legislator actually scored lower on poverty than Ryan's "F". Score Ryan 12, Sensenbrenner 11 ...
Rock Netroots - Fri 10:43 a.m. - 11 clicks
ABOVE: Completely arbitrary (and therefor as accurate as any other presented) artist's depiction of planned Fountains of Franklin retail development. The long-languishing Fountains of Franklin development site faces a foreclosure suit. The history of this project is, frankly, the stuff......
Sprawled Out - Fri 9:06 a.m.
I mentioned a few weeks ago how the founding fathers would probably be shocked to find that in American Democracy in 2010 a super majority of 60 votes is needed to advance any legislation in the US Senate. I doubt they ever meant for this kind of behavior to happen either: As my colleague Jonathan Chait notes [...]...
Left on the Lake - Fri 9:06 a.m. - 5 clicks
From WBAY-TV AMPS followed the travails of the Wausaukee School District as the pressures 0f Wisconsin’s broken school finance system led it to the brink of dissolution. A successful referendum in August 2008 gave the district new life. This Wednesday, Wausaukee celebrated three prestigious awards, the High School won a Federal Department of Education National [...] ...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Fri 7:42 a.m. - 3 clicks
It's nice of Glenn to provide fodder here . Senator Grothman reiterated his call to disband the Clean Energy Committee as Wisconsin has had its second year in a row of temperatures below average, calling the whole rationale of the original task force in question. At the first committee meeting Senator Miller adjourned the committee while Senator Grothman tried to get his attention to discuss t...
Glenn Grothman Watch - Fri 7:05 a.m. - 6 clicks
It's hard to know what to make of yesterday's threat by Tony Evers, Wisconsin's Superintendent of Public Instruction, to withhold millions of dollars in federal funds for Milwaukee Public Schools. At first blush, it's hard to take it all that seriously. While no one's confirming a number there is a breathtaking estimate of $166 million floating around. That wouldn't just be a matter of Evers,...
Pundit Nation - Fri 5:26 a.m. - 7 clicks
Howard Gleckman of the Tax Policy Center takes a look at Paul Ryan's Road Map to Ruin and finds Paul Ryan's plan won't fix the deficit: Word is getting around that CBO has blessed a major budget reform plan proposed......
Brew City Brawler - Fri 5:25 a.m. - 8 clicks
Check out these two articles: SF mayor: city can save money with open source software and California CIO: Open source officially welcome here . [Oh, here is what open source is, if you are wondering. The short version: the source code for the program is available to anyone, and the application is free.] Of course, open source does have some draw backs, but so does closed source commercial ...
Forward Our Motto - Fri 3:48 a.m. - 4 clicks
Well not in those exact words but according to Milwaukee Alder Robert Bauman: Dane County Airport rail stop would be a mistake From the article: The current plan provides that the Madison terminal for this new service will be at the Dane County Regional Airport - miles from the Capitol and downtown Madison. The airport location is a mistake that must be corrected if the new service is going t...
Forward Our Motto - Fri 3:48 a.m. - 3 clicks
Paul Ryan: Why aren't you giving us a budget...that actually is sustainable? Timothy Geithner: Congressman, we're proposing a budget that takes the huge mess we inherited and cuts the deficits dramatically. Ryan: You can blame Bush only so long. Geithner: It's just a factual thing. Again, when I left the Treasury in 2000 it was surpluses on OMB and CBO’s around as far as the eye can see. Whe...
Rock Netroots - Thu 10:28 p.m. - 10 clicks
Rock Netroots Archives June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 ...
Rock Netroots - Thu 9:17 p.m. - 3 clicks
From a Brawler classic about Paul Ryan from three years ago: Here's what Ryan had to say in the 3/22/05 Cap Times & Wisconsin State Journal: About 2 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, learned he'd need to fly......
Brew City Brawler - Thu 8:17 p.m. - 7 clicks
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c A Few Gay Men & Women www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis John McCain apparently just forgot that four years ago he supported lifting the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy if the military leadership requested it. Maybe it's time to get the Olds out of the...
Pundit Nation - Thu 8:03 p.m. - 3 clicks
Thanks you Richard Shelby for a timely reminder that the sleazy culture of legislative manuevering is bipartisan. From Talking Points Memo: Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has put an extraordinary "blanket hold" on at least 70 nominations President Obama has sent......
Brew City Brawler - Thu 7:42 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Brawler 100% supports Democratic efforts to make the Republican Party own Paul Ryan's Road Map to An Early Grave for Poor Seniors. From Talking Points Memo: You thought Republicans were going to be able to wiggle away from their......
Brew City Brawler - Thu 7:27 p.m. - 9 clicks
Russ Feingold, during today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Louis Butler's nomination to the federal bench: I know Justice Butler very well. The characterization of his type of judging and the way he approaches cases by Senator Kyl , with all respect, is simply incorrect. As Senator Kohl indicated we had a distinguished commission of people who care a great deal about h...
Pundit Nation - Thu 7:05 p.m. - 17 clicks
Go read Glenn Greenwald's fascinating piece on the news that the Obama Administration, like the Bush Administration, has in place procedures--presumably like forms to fill out and signatures to get--for assassinating American citizens suspected of collaborating with terrorists.There is no judicial review of such an order or any requirement to inform Congress. The executive branch has to merely d...
Pundit Nation - Thu 7:05 p.m. - 2 clicks
...Roland Melnick demonstrates that making sense isn't a priority to conservatives any longer: I know…calling Obama a public servant sounds absurd given his tendency to treat Americans as his servants, but someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and remind him who works for who in this country. A public servant doesn’t rule his/her people like a king, or worse, a Hugo Chavez-esque de...
Pundit Nation - Thu 7:05 p.m.
[corrected material crossed out; new material in italics, update at bottom] Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction has officially embraced a policy of starving Milwaukee Public Schools into submission by exercising his power to withhold Federal funds from the district. Here is the Press Release in it’s entirety (official notice here). Evers issues notice to Milwaukee Public Schools...
Advocates for Madison Public Schools - Thu 2:35 p.m. - 6 clicks
Russ Feingold is used to being called a maverick, but nothing can be more outrageous than syndicated Republican talk show host Rush Limbaugh’s comparison of him to the terrorist, Osama Bin Laden. Limbaugh said that Bin Laden’s recent comments “sounds like this could easily be [said by] Russ Feingold, the Senator from Wisconsin.” Limbaugh clearly doesn’t understand [.....
Watchdog Milwaukee - Thu 1:43 p.m. - 5 clicks
Ah, paranoia is sweet when it lets you really work up a lather. Large Portion Of GOP Thinks Obama Is Racist, Socialist, Non-U.S. Citizen: Poll Some examples [ by the way, this does not even include self-identified Tea Partiers, for whom the paranoia is even more dramatic ]: 39 percent of Republicans believe Obama should be impeached, 29 percent are not sure, 32 percent said he should not be...
The Motley Cow - Thu 7:42 a.m. - 4 clicks
Glenn doesn't believe in global warming because it's colder in West Bend this year. Wis. senator calls for disbanding state's Clean Energy Committee Wisconsin state Senator Glenn Grothman says he's not convinced climate change is happening in our state. Representing West Bend, he serves on the state's Clean Energy Committee. He says the committee should disband and stop pursuing alternative...
Glenn Grothman Watch - Thu 7:42 a.m. - 6 clicks
A letter to the editor. If you like the Middle Ages, vote Weigand,Marquardt There has been some scuttlebutt recently about the possibility of creationists being elected to the School Board. I support creationism being taught in the classroom, however, I don’t want to stop there. I’d like to see alchemy taught alongside the theory of “chemistry,” astrology alongside “astronomy,” magic ...
The Motley Cow - Thu 6:25 a.m. - 4 clicks
Then again, Paul Ryan is pretty sure Obama would lose if the election were held today. From RealClearPolitics: RCP: President Obama won Wisconsin by 14 points last year, yet a poll released last week showed your friend Russ Feingold trailing......
Brew City Brawler - Thu 5:22 a.m. - 19 clicks
I mean, really... This is politically viable: Huge Cuts (and/or Big Taxes) for MMSD? Yes, it's very likely that the Madison Metropolitan School District will see cuts in services coupled with a tax increase. And regardless of whatever Caffeinated Politics might say, it's not the fault of the local school board. The state funding formula is messed up and not sustainable. Yet, keeping it and...
Forward Our Motto - Thu 4:23 a.m. - 5 clicks
While watching last week's Janesville city council discussion about the ice arena, I was both flabbergasted and insulted by at least two council members readiness to throw Janesville taxpayers under a bus, or to imply that tough economic times means taxpayers must expect to sacrifice even more. Nearly every council member spoke about "time" and how they need to do all they can to get the ball ro...
Rock Netroots - Wed 11:43 p.m. - 4 clicks
Charlie Sykes periodically likes to adopt a tough guy pose. For instance, leading up to the 2008 presidential election he'd snarl that Barack Obama was a "sniveling, snot-nosed community organizer." Funny stuff for a guy who won't take calls from......
Brew City Brawler - Wed 8:57 p.m. - 9 clicks
Seriously, even if you are about to perform brain surgery, you must this instant watch the most amazing political advertisement ever produced. And if you have to, say, rescue a baby from a burning car, just go to the 2:00 minute mark and wait for the eyes. Oh, those eyes. You will be up all night thinking of those eyes. Clearly, the GOP reserves its best game for the primaries. ...
Pundit Nation - Wed 8:09 p.m. - 5 clicks
Little late this week getting the newsletter to Daily Kos. Some parts might be outdated, but most is up to date. I also want to draw attention to a fellow Culture Kitchen blogger, Leo Igwe, whose attempts to further reason and oppose fundamentalism in Nigeria have gotten him beaten up by a mob and harassed by cops. Here are his two most recent articles regarding Nigeria: Humanism and the Ques...
DailyKos (Wisconsin) - Wed 6:07 p.m. - 10 clicks
(Cross-posted at Paul Ryan Watch.) The Economist's "Democracy in America" blog weighs in on Paul Ryan's Road Map to Ruin. If you're 54 or older right now -- the teabagger demo -- good for you. "You get caviar, and everybody......
Brew City Brawler - Wed 5:07 p.m. - 4 clicks
A strangely fascinating slide-show from the New York Times on the "where are they now" theme. Is it surprising how many are motivational speakers? Certainly none of them looks like they're living in a van down by the river. The toughness of the serious athlete seems present in the contemporary photos. Check out the guy from the 1980 Gold Medal Hockey team. He looks like he c...
Pundit Nation - Wed 4:07 p.m. - 3 clicks
UPDATE: The video of the segment is now online. Thanks Quinn for getting it online so quickly! I’ll be doing a segment along with Sonya Knauss from MilwaukeeMoms.com tomorrow for “The Morning Blend” on channel 4. We should be on around 9:00am-9:30am and will be discussing the changing gender roles in modern American families. Tune in! ...
Left on the Lake - Wed 2:11 p.m. - 4 clicks
My latest column is up over at MilwaukeeMoms.com, this one deals with the quantum leap the family structure – and fathers in particular – have taken since the late 50’s and early 60’s. A lot of attention – rightfully so – has been given to the evolution of the “modern” women who no longer spends her [...]...
Left on the Lake - Wed 12:43 p.m. - 4 clicks
Statement of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus On Today’s Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing On the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy February 2, 2010 “President Obama has done the right thing in calling for an end to the un-American and discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. I thank Chairman Levin for holding today’s hearing...
Fair Wisconsin - Wed 11:26 a.m. - 9 clicks
They’re typically allies, but apparently the lovefest have come to an end for Republican activists Robert “Bob” Dohnal and J.J. Blonien. According to state records, Dohnal is hoping to cash in with a lawsuit against Blonien. Hat tip: Dan Bice...
Watchdog Milwaukee - Wed 10:42 a.m. - 8 clicks
I attended a Council of the Whole meeting a few nights back where my city's Common Council discussed funding for the annual 4th of July celebration. Because of a tight city budget, the mayor asked for cuts. Here's what he......
Sprawled Out - Wed 9:49 a.m. - 3 clicks
On election night 1994, I was sitting in the bar at the Inn on the Park with buddy Ron Domini watching the election returns. The networks reported that young George W. Bush upset Ann Richards in the Texas gubernatorial race. I turned to Ron, and said, "We have to defeat these guys now. They take an election like this and then next thing you know they are a viable candidate for President." When Pau...
Waxing America - Wed 6:49 a.m. - 13 clicks
As the only member of the GOP who apparently understands how to use a spreadsheet, Paul Ryan gets a lot of attention from the national media--and not much scrutiny about how reactionary his ideas truly are from the local presss. The Brew City Brawler is attempting to rectify that with a new blog, Paul Ryan Watch . There are a number of posts up, including details about a rather painful exchange...
Pundit Nation - Wed 5:29 a.m. - 10 clicks
Courtesy of the Sierra Club John Muir Chapter (with a little editing by me for brevity's sake). If you can help out, this is a worthy cause: There is good news on the horizon for Wisconsin ’s waters, but they need your help! The DNR recently proposed significant changes to NR151, Wisconsin’s administrative rules for addressing polluted runoff. Public hearings have been scheduled to obtai...
Forward Our Motto - Wed 3:45 a.m. - 6 clicks
As a supporter of State Sen. Judy Robson, I of course was disappointed when she announced that she will not seek re-election to another term in the Wisconsin legislature. Now comes word she may be exploring a run for lieutenant Governor, according to the Beloit Daily News. BDN Excerpt : Wisconsin politics may not have heard the last of Judy Robson. The Democrat state senator from Beloit says sh...
Rock Netroots - Tue 10:26 p.m. - 6 clicks
