Newt is running to the right and winds up in New Hampshire with a new slogan; "Iraq: "Victory or death."
It looks as if those who have been calling for a sharp right turn for the Republicans have their candidate. Gingrich will pull Romney and McCain to the right with him. The choices in 2008 look to be black and white rather than any shade of gray.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
If These Two Crazy Kids Can't Make It
From the sanctity of traditional marriage file:Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock each filed divorce papers Monday seeking to end their marriage of less than four months. Anderson's representative would not comment on the reason or any particulars of the divorce. Anderson and Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, each cited "irreconcilable differences" in their divorce filings in Los Angeles County Superior Court.We should have seen it coming. They haven't had a ceremony since August.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back
Tryptophan and Christmas lights. One day with 550 miles in a little over 10 hours. One day when I barely dressed.
It was a very good weekend and welcome back to you all.
Back With The Carnival
The Happy Circumstance made a return appearance at the Carnival of the Badger this week. Check out the Wild Turkey Edition over at Wigderson's Library and Pub.
Then sign up to host the best of Badger blogging yourself. Nick will tell you how.
Then sign up to host the best of Badger blogging yourself. Nick will tell you how.
Long Ago And Far Away
Back in the distant past when my Starter Wife and I were just starting the process of demarriage (if you want to see how much the State of Wisconsin values marriage you need to see how much it costs to get out of one) I went to a well respected law firm on the West Side of Madison to try to obtain representation.
I spilled my broken heart on the desk of a senior partner. Ahem. What I mean, of course, is that I dispassionately explained my side of the story in hopes that he would assigned some third-junior sub-lawyer to my case and allow me to come through the process with my dignity, if not my 401k, intact.
He listened to the whys and wherefores and asked many pointed questions about the who did whats and then gently slid my heart off his desk, onto the floor, and stomped that sucker flat. He would not, he said, be able to have his firm represent me because they were already representing the not-quite-ex wife of my nowhere-near-ex wife's new best friend and roommate. That, he said might lead to a conflict of interest and ethical law firms did not engage in such actions.
Along the way things worked themselves out okay. I found another lawyer with a good sense of humor. He listened to my lawyer jokes without billing me for the time and bought me a beer at The Great Dane when everything was said and done. (Done, anyway. It seems as if everything is never said.)
That lawyer came to mind over the weekend with the story, somehow overlooked in an election cycle in which nothing was overlooked, that The New sheriff, I'm sorry, the new AG was in the employ of a law firm in which he was switching sides. Now that he had been chosen by the good people of Wisconsin to serve as their bastion of moral uprightness and All Things Good his first proclamation of his sense of duty was to pay back his buddies and act against the wishes and interests of the citizens of the state.
In his campaign JBvH said he wasn't a politician. He's proved it with this fiasco. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt and saying that there is no quid for the quo in this case you would think that a man who rode to victory on the shoulders of those who saw influence peddling under the corner of every carpet would, at least, have the sense to take the oath of office before starting to sell out those whose hopes he was stomping.
It's been a long weekend and I'm sure that once all the turkey is digested that those bloggers who rode Jim Doyle for the last three months will be going after the hypocrisy of van Hollen's recusal refusal. I'm sure that will happen soon.
I spilled my broken heart on the desk of a senior partner. Ahem. What I mean, of course, is that I dispassionately explained my side of the story in hopes that he would assigned some third-junior sub-lawyer to my case and allow me to come through the process with my dignity, if not my 401k, intact.
He listened to the whys and wherefores and asked many pointed questions about the who did whats and then gently slid my heart off his desk, onto the floor, and stomped that sucker flat. He would not, he said, be able to have his firm represent me because they were already representing the not-quite-ex wife of my nowhere-near-ex wife's new best friend and roommate. That, he said might lead to a conflict of interest and ethical law firms did not engage in such actions.
Along the way things worked themselves out okay. I found another lawyer with a good sense of humor. He listened to my lawyer jokes without billing me for the time and bought me a beer at The Great Dane when everything was said and done. (Done, anyway. It seems as if everything is never said.)
That lawyer came to mind over the weekend with the story, somehow overlooked in an election cycle in which nothing was overlooked, that The New sheriff, I'm sorry, the new AG was in the employ of a law firm in which he was switching sides. Now that he had been chosen by the good people of Wisconsin to serve as their bastion of moral uprightness and All Things Good his first proclamation of his sense of duty was to pay back his buddies and act against the wishes and interests of the citizens of the state.
In his campaign JBvH said he wasn't a politician. He's proved it with this fiasco. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt and saying that there is no quid for the quo in this case you would think that a man who rode to victory on the shoulders of those who saw influence peddling under the corner of every carpet would, at least, have the sense to take the oath of office before starting to sell out those whose hopes he was stomping.
It's been a long weekend and I'm sure that once all the turkey is digested that those bloggers who rode Jim Doyle for the last three months will be going after the hypocrisy of van Hollen's recusal refusal. I'm sure that will happen soon.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
A Blast From The Past
One of my favorites among all the things I've written is this piece from last Thanksgiving Day.
The Giving Of Thanks
Give thanks in private, with family or friends.
Give thanks to those who deserve, to those who serve, to those who give of themselves.
Give thanks where it is due rather than where it is expected.
Give thanks more than one day a year.
This morning I was able to wake in a soft bed, eat a good meal and listen as the furnace started. I am thankful.
My daughter's family will pick me up to go to a meal fit for royalty. I am thankful.
My life is good. I am thankful and grateful and not bashful about giving thanks where it is due.
Find the people and things in your life that make it better and give thanks.
Give thanks to those who deserve, to those who serve, to those who give of themselves.
Give thanks where it is due rather than where it is expected.
Give thanks more than one day a year.
This morning I was able to wake in a soft bed, eat a good meal and listen as the furnace started. I am thankful.
My daughter's family will pick me up to go to a meal fit for royalty. I am thankful.
My life is good. I am thankful and grateful and not bashful about giving thanks where it is due.
Find the people and things in your life that make it better and give thanks.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Quick Hits
Because time is tight right now.
Kathleen Falk should concede. There are not 8000 votes in play.
Michael Richards is an idiot. There is no excuse for his actions on stage Friday night.
To those who question Rangel's draft proposal..."Why do you hate America? Why won't you support our troops?"
Tommy, sit down. You're embarrassing us.
Nancy Pelosi is not mortally crippled by the Murtha vote. That's just wishful thinking.
Anyone who thinks the Republicans got moved to the sidelines because the party was not far enough to the right hasn't been listening to what they've been saying about Michael Moore.
The proposal to reinstate the draft will generate some good discussion and almost no votes. Bringing it back three years later is a purely political move by Rangel.
Nancy Pelosi needs to move Alcee Hastings, William Jefferson and John Moran to the back bench, and soon.
Don't forget your local charities over the next few weeks. They need your help as much as the better promoted nationals do.
CAmpaigns for the Spring elections start in earnest in 6 weeks. Enjoy!
Kathleen Falk should concede. There are not 8000 votes in play.
Michael Richards is an idiot. There is no excuse for his actions on stage Friday night.
To those who question Rangel's draft proposal..."Why do you hate America? Why won't you support our troops?"
Tommy, sit down. You're embarrassing us.
Nancy Pelosi is not mortally crippled by the Murtha vote. That's just wishful thinking.
Anyone who thinks the Republicans got moved to the sidelines because the party was not far enough to the right hasn't been listening to what they've been saying about Michael Moore.
The proposal to reinstate the draft will generate some good discussion and almost no votes. Bringing it back three years later is a purely political move by Rangel.
Nancy Pelosi needs to move Alcee Hastings, William Jefferson and John Moran to the back bench, and soon.
Don't forget your local charities over the next few weeks. They need your help as much as the better promoted nationals do.
CAmpaigns for the Spring elections start in earnest in 6 weeks. Enjoy!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Conspiracy Theory At Its Finest
Jessica McBride makes the airtight case for a serial killer at work. Among the irrefutable pieces of evidence linking the drowning deaths.
You wonder why I bother to make fun of this trash?
McBride sets herself up as a teacher of journalism at UW-M. If this is the heights of her critical thinking skills then her students and employer are being short-changed. Kevin Barrett's theories are no more or less wrong than this pap.
McBride has the bully pulpit of a show on WTMJ. There are people who believe this woman knows something about the topics upon which she speaks. If her other arguments are built on such a faulty foundation as this she shouldn't be able to draw a crowd while standing on a peach box downtown.
McBride and her family have some standing in the community. If this is an indication of the way in which her household builds arguments I'm scared for their children and the people they influence.
This sort of "the sky is falling" mindless causality-seeking has parallels in modern government and politics. It is the breeder of the mind-numbing dread that holds this country in its thrall. We need clear headed leaders of opinion, not conspiracy-fogged parrots telling us to be afraid of the things that make up the fabric of our lives.
This piece would be sad if not for the fact that there are people who read it and agreed that McBride deserved anything other than bully-ragging and derision for having written it. We are all just a little bit worse off for having read it.
Last seen out drinking with friends or at a party(and coincidentally...)
Were under the influence of alcohol(proximity is key in her argument)
Lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana or Chicago the area surrounding(That narrows it down to less than 10% of the land mass of America)
Lake Michigan
Became separated from the friends with whom they started the evening(Um, Jess, that's a symptom of drowning, not a cause)
All disappeared between the hours of 10 PM and 4 AM(Timing is everything. Very few college drunks show up at 9:15 in the morning)
All disappeared between the months of September and April(Or when class isn't in session)
The closed cases were all determined to be accidental drowning or possible(Because of...wait for it) Many of those found drowned were found in the Mississippi River, Red Cedar River or Lake Michigan ("And the reason we can tell it was murder?" you ask.)
suicides
Victim's body, if found, had no signs of strangulation - gunshot - stab or other(Using the powers of Bucher-reasoning, Jess determines a likely common factor)
obvious sign of murder
Were reported missing by friends or family(That clinches it for me, Jess. It must be the work of a criminal genius)
You wonder why I bother to make fun of this trash?
McBride sets herself up as a teacher of journalism at UW-M. If this is the heights of her critical thinking skills then her students and employer are being short-changed. Kevin Barrett's theories are no more or less wrong than this pap.
McBride has the bully pulpit of a show on WTMJ. There are people who believe this woman knows something about the topics upon which she speaks. If her other arguments are built on such a faulty foundation as this she shouldn't be able to draw a crowd while standing on a peach box downtown.
McBride and her family have some standing in the community. If this is an indication of the way in which her household builds arguments I'm scared for their children and the people they influence.
This sort of "the sky is falling" mindless causality-seeking has parallels in modern government and politics. It is the breeder of the mind-numbing dread that holds this country in its thrall. We need clear headed leaders of opinion, not conspiracy-fogged parrots telling us to be afraid of the things that make up the fabric of our lives.
This piece would be sad if not for the fact that there are people who read it and agreed that McBride deserved anything other than bully-ragging and derision for having written it. We are all just a little bit worse off for having read it.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Two For Flinching
The sentence you don't want in the story of your botched kidnapping attempt?
The man had just stuck the gun back into his waistband when it fired, shootingSecond place?
him in the left testicle.
He cringed, causing the gun to fire again and strike him in the left calf.The dispute was over stereo speakers.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
He Prounounces It why-TEECH-ah
Daniel Wietecha from southern Minnesota has accepted the city's offer and will take over as administrator on Jan 1.
Gina Duwe has the story at the Gazette.
Gina Duwe has the story at the Gazette.
Pearls In The Snow
From The Review.
Evansville voters bucked the statewide trend last week on Election Day. Locally the Gay Marriage Ban went down 961-747 and voters chose against the death penalty by a slim margin, 859-840.
The complete totals show just how blue Evansville is. Democratic Party candidates carried the city by a general 10-6 margin with no Republican getting a majority within the city.
Evansville voters bucked the statewide trend last week on Election Day. Locally the Gay Marriage Ban went down 961-747 and voters chose against the death penalty by a slim margin, 859-840.
The complete totals show just how blue Evansville is. Democratic Party candidates carried the city by a general 10-6 margin with no Republican getting a majority within the city.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The Elephants In The Room
Josh asks for a little clarity.
Perhaps this is something of an existential question. But do we really have to
pretend that Rudy Giuliani has more than a snowball's chance in hell of getting
the Republican presidential nomination? Or can we all just stipulate that a
multiple adulterer, who supports gay civil rights and choice, has deep and
on-going ties to mobbed-up and now-disgraced Police boss Bernie Kerik, has a
largely unscrutinized (outside of New York) resume, and had the bright idea of
locating the NYC disaster center in the already-once-bombed World Trade Center
probably will have some rough sledding in Republican primaries?
The Scooby Doo Moment Has Arrived
In most every episode of Scooby Doo there is a moment when the bad guy, having been vanquished despite the efforts of Scoob and the gang, says something to the effect of, "I'd have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those pesky kids."
Yesterday we had the Scooby moment of Election '06 when Bob Dohnal sent out his post-mortem of the reasons for the GOP meltdown.
He starts out by saying that Mark Green was the perfect candidate and that:
I believe that Mark Green is one of the finest people we have ever had run forIn the next paragraph he says that Scott Walker would have won if he'd run.
office in this state. I have nothing but admiration for him and his career.
While many of those of us that have run campaigns can always find differences in
the way campaigns were run and things that could have been done differently I do
not see that anything that was done that could have been changed to win the
campaign.
Dohnal blames Rick Wiley, the GOP grassroots organization, Dale Schultz and GWB for the spanking in the Senate without looking at the weakness of his own candidates. When your candidates spend 5 months cozying up to Bush, Cheney and Rove it seems disingenuous at best to claim that they dragged you under.
Dohnal whines that:
I believe that Don Taylor needs special mention for the job that he did inDohnal completely ignores the effect of the efforts made for and by Reynolds, including the "Captain Morgan" flyer.
Waukesha County. He stepped up to help Tom Reynolds in his narrow loss. The
failure of the party and the Senate leaders probably cost us that seat for
decades. Where was the state party? Who made these decisions? Losing all of
those legislative seats needs to be examined. Who was allocating the funds, why
isn't there any help for candidates. If you put all of your money in two rolls
of the dice, then lose them and then take it in the gut in the Legislature it
becomes obvious that we need a new direction and a discussion of the
leadership.
To be fair to Dohnal, he grinds a few personal axes while repeating the meme of the right over the last week, he's not the only one to have missed the message of last Tuesday. Politics in America cycles around the center. The left got the 30's, 60's and a fair chunk of the 90's. The left kicked butt in the 50's, 80's and for the last 6 years. The parties have cut their messages so fine that it takes a swing of a few points in the middle to change the dynamic of power. We just saw one of those swings.
With a little luck, it's building momentum as it goes.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
I'm Mad That I Didn't Think Of It
I think Dick Cheney uses the one that tastes like Teen Spirit.
If the Coast Guard uses the one that tastes like drawn butter on Lake Michigan...
If the Coast Guard uses the one that tastes like drawn butter on Lake Michigan...
It's Not Censorship If It's Not The Government Doing It
It might be a bad business practice, though.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Linky Goodness In Place Of Actual Effort
Jay puts a smackdown in motion.
Nick wonders why anyone would be a member of a group that doesn't respect them.
Carrie does the math of ticket-splitting.
The Recess Supervisor shares his thoughts and asks for a little cake. Happy birthday, RS. The Circumstance is just 3 days behind you.
Seth takes a look at the upside.
Dan is shaking his head so you don't have to.
Watchdog shares two tales of Presidential ambition.
Nick wonders why anyone would be a member of a group that doesn't respect them.
Carrie does the math of ticket-splitting.
The Recess Supervisor shares his thoughts and asks for a little cake. Happy birthday, RS. The Circumstance is just 3 days behind you.
Seth takes a look at the upside.
Dan is shaking his head so you don't have to.
Watchdog shares two tales of Presidential ambition.
Fun While It Lasted
My thanks go to the Blue Devils football team and all of their supporters. It was another great season.
Now my household has nothing left but to cheer for the Flying Arrows next week.
Now my household has nothing left but to cheer for the Flying Arrows next week.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
Not Even An Aggie Would Attempt This
From the AP
LONDON - A 22-year-old man suffered internal injuries after lighting a smallThe Times newspaper reported the man is a soldier who recently returned from Iraq.
firecracker he had inserted into his buttocks, paramedics said Thursday. The
incident took place Sunday, when Britain celebrated Bonfire Night, traditionally
marked with fireworks to celebrate the Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot to blow up
Parliament in the 17th century.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
48 Hours Later
I did election night right. I assigned the class a three hour essay exam and spent the entire class time (between proctoring walks, of course) scoping the results off the coast. By 9 o'clock the first returns from the 80th had me giddy enough to consider running straight through to Brooklyn for the party and totals. By the time I got as far as the Pig it was close enough that I figured they didn't need me hanging around.
Here we are 48 hours out. The winners have been annointed with fragrant oils and spices (Did you see JBvH's hair? Fragrant oils. I'm tellin' ya.) The long knives have taken care of the wounded. (Anyone seen Mark Graul since 11 pm Tuesday?) Now it's time to take a quick look at some of the winners and losers from Tuesday night.
Winners
JBvH
Unless he starts running amock in the halls of the DoJ he has to be the presumptive favorite in 2010 for a seat at the big table.
Fraley
God, how I hate to say this but Fraley kept vH from stepping on his pecker for 8 weeks. After the primary there were no glaring Batman moments, no terrorists training at the Country Inn and Suites in Hayward. If he didn't spend Wednesday afternoon soaked in champagne, no one did.
Barbara Lawton
See notes for JB
Nancy Pelosi
She now has Rummy's distended manhood in a trophy case in her new office. May the Deity grant her the wisdom to never use the word "mandate."
Julainne Appling
I'm betting she will use the word "mandate" before Pelosi. Any takers?
Janis Ringhand
A 1% loss against an incumbent is a strong showing by any measure. She's earned another shot if she wants it.
Kim Hixson
This one ain't over yet. No matter the outcome he's done a great job in a tough race. See notes for Ringhand.
Losers
Kathleen Falk
14:58 and counting. Two statewide races. Two losses. That isn't building name recognition. It's getting branded.
Right-sided bloggers
Not all of them and not always but I'm sure a lot of them feel gut punched right now. My advice is to hold tight. Everything is infinitely flexible. Special condolences to Peter who saw it coming and could do nothing to stop it and to TC who is taking it harder than he should be.
Mark Green and John Gard
Each ran a pathetic campaign against a beatable opponent. Start calling them Butterball Popups. They're done.
Bryan Kennedy
Time to form a support group with Jeff Thomas and Dave Magnum. It's not going to happen, kids.
Sykesbellingwagnermcbridebucherlimabaughhannity
I just like to say it. Not only did they call it wrong but they're not figuring out why. It's fun to watch them writhe.
The Challenges
The Easy Part Is Over
It's time to govern, not to take revenge. That goes for both sides of the aisle.
Here we are 48 hours out. The winners have been annointed with fragrant oils and spices (Did you see JBvH's hair? Fragrant oils. I'm tellin' ya.) The long knives have taken care of the wounded. (Anyone seen Mark Graul since 11 pm Tuesday?) Now it's time to take a quick look at some of the winners and losers from Tuesday night.
Winners
JBvH
Unless he starts running amock in the halls of the DoJ he has to be the presumptive favorite in 2010 for a seat at the big table.
Fraley
God, how I hate to say this but Fraley kept vH from stepping on his pecker for 8 weeks. After the primary there were no glaring Batman moments, no terrorists training at the Country Inn and Suites in Hayward. If he didn't spend Wednesday afternoon soaked in champagne, no one did.
Barbara Lawton
See notes for JB
Nancy Pelosi
She now has Rummy's distended manhood in a trophy case in her new office. May the Deity grant her the wisdom to never use the word "mandate."
Julainne Appling
I'm betting she will use the word "mandate" before Pelosi. Any takers?
Janis Ringhand
A 1% loss against an incumbent is a strong showing by any measure. She's earned another shot if she wants it.
Kim Hixson
This one ain't over yet. No matter the outcome he's done a great job in a tough race. See notes for Ringhand.
Losers
Kathleen Falk
14:58 and counting. Two statewide races. Two losses. That isn't building name recognition. It's getting branded.
Right-sided bloggers
Not all of them and not always but I'm sure a lot of them feel gut punched right now. My advice is to hold tight. Everything is infinitely flexible. Special condolences to Peter who saw it coming and could do nothing to stop it and to TC who is taking it harder than he should be.
Mark Green and John Gard
Each ran a pathetic campaign against a beatable opponent. Start calling them Butterball Popups. They're done.
Bryan Kennedy
Time to form a support group with Jeff Thomas and Dave Magnum. It's not going to happen, kids.
Sykesbellingwagnermcbridebucherlimabaughhannity
I just like to say it. Not only did they call it wrong but they're not figuring out why. It's fun to watch them writhe.
The Challenges
The Easy Part Is Over
It's time to govern, not to take revenge. That goes for both sides of the aisle.
Credit Where Credit Is Due
Janis Ringhand and the voters of the 80th AD delivered a sharp message to Brett Davis on Tuesday. My thanks go out to her for the strong, clean campaign she ran. The final tally is 249 between the two.
I can only hope that Brett's attention turns back to the families of his district and away from the misguided leadersip in the Assembly. With a little luck, the sea-change in the Senate will serve to mitigate some of the foolishness that presents itself to the lower house.
I can only hope that Brett's attention turns back to the families of his district and away from the misguided leadersip in the Assembly. With a little luck, the sea-change in the Senate will serve to mitigate some of the foolishness that presents itself to the lower house.
All The Power Of The Internets Brought To Bear
Since the election is over it's time to get back to doing what bloggers do best; fart jokes.
Here's the headline from CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula:
Tackle Tailgate Flatulence Before the Next Game
No Pass is a Good Pass, When it Comes to 'Passing Intestinal Gas'
Read her tips here.
Here's the headline from CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula:
Tackle Tailgate Flatulence Before the Next Game
No Pass is a Good Pass, When it Comes to 'Passing Intestinal Gas'
Most pre-game celebration fare -- hamburgers, baked beans and alcohol -- have a
tendency to trigger intestinal gas. Dr. Patricia Raymond, M.D.,
gastroenterologist and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical
School, says "we all experience flatulence. Yet, we can get it under control
if we slightly change our diets -- even at a tailgate party."
Read her tips here.
Out On A Limb (Revisited)
RDW is having a prognosti-contest. Here's what I posted.
Okay, Fred, here we go
Lehman +3 (Lehman won by 7)
Doyle +6 (Doyle by 7, not so far off)
Falk +9 (Um, mumble mumble JBvH by a smidgen 4/10ths)
Sensenbrenner +13 (Dammit) (Flyin' Jim by 26. I meant 13 per chin)
Ryan +19 (Double-dog dammit) (Ryan by 25 double, double dog)
Lieberman +6 over Lamont +31 over Schlesinger (+10 over Lamont, +40 over Sclessinger)
Senate D+1 (Looking good right now)
House D+4 (I must have dropped a digit. It's 43 right now with 10 to count>)
Just for giggles:
Robson +9 over Addie (Robson +23)
Towns +11 over Hixson (Right now the edge is six votes. I'm way off but hopeful.)
Brown +7 over Vinehout (I've never been so happy to be wrong, wrong, wrong)
Kreitlow +3 over Zien (Call it +2 and color me giddy)
Sullivan +6 over Reynolds (700 votes, like a schoolgirl, giddy)
Baldwin +22 over Magnum (It was 25. Not bad again)
Kohl +26 over Lorge (Um +38)
Kagen +3 over Gard (+2.4 now Johnny Boy can move his kids back to where their friends live)
Cardin +4 over Robinson (NC- Owen took on Jay instead)
Nichols +3 over McBride
Soglin +2 over Sykes (Soglin had Borat. Sykes had kittens. Advantage Soglin)
Okay, Fred, here we go
Lehman +3 (Lehman won by 7)
Doyle +6 (Doyle by 7, not so far off)
Falk +9 (Um, mumble mumble JBvH by a smidgen 4/10ths)
Sensenbrenner +13 (Dammit) (Flyin' Jim by 26. I meant 13 per chin)
Ryan +19 (Double-dog dammit) (Ryan by 25 double, double dog)
Lieberman +6 over Lamont +31 over Schlesinger (+10 over Lamont, +40 over Sclessinger)
Senate D+1 (Looking good right now)
House D+4 (I must have dropped a digit. It's 43 right now with 10 to count>)
Just for giggles:
Robson +9 over Addie (Robson +23)
Towns +11 over Hixson (Right now the edge is six votes. I'm way off but hopeful.)
Brown +7 over Vinehout (I've never been so happy to be wrong, wrong, wrong)
Kreitlow +3 over Zien (Call it +2 and color me giddy)
Sullivan +6 over Reynolds (700 votes, like a schoolgirl, giddy)
Baldwin +22 over Magnum (It was 25. Not bad again)
Kohl +26 over Lorge (Um +38)
Kagen +3 over Gard (+2.4 now Johnny Boy can move his kids back to where their friends live)
Cardin +4 over Robinson (NC- Owen took on Jay instead)
Nichols +3 over McBride
Soglin +2 over Sykes (Soglin had Borat. Sykes had kittens. Advantage Soglin)
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
DY Puts It In Perspective
From Dennis York
Think about the 85% of Wisconsin citizens who can't name a single one of their
elected representatives, and how happy they generally are. To these people, it
makes absolutely no difference who inhabits state government - as long as their
trailer is still there when they get back from the liquor store, they live
content lives.
Get Yourself Out Early
The lovely Mrs. Circumstance and I voted at 7:10 and were numbers 47 and 48. I'm glad we didn't wait until after supper.
There Will Be No More Ads Tomorrow
How will local TV survive for the next year and a half?
Get out and VOTE!
Monday, November 06, 2006
And Then There Were Five
Gina Duwe has the scoop on the candidates for Evansville City Administrator.
-- Daniel Weitecha, Nicollet, Minn.
Education: Bachelor's degree in American studies, University of Notre Dame, 1993; master's degree in planning, University of Minnesota, 2006
Experience: City administrator, Nicollet County, Minn., Tri-City Joint Powers Board (administrator of the cities of Courtland, Lafayette and Nicollet), 1999-present; intern, Plymouth, Minn., Housing and Development Authority, 1997-99
*****
-- John Hausmann, Burr Ridge, Ill.
Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, Union College, 1966; master's degree in business administration, University of Virginia, 1970
Experience: President/owner, Hausmann Enterprises, 1983-present; vice president, Continental Bank, Chicago, 1976-83; village president, LaGrange, Ill., 1981-89; village trustee, LaGrange, Ill., 1979-81
*****
-- Stephen Compton, Richland Center
Education: Master's degree in human resources management, University of Redlands, 1986; bachelor's degree, University of Redlands, 1984
Experience: City administrator, Richland Center, 2005-present; village administrator, Sturtevant, 2003-05; finance director, Omnitrans, San Bernardino, Calif., 2002-03; assistant city manager, Indio, Calif., 1999-2002; support services director, Ridgecrest, Calif., 1994-99; police officer and supervisor, Ridgecrest, Calif., 1979-94
*****
-- Anthony Carson, Jr., Courtland, Ohio
Education: Master's degree in public administration, Valdosta State University, 2006; bachelor's degree, Kent State University, 1982
Experience: County administrator, Trumbull County, Ohio, 2004-06; purchasing director, Trumbull County, Ohio, 2001-04; deputy auditor/appraiser, Trumbull County, Ohio, 1998-01
*****
-- William Bowers, Rock Island, Ill.
Education: Carthage College, San Diego State University and UW-Milwaukee.
Experience: City clerk/finance officer, Buffalo, Iowa, 2006-present; director of coding and support, Fidler Election Company, Rock Island, 1999-2005; city clerk/MIS manager, New Berlin, 1987-99; deputy city clerk, New Berlin, 1985-87; bookkeeper, New Berlin, 1981-85
Mayor Decker says we should have an offer outstanding by next Tuesday's Council meeting.
-- Daniel Weitecha, Nicollet, Minn.
Education: Bachelor's degree in American studies, University of Notre Dame, 1993; master's degree in planning, University of Minnesota, 2006
Experience: City administrator, Nicollet County, Minn., Tri-City Joint Powers Board (administrator of the cities of Courtland, Lafayette and Nicollet), 1999-present; intern, Plymouth, Minn., Housing and Development Authority, 1997-99
*****
-- John Hausmann, Burr Ridge, Ill.
Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, Union College, 1966; master's degree in business administration, University of Virginia, 1970
Experience: President/owner, Hausmann Enterprises, 1983-present; vice president, Continental Bank, Chicago, 1976-83; village president, LaGrange, Ill., 1981-89; village trustee, LaGrange, Ill., 1979-81
*****
-- Stephen Compton, Richland Center
Education: Master's degree in human resources management, University of Redlands, 1986; bachelor's degree, University of Redlands, 1984
Experience: City administrator, Richland Center, 2005-present; village administrator, Sturtevant, 2003-05; finance director, Omnitrans, San Bernardino, Calif., 2002-03; assistant city manager, Indio, Calif., 1999-2002; support services director, Ridgecrest, Calif., 1994-99; police officer and supervisor, Ridgecrest, Calif., 1979-94
*****
-- Anthony Carson, Jr., Courtland, Ohio
Education: Master's degree in public administration, Valdosta State University, 2006; bachelor's degree, Kent State University, 1982
Experience: County administrator, Trumbull County, Ohio, 2004-06; purchasing director, Trumbull County, Ohio, 2001-04; deputy auditor/appraiser, Trumbull County, Ohio, 1998-01
*****
-- William Bowers, Rock Island, Ill.
Education: Carthage College, San Diego State University and UW-Milwaukee.
Experience: City clerk/finance officer, Buffalo, Iowa, 2006-present; director of coding and support, Fidler Election Company, Rock Island, 1999-2005; city clerk/MIS manager, New Berlin, 1987-99; deputy city clerk, New Berlin, 1985-87; bookkeeper, New Berlin, 1981-85
Mayor Decker says we should have an offer outstanding by next Tuesday's Council meeting.
Wendy Wonders
Wendy speculates on what was going on in the Green RV when it got to the Washington County Republican's Soiree on Sunday.
One possibilty?
One possibilty?
Faint Praise, or...?
Jess McBride gives a tepid endorsement of JBvH in her blog today.
The interesting part, to me at least is that she makes a charge that I'd not seen before. In all of the folderol about whether JBvH did or didn't review a sex offender's bail and choose not to revoke it or set it higher or whatever I hadn't seen a word about it being van Hollen's wife, acting as defense attorney, who was responsible for the offender being out on the street in the first place.
Is it possible that this is correct and that it hasn't come up in all the conversation about what did or didn't happen in this case? Is Mrs Bucher wrong about her facts? Did the GWC pull its punch in an effort to temper its message?
My endorsement of Van Hollen is not with great enthusiasm. I know too much about[snip]
his record, and I saw him up too close during the primary. He waged a campaign
of character assassination and outright distortion behind the scenes, and that's
not something I can respect, nor was it even necessary. There are many examples
of this, but there's no point in revisiting them all now.
At the same time, I'm having trouble feeling empathy. Maybe that's because his
campaign sent out a mass e-mail during the primary that falsely accused my
husband of releasing a sex offender on a signature bond, when my husband's
office had opposed it. You see my problem. I'm also troubled by Van Hollen's
inability to articulate a single major accomplishment in office (the mall rapist
was largely Blanchard's case), and I think he was a satisfactory U.S. Attorney
at best, although he has the misfortune of being compared to the prosecutorial
rock star, Steve Biskupic, appointed at the same time. Anyone would probably
fall short. Finally, I remain troubled by his last minute primary money influx,
obtained from an extension on a second mortgage on a home that didn't have that
much equity in it a short time ago. I also don't like his position on
first-offense drunk driving. Think what you want about these comments. I am not
going to water down my honest opinions to keep everyone happy.
The interesting part, to me at least is that she makes a charge that I'd not seen before. In all of the folderol about whether JBvH did or didn't review a sex offender's bail and choose not to revoke it or set it higher or whatever I hadn't seen a word about it being van Hollen's wife, acting as defense attorney, who was responsible for the offender being out on the street in the first place.
Is it possible that this is correct and that it hasn't come up in all the conversation about what did or didn't happen in this case? Is Mrs Bucher wrong about her facts? Did the GWC pull its punch in an effort to temper its message?
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Just Win, Baby
Derek Cashore scores 3 times in the Blue Devil's 24-6 win over Platteville. Mayville is next up and the last hurdle before State.
Not Smothered And Covered
It always seems to be a Waffle House, doesn't it?
From A/P
The capper of the story?NASHVILLE, Tenn. - No shirt, no service? What about no clothes at all?
A couple that began squabbling in a motel room Friday morning carried their dispute over to an adjacent Waffle House restaurant in the nude, police said.
The woman, who was not identified, told officers she was staying in a room with Larry Boyd when he took a hit of cocaine, started trashing their room and choked her.
She ran in the buff to the nearby restaurant and locked herself in the bathroom. Boyd, also naked, followed her into the restaurant and then fled in a car.He was arrested — still naked — after a short chase by police and was charged with driving under the influence and felony evading arrest, among other charges.
It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Depressing?
How do you suppose John Gard feels knowing he's not even the best-qualified candidate at his breakfast table?
From Jawjacking To Jaw Dropping
Dave Magnum crashed Tammy Baldwin's presser in Verona this week to try to attach himself to Herb Kohl's coattails. Channel 27 has the video if you click the "video story" link.
h/t to DY, who always gets the good comments.
h/t to DY, who always gets the good comments.
Governor?
Doyle
Jim Doyle has mitigated the effects of the Thompson/McCallum deficits, held the line on school spending and taxes and minimized the damage of a John Gard-led Assembly. He's offended those who would turn back the clock on labor and consumer laws and, for that, has had to suffer one ad hominem attack after another. Time after time his actions have been shown to be above board.
He is not without faults. His lack of charisma means that he is not an energizing figure. It has been said that he refuses to compromise. So be it.
Congressman Green has voted time after time for huge deficits in Washington. Congressman Green has voted to choke the life out of the Constitution in the name of a spurious security. Congressman Green has been consistently on the wrong side of health issues for women and seniors. It's time for Wisconsin to give him a little private time.
Jim Doyle has mitigated the effects of the Thompson/McCallum deficits, held the line on school spending and taxes and minimized the damage of a John Gard-led Assembly. He's offended those who would turn back the clock on labor and consumer laws and, for that, has had to suffer one ad hominem attack after another. Time after time his actions have been shown to be above board.
He is not without faults. His lack of charisma means that he is not an energizing figure. It has been said that he refuses to compromise. So be it.
Congressman Green has voted time after time for huge deficits in Washington. Congressman Green has voted to choke the life out of the Constitution in the name of a spurious security. Congressman Green has been consistently on the wrong side of health issues for women and seniors. It's time for Wisconsin to give him a little private time.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Who Is In Favor Of Cutting And Running?
Kroll Security says Afghanistan and Iraq are too dangerous for its bodyguard teams. They're pulling out.
Bechtel says it's lost enough money in Iraq. Too much is going for things other than rebuilding efforts.
Bechtel says it's lost enough money in Iraq. Too much is going for things other than rebuilding efforts.
Bechtel's first reconstruction contract, awarded shortly after Saddam Hussein's overthrow in April 2003, assured the company that it would have a safe environment for its workers.
But, by the end, dozens of Bechtel's employees and subcontractors had been
killed, some of them kidnapped, others marched out of their office and shot.
Forty-nine others were wounded.[snip]
"That's really an under-told story -- we've stopped the reconstruction,"
said Frederick Barton, co-director of the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Project
at the Center for Strategic & International Studies think tank. "There are
some things we're still finishing up, but we're wrapping up, and we're stepping
back.
It's really a tragedy."
Now the Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction is leaving Iraq, too. Why? (from the NYT)
Investigations led by a Republican lawyer named Stuart W. Bowen Jr. in Iraq
have sent American occupation officials to jail on bribery and conspiracy
charges, exposed disastrously poor construction work by well-connected companies
like Halliburton and Parsons, and discovered that the military did not properly
track hundreds of thousands of weapons it shipped to Iraqi security forces.And tucked away in a huge military authorization bill that President Bush
signed two weeks ago is what some of Mr. Bowen’s supporters believe is his
reward for repeatedly embarrassing the administration: a pink slip.
Dick Cheney says that the stakes are high in the election Tuesday. Show him you understand. Send a Republican home, too.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
AG?
Falk
JBvH has a single note to his campaign and it's a false one. Once he's learned the difference between running for DA and running for AG he might consider running again. Anyone who believes that abortion is equivalent to homicide doesn't deserve a public office in Wisconsin. Anyone who promises to not enforce environmental law should be made to move out.
Falk has a track record of service for all of the people of this state and will continue that service as Attorney General.
JBvH has a single note to his campaign and it's a false one. Once he's learned the difference between running for DA and running for AG he might consider running again. Anyone who believes that abortion is equivalent to homicide doesn't deserve a public office in Wisconsin. Anyone who promises to not enforce environmental law should be made to move out.
Falk has a track record of service for all of the people of this state and will continue that service as Attorney General.
Who Is In Charge In Iraq?
Andrew Sullivan says it's pretty clear that it ain't the US.
While the media is obsessed parsing the ad libs of someone on no ballot this
fall, something truly ominous has just happened in Iraq. The commander-in-chief has abandoned an American soldier to the tender mercies of a Shiite militia.Yes, there are nuances here, and the NYT fleshes out the
story today. But the essential fact is clear. In a showdown for control of
Baghdad, the Iraqi prime minister took orders from Moqtada al-Sadr, and
instructed the U.S. military to withdraw from Sadr City. The American forces
were trying both to stabilize the city but also to find a missing American
serviceman. He is still missing
Assembly?
Ringhand
To steal a phrase from Jody, "My Assemblyman doesn't suck." The bad news is that he consistently votes with the ones who do. Every vote for Brett Davis has the effect of being an echo vote for Gabe Loeffelholz and the clueless mass in the lower house. Carrie shows us how Davis has voted against the interests of the 80th District.
Janis Ringhand deserves your vote.
To steal a phrase from Jody, "My Assemblyman doesn't suck." The bad news is that he consistently votes with the ones who do. Every vote for Brett Davis has the effect of being an echo vote for Gabe Loeffelholz and the clueless mass in the lower house. Carrie shows us how Davis has voted against the interests of the 80th District.
If Davis had moderated his voting more than he had, he could have locked up thisJanis Ringhand will be a voice for the people of the 80th against the dunderheads in the Assembly. She has government experience but isn't beholden to Madison.
seat for the Republicans again with an entrenched Republican like they did with
former Rep. Powers. But Davis voted for concealed carry, voted to criminalize
some of the techniques used by stem-cell researchers, voted to put the
constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions on the ballot, and
voted against requiring hospitals to carry emergency contraception for victims
of rape or incest. And those are just the appetizers. A side note on his
concealed carry vote - Davis did vote for an amendment to prohibit the weapons
from being carried into banks, but voted against amendments that would have
prohibited them in places where kids go like Chuck E. Cheese. So the banks
deserve to be protected from guns, but kids don't.
Janis Ringhand deserves your vote.
Once More, GW Attacks The Wrong Target
President Rain Man thinks that John Kerry is the issue, showing the same lack of focus that led us into Iraq instead of closing the deal in Afghanistan.
When will the administration apologize to the troops?
When will the administration apologize to the troops?
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