Mark Green Gives Up The Swag

On the day that Tom Delay's ARMPAC, under an agreement with the Federal Election Commission, agreed to pay a $115,000 fine and cease operation Mark Green finally decided to try to distance himself from Delay's money. Mark Pocan has the story of Green's, finally sucessful, attempts to give the money away.

From the AP via The Gazette:

The agreement resulted from an audit by the FEC of the committee's records for
Jan. 1, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2002. The audit found DeLay's committee had not
properly reported contributions, disbursements and cash on hand.
It also found the committee failed to properly report outstanding debts and obligations and did not follow federal rules for paying for shared federal and nonfederal activities.

Update: Mark Green may have more money problems. I'll grant that they are accounting troubles but shouldn't someone in his campaign know more about campaign law than just how to score Wizards tickets?

It Makes As Much Sense As Whatever We're Doing Now

'All-Star Game 2007: The Fate Of The Free World Hangs In The Balance'

From The Onion:

After four years in which the outcome of the All-Star Game determined home-field
advantage in the World Series, Commissioner Bud Selig has announced that Major
League Baseball will attempt to increase fan interest by allowing the game's
outcome to determine the direction of the United States foreign policy.

Perfect Underwater Bubble Rings

How do you learn that you can do this?

Gazette Gives Literacy Alliance A Big Thumbs-Up

From The Gazette Editorial Page:

To the Rock County Literacy Alliance. The new alliance was 18 months in the
making. The original idea of a group for Hispanic organizers evolved into a
focus on adult literacy education. Seven organizations are members: Blackhawk
Technical College, Wisconsin Literacy, Arrowhead Library System, Janesville
Literacy Council, YWCA of Rock County, Stateline Literacy Council and Hedberg
Public Library. Hedberg has new multimedia language learning software. BTC has
opened a computer lab at the Rock County Job Center, which offers child care to
tutors and students. If the alliance can help area residents improve their
English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, it will help people
function better in society and on the job. Benefits will range from helping
parents communicate better with their children's teachers to helping adults earn
General Education Degrees to get better jobs.

The Carnival Has A New Host

..and at least one new contributor. Swing over to Life In The Great Midwest for this week's best of Badgerland, The Carnival Of The Badger.

Don't pass by your chance to host a Carnival. Get with Nick to see how it's done.

But, What Do The Snowflake Babies Think Of GW?

From Michelle Malkin is an Idiot we get a screen cap from the announcement of our President's first use of the veto. In the comments section one claims that all the kids at the photo-op got a stuffed pander bear.

For My RPG Friends

What do you get when you combine Motivational Posters with RPG?

Somebody with way too much time on their hands decided to find out.

GW And "The Personal Touch"

Check out the joyful expression on George's face in picture #4. This might be the very first neck rub that was not enjoyed by anybody.

Update: Undercover Trucker looks at the original German text. If you are a bi-lingua-phobe please skip to Paul and the history of uncomfortable touching.

Maybe They Should Ask Ray Nagin For Some School Buses

TPM reports that the Feds are in the middle of another bungled evacuation. With Israel bombing the Lebanese infrastructure on a daily basis the embassy is telling Americans to monitor the website for a chance to leave.

...(U)ndersecretary of state Nicholas Burns: "We have an open line to all
American citizens. We're in touch with them by Web site."
Yes, Burns assured CNN, "[The evacuation is] very well thought out."

Feel The Crush

North Prairie Productions and Landmark Co-op say they are working out the details of an agreement for placement of a bio-diesel production facility in Southern Wisconsin.

One factor which may influence site selection is the Wisconsin Soybean Association's Processing Facility Feasibility Study. This study is to determine the need and prospects for a soybean crushing facility in Wisconsin. Currently all of Wisconsin's soybeans have to be shipped out of state if they are going to be processed into oil and meal. A crushing facility near the biodiesel plant would shorten the supply chain for NPP's raw material.

From the North Prairie website:

In recognizing the impact it will have in creating a soy oil market, NPP deferred specific site selection for its plant until after its review of the WI Soybean
Growers Assn’s Processing Facility Feasibility Study. This report identified the area in Wisconsin that would be most viable for the location of a commercial soybean processing facility. Whereas many of our requirements need to be considered separate from this report, it is reasonable to assume that the proper site for a crush facility would also most likely service the needs of a biodiesel plant.

(emphasis mine)

This follows the message which was sent to the EDC at their meeting Tuesday night, that the report has been reviewed but not released. That NPP and Landmark are in talks at this stage of the game bodes well for the city.

For their part, the WSA isn't ready to release a completed report but it appears that enough preliminary data was collected and analyzed to satisfy those making a judgement regarding site selection. From their website comes the announcement of the study in February of this year. The entire report of state capacity and prospects is not due until sometime in 2007 so we won't see that until then. (Just sharing the expectation because I know there will be those who think the study is being hidden, when, in fact, it is simply not ready for release.)

Selling Off The Future

Paul beat me to it, as usual. There was great uproar when the operating rights to several American ports were up for sale to a foreign government, yet there seems to be a tacit approval of selling off the actual infrastructure of America.

Private companies are buying the tollways and bridges out from under us. Now our transportation and defense-response networks are in the hands of private companies which may or may not support the same goals as we. Not only are we being taxed (feed) without being represented, we are being taxed without realizing any of the benefits of ownership.

Private ownership of bridges and roads is not new (think about the Billy Goats Gruff for an example.) One of the advances toward a cohesive civilization was the holding of these structures in common for the benefit of all. We are boldly striding into the 13th Century here.

Selling off assets for a one-time budget fix is not a plan for the future (see the tobacco settlement trust fund and lack thereof.) It is a giveaway of public assets to the highest bidder.

Like a junkie trying to make the nut for the day governments will keep looking for things to sell. When the roads are gone then will go the schools. We've started down the path to a for-profit school system already with vouchers and taxpayer subsidies for for-profit schools. Just like that junkie, we will eventually run out of things to sell and have nothing left of value to us.

Isn't It Ironic?

Alanis Morissette should take a lesson from Nick.

On Plans And Planning

I like to browse around Bartleby.com. They have a searchable database of quotations there along with a very good set of thesauri and dictionaries.

There's been a lot of talk around here about plans and planning and I wanted to see what some others had said before. The historical consensus seems to be that a plan can never be better than the will to follow it. Here's a part of what I found. Enjoy.

Like the Roman town grid, the New York plan was laid down on largely empty land, a city designed in advance of being inhabited; if the Romans consulted the heavens for guidance in this effort, the city fathers of New York consulted the banks.
-----Richard Sennett (b. 1943), U.S. social historian.

“I like to have a plan,” said Mr. Palliser.
“And so do I,” said his wife,—”if only for the sake of not keeping it.”
“There’s nothing I hate so much as not carrying out my intentions,” said Mr. Palliser.
----Anthony Trollope (1815–1882), British novelist. Can You Forgive Her?

In the planning and designing of new communities, housing projects, and urban renewal, the planners both public and private, need to give explicit consideration to the kind of world that is being created for the children who will be growing up in these settings. Particular attention should be given to the opportunities which the environment presents or precludes for involvement of children with persons both older and younger than themselves.
----Urie Bronfenbrenner (b. 1917) U.S. (Russian-born) psychologist, advocate for families. Two Worlds of Childhood: U.S. and U.S.S.R.

A city … is the pulsating product of the human hand and mind, reflecting man’s history, his struggle for freedom, creativity, genius—and his selfishness and errors.
----Charles Abrams, Chairman, Department of City Planning, Columbia University The City Is the Frontier

We have come to accept with enthusiasm the unprofessional, unappreciative, unskillful butchery of the land that goes under the name of planning.
-----William L Pereira Recalled on his death, Time 25 Nov 85

Put in hours and hours of planning, figure everything down to the last detail, then what? Burglar alarms start going off all over the place for no sensible reason. A gun fires of its own accord and a man is shot. And a broken-down old house no good for anything but chasing kids has to trip over us. Blind accidents. What can you do against blind accidents?
----Ben Maddow (1909–1992), U.S. screenwriter, and John Huston (1906–1987). Doc Erwin Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe), The Asphalt Jungle, to Dix Handley after their jewel heist plans start to unravel (1950).

Evansville Economic Development Comm. Agenda 7/18

Reposted from The Observer. Will this be the meeting with the biodiesel announcement?

CITY OF EVANSVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Notice of Meeting and Agenda
Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:00 p.m.
Please take notice that the next meeting of the City of Evansville Economic Development Committee will take place on Tuesday, July 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the 2nd Floor of the Evansville City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
1. Roll call.
2. Approval of agenda.
3. Approval of minutes of June 20 meeting.
5. Citizen appearances, other than on items listed below.
6. Update on proposed TID #6.
7. Update on potential biodiesel facility.
8. Update on Streetscape/Bicycle Trailways grant application.
9. Update on Rural Development grant application.
10. Presentation by Sortis re: possible marketing program for TIF District(s).
11. Proposed joint session in August with Chamber of Commerce and Evansville Community Partnership.
12. Discussion of committee organization, projects and budget.
13. Review of 1991 "First Impressions" survey of Evansville.
14. Adjournment.

John Decker, Secretary

Paul Ryan Ignores His Constituents

Cory wonders if Paul Ryan is just currying favor with Republican Reps by voting against bilingual ballots. Despite the growing Hispanic population in Rock and Walworth Counties Ryan took an English only position during the debate on the Voting Rights Act.

Is this a case of ambition outrunning service?

Jails- "If You Build Them They Will Come"

That's the statement of Jane Klekamp, head of La Crosse County's Justice Sanctions Program, quoted in last Friday's Janesville Gazette.

Rock County is in the middle of building a 20-year addition and improvement to its jail to the tune of $56 million. Rock County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy, and likely candidate for sheriff, Bob Spoden warns that unless changes are made in crime prevention and treatment plans that we'll be going through this again in just over a decade. "If we don't start planning now for alternatives Â… then this jail will be filled in about 13 years."

Klekamp gives examples of LaCrosse County's actions to reduce jail populations without endangering the population outside the walls. (see Gazette story)

I bring this up because Friday was the day that AG candidate JB van Hollen berated Kathleen Falk for not giving in to pressure to build more cells in Dane County. JB doesn't appear to be on the cutting edge of Criminal Justice thinking in Wisconsin in 2006. His foundering campaign is starting early to depend on bluster to accomplish its ends. I don't believe that Rock County can afford JB van Hollen's style of justice in the short-run or the long.

Note: I've moved this post and the one below it to the top because of some increased interest and attention to them. These two pieces are originally from February, 2006. I hope they can help spur some debate as we move toward the election of asherifff to replace the retiring Eric Runaas.

Study Shows Bucher and van Hollen Are Wrong

Amidst all of the "throw away the key" blather and political posturing from the Republican candidates for AG, Democrat Kathleen Falk has called for alternatives to incarceration and for treatment of non-violent offenders. Paul Bucher has launched a Willie Hortonesque website which threatens all the good voters with images of impending disaster if we don't lock everyone away.

Now a court assessment evaluator for the Federal DOJ has released a study showing the benefits of alternative sentencing and treatment before incarceration. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse sociology professor Bill Zollweg has completed an assessment of LaCrosse county's Drug Court that shows a savings to the county of just over a million dollars each year.

In the four years that the court has been in operation only 12 percent of the drug court graduates have been arrested again for any offense. Only 4.3 percent have either failed or missed drug tests Zollweg's findings show putting the lie to Bucher and van Hollen's scare tactics.

From the LaCrosse Tribune article:

Elliott Levine, head of the regional Wisconsin Public Defenders Office, said he
is pleased that the evaluation shows the county's program is effective and
efficient."It's effective at providing highly cost-efficient treatment and saves
the county money," Levine said. "This is more than just a fluke program. The
reality is as proved nationally since 1989, these programs are effective and
vital to the criminal justice system."

It's time to move beyond the Law-and-Order swagger of the boys running for AG and to listen to the professionals who have to deal with the after effects of those outdated theories. Let's start to look at alternatives before Rock County sinks $100 million into a jail that will fill in just over a decade if we don't change the way we administer justice.

Little Pleasures

Today is my granddaughter's first birthday. I asked my daughter to put the phone down by her so I could sing, "Happy Birthday," to her.

I could hear her giggling while I was singing and when I finished she said one of her new words, "Puppy."

I can live with that for the time being. Life is good.

Sunday Morning Housekeeping- Linky Goodness Edition

Barnard Hughes and Red Buttons made the world a richer place. May they rest in peace.

It seems as if CRG should stand for Can't Really Govern. Can anyone think of a viable alternative that they have proposed? Are they just in business to criticize and tear down those who participate in governance?

Remember Mark Green's buddy, Bob Ney? You know, the one who held the show hearings in Milwaukee trying to show there were voting irregularities there? He's got some irregularities of his own to deal with now.

Who has the better "Racer Name?" American F1 pilot, Scott Speed or Champ Car Rookie of the Year contender, Will Power?

Which American values are we exporting to Iraq again?

Now, It's Getting Personal

My phone rang late Thursday.
"They're bombing Haifa."
"Who? What? You're s****ing me."
"No I just got a call from Tel Aviv. They're bombing Haifa now."
"Who? Where? Port or city? Where is the Fritz office? Where is Zim?"
"Both down by the port. I don't know if they're bombing the port or the city."
"(Deleted) I've got a ship buttoning up this afternoon, don't I?"
"It's almost Midnight over there. Your ship should be on the water by now."
"Have we heard from L---- or E--?"
Yes. She's the one who called. They're okay. She says it's not that big a deal."

Twenty minutes on the Net confirmed that Hezbollah had, indeed, sent a Katyusha into the Stella Maris neighborhood of Haifa doing minor damage and hurting no one. No of the folks with whom I do business was affected or hurt.

Thursday morning the violence was theoretical. Thursday night when I came home it was very real. My boss (an Israeli) says they are sending a message, teaching a lesson. I am less convinced that anyone is learning anything.

h/t to Chris (That doesn't happen often) for the good post on the Katyushas being used.

Good Game- Great Headline

From Nick.

Two Puppies Go In... Only One Comes Out

Go play Puppy War. You know you want to.

Nathan Explains

At The Tap has the real reason for the bad behavior in the World Cup Final.

A Long Time Ago In A Place Very Far Away

A (mostly) true story.

We were sitting at the end of the bar in an after-hours joint outside Troy, Il, three of us minding our own business just having a few beers. It was the first and the last time that any of us had been together and the only time that I was ever in Troy.

The bar was a shacky little place with worn linoleum, chrome and plastic chairs and the lights turned all the way up just like in your aunt's kitchen. There was a kitchen in the back that had closed many hours before. A pool table with shabby blue felt took up most of the front just inside the door and there was a crowd of young men taking turns challenging one another around it.

The pool players voices raised and lowered depending on the fortunes of the game and the amount of money changing hands. Mostly, it was easy to ignore them as background noise until one particularly unlucky local started to lose more often than he considered to be his fair share. His voice got louder and harsher, his accusations more personal and intense until the bartender felt obligated to request that the young man take his patronage elsewhere until he could behave himself.

The large woman eased herself back behind the bar as the young man left muttering, "Gonna show them. You'll be sorry," along with a string of pretty pedestrian obscenities. The group around the table set another rack and we turned our backs to the door and reacquainted ourselves with our cold taps. She apologized for his behavior and said that he just had a few too many sometimes and that when that happened he had delusions of adequacy around the pool table.

In a fairy tale, this is where the happy ending would go but Troy, IL isn't a fairy tale kind of town. It wasn't so very long before the screen door blew open and the discharged pool player wobbled back in, waving a small pistol over his head and declaring that he had, "By God, had enough." As he took a few steps into the joint the crowd started to make themselves scarce as they could. A lucky few were close enough to the door to make the street without much trouble. The pool table sheltered a few others.

The bartender rolled her eyes and headed toward the loudmouth while my new friends and I started scouting a place to go. We gathered our beers and retreated into the kitchen to take stock of the situation.

"Do you think he's gonna start shooting?"
"No. If he was going to do that he'd have come through the door that way. He's just looking for some attention."
"Well, he got mine. What are we gonna do?"
"There's a back door. Let's just get to the car and head back.'

there it was. We had a plan. We drained the last of the beer, put our empties on the counter and headed out the back door to call it a night. Which is where we found ourselves directly in the path of our angry young man and the bartender who had shoved him, by the belly, out into the street. Now that she had taken his pistol away there were several who intended to show their own manhood by taking a swing or two at him. There was fighting and shoving and swearing and scuffling and we popped out the side door right in the middle of it all.

Discretion being the better part of yadda-yadda we turned on our heels and went back into the bar where we sat patiently waiting for a refill. It wasn't so very long before the bartender had her crowd sorted, some sent home and some allowed back and came to get us another cold one.

"What ever possessed you to come out through there?" she wanted to know.
"It looked to me like a good way to get the Hell out of Dodge."
"I got him around the corner so the rest of you could get out the front door and then you guys just come smack out into the middle of it. I swear."
"Well, thanks for the good intentions anyway. We were grateful"
"Just remember those two things," she said. "Good intentions are seldom enough and the back way out of town can be more trouble than it's worth, sometimes."

We drank to that.

Magnum Signatures - 87% Is Good Enough For Dave

Dave Magnum sent out a press release touting his collection of 2000 signatures on his nominating papers and then goes on to trumpet the fact that fully 13% of them could not be certified.

I suggest a new slogan for the Magnumeister. "Vote for Dave. It's close enough for government work."

h/t to the Master, Dennis York

Frank Refloats A Bad Idea

Back on June 28 Fightin' Frank Lasee had an editorial column on WisOpinion titled Tuition Reciprocity is a Poor Deal for Wisconsin which assailed the tution reciprocity deal between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Frank made clear that he was agin' letting all them foreign students from across our border into our state schools. Nevermind that Wisconsin kids have the same option in the other direction. Nevermind that Minnesota kids pay more than Wisconsin residents and, in effect, subsidize our schools to a certain extent. Frank was sure that the Minnesotans were slickering us rubes somehow.

That afternoon Seth posted a point by point rebuttal of Frank's Op-Ed showing the depth of the shallowness in Lasee's piece. That same day State Sen Sheila Harsdorf issued a piece making many of the same points as Seth and adding;

...(ending reciprocity) would do irreparable damage to Western Wisconsin growth,
economic development, and jobs while limiting thousands upon thousands of spots
for Wisconsin families to send their kids to school in.

Now, three weeks later, Frank has come up with a reply to Sen Harsdorf which simply restates a few of the arguments shown to be false last month. Frank Lasee seems to be a true believer of the theory of endless repetition; if you repeat a bad idea long enough people start to believe it. It's as if he talks but never listens, hears but does not understand, rejects Reality when it conflicts with his beliefs.

Judge Throws Out Georgia Voter ID Law

From the AP

The same federal judge who threw out Georgia's voter ID law last year blocked
the state Wednesday from enforcing its revised law during this year's
elections. The ruling came less than two hours after the Georgia
Supreme Court denied the state's emergency request to overrule a state court
order that blocked enforcement of the new photo ID law during next week's
primary elections and any runoffs.

The critic's attorney addressed motivations similar to those expressed by Mark Green and Flyin' Jim Sensennbrenner.

Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue and other supporters of the IDs had argued they
were needed to prevent election fraud. Civil rights groups challenged the law in
both federal and state court, arguing that it discriminated against poor,
elderly and rural voters. They also argued that voter fraud in Georgia stems
from absentee ballot voting, an issue not even addressed by the law.

"They have chosen deliberately to legislate only in an area where there was no
problem," Emmett Bondurant, the critics' lead attorney, told Murphy in court.

Did You Miss The Carnival Of The Badger Deadline?

Thanks to Charter's shoddy service, I did.

Ramon Fabulosa didn't, though. Not even the pain of Drinking Right was enough to stop him. Go see what he did.

It's fabulous.

Got Me Some New Shoes

Gonna' walk all over Social Security.

Bulwer-Lytton Prizes Awarded

The Bulwer-Lytton Prizes for 2006 have been awarded and the "winner" is Jim Guigli of California for his piece of hard-boiled introduction.

"Detective Bart Lasiter was in his office studying the light from his one small
window falling on his super burrito when the door swung open to reveal a woman
whose body said you've had your last burrito for a while, whose face said angels
did exist, and whose eyes said she could make you dig your own grave and lick
the shovel clean."

I favored the runner-up, Steve Vasepuru's opening take on a Clint Eastwood classic.

"I know what you're thinking, punk," hissed Wordy Harry to his new editor,
"you're thinking, 'Did he use six superfluous adjectives or only five?' -- and
to tell the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement; but being as this is
English, the most powerful language in the world, whose subtle nuances will blow
your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel
loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?"

Laissez Le Bon Temps Roullez

Papers have all been filed and the races are on.

In Rock County;
As expected we have a three-way race for to replace outgoing sheriff Eric Runaas;
Chief Deputy Robert D. Spoden, Democrat
Janesville police officer Scott A. Wasemiller, Republican
Construction contractor and former Brodhead police officer Gary C. Keller, an Independent .

There is a three-way race for Coroner as well;
Democrat Jenifer Keach,
Republican Brad Farrell, and
Independent Melissa L. Haverley,

Running uncontested are;
Clerk Kay S. O'Connell,
Clerk of Courts Eldred Mielke,
Register of Deeds Randy Leyes, and
Treasurer Vicki Brown.

In State Assembly races;
Democratic incumbent Mike Sheridan will have a Republican challenger in Fred E. Yoss in the 44th Assembly District race. In the 31st District race Republican incumbent Steve Nass faces Democrat Scott Woods and Ben Bourdo of the Justice Party. Former Evansville Mayor Janis Ringhand will face Walter Fellows in a primary to win the right to challenge incumbent Brett Davis in our own 80th District.

Republican Dave Magnum will again attempt to oust incumbent Tammy Baldwin, the Incumbent Democrat in the 2nd Congressional District while Republican Incumbent Paul Ryan will face one of five Democrat challengers;
Jeff Thomas,
Don Hall,
Ruth SantaCruz-Bradley,
Steven Herr or
Mike Hebert.

It Was A Ho-Ax

We got snookered. Glenn Grothmann says he got enough signatures, he just couldn't put together a run.

As MacBeth said, " It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing."


Dissonance Alert: The post title is from a piece by Lewis Grizzard, the closing is from Shakespeare. If you are unable to reconcile the two, you may wish to lie down for a moment.

Burden Of Proof

Most of the Left side of the cheddarsphere has been busy for the last week putting distance between themselves and the deranged theories of Kevin Barrett. Even those who stand up for his right to those theories and the separation of his vocation from his beliefs agree that he is beyond the fringe, no matter the attempts of some to paint Democrats with the same brush.

Today the lecturer in Journalism, McBride, once again took a denier to task and asked for his "evidence." It came to me then that we have the exact same level of proof for the 9/11 conspiracy as we have from the administration for WMD in Iraq.

C'mon, Jess. The Barrett story has been very good to you, even getting you some notice from the Malkinistas at Hot Air. Just imagine the National attention you could get by asking GW for the same level of evidence while he's in Port Washington today.

Brodhead Company Ignores WMC- Kuhn Knight To Expand

The Gazette has the story:

Officials at Kuhn Knight say a 78,000-square-foot expansion of the company's
manufacturing facilities in Brodhead will improve efficiency and quality with
new, state-of-the-art technology.

It seems that Wisconsin's companies aren't buying the wolf tickets that WMC is selling.

Paul Bucher In The Blogs Again

Jenna asks why he won't practice what he rants while Jay has the pic of the post-parade-parade. When you're running for office you're always in the center ring, I guess.

Reaction To The Glenn Grothman Announcement

Owen gets credit for breaking the news that the RPW had finally gotten to the bottom of the barrel.

Casper wants Grothman to get all medieval on Kohl.

Sean says that Grothman's run means very little to either party and wants GG to swing for the fringes.

Tim welcomes Grothman to the race for the clarity he will bring.

Grothman is so extreme that he makes State Senator Tom Reynolds seem almost
palatable and sane.

Chris sees the inevitable.

The Recess Supervisor makes comparisons to Dave Magnum.

James makes comparisons to Galipoli.

Fraley shows us how polarizing Grothman can be.

Update: Charlie says maybe it's a sham. GG may not be willing to take one for the team after all.

My thoughts?

1. This can't be good for Rae Vogeler. Voters like me who might have used the free pass to send a message will now fall back into the Kohl camp to send that message to the RPW instead.
2. This will help draw a clean line between R's and D's in November. Whether he wants it or not Grothman will be hanging around Mark Greens neck like a giant sea bird.
3. Even though you can't blame the RPW for finding a candidate who gets a free pass (Grothman's seat is not up in November. He'll have a job come January.) I still am cynical about the level of risk that Republican's are willing to take to get their ideas out.
4. Grothman's biggest win so far was in a primary when he out-righted another R. Despite the echo chamber that the BBA provides, that Grover Norquist/Ralph Reed-style base is waning in influence in Wisconsin.

How Not To Run A Celebration

It's never too late to say thank you. To the Evansville 4th Of July Committee, I say "Thanks." Our celebration was bigger and better than ever. The entertainment was wonderful and the variety of events had something for everyone.

Compare that to these letters to the editor of the Sheboygan paper after someone up there booked a Metallica tribute band for a 6 hour gig down by the lakefront.

h/t to Kevin at Lakeshore Laments

He Has Two Broken Fingers and Some Stitches.

Man runs over himself in Chicago when he leaves the car running and, apparently, in gear while he unloads the trunk.

Check out the video of the aftermath.

Stealth Campaign For Senate Seat

Owen says that Glenn Grothman has officially signed on to be the sacrificial lamb against Herb Kohl.


The silence of the celebration speaks for itself.

Bucky Needs Your Help

Bucky Badger is on the ballot this year for the Mascot Hall Of Fame- College Division. He has vowed to attend the induction if he wins but he's currently running second behind that big-headed Sparty from Michigan State.

You can vote once per session.

The Inaugural Inductees in 2005 were The Phoenix Gorilla, The Phillie Phanatic and, of course, The San Diego (nee KGB) Chicken.

I hear that there is a move afoot to bring that Western Kentucky Big Red to room with Brian Newcomer and run against Herb Kohl.

The War On Christmas In July

From Watchblog:

Santa Claus declined to comment on the incident. Speaking from his home at the
North Pole, Santa also disclaimed any worries about global warming. "Personally,
I think it's all a hoax" he said in response to queries. "Al Gore and George
Soros have enlisted almost every climatologist on the planet to support this
wild moonbat theory as part of a world-wide left wing conspiracy." He then
returned to his workshop, where he and his elves were hard at work on repairing
the air conditioning.

We Have Better Conspiracy Theories Than Even Peter Can Come Up With

Dick Russell looks at some of the theories surrounding Ken Lay's death and the vacating of his conviction.

My fave of Dick's?

He's actually been dead since 1998, but Arthur Andersen only now got around to
auditing his health.

My own contribution?

Lay was declared dead the same day the shuttle took off. Kenny Boy will be lying
low on the space station until GW can give him a last day pardon.

My one hope is that Kenny Boy's carcass gets dragged onto the floor of the House every time some damn fool starts proposing gambling retirement funding solely on the Stock Market. If he can't make restitution for his lying and manipulating he can, at least, serve as a bad moral example.

Committee Finds "Need and Desire" For 4K In Evansville

From the Gazette by Gina Duwe.

After nearly two years of research, a local committee will recommend to the
Evansville School Board on Monday night that it implement an optional 4-year-old
kindergarten program.

Citing a "level playing field" for families who don't qualify for Head Start and can't afford pre-school the committee recemmended beginning 4K in Evansville, most likely at an off-school center.

The School Board is expected to vote on the plan in August or September.

Truth Takes A Detour

When I heard that Jess McBride was working for a think tank I just assumed that she was cleaning the filter, but it turns out that she may be doing much more.

She announced weeks ago on the Sykes show that she was doing research for the WPRI, a non-partisan C3 organization, regarding immigration issues. Now her husband, a candidate for AG, has at his fingertips all sorts of data about illegal immigrants. It turns out that much of the data is wrong or misrepresented, leading many to believe that McBride is the source of those statistics.

Cory has been asking direct questions and McBride is giving only attacks without denials. She needs to respond to the question, "Is Paul Bucher using research done by a non-partisan non-profit for political gain?" The bloggers who were asking the same questions of Voces de la Frontera should be all over this.

Update: The folks who make up the Bucher organization seems to have the fingers in many pies. Can you call an organization "shadowy" when everyone knows who is behind it?

That Didn't Take Long, Did It?

On Thursday morning Jack Lohman released a column on Wisopinion debunking the shoddy poll by WPRI regarding public financing of elections. On Thursday afternoon the first group cited the poll as gospel.

Bad Social Science is still Bad Science.

Good Luck, Bill. And, Thanks

Gina Duwe has the story in the Gazette. Bill Connors left City Hall yesterday in his last day as City Administrator. The Observer has a recap of Bill's tenure in Evansville.

The story says that it may take 6 months to hire a replacement. I have two thoughts about that.

1. Sooner is better than later. There is too much on the city's plate to leave the office unfilled.
2. Look for people skills. If we get someone as approachable as Bill we will be in fine shape.

Summer School Carnival

Aaron stepped up to the lectern this week to host the Carnival of the Badger with a Hot For Teacher Edition.

When you finish checking out the best of Wisconsin blogging this week head over to Nick's and volunteer to host one of your own.

Casper Is Running

For what?

For everything. "Vote for Casper. He'll do anything."

Check out the video.

"At The Tap" Is Back

...and he's blogging with a vengeance.

Overheard at Wal-Mart. (Caution: disturbing photo)

You Might Be a Postmodernist If...

You blast professional sports for their obsession with linear narrative and
objective scoring.

...more

Shape and Slim (with video)

Flyin' Jim Goes To The Movies

Let's take a look at what we know for sure:

1. He's an alien, in this country without coming through immigration.
2. Somehow he has a fake ID under an assumed name and, presumably, uses it to vote.
3. He has a job in the MSM fighting for "the little man" and digging for the "truth."
4. His original name was Kal-El, an obviously Middle Eastern name.

Superman may have returned in the biggest movie of the year but Flyin' Jim Sensennbrenner is having his first conniption now, trying to figure out how to jail Krypton's Favorite Son, The Man of Steel.

Give Clark Kent some credit. As a reporter searching for the truth he's doing the job that Fox News won't do.

Reported Without Comment

Ken Lay is dead of a heart attack at 64.

Pitkin County sheriff's deputies and an ambulance were dispatched to the Lay
vacation home in Old Snowmass, Colorado, early Wednesday morning and transported
him to Aspen Valley Hospital. He was pronounced dead there shortly after 3 a.m.
Mountain time (0900 GMT). -From Yahoo News

Looking For Magic In Fitchburg

To call it a pond would be giving it a lot of credit that it doesn't deserve. There is a wet area between the restaurant and Fish Hatchery Road in Fitchburg. The restaurant is a nice one with good food and very good margaritas.

We stopped there on the way back from Grandma's 103rd birthday party and asked for a table on the deck outside. At certain times of the year the pond does add a little something to the al fresco experience but now, in early July, it's just a sluggish pool coated with the green sheen of algae that has all of Madison's water beneath it.

There were two young, blonde girls out of a group of five or so over in the corner of the deck. They were watching the traffic on the road and looking for signs of activity in the pool. All of a sudden there was high agitation. The 6 year old turned back to their table and shouted, "Mommy, Mommy. There's an otter in there!"

I have no doubt that she saw something moving in the pool. I also have no doubt that it's best to let her believe for a little while that she saw an otter in Fitchburg. Kids need to be kids for longer than we seem to let them.

Those two little girls saw magic in their world. How was your holiday weekend?

No Reflection On You- Lake Leota Hits The Big Paper

The Wisconsin State Journal has a story on Lake Leota and what it may someday be again. Some of my brood is down there now and at least one is wondering what the fireworks are going to be like without the reflection in the lake.

I'm just glad that we got married there last year rather than this. The ambiance was much better then.

Happy Birthday

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

A Love Letter To A Large Green Woman

Dick Russell has penned a paean to a woman he dearly loves. Please go and read it today.

July 4th Roundup

Blogging has been slight all around the Cheddarsphere this weekend. Between a four day weekend and normal summertime ennui not much has been posted. Here's a quick roundup of July 4 posts from around my blogroll.

Enjoy the day.

Casper has quotable and notable.

Elliott gets all cranky.

Seth keeps it simple.

Cory takes time to remember.

Nick makes it clear where he stands.

As a windup, The Observer gets us all back to Normal.

Who Are The Wisconsin Homeowners Alliance?

You've heard the commercials. Now look at the board.

Not really homeowners? I'm shocked. Astroturf advocacy rides again.

Bert And Ernie And The Threat To America

Nussle and Flow has the story of Jim Nussle's plan to deal with the threat to Quality of Life posed by Rosita, Barney and their friends.

Smart Growth Plan Goes Out The Window On 4-3 Vote

The Evansville Planning Commission last night voted to ignore the short-term Smart Growth plans and the expressed wishes of a large portion of the citizens and allow the development of the Morning subdivision south of County C well ahead of the planned 2015 date. Mayor Decker cast the tie-breaking vote. The Observer has the audio from the meeting.

Even Bill Hamman, who spoke against the proposal based on impact to the schools, was surprised.

"When we plan budgets and services and do long-range planning, we're basing it
on a certain growth rate. If we continue to approve this particular project,
then all assumptions on budgets are invalid and everything will need to be
reworked.''

There will be a public hearing on the issue at the August Common Council meeting. If you have strong feelings about the rate of growth in Evansville contact your alder between now and then. Then be at the public hearing in August.

What Didn't Mark Green Know And When Doesn't He Know It

Mark Green launched a sputtergram yesterday blaming Governor Doyle for Honda's failure to build in Walworth County. Regarding Honda's decision Fred Burkhardt, vice president of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance, has said:

Walworth officials knew they were too late in their offer and he wasn't
surprised that Wisconsin didn't get the plant. Other states besides Indiana that
may proposals were Illinois, Ohio and Michigan."We knew going in we were a long
shot," he said. "We knew we were late in the game, and we appreciate the
opportunity to have played."

Green chooses to ignore the facts so he can rage about Wisconsin's business climate, a climate of growth according to the candidate to replace him in the 8th District. In the meantime Burkhardt says the effort has created more opportunity for the south-central County.

...he has heard from what he described as a "major national developer" that
builds Internet technology and life science business parks."Those are byproducts
you get from having gone to the plate," Burkhardt said,

according to the Gazette. Fred Burkhardt knows what Mark Green doesn't. Every attempt makes the next one more likely, unless you spend your time and effort whining.

Fun With Statistics

Garrison Keilor's Lake Woebegon is a place where all the children are above average. Paul shows us how WMC and similar groups have shown that no state can measure up. 78% of the states rank in the bottom quartile for taxes.

We all live in the same version of Hell, apparently.

Carnival Guilt

Belle has the Carnival of the Badger this week.

Nick wishes you'd taken it instead.

Step up and host it next week.

Movie References and Press Releases

Just keep releasing press releases until someone prints them. That's the plan of Brian Fraley releasing for JB van Hollen. Back on June 6 Brian posted this on JB's website about the new JBMobile, the mobile campaign station for the intrepid al Qaeda fighter.

Through heavy-handed humor Brian tried to make us think of Stripes, often voted one of the funniest movies ever. By piggy-backing on the goodwill of Bill Murray and John Candy Brian hoped to make us feel good about his candidate.

And while we know those who fear a JB victory will snicker about 'a heavily
armed recreational vehicle,' this Mobile HQ will be a huge benefit to the
campaign and to the hundreds of grassroots volunteers who will staff JB this
summer. (And, truth be told, even we've made a few references to the movie
Stripes--it's ok).

Well, despite Brian's best efforts hardly anybody noticed so he put the release out again this week. Dennis York noticed. It even made Dennis think of what might be happening at the Caped Crimefighter's HQ.

Unfortunately it made me think of the wrong movie. Does anyone else remember Racing Stripes?

Not A Simple Question

Dean has a good roundup of the reaction to the proposed flag-burning amendment's rejection. He captures the tenor of the debate and shares his own opinions, as well.

There seems to be a large group stuck in the middle who venerate the flag without worshipping it. These are the folks who believe that our soldiers fight for the ideals of our country as represented by the flag. They have now become the targets of those who believe the flag, in and of itself, is what is being fought for.

Who Said That?

My score was 8/14.

h/t to shanson on uppitywis

Scott Walker's Latest Wacky Idea

End mutual aid for County paramedics. Let'em pay for their own.

More of the "pass the costs to the locals" from the King of Freezing Revenue. I don't think Walker understands the meaning of unfunded.

A Fine Question

I'm mad I didn't think of it.

...if Rush isn't married, why would he need Viagra?

-Bob Cesca

Why would a member of the Morality Cops need the effects of the drug he was carrying sans scrip?

McBride's Tortured Reasoning

So he had a bottle of Viagra in his doctor's name for privacy reasons. BIG DEAL.

-Jess McBride

Convicted drug abusers should go free if they reoffend. It's not that big of a deal.

Does Paul know you feel that way? He wants all the druggies locked up. (I'd show you the rest of Bucher's Ten-Point Plan but there are only two points there.)

Good Help Is Hard To Find Locally

We gathered the clan and went to the parade in Oregon yesterday to support one of the young'uns who's marching in one of the bands that was there. You can tell that it's getting closer to Primary Day all the time.

There were two candidates for Dane County sheriff there marching along with Brian Blanchard. I must not have stayed long enough to see the Republican DA candidate. Brett Davis was there as was Janis Ringhand who will be running against him. Herb Kohl wasn't there (nor was Fred) but Rae Vogeler was.

Both candidates for Governor were represented. Doyle had a guy in pretty typical parade garb marching in his place as well as a team of volunteers handing out the same stickers they had at the Monona parade. The Green Team was there in force handing out Packer schedules again as well as something new.

Team Green had lunch-size bags for the kiddies to put their swag in (and the swag at Oregon was plentiful and rich. The hockey organization was pitching pens. At least two groups had freeze pops.) The Green swag-bags were a little lightweight but you wouldn't expect heavyweight from Green to be given away. What did surprise me, though, was that Team Green was giving away Canadian-made and printed paper bags. A quick search on ThomasNet shows a dozen or more Wisconsin bag makers listed, a fair share of them in the 8th Congressional District.

Maybe Green just isn't used to buying Wisconsin-made goods after all those years of Washington living.

Joel McNally On Paul Bucher's Southern Strategy

It's a piece of cake for politicians in states bordering Mexico to spread
anti-immigrant bigotry. But ours is almost on the edge of Canada, where the
greater threat is from hordes of illegal immigrants wearing ugly flannel shirts
and hats with ear flaps.

McNally's column in the Cap Times comments on the AG candidate's plan to scare the pants off the base.

Dangerously Close To Being A Commercial

Tolerate Mornings is a commercial website from P&G, the makers of Folgers. They have a few wacky web-thingies. There's a Boss Tracker and auto generated excuse emails.

But for the most disturbing commercial in a long time click on the TV in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Make sure you've had your morning coffee.

Making The Connection

I do so like Elmer Gantry. The award winning book was made into an award winning movie starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons and Oscar-winner Shirley Jones. The heart-wreching part of the movie for me is the unawareness of the lead character. Gantry honestly believes in what he says, even while his life and actions contradict his words.

Even though we first meet him in a speakeasy, Gantry piously rages;

As long as I got a foot, I'll kick booze. And, as long as I got a fist, I'll
punch it. And, as long as I got a tooth, I'll bite it. And, when I'm old and
gray and toothless and bootless, I'll gum it till I go to heaven and booze goes
to hell.

Gantry has no idea that he is a hypocrite, that he is bringing about the destruction of the church he has hooked himself onto. Sincere believers desperately take in his words and cannot be bothered to judge him by his deeds because of their own fears.

Sin. Sin, Sin. You're all sinners. You're all doomed to perdition. You're all
goin' to the painful, stinkin', scaldin', everlastin' tortures of a fiery hell,
created by God for sinners, unless, unless, unless you repent.

And now, Xoff shows us the Elmer Gantry for 2006, a man steeped in special interest money preaching about reform, a man who would restrict the health choices of our wives and daughters sermonizing about bad science, a big-government-voting GW-kowtowing deficit-building Congressman who claims he has suddenly found restraint in a brazen attempt to fleece the flock.

Sinclair Lewis wrote Elmer Gantry in 1927 as an expose of religious hypocrites. If he was writing it today it could just as easily be written about the last 6 years in Washington.

It's supposed to rain this afternoon. Go rent a movie.

Whoopsie!

I was wrong. I agreed with the President and see what it gets me? I was wrong. So was the President, but that's cold comfort right now. I took a chance, went out on a limb and said that, just this once, GW was right.

What a shock to find out he's fallible.

I agreed with the President when he said, "

"We ... need to confront the larger problem of too many localized fuel blends,
which are called boutique fuels. This has produced an uncoordinated,
overly complex set of fuel rules that tends to cause the price to go up."

That argument made sense to me but a draft report released Thursday by the EPA says that boutique fuels aren't responsible for higher pump prices. From the Washington Post:

Although often cited as a reason for volatile gasoline prices, so-called
"boutique fuels" have not caused unusual distribution problems or contributed to
price increases, the report concludes.

The review was conducted by a task
force headed by the Environmental Protection Agency and involving
representatives from the 50 states as well as the Energy and Agriculture
departments.

Government restrictions that promote breathable air aren't raising our energy costs, according to the task force. Now that a scientific study has shown GW to be wrong he'll most likely change his views.

That's what a reasonable man would do. I know I have.

This Will Be Interesting, If Nothing Else

Let's take a look at some of the positions of the new candidate for the 15th Assembly District;

1) Roll back property tax limits.

"If something isn't done to amend the tax freeze, local governments like
Janesville will have to cut serious services in the future."

2) Create a tax-exempt status or credit that could be applied to Wisconsin National Guardsmen on active duty.

3) An increase of one-quarter of 1 percent on the state retail sales tax that would go to cities.

"That would raise $3 million for Janesville."

4) Toll systems to pay for roads.

Now for the surprising part. This guy, Greg Addie, is the REPUBLICAN challenger to Judy Robson. Addie is a businessman and a clergyman. He has worked at a homeless shelter, Frito-Lay and has been a Marine.

Addie is a two term Janesville councilman who has often been at odds with the rest of the Council. I'm not sure he'll get along well with the Lassee/Grothman wing of his own party, either.

On Vacation With The Carnival

Dean has the Carnival Of The Badger/ Vacation Edition. Check out the best of Wisconsin Bloggng for the past week.

Why The Internet Is Getting Full

Jef takes us back in time.

Why Is The Japanese Fertility Rate Down To 1.25 per Woman?

Not enough sex.

All Up In Their Grills

It all started over a burger and a beer.

Sounds like a good idea to me. Weber Grills, United Airlines, Marriott,FCL Graphics, Smith and Wollensky and Jeep are the sponsors of Command of the Grill, a cookbook by and for our Marines. The cookbook, subtitled A Salute To Steak, contains 29 recipes from winners and runners-up in the Command of the Grill™ competitions held last fall. The book also contains recipes from famous Marines such as Ed McMahon, Art Donovan and Lee Trevino.

The proceeds from the cookbook will be split between four charities: The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House, and The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation.

If you like steak you can show your support by checking out this book.

Into The Belly Of The Beast

Yep. It's true. I'm slouching toward West Allis and the Beautiful Milwaukee Mile. I'll be there for the truck race Friday night.

Anybody else going?

I See London, I See France...

Football's governing body has explained why up to 1,000 Dutch fans watched a
World Cup tie wearing no trousers.

According to the BBC FIFA is spending an awful lot of time defending Budweiser's selection as the sole beer of the World Cup matches.

Around 1,000 fans arrived for the Ivory Coast tie in their traditional bright
orange trousers - but bearing the logo and name of a Dutch brewery.
To protect the rights of the official beer they were denied entry, so the male fans
promptly removed the trousers and watched the game in underpants.

German fans and fans of good beer are less than pleased that the weak American brew is all they can get at the soccer venues. Bru had the story going into the matches.

Before it knew the games were to be played in Deutschland, Anheuser-Busch, which
makes Budweiser, paid $40 million for the World Cup beer monopoly.
Unfortunately, Germans don't like the beer. They call it Spülwasser, which
roughly translates as dishwater.
In addition, there already is a comparable product in Germany, so the American company is not allowed to use its own name. The company must sell its product, the most popular beer in America, under the awkward label of "Anheuser-Busch Bud," and it had to negotiate even for that.
Germany's Bitburger beer is known as Bit, and the authorities ruled that Bit, a
name close to Bud, had the name first.

Add A Name To The List

Now that Dean Mundy has announced that he won't be running for Herb Kohl's job it looks as if the second string may be stepping up to test the waters once more. A WSJ/Zogby poll shows Kohl leading Mark Neumann by 9 percentage points in a race that no one is talking about.

Is Neumann going to be the final losing candidate on Rick Graber's Washington resume?

Revisionism Revisited

From dictionary.com:

maverick
2) One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter.

From Merriam-Webster
maverick
2) an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

From McBride
maverick
Flyin' Jim Sensennbrenner. The man who goes along with anyone with a private jet.

Show The Team Spirit

The English Soccer Team Spirit, that is. Thanks to the BBC you, too, can look like your favorite member of the Brit Boys. Download masks of the team here.

You'll look just like David Beckham, except around the checkbook.

NHL Weather Forecast

Hurricane Wipes Out Oilers- Light, Sweet Crude Up $7 In Early Trading

The Carnival Of the Badger Gets A New Host

...and a new logo. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday evening. Find out how you can participate or host at Dean's Place or Nick's.

h/t and a "welcome back" to Belle, for the logo.

The Job Nobody Wants

Who is going to run against Herb Kohl?

Tommy won't do it.

Tim Michels has good reasons to not do it.

Marcus Gumz succumbed to the only thing that could keep him out of a race.

Glenn Grothman could do it but no one thinks he'd win.

That leaves Gerald Lorge and no one is excited about that.

And yet the powers of the party say they have a "strong" candidate. Somehow, I doubt it.

Roberts, Alito- "What Fourth Amendment?"

Maybe Tom Delay was right. Maybe we do have to beware activist judges. When the Supreme Court is willing to abandon 90 year old case law and admit, in Mark Moller's words,

...is “let’s pretend originalism” — a Potemkin fidelity to the old ways,
robbed of any force by a deceptive, lawyerly slight of hand.

what is left to be taken away?

Update: Over at The Observer anonymous asked what our municipal judge would have to say about this decision. As so often happens Dick was on the request like a duck on a junebug. Read what Judge Tom has to say about the 4th Amendment and the Roberts Court.

What Does He Really Think?

Newest Bush Domestic Policy Advisor, Karl Zinsmeister:

Doctors who perform abortions belong in jail:

WATTENBERG: So you would feel comfortable putting a doctor in jail for
performing a procedure that a woman wants? And not just on-demand, but it could
be rape, incest, life of the mother.
ZINSMEISTER: Sure. No, again, I have a
definition that had some exceptions for rape and incest where there could be
real psychological damage to the mother. But yeah, Ben

Religion should be the basis of government:

...a slow organic process by encouraging and teaching and leading people to try
to make more socially constructive choices, and religion is a very important
tool for doing that. It's, for instance, we know it's one of the best ways to
get off of drugs; it's one of the best ways, one of the only ways that's had any
affect [sic] in getting people form [sic] becoming repeat criminals when they
get out of prison.

What "Corporate Synergy" Means To You

From today's NYT World Business page:

Nestlé, the Swiss food giant, is planning to announce today that it has agreed
to pay about $600 million for Jenny Craig.

If they could figure out a way to put a turbine in the middle of the process they could harness perpetual motion for the electricity.

Which side do you think Kirstie Alley is going to come down on?

Frank Can't Make Up His Mind

Assemblyman Frank Lassee, he of the cheesy amendment, appears to be of two minds about the bogus budget numbers being touted by his party cronies Ellis and Cowles.

On Thursday he was sure that it was a taste of doom and gloom. By Friday he was siding with Owen and calling the numbers bogus.

Pick Up The Phone

It's Father's Day. Call him.

Is Evansville Next For BioWillie?

The Observer has the scoop on Landmark's presentation to the Planning Committee regarding a biodiesel production facility on Evansville's east side. They will make another presentation next Tuesday at the Evansville Economic Development meeting.

Update: Gina Duwe and The Gazette have more info. The fuel plant itself will have 25 jobs with it. The most encouraging quote from the article?

Company officials were impressed with the city's response to such a project.
Swalheim called Evansville officials "spectacular." "We were very impressed with
the mayor and the commission members and the excellent business climate that the
Evansville area offers," he said.

The proposed facility would bring about 100 jobs to town and use exsisting infrastructure to bring in the raw materials. It's far from being a done deal but let's hope that we can pull together to make this happen.

From Willie's website: In 1911 Rudolf Diesel stated:

"The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in
the development of agriculture of the countries which use it." In 1912, Diesel
said "the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today.
But such oils may become in course of time as important as petroleum and the
coal tar products of the present time."

Let 'Em Know You're On the Way

Tuesday night my Lovely Bride, her Mother and I went to Mt Horeb to meet one of the Young Sons for supper at The Grumpy Troll. The meal was good, the beer tasty, the conversation just what we needed and a fine 90 minutes passed too quickly.

We left the restaurant by 8:30 and, since it was still early, I called to see if we could drop in on Young Son N, Young Son J and his beautiful wife. I called on the cell from the car.

ME: Whatcha doin'?
YSJ: Not much. We're still unpacking from the trip.
ME: Can we stop over for a few minutes? LB wants to see the granddog.
YSJ: (Unprintable!)

Okay. I know how he felt. He and his wife had just got back from a four day trip and were still unpacking. I was three minutes away with his stepmom and her mother and he didn't want to leave a bad impression. There was absolutely no time to clean up.
Oh, and the granddog thing? A blatant lie. LB wanted to see the kids. I'm the one who calls Wilson our GD.
In the end I made a deal. we'd stop to say, "Hi," but we'd stay in the yard. We could collect hugs (the kids) and scratches behind the ear (me and Wilson) and they didn't have to let anyone see their unwashed scanties.
We had a nice visit, made plans for the weekend (It's father's Day. Buy a card now.), and a fine time was had by all.

I just couldn't help thinking about a similar call last week and how the recipient must have felt. Please indulge me while I share my take on the phone conversation between GWB and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

GWB: Hi. Nuri? Yeah, good, um, look I'm at the airport and wonder if I could swing by for a few minutes.

Yeah, um. George...no, George Bush. Leader of the World's Last Superpower, Defender Of the Faith. All that, yeah.

No. No. Just a few dozen of us. We're getting in the helicopters now and we'll be there in five or so. Yeah, yeah. I know you're not expecting company. We won't stay long. Just gonna take a few pictures, maybe pat you on the back, you know, give you an attaboy and a little boost. We'll be gone before you know it.

What? No, no. That's just a figure of speech, Nuri. The rest of them are going to stay. My guys will be gone but the troops are staying. Yeah, okay, great. See you soon.

Nuri al-Maliki: (Unprintable.)

Two Thousand Five Hundred

Tony Snow: "It's a number."

Badger Culture On the Skids

Two tales of celebrities in Wisconsin.

Neidermayer's restaurant makes headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Screech needs your help.

WTF Is Going On In Detroit?

First the National Guard loses three Hummers. Now the cops lose a submachine gun. From a jeep. At a Tigers game.

Suburban police chief says, "He gets an `A' for stupidity in this case."

PCP At Leaning Blue

Aaron and I are doing a Point-Counterpoint at Leaning Blue before Belle gets back.

Our topic?

Madison vs Milwaukee.

It's Impossible To Make Some Of This Stuff Up

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Peter. Are you going to ask that question with shades on?
Q I can take them off.
THE PRESIDENT: I'm interested in the shade look,
seriously.
Q All right, I'll keep it, then.
THE PRESIDENT: For the viewers, there's no sun. (Laughter.)
Q I guess it depends on your perspective. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Touche. (Laughter.)

It's possible that Bush didn't know the reporter suffers from a form of macular degeneration that can be mitigated by wearing UV protective glasses and is legally blind. But, shouldn't someone on his staff have known enough to clue him in?

H/T kos

I Wish This Was Happening On Cable

If this guest pairing was happening on HBO we'd truly be able to see the difference between "profanity" and "pornography."

How Do I Get Out Of This Chicken Outfit?

Tony Snow. Dan Bartlett. Baghdad.

Say no more.

H/T TPM

A PSA For My Lovely Wife

"What do you wish you had learned in school for your own financial literacy?"

That's the question that a workgroup of , business and finance professionals, and government and elected officials asked before developing a Financial Literacy curriculum for Wisconsin.

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

From relating education to future earning potential, to becoming a critical
consumer and avoiding excessive debt, Wisconsin's personal financial literacy
standards reflect the skills and knowledge that are critical to becoming
financially secure.

Read the rest.