Feingold Vindicated For Stance Against PATRIOT Act

The Pres. says it's not a law that applies to him, anyway.

Remember voters in the 5th, F Jim makes this all possible. Vote for Bryan Kennedy.

RIP Alvis Edgar Owens jr.

The man who brought The Bakersfield Sound to America died yesterday at age 76. Although he was known to many as the Clown Prince of Hee Haw, Buck Owens was a savvy businessman who built a fortune in real estate and media operations.

Buck brought the twangy steel guitar sounds of California to the country music scene in the 60's in stark contrast to the string-laden path being taken in Nashville. His "Cryin' Time" was recorded by Ray Charles as was the Beatles' hit, "Act Naturally."

One of the first albums I can remember playing was "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail." It showed me that there was more to country music than I was hearing on the radio. Life since then has been good.

Rest easy, Buck. You've earned it.

The MJS and The War Referenda

Jay has a deconstruction of the Patrick McIlheran jibberish about why the various anti-war referenda will mean nothing. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist is setting the stage for the referenda across Wisconsin to pass and then to dismiss the result as aberrant.

Here in Evansville we have a different choice that is not mentioned in the article. We should have a clearer picture of city sentiment based on having two referenda of our own, one which calls for an orderly withdrawal plan and one which blesses the efforts of Bush and Co.

Don't let the vagaries of a Spring election keep you away from the polls. Get out and make your voice heard. If you need to know more about the differences between the referenda in Evansville you should attend CUUE's informational forum on Wednesday night. The moderator for the event will be Georgia Duerst-Lahti. You can see the questions to be asked here. Or you can watch for the forum on your local news outlet.

Now It's Your Turn

This morning's candidate forum was a rousing sucess, especially for a first time affair. The Observer has pics posted (look close and you can see your humble reporter) and has the questions up as a series of Watercoolers. We will be moderating the discussion all weekend.

Come join the fun.

A Two Horse Race For the Time Being

Scott Walker is withdrawing his candidacy for governor citing the damage a Republican primary could cause and Mark Green's money lead.

His full statement is here.

Why Am I Writing About the Waukesha County Board?

James Wigderson sent me an impassioned note calling for help in the petition drive to reduce the size of the Waukesha County Board. I won't post it here for several reasons. If any of you want to see his letter you may follow this link.

My reasons.
1) I don't live in Waukesha County. It's not my fight.
2) I don't think the Waukesha County Board should be reduced in size.
3) It's hard enough to run a non-profit with budget of $150,000 and a board of 8. Trying to run a growing county with 11 is borderline insanity.
4) You need sufficient involvement to maintain an effective committee structure. Eleven ain't enough.
5) With the population and the growth of the county you will be best served by greater representation. If Scott Newcomer can fool that many people at one time, the influence of one or two people should be diluted.

And for those who don't believe the damage that one or two well-intentioned but misguided people on a county board can do, I have two words. Progressive Dane. 'nuff said.

Ac-Cen-Tue-Ate the Positive

Peter says that we should focus more attention on reconstruction in Iraq. You know? Get out the good news.

Jef Hall does just that with a statement from the administration.

Observer Has The Skinny On Candidate Forum Tomorrow

Follow the link to get all the details of Saturday's Evansville Candidate Forum.

I'll see you all there. 9:30 sharp.

Winston Smith Would Be Confused By F Jim

America is a compassionate nation that should continue to be the land of
opportunity. But the best way to help illegal aliens is by stopping illegal
immigration.

That's the conclusion of F Jim Sensenbrenner regarding Thursday's rally in Milwaukee. F Jim ignores the fact that many of those in attendance were protesting the effect that Sensenbrenner's bill would have on small businesses who employee undocumented aliens knowingly or unknowingly. He ignores the fact that many of those involved in the rally were themselves legally in the country or citizens when he calls the event,"The illegal alien rally held in Milwaukee today..."

But it is more than his willful ignorance of those facts that caught my eye. Calling the best way to help a group "building a fence to keep them away and sending as many as we can catch back to where they came from" doesn't seem too "compassionate" to me. That ranks right up there with defending the 4th Amendment by wiretapping without warrants or defending the 6th Amendment by sealing the records of Federal trials.

But then F Jim doesn't have a problem with that, either.

Another Step Along the Blogging Trail

One of the things that we've got to value is the fact that we do have a media, free media, that's able to do what they want to do. And I'm not going to -- you're asking me to say something in front of all the cameras here.

Help over there, will you?

I just got to keep talking. And one of the -- there's word of mouth, there's blogs, there's Internet, there's all kinds of ways to communicate which is literally changing the way people are
getting their
information.

There it is. Five sentences in West Virginia. President Bush reconfirms that our press freedom is one of our strengths. The MSM can now go back to believing in the 1st amendment. He also validates blogs as a way to get the word out.

Does this mean that blogging is joining the mainstream or that it has jumped the shark? Is this like Katie Couric calling a guest, "Dog," on the air? Is blogging over?

Stayed tuned.

TCOTB Meets The Lord Of The Flies

Matt walks us through the chaos that was his office this morning as he gives us the Carnival of the Badger. Know what I mean?

You, too can host the chaotic Carnival. Swing by Nick's and volunteer.

Missing Milwaukee Boys

I realize that there is hardly any chance that one of the 3 readers of this blog will see these boys but I'm willing to post it and hope. James has the most information and pictures here.

Evansville Mayoral Forum Post #3

Audience question 4) Predict population and business growth in Evansville
Sandy: Advocated spending city dollars for Trade Market Research to see what types of business residents want and will patronize
Karen: Has "High hopes" that many people are working toward it. TIF District to make downtown attractive. City is poised for growth on east side. "Bring it on."

Question 5) What is your position on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment?
Both candidates spoke against TPA. Sandy said it would take away local control and Karen called it good on paper but flawed in practice.

Question 6) How will you build consensus in City Hall
Sandy: The council serves on behalf of the citizens, all working for the best. "Consensus should be easy"
Karen: Do the homework. Develop persuasive arguments. Plan for questions.

Closing statements:
Sandy: Spoke to open, honest government. Pledged best efforts. "Willing to devote full time" if that's what it takes. Pledged not to seek other office. Whether she wins or loses she will stay involved in the city. Campaign is totally self-financed. "I won't be out looking for photo ops" Declined to appear at blog-sponsored forum on 3/25 citing the involvement of some candidates in the planning and saying that she would prefer to conduct her campaign eye-to-eye and not have politics faceless, taking place from basements on computers. (Disclosure here: I am one of the organizers of this forum. I am also in my basement.)
Karen: No one person in the city government has the power to act alone. The council is only as powerful as the people allow it to become. "The biggest issue in this campaign is the number of issues." Pledged to be approachable, honest and open. "I will lead rather than direct, inspire rather than instruct."

A Major Award

Even though I'm heartbroken that Belle didn't find me quotable on Monday, THC was named the Different Take of the Week by jyd. Go see which post set him off.

Evansville Mayoral Forum Post #2

Question 5) How to maintain character of Evansville in light of the growth.
Sandy: Downtown revitalization-Smart Growth-Set aside money to replace trees-Replace trees in park-Use parkland dedication fees
Karen: New economic development-Planning ordinance & design requirements on developers
Sandy rebuttal: Need design standards for commercial development and stricter landscaping requirements.

Question 6) What is your position on the viability of maintaining Lake Leota?
Karen: "My choice is to restore." It takes dedication to maintain. Doesn't know where money will come from yet.
Sandy: Committed to restoration. Work with options being explored by SOLE. Using volunteers to remove silt

That ended the Chamber derived questions and opened the discussion to questions that the audience had delivered before the forum.

Question 1) Explain your public experience and motivation
Karen: Experience on Budget and finance Committee and Planning Commission, Board experience. Natural segue to Mayor
Sandy: No public office before but has served on Historic Preservation Committee-Proud of her work with the Wauwatosa Library Board during a contentious time. "I love Evansville." "I have the skills and abilities to devote to the office."

Question 2) How to improve communication between Police Commission and Police Department.
Sandy: Shared that her husband is on Police Commission. Described our PC as Independent and only able to act on citizen complaints. No direct relationship with department.
Karen: All committees need better communication. Didn't have good relation to recent events.

Question 3) How to maintain rate of residential development.
Karen: Stressed agreements in place and that the Planning Commission and developers are both comfortable with them.
Sandy: Questions persist about absolute limits. The elementary school is at 90% Must keep growth moderate to allow school to keep up.

I'll conclude next time...

In No Particular Order

What makes America great?

Zippo lighters

Maglite flashlights

Harley Davidson motorcycles

Bob Evans' biscuit breakfast.

A Profundity From After the Forum

Apathy is the fuel that keeps bad policy alive-

ambulance fugo

Because he didn't post it himself.

Evansville Mayoral Forum Report #1

The Mayoral Forum Monday night was well attended with estimates of the crowd varying from 65-100 in the house. Dan Hinkel represented the Gazette, Kelly the Review and WCLO News had a microphone onstage as well. The panel was made up of Chris Eager, Nancy Grieve-Shannon and David Ross. Joe Decker moderated the evening's program.

Opening Remarks: I will report to the best of my notes. Assume, please that some things will be paraphrased.

Karen: Thanked those in attendance. Acknowledged that audience was looking for a sense of who the candidates are and how they will comport themselves, how they will act in office. Three challenges facing Evansville; industrial development, Main St, rebuilding and Property Tax burden. Proclaimed herself a supporter of the business community.

Sandy: Opened with a reminiscence of going to school in the McKenna building, much the same opening as at the Bauer House. Stressed her leadership style. Three pronged preparation;attended 60 city meetings to learn about issues, 80 class hours of Public Mgmt classes, and door-to-door campaigning to talk to residents. "Government is owned by its citizens." "Embrace and channel change that is already on the doorstep." Partnerships and a unified vision.

Question 1) How does history interact with changes of the present and future? How does your personal history help you meet the needs of newcomers as well as established residents.
Sandy: Protect what's important. Preserve history. Must cherish the past.
Karen: Family is everything, Make changes for my children.

Question 2) 2007 Summer construction challenges. What specific help for downtown businesses.
Karen) My history as a Project Mgr for Mindspring will only help get through this project.
Sandy) We have not undertaken planning-no parking plan-no detours-no signage. Promised a committee to plan as soon as elected.
Karen, rebuttal) Plans are in place. Public Works conducts regular informational meetings. Business input has been sought.

Question 3) What kind of City hall do you want to run?
Sandy) accessible. "The buck stops with the mayor." Mayor as CEO.
Karen) Stressed good working relationship with City Hall agencies through committee work.

Question 4) How can you stabilize property taxes or provide relief.
Both candidates said mayor has little impact on total tax bill and need to work with other agencies to keep bills from growing. Sandy stressed need to channel residential growth and develop industrial growth.

More to follow...

Tell Me Again How Much Safer We Are

Budget constraints are forcing some FBI agents to operate without e-mail
accounts, according to the agency's top official in New York.
"As ridiculous
as this might sound, we have real money issues right now, and the government is
reluctant to give all agents and analysts dot-gov accounts," Mark Mershon said
when asked about the gap at a New York Daily News editorial board meeting.

So reports CNN. The FBI operates without the baseline communications tool that any 7th grader has at her disposal. How can we expect post 9/11 results froman organization hamstrung by a pre-Reagan communication system?

How To Listen At the Upcoming Forums

Before the primary election in February I posted James Wigderson's list of things to watch for when attending a candidate forum or debate. With tonight's Mayoral Forum at JC McKenna and the upcoming virtual candidate summit at the Eager Free Library for all Evansville candidates I thought it a good time to revisit them.

With races for Sheriff, Assembly and County Judge coming up you can expect to see them again.

James is from Waukesha so some of his references are local. When you read "Bill Yorth" you should substitute "Tammy Pomplun" or "Gina Duwe." Otherwise, just go. Ask questions when invited. Listen to the answers. Really listen.

It may make your deicision easier. James' list:

1. 
   Do they have a command of the issues? If they don't have a basic understanding of the issues here, then they probably don't when they go door-to-door or hit donors up for money or push for support in front of other audiences.
2. 
   Do they have a particular theme a voter can latch onto? Specific issues come and go. Will the people in the audience say to themselves, "liberal, conservative, weirdo, incompetent, leader, taxes" etc. Poltical campaigns are almost like a word association game at a party. Voters like to have a label on someone before they vote. Another way to look at it, every good song has a "hook" that gets people to want to hear it again. So do candidates.
3. 
   Does the candidate tend to ramble on into completely unrelated topics in an incoherent manner? Their campaign will, too, and you can put that person down as a loser.
4. 
   Did the candidate say something stupid? If you see Waukesha Freeman editor Bill Yorth walk out of the room cell phone in hand right after your candidate said something, that's not a good sign. That's the front page being re-written.
5. 
   Do they sound like they are going to win, or that they can win? It's an intangible, a gut feeling. Some candidates have it, some don't. Of course, having a strong campaign organization behind you tends to fuel a candidate's confidence. A candidate who is worried too much about what is going on in the campaign office is one that won't look well at a candidate forum.

Happy Birthday, Republicans

Today is the 152nd birthday of the Republican Party. Formed on March 20, 1854 in the Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin as an anti-slavery party.

From the Ripon website:

The Kansas-Nebraska Bill, introduced in January 1854 by Sen. Stephen
Douglas of Illinois, threatened to extend slavery to the Kansas and Nebraska
Territories. His bill was based on "Popular Sovereignty," which allowed settlers
to choose whether slavery would or would not exist within the territory. Douglas
hoped the bill would satisfy the interests of both the North and the
South.
On March 3, 1854, the "Popular Sovereignty" bill passed the U.S.
Senate. Shortly thereafter, Alvan E. Bovay, an influential attorney living in
Ripon, called a meeting to resolve, petition and organize against slavery.
After canvassing shops and homes within Ripon, 50 men, three women and one
child gathered in the Little White Schoolhouse on March 20, 1854, to protest the
extension of slavery into the Kansas and Nebraska Territories. They voted to
dissolve the local Whig and Free Soiler political organizations and proudly
declared themselves "Republicans." Three Whigs, one Free Soiler and one Democrat
were appointed to the committee of the new party.

So, I learned something today. The founding fathers and mothers of the Republican Party thought it so necessary to fight against "Let the people decide" on an unpopular, tough decision that they formed a new party to promote the good of the republic and to fight for liberty for all men and women in it. The original Republicans thought that statesmen should be statesmen and that government should govern wisely. They also formed their party in a school paid for by citizens who realized that public education was the best path for a better future for their children.

Insert your own commentary here. I'm gonna have a piece of cake.

Wisconsin Blog Summit Reports

I wasn't there but a lot of people were. 900 folks in a hotel conference room on such a sunny day as yesterday. Oh, my.
(Update: No Aaron. I'm not going to correct the number. When I'm wrong, I can be very, very wrong. Now, where did that number come from?)

Eliott posted and posted including a warning.

Dennis York was chosen as Blogger of the Year and included this graf in his acceptance speech:

If I had one challenge for blogs in Wisconsin, though, it is to try to push
yourselves to do more and more of your own writing. You all have a lot of talent
– and I want to know more about what you think and what you feel. With all due
respect, if I want to know what Charlie thinks about something, I’ll go visit
his site. Send me to sites I wouldn’t normally visit – touch on topics that I
may not know about. Most importantly, keep writing and get your friends to start
a blog. The more voices in the Wisconsin marketplace of ideas, the better.

James shares his thoughts here. Aaron got a new nickname and a couple of props. Casper said it was just like Christmas.

March Madness

Let's take a quick look at this week's insanity.

Don Rumsfeld uses the "N" word. It's an internet axiom that the first one to use the word "Nazi" loses the argument. I'm wondering which of our allies in Iraq is the group to whom Rummy refers. The cute part is where he refers to the situation today as "Post-war Iraq." It's over. Mission accomplished.

JB van Hollen and Paul Bucher both started frothing about Peg Lautenschlager's attempts to bring contraceptives to Wisconsin women over the dithering of the Bush adminsitration. They have both come out in favor of killing more inmates as well. It's almost as if they don't understand the laws of the state.

The tizzysphere just can't get over the fact that Scooter Jensen is now a three time felon, convicted by a jury of his peers. There seems to be no recognition of the fact that key players from the majority of both sides were prosecuted and punished. In much the same way that Jensen chose to take Mark Green and Scott Walker down with him at trial, the ranters would have us believe that there was some value in a parade of defendants that swept the chambers clean. There is precedent for not having a prosecutor make changes to a government. The House Bank scandal didn't wrap everybody in a prosecutorial fold. Now it's up to voters to do their best to clean house.

Oh, goodness. There's much more. Jess Bucher says that folks who don't agree with her hubby have the same moral standing as felons like Scott Jensen. She also has called for the removal of F Jim and everyone else who supports the war (probably not what she meant, but certainly what she said.)

I don't want people from Whitefish Bay, or Waukesha or wherever, to dictate
foreign policy matters. If they are upset about the war, vote out public
officials who supported it/voted to authorize it.

Mississippi is enacting laws to protect Dick Cheney if he ever decides to hunt attorneys there.

2003 Wasn't A Good Year For Prophecy, Either

h/t to Tom Tomorrow

“All of the printed and voiced prophecies should be saved in an archive. When
these false prophets again appear, they can be reminded of the error of their
previous ways and at least be offered an opportunity to recant and repent.
Otherwise, they will return to us in another situation where their expertise
will be acknowledged, or taken for granted, but their credibility will be
lacking.”

Those are the words of Cal Thomas in 2003. Let's look at some of the folks he didn't know he was referring to.

“I will bet you the best dinner in the gaslight district of San Diego that
military action will not last more than a week. Are you willing to take that
wager?”(Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly, 1/29/03)

“The war was the hard part. The hard part was putting together a coalition,
getting 300,000 troops over there and all their equipment and winning. And it
gets easier. I mean, setting up a democracy is hard, but it is not as hard as
winning a war.”(Fox News Channel’s Fred Barnes, 4/10/03)

“We’re all neo-cons now.”(MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, 4/9/03)

“Congress returns to Washington this week to a world very different from the one
members left two weeks ago. The war in Iraq is essentially over and domestic
issues are regaining attention.”(NPR’s Bob Edwards, 4/28/03)

“Now that the combat phase of the war in Iraq is officially over, what begins is
a debate throughout the entire U.S. government over America’s unrivaled power
and how best to use it.”(CBS reporter Joie Chen, 5/4/03)

There's much more here and here.

They May Think It's A Movement- Arlo Guthrie Looks At The Senate

According to a report in Roll Call, Tom Harkin has added his sponsorship to Russ Feingold's call for censure of George Bush for domestic spying.

(Update) Read Tom Harkin's statement here.

Remember what Arlo Guthrie said:

And friends, somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folder,
is a study in black and white of my fingerprints.
And the only reason I'm singing you this song now is cause you may know
somebody in a similar situation,
or you may be in a similar situation, and if your in a situation like that
there's only one thing you can do
and that's walk into the shrink wherever you are ,just walk in say
"Shrink, You can get anything you want, at Alice's restaurant.".
And walk out.
You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really
sick and they won't take him.
And if two people, two people do it, in harmony,they may think they're both
faggots and they won't take either of them.
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out.
They may think it's an organization.
And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,
I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and
walking out.
And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and
all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the
guitar.

Need Advice? Ask Casper At The Carnival

The Carnival of the Badger XXXI is up at Ask Me Later and Casper is doling out advice from the Cheddarsphere. Click over to see the best of Wisconsin blogging last week.

Don't forget the you, too can host the Carnival. Go ask Nick how to get on the list. This link also shows how to submit for next week's Carnival at Know What I Mean?

Evansville Candidate Forum- Big News In The Observer

The first Observer Candidate Forum will be held at the Eager Free Library on Saturday, March 25 at 9:30 in the morning. Candidates for Mayor Council and School Board will attend to answer your questions.

In addition to the live, moderated session there will be a virtual session to follow in the pages of The Observer. It is anticipated that there will be more questions than time permits on Saturday. A series of Watercooler topics will be posted on the Observer for the candidates response and your comments leading up to election day.

The live session will be moderated by none other than yours truly and for that I ask your help. I know that you all have questions for the candidates. If you would be kind enough to share them with me by e-mail to grumps_8855@charter.net (corrected) I will see them through to the candidates. Please include the phrase "Forum Question" in the subject line.

Stay tuned for a list of attending candidates and for more information as the day draws closer.

True Love Seldom Runs Smooth

Nathan beat me to the post with the story of the worst marriage going.

How can you not love the line?

"Espinosa told reporters he was glad his wife had suffered burns, while Contreras [Espinosa's wife] said she was only sorry she had not "hacked off his manhood" during the fight."

Tuna Under the Bed. Powdered Milk In Your Closet

For an administration who strives to control the message, they aren't very good at understanding how that message will be perceived. HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt's remarks in Wyoming last week suggest a response to bird flu that would make the Katrina response look as if Hannibal planned it.

He has been widely quoted for his suggestions to

"go to the store and buy three cans of tuna fish, buy a fourth and put it under
the bed, When you go to the store to buy some milk, pick up a box of powdered
milk, put it under the bed."

Deeper in the article it becomes clear that he spoke to larger concerns as well but the remark that will always stick in people's minds is:

"Communities that do not prepare, thinking the federal government will help in
all their needs, will be "tragically disappointed.""

Haven't These People Suffered Enough?

Not FEMA.

Not Brownie.

Not the Corps of Engineers.

Not Nagin.

Not Dubai Ports World.

Not Bush.

The people of New Orleans have no one to blame except one of their own.

Republicans Look To A Future Without Bush

I don't believe that Yahoo saw the irony in that headline. There are a lot of folks looking toward that day, some with regret, some with glee.

The story talks about the meeting last week of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis. I call it, "How a nice Yankee boy wound up in Memphis during the CUSA Tournament with Chris Matthews, 1800 Republicans and all of the 19 year-olds who couldn't afford Spring Break in Florida or Mexico." Suffice it to say that Graceland was not the most surreal moment of the week.

1. Hundreds of stickers proclaiming, "Bill Frist is My Leader." How can that not make you pause? Frist is the red-state Hillary, only carrying more baggage. How often does Ken Mehlman want to see the "Terri Schiavo's Okay" videotape?
2. John McCain says that a straw poll two years out foretells nothing and hat the Pres needs party support through a difficult time. He urges the delegates to not vote for him but to write in Bush's name.
3. Bush finishes tied for third in the straw poll.
4. Matthews is Honorary Duckmaster at The Peabody Hotel for a day.
5. Trent Lott is doing his level best to keep Newt G. from taking the party elder role from him.
6. 1800 Republicans in the city and there was no talk of; a) TABOR, b) More guns in the hands of law-abiding yada yada, c) Ethanol (except to support the Pres' call for increased use of, oh, and a 3 page article in the Times Courier about the success Brazil has had weaning itself from the influence of other countries by using mandates and incentives to encourage development of flex-fuel vehicles and ethanol production and using the vegetable waste to generate the heat for production and selling the excess), d) Russ Feingold.
7. I spent three days in the same town as Mike Huckabee, Lindsey Graham, George Warner, and Mitt Romney and the world just kept on spinning. Easy enough.

Meet The Candidates/ Evansville

On Saturday March 25 the Evansville Observer will host a meet-and-greet with the candidates for Mayor, Alder and School Board. The meeting will begin at 9:30 in the lower level of the Eager Free Library.

In addition to a live moderated Q&A session, the Observer is soliciting questions for the candidates online. Details about the activities are here. Watch the Observer for the online discussion.

Sometimes It's Hard To Pick A Winner

While John Gard has the Cheney albatross around his neck today the other R candidate in the 8th is looking for a little attention from her party. As dismissive as Cheney and Gard can be, I don't think she's likely to get it from above. Maybe she can get it from the voters who are tired of the carpetbagger from Sun Prairie.

Here's Terri McCormick's statement on the Cheney visit:

“It is always an honor when the Vice-President or President visits our state.
When President Bush was running for re-election, Vice-President Cheney invited
me to stand with him on stage at the Green Bay Railroad Museum.
“However, this visit, a pre-primary endorsement before the voters and my neighbors have had the opportunity to listen and learn about both Republican candidates, has raised legitimate concerns for many.
“I wish my primary opponent well in his fundraiser. I wish the Vice-President well in his visit to Wisconsin and Illinois to stump for congressional candidates.
“My race for Congress has been and will continue to be focused on the voters of the 8th Congressional District. I have not been an insider in Madison, and I believe that has given me a tremendous opportunity to craft major reforms that served my constituents who live in Northeast Wisconsin.
“My reform packages for health insurance and job growth, such as the Small Business Regulation Act, have been recognized in Washington as national models for reform. My passion to clean up government with the ethics and elections board reforms will make a difference for those we serve.
“The voters have two very distinct choices for the 8th Congressional District Primary in the Republican Party. I have and always will remain close to the people I serve. It is because of my strong belief in service over self that I founded the charter school movement and wrote the first charter school laws in the state.
“My goal is to seek the endorsement of the people who live and work in the 8th
Congressional District. It is for this reason that I will remain a Washington
outsider when I go to Congress to represent the people of Northeast
Wisconsin.”

Why Nuns Are Like The House Of Representatives

Sister Mary Carol Hellmann says, "Librarians give us a scare."

Spelling nuns come back to challenge for their Spelling Bee title. The librarians had won three straight after the nuns left the Literacy organization fundraiser.

The nuns were right to fear the libs. After missing on ‘chimopelagic,’ they watched the Boone County Public Library team win on “trinitrotoluene.”

No word on a rematch for next year.

It's More Than A Little Disconcerting

Last Tuesday I had to go for what the doctor calls "a procedure." Nothing extreme or painful, just one of the perks of a cardinal birthday.

Twenty four hours of mildly nasty prep and an early arrival at the hospital. Stripped down to sneakers, an open-back robe and my wedding ring. IV in the back of my right hand, heart monitors glued to chest and abdomen (not in the spots they shaved for the stress test dammit), "Relax, deep breaths," blood pressure cuff around the left upper arm, oxygen monitor on left forefinger, "Just relax. We'll start a demarol drip in the IV so you don't feel any pain and then after you talk with the doctor we'll start the anasthetic." Oxygen line draped over my ears and into my nose, the doctor's voice soothing in my ear. A few instructions, "Just relax. We'll turn on the radio. Just listen to the music."

Good idea. Soothing music. Just relax. WTF!

The radio is playing Sarah McLachlan.

"In the arms of the angel,

fly away from here,

from this dark, cold..."

I woke up in recovery about an hour later. Everything is fine.

A Few Words From Leon Redbone

"Mistakes have been made in this life. Never pay the dancing girls up front."

Last night at the New Daisy Theater on Beale St in Memphis Leon Redbone explained why there were no dancing girls on stage.

Let this be a lesson to you. Make sure that you are getting what you pay for.

Carnival Of the Rose

Brent retells HC Andersen's lovely tale of The Loveliest Rose In the World with the help of the bloggers of the Cheddarsphere.

Follow me to Milwaukee's Layton Park Blogger to read this week's Carnival of the Badger for your self.

The Race Begins Today In Texas

Today is the first day for independent candidates in Texas to collect signatures for nomination for the general election. Independent candidates for governor are required to collect about 45,000 signatures in the period after the primary from eligible voters who did not vote in the primary.

Raconteur/singer/author Kinky Friedman will start his campaign in earnest today as will Carole Keeton Strayhorn. Strayhorn, the mother of Bush spokesman Scott McLellan, will run as an independent, having turned her back on the Republican shenanigans of the current administration.

The Happy Circumstance supports Friedman who is running on a platform of, "How hard can it be?"

Old Habits Are Hard To Break

With a primary battle taking place in Texas to determine Tom DeLay's future DeLay be at a lobbyist's fundraising bash in Washingtom.

The fundraiser will be hosted by lobbyists Bill Paxon and Susan Molinari, both former members of Congress from New York. Paxon is now a lobbyist with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. What makes this a story worthy of local note?

Former Health and Human Services Secretary, former Wisconsin Governor, until Tuesday on Scooter Jensen's character witness list and Akin Gump partner Tommy Thompson is also listed as a co-host of the DeLay event.

h/t to Mike Basford's Spin City and Xoff

Car Crash Warps Into Wild Goose Chase

This story keeps on getting weirder. The crash of a rare Ferrari Enzo is odd enough but as the story morphs and twists it is the stuff of Internet legend.

The car's owner is Stefan Ericksson, founder of the failed Net site Gizmondo. He told authorities that it was being driven by a man he knew only as Dietrich who then bolted into the California hills. Witnesses claimed the Ferrari was racing a Mercedes SLR, a clip for a Glock was found, badges were flashed and Homeland Security invoked. Very little of the story is true.

Check out the full story, so far, at the Independent via Fark.

Bill O'Reilly Channels Dr Johnny Fever

One of my favorite episodes of WKRP has Johnny Fever smashing a telephone with a toolbox and then having Venus threaten him with a visit from The Phone Cops. Now Bill O'Reilly takes that ridiculous premise to the next level by threatening a caller to his radio show with a visit from the authorities, bidden by Fox Security.

Johnny Cougar has the details over at Someone Took In These Pants. Check it out here. The clip is about seven minutes but worth the time.

Brian Christianson Throws In the Towel

Free Will acknowledges that, whatever the verdict, Scott Jensen has damaged the GOP in Wisconsin in ways that will take years to recover from. His post, The Last Campaign of Scott Jensen, is here. His lead laments that which will become ever clearer as the veil of denial lifts.

It’s over. The die has been cast. The stain has set.

The Trial of Scott Jensen has torpedoed any strategy Republicans might have trotted-out this election year exploiting ethics reform. Those 30 second TV ads and 60 second radio ads slamming Dem. Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative Democrats are now toothless.

Star Chamber Justice- The Sixth Amendment Means As Little As the Fourth

While our county prosecutors are busy locking up ordinance violators, ticket scoff-laws and non-violent offenders the Feds are busy returning cooperative killers back to the streets in increasing numbers.

One of the cooperating witnesses admitted to seven murders and testified in
open court against co-defendants who had committed fewer, Christ said. But like
the others who pleaded guilty and cooperated, that witness' plea deal and
sentence were sealed.
"Cooperating witnesses are pleading guilty to six or
seven murders, and the jury doesn't know they'll be sitting on the Metro
(subway) next to them a year later. It's a really, really ugly system," Christ
said.

The AP found thousands of cases sealed by the Feds over the past three years in which cooperative felons were released in exchange for testimony. The secretive nature of these deals conceals their effects from our communities. The Feds have gone past sealed cases to the institution of secret dockets.

No matter how few turn out to be almost totally sealed after the
defendant's case was completed, "it's still significant," said Lucy Dalglish,
executive director of the Reporters Committee and a pioneer in campaigning
against court secrecy.
"The Supreme Court has said that criminal proceedings
are public," Dalglish added. "In this country, we don't prosecute and lock up
convicts and have no public track record of how we got there. That violates the
defendants' rights not to mention the public's right to know what it's court
system is doing."

Ugly Americans Redux

The Bush entourage creates a small-scale international incident in India.

Wouldn't it seem more respectful to change the itinerary if you couldn't guarantee security without desecrating the shrine? Why must we always take the "me first" path?

Evansville's Bloggers Get Their Duwe

"I just light the fire and watch what happens." That's the quote from the venerable Observer that closes the Gazette article on Evansville's blogging community. Now our little dysfunctional cadre has the same MSM imprimatur as the Waukesha cabal or the Kenosha/Racine ring.

Local papers taking notice of local bloggers is nothing new. We've been treated to the Wisconsin State Journal's article profiling Carrie Lynch and Ann Althouse, Isthmus' gave us Madison Freedom Fighter and Jess Bucher has run her own right-leaning list in the Freeman.

This is our chance to bask in a little reflected glory, to see if there's a little spike out there this weekend. Gina did a fine job of profiling a few of us in town and let on that there are others to be found. But, don't you wish that the online version of the story had the sidebar with the links?

Are You Ready For The Main Event?

Chuck Todd at The National Journal ranks the top five contenders for Presidential candidate from each party every month. Heading the list are John McCain and Hillary Clinton, no surpise there.

The rest of the Dems in the top five are; Mark Warner, John Edwards, Evan Bayh and Bill Richardson. The top tier R's are; George Allen, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and (sit down, everyone) Newt Gingrich.

Net fave, Russ Feingold is ranked in the pack with Bill Frist, Wesley Clark and Tom Vilsack. Interestingly enough, Rudy Giuliani doesn't show on the list except as a Wild Card. That list of Maybe-Never's includes Condeleeza Rice and John Kerry along with Al Gore and Michael Bloomberg.

It Might Be Impossible To Write the Least Read Book

The oddest book title of the year has been chosen by Bookseller magazine in England. This year's winner is People Who Don't Know They're Dead: How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It, a tome to help the haunted.

Previous winners include How To Bomb-proof Your Horse and Greek Rural Postmen and their Cancellation Numbers. Both worthy champions, I'm sure. This year's runner-up was Rhino Horn Stockpile Management: Minimum Standards and Best Practices from East and Southern Africa.

It sort of reminds me of a friend who checked out How To Hug from the library for some pointers and later found out he had Volume 8 of the Brittanica.

Cognitive Dissonance

We're having a going-away party at lunchtime at work. The Pizza Hut delivery guy was just here in a Buick Park Avenue. I fear that I'm doing something wrong.

F Jim Connects The Dots So You Don't Have To

F James Sensenbrenner sent out a press release today crowing about the renewal of the PATRIOT Act by the Senate. He gloats about the passage,

Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of the Senate voted to extend the
most critical anti-terrorism legislation enacted since 9/11. The 89-to-10
bipartisan vote illustrates an understanding that the PATRIOT Act has kept us
safer while protecting the civil liberties we cherish.

without noting that the opposition this time was ten-fold the original vote. He also takes a shot at his colleague, Russ Feingold,

“I remain thoroughly disappointed, though, that one of my state’s Senators
continued to play political games right until the end. His single-minded
obsession with blocking this antiterror law – despite over 30 new civil
liberty safeguards – was categorically rejected by 89 Senators who chose to
put our national security first.

After the smackdown F Jim goes on to help us understand that the PATRIOT Act is not a tool for going after Americans, that it will only be used to protect us from the enemies who showed themselves on 9/11,

“Enactment of this legislation will ensure that the CIA and FBI will continue
sharing information to help ‘connect the dots’ and prevent terrorists from
striking.

And, lest we forget what those dots are, he enumerates,

...by providing law enforcement new authorities to secure our ports,
enhances penalties for attacks against mass transit and railroads, combats
terrorism financing networks, improves air travel security...

All good points made by supporters of the Act. All admirable targets for our anti-terror forces. And then, his big finish,

...and fights the deadly scourge of methamphetamine abuse in our communities.”

Wait a minute. Is F Jim suggesting that meth is being imported from Iraq or Iran? Doesn't he know that it's a domestic problem, that kids are cooking it right down the street? Did he just say that the PATRIOT Act is going to be used in our communities, but just for our own good? Is there a reason I'm not being reassured by Sensenbrenner's release?

Perspective

Tom McMahon writes about keeping ones life in perspective in a very well written post.

My favorite?

You never anticipate the really bad stuff
Think of all the old Twilight Zone episodes that had a post-World War III theme. Now think of all the episodes with a
big-jetliner-smashing-into-a-skyscraper theme. We tend to worry about a lot of things that never happen, and let ourselves get blindsided by reality.

Friendship Cards For the Rest of Us

Richard has these alternative Friendship cards up over at Russelings.

I especially like #2:
When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

Somebody Doesn't Understand

F Jim says everything is hunky-dory.

Robert Byrd and Arlen Specter say it's neither hunky nor dory.

Who is looking out for the Constitution?

John Gard Tries Out His New, Cheney Inspired, Campaign Slogan

"Go to Hell, Marlin"

That's the level of civil discourse at the Capitol under the leadership of John Gard. When Marlin Schneider questioned the closing of the galleries during the debate of the Amendment to Strip Wisconsinites of Equal Protection John Gard responded with the aforementioned crudity.

Gard will be appearing with Dick Cheney in the Green Bay area at a fundraiser on March 13. Let's just assume that Gard was trying to impress the bully-in-chief with his swearing prowess, just like the kids on the playground do.

Some Questions For Legislative Leadership

Shouldn't we expect our Legislature to put in a full schedule?

Is it uncharitable to suggest that they are walking away from the needs of the state just so John Gard can go see where his district is while he runs as Washington's candidate for Senate?

Why do we have to pay more than 100 per diems if the Lege is only in Madison for 90 days?

Just asking.

Let's See What Bill O'Reilly Has To Say About the Referenda

From his February 20 broadcast:

...we're never gonna be able to control them. So the only solution to this is to
hand over everything to the Iraqis as fast as humanly possible.

I'm thinking that means he's supporting CUUE in this one.

When you add that to Wm. F Buckley's harsh words and it looks as if the base is shifting under GW's feet. Buckley said:

"Mr. Bush has a very difficult internal problem here because to make the
kind of concession that is strategically appropriate requires a mitigation of
policies he has several times affirmed in high-flown pronouncements," Buckley
wrote. "His challenge is to persuade himself that he can submit to a historical
reality without forswearing basic commitments in foreign policy. He will
certainly face the current development as military leaders are expected to do:
They are called upon to acknowledge a tactical setback, but to insist on the
survival of strategic policies. Yes, but within their own counsels, different
plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgment of
defeat."

President Defined As "moving/falling object" In Police Report

A few quotes from the Police report after GW's bike crash in Scotland:

It was "about 1800 hours on Wednesday, 6 July, 2005" that a detachment of
Strathclyde police constables, in "Level 2 public order dress [anti-riot gear],"
formed a protective line at the gate at the hotel's rear entrance...

"[At] about 1800 hours the President approached the junction at speed on the
bicycle. The road was damp at the time. As the President passed the junction at
speed he raised his left arm from the handlebars to wave to the police officers
present while shouting 'thanks, you guys, for coming'.
"As he did this he
lost control of the cycle, falling to the ground, causing both himself and his
bicycle to strike [the officer] on the lower legs. [The officer] fell to the
ground, striking his head. The President continued along the ground for
approximately five metres, causing himself a number of abrasions.

We were told that the accident was a minor oopsie, that no harm was done. In fact, the officer missed three and a half months of work. There is no record of the injured officer's apology for being run into.

The Scots are not amused.

John Scott, a human rights lawyer, said: "There's certainly enough in this
account for a charge of careless driving. Anyone else would have been warned for
dangerous driving.
"I have had clients who have been charged with assaulting
a police officer for less than this.

In related news, the Vice President of the United States has gone 15 days without shooting anyone in the face.

Nichols Says That Trial Shows the True Scooter

Should being in favor of honest government run according to the standards that
have traditionally applied in Wisconsin disqualify someone from judging whether
a legislator violated the law?

John Nichols asks that question in an opinion piece about the Scott Jensen trial and then goes on to say that Jensen's attorney asked questions to disqualify supporters of clean government in order to make sure Scooter got a jury of his peers.

More quotes from the piece:

It is certainly true that, compared to current Assembly Speaker John Gard,
former Speaker Scott Jensen looks like a paragon of virtue, a model of integrity
and, above all, an intellectual giant. But that is only because, as the old
Irish saying goes, "In the kingdom of the legless, the one-legged man is king."

When he is not being compared to Gard, R-Peshtigo, Jensen looks like what he has
always been: a lazy whiner who got into politics to live large and make money
and who has abused positions of public trust in every way imaginable from
dispatching state employees and pages to get him cans of soda to creating a
"campaign machine" operated by public employees and paid for with public tax
dollars.

Check out the full piece by rolling over the headline.

Great Moments In Paranoia

A caller to The Capital Times shares the theory that Karl Rove has masterminded the Dubai Ports World brouhaha in order to allow Republican senators to appear to have a backbone when they stand up to the Prez.

Lord, I can deal with my enemies. Please protect me from my friends.

A Semblance Of Normality Returns- If You Can Call It That

They've greased the poles to the balconies at the Royal Sonesta.

This time the triage tent is by the parade route off St Charles.

The jail is open in the park.

Laissez le bon temps roullez.

James Wigderson's Plea

This e-mail arrived from James at 3PM on 3/24/06. I disagree with his premise and asumptions. I disagree with his goals. Follow your desire. In a hundred years it'll be all new people anyway.


Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:05:53 -0800 (PST)
From:
"James Wigderson"
Subject:
A personal letter from James M. Wigderson
Friday, March 24, 2006
Hi,
This is an unusual appeal, in an unusual situation.
People are gathering signatures across Waukesha County
in an effort to place on the ballot in November for
referendum a reduction in the size of the Waukesha
County Board. This issue cuts across the political
spectrum, across the different regions and interest of
the county.

Starting this Monday, the Waukesha County Board will
be considering ways of stopping this petition and
referendum drive. One serious possibility is that the
members of the board, unable to cut loose 24, 16 or
even 10 of their fellow board members, will decide to
cut the board by a token 2 or 3 members.
Part of me sympathizes with them. It’s difficult for
any group to imagine drastic change, especially change
that affects so many of their colleagues.

On the other hand, this isn’t personal, and they
shouldn’t treat it as a personal issue. They were
elected (many without opposition) to serve the best
interests of Waukesha County. The members of the
board were given a tool to do just that: the ability
to streamline county government. If they fail in this
responsibility, then the responsibility falls to the
people of Waukesha County whom they serve.
I’m asking all of you, regardless of ideology,
affiliations or political loyalties, to join in this
effort. You can download the petition at the Waukesha
Taxpayers League website. You can pick up petitions
at either:

The Print Shop (National and Moreland)
3628 S. Moreland Rd
New Berlin, WI 53151
anytime 8-6 m-f
262-782-3811

Midwest Law Enforcement Supply Inc.
(Both locations 262-567-1004)
210 S. Silver Lake Street, Oconomowoc
9-5 m-f
or 16825 W. Lisbon Rd
Brookfield WI
10-5 m-f

Or you can come this Saturday to Gehrke’s Corners in
Brookfield at 9:00am this Saturday for petitions and
to get an area assigned for going door-to-door. I’ll
even drive and deliver petitions if I have to. Just
e-mail me at jamesmdw@yahoo.com.
This effort can change government in Waukesha to be
more visible, more accountable than ever before. And
after Waukesha, perhaps all of Wisconsin. But this
effort has to start with each one of us. If we gather
enough signatures to demonstrate real momentum in the
next few days, we can stop the Waukesha County Board
from making a token cut to short circuit our efforts.
When it falls to us to make great things happen, we
must seize the opportunity.
Sincerely,

James M. Wigderson
http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com/

It Depends On Where You Put the Emphasis

President Bush at Thursday's Cabinet meeting:

"And so people don't need to worry about security. ... This deal wouldn't go
forward if we were concerned about security for the United States of America."

At least we don't have that to worry about anymore.

Spelling Is Important

For Paul:

Sasha Cohen








Sacha Cohen










Any questions?

Let's Assume That Somebody Reads the Paper To Him

Let's look at the headlines.

Bushies blew it again, Republicans grumble

Iraq sectarian violence kills 130

Roadside bombs kill 7 US soldiers in Iraq

Senator Challenges Ports Deal Procedure

World science body slams tougher U.S. visa rules

Treasurys lower after 5-yr auction

Average American Family Income Declines

White House admits Katrina flaws

Who knew that the Prez would long for the good old days when big news was the Vice President of the United States shooting a lawyer in the face?

One Crony Deal Too Many

It looks as if GW finally has his undies in a bunch over one of his crony deals.

I don't share the "Sky is falling" panic of so many around the DP World deal to buy P&O's ports operations. In a lot of ways it's a routine transaction in the international shipping biz. But the administration has spent five years playing spurious games of connect the dots and selling wolf tickets to the Middle East to maintain his War on Terra and now the xenophobic chickens are coming home to roost.

The troubling part about the DP World deal is the lack of routine oversight involved and required by the US. In the headlong rush to approve a deal for his Arab cronies the Prez let them steal the farm. Look at the "Secret Deal" as reported in the Guardian.

The administration did not require Dubai Ports to keep copies of business
records on U.S. soil, where they would be subject to court orders. It also did
not require the company to designate an American citizen to accommodate U.S.
government requests. Outside legal experts said such obligations are routinely
attached to U.S. approvals of foreign sales in other industries.

More troubling is this excerpt:

Under the deal, the government asked Dubai Ports to operate American seaports
with existing U.S. managers ``to the extent possible.'' It promised to take
``all reasonable steps'' to assist the Homeland Security Department, and it
pledged to continue participating in security programs to stop smuggling and
detect illegal shipments of nuclear materials.

Think about the phrase "all reasonable steps" the next time you have to take off your shoes and belt buckle at the airport.

The administration's close personal economic ties to this deal should raise red flags in front of those who've been paying attention for the past five years. It's the level of antagonism from Bush's base that's finally heartening. Peter ranted several times. He reports that even Michele Malkin has turned on GW and his claque.

I can see a splendid irony in the fact that the deal that drags GW into the muck is going to be one that simply smells bad, rather than being one of those which stinks from head to core.

Nick Talks About Earmarks

Why do we need Earmark Reform? Check out Nick's post about relative difficulties.

Let's just say that some folks got it easy.

The Results

The results are in and we have two candidates for the April election.

Sandy Decker received 324 votes
Karen Aikman 94
Mike Anderson 76

The city ordered 420 cardboard ballots, enough for a turnout of 20% or so. With the County Clerk predicting a 4% turnout I think we did well to show at 25%.

Evansville Vote Counting

The tally continues to mount. In an election that the County Clerk expected a 4% turnout, Evansville is rushing to the polls. The Lovely Mrs. Circumstance voted at 3 PM and was #265. It looks as if Mason's 300 prediction was low with 5 hours to count yet. Now we'll have to see how we did on the prognosticating.

Once Is An Accident, Twice Is A Coincidence

If it happens again next week it'll be a trend.

From my in-laws neck of the woods comes this headline:

Beauregard motorists shot by quail hunter

Pretty soon everyone will be doing it.

Frank Lassee- Dangerously Cheesy

You all remember Frank Lassee. He was front and center on the failed TABOR push two years ago and has steadily beat the drum for the proposal to wrest local government control and choke growth. When I dared to suggest that it was a legislator's job to make the hard choices about taxes he called me the worst name he could think of.

No, Frank. I'm not a government employee. But you are. The good people of Bellvue sent you to Madison to work in their best interests but you want to abdicate that job to a discredited formula, one which no sane person would adopt for their home or business.

Now, Glenn Grothman has been chosen to lead the Bride of TABOR along with Jeff Wood this time out. After the failures of Colorado it has been renamed the Taxpayer Protection Amendment to distance it from the earlier attempts.

Already the drums are beating on the right and calling for blood. Seth gives us the image of The Sopranos meeting the Donner Party as the tizzysphere starts calling for the head of anyone who dares to "water down" this poorly thought-through bill. Even the court-supporting tax hater, Orville Seymour is on board in that queue. He just doesn't want any cuts to the system that protects his rights as a landlord.

Now here we are, not quite two weeks into this new debate and Lassee is looking for his out-move. In a press release dated last Friday Lassee compared the TPA to several Wisconsin products.

“Let’s not make this the Swiss Cheese Amendment. Let’s make it good Wisconsin
cheddar or Colby – no holes.”

He can see the changes coming that will attempt to make this amendment smell less like good Lemke's Brick cheese.

“Now, right out of the gate, they’re talking about weakening it to exempt
fees, bonding,and special purpose districts,”

“I hope Senator Grothman can withstand the pressure he’s facing..."

Otherwise, Lassee says "it will be better to fail now, and try again next year."

Lassee is lining up his excuses early and edging toward the door to try to mitigate the wrath of the hardcore, tax-hating right wing of his party and lessen the amount of grief that will come his way. He seems to have forgotten The First Rule of Dancing With the Gorilla. The gorilla decides when you're done.

Titillating Headlines

From the Journal Sentinel

Pennsylvania Firm Buys Wisconsin Nipple.

h/t to Folkbum

Paul Ryan Plays the Blame Game

Carrie Lynch shares the story of Paul Ryan's efforts to distance himself from the Medicare debacle he helped push through Congress. "It's all somebody else's fault," Ryan nearly said.

Read Carrie's story here.

How Boring Is Iowa?

The 2006 meeting of Iowa Association of Business and Industry will be hosted at a hotel in South Sioux City, Neb. and have their golf tournament in South Dakota. Their mission statement makes them sound a lot like WMC.

ABI's mission is to enhance the competitiveness of Iowa business and
industry by shaping a legislative and regulatory environment conducive to Iowa
growth.

So much for promoting the home team.

Reform Hurts the Little People

Bars in Tallahassee stand nearly empty in the wake of a ban on lobbyists buying of drinks and lunch. Read about the horror here.

Evansville Mayoral Primary Tomorrow

Tuesday the 21st will see the list of candidates pared down to two and Mason doesn't think there'll be much of a turnout for the single race.

If he's right and the turnout is around 10% I think Mike Anderson has a shot at moving through. His base is passionate enough to turn out and do him proud. If the vote totals push up toward the 500 mark I think that Sandy and Karen have broad but not deep support and will swamp Mike.

Get out and vote. Make your point at the polls.

He's A Bigger Man Than I Am

Must have been one of the concessions to keep from being sent to Gitmo.

It's A Caddyshack Carnival

Peter D has this week's Carnival of the Badger and it's a Caddyshack tribute. Check it out here.

You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone

Now that England has decided to follow Madison's lead and give up smoking, Laura Barton of the Guardian takes a look at the ephemera of tobacco. She takes on a trip through a Top Twenty that includes the familiar and the oddball. When she refers to Allen Carr just think; Ira Sharenow.

Ann Coulter Struggles With Voter Registration

Either Coulter forgot where she lives or couldn't be troubled to find out where she votes. Check out the story from the Palm Beach Post.

Why Jess Bucher Will Never Play Shortstop On the WTMJ Softball Team

She can't go to her left.

JB had an article in the Freeman over the weekend about blogging. All her links, apparently, are on the right side of the Cheddarsphere. Apparently, she can't see to her left.

This Time It's Okay To Play the Blame Game

The White House jokes as Harry Whittington has a heart attack caused by being shot (not peppered, not sprayed) by Dick Cheney. Cheney says it could happen to anybody. Can he not even take responsibility for his personal carelessness?

Schadenfreude

Okay, there's nothing funny about hunting accidents. I'll be the first to acknowledge that. I'll also grant that the weapon involved was a legally carried, Constitutionally protected shotgun. Now, with the benefit of a day's hindsight we are allowed to look to see what we may minew from the story of the VPs hunting mishap.

Which makes you grin?

1. The Vice President's name is "Dick."
2. The victim is a lawyer.
3. Who served as Funeral Services Commission head under GWB
4. No one involved thought it was newsworthy until after it had been in the MSM (If that's what the Corpus Christi paper is.)
5. Shooting at quail? I thought he said Quayle.
6. Cheney's spokeswoman uses the professional name, "McBride."

Bad Days Give Way To Good

It's been a rough couple of days here at the old Radio Ranch. I'm not sure if I had the fontads or the gollywhoppers but something had ahold of my lungs and back. It sounded like the circus was in town every time I coughed and I nearly slept the clock around.

But, life goes on and I'm feeling marginally better now, just in time for a busy weekend. I teach this morning and the Stateline Literacy Council Moonlight Bowl is tonight in Beloit at 9:30. This is just prelude to the celebrations to follow, however.

Last year on Valentine's Day my lovely bride and I ran off and got married without telling a soul. It was too hard to bring kids and sibs together for a February wedding and we wanted them all to be there so we waited until September for the big marriage celebration. But, on the 14th of February my wife and I will be married one glorious year.

The preacher asked what we wanted in our vows, considering that they were just for us and that we'd be repeating them later. My Beautiful Wife said, "Leave out "obey."" I said, "Leave in "Kiss the Bride,"

It's been a good year. My thanks to all who helped make it so.

On Funerals And Political Correctness

It took me a while to find this obit from the Chicago Tribune. It was originally posted by Xoff.

Theodore Roosevelt Heller

Theodore Roosevelt Heller, 88, loving father of Charles (Joann) Heller; dear brother of the late Sonya (the late Jack) Steinberg. Ted was discharged from the U.S. Army during WWII due to service related injuries, and then forced his way back into the Illinois National Guard insisting no one tells him when to serve his country. Graveside services Tuesday 11 a.m. at Waldheim Jewish Cemetery (Ziditshover section), 1700 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago. In lieu of flowers, please send acerbic letters to Republicans.

F. Jim Weighs In

Wisconsin Rep. F Jim Sensenbrenner has made a request as chair of the Judiciary committee to AG Alberto Gonzales for the release of the administration's justification for the NSA Domestic Spying program. The chairman says,

"Questions have been raised about the President's authority to establish the
NSA's terrorist surveillance program..."

Sounds as if he's headed down the trail blazed by Sen Feingold, doesn't it? But, no F goes on,

,...which was created to protect Americans against a dangerous enemy intent upon
using any means possible to destroy Americans and the freedoms we cherish.
Fulfillment of Congress's oversight responsibility about this program no doubt
will involve highly classified information that cannot be publicly released
without harming national security. Nonetheless, I'm confident the unclassified
responses to these questions will both assist the Committee's oversight efforts
and better inform the people that the program is designed to protect."

In other words, "Bring your dog and pony show over to my committee and I'll see to it that we pretend that everything's alright." F Jim thinks that all we need is to hear the same old arguments and we'll be mollified. That ain't gonna happen.

The Carnival Is In Waukesha County

James has the Carnival of the Badger up at the Wigderson Library and Pub. Stop in to see what the Cheddarsphere is blogging this week.

The Observer Has the Stright Skinny On the Mayoral Forum

The Observer got his post up about last night's forum first.

Link here for Gazette coverage. Use this for Karen Aikman's remarks (I don't have the other two electronically.) Link for the Crossing Guard question with some history from the Observer is here. The tax reduction question is here and the leisure time question is here.

The Observer covered the forum in depth. I hope to have my own observations posted later tonight. Chasing Ambulances has made the same promise.

Bush Waves "So Long" To Those Pesky Widows

President Bush has figured out a way to reduce the deficit. He's proposed doing away with the $255 Social Security Burial Benefit.

His budget also calls for a lot of other cuts but Bush has said, "Most of the people who'll be affected don't contribute to political campaigns anyway so we won't miss their dollars."

Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel sums it up nicely.

"The Republican Congress has given a whole new meaning to the term
'women and children first.'"

Bush Squirms When He Can't Pick the Crowd

There are a lot of folks weighing in on the appropriateness of the eulogies at Coretta Scott King's funeral and comparing those speeches to the attacks of Fred Phelps and his ilk. Most of those comparisons miss the point that the speakers in Atlanta were celebrating the life of Mrs King and the causes in which she believed. That the President was in the audience was not her choice, but his.

It's one thing to attack the deceased and the mourners with political arguments which are beside the point. It's quite another to make the political points to which the deceased had devoted her life. If the President was uncomfortable during the service perhaps he should have familiarized himself with the work of King's family. If that's not the proper place to share her views and causes there may never be one.

Five years of dodging the NAACP will tend to leave one out of touch, I suppose.

Evansville Mayoral Forum Tonight

At the Bauer House. See this post for details and your RSVP info.

Scooter Practices His Pro-Bono Work

In this press release.

Same Old, Same Old

New House Speaker John Boehner took steps to put the kibosh on the broth-thin "reform" proposal of Dennis Hastert while he waits to propose an even weaker plan of his own. It seems that Hastert's ban on lobbyists gifts and trips were not acceptable to the Republican rank and file. Now it looks as if the R's are headed off to the Maryland shore for a beach party to rework the plan.

Jonathon Weissman's article in the WaPo quotes a senior Republican aide:

"This is something we refer to as a false start," a senior aide said,
acknowledging that Hastert and other leaders had backed the Republicans into a
no-win situation. The leaders can either push forward with a plan most
Republicans oppose, or they can scrap it and read that they backed off the
toughest reform proposals.

Failure to address this problem will be tantamount to feeding it. The longer it goes on the harder it will be to fix. Mark Green supported Boehner on both ballots last week. Now let's see if he goes along on the beach party.

It's A Little Chili Out

Saturday night saw the Annual Evansville Community Partnership Chili Cook-off as a resounding success. Local politicians were there in abundance. Mayoral candidates Sandy Decker was there with her family as was Karen Aikman with hers. Current Mayor Janis Ringhand, who has announced her candidacy for the 80th Assembly seat was there and so was the current occupant of that seat, Brett Davis. The Review was there to document it all.

The sizable crowd sampled the chili and perused the silent auction offerings which ranged from a mustard sampler to a weekend in Door County. E-Arts donated an $80 package and local artists and patrons donated artworks. Local businesses donated gift certificates for the auction and for the door prize drawings throughout the night.

But the real draw for the evening was the chili. There were offerings that were almost Sloppy-Joe like and some that were more like soup. Some were thick and some were chunky, some sweet and most just a little spicy. One included milk chocolate, Guinness, bacon and Maker's Mark. Your Humble Reporter believes that Maker's Mark belongs in the cook, not in the chili. If nothing else it was a fine representation of the variety of chili and a fair explanation of why the nature of the dish causes so many arguments.

The winners on the night were:
Best Display- Princess Chili. Aunt and Uncle's chili with a veritable plethora of Princesses.
Most Unusual Chili- Devilishly Good Chili
Best Mild Chili- Haven's 2nd Place
People's Choice- Evansville Auto Auction Top Bid Chili
Honorable Mention- B&B Chili
and the Grand Champion for 2006- Triple C Chili (Camping High Cliff Chili)

Next week is the ECP Chocolate Extravaganza. I'll leave it to others to document that evening. I'll be in Beloit at the Stateline Literacy Council's Moonlight Bowl.

The Fat Lady Takes the Stage

When the Wisconsin State Journal comes down hard on a Republican it's usually pretty clear that all but the True Believers are in on prosecution.

As for Scooter... How can he say that there has been too much publicity when he admits that someone as well connected as he didn't know that Chvala and Burke had been prosecuted and taken down? Didn't someone tell him? That alone would have cut down on the wailing and gnashing of teeth last week.

I'll give even money that he pleads before the end of the week. I'm still working out the odds on a felony plea.

Lifeguards

Just for the record, another missed field goal has kept me out of the pool. All in all not a bad game.

Remember When?

Remember when we, as a nation, worried more about Aunt Bea's pickles than about most anything? Remember when politicians sold us hope instead of fear? Remember when compromise and bipartisanship was how laws got made? Remember when Walter Cronkite was the most trusted man in America and Huntley/Brinkley weren't far behind?

Remember when it was Republicans who were in favor of getting government out of peoples lives? Now, they've taken over the Nanny job and passed the costs on to young families.

Remember when NASA was our most trusted source for news of space and atmospheric science? Now the press agents have taken over the jobs of the scientists.

Remember when we elected officials to govern our state and nation? Now some get up in court and say, without shame, that they considered it to be their job to get re-elected even if it meant breaking the law and the public trust.

Remember when Congressional districts made geographic sense instead of being strung out to the benefit only of the political parties? Now, gerrymandering into one party strongholds has made us a divided nation within our own towns and taken accountability away for elected officials.

I'm no geezer but I play one on the Internet. I can remember the good old days. Will my grandchildren be able to say that?

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Dane County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Flynn was honored Thursday for his efforts in January. Flynn aided in the rescue of a family of five from a house fire in Springfield, including catching three children dropped from the burning house.

Thank you, Deputy Flynn, for the job you do so well.

The Heat Is On

The Evansville Community Partnership is hosting its annual Chili Cook-off Saturday night at Level 8, formerly the Red Barn.

There will be children's activities, a silent auction, and the best chili in this end of the state. Your $15 entry ($20 at the door) includes a Matthias James bowl and tastes of all the competitor's chili.

Come early. Stay late. Vote for Badger Red in the People's Choice category.

I Dreamed About Scott Jensen's Mom

It was an odd dream, of course, and I only remember parts of it.

"Oh, yes," she said, "Scotty was always playing follow the leader. He always did whatever the other kids did whether I yelled at him or not. He knew that sometimes it was wrong but he just couldn't help himself."

"But, Mom, "He'd say, "All of the other kids are (I don't remember this part well. I think she said something about breaking something) Why are you only picking on me?"

"Because I'm your Mother, Scotty. Chuckie and Stevie have already had to answer for what they did. If Davey P jumped off a bridge, would you jump off a bridge, too?"

"Not again," Scotty hung his head. "But I'm going to kick and scream and fall on the floor until you bring all my friends in here so you can see that I'm not so bad."

"Oh, Scotty," His Mother said. "This time it's all about you. Try to act like a little man and not be a baby.

New Theater Choice In Janesville

The Armory in Janesville is opening as a dinner theater . The ambitious venture has remodeled the building to feature a bar and restaurant and will offer Broadway style entertainment with a mix of professional and local talent. The first production is Miss Saigon featuring two members of the traveling show in the cast. Upcoming shows include Aida and Jekyll and Hyde.

You can check out their website here. We wish them well in this endeavor.

It's A Superbowl Carnival

Now up at Know What I Mean is the Superbowl edition of the Carnival of the Badger and there are more contributors than we've seen in a while. Do the Superbowl Shuffle on over to the Carnival and check out what the Cheddarsphere has been blogging about this week.

Don't forget that prime slots remain for hosting your own version of the carnival. Go to Nick's to see how you can join in the fun.