Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos
Midwest: The Tightening of the Stands
First off, my closing words on Friday were advice on how to enjoy your weekend: don’t watch the Badgers play football on Saturday. Was I right or was I right? Now, throat cleared, I want to write about something more cheerful and profound: the annual tightening of the stands. This is the literal opposite ofContinue reading “Midwest: The Tightening of the Stands”
Where’s Carlton Jenkins?
A grab bag of issues this Friday. Still lots of unanswered questions. Back in February a small army of law enforcement personnel from a half dozen agencies, including the DNR, descended on one man. They were on the far east side of Madison to arrest Quadren Wilson on a drug charge. They ended up shootingContinue reading “Where’s Carlton Jenkins?”
$1k For City Workers is a Terrible Idea
In Madison no bad idea ever really dies. Earlier this year Dane County Executive Joe Parisi proposed a one time $1,000 payment to every county employee to soften the blow of inflation. That proposal went down in flames before a very liberal County Board. I like Parisi. I think he’s a good guy and goodContinue reading “$1k For City Workers is a Terrible Idea”
What if it Comes Down to Independents?
Independent voters could decide the November elections. So, why is Tim Michels moving hard right? Wisconsin is pretty much equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, so a common strategy for both parties is to turn out their base voters. Earlier this summer Democrats were despondent and Republicans were energized. Polls showed a big enthusiasm gapContinue reading “What if it Comes Down to Independents?”
Using People As Pawns
People aren’t pawns. At least they shouldn’t be, but they are right now. I’m referring to the immigrants being shipped like parcels from Arizona, Texas and Florida to Manhattan, Martha’s Vineyard and Washington, DC. Hard-right Republican governors in those states are using human beings to score political points. The immigrants are unwilling foot soldiers inContinue reading “Using People As Pawns”
Latest MU Poll: Not So Good for Dems
The latest Marquette Law School Poll is out and it has some cautionary tales to tell Democrats. It’s not a tragic story just yet, but I found it pretty disappointing overall. Let’s dig in. Confusing numbers on Barnes-Johnson. As a Democrat I was disappointed in these numbers, which had U.S. Senate candidates Mandela Barnes andContinue reading “Latest MU Poll: Not So Good for Dems”
For a Materialistic Society
I am for materialism. Let’s be comfortable. Let’s get more stuff. Let’s focus on acquisition. Searching for meaning in life? It’s about a better sofa and a bigger flat screen. When I see one of those bumper stickers on a Prius that says, “Live simply so that others may simply live,” I drive very, veryContinue reading “For a Materialistic Society”
The Unforgiving Hard-Left
Madison Ald. Gary Halverson resigned last night. He probably made the right decision for his family, but the whole awful episode says worse things about the hard-left than it does about Halverson. Here’s the story. In 2020, before he was on the Council and before the January 6, 2021 Insurrection, Halverson joined the Oath Keepers,Continue reading “The Unforgiving Hard-Left”
Madison’s Public Market Might Have Checked Out
Madison is building or will soon begin construction on a lot of stuff: major projects at the public high schools, bus rapid transit, a new men’s shelter, a jail consolidation, and more. And all that building is happening at a time when construction costs are increasing rapidly. It’s probably time to make some hard choicesContinue reading “Madison’s Public Market Might Have Checked Out”
Wait ’til Wednesday
In a couple of days the new Marquette poll comes out. That will be the biggest day in this election cycle, perhaps until election day itself. For me, these are the big questions to be answered: Has RoJo made any headway? Mandela Barnes took a significant seven point lead over Ron Johnson in the lastContinue reading “Wait ’til Wednesday”
None Of It Matters Much
To hear Republicans tell it, we need ever-increasing hurdles to cast a ballot to prevent rampant voter fraud (which apparently only hurts Republican candidates.) To hear the Democrats tell it, the Republicans have imposed the equivalent of poll taxes and literacy tests. None of that is true. In fact, all this sound and fury overContinue reading “None Of It Matters Much”
The Cynicism of the “Varsity Collective”
Nobody can top the UW Athletic Department for sanctimony. But now they’ve reached a new level with the Varsity Collective. To understand what this thing is and why it’s so galling you need some background. Last year, at the point of legal gun, the NCAA finally allowed college athletes to benefit from their own name,Continue reading “The Cynicism of the “Varsity Collective””
Not So Sweet
UW Madison history professor James Sweet should have known what was coming. Sweet, who is also the current President of the American History Association, wrote a much needed essay in the AHA publication about the dangers of “presentism”, that is the tendency to apply present day perspectives and values to historic events. Predictably, the academyContinue reading “Not So Sweet”
Catching Up on a Few Things
A grab bag today. Biden misses the point. Yesterday Pres. Joe Biden attended union rallies in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh to celebrate Labor Day. But only one out of 10 American workers belongs to a union. If Biden really wanted to connect with labor he would have visited the loading dock at a Wal-Mart or theContinue reading “Catching Up on a Few Things”
On the Merits
On Labor Day, when we should be celebrating the fruits of diligence, hard work and just showing up on time, I had the good fortune of stumbling across a piece on the merits of merit in, of all places, the New York Times. The guest essay is by Asra Nomani, a woman who came toContinue reading “On the Merits”
The Invisible Workforce
On Labor Day weekend, here’s a question that hard-left Democrats need to ask themselves: If they’re so pro-worker how come workers have been abandoning them in droves? Once the blue collar party, Democrats are fast becoming the party of college-educated, relatively affluent, white collar workers who live in big cities and college towns. And yet,Continue reading “The Invisible Workforce”
RoJo Misfires Again
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson shouldn’t be desperate for issues on which to attack his Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. But he sure looks desperate now. Johnson is going after Barnes for using a lot of security in his first three years in office. And, in fact, Barnes has rung up over $600,000 in securityContinue reading “RoJo Misfires Again”
The Land of Misfit Toys
The other day David Blaska’s lawsuit was settled, but Blaska won his war back in May. Blaska and the conservative nonprofit law firm WILL went after the Madison City Council for requiring that its new Police Oversight Board be made up of various racial and gender identity groups most definitely not including straight white guys,Continue reading “The Land of Misfit Toys”
Begging the Big Beglinger Question
The latest Marquette University Law School poll came out earlier this month. It’s the first new MU poll since June and it was taken right after the Aug. 9 primaries. Here’s what I think I learned. Is it just a bump? In this latest poll both Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels and Democratic Senate candidateContinue reading “Begging the Big Beglinger Question”
Will Loan Forgiveness Survive?
I’m betting that Pres. Joe Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt won’t happen. Here’s why. For starters it will take awhile for the bureaucratic machinery to be put in place. All kinds of detailed questions need to be worked out and processes, decision-making standards and appeal mechanisms need to beContinue reading “Will Loan Forgiveness Survive?”
MKE, Nuremberg & the GOP
In normal times I’d welcome Republicans to Wisconsin for their national convention in 2024. But this isn’t my father’s Republican Party. It isn’t even my older brother-in-law’s GOP. The Republican National Committee has now officially chosen Milwaukee for its next confab, which had been a foregone conclusion since its rival, Nashville, balked at approving aContinue reading “MKE, Nuremberg & the GOP”
Biden’s Loan Forgiveness is Unforgivable
Credit Joe Biden with taking a horrible idea and making it better. But the very idea of forgiving any amount of student loan debt is so fundamentally flawed that no amount of lipstick is going to make that pig any prettier. This is pretty clearly something that Biden didn’t want to do. Why else wouldContinue reading “Biden’s Loan Forgiveness is Unforgivable”
Public-Market Accelerated Incrementalism
On Monday I wrote about (and, I hope, destroyed) the arguments of two Ivy League law professors who would undermine our Constitution and, for all intents and purposes, eliminate one branch of government in the service of enacting legislation that is wildly popular in places like Cambridge and New Haven. What professors Doerfler and Moyn,Continue reading “Public-Market Accelerated Incrementalism”
The Constitution Endures
It’s fair to say that if a person becomes an Ivy League law professor that person is certifiably intelligent. It is not a fair conclusion that they live in the real world. Case in point is the recent oped in the New York Times from Ryan Doerfler and Samuel Moyn, law professors at Harvard andContinue reading “The Constitution Endures”
They Blew It Again
I used to think that the most dysfunctional local public body in Madison was its School Board. But now the Dane County Board is challenging them for the title. Last night the Board, yet again, couldn’t show any leadership. They couldn’t rally enough support to figure out what to do about the county’s jail facilities.Continue reading “They Blew It Again”
Cheney’s Choices
I wish I could imagine a scenario under which defeated Congresswoman Liz Cheney might lead a movement that defeats both Donald Trump and Trumpism. But I think that’s unlikely and, worse, there’s a scenario where she helps him win again. Now that the inevitable has happened and Cheney has been crushed in the Wyoming RepublicanContinue reading “Cheney’s Choices”
The Way to Talk About Climate: Don’t
In the last three years the impacts of climate change have accelerated and worsened. More and stronger hurricanes. Massive wildfires and a wildfire season that is almost year-round. Flooding in some places and water shortages in others. Intense summer heat waves. You’d think people would be more concerned than ever. You’d be wrong. An AssociatedContinue reading “The Way to Talk About Climate: Don’t”
Will Vos Become a National Figure?
Here’s the rule among Democratic pols and liberal commentators. When a Republican finally gets around to doing something you’ve urged him to do for years, you continue to beat the bejesus out of him anyway. That’s what’s happening now that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has fired Michael Gableman and ended his needless, bogus “investigation” intoContinue reading “Will Vos Become a National Figure?”
Just a Quick Note
I get multiple emails a day from Democratic candidates Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes. The great thing about being post-primary is that I no longer get them from Tom Nelson, Sarah Godlewski or Alex Lasry. I also get them from Mark Kelly who’s running for reelection to the Senate from Arizona. Somebody must have tradedContinue reading “Just a Quick Note”
Hard-Left Keeps Inhumane Jail In Business
Dane County needs a new jail. Everyone agrees that the old jail on the top floors of the City County Building is a mess, unsafe and inhumane. Everyone also agrees that the aged Huber Center on the fringes of the Alliant Energy Center parking lot has also long outlived its time. But the Dane CountyContinue reading “Hard-Left Keeps Inhumane Jail In Business”
Good Vibes for Evers
Now that the smoke is clearing from the divisive Republican gubernatorial primary, the path to reelection for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is becoming somewhat clearer. I have five takeaways from the day after the election that bode well for Evers. First, the divisions in the Republican Party seem to be hardening. I was pleasantly surprisedContinue reading “Good Vibes for Evers”
What I Got Right & Wrong About Last Night
I am notoriously bad at making election predictions. Researchers tell me that a chimp making random choices on a key board would have a better record than mine. Last night didn’t help much. In the marquee race I thought Rebecca Kleefisch would beat Tim Michels in the Milwaukee suburbs and gadfly candidate Tim Ramthun wouldContinue reading “What I Got Right & Wrong About Last Night”
Put Cops in High School Neighborhoods
In the last school year police were called 640 times to Madison’s four high schools. That’s an average of about 3.5 times a day or almost once per day to each school. According to a story in this morning’s Wisconsin State Journal the breakdown is 220 calls to East, 158 to La Follette, 170 toContinue reading “Put Cops in High School Neighborhoods”
My Picks for Tuesday
I know. I know. You’ve been clamoring for this. You want to know my recommendations in Tuesday’s Democratic primaries and you want to know my predictions for the Republicans. What’s that? You couldn’t care less what I think about either? And anyway, you’ve already voted? Okay. Fine. But I’m going to tell you what IContinue reading “My Picks for Tuesday”
Enforce Every Law? Really?
All three Republican candidates for Wisconsin governor have said they will fire local district attorneys who refuse to enforce Wisconsin’s 1849 law against abortion. So, to be consistent, I assume they will also fire prosecutors and remove county sheriffs who refuse to enforce gun control laws or won’t go after voters who actually commit voterContinue reading “Enforce Every Law? Really?”
Let’s Try Going Forward
By nature, I’m a skeptical guy. So, when a few retired or defeated pols offered up a new centrist political party recently I wasn’t as quick to embrace it as you might think I would be. The new Forward Party is the project of Andrew Yang, a wealthy tech entrepreneur and failed Democratic candidate forContinue reading “Let’s Try Going Forward”
Kansas
Democrats and pro-choice activists are giddy over the overwhelming pro-choice vote that came out of Kansas on Tuesday. They have every right to be, but a note of caution is in order as well. The top of the line numbers were surprisingly good. A constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Kansas Legislature to banContinue reading “Kansas”
Pictures of Chairman Mao
Dakota Hall is the head of something called the Alliance For Youth Action. As far as I can tell, the organization’s top priority is for taxpayers to pick up what college grads owe on their student debt. You know, the amount they owe on the educations that opened the door to their making twice asContinue reading “Pictures of Chairman Mao”
It’s Not About Grass Roots
In a New York Times oped well worth reading, a professor and a writer (okay, grain of salt administered right here) criticize Democratic pols and progressive groups for their fundraising and grass roots strategies. I think they’re right on the mark. In their August 1st article, Lisa Putnam and Micah Sifry argue that: “National DemocraticContinue reading “It’s Not About Grass Roots”
What’s Pelosi Thinking?
This morning it was confirmed that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is going to Taiwan. It has not been explained why she’s going to Taiwan. Pelosi has been all but told not to go by her own President. The U.S. military has said they think it’s a bad idea. Her trip is not sanctioned by the StateContinue reading “What’s Pelosi Thinking?”
Midwest: The Virtues of Stability
“Disruption” is all the rage. The word seems to have gained popularity first in the tech world, but now it gets used for virtually everything. New adult absorbent pad entrepreneurs are “disrupting the incontinence space.” I made that up, but you get the point. But me, well, I’m tired of all this disruption. I don’tContinue reading “Midwest: The Virtues of Stability”
Will Robin Vos Save Democracy?
Here’s my take on Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. He’s not an ideologue, but a survivor. He stays in power by finding the center of gravity in his Republican caucus and putting himself there. And he’s been phenomenally successful. He is the longest-serving speaker in Wisconsin history and he is easily the second — some mightContinue reading “Will Robin Vos Save Democracy?”
Leah Hunt-Hendrix Embodies the Dem’s Problem
Leah Hunt-Hendrix knows what blue collar Americans need. Of course she does. After all, Hunt-Hendrix went to Duke and Princeton. She’s the trust-funded granddaughter of Texas oil billionaire H.L. Hunt. She has lived in diverse places like New York, the Middle East and San Francisco. She has flown over the Midwest on multiple occasions. SheContinue reading “Leah Hunt-Hendrix Embodies the Dem’s Problem”
And Then There Was One
And the winner is Mandela Barnes. Yesterday’s surprise announcement from Alex Lasry that he was dropping out of the race for the Democratic senate nomination and endorsing Barnes all but assures that the Lieutenant Governor will be the nominee. Tom Nelson dropped out last week and also endorsed Barnes. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski has vowedContinue reading “And Then There Was One”
“Abortion Care” Is More Bad Language From the Left
One of the hard-left’s most obnoxious — and most counter-productive — practices is to keep trying to push new words and phrases into popular culture. Conservatives know this and they take advantage of it at every turn. A couple of weeks ago, at a committee hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) just destroyed a hard-left UC-BerkeleyContinue reading ““Abortion Care” Is More Bad Language From the Left”
Brandtjen is a Lunatic
Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) and chair of the Assembly Elections Committee is a stark-raving lunatic. And I’m being kind. It’s not jut me who thinks this. Her Republican colleague and her counterpart as chair of the Senate committee on elections, Sen. Kathy Bernier of Chippewa Falls, has called Brandtjen’s continued insistence that Wisconsin’s electoralContinue reading “Brandtjen is a Lunatic”
And Then There Were Two
My choices in the Democratic primary to take on Sen. Ron Johnson are now down to two. My top choice, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson dropped out this morning and endorsed Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. Also still in the race — and in the race for my vote — is State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, whoContinue reading “And Then There Were Two”
YSDA Special: GOP Debate
The big news is that two of the three candidates on the stage tonight said they would support paid family leave. Tim Michels and Tim Ramthun both said they would support a proposal first made by South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to require that in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.Continue reading “YSDA Special: GOP Debate”
Midwest: The Industrial Landscape
When I was in high school and college one of my favorite things to do on a hot summer weekend afternoon was to ride my bike from my home in West Allis to Lake Michigan. That route took me through the industrial landscape of West Allis, West Milwaukee and Milwaukee before I got to theContinue reading “Midwest: The Industrial Landscape”
Understanding Biden
A key insight into understanding Joe Biden is that he is not a moderate; he’s a survivor. It’s not so much that Biden adheres to a moderate point of view, rather he hews to the center of gravity in the Democratic Party. And now, with the center of gravity lurching hard-left, Biden has lurched withContinue reading “Understanding Biden”
Three Still in Play
On one level it’s very simple. All I want is a Democratic candidate who can defeat Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in November. I have four top choices, so why can’t I just pick one? Well, it’s complicated and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. Democrats are in an intensely practical mood. MostContinue reading “Three Still in Play”
Some Surprisingly Good News
Ready for some happy news for a change? There are a couple of bills working their ways through Congress that are both bipartisan and much needed. The first bill (it’s actually a set of proposals) would clarify how electoral votes are counted. Nobody cared about this vague law from 1887 because until Donald Trump, decentContinue reading “Some Surprisingly Good News”
Biden in ’24!
I never write anything I don’t believe — at least at the time I wrote it. But sometimes I like to go against the grain, to be contrary not just for the joy of being obstinate (though there is considerable fun in that), but as a way to think through a situation. Sometimes it’s helpfulContinue reading “Biden in ’24!”
Dems Waste Capital on Semantics
The left and Democrats are wasting ungodly amounts of political capital on splitting semantic hairs over senseless controversies about things that only a tiny minority of Americans care about. The most recent case in point is the insane back and forth between Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and UC Berkeley Prof. Khiara Bridges overContinue reading “Dems Waste Capital on Semantics”
Defending Joe Manchin… Yet Again
The answer to your question is yes, I am getting tired of defending Joe Manchin. And yet, I’m going to do it again. The last remaining conservative Democratic senator, Manchin is taking heat from his fellow Democrats once again for killing their fondest dreams. This time he took what wind was left out of theContinue reading “Defending Joe Manchin… Yet Again”
Yellow Stripes Special: Our Take on the Dem Debate
I just got done watching the statewide televised debate for the five leading Democratic candidates to take on Sen. Ron Johnson. Here’s my take. First off, the format was a problem. The mics didn’t work whenever a candidate or moderator didn’t speak directly into them. Somebody finally noticed this 40 minutes in and fixed it.Continue reading “Yellow Stripes Special: Our Take on the Dem Debate”
UCLA, USC & $$$$
Occasionally (well, ok, it probably seems like every other week) I write about the need for big time college sports to pay its players what they deserve. I write about it alot because the evidence just keeps piling up behind the idea that the current system is deeply unfair. Last week brought two fresh examples. Continue reading “UCLA, USC & $$$$”
Kleefisch Charges Michels With Being Reasonable
In the crazy, mixed-up world of this Republican Party doing the right thing is cause for blistering criticism. That’s the lesson as gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch attacks her primary opponent Tim Michels. She’s going after him on three issues. She says that he has supported an increase in gas taxes, opposed so-called “right to workContinue reading “Kleefisch Charges Michels With Being Reasonable”
The Folly of “Originalism”
What was once an obscure, fringe — many thought eccentric — legal theory is now the prevailing jurisprudence of the land, adopted by at least five members of the Supreme Court. That theory is called “originalism” and the idea is that the Constitution should be interpreted just at its authors intended those words when theyContinue reading “The Folly of “Originalism””
Is My Mom a Criminal?
A couple of weeks ago I went to visit my soon-to-be 93-year old mother at her apartment in an assisted living facility. We had a lovely brunch. On my way out I noticed her absentee ballot sitting on the kitchen table. I asked her if she wanted me to drop it in the mail. SheContinue reading “Is My Mom a Criminal?”
Liberal Jurists Shouldn’t Be Woke
I would like liberals to have a majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. But I would also like those liberals to be fair-minded, to follow the law even when it leads them to conclusions that they don’t personally like, and most definitely to not be captured by hard-left fundamentalism. I’m not sure that the threeContinue reading “Liberal Jurists Shouldn’t Be Woke”
Conservative Courts Empower Conservative Legislatures
As the smoke starts clearing from a flurry of historic U.S. and Wisconsin supreme court decisions, one consistent theme is becoming pretty clear. These conservative courts are shifting power on a massive scale toward legislative bodies and away from courts and executives. The reversal of Roe puts the issue back before states or, when RepublicansContinue reading “Conservative Courts Empower Conservative Legislatures”
Does Barnes Want to Win?
I’ve been flirting openly with the idea of voting for Mandela Barnes in the Democratic primary for Senate. (Much of my writing over the next month is likely to be about my angst over who to vote for in that contest.) Dan Bice isn’t helping with that decision. Yesterday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s political reporter/columnistContinue reading “Does Barnes Want to Win?”
Maybe Mandela
Republicans laid in wait for the Independence Day weekend. Then they dug out an old video clip of Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes saying something perfectly reasonable about the founding of our country (slavery was a bad thing) and attempted to fill the holiday weekend news lull with distortions about it. This speaks volumes. Did theContinue reading “Maybe Mandela”
I Might Have Been a Tory
Ok, so this isn’t going to be your traditional rah-rah Independence Day piece. I’m also going to take a break from lamenting the state of our democracy right now — there’s a lot to lament. Nope, today is for idle musing about which side I’d have been on in 1776. The more I read aboutContinue reading “I Might Have Been a Tory”
Liberals Should Want to Save the Filibuster
Be careful what you wish for. Pres. Joe Biden, who has resisted calls from progressives to eliminate the Senate filibuster, said yesterday that he would make an exception for a bill that would codify Roe and reestablish abortion as a national right. His statement is mostly symbolic. He said the same thing about his votingContinue reading “Liberals Should Want to Save the Filibuster”
How Much Will Roe Matter?
Before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last week abortion did not even register as a significant issue among voters. That’s probably because it seemed like settled law; not something you really had to think about. In fact, the level of public support for Roe remaining the law of the land had been remarkablyContinue reading “How Much Will Roe Matter?”
A Catalogue of Gableman’s Incompetence
If you’re like me, you’re having a hard time keeping up with the inanity, the hypocrisy, the wasted money, and the sheer incompetence of the Gableman “investigation” into the 2020 elections. So, as a public service, I’ve gone back and combed through news articles to provide you the reader with a retelling of the sorryContinue reading “A Catalogue of Gableman’s Incompetence”
Abortion: Now What?
What happened yesterday was, unfortunately, not surprising. Even before the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked, it looked as if this would happen once hard-right conservatives held five seats on the Court. What happens next is anybody’s guess, but maybe we can at least parse out some questions about the future. WhatContinue reading “Abortion: Now What?”
Reading the Latest MU Poll Tea Leaves
The latest Marquette University Law School Poll came out yesterday. All those numbers. Let me tell you what they mean. Because, of course, I know. Who should be elated? Gov. Tony Evers. In the MU poll that came out in April, Evers was the most popular pol in the state, albeit with a modest 49%Continue reading “Reading the Latest MU Poll Tea Leaves”
RoJo Does It Again
It seems like every week Sen. Ron Johnson gives us more reason to be embarrassed that this guy represents Wisconsin. This week was no exception — and it’s only Wednesday. Yesterday it was revealed that Johnson had agreed to deliver in person to Vice President Mike Pence the bogus, but official-looking, documents of the 10Continue reading “RoJo Does It Again”
Rachel & Lachele’s Wedding
I hold some conservative views. One of them is that we should honor hard work. That’s why I support a higher — much higher — minimum wage. I understand that increasing the minimum wage will probably eliminate a relatively small number of jobs in the short-run, but I think it’s important in the long-run forContinue reading “Rachel & Lachele’s Wedding”
Tim Michels: Jerk
I’ve made political ads. They’re painstaking. You decide on the theme. You work over the script. Then you film and film and film. You do the same line over and over again. Then you go into the editing room and pick the one that you think works best. Is my inflection just right on thatContinue reading “Tim Michels: Jerk”
The Crucial 3rd District
If Democrats find a way to hang on to the 3rd Congressional District in Southwestern Wisconsin this fall, it will almost certainly mean that Gov. Tony Evers will win a second term, that Sen. Ron Johnson will be defeated and that the Democrats will hold the Senate and stem their losses in the House. TheContinue reading “The Crucial 3rd District”
Some Good News For Evers
Something very strange could happen in Wisconsin in November. Aaron Rodgers might just go quietly about his business without saying anything weird? Well, no, not that strange. It’s possible that national Democrats could get crushed while Democratic Gov. Tony Evers could win a second term and a Democrat might beat Republican Sen. Ron Johnson. That’sContinue reading “Some Good News For Evers”
Boudin’s Recall Bodes Well For Dems
To no one’s surprise, progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin was recalled this week in San Francisco. This comes on the heals of the recall of three far-left school board members in the same city, one of the most liberal places in America. What’s going on? What’s going on is good news for Democrats. It suggests thatContinue reading “Boudin’s Recall Bodes Well For Dems”
Trend is Tough for Evers
Heading back to the Emerald City from the North Woods a little later so I’ll keep this one brief. I started thinking about this yesterday on the way to the dump. I had to go back 32 years for the last time that a Wisconsin governor defied the mid-term curse. Traditionally the party that controlsContinue reading “Trend is Tough for Evers”
College Sports Improving Rapidly
In the last year or so two major changes have combined to make big time college sports more fair to the players. First, the NCAA finally caved to the inevitable and allowed players to make money off their own “name, image and likeness” — basically they could make commercials for local car dealerships or whatever,Continue reading “College Sports Improving Rapidly”
Midwest: Walleyes
The fate of the iconic walleye was sealed on December 12, 2000. That’s the day that the Supreme Court essentially awarded the presidency to George W. Bush over Al Gore. Gore was a leader on climate change and his administration would have pushed aggressive policies to fight it at a time when something still mightContinue reading “Midwest: Walleyes”
The Culture Wars Are Over; Liberals Won
My Google calendar reminded me the other day that it was the start of LGBTQ+ Month. In February it let me know that it was Black History Month. In March it was Women’s History Month. I watched a lot of college basketball that month. I saw a Buick commercial approximately one million times in whichContinue reading “The Culture Wars Are Over; Liberals Won”
Lasry: Dog Ate My Homework
The rest of the class got the assignment in on time. Only Alex Lasry made an excuse for why he couldn’t. I guess the dog ate his homework. Let me begin by acknowledging that everybody I know who knows Lasry says that he’s a good person. Decent, hard-working, likable. That’s fine and the quality ofContinue reading “Lasry: Dog Ate My Homework”
Knudson Throws in the Towel
Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Dean Knudson abruptly resigned last week. Knudson is a sane Republican who admits the obvious — Donald Trump lost — and thinks his party should move on from conspiracy theories. For that he’s been vilified by some of his fellow party members and he says that party leadership made it clear toContinue reading “Knudson Throws in the Towel”
The Need for the Long Game
My book, Light Blue is subtitled, “How center-left moderates can build an enduring Democratic majority.” Today, let’s talk about “enduring.” Democrats are likely to get toasted in this fall’s midterm elections. For those of us who shade left of center, that’s bad news, but not as bad as what might happen in 2024. Luckily, differentContinue reading “The Need for the Long Game”
The Middle May Be Bigger Than We Think
In a friendly conversation over a couple of beers the other night, some left-center and right-center friends and I discussed the sad state of the two parties. The Republicans are obsessed with relitigating the 2020 elections while Democrats obsess over various issues of identity, like which bathroom transgender people can use. Meanwhile, the bulk ofContinue reading “The Middle May Be Bigger Than We Think”
Another Mass Shooting; Expect Nothing to Happen
Last week 10 people were gunned down at a Buffalo supermarket in what appears to be a racist attack. Yesterday, 19 children and two adults were murdered in a Texas elementary school. In both cases the killer was a young man with a military-style weapon that nobody outside of the military should be able toContinue reading “Another Mass Shooting; Expect Nothing to Happen”
One Way Woke is Good
The change in priorities is most striking on that bellwether of the hard-left, the Madison City Council. It used to be that the First Commandment was to honor thy neighborhood. Neighborhoods — often led by just a few highly motivated and opinionated activists — were all powerful. Alders were loathe to oppose anything their neighborhoodContinue reading “One Way Woke is Good”
Midwest: Wisconsin Idea Has to Flow in Both Directions
The senseless dustup over the appointment of UCLA Law School Dean Jennifer Mnookin as the new UW Madison Chancellor has raised a more interesting — and worthwhile — question about the Wisconsin Idea. In case you were tending to more important matters, here’s a quick recap. The Board of Regents — both Democratic and RepublicanContinue reading “Midwest: Wisconsin Idea Has to Flow in Both Directions”
Lessons From John Fetterman
One big reason that Donald Trump won in 2016 and went on to take over the Republican Party is that he didn’t sound like a typical politician. In a counterintuitive way, the most demonstrably lying politician in history came off as genuine. Nobody would say things that offensive, that absurd, that nuts if he didn’tContinue reading “Lessons From John Fetterman”
Over the Mnookin
Heading back to the Emerald City this morning, so we’ll make this a quick one. The UW Regents hired Jennifer Mnookin to be the next UW Madison chancellor. She’s currently the dean of the UCLA law school and she went to Harvard, Yale and MIT. All fine schools, but she has no ties to Wisconsin.Continue reading “Over the Mnookin”
Rare
Whether or not the Democrats can ride what appears to be the impending overturning of Roe v. Wade to victories in November turns on one word: rare. When I wrote about this last week I said that I liked Bill Clinton’s formulation that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare.” I suspected when I wroteContinue reading “Rare”
Midwest: A New Voice
I admit it. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder when it comes to the Midwest. Virtually all of our national media and culture (movies, TV, radio shows, publishing houses, etc.) comes from the coasts. And their attitude toward the middle of the country? To paraphrase Rick played by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, “They’d despiseContinue reading “Midwest: A New Voice”
Keep Politics Out of Math
Florida rejected a bunch of math textbooks because they allegedly contained a liberal bias. The left went nuts. I tended to side with the left until I read the New York Times’ breathless take on the whole thing. Here’s one example of a math problem that was flagged as a problem by a Florida textbookContinue reading “Keep Politics Out of Math”
Light Blue Gets Good Review
Last week, Capital Times editor and publisher Paul Fanlund wrote a nice review of my book, Light Blue: How center-left moderates can build an enduring Democratic majority. With his permission we repost it here. By Paul Fanlund When you’ve been a journalist in Madison as long as I have, you’ve seen the gamut of personalityContinue reading “Light Blue Gets Good Review”
He Shoots! He Scores!
Tom Nelson has joined Alex Lasry and Sarah Godlewski with a television ad buy. The least-funded of the four major candidates vying to take on Sen. Ron Johnson in November will probably have the smallest reach, but the ad itself could pack a bigger punch. The fourth candidate, Mandela Barnes, has yet to hit theContinue reading “He Shoots! He Scores!”
Abortion Opponents Aren’t Evil
A few months ago we ended the practice of posting long opinion pieces by others verbatim. A reader and veteran journalist brought our attention to the concept of “fair usage.” That’s the principle (and law) that says it’s okay to quote bits and pieces from another writer but not to cut and paste their entireContinue reading “Abortion Opponents Aren’t Evil”
Midwest: Firewood
I’m late with my Midwest post this Sunday, but I’m still getting it in before Sunday ends — and I have a good excuse. It’s the firewood window up here in the U.P., and so I was using every daylight hour I could to put in my stock for the fall. I count the firewoodContinue reading “Midwest: Firewood”
Safe, Legal & Rare
For the third time in six years Democrats and liberals are being given an opportunity to turn tragedy into progress. Will they blow it again? What was surprising about the leak of the draft of a decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade was the leak itself, not its substance. From the moment the SupremeContinue reading “Safe, Legal & Rare”
Sorting Through the Leaked Roe Draft
Somebody violated protocol and leaked an early draft of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade. This has sent people off, as you might expect it would, but let’s try to sort through it as rationally as we can. The first thing to observe is that the leak itself was aContinue reading “Sorting Through the Leaked Roe Draft”
Pledge Wins; Prayer Loses
I’m headed north today, so we’ll just have a quick update on an issue we addressed a few weeks ago. As the new Dane County Board reorganizes itself after the spring elections, there was a move to eliminate the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance before the board meetings. There was also a proposal toContinue reading “Pledge Wins; Prayer Loses”
Midwest: Where Is It?
Now on week three of my promised Sunday morning series about the Midwest, some thoughtful readers have chimed in to ask: do you even know what you’re talking about? Now, in truth, that question is asked regularly on any number of topics I have addressed in this and other spaces. It’s not even limited toContinue reading “Midwest: Where Is It?”
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Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos 