Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

Last year I took the summer off to finish a book. It worked. Wisconsin Watershed: Tony Earl and the New Democratic Party will be published by Michigan State University Press later this year. I enjoyed that project so much that my plan is to try to finish a book every year for as long asContinue reading “See You in September”

It could by 1978 all over again. The politics behind the failed bipartisan state surplus deal is starting to look much like what happened almost 50 years ago. A quick recap. A couple weeks ago, after lengthy negotiations. Democrat Tony Evers and the Republican leadership struck an agreement to spend just under $2 billion ofContinue reading “Weird Politics”

When the field was set for the Wisconsin governors race late last year I thought I had it figured out. Republicans would nominate Tom Tiffany, who would be a weak candidate in November. The Democratic contest would come down to Sara Rodriguez, representing the moderate wing of the party, while Mandela Barnes would be theContinue reading “Mod Dems May Slump Toward Defeat”

Yesterday, I offered my own take on what an honest post mortem on the 2024 election would look like for the Democrats. I concluded that the best solution going forward would be to split the party into two sub parties — progressives and moderates — with each agreeing to come together behind one candidate afterContinue reading “The Four Party Solution”

Poor Ken Martin doesn’t know which way to turn. First, the DNC Chair commissions a report from a Washington insider consultant (always a great idea!) to review why Democrats lost in 2024. Then, after he sees a draft and doesn’t like it, he announces nobody may see what he doesn’t like. Now last week forContinue reading “The YSDA ’24 Post Mortem Report”

Here’s what happened. As reported in a story in the Wisconsin State Journal, according to a criminal complaint against Brandi Grayson’s and Maia Pearson: Grayson was driving and Pearson was a passenger in a GMC Yukon that had parked at about 11 p.m. (in December, 2025) in the Majestic Theatre’s loading zone. When a securityContinue reading “Police Monitor Covers For Pearson”

Former Congressman Barney Frank died yesterday. He contributed a lot to his country and his party, but one of his most significant contributions was made in his final days. In the last few months Frank has been promoting his final book, The Hard Path to Unity: Why We Must Reform the Left to Rescue Democracy.Continue reading “Barney Frank’s Final Contribution”

It pays pretty well and the benefits are excellent — health care, pension, paid vacation. You get your own office and (bonus!) it comes with its own private bathroom. And the parking? We’re talking rock star quality. Covered, heated, and just steps away from an elevator that whisks you up to your desk on theContinue reading “Hong for Mayor?”

This summer I’m studying to be a conservative. At the end of this month I’m going to take a hiatus from YSDA, just as I did last year. Mostly, I want to focus on a new book project, but I’ve got other important goals on my list. Improve my golf swing and my fly cast,Continue reading “A Conservative By September?”

For me late night TV ended on May 20, 2015. That was the last Late Show hosted by David Letterman. I mostly gave up on late night because Letterman was the last host whose humor hit a sweet spot for me. But I also have to admit that I might have given it up anywayContinue reading “No Tears For Colbert”