Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

Episode Two. History is a pile of bricks. Wherein Dave reflects on the passing of his friend Dick Wagner, who was, among many other things, an historian. Dave talks about Critical Race Theory, Joe Biden’s Democracy Summit and how historical narratives can support or undercut liberal democracy. As for how history is like a pileContinue reading “The Modcast/History is a Pile of Bricks”

It’s no secret that classical liberal values are under attack in academia. Just how bad is it at a campus near you? Well, you can find out by checking out a ranking of schools by their friendliness to free speech. Here in Wisconsin, our two big schools are doing, well, not so good. Out ofContinue reading “Wisco Schools Rank Low On Free Speech”

It’s possible that Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin’s statement yesterday that he was done negotiating on his party’s big social and climate plan was just strategic. Maybe if progressives just finally accept the honest $1.5 trillion price tag over ten years that Manchin has wanted it will be back on track. I kind of doubt it,Continue reading “Let’s Get Incremental”

Good Sunday morning. It’s the week before Christmas, so let’s enjoy the best holiday song ever recorded. In my humble view, that’d be Mel Torme’s swingin’ version of Good King Wenceslas. And, just like that, it’s over. We’ve got some breaking news today. Sen. Joe Manchin has, apparently, just driven a stake into the heartContinue reading “Build Back Better is a Bust”

Oops, it just happened again. Yet again this week anyone tethered to objective reality got more proof — as if it were necessary — that our elections are free, fair and accurate. The Associated Press, about as objective a news source as exists these days, conducted an exhaustive investigation into all the claims of voterContinue reading “Election Reforms Worth a Look”

I might have a new political hero: San Francisco Mayor London Breed. The once fiery liberal mayor is now sounding like a law and order hardliner. After the George Floyd murder she came out for defunding the police. Now, after a couple of years of rising murder and crime rates, smash and grab flash mobs,Continue reading “Where’s the Mayor on Body Cams?”

We’ve got a new feature here at YSDA: the Modcast Podcast. Check out Episode One, M-A-N-C-H-I-N, wherein Dave tries to figure out how the damn thing works. He also talks about the riddle inside the enigma that is Joe Manchin. Six weeks ago Manchin said that rumors of his leaving the Democratic Party were “bullContinue reading “The Modcast/M-A-N-C-H-I-N”

Gov. Tony Evers may have just out-maneuvered Republicans at their own game. But maybe not. Evers submitted redistricting maps to the state Supreme Court yesterday which comply with the court’s order to deviate as little as possible from current maps. And yet his maps also achieve pretty much the same projected partisan split as theContinue reading “Smart Move on Maps”

Dick Wagner was, literally, a gentleman and a scholar. And, he was something else: the very model of a politician who understood how to combine idealism with pragmatism. Dick died on Monday in a way that spoke to who the man was. He was being a good neighbor. Some groceries had been delivered to hisContinue reading “Remembering Dick Wagner”

Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) deserves our respect and our thanks. Bernier is chair of the Senate Elections Committee and a former county clerk. She understands how elections are run, having, you know, actually run them. Contrast this with former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who is running the sham partisan “investigation” into last November’sContinue reading “A Sane Republican”