Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

Robin Vos is a nightmare for a columnist. The Republican from Burlington and long-time Assembly speaker never does anything that is in the least bit surprising.  What you’d like, as a writer, is a subject that gives you an opening to explore an angle that is unexpected. In Vos’ case that would be an opportunityContinue reading “Inspector Clouseau is on the Case!”

It’s no secret that I have a lot of issues with Critical Race Theory, but efforts by state legislatures to prohibit it are a mistake. A fundamental part of being a classical liberal is that we believe in maximum free speech. Let ideas get exposed to lots of healthy debate and the good ones willContinue reading “Don’t Ban Critical Race Theory”

There was so much wrong with Donald Trump and his administration that it was hard to get your head around it. But Michael Flynn has brought it all into stark relief: he’s a traitor and he’s a fool, just like his old boss. I would say that it was a strategy if I thought theContinue reading “Flynn’s a Traitor”

In what will surely be a nominee for “Least Surprising News Story of 2021”, Chris McIntosh is expected to be elevated from Deputy UW Athletic Director to the top job later on today. The iconic Barry Alvarez, the man with a statue at an entrance to Camp Randall, has expressed his will and now ChancellorContinue reading “McIntosh Needs to Play a New Game”

So, here’s an interesting political strategy question: Would Joe Biden and Democrats be better off striking an infrastructure deal with Senate Republicans or pushing through their own bill? Here’s the basic lay of the land. The Dems can get anything through the House, but in the Senate they’ve got two options. The first is toContinue reading “Deal, No Deal?”

My father didn’t die in the war. Technically, Memorial Day isn’t about him, but forgive me if I reflect on what his generation meant. Memorial Day is set aside to remember the men and women who died in uniform while fighting for our country. Veterans Day is the more appropriate time to remember all vets,Continue reading “My Father’s Wings”

There is a growing backlash against the hard-left. The left-center is reasserting itself. For the last several years, the intolerant, illiberal hard-left has intimidated politicians, consultants, writers, many corporate leaders, much of the media and virtually all of academia. Not towing the hard-left line could get an editor or a CEO fired, a politician sackedContinue reading “The Left-Center Resurgence”

My own state representative, Shelia Stubbs, is working in the real political world to make progress on police reform. I wish her Democratic colleagues would appreciate what she’s accomplishing. In the year since the murder of George Floyd, not much has changed in Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers called a special session to deal with policeContinue reading “Stubbs Makes Progress”

I wish I could say that former House Speaker Paul Ryan spoke truth to power. But power won’t pay any attention. In a speech Thursday at the Reagan Library he called the Capitol insurrection “dishonorable and disgraceful.” “Once again, we conservatives find ourselves at a crossroads,” Ryan continued. “And here’s the reality that we have to face: If theContinue reading “Paul Ryan Speaks Truth Into the Wind”

On the surface it sounds like the same situation. But there are strong humanitarian and strategic reasons to stay in Afghanistan. Corrupt local officials. Demoralized, under-prepared and poorly led troops. An ambivalent local population. Complicated and ancient feuds where the combatants switch sides and the enemy is hard to define. The situation in Afghanistan soundsContinue reading “Why Afghanistan Is Not Vietnam”