dave cieslewicz

Moderate Doesn’t Mean Weak

I have been getting leaned on a bit by some of the Democratic Party elders. Their subtle, nuanced message amounts to: lay the hell off Tony Evers, you asshole. This has caused me to reflect on what it means to be a moderate. First, a quick recap. I was so unhappy with Gov. Evers’ decisionContinue reading “Moderate Doesn’t Mean Weak”

BRT Gets Madisoned

Do we really have to be all “Madison” about this, people? The city is on the verge of doing something historic. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will be the biggest improvement in urban mobility in these parts in at least a couple of generations. The high comfort, high frequency, limited-stop system will compete well versus carContinue reading “BRT Gets Madisoned”

Barnes’ Gets Third Degree Over His Degree

What do Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, Winston Churchill, Brad Pitt, Ellen DeGeneres and George Clooney all have in common? None of them completed a four year college degree. And, ya know what, they turned out alright anyway. I mention this now becauseContinue reading “Barnes’ Gets Third Degree Over His Degree”

Vos Misreads Me

Well, I suppose I should at least thank Speaker Robin Vos for reading my stuff. But if the Speaker thinks that my criticisms of Gov. Tony Evers are going to help him defeat Evers in the November, 2022 general election, he’s wrong. Here’s what Vos said according to a story yesterday in the Milwaukee JournalContinue reading “Vos Misreads Me”

The Practical Idealist

In my youth I was an idealist. To use a baseball analogy, I wanted to swing for the fences. Now, I’ll take a walk, a single, a bunt and a sacrifice fly. One method is more dramatic than the other, but it’s still one run. Last week I wrote a column on crime, cleverly titled,Continue reading “The Practical Idealist”

Make Wright House Part of Museum Campus

The City of Madison is on the verge of doing something dumb with an historic Frank Lloyd Wright house in the middle of downtown. The building’s owner has a better idea. I’ve got still another thought. In an excellent Sunday story, veteran Wisconsin State Journal city hall reporter Dean Mosiman laid out the dilemma. TheContinue reading “Make Wright House Part of Museum Campus”

No DH, Not Now, Not Ever

Let’s take a break from beating up on Tony Evers and Robin Vos, to lob some high hard ones at Rob Manfred. The Commissioner of Baseball (also known as The Lackey of the Owners) opined the other day on some rule changes that might come or go. The issue is an important one for theContinue reading “No DH, Not Now, Not Ever”

A Week of Evers Bashing Reviewed

We are nothing here at YSDA if not honest. Sometimes brutally so and even when the brutal honesty reflects poorly on our founder and editor (i.e., me). This past week I’ve posted three pieces in which I heavily criticize Gov. Tony Evers for signing what is, inarguably, a thoroughly Republican budget. The responses are in,Continue reading “A Week of Evers Bashing Reviewed”

The Need to Take on Vos

We can’t let Robin Vos lock in Republican majorities for another decade. That’s why Gov. Tony Evers needed to veto the budget and insist on a fair maps commission. On Monday I wrote a letter to the editor in the Wisconsin State Journal, in which I made the case that Evers should have vetoed theContinue reading “The Need to Take on Vos”

This Budget Wasn’t Bipartisan

Gov. Tony Evers called the budget he signed last week “bipartisan.” No, it wasn’t. Look, this budget was written by Speaker Robin Vos and the Republicans after they tossed Evers’ proposal out in its entirety. Not a single one of Evers’ major initiatives was included. Funding for K-12 education, the UW system, special ed andContinue reading “This Budget Wasn’t Bipartisan”