Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

The Associated Press is like oxygen. You don’t even notice it’s there — until it’s not. The AP has been around since 1846, two years before Wisconsin became a state. It’s a wire service, which is a bit of an anachronism these days. But basically it means that newspapers subscribe to the service and thenContinue reading “Support the Associated Press”

I was no fan of the student (and other) protests in support of the Palestinians after Hamas brutally attacked innocent Israelis at a music festival on October 7, 2023. But I would never deny their right to protest. Sure, I thought they went too far in setting up semi-permanent tent cities on campuses, but IContinue reading “Is ICE Becoming Political Storm Troopers?”

This is no way to elect a school board.  Madison is the only place in the state that elects its public school board in this bizarre manner. Most districts elect their boards with at-large seats on a district-wide basis. The top vote-getters win the number of seats up for election. So, if three seats areContinue reading “A Better Way to Elect a School Board”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries asked his caucus to keep things cool during the convicted felon Donald Trump’s speech to Congress the other night. But they’re Democrats so they couldn’t help themselves. Some held up goofy paddle board signs as if they were bidding on abstract paintings at a Manhattan auction house. Others wore hotContinue reading “What To Do”

Will Robin Vos let pettiness mess up a good plan? Gov. Tony Evers has a serious plan to fix Wisconsin prisons. Unlike most of Evers’ budget proposals, which Republicans declared dead on arrival before the ink is dry, this one received a respectful reception.  At least at first. Speaker Robin Vos didn’t declare it DOAContinue reading “Will Vos Scuttle Prison Plan?”

I’m not much on the phrase “toxic masculinity.” Academics and activists and NPR throw around that phrase and it only serves to drive male voters even further right. But sometimes it applies. And if there’s anybody whose picture should appear next to that phrase it’s Donald Trump. There’s a whole macho culture thing that surroundsContinue reading “Toxic Trumpculinity”

Close readers of YSDA will note that we take a moderate view of transgender issues — as we strive to be moderate on most things with the possible exception of the convicted felon in the White House, who we believe should have been impeached and jailed yesterday. The view in these parts with regard toContinue reading “Who’s Next?”

I’m going to go on Amazon today and buy something. Anything. Maybe I’ll buy a package of plastic straws. I’m going to patronize Amazon (a company I love as much as Kwik Trip and Culver’s) specifically to defy the hard-left. Hard-left activists, steeped in cluelessness, are calling today a “black out.” It’s intended to beContinue reading “Buy Something From Amazon Today”

Donald Trump and Elon Musk could be the best thing that ever happened to government. And not in the way they intended. Trump and Musk are taking an ax to the Federal government without regard for the consequences. Reckless seems like a far too inadequate word. They started by firing probationary workers — without botheringContinue reading “The Pro-Government Backlash”

Through all of the madness, stupidity, corruption and meanness of the convicted felon Donald Trump’s first month back in office, there have been some bright spots, some examples of courage and decency. None of these examples comes from an elected Republican. These moral wimps in Congress have bent to Trump’s will, refusing to stand upContinue reading “21 Heroes”