Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

Gov. Tony Evers is once again floating a plan to create an initiative-referendum system for Wisconsin. It’s a bad idea Twenty states — famously including California — have this option where citizens can gather signatures on petitions and, if they get enough, they can put a binding question on the ballot to create or repealContinue reading “Evers’ Bad Idea”

I believe the Blogger’s Manual allows me up to a week after New Year’s Day to reflect back on the previous 12 months. Since we’re still in that window I’d like to recap my ten favorite books of 2024. These are not necessarily books published last year, but just books I happened to read inContinue reading “My Favorite Reads of ’24”

Welcome to 2025. We’ll start off the Quote & Quiz this year with words from none other than House Speaker (Still) Mike Johnson who said: “We don’t have time for drama.” A) While explaining to his daughter why her parents couldn’t attend her school play. B) While on his way to a House vote whereContinue reading “The Q&Q For 1/4/25”

I am neither culturally nor politically in tune with National Public Radio, yet for some reason, I tune it in nonetheless. If you love NPR — or if you’re like me and find yourself listening to it until you just can’t take it anymore — don’t despair. It’s not going away even if Donald TrumpContinue reading “Defund NPR”

Jimmy Carter’s passing has got me thinking about the Presidents that have served during my lifetime, which began at the end of Dwight Eisenhower’s second term. I have great respect for Carter. He may have been one of the very best human beings ever to occupy the White House. But how does he stack upContinue reading “Ranking Presidents Since 1959”

As a rule, I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. But I am a planner and a record keeper. I set annual goals for exercise (e.g., walk 540 miles a year, that’s an average of 1.5 miles a day), writing (an average of three hours a day, five days a week), and a half dozenContinue reading “Resolved: Embrace Technology”

The election of an unstable, hard-right, populist authoritarian to return to the White House notwithstanding, it was actually a pretty good year for moderate politics. The country may have swung hard-right at the top, but in a lot of other ways it nudged to the middle. Let’s take a quick look back. Kamala Harris. Yes,Continue reading “The Year in Moderation, 2024 Edition”

This year, New York Times columnist Pamela Paul emerged as my favorite opinion writer, while old favorites like David Brooks and Bret Stephens also had fine years. But the best column of the year, in my opinion, was a one off by an obscure NPR editor named Uri Berliner. By the way, you can followContinue reading “My Favorite Columns of 2024”

This week’s quote, the final one for 2024, comes to us appropriately enough from President-Elect Donald J. Trump, who as part of his Christmas message said, “Go to hell!” A) Joe Biden. B) Nancy Pelosi. C) Undocumented immigrants. D) Federal death row inmates whose sentences were commuted by Biden. 2. Match the Christmas message withContinue reading “The Q&Q For 12/28/24”

Every year about this time I like to do a roundup of words and phrases that drive me crazy. I always figure that some year I won’t have enough material, as I try not to repeat myself. And yet, writers and speakers and broadcasters just keep churning this stuff out.  The kind of language thatContinue reading “Speak No Evil”