dave cieslewicz

The Q&Q For 3/1/24

Have you been following the big controversy over the new baseball uniforms? Here’s what an unidentified Baltimore Orioles player had to say about them: “The look of it is like a knockoff jersey from T.J.Maxx.” A) Players worry that they make them look fat. B) They’re a little binding across the chest. C) The sizesContinue reading “The Q&Q For 3/1/24”

MMSD Underperforms… Again

A few weeks ago I wrote about a study that showed that Madison public schools are underperforming both state and national averages for math scores. And while everyone is bouncing back a bit after COVID, Madison students’ improvement has severely lagged. Now comes a Wisconsin State Journal report on absenteeism. It’s bad everywhere but againContinue reading “MMSD Underperforms… Again”

Will New Maps Bring Moderation?

Wisconsin finally has fair legislative district maps. This is nothing but a good thing. But for our purposes, here on the tiny island of moderation in the roiling sea of political passions (don’t try writing like this at home, people), will they lead to moderate policies and a more pacific politics? Not necessarily. For oneContinue reading “Will New Maps Bring Moderation?”

Welcome Back, Gothard

I was going to write about the new redistricting maps today, but yesterday the Madison school district announced that it had hired Joe Gothard as our new superintendent. So, we reorganize. Redistricting tomorrow. Gothard today. The school board did the right and obvious thing. Gothard had just been named national Superintendent of the Year forContinue reading “Welcome Back, Gothard”

The Catchup: Just Deserts

Spring training has begun. One of my favorite sports fan signs of all time came from a then Cleveland Indians fan in the 1970’s. The Indians (now the Guardians) were in the midst of a long pennant slump as they still are. The sign held up by a fan on the first day of springContinue reading “The Catchup: Just Deserts”

The Q&Q For 2/23/24

This week’s quote comes to us from Wisconsin state Sen. Van Wanggaard who said in a statement: “Republicans were not stuck between a rock and hard place. It was a matter of choosing to be stabbed, shot, poisoned or led to the guillotine. We chose to be stabbed, so we can live to fight anotherContinue reading “The Q&Q For 2/23/24”

Don’t Give Me a Tax Cut

My taxes are high enough, thank you very much. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have to pay my fair share. So, I think it’s a good thing that Gov. Tony Evers will almost surely veto a pandering proposal by legislative Republicans that would make me tax exempt just because I’m sort of old. AccordingContinue reading “Don’t Give Me a Tax Cut”

The Winter of Our Discontent

Unless you count 10 days in mid-January, there was no winter in Wisconsin this year. Up where Dianne and I have a place near Watersmeet, the snowmobile trails never opened. Not once. Not for a day. That, as far as I know, is unprecedented. I love to cross country ski and I did cram inContinue reading “The Winter of Our Discontent”

GOP, Dems Sell Out Consumers

Remember when Republicans thought competition was a good thing? Remember when Democrats cared about consumers? It doesn’t look like either is true any more. At issue is a proposal in the Legislature that would give two Wisconsin-based companies — the American Transmission Company and Xcel Energy — the right of first refusal to build powerContinue reading “GOP, Dems Sell Out Consumers”

The Catch Up: Will MMSD Hire Gothard?

I turned 65 on Saturday. Medicare city, baby. I’m grateful for the coverage, but even for a guy who spent his career in and around government, I found the sign-up process to be over-complicated and downright befuddling at times. It was worse than trying to figure out how to get my iPhone to work. Anyway,Continue reading “The Catch Up: Will MMSD Hire Gothard?”