Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

Last night I attended the annual dinner of an organization called Wisconsin Women in Government. I was there because Janet Piraino, a long-time friend and my chief of staff for all of the eight years that I was mayor of Madison, was getting the organization’s Legacy Award. Piraino has been chief of staff to twoContinue reading “In Defense of Guys”

Lots of interesting stuff in the paper this morning, none of it necessarily calling out for an entire column. Take your time. I’ve been a little critical of Dane County Executive Joe Parisi’s quick (and it turned out disastrous) hiring process for a new human services director. Six weeks wasn’t enough. But how about moreContinue reading “Wednesday Stuff”

First, let me make it clear that I will not pay off your college debt. You signed a contract promising to pay it back. So live up to your responsibilities and do what you said you would do. Doing things you promised to do — especially when they turn out to be harder than youContinue reading “My Speech to the Class of ’23”

Here’s an observation on human nature. When you insult people they tend to not like you. If forced to continue to sit in a room with you anyway, they will stop listening. I’ve found myself writing a lot lately about diversity, equity and inclusion programs, mostly I suppose because there has been a fair amountContinue reading “Progress on DEI”

He was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a spokesperson for George McGovern, a fellow of the Progressive Policy Institute, a voter for the independent John Anderson in 1980, a close advisor and supporter of Rudy Gulianni and finally a voter for Donald Trump. Let the progression of Fred Siegel be a lessonContinue reading “Lest I Become Fred Siegel”

So far I’ve been impressed by new UW System President Jay Rothman. Yesterday Rothman announced that he was directing system campuses to eliminate any questions for job applicants about diversity, equity and inclusion. Rothman recognizes that requiring statements about what a candidate has done in that regard favors ideologically liberal candidates. If anything campuses needContinue reading “Free Speech Does’t Have Just One Side”

A symposium, set up apparently to be critical of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, has had to be moved from the Medical College of Wisconsin to an off campus site. The reasons given were vague, but it looks like there was a concern that the event would be disrupted by hard-left protestors. According to aContinue reading “DEI Isn’t Above Critique”

I have always thought Dane County Executive Joe Parisi was a solid, experienced leader and a man of good judgement. I still think that, though he’s starting to make me wonder what he’s thinking. About a month ago Parisi tried to fill one the county’s most important jobs, director of its sprawling human services agency,Continue reading “Curiouser”

It’s too early to panic over prospects for a second Trump presidency. But it’s not too early to get real nervous. The latest round of disheartening polling came out over the weekend, this one brought to us by ABC News and the Washington Post. Let’s run through the top lines. Pres. Joe Biden’s approval numbersContinue reading “Prepare to Panic”

We live in the NRA’s vision of utopia. Yesterday a gunman stepped out of a car in front of a Texas outlet mall and started shooting. He left at least eight people dead, including a five-year old, before a local police officer shot him down. There it is. The NRA’s answer to everything. A goodContinue reading “Is This What It Takes?”