At the risk of rekindling my PTSD, let me offer an opinion on a high speed rail station in Madison. It has to be downtown. President Joe Biden’s proposed infrastructure bill, now being negotiated in the U.S. Senate, includes $66 billion for Amtrak improvements. The plan puts Madison on the map (literally) as part ofContinue reading “Train Needs to Come Downtown”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Happy Trails
By Spencer Black Whether its commuters pedaling to work in Madison, families enjoying the trails through the forests of Vilas County or tourists from around the world exploring the tunnels of the Elroy Sparta Trail, Wisconsin is the state for bikers. And this coming Sunday, Aug. 1, there will be celebration of someone who hasContinue reading “Happy Trails”
Forensic Audit of Brandtjen’s Brain Requested
Medical researchers are asking for permission to do a forensic audit of the brain of Republican Rep. Janel Brandtjen of Menomonee Falls. “Of course, we wish Rep. Brandtjen a long and happy life,” said Dr. Dan Broca. “But when that’s over we would love to get in there and try to understand what went wrong.”Continue reading “Forensic Audit of Brandtjen’s Brain Requested”
Bennett’s Bigoted Comment
Robert Lamp is dead. And, to make matters worse, he was rich and white. Unlucky for him, none of those things qualifies as a protected class in the City of Madison. I agree with Madison Ald. Juliana Bennett on the substance of her vote, but I very much disagree with her reasoning. Last week sheContinue reading “Bennett’s Bigoted Comment”
Our Dysfunctional State Government
Republicans wanted something. Democrats wanted something. Everybody was in Madison under the same dome. Why didn’t anybody try to work something out? Yesterday encapsulated what’s wrong with Wisconsin state government. Republican Speaker Robin Vos called an extraordinary session in an attempt to override a veto of a GOP bill to end extra Federal unemployment benefitsContinue reading “Our Dysfunctional State Government”
Please Get Vaxed
My guess is that the readership here at YSDA is pretty diverse. Of course, if you found your way here you are an intelligent, thoughtful and discerning person by definition. But, since I’m a center-left moderate (and still a liberal in many ways) who isn’t shy about taking on the hard-left and Democrats when IContinue reading “Please Get Vaxed”
What a Prehn
It has become a clear Republican strategy: burn down the house. So, I suppose we shouldn’t have been surprised when Fred Prehn refused to do the honorable — and usual — thing and step down. Prehn is the chair of the state’s Natural Resources Board. He’s been there since 2015 when he was appointed byContinue reading “What a Prehn”
UW Should Require the Vax
Over 600 colleges and universities are now requiring that their students and/or their faculty and staff be vaccinated against COVID 19 when they show up this fall. But not the UW. That’s just wrong. When I wrote about this earlier in the summer I speculated that UW System President and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy ThompsonContinue reading “UW Should Require the Vax”
Reconsidering Breyer
When presented with the opportunity to make a sophomoric point and a serious one, I alway like to begin with the juvenile. Have you ever noticed the resemblance between Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Mr. Burns? Uncanny. Ok, now that that’s out of the way, let’s take up this issue of Breyer’s retirement —Continue reading “Reconsidering Breyer”
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”
Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos 