Can We Bury the Bodies First, Junior?

What a Pinhead Looks like Part III, a new series:

Well, the science is clear. This month, a study published in the journal Nature by a renowned MIT climatologist linked the increasing prevalence of destructive hurricanes to human-induced global warming.

Now we are all learning what it’s like to reap the whirlwind of fossil fuel...
Our destructive addiction has given us a catastrophic war in the Middle East
and--now--Katrina is giving our nation a glimpse of the climate chaos we are bequeathing our children.
Robert Kennedy, Jr.

Whoa, hold on there, Mr. Stop the Windmills from Blocking My View. The science is not clear (Full story)

Because hurricanes form over warm ocean water, it is easy to assume that the recent rise in their number and ferocity is because of global warming. But that is not the case, scientists say...

Forgive me, Charlie Shortino, I majored in Political Science, not Meteorology (same difference), but I suspect such anecdotal evidence of global warming and other drastic climate changes could not be confirmed over the course of a single human lifetime.

In other words, who was to blame for the Ice Age? Where will Robert Kennedy Jr. find fault for that one freak asteroid that smashes into earth, killing us all?

C'mon. It is what it is, Mother Nature. We do our best with the facts we know to keep her clean, but we sure can't control her.

So, Bob, look to yourself first. What part of your comfortable lifestyle will you sacrifice for energy conservation?

Until he sells his estate, sells the homes, the cars, the synthetic clothes, stops using the detergents, the jet fuel, the private aircraft, using jets putting out tons of pollutants into the atmosphere to preach his simple minded message to all the people who buy his garbage lock, stock and barrel; until he doesn't eat food produced by machines that use gas, doesn't use light energy produced by fossil fuels he is a monumental hypocrite.

I want to know what he drank today, ate today, wore today. I want to know how he traveled today. Did he use a computer to write his message. Look at the energy consuming crap that you will find in all of our computers. Guess what is powering the computer you are using to read this tripe (that includes my post too!). Its electricity! Guess what produces it.

Until RFK is willing to give up most of the coveniences of his wealthy lifestyle, he can shut up. Until I am willing to give up my lifestyle which I am not, I will not be an unadulterated hypocrite. Until anyone reading this is willing to do what it would take to significantly alter your energy production - which would be to give up EVERY part of your lifestyle including whole foods, electricity, pure water, clothes, any form of energy using transport, your COMPUTER, the desk supporting the computer (especially if it a piece of plastic or fiberboard garbage imported by some big box store from communist China (which has the absolute worst human rights record - well not worse than North Korea); until you are willing to give up the schools your children attend, the computers your children use, the cell phones, the medical care you enjoy; until you are willing to give up AIR CONDITIONING (yeah - I dare you - go turn it off!), running water, cheap imported chinese crap plastics that you use to store your food in your refrigerator, until you are willing to move to the Sudan and live in a tent in the desert --- you, me and Robert Kennedy Jr. are simply hypocrites.

Examine your life and your lifestyle before you USE the people who have had their lives just snatched out from under them for your simple minded political agenda. The universe and the earths (purposely small case - it isn't alive and it doesn't think) systems are so much more complex that we piss ants can even comprehend that we would be better served to look at it in awe until we begin to understand it. And, we don't even come close to freaking understanding it.

We may think we do; Robert Kennedy may think he is lord and master of ecological knowledge, someone may think we know it all, but the earth will go on with its changes, it wondrous systems long after we have blown our sorry butts off the planet.

Read more about this nonsense at Kennedy's Crimes Against Fact. The simple fact is hurricanes come in spurts. They always have. But that's far too simple an explanation for those who want to score political points off of utter destruction.

The Genius of Led Zeppelin

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break,
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break,
When the levee breaks I'll have no place to stay.
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan,
Lord, mean old levee taught me to weep and moan,
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home,
Oh, well, oh, well, oh, well.
Don't it make you feel bad
When you're tryin' to find your way home,
You don't know which way to go?
If you're goin' down south
They go no work to do,
If you don't know about chicago.
Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.
All last night sat on the levee and moaned,
All last night sat on the levee and moaned,
Thinkin' 'bout me baby and my happy home.
Going, go'n' to chicago,
Go'n' to chicago
,Sorry but I can't take you.
Going down, going down now, going down.

Hurricane Levity

Is a levee the same thing as a dyke?

FEMA: When no one else is stupid enough to insure where you live, we'll be glad to, time and time again.

The water will not stop until it reaches lake level....Lake Orleans.

New Orleans…Don't think of it as a disaster area. Think of it as a French-tinged American Venice -- with 'gators!

I don't know where the people should go, but you can't live 20 feet below sea level in a hurricane area.

Where's Our Flat Tax?

If George W. Bush is our first MBA U.S. President, and Republicans control both Houses of Congress, then why have we not moved towards a scrapping of the tax code?

Could it be because once in power, Republicans spend money as easy as Democrats? Or, perhaps a major shift in the tax code would invite a (temporary) explosion of red ink that Democrats would exploit? Or, could it be we can't afford a national debate on the virtues of dumping our current system of taxation because the country is split on the Iraq War and cannot digest more big issues? Or, is K Street, the biggest contributors to U.S. House races, too invested in the current tax code to accept major changes?

Global Competition for $500, Alex.

From John Fund

The White House tax reform commission...but look for it to have warm words for how well the flat tax is promoting economic growth in the more than dozen places--ranging from Ukraine to Hong Kong--that have adopted variations of it.

It's increasingly popular overseas, with Romania and the republic of Georgia adopting it last January. Greece is likely to introduce a 25% single rate for both corporate and personal income next month. If Poland's opposition parties win next month's elections they are likely to introduce a flat tax. In Italy, the former finance minister and current defense minister Antonio Martino detailing his support of the flat tax.

Indeed, the Brussels-based Center for a New Europe notes that none of the countries that have adopted the flat tax are seriously contemplating any retreat from it. Flat-tax pioneer Estonia is even reducing its rate by two percentage points a year until it drops to 20% in 2007.

...when Jerry Brown championed a flat tax, won applause from audiences by pointing out that under our current system the rich will always be able to hire experts to lobby for tax loopholes and avoid the higher rate traps set for them.

It may be a matter of long-term economic survival. America's taxes on profits are around 40%, when you combine federal, state and local levies. With the possible exception of Japan, that rate is about the highest of any developed nation in the world today

In 2001 Russia implemented a flat tax of 13% for individuals, along with a 15% rate for most business income. The economy grew 7.3% last year, thanks in part to underground activity going legitimate...

...it's only a matter of time before an emerging economic superpower like China or India goes the flat-tax route

Being an Ex Governor is a Good Living...

The betting is moving towards the former IL Gov jumping back into the campaign kettle, but stories like this highlight why the decision is a tough one for the popular Edgar.

If he runs, he wins. Tough decision; grab back the brass ring, or keep earning the silverbacks.

Ex-Governors for $500, Alex.

If Jim Edgar runs for governor next year and wins, his victory would not only be costly for Democrats.

It would take a serious bite out of the former Republican governor's own wallet -- to the tune of at least $460,000 a year, or more than $1.8 million over a four-year term as governor.

A patchwork of paychecks
It has indeed been a comfortable lifestyle Edgar has adopted since leaving office in January 1999 after serving two terms as governor.

Documents examined by the Sun-Times show he has cobbled together a patchwork of paychecks that put his annual income at more than $615,000 -- a far cry from the $150,691 salary he would receive as governor.

Why Mitch? Why?

A Friday List, because I am leaving the suitcase stuffed with dirty clothes and going golfing.

Teeth-grinding, stomach-turning, head-shaking, finger-nails on the chalkboard, bad TV commercials;

#5) Six Flags Great America; Disney has Mickey, SFGA has a spastic dancing old dude. No wonder the place is searching for buyers.

#4) Capitol One Credit Cards; Aimed at the .002% of Americans who have yet to hear a credit card solicitation.

#3) Verizon Wireless; Can you hear me now? The phone has been embedded into my chest cavity, can you hear me now?

#2) DiTech.com Home Loans; If these ads are appealing to you, you must be a renter.

and the top spot...drum roll...

#1) Good Feet Arch Supports, featuring former Madison TV anchor, Mitch Henck; Mitch interviews not-so-regular people about their shoe prosthetics. Not exactly CNN, is it Mitch?

Here's Another Step in the Right Direction

Election Day Registration

So far, only residents of Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming have access to the wide-reaching benefits of EDR.

Currently, major efforts to enact EDR are underway in legislatures in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York and North Carolina.

In addition, EDR legislation has been introduced in several states, including California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont.

***********

Election fraud may not be at conspiracy levels in Wisconsin, and it certainly is not an epidemic, but we do have something to show other states; election day registration is a curb against voter fraud.

The six states that provide election day registration enjoyed a higher voter turnout than the national averaging 2004. And contrary to conventional thinking that higher turnout invites voter fraud, those same six states reported fewer irregularities than states with pre-election registration procedures.

The cheaters are dialing-in on the registration drive efforts. And it's all about building, cataloging, and warehousing those registration lists for heavily coercive turn-out practices.

But when every 18 year-old is an eligible and registered voter by virtue of simply appearing at the polls on election day, the registration drives become inefficient for organized campaigns.

As Kenosha Democrats say, you can lead a horse to water, but free smokes will get them out of the bingo hall.

What Makes Tuesday so Hallowed?

One such reform I have advocated for many years is to change our election day.

Democrat U.S. Senator Herb Kohl should dust off this effort, given the meandering pretzel his Party has twisted themselves into over vote fraud and ballot reform.

Last year, the National Commission on Federal Election Reform, presented its recommendations to the President on how to improve the administration of elections in our country.

One of the Commission's recommendations was that we move Election Day to a national holiday, in particular Veterans Day.

As might have been expected, this proposal was not well received by veterans groups who rightly consider this a diminishment of their service and the day that historically has been designated to honor that service.

While I agree with the Commission's goal of moving election day to a non-working day, and I am interested in exploring the possibility of moving election to an existing Federal holiday such as Veterans Day, I believe we can achieve all the benefits of holiday voting without offending our veterans by moving our elections to the weekend.

In an era when the best the Democratic Party can conjure as a big idea is to find where Republicans stand, and throw tomatoes, moving Election Day is a big idea right up there with Republicans' call to rewrite the IRS tax code.

Dems Playing Possum on Voter ID

As my liberal friend Xoff whistles past the graveyard, vote fraud may prove to be a second tier issue, but packaged with issues such as extending gay partner benefits, and his past client, the Governor, may find himself pushed from the mainstream.

Even celebrities within the Democrat Party recognize the eminent danger of arriving late, if at all, to the ballot-casting, election-protection, dance (story);

I accept the recounts that show George Bush won. [Let's] ask what we do about low voter turnout and whether it's the result of racial discrimination or not. I don't think it is, since everyone is equally inconvenienced by how we vote.

Andrew Young, former Atlanta mayor and U.N. ambassador

Young suggests moving Election Day to a weekend and expanding the hours polls are open.

In service to having no fraud elections, I think you could say to people, go and get a legitimate ID. I don't think that's too much to ask.
Juan Williams, National Public Radio correspondent

While the liberal media focuses on whether or not a clumsy Republican press conference misidentified the whos, whats and wheres of illegal voting, the bigger picture gets blurred; cheating occurred (study).

Investigators found no evidence of fraud in nine cases of potential double voting cited this month by the state GOP, but U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic indicated Monday the ongoing investigation will likely lead to more charges.

Biskupic and McCann have said more than 200 felons illegally voted in the city while still on probation or parole. At least another 100 people voted fraudulently, including voting twice, from non-existent addresses or voting in the name of a dead person.

There still is no evidence of a widespread conspiracy, Biskupic said. But there still is plenty of evidence of double voting and the like.

Widespread conspiracy? Is that the threshold to clean-up the fundamental right of any country's democracy?

The Next Fidel

Death squads are reportedly active in 10 of Venezuela's 23 states, in nearly all of which there have been complaints that they carry out their activities in the shadow of the regional police forces. Six police officers in Aragua were arrested in the Diaz case, but none have been tried.

As the 700 Club's Pat Robertson put to words the Christian hymm --
Onward Christian Soldiers.
Marching as to War.
With the Cross of Jesus,
Going On Before.
Christ the Royal Master,
leads against the foe
-- the United Nations acts yet again as a traffic cop on valium;

In Venezuela, there is a kind of social legitimacy for extrajudicial executions…committed by the security forces…Venezuela's murder rate is one of the highest in Latin America, and continues to climb.

Yet,

Venezuela has ratified the United Nations convention against torture as well as other international human rights treaties.

Then how,

When Robert Diaz, a 21-year-old former navy cadet, objected, he was shot several times. The police dragged him out to their car, and drove away. Robert's father and his brother immediately set out for the hospital to look for him ... but, on the way, they reportedly found the police officers torturing Robert in a drainage ditch on the side of the road, and all three were killed by the police. Robert's girlfriend filed a lawsuit based on the results of the autopsy, which found signs of torture as well as mud in his nostrils and mouth that indicated he suffocated in the ditch. After receiving death threats, she was murdered in mid-2003.

I once crossed paths with President Hugo Chavez, on a U.S. State Department assignment in Caracas. Not long after my mission, Chavez's military reacted to the 500,000+ oppostion march, shown above, by firing upon civilians.

Liberals, there is evil in the world. Pat Robertson may shock simply because of the messenger, but his words are correct; Chavez is indeed evil.

Televangelist Calls for Chavez' DeathTuesday

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested on-air that American operatives assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to stop his country from becoming "a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism."

"We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," Robertson said Monday on the Christian Broadcast Network's "The 700 Club." "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator," he continued. "It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with."

"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."

It's Hot in Florida

Joe Scarborough Bio



As I troll around the humongous state of Florida for a statewide candidate to pitch, I tripped over an interesting developement. A significant cadre of Republicans are recruiting MSNBC's Joe Scarborough to enter the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate.

Currently, only GOP House member and former celebrity Secretary of State Katherine Harris is stepping-up to challenge Democrat incumbent Bill Nelson.

After reading his past blog, I doubt Joe would jump. As they say in Wisconsin, he left in the first place.

But, what entertainment value would it be to have Phil Donahue from Maryland, Jerry Springer of Ohio, Joe Scarborough in Florida, and Eddie Thompson (beating Herb Kohl) all serving in the U.S. Senate? C-SPAN's ratings would rival Desparate Housewives.

Republicans stand by their man A California Democrat who read my recent note on the White House’s cynical shell game with social conservatives wrote to ask why Republicans who feel betrayed by Bush’s big government policies remain loyal.

Regardless of whether you consider Bush to be a true believer or a socialist squish, the truth is Republicans will stand by their man whether he drives the deficit up to $900 billion or appoints a practicing abortionist to the Supreme Court.

Why? Because Bush Republicans, like Clinton Democrats in the '90s, love absolute power more than sound policy.

My most liberal Democratic friends in Congress loathed Bill Clinton’s existence, regularly labeling him a sleazy liar and worthless scumbag. But as Democratic politicians, victory was more important than virtue.

My Republican friends have likewise fallen on their swords.

One more reason to despise political parties.

Cal Rabas

Rabas, Clarence "Cal" R. March 29, 1943 - August 21, 2005

A Janesville resident since 1965, he worked as an accountant at General Motors for 30 years, retiring in 1995. Following retirement Cal built his accounting business, Cal Rabas, CPA, and also taught classes at UW-Whitewater. He was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Rock County Board of Supervisors, Janesville Country Club, and Janesville Morning Rotary Club. Cal was an active supporter of UW Athletics, especially UW Basketball and Football.

Thanks Cal, for carrying the Republican banner for the Party back in 2000. Your campaign for Janesville’s 44th Assembly District was a long shot, but your tireless energy and enthusiasm demonstrated to the rest of the GOP ticket that year what it takes to be a winner.

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

US Senators Have Feelings too

In a new book, Herding Cats, A Lifetime in Politics, Lott fingers Frist as one of the ''main manipulators'' in the events that led to Lott's fall from power.

Lott lost the majority leader's post in 2002 after making racially tinged remarks. Lott wrote that Frist's actions amounted to a ''personal betrayal.''

Frist ''didn't even have the courtesy to call and tell me personally that he was going to run,'' Lott wrote. (News story)

************

Maybe that's the problem, spending a lifetime in elected office; always in search of the next office, the next campaign, the next donor. Even the best become disconnected.

Term limits - if they're good enough for Ronald Reagan, they're good enough for Congress.

Rove Gets His Man

The governor took an unannounced dive into the Charles River in 1996 after signing a rivers protection bill, to show how clean it was.

Bill Weld to Run for NY Gov

The 1996 U.S. Senate race in Massachuesetts with Weld and Kerry was one of mine.

Weld is a tremendous candidate who not only can raise $40 million, but can drink pints of Guinness like a Dubliner on holiday. This guy can lunch with Wall Street and then walk into any NYC neighborhood pub and win support from both economic ends with equal ease.

This may be an omen of things to come with Rove's recruitment of former IL Governor Jim Edgar.

Mr. Weld, a native New Yorker who is now an investment adviser in Manhattan, said he had been encouraged to run by former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, an old friend, among others. Karl Rove, the White House political adviser, who worked for Mr. Weld in the 1990's, had also told him to consider running against Eliot Spitzer.

...Mr. Weld said he believed his years in Massachusetts would translate well here. Were he to win, he would follow in the footsteps of Sam Houston, who was governor of Tennessee and Texas in the mid-19th century. Mr. Weld moved back to New York in 2000.

He also said yesterday that...Mr. Rove "is a friend and someone who knows me well." Mr. Rove expressed the view that Mr. Spitzer was untested as a candidate and potential governor, and that he is far ahead in polls only because of his strong name recognition.

Mr. Weld resigned as governor in 1997 when President Clinton crossed
party lines to tap him as ambassador to Mexico. But Mr. Weld's nomination died at the hands of Senator Jesse Helms, who said Mr. Weld was too liberal on drug legalization and other social issues like gay rights.

Rove to Edgar; SOS

IL State Fair

It's gonna be an entertaining primary, assuming former Governor Jim Edgar ignores Karl Rove's pressure to jump in and clear the field...

Plea for GOP unity in gov's race falls flat

In one of the more dramatic and strange moments of the campaign, Oberweis turned to Kjellander, who was seated about 10 feet behind him, and urged Kjellander to give up his positions as Republican national committeeman and treasurer of the Republican National Committee.

…Oberweis' move drew a smattering of applause from the sparse crowd of GOP faithful as Kjellander sat, his fingers knitted together, alternately shaking his head, grinning, scowling and looking up to the sky. When Oberweis returned to his seat, Kjellander glared, his eyes following every step.

…Kjellander also generated controversy by getting more than $800,000 in consulting fees from Bear Stearns for lobbying work associated with a $10 billion pension fund refinancing undertaken in 2003 by Blagojevich's administration. Bear Stearns wound up with $8 million in state business under that borrowing deal.

…Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross called for Kjellander's resignation earlier this week. But the Oswego Republican buttonholed Kjellander after the rally Thursday to assure him it was not personal.

Quick, Lock 'em Up - Not Another Word!

I can hear Jefferson John and Annie Laurie Gaylor's teeth knashing and brain cells popping on this one...

On the Fourth Day, They Rested
Edgerton-Area Churches Read Bible for 77 Hours

From the Alpha to the Omega.
From the beginning to the end.
From Genesis to Revelation.

However you want to put it, they're going to read the whole thing.

Over 77 hours, from 6:50 a.m. Monday until noon Thursday, 250 volunteers from 15 Edgerton-area churches are reading the Bible from start to finish.

From two microphones in the city's Central Park, volunteers will read, without interruption, through the night. They'll read without skipping what some people consider the less-exciting biblical books, such as Leviticus or Numbers. Even poor Job's story will be retold.

This is the third year we've done this said Nancy Durgin, event organizer. The first year, we planned on it taking 90 hours. We ended up reading Psalms twice and went through about half of the New Testament a second time before our time was up.

Last year, when the noon whistle blew, Durgin had nine verses left to go. Durgin works with Bible Pathways Ministries, an organization that encourages people to read the Bible for 15 minutes a day, completing the big book in a year.

Pathways helped local organizers with letters so they could get permission to hold the marathon in a public place, news releases, a reading schedule form and certificates of recognition for each person who participates.

Durgin worked with Edgerton and Milton churches, and this year she even signed up two from the Cambridge area.

Volunteers read for 15 minutes or 30 minutes, and a timekeeper tracks the time. New International Versions are on the podium, but people can read from whatever version of the Bible they want-or in any language they like.

Why a Bible-reading marathon?

God really does exist, and he has something he wants to tell you Durgin said. You won't' know unless you read the Bible.

Rereading the Bible brings its own rewards, too. God has different messages for different times in our lives, Durgin said.

God is telling us, This is what I have to say to you today, she said.

Readers generally don't have large audiences-usually it's just other volunteer readers. One year, however, a woman took off time from work to come and listen.

On Monday morning, the Rev. Larry MacKenzie of Fulton Church read before going off to work. His wife, Alice MacKenzie, and their children-Connor, 12; Lauren, 14; and Alison, 19-also were signed up to read. For Larry MacKenzie, reading in the marathon was both a devotional experience and a symbolic one.

It's good to know that people out there still believe, MacKenzie said.It's good for a community to keep the Scriptures central. It's what the whole effort is about--God is still alive, God is still here.

The marathon continues through noon Thursday, and visitors are welcome. Organizers also are collecting Bibles to send to Bible Pathways Ministries, which will send them around the world.

Jefferson John Gets His Say

To read the origins of this post

Jefferson John starts here;

What, Olsen's even turning to conservatives to help improve his image in Jefferson?

Olsen, a Democrat who is constantly reminding us locals that "This hand just shook the hand of the Governor" or Herb Kohl or whoever else will let him into their office, doesn't base his opposition to Wal-Mart on a deep affection for Federalism.

As any political operative knows, this can change with the wind (or the voices in his head, or undocumented phone calls, or imaginary surveys) and no one can accuse you of flip-flopping if you're only doing What The People Want. Olsen has a long history of opposing public examination and public influence over the economic development process in Jefferson and Jefferson County. Where's the "local control" and goodness in that? All this is documented on my community web site.

Free Will responds;

Whew, the anger, the vitriol...all this, coming from someone who writes a couple thousand words based on oodles of hours of legal research extolling the dangers of placing a Christian cross in an old folks home.

(Which can be found here)

I've never met Mr. Olsen, and if I left you with the impression I am anti-Wal-Mart, then you were too busy formulating your next rant and not absorbing the words on the paper.

A few of your objections and observations should be applauded, however, your stumbling musings reminds me of the blind squirrel; even he finds a nut every now and then.

Let go of the heated rhetoric and put your mind in a peaceful place. I know an old folks home where they'll let you sit to absorb the grace and comfort of Christ.

If not there, then go to Vinnie's Rock Bottom and tell him I sent you.

Jefferson John can’t let it go;

...My mind's already in a peaceful place, thank you. And thank you for at least reading my web; Xoff didn't seem to.

If you read my Countryside page as closely as you'd like me to read yours, you would see that I opposed the use of public funds for a cross and altar, as well as placing it out in the open on the wall of the multipurpose room.

I think they needed to be a bit more considerate of everyone's right to free expression and religious worship.

The greatest affirmation of my position came from a Countryside resident during the public forum. She asked when they were going to get a Catholic cross... because to her eyes, this one was decidedly too Lutheran and not a Catholic crucifix. Her request was ignored.

OK, Free Will is starting to enjoy this;

No one, anywhere, should have their right to free expression of religious worship limited, including those at Countryside who display a Christian cross.

People like you and Annie Laurie Gaylor who demand keeping all religious symbols in a lock box are soulless snobs.

But, I will defend your right to be soulless snobs.

Public money has always been used to some degree in the ecumenical arena -- from the GI Bill that sent many WWII soldiers to Catholic universities, to job training grants given to the Salvation Army.

It is you and your kind who put-up a stink every Christmas when the local library displays a Manger scene that drives me and my kind insane.

I commend you on your intellectual arguments, however, for me, it is a gut check. Or, more accurately, a heart check.

In your heart, you know fighting over the legal subtleties of religion in public life is not converting anyone; certainly not Congress, who begin every session day with a prayer.

Relax. And if you feel so passionate about this and the Wal-Mart issue, go run for office. Subject yourself to the court of public opinion.

Stay tuned for his rebuttal below. I just hope this guy isn’t an ACLU attorney. I may be defending the Church for months.

GOP Field Clears for IL Gov

Congressman Ray LaHood drops out of the GOP Primary for Illinois governor.

Good news for my candidate, St. Senator Bill Brady

Next up, expect State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka to fold her hand.

The stars are lining-up.

If Democrat Gov. Blago continues on his current polling trajectory, the Brady v. Blago general election campaign will be even money the day we win the March primary.

Watch these Midwest governor races. The winds of change are blowing.

The Spirit of America

From Stars and Stripes

The U.S. Navy will commission the USS New York in 2008, which is being constructed from 10 tons of mangled, hallowed, steel from the World Trade Center.

I certainly pray our soldiers are long gone from Iraq before that time arrives, but, divine providence may rise up and control events. Any student of history sees repeating patterns (previous post).

For Patrick Cartier Sr., the ship is an honorable way to remember his son, James Marcel Cartier, who was killed when the South Tower collapsed.

You’ve got the very soul of the event in that mangled steel, and all of that steel which housed all the people fell along with them and they were all consumed in that terrible fireball and that collapse, the New York City man said.

Using the steel for the new ship would capture the spiritual essence of those who died in the World Trade Center, Cartier said.

The New York and other amphibious transport docks will support freedom all over the globe.

Could it be that the destiny of the New York may prove to be a modern-era Missouri?

Imagine, September 2, 2008. Osama bin Laden has been serving time at Gitmo for 2 years. Democratic governments have blossomed in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan; even Saudi Arabia’s family monarchy has become more symbolism than rulers, much like the royals of Great Britain.

Newly elected Presidents and Prime Ministers from throughout the Muslim Middle East convene aboard the USS New York. President George W. Bush delivers a stirring speech, echoing the words General MacArthur delivered on that day he accepted the surrender of Japan;

It is my earnest hope that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge, a world dedicated to the dignity of man. Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world, and that God will preserve it always.

Rep. Robin Vos – Rising Star

Republicans propose $170 million gas tax holiday

(story)

The legislators, led by state Rep. Robin Vos of Caledonia, proposed halving the gas tax of 29.9 cents a gallon from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 at all pumps in Wisconsin

The office of Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle shot back that the revenue has already been designated to fund schools, and cutting it could push up local property taxes statewide to make up for the shortfall.

The fund, comprised of gas taxes and various license fees, is meant to pay for transportation-related projects, Vos said. He did not propose any way to make up for lost school funding besides replacing the entire budget with the Republican version.

As those quirky Guinness beer ads say, Brilliant!

Vos has tapped into populist anxiety, while simultaneously, reminding voters that outrageous Wisconsin property taxes are not enough to fund public schools – the governor is now transferring gas tax dollars to K-12 education.

Where does it end?

The Wisconsin State Legislature is incrementally morphing into a statewide school board. And Governor Doyle has accelerated the transformation by scrounging for every dollar for schools, leaving little on the table for infrastructure investment, or better yet, tax relief.

Good Luck, Alder Olsen

I’ve been wrastling with this whole Wal-Mart issue for some time now. I live in the eye of Sam Walton’s hurricane, where passions run wild for both low, low prices and nostalgia for small town general stores.

The superstore-caine blew through Delevan, then up Highway 12 to Fort Atkinson, then targeted Stoughton before pushing over to farmland in Pleasant Springs, then back to Fort, then whammy, south down Highway 26 to Janesville (hey, they already have a Wal-Mart; yes, but we need bigger), then back to Fort, before, whew, the wind, blowing north a few miles to Jefferson.

Wal-Mart’s Roll Call:
Delavan – yea
Fort Atkinson – nay
Stoughton – nay
Pleasant Springs – tabled
Fort Atkinson – nay, again
Janesville – yea
Fort Atkinson – NAY, and we mean it
Jefferson – yet to be determined

There you are, three counties all within a driver, 5-iron of each other, with community needs as contrary as my golf score is to Jerry Kelly’s.

So, is local control winning?

My liberal neighbor, Xoff offers a fresh look at the political tactics of Wal-Mart.

We live in an apathetic country. But when a community can get itself riled-up to take-on a corporate behemoth, that, my conservative/capitalist friends, is the essence of federalism.

I was once elected to my town board. If Wal-Mart ever tried to recall me, I’d say, Let’s Roll. And likewise, if my judgment and vote endorsed a Wal-Mart project, and community activists wanted my head on a $3.89 folding snack tray, it would behoove me to accept the responsibility of explaining my actions. Let the $1.29 chips fall where they may.

Politics aside, former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein captures the heartbeat of Wal-Mart’s success;

...This makes the people who shop there richer. Price matters a lot to most people.
...But not everyone is a store owner. Everyone is a consumer.
...In the real world, Wal-Mart is as much of a boon to the American shopper as the Sears catalogue was long ago.
...By the way, if someone knows of a good American made toaster, please stand up and shout

Can it Get Worse?

From the Chicago Tribune

Last week one of Carlyle's founders and managing directors, David Rubenstein,appeared before the teacher fund's board of trustees to explain why his firm paid Springfield lobbyist and Republican National Committee Treasurer Robert Kjellander a $4.5 million fee.

The payment was ostensibly in exchange for work that Kjellander did to persuade the pension fund to invest $500 million with Carlyle.

While the arrangement violated no laws and was disclosed earlier by Carlyle to the teacher pension fund, it has drawn the interest of a federal grand jury in Chicago that in a different case has indicted a former teacher fund trustee, Stuart Levine, and two Chicago lawyers, Joe Cari and Steven Loren.

Federal investigators recently subpoenaed the pension fund's records of its Carlyle investments and interaction with Kjellander. Ullman said Carlyle has not been subpoenaed, but "we have reached out to the prosecutors to offer our assistance if they seek it."

Two things to be concerned with; (A) Why and how does a GOP national committeeman remain with title when he is collecting huge finders fees based on deals with a Democrat Governor? And, (B) When such obnoxious fees are claimed and paid, expect the feds to knock on doors, looking to see who might have been greased on the inside.

from the Sun Times

This, an interesting political maneuver amidst a GOP primary for governor; attack your own Party leadership.

On the upside for State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Steve Rauschenberger -- none of that $4.5 million paid to Bob Kjellander will find its way to Rauschenberger's campaign account. No need for the feds to look at Rauschenberger.

In an interview with the Sun-Times, Kjellander called Rauschenberger "holier than thou," a "hypocrite" and an "also-ran" who is "not going anywhere." But he denied he was trying to force him from the race.

"I am trying to send him a message: Quit soliciting me," Kjellander said. "He runs around the state attacking me for being a lobbyist, and yet my office gets inundated with requests from him for money. All us evil lobbyists, we're not good enough to hold office, but we're good enough to solicit money from."

Rauschenberger insisted that Kjellander is only in politics for "personal gain."

Doyle Drawing Swords After First Blood

April Post

The sexiness of campaign finance reform raised by McCain-Feingold was never an issue discovered by polling; was never an issue for 30 second TV ads; was never an issue in any candidate’s top three reasons to run for office.

Yet, campaign reform gets more attention than a candidate’s 10-point plan to reduce taxes, or improve education, or any other stuff the polls say rank higher than the administration of our elections.

So the point is, when nearly every academic think-tank and dozens of big-city newspapers confirm voter fraud occurred, what is the point in denying it, as the Doyle operation continues to spin?

Wouldn’t the political path of least resistance lead to Doyle eliminating this nuisance of an issue by getting something on his desk, signing it, and running an editorial board, Feingold-esque, victory lap?

Here’s your answer;

However, a careful review of the facts shows that in 2004, paid Democrat operatives were far more involved in voter intimidation and suppression efforts than their Republican counterparts. Examples include:

• Paid Democrat operatives charged with slashing tires of 25 Republican get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee on the morning of Election Day.

• Misleading telephone calls made by Democrat operatives targeting Republican voters in Ohio with the wrong date for the election and faulty polling place information.

• Intimidating and deceiving mailings and telephone calls paid for by the DNC threatening Republican volunteers in Florida with legal action.

• Union-coordinated intimidation and violence campaign targeting Republican campaign offices and volunteers resulting in a broken arm for a GOP volunteer in Florida.

Talk about pinning the tail on the donkey.

In Wisconsin, it boils down to the Republican Party beating the Democrats to the issue.

Cheating occurred. It was an organized cheating effort. The cheats were Democratic operatives.

By spinning this reality, Doyle and the Democratic machinery are looking silly and disconnected:

The restrictive GOP Voter ID bill would do nothing to address the Republican allegations put forward. ...Instead of engaging in scare tactics and misinformation campaigns, Republicans should work with Governor Doyle to put in place his reforms to improve the way our elections are conducted from top to bottom.
State Democratic Party Chair, Joe Wineke

Misinformation campaigns? Allegations?

Vote fraud and voter registration fraud were significant problems in at least a dozen states around the county. Vote fraud is a reality in America that occurred not only in large battleground states like Wisconsin…

Joint task force in Wisconsin found “clear evidence of fraud in the Nov. 2 election in Milwaukee,” including more than 200 felon voters, more than 100 double voters and thousands more ballots cast than voters recorded as having voted in the city. .

To bottom line it; passing campaign reforms doesn’t get anyone elected.

If the Republican bill is signed by this Democrat governor, it translates into little value for GOP legislative campaigns. But it does demonstrate to mainstream voters that a Democrat governor is fixing an issue Democrat organizations are being blamed for.

With little upside for Republicans and a lot of downside for Doyle, why the vetoes?

Just get ‘er done - and Move-on.org.

Another Piece of the Puzzle

Crain's Chicago Business

David Wilhelm, a Democratic powerhouse whose investment firm has surfaced as part of a federal probe here, is selling his Chicago house and plans to move back to his home state of Ohio. Mr. Wilhelm Friday confirmed that his new primary residence will be just outside of Columbus. He said he is moving to help care for his elderly parents and a sister who was badly injured in a car accident, but will commute to Chicago weekly. While in Chicago he will stay in a condominium his family owns in the South Loop.

Mr. Wilhelm denied that his move is connected in any way to a reported federal probe of how the Illinois Teachers Retirement System (TRS), a large state pension fund, invested millions of dollars with Mr. Wilhelm's and other firms.

“I’ve had a lot of family challenges. I want to step up and sort of rally my extended family” in Ohio, he said. “I’ll be here every week if anyone wants to find me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Mr. Wilhelm added that he already has been splitting his time between Chicago and Ohio for many months, but his wife and two children now will live in Columbus.

Mr. Wilhelm served as campaign manager for President Bill Clinton and chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He also chaired the successful election campaign of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Federal prosecutors last week charged former TRS board member Stuart Levine with trying to extort kickbacks from investment firms which did business with the fund. Mr. Levine has pleaded innocent, but investigators since reportedly have subpoened records of transactions with other investment firms, including Mr. Wilhelm’s.

Mr. Wilhelm has not been charged with any misconduct nor subpoenaed, he said, and Friday said his work for TRS was fully legitimate and properly obtained.

Haven't I seen this movie before? Oh, right...

Bob Woodward:

The story is dry. All we've got are pieces. We can't seem to figure out what the puzzle is supposed to look like. John Mitchell resigns as the head of CREEP, and says that he wants to spend more time with his family. I mean, it sounds like bullshit, we don't exactly believe that...

Deep Throat:

No, heh, but it's touching. Forget the myths the media's created about the White House. The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Sing Republicans, But Hymns Only

GOP More Geared to Business, the Professions, Bush Aide Says
(story)

We have, it appears, a new way of distinguishing Republicans from Democrats, at least in the federal city. It emerged last week, without fanfare, at an annual gathering of young Republicans, from Tim Goeglein, White House deputy director of public liaison.

Political scientists have long identified how certain professions lean toward particular political parties. According to data gathered by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research group, 69 percent of contributions from people in the television, music or film industry go to Democrats. There is no category for writers.

Author Mark Helprin, who considers himself a conservative, agrees. Of course, you would have to be insane to hope your child grows up to be a playwright or poet. Given the odds, you would have to be quite cavalier about your children's future.

Pah-lease. If I ever allow my political party preference to obstruct the career ambitions of my two boys (ages 3 and 5), then I am asking for a child’s rebellion of epic proportions.

Ironically, Tim (a former Quayle intern) majored in journalism and Mark is not only an award-winning fiction writer (much to the past displeasure of his father), but he has a child majoring the Classics at Harvard.

How Republican is that?

As for my two boys, my buddy Gordon Hensley’s blog posted this intriguing article, Jerry Garcia’s Conservative Children, that should lend some relief to Republican parents who worry about their children’s’ future choices in music, books, art, and careers.

Paul Ryan

From
The Janesville Gazette

With Saturday marking the 70th birthday of Social Security in the United States,the argument whether reform is needed is as lively as ever.

Two active members of the dispute-Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, and author and economist Dean Baker-participated in a debate Tuesday night to try to persuade a crowd that nearly filled the hot auditorium of Parker High School.

Ryan said the current program has problems that inevitably will lead to a permanent cash deficit in as few as 12 years.

Baker, who works for the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., argued that Social Security is not in a crisis and will continue working, as it has been, for a long time.

Paul Ryan continues to demonstrate why voters in the First District respect him; Paul will not duck and hide in Washington.

Forget the Republican–Democrat label for a moment. Voters want politicians who act less like used car salesmen hustling a deal, and more like doctors offering a diagnosis; Give it to me straight, Doc, how much time do I have left?

It was very informative…this is what democracy is all about
I definitely came away with a better understanding of the whole issue

The ability to tell us what we don’t really want to hear is the signature of a politician who puts people ahead of Party; who puts people ahead of career.

Personally, I hope Paul never runs for statewide office. He has more to offer than that. Paul has the integrity and intellectual honesty to change the U.S. House of Representatives and with it, to build a GOP Generation of future leaders.

It's a Vegas Long-Shot

Democrat announces challenge for 1st Congressional District seat

Sowa Announcment

Having directed the first race Paul Ryan won in 1998, I can say with some knowledge that Justin Sowa (D-Franklin) will not be sworn in as a member of Congress in 2007.

This is a fact that is not so much testimony of Paul Ryan’s personal popularity (although he is), but rather, the simple truth of what redistricting does to candidate electability.

Once upon a time, WI-1 was among the most competitive, evenly balanced two-Party House districts in the Midwest.

Although that 1998 race between Lydia Spottswood (D-Kenosha) and Paul finished in a slam dunk for Paul, too many forget that in 1997 and most of 1998, few GOP insiders believed Paul could win. Democrats had nearly toppled Rep. Mark Neumann in 1996 and Spottswood was returning to take the seat vacated by Neumann’s U.S. Senate run against Russ Feingold.

And we didn’t even find a campaign manager until May of the election year.

Paul first won that seat on pure energy. But he keeps that seat based on numbers that don’t add-up for Mr. Sowa.

Wisconsin lost a House seat in the 2000 reapportionment; marking an opportune time for ole House bulls Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls) and Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wausau) to take care of their own.

Redrawing state legislative and federal district boundaries is a responsibility given to state legislatures. However, when it comes to the congressional boundaries, the senior Members in each state have a ton of sway with the partisan composition of new House seats.

Which is why Democrat-voting Beloit was carved from the First District and replaced with portions of GOP-voting Waukesha County. The Ryan seat is now safe for Republicans and a lock for popular Ryan.

Which is why Beloit was added to the Second District and portions of rural GOP-voting regions outside of Democrat-voting Dane County were dropped. Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Madison) seat is even safer for Democrats and a lock for liberal, hard-working Baldwin.

It’s been said had Newt Gingrich missed the tide in 1994 and not captured control of the House, Democrats would still have the majority today.

Had Paul Ryan lost that race in 1998 to Lydia Spottswood, the First District boundaries would still contain Beloit, would not contain Waukesha County, and might even cross into Dane County.

Mr. Sowa is embarking on a mission that ignores the institutional reality of Congress. Like Las Vegas, the House owns the odds.

A Lot of Hillary Hype for Nothing

A few weeks ago, I happened to be at a Wash DC lunch with my vast right-wing conspiracy friends when Ed Klein joined us. He had been dropped from appearing on a number cable news shows to promote his book, The Truth About Hillary, and he wanted to enlist conservatives in his cause.

Klein carries an impressive liberal portfolio -- a former editor at the NY Times and Newsweek, a bestselling author on the Kennedys with access to family sources -- so why throw a wild punch at the Democrats' new version of a Kennedy?

The best answer Klein offered was because, she has no principles.

OK, so, it is not about tapping into conservative venues to sell a book with more hype than new material?

No principles? How principled is it to carry a manuscipt to a publisher known for marketing to conservative audiences, manufacture a sales buzz with a titillating subtitle, What She Knew, When She It, and How Far She'll Go to Become President, and then, commit the sales crime of offering no new content.

Publishers, and now liberal news editors, understand the power of conservatives in the marketplace. They don't need to read Rush Limbaugh's arbitron ratings to see the potential to make a quick buck.

Exploiting the conservative passion that is generated by mere mention of Hillary Clinton is not a principle that should be rewarded with book sales of Mr. Klein's compilation of old material.

Hillary Draws More Republicans

From New York Times -- Westchester County DA will make it official...

In an interview, Ms. (Jeannine) Pirro made clear that she would elevate the Senate race into a national political event, as she criticized Mrs. Clinton for harboring presidential ambitions and for her Senate record for the last four and a half years.

"Hillary Clinton is not running to serve the people of New York," Ms. Pirro said. "We are just a way station in her run for the presidency."

My ole colleagues at the National Republican Senatorial Committee are salivating at the chance to knock-out the 600 pound gorilla. And vendors, from TV ad agencies to direct mail/telemarketing firms, are pushing for a piece of the $100 million Big Apple campaign.

Pirro must have been promised a lot to take a pass on both an open Governor's race (although Democrat AG Elliot Spitzer is the frontrunner) and an open Attorney General's race.

IL Fitzgerald Keeps Reeling in the Fish

Excerpts from the Chicago Sun-Times:

And because (Joe) Cari is cooperating with investigators, we can deduce he doesn't believe he was being misquoted.

As one of the nation's premier fund-raisers for Democratic politicians, Cari has operated at the elite levels of government and politics for two decades.

Ironically, though, Cari was ensnared in this case because of his dealings with one of Illinois' most prominent Republican fund-raisers – (Stuart) Levine.

Levine already stands accused of using his position on the state's Health Facilities Planning Board to extort kickbacks from hospitals and construction companies. He's got key co-conspirators lined up to testify against him on that one, too.

How Things Are Done in IL

With Cari's capture and cooperation, IL Dem Governor Rod Blagojevich is now encumbered with thoughts of serving just one term, like his predecessor, George Ryan.

Frist Angers Conservatives

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) upset a number of House Republicans, including some members of leadership, when he announced his support last Friday for a controversial measure to loosen restrictions on federal funding for embryonic-stem-cell research.

From The Hill.

And here a few days earlier.

Republicans Losing Their Aim

Gingrich Says Ohio Race Holds Lesson for GOP

(Story)

It should serve as a wake-up call to Republicans, and I certainly take it very seriously in analyzing how the public mood evidences itself. Who is willing to show up and vote is different than who answers a public opinion poll.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich

There is more energy today on the anti-Iraq, anti-gas-price, anti-changing-Social Security and I think anti-Washington [side]. I think the combination of those four are all redounding to weaken Republicans and help Democrats.
Gingrich

Other Selected Quotes:

There's a rising level of frustration with the disconnect between where the vast majority of conservatives are in this country and how Congress is behaving. There's going to be a wake-up call sooner or later.
Former Representative Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)
President, Club for Growth

You have to be courageous to not spend money, and we don't have many people who have that courage.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)

If you look at fiscal conservatism these days, it's in a sorry state.
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)

With Congress unable to keep its pocketbook pocketed, it would be nice if President Bush could be counted upon to cast his first vetoes on bills so richly deserving of them.
The editors of the conservative National Review

WEAC’s Doyle Ads

Republicans need to keep a grip. The only folks those WEAC ads are impacting are Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (Kenosha) and State Senate Minority Leader Judy Robson (Beloit).

The content of the TV ads, touting Governor Doyle’s budget leadership, ain’t bad. It’s just they will be forgotten the moment someone needs a fresh beer from the fridge.

It’s summer in Wisconsin. It’s 16 months before the next gubernatorial election. No one cares, except for Kreuser and Robson.

Milwaukee County Exec Scott Walker campaign manager Bruce Pfaff called it right; airing political TV ads 16 months in advance of an election signals the vulnerability of the incumbent governor.

That lesson has already been taught by ex-interim Governor Scott McCallum. McCallum spent 14 years serving in anonymity as Tommy’s Lieutenant Governor. His strategic objective in spending early money on TV was his desire to be somebody.

At least Governor Doyle has a surrogate spending on his behalf.

Kreuser and Robson, on the other hand, need maximum teachers’ union money to build hope of gaining seats; even deep-pocketed WEAC has a finite pool of political activity money.

But measuring the credibility of Rep. Mark Green and County Exec. Scott Walker’s governor campaigns, WEAC will need to keep spending on behalf of Doyle. And the only winners are State Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz and Assembly Republicans

Green: Block and Tackle

Campaigns are not rocket science; it's more basic blocking-and-tackling and keeping the trains running on time.

Too many candidates make the effort more difficult than it needs to be with inflated and unrealistic expectations.

Which is why Rep. Mark Green's gubernatorial campaign is following a steady pace and collecting poltical chits along the way.

Green has been busy this off-year appearing at GOP legislative fundraisers.

Fundraising is a chore. And fundraising during the off-year, during the short Wisconsin summers, is especially a chore. When someone offers to lend a hand, write a check, cheerlead an election/reelection, it's time well invested.

Mark Green is collecting local regional news coverage, appearing in front of community activists, building familiarity with local Party activists, and taking lists of donors and attendees with him back to his Green Bay HQ.

All the neccessary ingredients for a statewide campaign.

Green's generousity will pay dividends should he win the September, 2006 GOP Primary for WI Governor. Assembly Republicans are in no risk of losing the majoirty next November.

Tough to tell Governor Green to stick-it when he helped raise your election money.

An Interesting Day

Associated Press reported that a 13 year-old panda gave birth at the San Diego Zoo, with a second baby panda cub dying in the womb.

On the same day as…

A 26-year old human female was kept on life support for 3 months to give her fetus time to develop. The baby was delivered by c-section at 2 months premature. The mother passed away after life support was pulled.

Can we now rethink modern medicine and the means to protect human life in the same manner we strive to protect endangered species of the animal kingdom?

An Air France plane crashed after skidding off the runaway and bursting into flames. All 309, passengers and crew, escaped.

On the same day as…

The Space Shuttle’s under-belly was successfully repaired today. Discovery astronaut Robinson stood on a shoulder-width platform on the end of a 58-foot arm, while orbiting 220 miles above Earth and traveling 18,000 mile per hour. Video images were broadcast live from a camera mounted on Robinson’s helmet to my living room in Newville, Wisconsin.

Can we now….ahhhh, never mind. My 5-year old watched with me….who knows what frontiers he was suddenly inspired to conquer.

Hillary's 2006 Opponent

John Spencer, former Mayor of Younkers, is one of the Republicans who plans to ki-bosh Hillary's run to the White House next year.

The other GOP primary opponents may include former President Richard Nixon's son-in-law, Ed Cox, and Westchester County D.A. Jeannine Pirro.

I am a bit biased, but bet on Spencer.

As an ex-staffer to Rep. Jack Kemp and U.S. Senator Alphonse D'Amato, New York feels like an adopted home. Not Manhattan mind you, or even the neighboring boroughs, but Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, the Adirondacks and to some extent, Long Island, reminds me of different regions of Wisconsin.

Spencer has wisely tapped into the D'Amato election machine. Alphonse was/is New York's version of Bob Kasten; U.S. Senators with a sophisticated sense of campaigns and elections.

It was Alphonse who plucked George Pataki from legislative obscurity to challenge incumbent Democrat Governor, and once Party savior, Mario Cuomo.

Somewhere in America, Mario and his partner Party savior, deposed Tejas Governor Ann Richards, are lobbying for the capitalist corporate suits they once derided. Their opponents can be found finishing his 3rd term in Albany, and serving his second term at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

But I digress.

Ed Cox has tapped Henry Kissinger to consult his campaign. That fact alone will push the NY Jewish community to other candidates.

My real point is, if you have donated or subscribed to any conservative publication or cause since the last U.S. Senate campaign reached beyond their state's borders -- Ollie North in VA -- count on hearing from these NY candidates.

Direct mail, telemarketing and targeted out-state events will drive a national effort to keep Hillary from reelection and deep-six her White House ambitions.

Already, every NY Republican can recite the following talking points;

She parachuted into New York solely for the reason of running for the Senate, and now she's running for the presidency. She is more concerned about the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire than the priorities of people in New York.

If we don't stop her in 2006, she will be waving goodbye to George W. and Laura as Marine One lifts-off from the South Lawn for Midland, TX in 2009.

Contrast Editorials on Bolton

My two favorite newspapers, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune, both of which I have trouble reading through and through on Sunday mornings, simply for the massive amount of news coverage, had different takes in their editorials on John Bolton’s recess appointment –

From the Post:

Under the Constitution, the president has the power to appoint officers during congressional recesses without seeking Senate confirmation and to have those officers serve through the end of the Congress--which in this case means until January 2007. Using that power to circumvent the normal advice-and-consent process is politically provocative and should be quite rare. But having thwarted the usual process under which the Senate gets to vote on a president's nominee, it takes a bit of chutzpah for Democrats now to cry foul at Mr. Bush's decision to exercise his other option.

From the Trib:

The end-run appointment of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is sure to create a nasty embarrassment. The question is who will be embarrassed--those who support Bolton or those who loathe him. . . .

If Bolton behaves like the bullying hothead his critics say he is, he will alienate the diplomats of other nations and signal to the world that the Bush administration doesn't care a whit if the UN headquarters campus flops into New York's East River. . . . If Bolton emerges as a force for a more accountable and ambitious UN, it is his critics who'll have to eat the crow.

The Washington Post actually nails it -- Under the Constitution – an opening phrase that reminds the reader about a basic civics lesson.

Perhaps if the public schools rededicated themselves to a curriculum of civics, J-school students would have a better foundation to build their craft.

The Chicago Tribune seems to be riding the fence. Their opening phrase of Bolton was termed an end-run.

So, by abiding by the U.S. Constitution, the President has skirted the U.S. Constitution? C’mon.

In those terms, Roe v. Wade was a QB roll-out option, fake pitch wide to the tailback, reverse hand-off to the split-end in motion to the weak-side.

Political group targets school boards

GOPAC's move to aid Republican candidates raises concerns about partisan influence.
IOWA REGISTER

A national organization known for grooming Republicans for congressional and state legislative offices is pointing its efforts at Iowa's school boards.

GOPAC, a Washington, D.C.-based political action committee, will offer training and possibly campaign contributions beginning this month to Iowa school board candidates who are registered Republicans, executive director John Morgan said. (rest of story)

As a former trainer for GOPAC, I say bravo.

Participation in Democracy is an activity we can’t leave to the liberal mainstream media and local teacher unions.

The reason why most local government races go uncontested is because no one shines a spotlight on their activity, except those nasty special interest groups with a vested interest to protect their turf.

Happy to read GOPAC is still engaged in The Revolution on behalf of overburdened taxpayers.

Emily’s List Polls in WI-8

Even the best pollsters in the country can lay an egg when they lose site of honest data and bend the scripts to collect the desired results for a paying client.

In WI-8, Stan Greenberg, Clinton pollster turned celebrity rheumatoid salesman, peddles poll results that in no way reflect reality.

About the only truth this bogus poll reveals is that John Gard and Nancy Nusbaum are indeed each Party’s frontrunner. It remains to be seen how each of their Primary opponents exploit the high negatives the frontrunners bring to the campaign.

The coming seismic shifts in the WI political landscape combined with the notorious inaccuracy of primary and special election polling makes any poll done 13 months before a primary an expensive bookend.

Remember;

1978 Governor Bob Kasten?
1986 Governor Jonathan Barry?
1988 U.S. Senator Tony Earl?
1992 U.S. Senator Jim Moody?
1994 U.S. Senator Cate Zueske?
2002 Governor Tom Barrett?
2004 U.S. Senator Russ Darrow?

Each of these candidates where once political heavyweights who enjoyed frontrunner status until primary voters crashed their dreams.

The $25,000 Emily’s List paid Greenberg will give Nusbaum as much value as an unused 2005 Summerfest ticket.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research
survey was conducted May 17-24, 2005
598 likely November 2006 voters
Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district

GENERAL ELECTION:
Nancy Nusbaum: 45%
John Gard: 46%

GENERIC CONGRESSIONAL VOTE:
Democrat: 43%
Republican:43%

OTHER POLL DATA:
Country Right Direction: 33%
Wrong Track: 58%

Un-Diplomacy is Over-due

AP Headline:
Bolton Must Compromise With Diplomats

Why?

Secretary General Kofi Annan has presided, since 1997, over the worst period in U.N. history.

In the face of terrorism, genocide, embezzlement, sex scandals, graft, and total mismanagement, the U.N. sits on the sidelines quibbling over the proper definitions of terms.

The 56-year-old arms control expert (John Bolton) with a reputation for brilliance, obstinacy and speaking his mind will arrive at the United Nations just weeks before a summit in which world leaders will seek to adopt sweeping changes to enable the U.N. to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Need any further explanation why President Bush used his constitutional power of the recess appointment?

He will be one of the key players because the United States is the largest contributor and a great power in the Security Council.
Germany's U.N. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger

Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, Al Gore and John Kerry; note, largest contributor.

Denmark's U.N. Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Loj noted that in many countries no confirmation of ambassadors is required.

Sorta explains how Carter and Jesse Jackson roam the globe in search of status.

(Kofi) Annan cautioned that negotiation and compromise are the key to success at the United Nations

As well as a cadre of hookers from Amsterdam and a Swiss ATM debit card.

Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador Konstantin Dolgov said Bolton was well known in Moscow and as far as I know he is a negotiator with quite some background.

Wishful images of Bolton removing a wingtip to smack the desktop, ala Khrushchev, demanding Annan’s resignation.

I think this is a time when it is make or break as far as the future relevance of the United Nations is concerned, said Germany's Pleuger

Yet another chapter in the growing legacy of the Bush Administration; rescuing the U.N. from itself.

The Bush and I

Thanks for asking, we spent my 40th birthday on a surprise trip to Kennebunkport, Maine.

Democrats are now rolling their eyes; my Republican friends are jealous, because yes, we did get to see former President Bush #41, on his boat Fidelity no less.

President Bush came along our schooner and recognized my wife from many fundraising events where Bush was the VIP guest.

The captain of Eleanor asked us afterwards, Who are you?

Just a blue-collar kid from Janesville, Cap'n.

Milwaukee; Love it - Hate it

The conundrum for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (story)
is how to defend his county, promote his county, fight for investment into his county, while simultaneously guarding against appearing as the candidate from Milwaukee.

Most Wisconsin voters don’t like Milwaukee much. Traffic is a hassle. The public schools are dangerous. Government just doesn’t seem to work there. So when Scott Walker says he can fix Wisconsin like he is fixing our most populous county, it can cut both directions.

Tommy Thompson understood the duality of out-state’s attitude towards Milwaukee. When faced with near blackmail from Bud Selig over a taxpayer-financed stadium for the Brewers, Tommy said he would not let Wisconsin become another Nebraska (as in, a state without Major League baseball).

Yet, when the actual legislation earmarked the southeast region for the tax hike to pay for Selig’s extortion, Tommy was quoted in newspapers north of STH 29 to stick it to Milwaukee.

And that’s the deal. We plan mini-vacations around Summerfest, Brewer games and the Bucks. For many Wisconsin families, a trip into Milwaukee marks a first visit to a big city.

Everyone, from Superior to Platteville, knows beer and Harley-Davidson is what made Milwaukee famous. And we share our Wisconsin pride in our history with those transplants from Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.

But it will prove to be a balancing act between pride and disdain that Scott Walker must manage as he market brands himself over the next 13 months.

Haley Moving Forward

You heard it here first; Mississippi Governor and former RNC Chairman Haley Barbour will seek the Republican nomination for President in 2007/2008.

With the number of political IOUs Haley can collect on, don't bet against him.

His campaign operatives will be working local races throughout New Hampshire and Iowa during the 2006 midterms.

Frist Moving in Reverse

Tennessee U.S. Senator Bill Frist took another step away from winning the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

First, Frist announced he would not seek reelection in 2006; thereby creating a one-plus year void in public service during the nominating process. Those of us who have toiled through a presidential campaign understand full well the power of incumbency.

Congressman Jack Kemp (NY) was my guy from 1986-1988, but no amount of sweat equity could overcome Vice President George Bush’s rolodex of political IOUs.

Second, his play for majority leader, replacing Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, left some bruised egos among Lott’s former House colleagues. Those House members can be helpful come their states’ primary/caucus dates.

Third, his labeling of the nuclear option was a poor play on words regarding potential changes to the filibuster/cloture rules.

Fourth, Frist then gave-up the reins rather than ride the 7 Republican Senators who joined with 7 Democrats who then offered their own vision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

And now Frist has flip-flopped on embryonic stem cell research.

As a doctor, perhaps he knows something the rest of us don’t. But as a politician, seeking the Republican nomination for the Oval Office, at best, he just became someone’s choice for running mate.

Carter #39 vs. Bush #43

Former President Jimmy Carter called for Gitmo to be shut-down again this week. This, despite history’s lessons (story).

Remember, Carter dawdled during the last major terrorist attack (pre-9/11) on American citizens and soldiers.

Carter failed miserably at his reelection in 1980.

Current President George W. Bush boldly used his recess appointment of firebrand John Bolton to serve as ambassador to the corrupt, dysfunctional United Nations.

Remember, Bush is decisive in everything he undertakes.

Bush won a huge reelection in 2004.