Free Will

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Little Campaign, Big Upset

2006-04-05T21:18:00.000-05:00

Election Night Results in the Town of Fulton, Rock County, WI

15 year incumbent - 397 votes
Brian Christianson - 414 votes

Fulton board needs independent thinkers
read here

Support Christianson to return to Fulton Town Board
and here

Fulton needs Christianson back
and here

Writer supports Christianson for Fulton Town Board
and here

Vote for change in Fulton
and here

IL-WI Running Parallel

2006-03-29T14:16:00.000-06:00

Former top aide to Rep. Daniels pleads guilty to mail fraud

March 29, 2006

(AP) - A former top aide to Illinois House Republicans pleaded guilty Wednesday to mail fraud, admitting he assigned legislative staffers to campaign work on state time.

Michael Tristano, 58, who was chief of staff to former House Minority Leader Lee Daniels, would face between a year and a day and 20 months in prison under an agreement that requires him to cooperate with prosecutors in their continuing investigation of state political corruption.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle Sr. set June 14 for sentencing.

"He is sorry for the mistakes that he has made," defense attorney Jeffrey Steinback told reporters as he and Tristano left court. He said it had been "a difficult day for Michael and I think you've probably had a chance to see that difficulty by the expression on his face."

Crain's first reported June 17, 2002, that virtually the entire Chicago staff of Daniels spent much of the spring or summer of 2002 in and near House districts with hotly contested general election races.

In one instance, Crain's reported, state records indicated that in a four-month period, nine Daniels staffers collectively traveled 252 times to one town where a GOP candidate was facing a strong reelection fight.

Wednesday's plea agreement states that Tristano diverted "between $120,000 and $200,000 in state resources to subsidize the campaigns of Republican candidates for the Illinois House. The diversions came in the form of time, false voucher records for auto travel and the use of state facilities."

Tristano, once the most powerful Republican aide in the Illinois House, admitted that he not only assigned GOP staffers to do campaign work on state time, but also used state computers and other taxpayer-paid resources to boost the chances of his party's legislative candidates.

According to Tristano's signed, 13-page plea agreement, the scheme to defraud the state took place between 1998 and 2001 as Illinois Republicans under Daniels were trying to regain control of the House or at least limit their losses to the Democrats.

Tristano admitted devising a scheme to camouflage the use of state workers on campaigns by giving them compensatory leave and payments from the House Republican Campaign Committee. But he acknowledged that neither the time off nor the payments covered all the campaign work.

Tristano also was executive director of the campaign committee, which Daniels headed.

Prosecutors have been investigating the alleged diversion of state workers and other resources into House Republican campaigns for more than two years.

Daniels, who is retiring at the end of this term, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

But the plea agreement states Mr. Tristano "reported to and took direction from Lee Daniels."

Daniels failed to return calls seeking comment.

Tristano was one of the most powerful staff members at the Statehouse in Springfield in the 1990s, heading a staff of 85 with a $5 million budget.

Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of theft, extortion conspiracy and other mail fraud counts in exchange for Tristano's guilty plea on one mail fraud count.

In his plea agreement, however, Tristano did acknowledge engaging in an extortion scheme with direct mail consultant Roger Stanley, who went to prison after pleading guilty to payoff charges in an offshoot of the investigation that led to charges against former Gov. George Ryan.

Tristano admitted he recommended to Daniels the awarding of a state grant to the suburban Village of Willow Springs to encourage real estate development there. Stanley had a financial interest in the real estate development.

The state ended up making about $1.3 million in such grants and Stanley in return placed an unnamed GOP legislative candidate on his company's payroll to provide income for the candidate while he was on the campaign trail, according to the plea agreement.

Stanley already had admitted the scheme as part of his own plea agreement. His attorney, Michael Ettinger, said he had no comment other than to say the government has agreed as part of its deal with Stanley, now out of prison, not to prosecute him for the Willow Springs matter.

Happy Birthday Republicans!

2006-03-20T07:18:00.000-06:00

Excerpt from Ripon, WI Chamber of Commerce's website:

In this schoolhouse, on March 20, 1854, the first mass meeting in the country was held that definitely and positively cut loose from old parties and advocated a new party under the name "Republican.

This simple frame schoolhouse, built in 1850, holds a powerful history. In the Little White Schoolhouse a decision was made by a small group of Ripon citizens that changed the future of our nation forever.

On a cold and windy night, March 20, 1854, these Ripon citizens voted to form and become members of a new political party called "Republican." The birth of the Republican Party brought a dedicated following of individuals who pledged to organize together and fight against the spread of slavery.

Ripon Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Ripon Chamber of Commerce

It's a Sad Day

2006-03-11T12:35:00.000-06:00

No jokes. No satire. No gloating. No smiles.

It is a sad day for Wisconsin.

It is a sad day for my Republican Party.

It is a sad day for Mrs. Jensen and for their handsome kids.

And I do pray for some level of mercy at sentencing -- more people share guilt with Scott Jensen, including Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard.

BUD FOX
Dad, I'm going to jail and you know it.
CARL FOX
Maybe that's the price, Bud, maybe so.
It's gonna be rough on you but maybe in some screwed up way, that's the best thing that can happen to you...stop trading for the quick buck and go produce something with your life, create, don't live off the buying and selling of others...

The Jensen Bed-In for Justice

2006-03-09T06:58:00.000-06:00

Standing trial in the court of Judge Ebert
Begging for a new venue
But the man on the bench
said "You carry a stench"
You know they didn't even give me a chance

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Finally made it to the closing summation
Staff rolling me like jelly tarts
Stephen Meyer called to say
"Being gov's not in play"
Harvard boy should re-read Jean-Paul Sartre

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Drove from Madison to the Waukesha Hilton
Talking to myself nearly a week
The Sentinel said
"Say, what're you doing in bed?"
I said, "I'm only trying to get me on Sykes"

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Made a lightning trip out to Cambridge
Need to stock-up on Crimson ties
When the State Journal said
"Status went to his head"
I knew Dee Hall just had to lie

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They're gonna crucify me

Justice Prosser jumped out of his robes

just to testify I was O.K.

Then a man in the back said

"Prosser's wearing no pants"

I hung my head ready to cry

Christ, you know it ain't easy

You know how hard it can be

The way things are going

They're gonna crucify me

The way things are going

They're gonna crucify me
The way things are going

They're gonna crucify me

That Was a Defense?

2006-03-08T20:14:00.000-06:00

Gotta laugh at this... Makes me wish Chvala would have went to trial.

The defense of Scott Jensen almost compels me to demand a full refund on Jensen's behalf. Stephen Meyer is playing a lawyer for the perks - maybe a free set of steak knives...

I "strenuously" object?
Is that how it's done? Hm?
Objection, your Honor.
Overruled
No, no. I STRENUOUSLY object.
Oh. You strenuously object. Then I'll take some time and reconsider.

Half the prosecution's witnesses did a better job defending Jensen than the witnesses for the defense.

And the last image of the Defense is that of Meyer asking for a mistrial because witnesses could not make "eye contact" with the defendant from the witness stand??

Do you have any more questions for me counselor?
Thanks Danny, I love Madison.

Sherry Schultz has got to be thinking, plea bargain, why didn't I take the plea bargain?

Just A Guy is Just a Jensen Tool

2006-03-07T07:35:00.000-06:00

just a guy said...
I'm with editor. And neither of us are virgins. I also don't recall you ever arguing for the elimination of the caucuses during your unspectacular tenure in Wisconsin politics. Scott Jensen is fighting for his life because he has been forced into this position by Brian Blanchard, and second-guessing his strategy is about as productive as your pathetic squealing and finger pointing after you were let go by Scott McCallum. You're so important, Brian, only you or perhaps Schimming could figure out how to turn this into a claim that you were part of a "collaborative" effort that was really responsible for Jensen's success. Unbelievable.

Hey, Just a Guy;
You are obviously too green to remember that I was let-go from the RPW, not McCallum. Why? Something called the "RPW PAC-FAX."

I also advocated to our county/district Party caucuses to pass resolutions calling for the elimination of each of the 4 partisan caucuses - a few of which made it to the floor of the state Party convention.

These bold, brave moves set former State Rep. Judy Klusman on a mission - a mission to see my head served on a platter with garnish. Why? The RPW PAC-FAX was the first attempt by the Party to redirect PAC money away from the legislative campaign committees (RACC & CERS).

Klusman interpreted this as some sort of turf battle. And lobbyists feared they would not "get credit" if their checks went to RPW versus RACC or CERS.

As far as eliminating the caucuses, that was far from my idea alone. But having worked and campaigned from both the Senate (Bill Berndt Campaign) and Assembly (Holperin Recall) caucuses, it made common sense to me to have the State Party serve as both The Bank and The Warehouse for campaign operatives.

Again, I was young and naive and without knowing it at the time, I had offered my own head to the crazier elements of the legislature.

So, Just a Guy, stop sniffing Scott Jensen's shorts and start thinking with a clear mind.

Over ten years ago Dave Prosser, Bob Welch, Scott Jensen, Joyce Waldrop and a few others would sit in my office - or at weekend retreats in Sheboygan - and strategize how a minority Party could/should recruit better candidates, raise more money, mobilize our stakeholders, build better lists, and tap into Tommy's political popularity.

They were very productive meetings - Bob Welch never gets the credit he deserves for winning a majority.

Beginning with Tommy's election in 1986 and continuing for the next 2 consecutive election cycles, Republicans lost seats - LOST SEATS - lost seats in 1990, despite Tommy's landslide win.

During my tenure, we turned that around. It was a collaborative effort indeed - Mr. Just a Guy - with legislators, stakeholders, major donors, better candidates, better messages, and better tactics.

As for your uninformed reference to Scott McCallum -- you have me confused with DOR Secretary Cate Zeuske, whom he let go, or DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel, whom he let go.

Both were hugely popular with their former legislative colleagues - McCallum was not, which is why Scott Jensen desperately wanted (and should have) run a primary that year.

Do your homework, Just a Guy. And don't bring a knife to a gun fight.

Jensen Tainting Tommy Legacy

2006-03-06T09:08:00.000-06:00

This is why Tommy is so beloved - he speaks the truth. He is a maverick. He refuses to chant the Party line.

Thompson hints at running — but for what?
President? Senator? Governor? His options are open

That's a leader.

When much of the Party base is goose-stepping blindly behind failed policies and failed leaders, Tommy steps-out and reminds Republicans - reminds conservatives - President Bush has failed conservatives.

As unlikely as I hear it is, Tommy can take back the governor's chair by simply having beers with a couple of reporters in Elroy, or at brother Ed's in Tomah, and declaring his return.

That is, if Scott Jensen retracts the self-serving subpoena he slapped his old boss with, forcing Tommy to testify, hoping some TGT star-power sways the jury in Jensen's favor.

Tommy is above the stank. Jensen should keep it that way.

The Last Campaign of Scott Jensen

2006-03-03T10:10:00.000-06:00

It’s over. The die has been cast. The stain has set.

The Trial of Scott Jensen has torpedoed any strategy Republicans might have trotted-out this election year exploiting ethics reform. Those 30 second TV ads and 60 second radio ads slamming Dem. Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative Democrats are now toothless. Every day has been another train wreck of testimony that should have never reached the front pages.

Republicans across the state are cringing as we recognize the names of those staffers being forced to stand naked and point their fingers back at Scott Jensen. So much for nurturing the next generation of public servants. So much for showing the state that the Republican majority was about something. Now we see the Republican majority was about someone.

The Trial of Scott Jensen has confirmed that all roads lead back to Scott Jensen.

No surprise; the Capitol Culture has known Scott Jensen is/was at the epicenter of every campaign dollar, every policy roll-out, every election, every press conference, every committee assignment, every everything.

If a team photo was taken, it was Scott Jensen who sat squarely in the center of the frame.

In my years working with him, including his near loss in his first Assembly race, it was clear that Jensen was simply smarter than the average legislator. Cream does rise to the top in both the dairy business and legislative leadership.

But I think the personality glitch that is being laid open today is Jensen’s longstanding inability to accept collaborative efforts. He never wanted to be the power behind the curtain; he wanted to be the power on center stage. And he achieved it. But make no mistake; his success was a collaborative effort.

And his failure, today, is a non-collaborative, power-at-center-stage, Scott Jensen collapse.

The Trial of Scott Jensen is being campaign-managed by the accused. The trial is the first campaign where Scott Jensen has complete control. In the days, weeks, months leading to Election Day -- errr, Trial Day -- it has been Scott Jensen who has written the scripts, devised the strategy and framed the message.

The difference is, he no longer has control over dozens of staffers, no longer can throw a birthday party where hundreds of lobbyists flock, no longer has State Party resources and expertise, no longer has beholden committee chairs, no longer has associations conducting his polling.

So this is the last campaign of Scott Jensen. This one is all on himself. How’s it going so far?

Hillary Runs, Bet on It

2006-02-18T12:30:00.000-06:00

Hey Doug, I'll take that bet. She runs, and I'd bet, wins.

Hillary Won't Run
That's my prediction, and I'm sticking to it.
by Douglas MacKinnon
02/20/2006, Volume 011, Issue 22

BACK IN NOVEMBER 1999, I wrote a column for the San Francisco Examiner in which I basically guaranteed that Hillary Clinton would not run for the Senate in New York. I laid out a very clever rationale for why she would not enter the race, the main thrust being that her candidacy was really just a red herring devised to deflect attention from her husband's mounting ethical problems.

I was so sure of my pet theory that I proceeded to make lunch and dinner bets with any number of people in Washington. Bets that, to this day, I am still paying off.

So with that lesson well learned, I am here to say that Senator Hillary Clinton will not run for president in 2008. Guaranteed. Why? Because, from the Democratic party's point of view, it makes no sense for her to run. I'm talking, none.

I am a Republican who happens to have a lot of Democratic friends. That's the way it goes when you come from Dorchester, Massachusetts. And what most of these Democratic friends of mine tell me for private consumption is that their party is really, really, really desperate to win back the White House, and in their minds, for that to happen, Hillary Clinton has to get out of the way.

Their rationale, not mine, is that they don't think enough Americans, especially American women, are actually going to vote for Senator Clinton in a general election. While I'm no fan of polls, a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll would seem to indicate that these Democratic friends of mine are on to something. When asked, only 16 percent of respondents said they would "definitely" vote for Hillary Clinton, while 51 percent said they would definitely not. She even lost in the poll to Condoleezza Rice, a woman who has made it crystal clear that she has no intention of running for president.

Next on the hit parade of things my Democratic friends worry about when it comes to Senator Clinton is that they really would like not to revisit the Whitewater, commodities, Monica, Lincoln Bedroom, Hillarycare days. Some of them worry, rightly in my opinion, that if Mrs. Clinton runs, all of this old, unpleasant, and somewhat unresolved baggage is going to be run on a loop by certain conservative, Christian, and even Democratic groups. The obvious question of these friends being: "Why should our party relive that pain?"

All Democrats I speak with on this subject, and even a surprisingly large number of Republicans, think 2008 is shaping up as a pretty good year for the Democrats to take back the White House. Part of their thinking is that even if you believe George W. Bush has been a great president (I do), and even if you really like the Republicans (I like some of them), the American people are suffering from "party in power fatigue." Namely, after eight years of Republicans in the White House, maybe it's time to send in the other team.

So, before the race even starts, one could build a case that the Democrats have a bit of a head start. Why aren't the Democrats I speak with happy about that news? Because they feel that if Hillary is the one carrying the baton in the general election, then she's going to collapse and get lapped by even a mediocre Republican.

Another question my Democratic friends fret about: Is Hillary enough of a team player to let someone like former governor (southern governor, they always say) Mark Warner of Virginia become the standard-bearer of her party? While they seem to think that she is too selfish to entertain such a thought, I'm prepared to give her more credit than that. I think, after doing the math, and calculating what's best for her in the long run, she will decide to forgo the race and wave her pom-poms from the sidelines.

She will do this, but, of course, not without exacting a steep price. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but heavier still will be the Democratic head that has to broker the deal with Hillary to have her put her party before her lofty ambitions.

Come November 2008, Senator Clinton will be 61 years of age--16 years older than when her husband took office, but still young enough politically to make one or two more runs at the Oval Office. So, at least, will go the argument from various Democrats in the smoke-free, racially diverse, politically correct back rooms from which they plot these days against the evil GOP.

What will they offer the woman from Chicago who thought New York seemed like a nice state to represent in the Senate? I've heard, again from my Democratic buddies who will henceforth all deny knowing me, that secretary of state in the first Warner administration might be an acceptable offer. A fine résumé builder for a future race. Upon hearing that, I asked them, "Why not just put Hillary on the ticket as his vice presidential candidate?"

After a few tsk, tsk's, and some shakes of the head, they remind me that they would actually like to win the 2008 election. Let me stress again that this is all coming from loyal, albeit desperate, Democrats. Their feeling still being that Hillary at the top or bottom of the ticket will doom them to four more years of doing without White House cufflinks and not being invited to state dinners and presidential Christmas parties.

That said, they don't rule out that Hillary is powerful enough, tough enough, and smart enough to work out a deal where she would be named vice president late in the first term or early in the second term of a Warner (or fill-in-the-blank) presidency.

I, for one, happen to think Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is highly intelligent and factors almost every decision she makes on how it will frame and then cement her place in history. Denying her party a realistic chance to win back the White House is not posterity-friendly.

It takes a village idiot to bet that Hillary won't run in 2008, and I'm that idiot. Free lunches and dinners will be paid in 2009.

Douglas MacKinnon was press secretary to Senator Bob Dole. He is also a former White House and Pentagon official.

Super Joe Lands in Rock

2006-02-17T08:08:00.000-06:00

Defining the Democratic Difference

Super Joe Wineke, the Chairman of Wisconsin’s Democratic Party, ventured down here to Rock County yesterday – speaking to the safe and comfy crowd gathered at Janesville’s Labor Temple.

(Just how did union halls become to be called, temples?)

Whew, the Dem Party Chair, landing in 55% Democrat-voting Rock County, and EGADS, mixing it up with those hostile union GM workers.

Caroline Kennedy has a chapter waiting for Super Joe in her next edition of Profiles in Courage.

This would be called, as GOP St. Senator Mike Ellis has coined, kissing your sister.

So Republicans now have confirmation of the grand strategy to reelect Jim Doyle – a base-vote operation that artificially boosts turnout among minorities, organized labor, teachers, trial attorneys, acorn-eating liberals, and the Feingold Build a Wall around Dane County, voter groups.

Nothing new really - and still no message.

But doubtful Governor Doyle can pull it off. Reagan Democrats in Rock County are not all that sweet on Doyle. Granted, Super Joe can sit with the common man over a tapper and a cheap cigar and bring Democrats back into the fold, but he ain’t the personality leading his Party’s ticket.

Oh, and had I been invited to the UAW Local 95 Labor Temple, I’d like to ask; how can union brothers vote to take back health care benefits from retirees – the very same union brothers who once fought for the benefits those active workers now enjoy?

Democrats, the Party of Health Care? Yea, right.

I’d guess the response would be crickets chirping as Super Joe points to the door, red face screaming - out, OUT!

A Few Good Witnesses

2006-02-03T11:50:00.000-06:00

I've seen this movie before...

Justice Prosser:
What do you wanna discuss now? My favorite pastel color?

Jensen Attorney:
Justice Prosser, a moment ago you said that you ordered your lieutenant, Scott Jensen, to bring you a majority.

Prosser:
Scott is a very ambitious fellow.

Attorney:
And Lieutenant Jensen was clear on what you wanted?

Prosser:
Waterford Crystal Clear

Attorney:
Any chance Lieutenant Jensen considered the law?

Prosser:
The law is a jealous mistress.

Attorney:
Any chance Lieutenant Jensen left your office and said, 'The old man needs a campaign message'?

Prosser:
I see nuances in every position.

Attorney:
When Lieutenant Jensen spoke to the Lobby Platoon, and ordered them to pony-up the cash, any chance they ignored him?

Prosser:
You ever served in the legislature, son?

Attorney:
No, sir.

Prosser:
Ever served my forward area?

Attorney:
Sir?

Prosser:
Ever put your hands on another man's shoulders; asked him to place his hands on yours?

Attorney:
Uhhh sir?

Prosser:
We give orders, son. We give orders, or campaigns die; it's that simple. Are we clear?

Attorney:
No, not really, sir.

Prosser:
YOU-HOO; are we CLEEE-RRRRR?

Attorney:
Justice, I've just one more question before I call Bagman Joe Strohl; if you gave an order to recall Jim Holperin, and your orders are always followed, then why wasn't Holperin recalled? Why would it be necessary to send Christianson to Rhinelander?

Attorney:
Did you order the Holperin Recall?

Prosser:
I did my legislative duty, I, I....

Attorney:
DID YOU ORDER THE HOLPERIN RECALL?

Prosser:
You're GOSH DARN ROOTY PAH-TOOTY RIGHT I DID!

Conservative First, Republican Second

2006-02-03T09:31:00.000-06:00

Charlie Sykes is stealing my lines...

Exactly Right

The World Needs Giants IX

2006-01-31T11:15:00.000-06:00

I like to think that the better angels of my soul would have led me to march with Dr. and Mrs. King. But the cruelties of being born too late, and of a death too soon, prevented such a divine encounter with a giant of humanity.

When I look at this photo, I don't see a black family, I see an American family, which was just one Dream that King longed to achieve.

With the passing of Coretta Scott King, who among the Black community will carry the torch that this photo represents - the Family; the foundation of hope, security, creativity, safety, knowledge and wisdom, faith, ambition, generousity, tolerance, and love?

Black children are only half as likely as white children to be living in a two-parent household and are eight times more likely than white children to live with an unwed mother. For black children under six, the most common arrangement applying to 42 percent of them was to live with a never married mother.
Maggie Gallagher, The Abolition of Marriage

Seventy-five percent of all black children born in the last two decades are likely to live for some portion of their childhood with only their mothers.
Bumpass, L.L. and J.A. Sweet, “Children Experience in Single-Parent Families: Implications of Cohabitation and Marital Transitions.”

“African Americans are the most unpartnered group in America. Census figures show that 35% of Americans between 24 and 34 have never married. For African Americans, that figure is 54%.”
Audrey Chapman, Marital Therapist

And here at home, from the Manhattan Institute

Wisconsin had the lowest graduation rate among African-American students with 40%, followed by Minnesota, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Cleveland City had the lowest graduation rate among African-American students with 29%, followed by Milwaukee, Memphis, and Gwinett County, Georgia

One thing I am sure of, the African-American community doesn't much care what a white kid from Janesville, Wisconsin thinks about black families, but the Black Alliance for Educational Opions may enlighten the skeptics.

Fond du Lac, Guns, and Scott McCallum

2006-01-31T07:51:00.000-06:00

After Governor Doyle’s State of the State address (post), I was scratching my head as to why he would suddenly skip-off to Iraq.

The boilerplate tactical operation following a State of the State is to jump on planes, trains, and automobiles to canvass the state. The name of the game is to maximize exposure. Hit the newspapers. Stand-by in the Green Rooms. You’re the Governor, take advantage of it. Keep making news by visiting some sleepy hollow that according to the local octogenarian, a governor has never visited.

But then I was reminded by the boys over at Boots and Sabers (Here) and (Here) of what the legislative calendar had waiting for Team Doyle – a veto of conceal/carry and the subsequent override vote.

I see the strategery; go to the war zone, wrap yourself in the flag and appeal to the same folks back home who support conceal/carry. Split the baby in half.

Every campaign, every campaign, has a defining moment. For Governor Doyle, being the first governor to suffer a veto override in 20+ years may prove to be that moment.

And a bit of sweet irony serves as subtext to Doyle’s reelection efforts.

The state Rep. from Fond du Lac, John Townsend, the same hometown of temporary Governor Scott McCallum -- the 2002 vanquished opponent of Jim Doyle -- Fond du Lac’s legislator appears to be the swing vote to push Jim Doyle closer to the fate of the last Democrat Governor, Tony Earl.

Representative Townsend, Scott McCallum on line #1, NRA on line #2, RPW on #3, Mark Green on Line #4 and Scott Walker on #5. Jim Kreuser is standing in reception.

Nobody’s Governor But Yours

2006-01-30T09:35:00.000-06:00

Burke, Jensen, Chvala, Foti, Ladwig, Adelman Travel, Reuben Anthony, Nick Hurtgen, Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, Bear Stearns, Duke Cunningham, Georgia Thompson, CTE Engineers;

Where does it end? Don’t answer, that was a rhetorical question.

It is not going to end. Already, bloggers Jessica McBride and Charlie Sykes have opened a new front on Team Doyle. Like Lazarus, Doyle campaign manager Rich Judge has been raised from the dead in retaliation for Doyle’s linkage of Green campaign manager Mark Graul to Capitol Hill corruption.

I am tempted to jump off message here to say the caucus scandal that snared Judge has matured way past his place on the food chain. And Graul went to a Bucks-Wizards game at the MCI Center. That in itself is punishment enough.

But the real issue is, we have an incumbent governor seeking reelection against an incumbent congressman and an incumbent county executive.

The common thread is Incumbent parties and those who feed off of Incumbent parties.

Herb Kohl recognized this way back in 1988. His bio is familiar to everyone; department store heir, Bucks owner, philanthropist.

When Bill Proxmire announced his retirement from the US Senate in September, 1987, the first candidates to announce were Tony Earl, Ed Garvey and Susan Engeleiter. Earl was notable for an unremarkable term as governor; Garvey was limping-off an ugly US Senate race, a razor thin loss to Bob Kasten, and St. Senate Minority Leader Engeleiter, who was immediately rejected by conservatives.

1988 was ripe for someone to break from the past.

And so is 2006.

State Republicans are courting 2004 US Senate nominee Tim Michels – as they should be. Tim owns a bio that not only mirrors the business acumen of Herb Kohl, but far surpasses Kohl in the Lookinig-Killer-In-BDUs and the My-Kids-Are-Cuter-Than-Your-Kids imagery.

Kohl, though, has never been captured by the Incumbent Party mentality. His Nobody’s Senator But Yours slogan ranks up there with other genius marketing slogos like GM’s Like A Rock, or Mitch Henck’s Good Feet ads (inserted for a cheap laugh).

By running for the US Senate against Herb Kohl, Tim Michels would be risking an opportunity to begin an historic political career.

Given the political smell in Madison; given the bruising GOP primary for governor that will leave one of our current two choices both busted and nearly broken; Republicans are recruiting Tim Michels for the wrong office.

Nobody’s Governor But Yours could launch Tim Michels.

Tell me he couldn’t beat Governor Jim Doyle.

Tell me he is the one Republican who represents a complete break from the past.

Governor Tim Michels. Timing is everything.

To read more on what the Green-Walker-Doyle camapign will look like click here

Plantation Politics

2006-01-24T08:24:00.000-06:00

From my buddy Gordo over at DC Spectator;

Hillary "Plantation" Broadside Against
GOP Smart Politics

I was on campaign time when Hillary dropped the plantation-bomb late last week, so I am playing catch-up.

Sure as the sun rises in the East and the Pope is Catholic, Hillary is the Democrat nominee in 26 months.

Raise Your Pitchforks, Blackberry subscribers

2006-01-24T08:15:00.000-06:00

From BFD-Takes,

Blackberry users, we are are powerful anti-incumbency coalition. This is yet another example of politicians receiving special considerations for the sole reason that they are the government:

The court has discretion. In a worst-case scenario, an injunction could force RIM to shut down the BlackBerry system, potentially affecting most of RIM's approximately 4.3 million U.S. subscriber accounts. NTP has said an injunction would not affect BlackBerry products used by U.S. federal, state, or local governments

.Jeesh, how did government function before the cyber-age?

paul R nelson for congress

2006-01-24T07:56:00.000-06:00

So I gotta ask, why include the middle initial "R" in the campaign banner? Is there another Paul Nelson on the ballot? Is it a branding strategy, like Toys 'R Us?

I couldn't say for sure, but in a congressional district where dairy cows outnumber voters 3 to 1, this level of formality may not be needed.

Bullets and Beer

2006-01-23T11:15:00.000-06:00

Bill would push driver permit age to 17

Illinois sent their brand of political corruption across the border into Wisconsin.

Maybe they are making amends by showing us how to keep our children alive.

And still, responsible enough to vote for a U.S. President who may send your butt to war, but too young to drop-by the VFW for a tapper and camaraderie before shipping-off to Camp Shoot-At-My-Ass.

Define Responsibility

2006-01-23T10:37:00.000-06:00

Bill would allow 8-year-olds to hunt

8-year-olds, sitting in tree stands on opening day, peering through a scope, ready to blast a buck;

16-year-olds, grabbing the family car keys, racing towards a county road to meet their buddies and lay some rubber;

18-year-olds, carrying a weapon, standing guard, patrolling a sector in Iraq – can’t have a beer for another 3 years.

For Doyle, Reelect Begins Tonight

2006-01-17T13:18:00.000-06:00

Assuming you're not a lobbyist, in that case, you'll be on billable hours, stalking legislators entering the Assembly chambers; And assuming you're not staff, in that case, you'll be pouring pitchers at the Silver Dollar, mocking your bosses from a barstool; the remaining 2.7% of Wisconsinites who care will be kicking-back in Lazyboys watching the Governor's State of the State address this evening.

Look for Governor Doyle to give his best impersonation of Tommy Thompson tonight, without droppin' his "g"s . Tommy wrote the textbook on delivering a televised statewide address, and as an iconic figure, why mess with the recipe.

Doyle will veil his speech in words like, cooperation and bipartisanship. Only acting governor Scott McCallum would ever use the State Address to whack local town board members as big spenders.

The governor will be greeted at some point with groans from the Republican majority, probably as he begins a 16 minute subchapter on public schools being Great Schools. Look for WEAC's Stan Johnson to take a bow from the gallery.

Janesville will be another subchapter within the address. If Team Doyle could find a way to hoist the all new Chevy Tahoe into the gallery, Assembly Sergeant of Arms Rick Skinrud would be found Wednesday morning reclined, sleeping on the passenger side.

Sports teams must be recognized in a State Address, and since Mike Sherman will be introduced at Louisiana Governor Blanco's state Address, Doyle raises the roof by intro'ing new Brewer coach Robin Yount, during the subchapter of returning Winning to Wisconsin.

Another subchapter will be dedicated to UW Research and stem cells, yet another to something important to the Northwoods, and after that it's all white noise.

As temporary governor McCallum proved, only the gaffes are remembered, along with Hall of Famers sitting in the gallery.

It's all about image, and for Team Doyle, tip-off is tonight.

If Only Madison was It's own House District

2006-01-17T11:33:00.001-06:00

Would somebody please tell me again how the heck Beloit ended-up in the same congressional district as Madison, or the Dells?

So much for communities of interest.

The best thing about Wisconsin's lack of population growth is, when we lose yet another House seat to redistricting, Dave Magnum will finally win this seat.

In 2004, Baldwin pledged to reduce the amount of out state donations to her campaign. However, she broke her promise and raised more out state donations in 2004 than she did in 2002, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org).
Magnum pointed out that California, one of Baldwin's favorite fundraising haunts, competes aggressively with Wisconsin for the title of America's Dairyland

Quotes like the above score big points with the the surrounding Ag community.

Be Colorblind, and Vote Republican

2006-01-16T00:12:00.000-06:00

Republicans can honor Martin Luther King's vision today by...

I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality.

...sending $25, $50 or your most generous contribution to Lynn Swann for Governor (PA), Ken Blackwell for Governor (OH), or maybe look forward to 2008 with Condi Rice for U.S.A.

As for Harry Belafonte, the Democrats can tally both him and that stupid Banana Boat song.

Great Schools? Great Ad

2006-01-16T00:02:00.000-06:00

Milwaukee’s Charlie Sykes (props to Milwaukee), has the school choice TV ad currently running in an unknown number of WI media markets -- sure beats the bejesus out of those say-nothing, self-serving, inane Great Schools ads WEAC airs with great repetition.

The ad is a base-clearing shot over the deep center field fence.

School choice is one of those 80-20 issues that both motivates the GOP base and plays well with moderate suburban voters.

And it’s those suburban voters that an incumbent Democrat governor so desperately needs; what with being stuck in the mid 40s on reelect after defeating an accidental governor with about the same percentage.

The Doyle team misses policy dude Kirk Brown, a former partner of Paul Maslin, Howard Dean’s pollster.

How brilliant was it to place your campaign pollster on the inside, sitting at your side, whispering public opinion numbers with each zig-zag that the Republican legislature sent over? Very. And he is clearly missed.

WEAC is sure to respond to this school choice shot, but Team Doyle seems to be struggling; which may be why he skipped-out to Ireland.

Milwaukee; 'Nuff Said

2006-01-13T09:33:00.000-06:00

OK. I learned something from all you Milwaukee cheerleaders -- busting on a city is like polling on a congressman; they're all worse than mine.

For the record, I will be at Opening Day, now that the Seligs no longer own/run the team and The Kid is back in a Brewer uniform. It will be my first visit to Miller Park (both Tommy and I swore never to attend as long as a guy named Laurel was in charge).

Calatrava is indeed a beautiful addition to the lakefront.

Brett Favre's Steakhouse is a -- oh, closed, right? Well, I still love the Tamarack, best sandwiches in town.

And if it weren't for Milwaukee, we'd be just another Nebraska (TGT; circa 1995).

So, I apologize for sticking it to Milwaukee (TGT; circa 1995).

When is a Blog, A Column?

2006-01-12T13:05:00.000-06:00

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Spivak and Bice have their own blog?

Isn't that, oh, I don't know...REDUNDANT?

Here's one more for those who believe Milwaukee is the coolest city in Wisconsin; they once had 2 daily newspapers.

At the end of the Walk there is a Key

2006-01-12T13:00:00.000-06:00

The hits keep coming, but I take solace in knowing 100 years from now, Milwaukee will have fewer residents to swamp me with pro-Milwaukee rhetoric.

Actually, if population trends continue, the city will return to village status around 2075.

What's In A Name

2006-01-12T12:00:00.000-06:00

Sports writers in the Northwest are refusing to mention the Seattle Seahawks' play-off opponent by mascot, saying the label, Redskins, is offensive to that region's Native American population. The 'Skins are simply mentioned as Washington, the Seahawks' opponent this weekend.

I'm conflicted.

As a Blue-Collar Kid from Janesville, I see the silliness and stupidity in expressing moral outrage over a sports mascot.

As an enlightened graduate of a private, East Coast university, I object to a mascot that refers to government-sponsored genocide of aboriginal peoples; returning dead bodies to collect bounties became too cumbersome, so hunters simply lopped-off the portion of Indian skulls with hair. The red skins were proof of a dead "savage" and bounties were then disbursed.

On one hand, the huge volume of Indian-themed mascots speaks to the ultimate heritage of our nation - a compliment of sorts. On the other hand, well, should we memorialize our heritage with images of Cleveland's Chief Wahoo?

And there's the conundrum.

The Cleveland Indians doesn't bother me any more than Jeep Cherokees. Braves, Chiefs, Warriors; it all has become so ingrained into our marketing culture.

If we look long and hard enough, we can be offended by nearly everything. As the most diverse nation on earth, and the freest nation on earth, someone is bound to offend someone, somewhere.

Speedy Gonzalez, Aunt Jemimah; stereotypes have sold everything from Irish whiskey to kosher wine.

Immigrants remind us of why they come to America -- we invite them;
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door
But once here, the rest of us reserve the right to make fun of the new kids in class -- it is our heritage. We make fun of you until you win your own power -- corrupt Irish cops, Italian mafia bosses, Jewish bankers -- preceding immigrants have always exerted power over those immigrants that followed.

Ellis Island was not a social security office. After we Americanized their names, to make it, immigrants had to earn it, or had to take it.

But here is where the story separates. Indians, as we are all reminded every Thanksgiving, were already here. And soon enough, pilgrims became cowboys and politicians and set-out to kick ass over anything that blocked our Manifest Destiny.

Read this book.

Redskins? Redmen? Funny way to honor our American heritage. Not.

But go 'Skins!

Why People Leave WI

2006-01-11T10:50:00.000-06:00

This post from Playground Politics is dead-on right; there is nothing cool about Milwaukee.

It's a dying city, a red-headed step-child of Chicago. Talk to anyone living there and at some point in conversation, they will tell you the last time they were in the Windy City - as if that is where they imagine they are living.

By the way, those of you from Milwaukee, no one who portends to be as hip as Milwaukeans think they are would call Chicago the Windy City in conversation.

Milwaukee is to the U.S. what Warsaw is to Europe; a city trapped in time by the socialistic policies of a militaristic ruling elite. And I am not talking about the Seligs.

Think of Milwaukee, and beer, Harley-Davidson and maybe Summerfest come to mind. Visit Milwaukee, and see a baron lake front, an abandoned river, and a neon-clad casino lighting-up a pathetic skyline.

Kenosha, now there's a city on the rise.

Keep York Alive

2006-01-11T10:08:00.000-06:00

Don't go, Denny

I actually know who Dennis York is and have not revealed it; not wanting to tug on Superman’s cape, spit into the wind, or pull the mask off the ole Lone Ranger.

York and Playground Politics are among the best commentary out there, or here, in cyber-chat land. And while I have a fairly good system of deciphering who the anonymous are, including PP, I would rather be entertained by their creativity than educated with their identities.

Which brings me back to Saving Private York - the story of sacrifice.

Sacrifice is a holy endeavor. Since DY nailed me to the cross of writing a terrible blog, (too much Bert Blyleven for the flannel-pants one), I offer Free Will up for sacrifice.

It takes a lot of brain cells to write a blog on a daily basis and the reward is what, watching a rolling site meter that badly trails Jessica McBride or Xoff?

Those two are real reporters, with real journalistic writing skills. I'm just a Blue Collar Kid From Janesville with a thing for Will Rogers - interested in the world and see the ridiculousness in everything.

My writing skills end at, please send your $100, $50 or $25 contribution today

Dennis owes more to his readers than I do mine. Besides, by sacrificing Free Will, I free-up several libel lawyers to pursue other First Amendment practitioners.

Pitchers, Catchers Report in 5 weeks

2006-01-11T07:06:00.000-06:00

I've never had lunch with Bruce Sutter, but I know one thing, Bert Blyleven, by surpassing 50% yesterday in the Hall of Fame vote, will make the Hall before the decade is gone.

Maybe Goose will be on the same winning ballot --

If Blyleven had pitched for the Mets that year instead of Minnesota, he might've won 25 games and inched ever closer to the holy grail, 300 for his career.

What was it that made him so tough to hit? What made him so special? It was that curveball, obviously. I remember its huge, looping trajectory, wondering how the hell he gripped that pitch and generated so much spin.

"Oh my God, that fucking curveball was unreal," (Goose) Gossage said. "People used to talked about (Dwight) Gooden's hook, I swear Blyleven's was better. I've never seen anything like it -- then or now. You know the expression, 'dropping off the table?'
That's what his curveball was like. It just disappeared. And the thing is, he threw it hard, then he'd blow that fastball right by you up in the strike zone. Guys had no chance."

So when I asked Gossage if he thought Blyleven deserved to be in the Hall, I could almost see his eyebrows flexing, as if to ask: are you kidding me?

"Hell, yes," Goose said. "Dominant pitcher, great pitcher.

Congrats Joey!

2006-01-10T11:15:00.000-06:00

From the Lakeland Times

I first met former state Rep. Joe Handrick - calling him a former is as weird as it was calling him Representative in the first place - back in 1988.

Joe was a buck-and-a-half foot tall (still is) and baby-faced (still is), running against Democrat dinosaur St. Senator Lloyd Kincaid. I was living in Wausau throwing hay-makers at Congressman Dave Obey.

Neither of our campaigns won that year.

And now we both have retreated to the comfort of local government service.

Bert "Be Home" Blyleven

2006-01-09T18:18:00.000-06:00

Almost forgot, in addition to being a (soon-to-be) Hall of Famer, Bert Blyleven - 23 years in the Major Leagues Bert Blyleven - is a great guy.

Not a whiff of ego - didn't even wear one of his two World Series rings to lunch - the friggen World Series, and he's got 2 of 'em!

Jeesh, guess I should stop waving my 1992 & 93 Madison city softball trophies around like a plaque from Cooperstown - which Bert will be adding to his career stats soon.

Have you ever Lunched with a HOFer?

2006-01-09T17:37:00.000-06:00

On my most recent trip to Florida, I had lunch with a Hall of Famer, Bert Blyleven.

It has been years, well, since Bert's playing days, that I could recall baseball stats like reciting the TV Guide. So, when I got back to Wisconsin, I had to call my best bud to hear his take on whether Bert had a HOF career.

His answer was a shake of the head, and a hell yes. Me and ESPN agree.
_______________

Upon further review Blyleven in Hall

...First, if you compare Blyleven to his fellow pitchers of the division-play era, he high-jumps off the page. He ranks No. 1 in complete games, No. 2 in shutouts (one behind Nolan Ryan), No. 2 in innings pitched (again trailing only Ryan), No. 5 in whiffs and No. 6 in wins (behind only Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers).

...He found Blyleven had the worst run support of any pitcher in the group except Don Sutton and accumulated the most "tough losses," a stat James invented personally to measure losses in which pitchers deserved better. There is zero doubt Blyleven already would be a Hall of Famer if he'd won 300 games. And that research helped explain the mystery of why he didn't.

...According to that encyclopedia, Blyleven allowed 344 fewer runs in his career than the average pitcher of his day. In the live-ball era, only eight pitchers have done better in that department. And those eight comprise a group that essentially consists of the best modern pitchers who ever threw a baseball: Roger Clemens, Lefty Grove, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Tom Seaver, Carl Hubbell and Bob Gibson.

...If you look more closely at that stat, you also find it wasn't just a tribute to longevity. Blyleven had six seasons in which he allowed at least 30 fewer runs than the average pitcher. That's as many seasons like that as Tom Seaver -- and more than Steve Carlton,Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal or Jim Palmer.

So does that sound like a Hall of Famer to you? In the end, it did to me.

Good Luck Coach Sherman

2006-01-06T11:00:00.000-06:00

Mike Sherman writes final column

...How we respond to adversity and the difficulties we face are a healthy part of our lives. We should view them and respond to them as challenges, rather than obstacles or failures.

Sometimes good things happen. Sometimes bad things happen Â and ironically, in the end, you realize the good wasnÂt so good and the bad wasnÂt so bad. You often donÂt have control over what happens. You do, however, have control over how you respond and your attitude as each challenge presents itself.

You have control over how you handle your success, as well as your failures, and what you take from each. You have control over your willingness to adapt to life as it unfolds itself to you.

...We must make sure our life doesn't just happen to us but rather we make our life happen for us. It's our choice, we must choose wisely.

Mike Sherman was, and is, a class act. Having been fired from a job I truly loved, I wish I had these words to read 10+ years ago.

When Mike Sherman returns to Lambeau sometime in the future -- and he will someday stand on the opposite sidelines -- I hope he delivers a huge, colossal, stinging loss to Ted Thompson's staff, albeit the one loss for the Packers amidst a 15-1 season.

He deserves that much.

Kohl Vulnerable with...Left Coast Seniors

2006-01-05T13:24:00.000-06:00

Click here to confirm what I tell you...

His campaign photo is an oil canvas painting...
Treasurer Paul Rux highlights a Ph.D status...
The candidate bio emphasizes he only recently moved to WI (2004)...
Just to be "near his grand kids.."
Is a perennial losing candidate...
In California...
As a Libertarian Party candidate...
And now a Republican Party candidate...
Is running because the incumbent is "semi-retired..."

Wow. On how many levels is this just whacked?

Lemme see; A divorced grandparent who moves to my state barely two years ago after many failed efforts at public office in California, sets-out to instruct me that former President William Howard Taft is the right role model for the US Senate and the nation; a president many considered a dithering idiot, including his predecessor, Teddy Roosevelt.

Hmmmm, why am I hearing children's voices pleading, no Grandpa, please don't saddle me with this. High school civics is tough enough without having to read a case study on how not to run for elected office - featuring my grandfather.

UPDATE: The Political Graveyard has California Libertarian candidate Dave Redick still living, as of 1982.

Conservatives vs. Republican Incumbents

2006-01-05T11:52:00.000-06:00

Peggy Noonan, oh how I wish I could write like her.

Her steamroller metaphor is a bit tame for me, and she dances a bit too much in this piece, but the message is there for all Republicans; stop being the Incumbent Party.

...This is essentially why conservatives of my generation and earlier generations don't like big government. They don't even like government. We know we have to have one, that it is necessary, that it can and must do good, that it has real responsibilities that must be met.

...But conservatives are not supposed to like big government. It's not our job. We're supposed to like freedom and the rights of the individual. (Individuals aren't virtue machines either, but they're less powerful than governments and so generally less damaging.)

...Twenty-five years ago this month the conservative movement came to Washington, and much good came of its arrival.

...Eleven years ago this month came the Gingrich revolution and the Contract With America. That contract could be boiled down to these words: Stop the Steamroller. Take away its gas, make it smaller, term-limit it.

Too many Republicans that I hear from these days have traded their Revolutionary clothes for Incumbent Party VIP passes.

It’s past time to get our Party back on message.

Rootin' for Russ

2006-01-05T11:22:00.000-06:00

When Russ Grimm's name was mentioned as a possible coach for the Packers, it got me thinking and smiling.

Second semester of my junior year at American University.

I was in a limo, bar-hopping with the All-Pro lineman from the Redskins and a Playboy centerfold.

I was working one of my three jobs that put me through college; managing the the campus Tavern for Marriott Corp. My other job was for Budweiser distributor, Superior Beverage. I was a campus rep for the D.C. area -- moving promotional products to Georgetown, GW, Catholic U, Maryland, James Madison, George Mason, even Howard University and Galludet.

It was mid-way through my usual Friday night shift, a night when many students stayed on campus and drank at The Tavern for the live music and cheap beer. Saturday night was for Georgetown pub crawling.

So my Superior Beverage boss, Bruce, finds me making pizzas and tells me to lose the apron and find a coat. He has a suprise for me. After some arguing about my responsibilties, Bruce is compelled to tell me he is with Russ Grimm and Kathy Shower and their VIP appearances for Budweiser are done for the day.

Minutes later, sure enough, I am climbing in with Bruce, Redskins' Russ Grimm, fresh-off the 1985-86 Pro-Bowl, and Kathy Shower, Miss May, 1985 and yet-to-be PMOY, 1986.

Ahhhh, college days. Why was I writting about this again? Oh yea, right; wonder if I can get Packer tickets from Russ if he becomes the next head coach?

Politics and Football

2006-01-05T06:41:00.000-06:00

From USA Today

Lynn Swann for Governor

Maybe the most perfect wide receiver of his time.
Howard Cosell
Monday Night Football
November 17, 1980

...the Baryshnikov of football...
Curt Gowdy
Super Bowl X
January 16, 1976

In related news from Wisconsin, Bart Starr will run for US Senate, Ted Hendricks for Governor, Brian Noble runs in WI-8, Ezra Johnson for Milwaukee County Sheriff, Jon Staggers will challenge St. Senator Mary Lazich for the GOP nomination, Leland Glass for Milwaukee mayor and Charles Martin for Attorney General.

Seriously, having worked for AFL MVP Jack Kemp, the RNC should continue recruitment from the retired NFL ranks.

Who would you rather have defending your bill from The Well of the House Floor, wimpy Christopher Shays or tough-guy Conrad Dobler?

Sell-Outs

2006-01-04T07:56:00.000-06:00

Jack in the Box

From the Washington Post

Jack Abramoff represented the most flamboyant and extreme example of a brand of influence trading that flourished after the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives 11 years ago.

Now, some GOP strategists fear that the fallout from his case could affect the party's efforts to keep control in the November midterm elections.

From the Wall Street Journal:

It remains unclear which lawmakers prosecutors are looking at, and also how persuasive Mr. Abramoff could be in helping to make potential cases against any of them stick. A onetime chairman of College Republicans -- a close ally of such party luminaries as Tom DeLay, Ralph Reed and Grover Norquist -- Mr. Abramoff says he has information that could implicate 60 lawmakers.

From the Chicago Tribune

ABRAMOFF FALLOUT
Charity to get cash lobbyist gave Hastert

____________________________

MEMO
TO: Republican Members of the House
FROM: Newt Gingrich, Pat Buchanan , Brian Christianson

You sold-out the Revolution. For what, box seats, golf junkets, and oh, reelection dollars.

Now go back where you came from -- selling used cars, pest control and earning a working wage of $28k a year with a mortgage and kids in braces.

Where's the Next Bill Cowher?

2006-01-03T10:53:00.000-06:00

From Jan, 2005;

The Steelers finished last season with a 6-10 record, and then the real bad breaks began. Nearly half of Bill Cowher's coaching staff, including both coordinators, departed for one reason or another. The team missed the premium free-agent player it wanted. One star receiver boycotted all of the Steelers' spring practices and the other threatened to skip training camp. Then they stood by and watched starter after starter disappear from the lineup through one mishap or another, beginning one week before training camp and continuing through the end of the season.

Oh, and the Steelers were forced to start their No. 3 quarterback, a rookie, from
the third through 15th games.

Through it all, they lost only one game. At 15-1 they have the best record in the NFL.

_______________

2006 Packer Season:
1. Favre returns
2. Walker, Green, Davenport all healthy
3 Easy Schedule
4. Top 5 draft pick
5. Sophomore players blossom
6. Weak NFC North
7. Must win at Lambeau
8. Free Agent Money
9. Defense improves from #25, to #7, to top 4 with Bates
10. RB, offensive line, return to better form

NFL - Not For Long

2006-01-03T09:09:00.000-06:00

Two Down, one to go...

No, Ellis Won't Jump

2006-01-03T08:55:00.000-06:00

Ellis weighs costly race
State senator says $10M tag may halt bid for governor
_____________

Mike Ellis will live to regret not running for governor, just as Tommy Thompson surely regrets not running for President.

But just as 2000 was not the year for Tommy (1996 was), 2006 is not the year for Mike (2002 was).

Luck has been defined as when preparedness meets opportunity. Much of winning an election is simply luck; luck and timing.

For all of us political consultants who get credit for winning big races (Brandon Scholz with Scott Klug in 1990, myself with Paul Ryan in 1998, Bill Christofferson with Jim Doyle in 2002), the truth is, the right mix of events collided. After that, as they say, you can’t beat some body with nobody.

Candidates win races, not consultants.

Which is why Ellis would have taken the nomination away from Scott McCallum in 2002.

Had Ellis ran in 2002, most of his colleagues would have endorsed him against acting Governor McCallum. Today, Ellis’s colleagues are already with Mark Green.

Had Ellis ran in 2002, the business community may not have abandoned him in the general election against Jim Doyle, as they did with McCallum. Today, big-money markers are already placed with Doyle, Green or Scott Walker.

Had Ellis ran in 2002, he would have creamed McCallum in debates. OK, bad example; a high school student president could cream McCallum in debates.

Had Ellis ran in 2002, he’d be governor today.

As the incumbent, Ellis’s conservative credentials would be stone solid coming-off 2 budgets since the 2002 gubernatorial election. And as an independent maverick (see previous post), Mike Ellis would own the statewide bully pulpit to showcase his big ideas and move public opinion in his direction.

Many Republican donors fear Mike Ellis - especially in the wealthy suburbs of metro-Milwaukee. His opposition to the taxpayer-financing of Miller Park threatened their world. And earlier, across the state in LaCrosse, Mike dared to call-out once uber-lobbyist "Uncle Billy" and SWIB's sweetheart deals that cost the state millions.

And look at what that family tree has sprouted from its trunk.

Senator Mike Ellis; say what you want about his style, but no one can argue he has been a consistant conservative.

Had Ellis run in 2002, we would not be saddled with Jim Doyle today. And something serious would have been tried to tame property taxes.

Yes, Feingold Jumps

2006-01-02T11:00:00.000-06:00

He tests the waters, but will he jump in?
Feingold may want presidency, but desire alone won't win it
___________________________

I’m no Democrat insider, but I have been a staffer to a presidential exploratory committee and the ensuing presidential campaign, and one thing is near certain, Russ Feingold is running for President.

Pointy-headed academics who court the political media aside, presidential politics is all about the future, not the past, so remove losers John Edwards, John Kerry, Joe Biden and Al Gore from the list of top tier Democrats.

The last nominee retread to win successive nominations was Adlai Stevenson. Mass communications and the professionalization of political campaigns simply will not enable any nominee a next time.

For that reason, Gore and Kerry are not Feingold’s competitors for the Democrat nomination.

At this point in the marathon, Feingold’s only competition is himself. He occupies space in the race that no one else can grab as their own. Campaign finance reform? War opposition? He’s a liberal’s rock star and yet, in Wisconsin particularly, he’s perceived more maverick-ish, anti-establishment, libertarian than George McGovern-esque.

Wisconsin loves a maverick -- GOPers Lee Dreyfus in 1978, Bob Kasten in 1980 and Tommy Thompson in 1986 – Feingold holds the US Senate seat once held by Good Night and Good Luck movie target Joe McCarthy.

My former employer, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), really blew it during Feingold’s reelection. Bailing on Tim Michels they way they did, and then allowing the VFW-PAC to endorse Russ Feingold – a treasonous political move – guaranteed a Feingold Presidential campaign.

Every time Russ Feingold smacks the Bush Administration in Iowa or New Hampshire, the subsequent national news coverage will remind independent, non-aligned suburban voters that come the general election campaign in just over a year, we Republicans have had our opportunity.

In campaigns, 14 months is measured in dog years. But by not helping to end Feingold’s 12-year run here in Wisconsin, the NRSC gave the country a liberal wolf in sheep camouflage.

What A Pinhead; VOL IX

2005-12-29T13:24:00.000-06:00

Next time, try robbing the Blind Squirrel Tavern or the Blue Hair Beer and Brats, pinhead!

Wausau Record Herald

Police officers this afternoon raced to the Cop Shoppe Pub, where the tavern named by former officers had become the scene of a crime.

A man had jumped over the bar, stole nearly $500 in cash and fled the pub near downtown Wausau only to be arrested minutes later and blocks away,according to police.

Wausau police arrested Roger Xiong, 25, after he flagged down a vehicle at the intersection of Sixth and McClellan streets.

Toast and Crackers

2005-12-29T13:06:00.000-06:00

IL uber-lobbyist, Don Udsten, the songbird, is singing again;

Wisconsin Energy

The Ryan trial, now entering its 13th week, has focused the spotlight on how a small network of well-connected lobbyists and their friends wielded huge power in Springfield.
He said he first became aware that Wisconsin Energy was looking for a lobbyist when he got a call from an old friend, Nicholas Hurtgen, who was an aide to Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson.
"We recognize that we are not the focus of the trial and we have cooperated fully with the prosecution," Wisconsin Energy spokesman Barry McNulty said.
Meanwhile, Hurtgen is charged in an alleged shakedown of a Naperville hospital in which an investment house whose Chicago office he headed was supposed to underwrite construction bonds

Finley For County Exec

2005-12-28T13:11:00.000-06:00

No, not that one, the other one.

The very bold press release Jenifer Finley sent on the eve of Christmas seemed to send a message to her former boss, new Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas; I can do it better than you --

Sykes Writes

SATURDAY, Dec. 24, 2005, 7:18 p.m.
JENIFER FINLEY SPEAKS OUT

A statement released earlier this evening:

Subject: Jenifer Finley Press
Statement
From: Jenifer Finley
December 24, 2005

I can no longer sit silent. I had hoped to leave my position as Chief of Staff to Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas, and simply move on quietly to other arenas. However, County Executive Vrakas has made a series of management decisions that I do not feel are in the best interest of the taxpayers and that I can not be a part of.

I accepted the Chief of Staff position because of my love of public service, desire to serve Waukesha County, and because I could offer the County an array of professional experiences and a masterÃ¯Â¿Â½s degree in Administrative Leadership.

But I can no longer in good conscience serve in the Vrakas administration and I feel that I owe it to the community to explain why.

What was she thinking?

Any political operative knows one doesn't announce a campaign betweeneen Thanksgiving and News Years -- even if the release is aiming at the non-partisan April, Spring elections.

Finley's press release dated Christmas Eve was a manifesto on Vrakas' budget failings.

Reading between, below and above the lines, Finley appears prepared to launch her own bid for Waukesha County Executive.

I love this stuff. Having made the same sort of mistakes that Finley just made, I can speak first-hand to my missed opportunity to challenge acting Governor Scott McCallum for the GOP nomination in 2002.

UPDATE:
Brian Fraley says Finley broke the loyalty oath that staff are bound by...

Xoff drives-thru Waukesha County...

Garbage In, Garbage Out

2005-12-22T10:23:00.000-06:00

Any operative who has ever worked campaigns beyond their home state borders can see this is a garbage poll. As more reputable pollsters will tell you, garbage in, garbage out.

Polling is both an art and a science. The science enters when random samples are drawn from a qualified source file, and then again when cross-tabs are pulled. Top line numbers rarely reveal anything, especially 10 months before an election and with the holidays rapidly approaching.

The art of polling is having insight into the political environment of a given state, and being able to intuitively know whether the poll results are within reasonable parameters.

Again, interpreting crosstabs is critical.

Wisconsin is a notoriously difficult state to poll in primaries because of same day voter registration, no party registration, combined with the cost of adding a battery of screening questions to drop all but the frequent, partisan voter. Most clients cut the screening questions from the cost of the poll and simply ask, do you plan on voting?

Response - ahh, yea, sure.

But less than 2 on 10 voters will vote in the GOP primary for govenror next September. And roughly 4 in 10 of all previously registered voters will bother to vote in the general election.

Note the difference is discussing eligible voters (those 18 years and older) and registered voters.

Bottom line is, I don't need a poll to tell me Governor Doyle is vulnerable, as the poll below suggests. But I do need a poll to tell me among which voting subgroups (demographics) he is vulnerable with.

Good thing neither Walker nor Green commissioned this poll. It is good for nothing but a door-stop at campaign HQ.

-- A new poll from Atlanta-based Strategic Vision shows Doyle with a 46-44 approve-disapprove rating from likely state voters.
The poll included 272 self-identified as Democrats, 216 who self-identified Republicans, and 312 who identified themselves as Independent or another party affiliation.

In head-to-head match-ups between Doyle and his likely GOP opponents, the governor beat U.S. Rep. Mark Green 45 percent to 43 percent, and Milwaukee Co. Exec. Scott Walker 46 percent to 39 percent.

Republican voters asked their choice to challenge Doyle responded 47 percent for Green and 40 percent for Walker.

ÂAt this time Doyle is definitely vulnerable against both Green and Walker,Â said David E. Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Strategic Vision. ÂBoth hold Doyle below the critical 50 percent mark which this early in a campaign indicates serious trouble for the incumbent. Additionally, in the match-up with Green, the race is statistically tied.Â

Illinois First (Dysfuntional) Family

2005-12-21T10:03:00.000-06:00

The Illinois governor's race is shaping-up to be the most entertaining in the country. Democrat Governor Blagojevich just drew as a primary opponent a former aldermanic colleague of his father-in-law's, Richard Mell.

It was father-in-law Mell that accused the governor of selling board appointments in exchange for campaign contributions, after Blago axed a landfill deal that Mell may have had a financial interest in.

From May, 2005;

Gov. Blagojevich made his father-in-law sound like a monster-in-law Monday, blaming virtually all of his administration's problems on Ald. Richard Mell.

And he said "testicular virility'' had given him the fortitude to shake things up in Springfield and stand up to Mell (33rd).

I never went to Med School, but I believe that translates into the govenror has bigger balls than his wife's father's balls. Wow.

(Funny, an AC/DC song is playing in my head right now...)

Former Chicago alderman Edwin Eisendrath formally announced his Democratic candidacy for governor Sunday, saying Gov. Rod Blagojevich has fallen short on his promise to clean up state government.

Eisendrath told about 100 supporters at Kendall College in Chicago, where he is vice president of academic affairs, that he supported Blagojevich in his 2002 campaign. But he said the governor has failed to restore trust in state government.

"It took our party nearly 30 years to win the governorship. In less than four, the Blagojevich administration has let the perception of ethical lapses put all that we've worked for at risk," Eisendrath said.

Another Blue Collar Kid from Janesville

2005-12-21T08:15:00.000-06:00

ABC Supply founder, Ken Hendricks.

I love the comments about the Janesville Country Club, which by the way, is not on the East-Side, Craig-side of town, but rather on the West-Side, Parker, Cow-Pie-High, side of town!

New Anti-Obey Site

2005-12-20T12:53:00.000-06:00

It's called Obey Out and frankly, I was wondering why Congressman Dave Obey (D, WI-7) had not drawn more interest from the internet community.

Dave Obey is among the meanest dudes in Congress and he's got a hot temper at home too. I suspect this is why so many Republicans take a pass on challenging him, and why so many conservative Democrats live in fear of not towing the Obey line.

Creative internet strategies is what is needed to defeat a congressional incumbent that was first elected back in 1969; build a cyber groundswell and use ensuing symbolism to craft an image of how Obey is woefully out of touch with his district and the country.

Then again, ya can't beat somebody with no body - especially with one of the largest House Districts east of the Mississippi.

The New Odd Couple

2005-12-20T10:22:00.000-06:00

Even though Illinois voters elect their governors and light governors from separate ballots, GOP frontrunner Topinka has paired herself with 2002 GOP Attorney General nominee Birkett.

There might be hope for the new political Odd Couple, with Topinka playing Oscar Madison to Birkett's Felix Unger.

Gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka, who has upset conservative Republicans with her stands on issues including abortion and gay rights, tapped a tough-on-crime prosecutor to be her running mate Thursday.

The announcement of DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett as Topinka's choice for lieutenant governor was widely expected.

Birkett opposes abortion and supports resuming executions, but the two stressed their common working-class roots and their agreement on concepts like integrity

Dead (NFL) Men Walking

2005-12-20T09:29:00.001-06:00

When the Bears rise to the class of the NFC North, it's time for changes.

Packers' Mike Sherman
Vikings' Mike Tice
Detroit's Matt Millen

The Politics of Speechifying

2005-12-18T22:14:00.000-06:00

The thing that continues to aggravate me most about President Bush’s renewed enthusiasm for taking-on his critics of the war is the Orwellian feel to it all.

Tonight was the President’s fourth or fifth recent speech directed straight at the American people. Most of Bush’s public comments in 2005 have been intended for the consumption of the international community; from the BBC to Al Jazerra. No wonder that roughly 7 in 10 Americans are hacked-off at the guy. We, we, want to know what the hell is going on.

I clicked over to ESPN’s game before the Democrats offered their rebuttal, so I have no idea what that clumsy bunch of angry flag-burners saw in Bush’s TV appearance.

For me, Ambassador Joe Wilson and NSC analyst Richard Clarke finished closer to vindication tonight. Remember, the White House stated the numero uno reason for invading Iraq was Saddam’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. Both Wilson and Clarke said repeatedly, at the outset, that Iraq did not possess WMDs.

And, they were right.

Had Bush 43 simply stated, 3-some years ago, that Saddam must be removed because he tried to assassinate his father, Bush 41 -- hey, good enough for me. Turner Classic reruns of The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos broadcast on global Sky TV should have taught the world – you hurt one of ours, we kill one of yours. Mess with the famiglio – the family of Americans – and the U.S. Marines will find you – even if you are cowering in a spider-hole in a desert.

President Bush called me an honest critic tonight. I am not one of those who see nothing going right. I supported the war for the reasons the President gave us. Yet, how do I reconcile that support with the bad intelligence that we were force fed?

And that is the Orwell-nature of this mess; tonight, President Bush repackaged the war debate between victory and defeat – an either/or equation.

But what if victory has already been achieved, and everything that follows is defeat?

15 years ago, it took all of 100 hours to liberate Kuwait from Saddam. We have accomplished regime change in Afghanistan. We accomplished regime change in Iraq. Our ability to sweep in and accomplish the same again if needed is without question.

The President is claiming his plan is victory and everyone else’s is defeat. Unless, like those WMDs, it is not.

Choke on It, NY Times

2005-12-12T08:13:00.000-06:00

Conservative Blogs are More Effective
here

True. Throughout history, conservatives have had to create their own vehicles of communication -- from Lincoln wresting control from the Whigs to win as a new Republican, to Teddy's Bull Moose Party, from rescuing AM radio with talk format, to the current proliferation of blogging.

Conservatives simply don't have mainstream media - East Coast networks and Left Coast movie-makers - on our side.

The Inn Never Changes; The Walls Talk

2005-12-10T06:34:00.000-06:00

Who is this guy Gary Fisher?

Anyone know him? Yes? From the Inn on the Park you say?

For those who have not slopped tap beer and stayed too long at the favorite watering hole of legislators, reporters and lobbyists alike, the Inn on the Park is something akin to the office water cooler; a metaphor for where one goes to belly-ache.

The trouble with the Inn on the Park is everyone overhears the secret plans to screw with someone else.

Ya got a bill to kill? Let's amend it to death. Ya got pay-back on someone? Let's meet across the street at the Inn at 5:00pm and devise a dastardly deed.

It was easy to figure-out the assassins when it was Republicans v. Democrats. But occasionally, politics does indeed create strange bedfellows -- but we'll save those Tales from the Inn for future blog posts.

Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos is the Inn's latest target these days (post).

Politics is a zero-sum game, as in, I got zero, and I want some.

So, applying this political truism to the brinkmanship being played by the Veterans Affairs Board, and mixing-in the clumsy chatter at the Inn on the Park, the game against Scocos is as obvious as the beer foam at the bottom of Senator Roger Breske's glass.

*Democrat Governor Jim Doyle; He's got zero. VA Secretary Scocos is a Republican appointee hold-over;

*Democrat ex-Senator Rod Moen; He's got zero. The defeated pol/ex-Naval vet desperately wants Scocos' job;

*Republican St. Rep Terry Musser; He's got almost zero. The Veterans Committee he chairs was split into 2 committees, by Republican Speaker John Gard , diluting his clout;

*Republican VA Secretary John Scocos; He's got some. As a Gard loyalist, Scocos draws fire from those Assembly GOP caucus members who have been disciplined by their emotional leader.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Or, as Dick Morris redefined it, John Scocos is being triangulated.

Cheers, Big Red

2005-12-09T12:45:00.000-06:00

In 1985, I got to class by one of two methods, either riding the Tube or walking to Hanger Lane to jump the #112 for the ride down Uxbridge to the Ealing Broadway stop.

For a 19 year-old, Blue-Collar Kid From Janesville, it was such a thrill to jump on London’s famous red double-decker buses every day.

Most times, I never reached the campus of Ealing College of Higher Education (now called Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College -- site.)

The temptation to simply ride the busses into central London and explore was too great for a kid who had hardly been beyond Wisconsin.

Which is why it is a sad day for those who have lived in London, and for those who will not have the experience to live and ride like a native Englishman.

The Last Ride

Randomly, I would jump off near Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus and walk the narrow streets called Mew or Close, in search of the perfect pint.

Oddly, every pub I visited in London poured the perfect pint. And after several pints, games like Snooker and Cricket began to make sense.

20 years ago, I rode the Roadmasters of London. I never thought they'd be gone before I got back to the streets of London and Queen Vic's Pub.

I lift my pint to the East, across the Pond, to say thanks for adopting this American and carrying me home safely each afternoon.

Scocos' Only Sin? Being Named By Tommy

2005-12-09T09:16:00.000-06:00

Changes in Administrations bring changes to most levels of government - as the old saw goes, to the winner goes the spoils.

Which is the real reason why the Secretary of Veteran affairs, John Scocos, is being ambushed from inside the wire.

When someone serves 14 years in the governor's office, their influence lingers, particularly among the Corp. of political appointees throughout the numerous boards and commissions.

Tommy Thompson's appointments secretary was a master at getting the right people placed.

So it takes awhile for a new governor of the opposing Party to clean house and reward their campaign worker bees with resume-choking appointments.

Democrat cross-hairs are pinned on John Scocos.

The real issue is not the quality of service Scocos is providing our veterans.

More can always be won for those who have never, ever, ever, received their fair share for their sacrifice - but the reviews on Scocos say he never stops marching on the decision-makers for a renewed commitment to those who fought and died for my right, among rights, to write this blog.

The real issue is the Veterans Vote is a a critical voting bloc in Wisconsin.

Having one of your own traveling the county roads to VFW lodges and American Legion halls, extolling praise upon the incumbent governor, is grassroots campaigning worth more than any 30 second TV ad.

And when the incumbent governor is slumping in the mid 40s in polls when asked who will vote to reelect the guy, grabbing control of Veterans Affairs becomes all the more urgent.

Scocos doesn't have a capitol D after his name, so he is being slammed by Governor Doyle's appointees to the Veterans Board.

It's warfare, Capitol-style.

Escape FROM Wisconsin

2005-12-09T08:25:00.000-06:00

Reason #173 why Wisconsin retirees leave Wisconsin, and why Wisconsin is unable to attract retirees to Wisconsin.

New resident not humored by wait time for licensing

To the Editor:
About 3 1/2 months ago I moved up here to Woodruff from Illinois. On July 18, after driving to Rhinelander to get the forms to apply for new titles and new plates for my two cars, I filled them out, enclosed the $90 fee by check for each car ($55 for the plates and $35 for the title) each in separate envelopes and mailed them off to the DMV in Madison. Exactly one month later, Aug. 18, after hearing nothing from Madison and checking my tele-bank to find that they hadn't even cashed my checks yet, I drove over to the Woodruff Police Department to ask some questions as to why I hadn't received or heard a thing from Madison.

They told me, 'well, you know it takes 12 weeks.' I laughed because I thought they were kidding. I said, "12 weeks, that's three months, one-quarter of a year. That's crazy. In Illinois, I have never had to wait more than three weeks." All they said was "well, that's the way it is up here."

Well, they weren't kidding because 11 weeks to the day I finally received the title and registration card for one of the cars (not the one that had already expired over a month beforehand, but for the one that had recently expired). However, two days later I received the other title and registration card.

Now this whole thing is not only crazy, it's insane. I don't know if this Gov. Doyle is a Democrat or Republican and I don't care, but I put the blame on him. If he and this so-called great state of Wisconsin can't do better than that at the DMV in Madison, he should resign and/or be removed from office and the DMV should be properly staffed so as to get this work done in a reasonable and timely manner, like in Illinois.

And I don't need to hear any of this "if you don't like it, move back to Illinois" crap, either. I have talked to several Wisconsin residents who feel as I do. In the meantime, the plates on both cars expired as a result, even though when I applied, I had nearly 1 1/2 months to spare on the one car and nearly 2 1/2 months on the other car.

Also, I had to wait all this time for them to cash the checks so I could close out my old checking account. And besides sending in my "old" titles, as they required, I also sent in my "old" registration cards to show that in Illinois I got a $54 discount on the one car for being a senior citizen (on the plates), but here I didn't receive a cent off on either car.

As far as the cost of the titles at $35 each that is also a ripoff. I remember when they were $3 (in Illinois). Finally, when I went to Rhinelander to get a new driver's license, they told me I would have to pay $18 (because I was a new resident) for only three years (the first time or $6 a year), but next time it would only be $24 for eight years (or half the cost at $3 a year).

In Illinois, I paid $10 (two years ago) for four years, but, of course, I received nothing for the almost two years I had left to go on the (Illinois) driver's license before it expired.

Now my main complaint here is about the 12-plus week wait. That's pathetic. What a joke this is!
Harlan Parke
Woodruff
December 09, 2005

Brian Burke in PJs

2005-12-08T09:38:00.000-06:00

WI State Journal

...Picture convicted felon and former state Sen. Brian Burke camped out on the couch in his Milwaukee living room, watching television in his pajamas and slippers.

Boy, would that show him and the public that crime doesn't pay.

Yeah, right

Sounds familiar, but with a bit more bite.

WI's Only Statewide Republican

2005-12-05T11:34:00.000-06:00

 Republican State Treasurer Jack Voight announced his candidacy for a fourth term today, focusing on issues like EdVest, the Local Government Investment Pool and the Unclaimed Property Program. Voight has three fundraisers scheduled in the next three days.
____________________

Perhaps we can all learn from Jack.

4 terms would tie Tommy.

Law and Order; CSI Saddam

2005-12-05T09:50:00.000-06:00

BBC

Chaos mars Saddam court hearing
The trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has resumed after a walkout by defence lawyers initially threw the third hearing into disarray.

Saddam Hussein and his half-brother shouted at the judge

...Witness Ahmed Hassan Mohammed al-Dujaili - who says he was among many people arrested in Dujail - then addressed the court. "I heard a knock on the door and secret service people came in," he said. "People were taken to prison and most were killed there. The scene was frightening. Even women with babies were arrested."

..Another, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, said that unless the trial was seen as "absolutely fair", it would "divide rather than reconcile Iraq".
______________________________________

Want to reverse public opinion on the War in Iraq?

Televise the trial.

Americans love courtroom TV. From Perry Mason to the People's Court, from Judge Judy to L.A. Law, court drama consistently drives the ratings game.

Think, O.J.

The Saddam Trial might just give birth to a new Nightline, or discover the next Jeffrey Toobin.

IL GOP Risks Cannibalizing Themselves

2005-12-05T09:25:00.000-06:00

Craine's Greg Hinz

...Unfortunately for Republicans, that campaign cannot be waged very effectively — at least, not without a fast, major makeover — by the GOP's primary front-runner, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, who declared her candidacy last week.

...It shouldn't be that way. Ms. Topinka herself needs to prove that she's not just a get-along, go-along gal. She can start by moving away from Bob Kjellander, who has a stunning conflict in his twin roles as a lobbyist who has to butter up Democratic officials and a protector of GOP interests as the state's Republican national committeeman. Then she can propose and unite her party behind new ethics laws with teeth.

Ms. Topinka can't undo the past. But she needs to demonstrate the future will be different.

No one within the cadre of IL GOP candidates for governor has captured the reform mantel as Hinz suggested.

Illinois is a Democrat state. Without any of the Republicans willing to focus a reform message directly at Blago, the state GOP risks another 4 years of irrelevance.

Dennis York Revealed

2005-12-01T09:03:00.000-06:00

Clues up ahead...

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2005
The Canonization of "Saint Lyndee"
As soon as Hall’s puff piece about caucus “scandal” informant Wall surfaced this morning, I immediately received e-mails from Capitol staffers and ex-staffers asking me to offer a more balanced view of Ms. Wall

Maybe the most notable crime against democracy occurred on November 30th of 2000 when the police were called to investigate Ms. Wall drunkenly trying to kick in window at Ken’s Bar near the Capitol after she found out her boyfriend, a Republican state legislator, was cheating on her. The relationship with the legislator reportedly ended in April of 2001, right about the time Wall decided to go public with the legislature's dirty laundry. (She apparently got over the relationship fairly quickly, seeing as how she now has a 3 year old son - do the math.)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2005
Martin Luther Speaks Against Self Defense from the Grave

Is the divinity of Christ in question if a certain percentage of Wisconsin residents believe he ain't coming back?

I'm no theologian, but religions exist to dictate public opinion, not reflect it.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2005
My Daughter - Punk Rock Queen

I know nobody likes hearing lame stories about other people's kids, but a seminal event in our family occurred this morning when my two and a half year old daughter

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2005
In a sign that the standards over at Wispolitics.com are dropping at an alarming rate, they have named my little blog here as their "Blog of the Month."

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2005
The Doyle/Nichols Love Child: Cooking the Books on Gas Prices
Exactly what is price gouging “under normal circumstances?” Aren’t “extraordinary circumstances” exactly what cause gouging to be gouging? If someone doubled the price of toilet paper under normal circumstances, you’d figure out a way to get it cheaper. If someone doubled the price of toilet paper after you had downed an order of Denny's Moons Over My Hammy, that would be (the worst type of) gouging, and an extraordinarily bad circumstance all around.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 02, 2005
Who is making all that oil money again?
It's not often I get to toot my own horn (at least not with anyone else in the house), so I'll do so now. Before all the post-Katrina indignation about gas prices and how all the evil oil companies were gouging consumers, I wrote this post, which exposed the hypocrisy of Democrats on the issue

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2005
My uncle Eddie loves his job. A few times a week, he hops on a bus and rides halfway across Milwaukee to get to Pizza Hut, where he’s worked for seven years

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2005
Want Better Legislators? Pay Them More
I know, I know. This one will take a little while to explain. Maybe it’s just the contrarian in me. Then again, it is more likely the magic markers I have been sniffing.

Judy, You Got Sum 'Splainin to Do

2005-12-01T08:29:00.000-06:00

Judy Baar Topinka is a regular at the Chicago homosexual "pride" parade. Topinka is a close friend of Illinois' leading homosexual lobby group, Equality Illinois.

I bet she never thought she would be running in a statewide primary for Governor.

And the gloves come off (click)

Topinkojevich Announces

2005-12-01T07:09:00.000-06:00

Judy Baar Topinka -- Katy Bar the Door, impending disaster ahead.

Guess the IL establishment Republicans are still smarting over losing Lolita Dedrickson in March of 1998 to conservative Peter Fitzgerald. They dusted-off her more amusing clone.

Topinka launches race for governor

...Topinka has vocal opponents among conservative Republicans. She would also be facing wealthy opponents.

...She was joined by former Governor Jim Edgar, who was asked to run for his old job but declined. Instead, he has agreed to serve as Topinka's campaign chairman.

...She belongs to the party's establishment at a time when some Republicans are calling for a thorough house-cleaning. Her candidacy is backed, for instance, by Bob Kjellander, a member of the Republican National Committee whose lobbying firm made $800,000 by helping a bond company land a deal with the Blagojevich administration.

...Topinka also pushed unsuccessfully to let two hotel companies with political connections settle $43 million in debt to the state for just $10 million.

...Steve Rauschenberger's gubernatorial campaign has begun calling her "Topinkojevich" and arguing she would be little different from the current Democratic administration.

_____________________

Here's a golden oldie, and I suspect the same sort of predictions will appear for Judy Baar;

McLaughlin Group Â 11/24/97
PREDICTIONS worth mentioning
Clift: Expanding private pensions
Buchanan : Big demand for US funds to bail out Asia.
McLaughlin: Lolita Dedrickson (R) will face Carol Mosely-Braun and win.

Burke Smart Enough to Know Better

2005-11-30T12:39:00.000-06:00

From WisPolitics...

-- Former state Sen. Brian Burke was sentenced today to six months in jail after pleading guilty in October to one felony count of misconduct in office and one misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer.

Dane County Judge William Foust said Burke can serve the term in Milwaukee, near his home, and he is scheduled to begin serving in the next 60 days. He will have work-release privileges. Foust also ordered $75,000 in restitution, which he said could be paid by Burke's campaign fund, and fined Burke an additional $2,500. Foust did not include probation as part of the sentence.
__________________________

Perhaps the Citizens for Responsible Government should shift gears; rather than circulate recall papers on Madison Mayor Dave, CRG should begin an effort against Judge Foust.

Burke wins a work release conviction, near his home, is allowed to pay restitution from his illegally solicited and collected campaign account, and oh, ouch, must pay a $2,500 fine -- of which is likely half of what Burke collected as a monthly retainer while recently lobbying his former colleagues.

This is justice? The guy knowingly and intentionally violated his Oath of Office. Burke systematically cheated. This is the most punishment Foust could impose?

No probation? No 10,000 hours of community service?

But hey, Mrs. Burke says;

My husband is not the evil person some critics make him out to be. We have already suffered more over the last years, and will suffer more in the future, than many criminals who come before you every day. ... All I can ask of the sentence you impose is that it takes into account the whole picture and not only the one that has been advanced by Brian's most severe critics. Brian plead guilty for a number of reasons. A key one was his decision that this needed to end to let our family slip into whatever obscurity we can find to build a new future.

Look, no one would suggest that 5 years in a super max prison is an appropriate sentence; but make the guy bleed a little --

* 90 days, no work release.
** 1 year of home detention, monitored with an ankle bracelet (bracelet tenure must include at least one beach season).
*** Restitution paid with personal funds.
**** Community service for 4 years, or equal to a single term in either the WI State Senate or the office of Attorney General for which Burke aspired.
***** And TV/radio public service announcements broadcast in Milwaukee ADI, extolling the importance of filing state and federal tax returns (sqaushing any populist apeal he might invite)
****** Oh, and one last thing, community service can include lobbying his colleagues to pass legislation to keep convicted felons from holding a lobby license.

Success in Iraq Defined - Sorta

2005-11-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

So this is the White House's "major policy announcement," adding a "3rd track" and "8 pillars" to the war plan?

As Yogi Berra would say, It's deja-vu all over again....

Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Bush: Iraq 'vital' to U.S. security
President vows to stand firm in address from Army post

President Bush sought to reclaim a public mandate for his Iraq policy Tuesday, telling the American people the war is "vital" to their security and that insurgents there share "the same murderous ideology" as the 9/11 hijackers.

Bush asked for patience with the U.S. strategy, which he described as two-pronged -- with a military component to combat the insurgency and a political effort to build "the institutions of a free society."

"Our strategy can be summed up this way -- as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down," he said.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Bush: U.S. to stay in Iraq till war is won

As we fight the enemy in Iraq, every man and woman who volunteers to defend our nation deserves an unwavering commitment to the mission and a clear strategy for victory," Bush said as he opened his address at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The plan calls for pursuing three tracks: political, security and economic. The tracks are broken down into eight pillars, including defeating terrorists and neutralizing the insurgency; helping Iraq strengthen its economy; and increasing international support for Iraq.

Dems, GOP fight to Draw on Tainted Money

2005-11-30T07:58:00.000-06:00

A compelling story, even if factually inaccurate, can be more
emotionally compelling than a dry recitation of the truth.

GOP Strategist Frank Luntz

Can any Republican operative argue this DeLay thing is not a compelling story?

It was recently reported that Delay met with Republican U.S. Senators:

The officials who described DeLay's brief remarks noted that the session, a regularly scheduled weekly lunch, was held under rules of secrecy...

When embattled Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum made statements implying Democrats were behind the Delay vendetta (which they are), the content of the secret meeting was exposed -- counterattack.

But hey, I defer to my favorite Republican, and future Presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich;

"DeLay's problem isn't with the Democrats; DeLay's problem is with the country."

Frank and Newt should get on the same page, after working so closely on the 1994 Contract With America.

The result of this most compelling story is the issue of Who do you trust more, the Republican X or the Democrat Jim Doyle is being taken off the table for 2006.

He said, She said issues don't carry elections.

I suspect with every campaign issue topic, the underlying emotional response will be, Oh yea, do you trust him to do as he says and not be bought-off?

The water, and credibility, is muddy for all candidates - Democrats and Republicans.

Illinois donations to candidates panned
Activist cites investigations of donors, firms
By Steve Walters

Madison - Wisconsin's three candidates for governor have accepted $22,513 from Illinois executives who are charged with crimes or under investigation or whose companies have been investigated - donations that should be returned, the head of a campaign watchdog group said Monday.

Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said his group computed that total because Illinois has had major corruption scandals involving campaign cash, and Illinois is a major source of donations for Wisconsin candidates.

The Stink of Tainted Money

2005-11-30T07:57:00.000-06:00

Having served as a field director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, I have a good idea of what is being debated behind conference room doors.

It's a lot of this;

Republican strategist Frank Luntz reminded a group of House members Thursday, "You owe (DeLay) your majority. He's where he is today because he sacrificed himself to gain those extra seats."
Luntz said, "You dance with the one that brought you," adding that making refunds is "ridiculous."

Frank is a friend. When he launched his consulting business back in 1992, we brought him in for State Party training sessions with our legislative incumbents and challengers.

The honor roll from that class of 1992 included current Reps. Kreibich, Owens, and Ward, past Reps. Cliff Otte, Lorraine Seratti, Bob Zuchowski, Bonnie Ladwig and John Dobyns. Former St. Senator Gary Drzewiecki delivered a huge upset over incumbent Jerry Van Sistine. St. Sen. Lazich was a member of that Assembly class to deliver the first net gain for Republicans in over 8 years.

Even Congressman and current gubernatorial candidate Mark Green arrived to state politics that year.

Many of those names attended our candidate training sessions. And among the campaign communication lessons Luntz bestowed upon the class of 1992 was;

You think emotions are more revelatory than the intellect for predicting these decisions? 80 percent of our life is emotion, and only 20 percent is intellect. I am much more interested in how you feel than how you think. I can change how you think, but how you feel is something deeper and stronger, and it's something that's inside you. How you think is on the outside, how you feel is on the inside, so that's what I need to understand.

So I find it curious that Luntz, who consults the NRCC, would advise Republican members against returning DeLay contributions, or as an alternative, donate the amount received to hurricane victims, or school programs, or local charity; anything to get the stink of bad money off the suits of a GOP Congress.

The DeLay story has legs. Or, the emotional appeal for Democrats to exploit is just too sexy to avoid.

Other GOP operatives say it is not a forgone conclusion that DeLay's indictment will taint Republicans next year. Back in April, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll found that 38% had an unfavorable opinion about DeLay. But nearly as many, 35%, had never heard of him or had no opinion of the then-majority leader.

Those numbers are already sliding against us.

DeLay needs to be completely exonerated - and soon - to rescue the slim GOP majority and Members like Mark Green who are seeking higher office by spending monies at least partially provided by an indicted colleague.

Good Op-Ed, Dutch

2005-11-29T13:04:00.000-06:00

But as you know, good theater is good politics...

Steve Baas

...According to Doyle, the purpose is to demand that these executives "justify making enormous profits in the wake of a national tragedy." Yet these five companies' current average profit margin is 8.15 percent, ranging from 6.28 percent for BP America to 10.41 percent for Exxon Mobil, according to Standard & Poor's.

...Wisconsin's gas tax adds 32 cents to every gallon of gas sold. At the current statewide average price of about $2.25 a gallon, that's a state Transportation Fund profit of 14 percent on every dollar you paid for gas. Subpoena the Department of Transportation!

...The Public Service Commission has consistently approved rate increases necessary to maintain Wisconsin utilities' profit margins between 12 percent and 13 percent.

...In the ultimate example of the through-the-looking- glass absurdity of these subpoenas, the state's Minimum Markup Law requires gas retailers to add up to a 9.18 percent profit to the cost of their product. Any scofflaw service station trying to give motorists a bargain by selling below this minimum markup is subject to prosecution and fines from the state Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection.

Top Gun Shot Down

2005-11-29T12:30:00.001-06:00

At least Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham didn't enlist his colleagues to punch back, blame the media, recruit surrogates for cozy testimonials, put the institution through a long costly trial...

He's gone, as he should be. And, he's going to jail, as he should.

But, I was in his office the day he was sworn in - the guest of a buddy who was starting as Duke's new Legislative Director.

It is tradition for Members to host an office reception upon coming to Capitol Hill and I was eager to meet a real life war hero.

So this dereliction to his Oath of Office is so disappointing.

Guess President Eisenhower was right:

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist
The political obit of Duke Cunningham

...Cunningham said he had asked his lawyers to notify U.S. Attorney Carol Lam of his intention to plead guilty so that he could begin serving his prison term.
"The citizens who elected Mr. Cunningham assumed that he would do his best for them," Lam said in a statement. "Instead, he did the worst thing an elected official can do -- he enriched himself through his position, and violated the trust of those who put him there."
...Cunningham, a member of the intelligence committee and the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, sold his home to Wade in November 2003 for $1,675,000. Wade then sold the home eight months later for $975,000 for a loss of $700,000.
The transaction sparked an FBI investigation into the relationship between Cunningham and Wade.
News reports subsequently revealed that Cunningham had been living rent-free in Washington, DC, on a 42-foot yacht named the Duke Stir that was owned by Wade. MZM received approximately $40 million in government contracts in 2003.

Hard to believe this is the same guy:

In 1966, at the age of 25, Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy and became one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Vietnam War. As the first fighter ace of the war, Cunningham was nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations.

Duke's experience in Vietnam and his background as an educator prepared him well to train fighter pilots at the Navy Fighter Weapons School -- the famed "Top Gun" program at Miramar Naval Air Station. As Commanding Officer of the elite Navy Adversary Squadron, Cunningham flew Russian tactics and formations against America's best combat fighter pilots. Many of his real-life experiences as a Navy aviator and fighter pilot instructor were depicted in the popular movie "Top Gun."

Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio...?

2005-11-28T16:33:00.000-06:00

- Duke was presented with a personalized Wheaties® box featuring his photo A longtime supporter of science, Congressman Cunningham was presented with a personalized Wheaties® box featuring his photograph and Champion of Science stats.

From Vietnam War jet fighter ace, to US Congresssman.
From a Wheaties box, to thumb prints and a mug shot.

Cunningham Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Tax Evasion & Accepting Bribes

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham tearfully expressed regret for his behavior as he announced his resignation from Congress today. Cunningham pled guilty in federal court to fraud, admitted accepting bribes and committing tax evasion.

The Republican of California will be sentenced on February 27 and could receive ten years in prison

The McCain Factor

2005-11-21T10:44:00.000-06:00

From David Broder

No one outside the administration has been more adamant or outspoken in arguing that there is no substitute for victory in Iraq than has McCain, the Naval Academy graduate and survivor of years in a North Vietnamese prison camp.

But there is nothing nuanced about his position on the Iraq war. In speeches on and off the Senate floor and in countless television interviews, McCain has argued that it was right to remove Saddam Hussein and that the United States and its allies must remain in Iraq until conditions are created for a stable, secure Iraqi government.

...he argued that the consequences of leaving Iraq prematurely would be a factional or religious struggle within that country that could lead to a radical Islamic regime destabilizing the Middle East and threatening more terrorist attacks.
...The misjudgments, McCain said, have continued down to the present...

My sense is John McCain captures the underlying attitudes of most baby-boomers; Vietnam haunts this generation and as we are taught, history has a way of repeating itself.

Yet, it has been McCain, and not President Bush, who has walked Boomers through their fears to the point where Democrats and Independents support Republican McCain for President.

And McCain opposes withdrawal and has consistently called for more American troops in Iraq.

Politics is a funny thing. The Democrat Party calls for immediate withdrawal and denounces the President for lying, yet their Party's voters support McCain for President. And on my side of the partisan divide, Republicans question whether McCain is conservative enough, just for having opposed George W. for the nomination in 2000.

McCain owns credibility on this issue that not even another Vietnam War vet, John Kerry, can touch. Credibility andconsistency are not traits associated with the modern Democrat Party.

I side with McCain, the Bush Administrationn made gigantic mistakes in the conduct of this War, beginning with a failed intelligence that might have prevented 9/11 (read former FBI Director Louis Freeh).

And, why even peddle the issue of WMDs in Iraq when, among the many justifiable reasons to invade Iraq, WMDs represented the weakest of all provable options?

Another warning sign has been the revolving door of generals and commanders retiring or being reassigned, rather than go public with their disagreements with Rummy on issues of troop deployment.

Democrats are too busy courting the Vietnam-generation/Boomer vote with 1960s rhetoric that Bush Lied to understandd that their Party voters are more reasonable than that.

And McCain will pick them off and regroup the Reagan Democrats into a landslide victory in 2008 -- if, if, he can win the GOP nomination first.

Not All Hollywood is Whacked

2005-11-21T08:13:00.000-06:00

Catching-up on weekend reading;

I have never read a James Ellroy novel. For the most part, reading fiction is not my thing. I did see the movie adaptation of his book, L.A. Confidential. And until now, I guess I did not realize that L.A. was first a book.

Whatever. It was a good movie, so when I saw this Q & A with the writer in my National Journal, I expected another Michael Moore-Attacks-Republicans piece.

Ohhh, but this Hollywood writer is no such creature...

Why do you think most cops are conservatives?

Because they know that crime is individual moral default on a epidemic basis, and it needs to be solved, impeded, interdicted, and suppressed on that basis.

And because cops daily come up against crimes for which there are no justifications.

And it's their mandate to enact justice in the moment, and it becomes the overwhelming fact in their lives.

...I'm the son of a murdered mother and, frankly, I'm vindictive. And I want to see evil punished.

But you've also been critical of some on the Right

...I said there was a rabble out there: abortion-clinic bombers, anti-capitalist paint-throwers, the Klan, the militias, militant homosexuals.

I said these people had to be impeded, interdicted and suppressed in order to maintain a lawful society.

The audience didn't know how to react because I was attacking lunatic fringe groups on both the Left and the Right and wrapping them up with one big bow and saying, Stop these people.

People on the Left and the Right have an obligation to disavow the kooks on their own side.

Everyone should take note of Peggy Noonan's behavior. She's charming, reasonable, and she knows how to be conciliatory without giving up her soul.

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

...You have on the one hand esprit de corps and the need to maintain order, which is often prosaic, occasionally violent, and often has to do with the curtailing of crime committed by minority members, juxtaposed against big social issues like the historical injustices shown to blacks in this country.

When you see something like the out-of-context beating of Rodney King, the drama of it holds much greater weight than the reality of good cops doing their job.

...If you look at the entire Rodney King incident in context and in real time, you see that Rodney King had two companions in the car, both of them black. They submitted willingly and were led out of the frame.

Rodney King charged several times and was thrown down and got up again and again, took a Taser from Sergeant Stacy Koon, kept on coming and finally took the 56 blows from batons that, absent context and in slow motion, look terrible.

In full-blown context it looks like nothing but a justified response to a suspect who would not submit.

I think most people not schooled in the street and the realities of police work think the cops are supposed to engage dangerous suspects in something like one-on-one fights like you might see on television, and of course it doesn't work that way.

Did you ever receive any rough treatment at the hands of the police?

...I thought I could outrun the cops. I was mistaken. Two patrol units come in, throw me down on somebody's lawn, and kick my ass with beavertail saps. I got some bruises but no lasting damage.

A rather amused middle-aged sergeant picked me up, dusted me off, smiled at me and said, "Okay, kid, why did we kick your ass?"

And I said, "Well, because I stole the booze."

He says, "Nah, kid, think that over." So I thought about it for about ten seconds and I said, Because I ran? And he said, "Yeah." And guess what: I never ran again, and I never got my ass kicked again.

And it was instructive. There was a civil contract between the police and street tools like me. This was my first painful lesson in it, and I learned. And it's a good story 39 years later.

The Market

2005-11-16T11:55:00.000-06:00

Burger giant rejects shake-up
McDonald's rebuffs financier's proposal to boost stock value

Mickey D's

Whew, Greenspan announces his retirement and the icons of business are turning upside down.

GM post

What all this really says is, it is pretty tough to get PO'ed at the Exxons, BPs and other oil companies when so much of Joe-average retirement pensions and 401ks are locked into the market and the giants' future profitability.

What Were They Thinking?

2005-11-16T10:38:00.000-06:00

As a fan of both kinds of music, Country and Western, last night’s CMAs were a huge bust.

The quickest way to kill your longevity in Country Music is to begin the cross-over into Pop music; which is what happened as the CMAs were moved from Nashville to New York City.

Oh, it was a miserable show, reaching a crescendo as Dolly Parton and Elton John sang a duet; John Lennon’s classic Imagine. Certain songs should never, ever, be covered. Imagine is one of those songs.

The performances looked like skits pulled from Saturday Night Live; first, we’ll pair Dolly with Elton, they can wear each other’s clothes. Then, we’ll get New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano to say something patriotic. Oh, and then, let’s give the gazillionaire New York Mayor national exposure to show-off Times Square (some guy named Garth is grandstanding there).

Why stop with Pop Music, Mr. Network Execs? Why not reach for the young, African-American gangsta audience? We’ll introduce three white be-yotches, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson with 50-cent, Snoop D-O-Double G, and Eminem. The song; Black-Eyed Peas, My Hump (with Lady Lumps).

C’mon, if country fans wanted their music diluted, Kenny Rogers would still be on the charts with those sugar-coated Lionel Ritchie songs. Get back to Nashville. Give us real C&W fans more of George Strait and Allan Jackson and less of Nora Jones and Bon Jovi.

Dems on Film

2005-11-16T07:38:00.000-06:00

Dems on Film, They're More than a Party , Dems on Film;
Dems on Film, Two Years Later, Dems on Film;
Dems on Film, Get it Together, Dems on Film;
Dems on Films, What ya doing, Dems on Film;

The RNC has reached beyond the usual hyper-verbiage fundraising spams to produce a video that is long past due.

It's no Duran-Duran video, but it does illustrate more than anything else what is wrong with the Democrats; Democrats have no clarity of purpose.

It has been too easy for too long for Republicans to simply point to the votes and quotes of Democrats and exploit their inconsistencies. Heck, we won both Houses of Congress and the White House doing just that. The weak image of Democrats at the federal level has cost them races at the state and local level. The Republican majorities in the Wisconsin Legislature is small proof of that.

The Baggage of DC

2005-11-15T13:30:00.000-06:00

Of the former Members of Congress now serving as a governor, none, zero, have a favorability rating above 50% -- must be tough to govern under those burdensome laws and tricky parlor games Congress is noted for.

With a Right Track vs. Wrong Direction poll question weighted 2 to 1 on Wrong Direction, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker has an opportunity to exploit both Washington DC and Madison's leadership.

The good news for Congressman Mark Green is, that each of the 6 ex-Members are now serving as governor, having won their initial elections.

In either case, it is clear Republican governors, and particularly, former Members, need to keep their ex-colleagues in Congress true to Republican principles of federalism and states' rights.

Mr. Smith goes to Washington and back

Jon Corzine (D-NJ), who won his congressional seat in 2000, is just the ninth governor since 1900 to come directly from the U.S. Senate, according to a Stateline.org analysis

Before Corzine, Murkowski (R-AK) and Kempthorne (R-ID) was former California Gov. Pete Wilson (R), who led the Golden State from 1991 to 1999 after leaving the U.S. Senate. But before that, you have to look back to 1957, when Texas Gov. Price Daniel (D) was elected after serving in the U.S. Senate

Currently, eight of the nation's 50 governors traded Capitol Hill for their state Capitols -- the most at one time since the start of the 20th century.

Six current governors came directly from the U.S. House of Representatives: Bob Riley (R) of Alabama, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R), Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R), Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R).

Several congressmen appear willing to take those risks and are declared or likely 2006 gubernatorial candidates in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma and Wisconsin

Could GM Go Broke?

2005-11-14T19:17:00.000-06:00

The world of high finance befuddles me. Could GM really crash and burn? What's next, McDonald's?

Banc Of America Raises General Motors' Bankruptcy Risk
Dow Jones Newswires

Banc of America raised its 2-year bankruptcy risk for General Motors (GM.NYS) to 40% from 30%, following the automaker's disclosure late Wednesday of errors in recognizing some supplier credits.

Analyst Ron Tadross also cut his stock price target to $16 from $18.

"It could get worse, especially considering the stress in the supply base and widespread nature of revising contracted prices," Tadross said.

He reiterated his sell rating, "due to a $3,500 per unit competitive disadvantage, increasing evidence that hidden liabilities exceed hidden assets, the likelihood suppliers will balk at investing with GM and our belief existing liquidity may only be enough to get through a bankruptcy reorganization

The Best Thing About Washington DC

2005-11-11T11:00:00.000-06:00

When I was in college at American University, on this day I would ride my roommate's bike out to Arlington National Cemetery.

I never got close enough to see President Reagan laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but the chill of Taps rolling around the grounds of the cemetery overwhelmed me with both pride and sorrow.

From our rowhouse on 17th and U Street, NW, I would ride around the White House onto Constitution Avenue and through the grounds of the Vietnam War Memorial. There, I would stop for a moment at The Wall. Rough-looking, forty-something, BDU-wearing vets with their boonie hats would gather to march across Memorial Bridge, into the cemetery grounds; a fair amount of wheelchairs mixed in.

I also had to stop and look back over The Mall from the Lincoln Memorial. Just what is it about that one simple statement, I Have A Dream. I dare you to stand on the steps at Lincoln's feet, and not feel something larger than yourself.

As I crossed the river the tour buses were stacked in formation. Stepping-off those buses were white-haired guys wearing hats. Blue garrison caps. With gold piping. What the history books illustrated with black and white photos was now walking past me in full color.

License plates from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, South Carolina, every state, spoke to the greatness and sanctity of sacrifice. How America sent these now old men to fight in faraway places --Verdun, Anzio, Bastogne -- and here they were, back, living their lives, paying their taxes, walking their dogs.

Except for those that are not back.

We spend a lot of emotion honoring the dead soldiers. As we should. Those stark white headstones are the blocks that build the real life manifestations of concepts; concepts of freedom, liberty, dignity.

Today, I fly my flag to honor the living vets.

Living among the monuments of Washington, DC served as a daily reminder of our rights and freedom. But standing in front of those monuments were living, breathing witnesses to the cost of freedom.

Are the United Auto Workers Really United?

2005-11-10T12:30:00.000-06:00

UAW Local 95 Cuts Retirees' Health Care

I won’t pretend to be educated on the politics of the UAW, but I have to ask; how can a union negotiate away benefits of their retired union brothers and sisters without so much as giving the retirees the right to vote on the same package active workers voted on?

Something seems violently un-American about UAW Local 95’s actions.

(From Wednesday)

Hourly workers at General Motors in Janesville are voting today on an agreement that would require union employees and retirees to pay a greater share of their medical bills.

Mike Sheridan, president of Local 95, said only active workers are eligible to vote

(From Thursday)

Hourly workers at General Motors in Janesville overwhelming approved an agreement Wednesday that would require union employees and retirees to pay more for their medical bills.

GM hourly retirees would pay a maximum of $752 per family each year for health care, or $370 annually for an individual, plus co-payments for prescription drugs, the UAW has said.

GM is the largest private provider of health care in the United States, providing coverage for about 750,000 active hourly workers, retirees, spouses and family members. It expects to spend $5.6 billion on health care this year.

"GM has far more problems than health care," Dohner said. "We've done our part to help out, and now it's up to GM to deliver on the rest of it."

Sheridan, who represents Janesville in the Wisconsin Assembly, said one aspect of that is pushing state and federal government to move to some sort of universal health care.

Falk's Gift; 2010 Redistricting Numbers

2005-11-10T09:41:00.000-06:00

The best thing about Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk’s Dem primary challenge to incumbent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager is the pending county-by-county, ward-by-ward election results.

In other words, the best predictor of future election results is past election results.

With a genuinely competitive Republican primary for Governor occurring alongside a somewhat competitive Democrat primary for Attorney General, political operatives will have new data to crunch for future campaign efforts.

This is fun stuff; stuff campaign junkies live for.

In September 2006, Democrats will vote for the Democrats, Republicans for the Republicans; each Party unable to cross-over and vote in the other’s Primary.

All you Republicans that entertained the idea of voting for Democrat Lautenschlager in hopes of pulling her through her primary where either GOPer Bucher or Van Hollen would wax her -- nah-ah – once you pull a Democrat primary lever you can’t come back and vote in the GOP primary for either Green or Walker.

Likewise, you Democrats. Thought you would jump over and vote for Scott Walker, believing he’s more vulnerable to Democrat Governor Jim Doyle in the general election based on a tenuous hold in Milwaukee County as the county executive? Then give-up your voice in the marquee Democrat AG match-up.

September 2006 will establish new Party base votes that will not only be scrutinized up-and-down future ballot races, but, will also serve as a powerful tool as we approach another decennial redistricting effort.

As the Republican Assembly Caucus staffer for redistricting in 1990, the GOP Primary for Governor in 1986 and the Democrat Primary for U.S. Senate in 1988 were the base that 99 assembly district boundaries and 33 state senate boundaries were drawn from.

4 years later, the GOP would control both houses and the governor’s office. And we nearly had Democrat Attorney General Jim Doyle’s number as well (see yesterday's post).

No Elvis, No GI Blues

2005-11-10T09:05:00.000-06:00

I almost dragged my wife on date-night to see this movie, Jarhead.

After some surfing, I thank Uncle Sam for Froggy

After the capture of Saddam, I became anti-American occupation of Iraq on grounds that Bush acted on bad intelligence and current military strategy swims against history’s truths of military occupation, reconstruction and fervent religious cultures.

But g-darn it, liberal Hollywood keeps selling me this crap that the very same men and women who serve and protect my right to disagree with my government, are guilty of committing various crimes against humanity.

I'd like to see a pro-U.S.A. movie that is not about hockey or the space program.

Guess we’ll just make a bowl of popcorn and watch Black Hawk Down again.

Dog Bites Man in NJ and VA

2005-11-09T15:54:00.000-06:00

At every off year election, the MSM hold-out New Jersey and Virginia as some sort of political indicator of the health of the White House.

Today, the MSM measures the Bush White House political future as falling; given a Democrat has captured the governor’s office in both NJ and VA.

Funny how both states are traditionally Democrat states that receive their dominate news from the left-leaning Washington DC (#8) and New York (#1) DMAs.

In Virginia, the lieutenant governor rode the back of a Democrat state with a term-limited popular Democrat governor to victory. In NJ, now-Governor Corzine enjoyed a vote history already predisposed to Democrats and having spent more than $60 million of his own stash in previously winning his U.S. Senate seat.

In comparison, only Scott McCallum and Al Gore could squander the overwhelming popularity voters wanted to bestow upon them from their former top guns – Tommy and Bill.

In Virginia, only two Republicans, George Allen and Jim Gilmore, have held the governor’s office in the past 20 years.

In New Jersey, the only way a Republican wins is when corruption inflicts the Democrat, which was the means for Christie Todd’s election – she nearly lost her reelection 4 years later to Democrat Jim McGreevy, who went on the win and resign the governor’s office after giving his gay lover a state ghost job – much to the dismay of McGreevy’s wife.

So, “stinging” is not the adjective I would use, as the New York Times did, in describing yesterday’s loses for Republicans.

IL Pension Perks

2005-11-09T11:53:00.000-06:00

Oooh, that'll leave a mark...

Bear Stearns

A second public pension fund in Illinois is taking back a hefty sum of cash it invested with Bear Stearns & Co…

Closer to home, P. Nicholas Hurtgen, a former senior managing director in Bear's Chicago office, is facing criminal charges in an alleged kickback scheme involving suburban hospital construction. He has pleaded not guilty.

Hurtgen, Bear and several other people and companies have surfaced on a federal subpoena seeking records from TRS about "finder's fees" paid to consultants. Neither Hurtgen nor Bear have been accused of any wrongdoing.

Three people, however, have been charged with using those fees as part of an alleged kickback scheme.

Last Biz to Leave, Hit the Lights REDUX

2005-11-09T11:45:00.000-06:00

Charlie has only a slightly better batting average than Mark Belling in predicting races that are not in his immediate backyard, yet his insight into issues that will impact races is dead-on.

His radio show serves as a giant town hall meeting (as are blogs) so his ability to ID issues presents itself. However, some issues are not really issues until seen in their entirty, and here is where Charlie is deeply insightful.

On their own, Med-mal, product liabilty, or zealous litigation are not sexy campaign issues, like, say, TABOR. But replace the or with an and, and now we have the governing character of the Doyle Administration.

Charlie Sykes
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9, 2005, 7:32 a.m.
FLASHBACK: SLEEPER ISSUE

Back in August, I wrote this:
Expect the Legislature to address the problem this fall, with a package of bills addressing the court decisions on malpractice, product liability, and punitive damages.

That, in turn, will force to Doyle to choose between his buddies in the trial lawyer lobby and the state's business community. It's likely he's already made the choice.

"This could be the issue," says one insider, "that causes business to finalize its divorce from this governor."

It would take only one major company, ala Kimberly-Clark, announcing that it is leaving to transform the political landscape and the 2006 campaign.

Wagner Should be Running, Not Talking

2005-11-08T19:55:00.000-06:00

1994 GOP Attorney General candidate turned radio host Jeff Wagner shows why he shoulda stuck to being a candidate and not a pundit;

At the end of the day, I'm not really convinced that Falk will ultimately get into the AG's race. While she doesn't have to give up her County Executive position to run, she still has a lot to lose.
Saturday, Nov 5th, 2005

Falk signaled her intentions Sunday to statewide media. By the end of the day on Monday, Falk had already formally announced her campaign in the state's largest media markets.

I have a library of names of candidates from across the country that, had they won, would have proved to be the best public servants for their states.

Here in Wisconsin, Jeff Wagner ranks right-up there next to Tim Michels in the What Shoulda Been category.

The story of Jeff Wagner, Fighting Crime First, is beginning to fade somewhat, but I was there and I can tell you -- 1994 being the year it was for Republicans -- had Wagner not been averse to fundraising, and the GOP not so driven achieve a record landslide for Tommy against Chuck Chvala, Jim Doyle would have been a Clinton appointee in 1995, not a two-term AG.

And Scott McCallum? The same fate would have greeted him after Attorney General Jeff Wagner announced (like Falk) that he would challenge his Party's incumbent for governor in 2002.

Today, Republican Governor Wagner would be answering the questions of a Lautenschlager v. Falk primary.

Wonder if he would answer the same way, having beat an incumbent/interim governor, as he did yesterday, as a radio dude?

Peg Runs with a Spiteful Vengeance

2005-11-07T11:50:00.000-06:00

Falk to say she's a candidate
Dane County executive to challenge attorney general Lautenschlager

What if incumbent AG Peg Lautenschlager turns-away Kathleen Falk in the Dem primary next September?

Unlikely, sure. But that result would nearly quarantee either Republican, Paul Bucher or J.B. Van Hollen, becomes Wisconsin's new Attorney General in November 2006.

Soon after Falk collects the clip file on her statewide announcement for AG, expect the next round of news stories to include the push and pull of getting Lautenschlager to give way to Falk and retreat from office. Peg can't escape the question and off-the-record Democrats will provoke her at every stop.

Probably won't happen until about March, after the next WECF reports are due, and Governor Doyle finally calls ex-DOA pal Marc Marotta to broker a job for the embattled former U.S. Attorney and soon-to-be ex-attorney general.

April Post

IL Establishment Picks Their Horse

2005-11-07T11:20:00.000-06:00

Chicago Tribune
Topinka tells GOP: I'll run for governor

IL Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka

She's pro-choice and pro-gay marriage, but Illinois Republicans are so hungry to beat Dem Governor Rod Blago, they'll look past her RHINO credentials.

Question remains, will the other 4 conservatives bow to the White House, RGA, RNC, and former governor Jim Edgar, and leave the March, 2006 primary.

And here's the sneak preview of the annointed lieutenant governor candidate, running mate to Topinka;

Douglas L. Whitley
President/Chief Executive Officer
Illinois State Chamber of Commerce

Peg Gets No Love

2005-11-04T12:43:00.000-06:00

Falk urged to run for attorney general
Group of Assembly Democrats thinks she is more electable than Lautenschlager

Having suffered through Republican cannibalism of pretend governor, Scott McCallum, this is the stuff that is fatal.

And it is orchestrated. And it is by design.

From Democrat operative Xoff

When Governor Doyle's top lieutenant in the legislature, Assembly Democrat Leader Jim Kreuser, serves this one up for the public buffet --

The office is too important to risk losing to the Republicans in
2006.

Letter signed by 10 Democrats, including
Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) and
Assistant Minority Leader Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee)

It speaks to how rapidly the ice is melting around the AG's feet.

And then the clever phrase reaffirming the move among Dems to replace the AG --

"This is certainly consistent with what Kathleen has been hearing as she's been out and about, and people have been encouraging her to run for attorney general," (Falk spokesperson) Mulliken said.

And if the stake could be pounded deeper into the heart of the AG, her liberal base just received word that fellow liberal Mark Pocan is signaling that Falk is the preferred candidate --

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison), who signed the letter, said Democrats saw recent poll numbers showing tepid support for Lautenschlager. "Peg has been a good attorney general, but we're just not sure she's electable," Pocan said.

And it doesn't seem that long ago that Peg ran a very competitive race for Congress in Republican territory against long-time GOP incumbent Tim (Tom) (Tim) (Tom) Petri.

Another Sherman Screw-up

2005-11-04T12:30:00.000-06:00

Green Bay's Mike Sherman's complete lack of judgement of talent has raised itself again. 3rd round pick Joey Thomas - not traded, but cut. Cut amidst a 1-6 season; cut amidst a total lack of depth among the d-backs. And worse yet, Ahmad Carroll is still there.

Cornerback Joey Thomas barely knew Mike McKenzie when the two were together in Green Bay, but he'll get a much better chance to get to know him now.

The New Orleans Saints were granted the rights to Thomas on Thursday afternoon after putting in a waiver claim on the second-year player, who was released Wednesday by the Packers.

What did Sherman see that no one else saw in -- Akili Smith, Tim Couch...and (Add your Packer/Sherman bust here).

Good Riddance Bud, Welcome Back Robin!

2005-11-04T12:20:00.000-06:00

I will be in the stands on Opening Day, my first visit to Miller Park, and my first Brewer game since Bud Selig duped the taxpayers into filling his pockets.

Paul Molitor - 3B
Robin Yount - SS
Jim Gantner - 2B
Cecil Cooper -1B
Charlie Moore - C

What an infield!!!

Yount played his entire 20-year major-league career with the Brewers,debuting in 1974 as an 18-year-old shortstop. He immediately was dubbed “The Kid,” a moniker he carried throughout his career.

Yount played 2,856 games with the Brewers, batting .285 with 251 home runs and 1,406 runs batted in. He remains No. 1 on the club’s all-time list in games played, home runs, RBI, at-bats (11,008), hits (3,142), runs scored (1,632), doubles (613) and triples (126).

On Jan. 5, 1999, Yount was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

The World Needs Giants Part III

2005-11-02T07:23:00.000-06:00

I am late arriving to the blog tributes of Rosa Parks. But it is always the same, a rush to write, and then in reflection, everyone blew the same note.

As I surfed all the tributes, I found a comment of hers that struck me like a splash of water;

I did not get on the bus to get arrested. I got on the bus to go home.

To me, Rosa Parks was a manifestation of the existence of a Divine Being. God made an appearance on that day in Montgomery, Alabama, 1955. By inspiring one person to make a grand gesture, He spoke to the conscience of millions of people.

Left to her own, Rosa Parks would have sat there, arrived home, made dinner and gone to bed. The wheels of segregation would have creaked and wobbled and continued. Yet, nothing so egregious, so repugnant, can live on. God knows who can carry the weight. God knows who can change the culture.

So I honor Rosa Parks as a giant alongside previous posts of giants Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul.

The power of an individual, when inspired by something greater than themselves, is indomitable.

Vrakas for Wisconsin 2010

2005-11-02T06:40:00.000-06:00

New Waukesha County Exec Dan Vrakas

If fomer State Rep. Dan Vrakas has a high degree of success serving in local government (arguably the toughest level of governance) during the next 4 years, expect him to return as governor in 2010...absent a Walker or a Green already presiding there.

He just kinda looks like a govenor, eh?

Among those delivering remarks, former County Clerk Pat Madden urged Vrakas to remember that taxpayers chose him because of his pledge to run county government with "fiscal responsibility."

Another speaker, county Supervisor Walter Kolb of the Town of Waukesha, echoed a similar theme, recounting a message that voters sent on election day.

"They want conservative government that's very careful with their money," Kolb said.

Why We Need Conservative Judges

2005-11-02T06:08:00.000-06:00

Fan who took ball from Favre pleads innocent

Innocent? Innocent?!?!

Lock-up this dumb-ass for conviction of, of being a dumb-ass.

I wonder if Madison attorney Steve Hurley happened to be at the game in Cincinnati and found himself a new client while in town.

DISCLAIMER: This is satire. The following conversation probably never took place.

Hurley to Gall: Say nothing. We can beat this.
Gall to Hurley: How? Fox has me on video?
Hurley to Gall: We plea bargain, just like those ex-Wisconsin Democrat state senators.

Gregory Gall, 31, of Cincinnati, is accused of resisting arrest, trespass and disorderly conduct while intoxicated. He was released on his own recognize following his appearance in Municipal Court.

Owner shoots intruder

You see where this is leading...

The homeowner fails to fully load his weapon, leaving his future vulnerable to the whims of a dirt-bag with a pro-bono attorney -- who happens to hate the NRA and the Second Amendment.

DISCLAIMER: Anyone who crashes through my ceiling that is not either a roofer or a dancing girl will never get the opportunity to call an attorney, or receive their day in court.

Officer to Free Will: Why did you unload a full clip into the perp?
Free Will to Officer: I was scared.
Officer to Free Will: Why did you reload?
Free Will to Officer: I was really scared.

A Janesville homeowner shot and critically wounded a man that police say broke into the attic through a roof vent and then crashed into the living room through the ceiling Monday night.

Davis said Rainiero, his wife and three children were asleep when Rainiero woke at 11:24 p.m. to the sound of Prochaska crashing through the living room ceiling and falling 8 feet to the floor.

From a range of several feet, Rainiero fired one shot from the small handgun, and the bullet struck Prochaska in the back, Davis said.

Davis said Prochaska was not armed and was not carrying burglary tools.

No Bling Here

2005-11-01T11:45:00.000-06:00

In the not too distant future another #4 -- Brett Favre -- will retire to his lawnmower in Mississippi. And 20 years from now, we'll wistfully recall his playing days, like many of us do for the good ole days of the Bucks.

Remember Sidney Moncrief? And those kelly green, light green, forest green, red, and white uniforms from the mid 1980s with the horizontal stripes down the side?

The NBA was so less jive back then, even lanky white kids like me fit in, sorta.

The current Bucks unis have always sucked. Face it, the visage of a male deer becomes menacing only in deer camp after 15 Pabsts.

The beauty in that nickname/logo was personified by the down-home loopiness of Bango and his church-bazaar sewn costume. I can still hear Eddie Doucette call it from the ole MECCA; Moncrief drives the lane, ham and cheese in the toaster....BANGO!

What a player!

Reform Something, Anything

2005-11-01T11:29:00.000-06:00

WI State Journal Opinion

Every staffer, every incumbent, and every campaign operative (some who have been appointed to the Elections Board) have known for 20+ years both the WSEB and the Ethics Board have existed as paper tigers with candy corn teeth.

There is no perfect solution and no righteous path to political Nirvana, but politicians need to be saved from themselves, and this is a step in the right direction;

Key to all of their criminal cases was an apparent lack of fear of being caught. None seemed to think the state Ethics or Elections boards would go after him -- and for good reason. Top lawmakers, after all, have long enjoyed significant control over these very agencies that, in theory, should police the politicians.
Senate Bill 1 would give the boards a burst of independence. It would combine them into more powerful and nonpartisan Government Accountability Board with an in-house investigator who could trigger civil and criminal cases.