I AM THE FORCE

good night

2006-08-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

goodbye

2006-08-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

I'll be back some day.

GLENN GROTHMAN MAKES HIS DECISION

2006-07-12T10:56:00.000-05:00

sometimes my arms bend back

2006-07-08T12:06:00.000-05:00

Dems Lose It

2006-07-04T20:37:00.000-05:00

I'm diggin' you a shallow grave an on your rotten bones i'll raise, yellow daisies for my true loves hair -- one hundred buzzards buzzin'

2006-06-16T09:37:00.000-05:00

Sorry About That Yellow Dogs

2006-06-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

ON HIATUS FOR NOW, thanks anyway

2006-04-25T10:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks for checking.

Wisconsin Senate and Assembly Republicans Announce Joint Theme For 2006, And Unveil Promotional T-Shirts

2006-04-22T12:10:00.000-05:00

just wanted you all to know that I haven't changed my position on Iraq or Donald Rumsfeld

2006-04-19T13:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Eostre - Don't Forget The Reason For The Season

2006-04-15T20:02:00.000-05:00

According to Bede (c. 672 - 735), writing in De Tempore Ratione ("On the Reckoning of Time"), Ch. xv, "The English months", the word easter is derived from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of Eostremonat, corresponding to our April, was dedicated:

"Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance."

What is secure in Bede's passage is that the lunar month around the month of April in the Julian calendar was called the Eostre-monath. And as the Christian tradition of Easter, which has also fallen in April, arrived in some Germanic-speaking regions, the people named the then-unnamed Christian day after the festival, that is, in English as Easter, and in German as Ostern. It is alleged that remnants of Eostre's characteristics can also be found in the Easter Bunny celebrations, based on Jacob Grimm's research into connections between the 'Ostern Hare' and the Germanic Ostara, which he believed to be another name for the same goddess.

He lives now, only in my memory.

2006-04-11T09:12:00.000-05:00

My life fades. The vision dims. All that remains are memories. I remember a time of chaos. Ruined dreams. This wasted land. But most of all, I remember The Road Warrior. The man we called "Max". To understand who he was, you have to go back to another time. When the world was powered by the black fuel. And the desert sprouted great cities of pipe and steel. Gone now, swept away. For reasons long forgotten, two mighty warrior tribes went to war and touched off a blaze which engulfed them all. Without fuel, they were nothing. They built a house of straw. The thundering machines sputtered and stopped. Their leaders talked and talked and talked. But nothing could stem the avalanche. Their world crumbled. The cities exploded. A whirlwind of looting, a firestorm of fear. Men began to feed on men. On the roads it was a white line nightmare. Only those mobile enough to scavenge, brutal enough to pillage would survive. The gangs took over the highways, ready to wage war for a tank of juice. And in this maelstrom of decay, ordinary men were battered and smashed. Men like Max. The warrior Max. In the roar of an engine, he lost everything. And became a shell of a man, a burnt out, desolate man, a man haunted by the demons of his past, a man who wandered out into the wasteland.

Jim Doyle's Gein-Dahmer Wisconsin Tourism Initiative

2006-04-08T21:27:00.000-05:00

Ed Gein's Plainfield, Wisconsin, property is for sale on Ebay. Governor Doyle, are you paying attention? What would say Wisconsin better than a state-run tourist attraction for the father of serial killerdom. Maybe we could buy it with taxpayer money, but have Adelman Travel actually own and manage the property.

Why have Milwaukee and Plainfield done so much to wipe out traces of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ed Gein from the landscape? Serial killer buffs all over the world would flock to a reconstruction of the home created by Augusta Gein, and then the serial tourists could continue their Wisconsin visit in Jeffrey Dahmer's Milwaukee. If we have historical markers for the founders of Boscobel's Gideon Bible, shouldn't we also highlight our more interesting and macabre history?

And Mark Gundrum could author legislation to assure that the revenue from these Wisconsin historical sites would go to faith-based institutions working to stamp out filth and depravity in Wisconsin. Come to think of it, neither Gein or Dahmer were married were they? But that's neither here nor there, and I, for one, trust Reresentative Gundrum to work out the details.

Raise money for the state, promote tourism, highlight Wisconsin history, and stop filth and depravity. What's not to like about this latest land deal? Jim Doyle and Jim Holperin -- the time to act is now.

SOME BACKGROUND ON WISCONSIN'S ED GEIN

Ed Gein grew up on a farm a few miles outside of the town of Plainfield, Wisconsin. His father, George, was a hard-luck farmer with little talent for working the soil and with a taste for alcohol. He also had a tendency to be quick with his fists after he had been drinking, but as rough as he was, he was no match for his wife, Augusta.

Augusta had been raised in a fiercely religious home and with this sort of influence, developed into a raving opponent of anything related to sex. All around her, she saw nothing but filth and depravity and how she managed to become pregnant with her two sons, Eddie and Henry, remains a mystery. Shortly after Ed's birth, she forced her husband to leave the "sinkhole of filth" called LaCrosse and moved to what she believed to be a more righteous location, Plainfield. However, this small, God-fearing town turned out to be no better, at least in Augusta's eyes. She considered the place to be a "hellhole" and kept her two sons on the farm and away from anything she considered dangerous or of a sinful influence, namely whorish women and the wickedness of carnal love...

The stunned and sickened officers immediately called for reinforcements. A short time later, more than a dozen lawmen were combing the farm and exploring the contents of what would become known as Ed Gein's "house of horrors". What they found that night was like nothing that had ever been recorded in the annals of American crime.

Soup bowls had been made from the sawed-off tops of human skulls. Chairs had been upholstered in human skin. Lamp shades had been fashioned from flesh, giving off an eerie and putrid glow. A box was discovered that contained nothing but human noses. A belt had been made from female nipples. A shade pull had been decorated with a pair of woman's lips. A shoe box under a bed contained a collection of dried, female genitalia. The faces of nine women, carefully stuffed and mounted, were hanging on one wall.... and there was much more, including a bracelet of skin, a drum made from a coffee can and human flesh, and more. A shirt of human skin, complete with breasts, had been fashioned from the tanned torso of a middle-aged woman. Gein would later confess that he often put the shirt on at night and pretended to be his mother.

To make matters worse, the refrigerator turned out to be stocked with frozen human organs and a human heart was found in a pan on the stove. The local sheriff estimated that the various body parts added up to fifteen women, maybe more.

THE PATRON SAINT OF WOOD-GROTHMAN

2006-04-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

"I don't know what to do or where to turn in this taxation matter. Somewhere there must be a book that tells all about it, where I could go to straighten it out in my mind. But I don't know where the book is, and maybe I couldn't read it if I found it."
-- Warren G. Harding

INCONVENIENCING MUSICIANS WITH THE WAR ON TERROR -- "and that isn't so good."

2006-04-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Musicians and Terrorists

I don't usually read the Journal Sentinel's editorials due to a consistent lack of insight or utility, but today's message on musicians and terrorists just cracks me up. The Journal Sentinel Leftys are clearly more concerned about musician visas than terrorist attacks. They intone that something must be done to make sure international musicians can get to town for the latest Brahms concerto.

Are you kidding me?

Someone needs to inform these bumblers about the War on Terror.

The changes were imposed for a very good reason, which was to make it more difficult for terrorists to get into this country. But the changes also have made it more difficult for non-terrorists - including musicians - to get here. And that isn't so good.
Journal Sentinal Editorial, April 7, 2006

"Why are there people like Frank? Why is there so much trouble in this world?"

2006-04-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

Okay, I was taking my dogs for a walk along a stretch of the Milwaukee River. Far off the beaten path, after walking past 2 areas blocked off by police crime tape, I came upon the lovely scene in these pictures. A baby doll, that had clearly been in the river, hanging suspended in a tree.

The three movies that immediately came to mind were The River's Edge, Blue Velvet, and Child's Play. I looked around for a human ear or a body or something else to complete the scene. But all I could see was rushing water, river trash, and nervous geese. I took a couple of quick pictures and headed back to the car.

Milwaukee's underside is definitely not a place for the faint of heart. Kind of makes you wonder about the kind of people that frequent dirt paths along the river -- including myself. Jeffrey Beaumont would probably start a more detailed investigation, but I think I better get back to work.

Things To Emulate From American History

2006-04-06T21:07:00.000-05:00

THE COURAGE, STYLE, AND ATTITUDE OF JACK JOHNSON

About Jack Johnson: Early 20th century boxer, Jack Johnson, was one of the few black men in history that created white anxiety about black equality. He was unafraid, his actions in and out of the ring were bold, and with the black public in his corner, he achieved his greatest accomplishment. He challenged racial views about equality when he beat a white boxer and became the first black international heavyweight-boxing champion.

Jack Johnson Quotations:

I know the bitterness of being accused and being harassed by prosecutors. I know the horror of being hunted and haunted. I have dashed across continents and oceans as a fugitive and have matched my wits with the police and secret agents seeking to deprive me of one of the greatest blessings man can have--liberty.

I made a lot of mistakes out of the ring, but I never made any in it.

The possession of muscular strength and the courage to use it in contests with other men for physical supremacy does not necessarily imply a lack of appreciation for the finer and better things of life.

I never doubted the issue from the beginning. I knew I was too good for Burns. I have forgotten more about fighting than Burns ever knew.

For every point I'm given, I'll have earned two, because I'm a Negro.

THE GROTHMAN-WOOD TAXPAYER PROTECTION FIASCO

2006-04-06T16:54:00.000-05:00

Are these really the guys that should have been in charge of Republican plans for a constitutional amendment to protect taxpayers? I hate to be disparaging, but we maybe should have mixed a little expertise and strategic thinking in there with all that ideology. Neither of these guys has ever been a real player in the Legislature, and they're known more for pissing people off than resolving complex challenges. Now Frank Lasee has abandoned ship, and the wheels seem to be coming off Republican efforts to protect taxpayers with a constitutional amendment.

Is it possible that Dale Schultz and John Gard wanted this effort to fail, so they stepped back and allowed the conservative dream team to chart their own course? Or perhaps Gard didn't care, and Schultz wanted it to fail. However it happened, no Republican can feel good about the policy and PR disaster to date. Republican candidates for re-election have to be cringing every time they read the latest story about TPA, and the Xoffs and Kreusers of the world have to be feeling pretty good.

All of the outsider conservatives out there who have condemned Scott Jensen and praised Glenn Grothman perhaps ought to reconsider their preferences. Conservatives would be in hog heaven if Scott Jensen been in charge of the taxpayer amendment and the spin surrounding it. The language would be solid, the strategy would be clear, and the battle would be won. But the team in charge just can't seem to shoot straight.

Maybe we can delay Jensen's sentencing a bit and hire him as a consultant to straighten out this mess. Or Huebsch, Kanavas, or someone needs to step in and reform the reformers. The reality, however, is that it is probably too late this year to salvage a winning amendment season for the GOP. Perhaps we can we just focus on not embarrassing ourselves further?

Bob Jauch is the poster child for everything wrong with the Wisconsin Legislature.

2006-04-06T10:02:00.003-05:00

Bob Jauch is the poster child for everything wrong with the Wisconsin Legislature. Not a single knowledgeable person respects this guy. He's been there too long. He's not smart. His constituents aren't paying attention. And he rants and raves like an unhinged lunatic. He's lazy. He always blames the other party, and never does anything meaningful for his "extremely poor" constitutents. He screams about, "Charlie Sykes and his fearmongering associates!", and just commented that, "the will of the people recognize this for what it is, and that is a proposal being pushed by extreme zealots who neither like taxes, spending, nor government." Why do worthless bums like Bob Jauch survive in the endlessly drunken world of Wisconsin politics?

I will never understand why the people that elect Bob Jauch and Frank Boyle seem to expect so little from their representatives.

He is like a junior Dave Obey without the brains. Both of these guys have spent their careers bemoaning how bad things are in their districts and pointing their fingers of blame at everyone but themselves. It used to be Ronald Reagan and Tommy Thompson's fault that Superior sucks, and now GW Bush and John Gard are labeled the bad guys. Jauch consistently argues that the successful part of the state should send our money up to save his region. What about accepting personal responsibility, improving the business climate, and lowering taxes to improve the prospects of the far Northwest?

And, of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention that he utilized state employees to run campaigns during his failed tenure as the Senate Democratic Leader. I may have missed it, but have Jay Heck or Mike McCabe called for Jauch's prosecution or censure?

Now people are welcome to do whatever they want in their private lives, but Jauch is one of the over-the-top legends at the Inn on the Park bar and the rooms above. And falling down the steps at Genna's Bar tangled up with the also legendary Jolene Plautz has to be one of the defining moments of the modern political era. One has to wonder if this lifestyle is the reason this blowhard is still here. Party time in Madison must be a lot more fun for him than watching satellite television from his home in Poplar. The brain cells killed, however, might have something to do with the undistinguished nature of Jauch's long tenure in public service.

As a good lobbyist friend of mine says repeatedly, "Bob Jauch is a fraud in the first degree." He poses for political holy pictures and blames the opposition and blows smoke every day to obscure the reality of his nothingness. He's a joke to colleagues and lobbyists alike, and only the "he's in office" code of silence allows him to fly under the radar. He always scores near the bottom in insider rankings of state legislators. If you've worked with him or seen him in backroom negotiations then you will inevitably discover that he's not someone that can be relied upon to keep his word or solve a problem. And he's taken angry and insecure immaturity to new heights.

In a healthy democracy with engaged voters, a guy like Bob Jauch would be shown the door at the first available opportunity. It's not hard to understand his contempt for talk radio and citizen action, since he seems untouched by responsible voters in his own district. He's left alone to do as he pleases, untroubled by informed public opinion or any sense of accountability. Perhaps Sykes could expand his conspiracy of zealots by getting on the radio Up North.

One thing is absolutely certain -- until voters do something about the Bob Jauchs of the world, the Wisconsin State Legislature will remain a very sick and disappointing place, indeed.

THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK

2006-04-06T09:16:00.000-05:00

Finally, the Waukesha Taxpayer League with their ultra-secretive unnamed leadership/membership shouldn’t be considered anything more than a paper tiger if they can’t deliver in a race like this.

Brian Nemoir letter to Charlie Sykes
April 5, 2006

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who are these guys?

A new organization to stop off-reservation Indian gaming popped up on the local scene the other day.

And that’s all we know.

The group calling itself Enough!, is releasing info about itself on a need-to-know basis, and so far, it thinks the public has no need to know.

Brian Nemoir, a one-time GOP operative turned PR guy, won’t say who – if anybody – is backing the group… "At this stage of the game we are not prepared to release our members," Nemoir said.

Spivak and Bice, May 18, 2005

CUT AND RUN MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN WITH SWEET POTATOES

2006-04-05T13:12:00.000-05:00

This recipe is based on not having to do much of anything at all, and not making any sacrifices that might prove difficult. You don't have to take on any brutal dictators to make this recipe, or take any steps whatsoever to try and make the world a better place. It's also really good, and can be enjoyed equally by Shorewood pacifists and Watertown warmongers.

CUT AND RUN MAPLE ROASTED CHICKEN WITH SWEET POTATOES

3 1/2 to 4 pound cut up chicken (preferably killed far away by people other than yourself)
1 yellow (and I mean yellow) onion cut into 1-inch wedges
2 small sweet potatoes cut into 1-inch chunks (be very careful here)
2 tblsp olive oil (preferably from France, not Italy)
1 tsp kosher salt (but not from Israel)
1/4 tsp pepper (don't be offensively strong here)
3 tblsp maple syrup (from either Vermont or northern Wisconsin)
6 sprigs fresh thyme (preferably from an organic hippy commune)
-----------------------------------------------

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the chicken, onion, and sweet potatoes in a 9-by-13 baking dish. Drizzle the oil over the chicken and vegetables and season with the salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Drizzle with the maple syrup and top with the sprigs of thyme. Roast, stirrring the vegetables once, until the chikcen is cooked through, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Let rest, alone and unprotected, 11 minutes before serving.

THE ANTI-WAR REFERENDUM -- The People of Shorewood, Madison, and La Crosse Send a Message to the Terrorists.

2006-04-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11 - SUPPORT THE WAR ON TERROR.

2006-04-05T10:16:00.001-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS DEMOCRATS -- you have the tools to destroy your most effective enemies. Noteworthy how this ends up happening time and time again.

2006-04-04T14:39:00.000-05:00

grumps said...
Your apologia for Jensen was sweet in an old-fashioned loyalty sort of way but accusing the fall of the Exterminator on the Left is just sad.

8:41 PM

Ragnar Mentaire said...
Dear grumps,
You are such a hater. The Jensen and DeLay situations are, in fact, eerily similar. In both cases, the most powerful, effective, and ruthless opponents of Democrats end up being selectively prosecuted and deposed for breaking creative and retroactive rules. These are political persecutions, carried out by Democrats, with the creative use of a partisan reading of the statutes. Jensen and DeLay crushing you and your team is not a legitimate reason for coup by judiciary. Now that you've succeeded, you should at least be honest about the tactic.

2:10 PM

CueBall said...
The tools referred to at the top of the post are, I assume, the law, the judiciary, and the good people who serve on juries. Not to mention public disgust.

Am I missing something here?

2:49 PM

grumps said...
I carry no little hatred, that's a fact. I hate that the venal have taken over the government for personal gain. I hate that the coarseness which Delay brought to the Hill has so permeated governance that ordinary citizens have no chance for input or relief. I hate that Insiders have made ours a government for the rich and lawless. I hate that the politics of distrust has so usurped our system that we fight one another over scraps while the powerful pull power to themselves.

We have gone back to the days of the Robber Barons, greedy, petty men who care little for others. As Delay's henchmen plead guilty it becomes clearer how deep the stink has gone.

The time has come for those who hate the American system and people to be gone from government. That their own greed has become the instrument of their downfall and the disgust of the people the lamentations they hear on their way out seems only fitting.

Don't cry to me about Scott Jensen's children when you raised not a peep about Chuck Chvala's. Don't call me a hater when you defend two men who have made America a worse place for our children and grandchildren.

Jensen may have done some good things. Delay may have smoothed things for his friends. Neither gave a rat's red rectum for anyone who disagreed with them and I hate that they've debased our government.

7:49 PM

Ragnar Mentaire said...
They are bad only because you disagree with them on strategy and policy. They believe sincerely in their philosophy, and each of them has more integrity than a handful of the likes of Frank Boyle, Spencer Black, and Dave Travis. Neither of them are greedy, petty men. And neither of them misused their positions for personal gain. You condemn them and are glad they're going down because they out-thought and out-worked you and your team all these years. Your diatribe about the evils of today's government has little to do with reality, and everything to do with the outsider bitterness of either cluelessness or life in the minority. You're the one who hates the American system, and you ought to stop kidding yourself.

Why are you people so intent on killing the golden goose?

2006-04-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

More than half of Packer nation seem to have joined Mark Chmura in decrying the selfishness of Brett Favre. Local talk radio is abuzz with commentators -- who aren't from here -- slamming Favre on a daily basis. Even Jim Rome has weighed in by comparing Favre's stalled decision with the "pay-me" holdout threats of Javon Walker and Terrell Owens.

Why are you people so intent on killing the golden goose?

Favre's situation has little or nothing to do with the Walker-Owens scenarios. Brett is making an off-season decision about retirement, while the other two selfish bozos were demanding more money, threatening holdouts, and ignoring contracts. Would it be nice for the organization for him to decide? Of course. But this delay hardly warrants the excoriation Favre is receiving from fans and talk radio jabber.

Javon Walker is a big disloyal crybaby, who is welcome to leave as soon as the Packers figure out a way to get something for the trouble. He's a great receiver, but just as is the case with all relationships, if the guy doesn't want to be in Green Bay than he should get the hell out. Then I can say good riddance, and hope that his knee never heals.

Favre has taken a lot of heat for his "what are they going to do? Cut me?" comment. While that would have been something better left unsaid, he was merely being honest about his take on the situation. Favre's non-spinning honesty has always been one of his best traits. He's right, the season is still many months away, and Packer draft plans are unlikely to change regardless of Favre's decision.

So give the guy a break for chrissakes. Favre is not perfect, but he is the best quarterback that the Green Bay Packers will ever have. He is the guy most responsible for delivering a Super Bowl to modern Green Bay, and none of you should ever forget it. He also is more than capable of doing it again with the right supporting cast.

He deserves whatever time he needs.

Taking your time on a retirement decision is hardly holding the Packers hostage. If you've been criticizing him, please send Favre a postcard today and apologize. Thank goodness the man himself doesn't have to listen to all this critically mindless chatter.

I'm out.

Where Vice Goes Before, Vengeance Follows After.

2006-04-04T11:28:00.000-05:00

CONFIDENCE IS HIGH -- VOTE NO ON THE RESOLUTIONS THAT OPPOSE IRAQI FREEDOM

2006-04-04T11:14:00.000-05:00

A LESSON IN DECENCY FOR WISCONSIN FROM THE PRIME MINISTER OF IRELAND

2006-04-04T10:25:00.000-05:00

April 3, 2006, 3:36PM
Ireland Backs Legalizing Gay Partnerships
© 2006 The Associated Press

DUBLIN, Ireland — Ireland will legalize civil partnerships for gay couples, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern pledged Monday as he opened new offices for the country's main gay rights group.

Civil partnerships allow gay couples the same rights to inheritance, state benefits and other financial rights as held by married heterosexual couples.

"Sexual orientation cannot, and must not, be the basis of a second-class citizenship. Our laws have changed, and will continue to change, to reflect this principle," Ahern told an audience at Ireland's Gay and Lesbian Equality Network.

Ahern said it would be more difficult to legalize gay marriage in Ireland than it was in the United Kingdom, which approved the civil unions in December. Ireland's constitution has a clause requiring the predominantly Roman Catholic state to protect the institution of marriage, whereas the UK, which includes neighboring Northern Ireland, has no written constitution.

"This challenge, however, is one that the government is determined to meet. We are committed to legislating on this issue," said Ahern, who noted that a government-appointed group of experts would recommend several possible options in a report expected in November.

"Although there is a growing climate of equality and support for anti-discrimination action, I also recognize that members of the gay community still face isolation, abuse and victimization on the basis of their sexuality," Ahern said.

And from this derives all those crimes of religion which have overrun the world.

2006-04-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

"Formerly there were those who said: You believe things that are incomprehensible, inconsistent, impossible because we have commanded you to believe them; go then and do what is unjust because we command it. Such people show admirable reasoning. Truly, whoever is able to make you absurd is able to make you unjust. If the God-given understanding of your mind does not resist a demand to believe what is impossible, then you will not resist a demand to do wrong to that God-given sense of justice in your heart. As soon as one faculty of your soul has been dominated, other faculties will follow as well. And from this derives all those crimes of religion which have overrun the world."

VOLTAIRE

God's Favorite Pie Crust

2006-04-03T14:51:00.000-05:00

Since I have been sharing so many wonderful pie recipes, I thought it was about time for me to deliver my foolproof pie crust recipe as well. This may not be as exciting as some of my other entries, but it is probably much more productive. If you mess up the crust, even my upcoming splendiferous banana cream pie recipe will fail. As I prayed about this issue, God spoke to me, thanked me for my writings on Hell, expressed regret that his candidate would not be Governor, and gave me the following recipe. This is what God wants for you.

God's Favorite Pie Crust

3 cups flour
1 1/4 cup lard
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
---------------------
Mix with large spoon and then hands until lard disseminates.

Combine
1 egg beaten
5 tblsp water
1 tblsp vinegar
And pour the mixture over the dry ingredients, and mix with hands until dough comes together. Break into four pieces, make them flat and circular, and roll out the first pie crust. Fold into quarters, and unfold in the pan, then trim and crimp the edges. If you only need one, then Saran Wrap the remaining disks, put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them. The extras will then be available when you need them, thawing in just a couple of hours.

God endorsed, Mom tested.

WELCOME TO OPENING DAY

2006-04-03T11:05:00.000-05:00

For a much more exuberant take on Brewers baseball, please check out Fraley's Daily Takes. Brian seems to really care about this issue, and I commend him for that. And belated thanks to David Prosser and George Petak for getting the roofed stadium done. If it wasn't for the two of them not caring about voter opinion, today's tailgaters would have to keep their parkas on during the game. And another belated thanks to former Senator Gary George, who tried to get the stadium in downtown Milwaukee. Come home soon, Gary, and we'll see you all at the game. Go Brewers!

Don't let anyone ever tell you that we don't have a lot of things to see in Wisconsin.

2006-04-03T10:35:00.000-05:00

Don't let anyone ever tell you that we don't have a lot of things to see in Wisconsin. This is a great place to scare your children late at night.

Concrete Park

Hwy 13
Phillips, WI 54555
Toll-Free: (800) 762-2709

Fred Smith's concrete and glass statues include northwoods people, folklore, fantasies, historic personages, Native Americans, angels, and animals. (Daily)

Please vote on Tuesday, and oppose the cut-and-run WITHDRAW resolution.

2006-04-02T18:47:00.000-05:00

There is a permanent portion of the population that will never support a war under any circumstances. I just received the pro and con flyers from the organizations fighting it out on the "cut and run" resolution. The proponents of the resolution certainly have a lot to say, and have used a lot of words to say it. They virtually ooze with self-righteousness, with an additional dose of Frankenian naivete.

I don't support the President on everything, and I have always had some doubt that Iraq was the region most worthy of our national focus. But the danger was real in the minds of Bush, Gore, Kerry, and Clinton and we moved forward to stop the threat and build a better world. Naive? Perhaps. But ambitious and idealistic at the same time. Similar to G.W. Bush's commitment to fighting AIDS in Africa, the War on Terror and the War in Iraq and Afghanistan were started as an effort to transform and improve the world. Nothing whatsoever selfish or evil about what we've been trying to do.

So the same extremists with the "War Is Not The Answer" yard signs have now organized the upcoming vote to condemn what George Bush and our troops are trying to accomplish. Unlike some, I don't think it's unpatriotic to oppose a specific military action, but I do believe that opposing every war is simplistic and shallow. There are causes worth the loss of American life, and the anti-war activists deserve our contempt for failing to recognize that fact. Is hating George Bush and Republicans a good enough reason to tell our soldiers that we do not support their mission?

I, for one, am grateful to have a President willing to think big and take risks in a post-9/11 world, and a military with the ability to fight the good fight and meet every challenge. Telling both the President and our troops that their decisions and sacrifice have been a mistake, seems somehow blasphemous in my mind. I'd like to think that I would support Bill Clinton if he had made this decision as our Commander in Chief. The Naderites would never do that, of course. But the good people of America ought to get behind our efforts to build a better world.

For better or for worse, we made the decision as a nation to liberate Iraq from Hussein and help them build an independent nation, free of dictatorship and ethnic or sectarian cleansing. It was and is a worthy goal. I would encourage all of you to dismiss the anti-war zealots and reject this "cut and run" referendum. The people and ideas behind this effort do not represent the best of what America has to offer the world. Turning our back on the great challenges of the day is no way to make the world a better place.

Please vote on Tuesday, and oppose the cut-and-run WITHDRAW resolution.

YOU'RE INVITED TO THE MODERN DRUNKARD CONVENTION

2006-04-02T17:34:00.000-05:00

The 3rd Annual Modern Drunkard Convention

When: Friday June 23rd through Sunday, June 25th.

Where: The Celebrity Ballroom, Las Vegas, NV.

What to Expect: Three solid days of heavy drinking and full-bore entertainment.

These people seem to have something going on, so I plan to attend their convention and find out what it is. In our moralistic times, it's comforting to know that the Modern Drunkard still has a place to go in our society. Unashamed revelry and binge drinking -- although we must never admit this to our children -- have been key ingredients in some of life's most interesting moments. Let the good times roll, let them knock you around, and all that.

Something is achieved if you celebrate the cocktail hour that is missed by those eating tuna fish hotdish while watching the Wheel of Fortune. Something is lost to us when we step back and decide that going out and getting wasted might not be all that productive. Admittedly, there are side effects and consequences, but I'm glad that at least a few hardy souls are still willing to celebrate Bacchus and the good, good times.

Live all you can, it's a mistake not to. And I'll see you in Las Vegas and at the Inflation Fighter.

LIBEL LAW AND THE WISCONSIN BLOGOSPHERE -- Shut Up Or Face The Consequences.

2006-04-02T14:44:00.000-05:00

I assume that most of you have read the story below outlining a Fond du Lac Judge's decision to shut down a weblog named in a libel suit. I was reminded of the warnings from the attorney at the most recent blog conference, turns out she was making a lot of sense. Just like in Lassa v Rongstad, politicians have figured out that they can use libel law to silence political opposition.

As Judge Wirtz has just demonstrated, a mere allegation of libel and a sympathetic court is enough to shut down a blog or stifle an opponent. The lessons from Wisconsin courts to date should be enough to shut down every good blog in the state. The Man has discovered a new tool, do you think for a moment that it won't be used against the Enemies of the Man?

I happen to think that Jim Doyle is a crook. But I suppose I shouldn't be saying that, should I? If he wanted to shut me up and down, all the Governor would need to do is file a libel complaint in Dane County Court and he would likely get his wish. And even though I, Xoff, and the Recess Supervisor are all independently wealthy, it would still be unpleasant to have to pay for the hundreds of hours in attorneys' fees that would result from a lawsuit.

Is this the way things should be? Have I got my bill of rights all wrong? Is criticizing elected officials a very dangerous game of Russian roulette? Many judges and politicians in Wisconsin certainly seem to think so. In my humble opinion, the Founding Fathers would not agree. They created our system based on an aversion to an all-powerful state that can crush the life out of puny critics. It would be prudent, however, to just shut up.

My guess is that the highest courts will eventually agree with me and stop these judicial threats to free speech. But until that definitively happens, circuit court judges and their political friends will feel free to misuse libel law to silence opposition. As evidenced by the Jensen trial, circuit court judges operate personal fiefdoms where they mete out punishment and bend rules at will. What's the worst thing that could happen to them? Being overturned on appeal doesn't cost them their jobs, or erase any of the damage done to defendants.

Which direction is in our society's best interest? Should we be encouraging or discouraging the freewheeling political debate that virtually defines the Wisconsin blogosphere? Should I be able to opine that Jim Doyle is a crook or not? Society will have to remake a decision that I have always considered to be already made. If that decision goes in the wrong direction, Ragnar Mentaire will not follow. Contempt of court here I come.

Posted April 1, 2006
Free speech advocates are shocked
Site shutdown launches debate

By Jim Collar
Of The Northwestern

National free speech advocates Friday expressed shock at a judge's decision to shut down a Web site based on allegations of libel from a local official.

Fond du Lac County Judge Robert Wirtz on Thursday ordered local Web site owner Dennis Payne to cease operations of the bulletin board site, fullofbologna. com, based on the allegations of a libel lawsuit filed by Winnebago County Clerk of Courts Diane Fremgen.

As part of the temporary injunction, Wirtz also prohibited Payne and other defendants listed from operating any similar Web sites until the order is lifted. Failure to abide by the order would be considered contempt and could be punishable with jail time and fines, according to the order.

Sandy Baron, executive director of the New York-based Media Law Resource Center, said injunctions against speech are "beyond rare," and in terms of libel cases, "it's almost unheard of."

Baron Friday said the rarity of such an injunction goes back to the earliest days of constitutional thinking, and suggested that the First Amendment is in the constitution based on its framers' own rebellion against speech restraints.

"The Constitution simply doesn't allow courts to prohibit people from speaking," she said.

GPS TRACKING FOR SEX OFFENDERS AND STATE LEGISLATORS!

2006-03-31T09:25:00.000-06:00

I have a great suggestion for the authors of the bill described below to require GPS tracking for sex offenders. It's such a rare pleasure to be able to offer my suggestions to all my lawmaking friends at the capitol without even having to write a letter. Well anyway, here is my idea for a brilliant amendment to the bill. We should also require GPS tracking for state legislators! After all, don't we pay their salaries and deserve some level of oversight?

I guarantee you that people would be shocked to discover the minimal hours of work put in by their local legislators. Barbara Gronemus would probably have to change her campaign theme from "Working for You!" to something more like "Sleeping on the Couch for You!" Regular citizens would be stunned to discover that Roger Breske puts more hours in at the Inn on the Park Bar than in the State Capitol. If these people knew they were being monitored at all times, they might even start helping staff by doing some of the work!

This could be an incredible tool to improve productivity, accountability, and voter awareness. Staff is now required to account for 40 hours of work per week, with timesheets and sworn affidavits and ethics classes. Wouldn't it be funny if our hard-working legislators had similar responsibilities? But even if such a requirement would be too much of a shock to the system, knowing where our legislators are spending their time could really change some behaviors. It might even cut down on the number of affairs between legislators after GPS codes show up together in strange places and at strange times. We could even be entertained by checking out their 24/7 whereabouts on-line.

This has to go down as one of my best ideas ever. Please feel free to share my suggestion with other opinion leaders like yourself. We can make the Wisconsin Legislature a better place to work and conduct the people's business. Please help me and the incomparable Dean Kaufert transform the capitol culture with an amendment to require GPS tracking for state legislators! Thanks in advance for your help with this critically important initiative.

GPS tracking sought for sex offenders
Millions would be spent to monitor child molesters

By STEVEN WALTERS
swalters@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 30, 2006

Madison - The Legislature's budget committee on Thursday recommended lifetime global positioning tracking of criminals on supervised release for first-degree sexual assault of children - at a cost of more than $10,100 per year for each offender.

Legislators said the high cost, which the Department of Corrections said could total $477 million over the next 20 years, is justified.

"There are no bigger sleazebags than these types of child molesters," said Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah), co-chairman of the Joint Finance Committee. "When they know they're being tracked, their behavior is going to change."

PLEASE JOIN US IN THE WAR ON DONUTS!

2006-03-30T15:57:00.000-06:00

We have too many fat people in Wisconsin. Health care costs for fat people cost all of us mega-millions of dollars every year. How long can government continue to turn a blind eye to the destructive behaviors making us fat, costing us money, and killing people before their time? Nurse Judy Robson would be the ideal person to lead the government campaign against donuts and other high-fat foods. Just think of all the lives and dollars we can save by having government step in and enforce improved behavior. After all, legislators are all about legislating to create a better world for their constituents. If we can save even one life, that should be enough to justify a donut ban or at least a donut sin tax. The city of Madison has already saved dozens of lives with its smoking ban, just imagine how much we could accomplish by starting a War on Donuts. You may find this idea ridiculous, but the policymakers of tomorrow can no longer afford to ignore the societal devastation caused by the donut and its accomplices. Think outside the box, and join the American Heart Association and the Wisconsin Fatty Foods Control Board in supporting the donut ban in the upcoming legislative session.

Donuts:

* The average donut contains approximately 300 calories.
1 donut provides more than 50% of your recommended daily carbohydrate intake.
* High in salt content which will promote water retention.
* Donuts are deep fried in oxidized oil that is re-used for weeks at a time!
o Dunkin Donuts changes the oil every 300 dozen!
o Oils at high temperatures developed rancidity and free radicals which can:
+ Poison and slow your metabolism
+ Seriously threaten your health.
* High sugar content which promotes sugar cravings and ages skin.

P.S.
For full disclosure purposes, I must admit that I ate three donuts myself this morning. But just because I like something, doesn't mean it should be legal. I need the government to take action to put this destructive behavioral option beyond my reach. If donuts are allowed to stay there, unregulated and accepted by society, then I will undoubtedly sin again. Wouldn't a truly good government protect me from having to make this kind of decision?

You Probably Couldn't Care Less

2006-03-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

I made the mistake of listening to Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN today, and once again find myself irritated. They have an embarrassing sportsfans-get-married contest going on, but I won't even get into that. What really tripped my trigger was dumb lineman Golic's misuse of the language.

Everyone, please pay attention. because many of you repeatedly make the same mistake. If you don't care about something, the correct phrase would be, "I couldn't care less." If you say, "I could care less," as Golic does, you are actually saying the opposite of what you intend. If you could care less, then you care some. Get it? The accurate usage would be to say that you couldn't care less. Is that so hard? Especially, if you make your living talking on the radio.

Repeat after me, I COULDN'T CARE LESS! I COULDN'T CARE LESS!

GREAT SANTINI TO JOIN BOOTS AND SABERS

2006-03-29T21:55:00.000-06:00

After a great deal of mutual flirtation, the one and only Great Santini announced today that he will be joining the boys at the esteemed weblog Boots and Sabers as a guest columnist. "I've been looking at these boys' military outfits for a number of years," said Santini, "and I can no longer sit back and let them handle this mission alone, sportsfans."

Bull Meechum: I am Santini, the Great Santini.
Bull Meechum: I come from behind the moon, out of the dark, unannounced.
Bull Meechum: Watch out!

KOHL AND LORGE WOULD BE QUITE A TEAM

2006-03-29T16:21:00.000-06:00

Many thanks to one of my most alert readers for bringing this photograph to my attention. Seems I'm on to something with my earlier post.

HOW IN THE WORLD DOES HERB KOHL GET AWAY WITH IT?

2006-03-29T14:12:00.000-06:00

Have you seen Herb Kohl's new television commercials? They and he are an insult to the intelligence of the voters of Wisconsin. Nobody's Senator But Yours. Give me an F'ing break. This guy is one of the biggest empty suits ever to have served the state of Wisconsin in the United States Senate. Somehow, this rich, unaccomplished, and eccentric freak has convinced people that he's worthy of perpetual re-election. There is something wrong with every one of us for allowing this to happen.

Let's face facts. Herb Kohl is no leader. Herb Kohl is not the kind of guy who's interested in changing the world. Herb Kohl is personality-challenged. Herb Kohl could not wear blaze orange or ride a Harley. Herb Kohl has issues. Herb Kohl lives on a mega-ranch out west somewhere. Herb Kohl is a milquetoast. Herb Kohl has accomplished nothing in the Senate that has even registered with regular people. Herb Kohl's one and only qualification for the Senate is his multi-millionaire status. Herb Kohl serves the Democratic special interests, but gets away with that unimaginative servitude by simply funding his own campaigns.

He's rich, so I guess he must really represent the little guy. How in the name of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have we allowed ourselves to buy into this load of garbage? Does image truly have nothing to do with reality? And who are the advertising geniuses who convinced the people of Muscoda that Herb Kohl is there guy? Please don't answer that! The consultants that made it happen must have a profound contempt for the real people of Wisconsin. Spend a lot of money with a clever tag-line and you can elect anybody to any position. How sickening is that? And it's exactly the same pablum being sold in Kohl's new commercials.

And to the Republicans in a position to challenge this dweeb of a senator, I can only say that you are derelict in your duty to the people of Wisconsin for failing to expose and remove this nonessential man. Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, Tommy Thompson, Tim Michels, Mark Neumann, et al. I know you're afraid of his money, but a passionate and unafraid opponent could knock the stuffing out of this guy. If my personal approval rating wasn't so low, I would run against this bozo myself. This is a golden opportunity that Republicans seem to have permanently squandered. Get some balls for chrissakes, and take this guy on!

Kohl's partisan affiliation isn't even the problem. He's just a big dud, and permanently re-electing him is like naming Bill Lorge as the next U.S. Secretary of State. It just isn't in our interest. Won't somebody please please please please step up and help people wake up from the nightmare service of Senator Herbert Kohl? I'm begging you. If people can truly be tricked in this way, then maybe I should get into the political consulting business. If people can be so easily hoodwinked, then maybe Sheryl Albers' Dad can one day become the Governor of Wisconsin.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! Calling all powers that be! Stop giving this nobody senator a free ride.

WHY SENATE REPUBLICANS MUST REJECT TOM LOFTUS

2006-03-24T20:18:00.000-06:00

Dear Senate Republicans,

The next casualty of the Jensen trial better be Tom Loftus. Last I checked, Loftus is awaiting approval by the Republican-controlled State Senate as a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. He's also the former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly -- during the dark and arrogant days of Democratic hegemony -- who confessed in his book about doing all of the things that just got Scott Jensen convicted. He may get to live a free man, but A Republican Legislature should allow him no further honors.

I know that Scott Jensen has always made Dale Schultz feel insecure. But that's no reason to not do the right thing in this situation. It's not just partisan payback, it's recognition that Scott Jensen got screwed and that attention must be paid. The silent cadre of former speakers and leaders who said nothing while Jensen took their bullet should never again be allowed any favors or respect from GOP powers that be. As a matter of fact, Republicans should also tell We Energies to reassign Wally Kunicki to their northern Michigan affiliate. And Shirley Krug should have to clean out MMSD's deep tunnel. If Scott has to go down, the other members of the club should at least have to feel some pain.

This is a test. Can you guys exercise your power and do the right thing? This is exactly the kind of moment that you wish for when you dream about some day controlling the lawmaking of a state. I know Dale remembers those days in the minority -- impotent and powerless, unable to punish anyone or make anything meaningful happen. Scott Jensen turned that dynamic around, and helped Dale become somebody. Now it's time for Dale Schultz and/or Senate Republicans to honor Scott Jensen by unanimously rejecting this quisling of a former Speaker.

Attention must be paid. Just say no to Tom Loftus.

NICE JOB SCOTT WALKER, LOOK OUT JIM DOYLE

2006-03-24T19:36:00.000-06:00

Walker withdraws. This is exactly why all of us have been saying that either of the Republicans would make a good governor. Scott knew that he was going to lose, and so sat down and tried to figure out how to best manage the situation. When your choices are to engage in an ugly Pfaffian fight against the GOP frontrunner but inevitably lose with your reputation in tatters, or withdraw now and appear statesmanlike to fight another day -- he made the intelligent decision to withdraw. Smart guy. Savvy guy. I respect Scott Walker today more than I did yesterday.

Apparently, the theorists at Boots and Sabers have opined that they would have preferred a full-fledged everyone bleeds Republican primary in 2006. I think that's nice theory, but practically Republicans have a better chance uniting early behind the best candidate and focusing their fire on the guy who even Xoff considers a political cripple. Jim Doyle and the coven around him cannot be at all happy about today's decision by Walker. Republicans and conservatives should be rejoicing and coming together to do everything possible to elect Mark Green as our next governor.

When it gets right down to it, Walker withdrew because his campaign failed to catch fire in the requisite manner. It could have happened that people around the state decided that they love this guy, but it just didn't. He looked okay next to Mark Green but Mark Green looked better. So, Republicans around the state saw them both and started to coalesce around Mark Green. Not because Scott Walker sucks, but because Mark Green has the potential to inspire.

Look out Jim Doyle. An entire year of libelous and hysterical ramblings by Chairman Wineke will not be enough to save either your "administration" or Joey's lobbying career. The Green Machine is about to mow you down. The writing is on the wall. Martin Schreiber, Tony Earl, and Jim Doyle. The people of Wisconsin always give you guys a chance, but they never end up liking the taste left in their mouths.

Excellent work, Scott Walker. Your time could very well come on another day.

MORE SUPPORT FOR MY POSITION ON THE AMENDMENT

2006-03-24T17:36:00.000-06:00

"Loddfafnir, listen to my counsel:
You will fare well if you follow it,
It will help you much if you heed it.
If aware that another is wicked, say so:
Make no truce or treaty with foes."
Hávamál, St. 127

The coward believes he will live forever
If he holds back in the battle,
But in old age he shall have no peace
Though spears have spared his limbs

More Hugin and Munin

2006-03-24T17:33:00.000-06:00

Odin, the Asatru father of all Norse Gods, has two companion Ravens.

Each day they are sent into the world to listen.

They report to Odin the happenings in the mortal realm.

One Raven is called Thought, the other Memory.

Thought and Memory - Code and Data - different aspects of the same thing.

MY SUGGESTION FOR MILWAUKEE'S NEW LOGO

2006-03-24T09:14:00.000-06:00

Boy, 15, dies after beating
Group attacks him at bus stop; no apparent motive
By RAQUEL RUTLEDGE
rrutledge@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 23, 2006

Family and friends of Raheim Patrick, the 15-year-old boy who was attacked at a bus stop and later died, said they could think of no reason why anyone would want to harm the teen, according to MPS officials who met with his mother and others Thursday night.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett called Thursday for an end to the violence.

Newt's 2008 Pecan Pie

2006-03-23T19:17:00.000-06:00

I received this brilliant Georgia recipe directly from one of my personal heroes who will have to remain nameless. Again, this is not an ordinary pie, or I wouldn't share it with you. it is an extraordinary recipe that could dislodge other pies to make it into your final four. You should hurry up and make this before winter is over and we have to start moving into the spring and summer pies.

Newt's 2008 Pecan Pie

Make a pie crust and bake in 375 degree oven until light golden brown. Use foil and pie weights for the first 15 minutes if you care to be fussy. Just watch it closely and pull it out just as it begins to brown.

6 tblsp unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tblsp vanilla
2 cups pecans, lightly toasted and chopped into small pieces

Melt butter in medium heatproof bowl set in a skillet of water set to simmer. Remove bowl from skillet, stir in sugar and salt until butter is absorbed. Beat in eggs, then corn syrup and vanilla. Return bowl to hot water, stir until mixture is shiny and hot to touch, about 130 degrees on instant-read thermometer. Remove from heat, stir in pecans.

As soon as pie shell comes out of oven, decrease oven temperature to 275 degrees. Pour pecan mixture into hot pie shell. Bake on middle rack until pie looks set and yet soft, like gelatin, when gently pressed with back of spoon, 50-60 minutes. Transfer to rack and let cool as long as your able to resist.

JUST A REMINDER TO DEMOCRATS THAT WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS

2006-03-23T16:25:00.000-06:00

The qualities of courage and compassion that we strive for in America also determine our conduct abroad. The American flag stands for more than our power and our interests. Our founders dedicated this country to the cause of human dignity, the rights of every person, and the possibilities of every life. This conviction leads us into the world to help the afflicted, and defend the peace, and confound the designs of evil men.

Today, the gravest danger in the war on terror, the gravest danger facing America and the world, is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. These regimes could use such weapons for blackmail, terror, and mass murder. They could also give or sell those weapons to terrorist allies, who would use them without the least hesitation.

This threat is new; America's duty is familiar. Throughout the 20th century, small groups of men seized control of great nations, built armies and arsenals, and set out to dominate the weak and intimidate the world. In each case, their ambitions of cruelty and murder had no limit. In each case, the ambitions of Hitlerism, militarism, and communism were defeated by the will of free peoples, by the strength of great alliances, and by the might of the United States of America. (Applause.)

Now, in this century, the ideology of power and domination has appeared again, and seeks to gain the ultimate weapons of terror. Once again, this nation and all our friends are all that stand between a world at peace, and a world of chaos and constant alarm. Once again, we are called to defend the safety of our people, and the hopes of all mankind. And we accept this responsibility.

President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, 2003

CROWS ARE COOL

2006-03-23T14:53:00.000-06:00

Hitchcock's The Birds becomes reality

A flock of crows is attacking residents of Warwick, England. First, the crows were targeting cars, scratching them up and tearing off windshield wipers. Now they've reportedly moved on to humans. Colin Wilkinson, a conservation officer with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, suggests that people "protect themselves by wearing hats" and not leave any food scraps around. From the BBC News:
"It is most unusual for these birds to do this, (Wilkinson said.)

"Attacking cars occurs from time to time but graduating to attacking humans is more rare.

"It is hard to explain except if it is an instinctive reaction to someone who is close to what they regard as their territory."

He said it was the time of year that crows would be pairing up, building nests and laying eggs.

"It simply might be that they are being more aggressive at this time of year, that is the most likely explanation," Mr Wilkinson.

A NEW CAUSE FOR TODAY'S ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS

2006-03-23T14:14:00.000-06:00

TAKING A STAND ON GAYNESS, BIGOTRY, HOMOPHOBIA, AND CIVILITY

2006-03-23T10:30:00.000-06:00

I kind of liked the call of Charlie Sykes, Fair Wisconsin, and others for civility in the debate over the proposed constitutional ban on civil unions in Wisconsin. As you know, I've argued for similar restraint from our elected officials. But I'm concerned we may have gone a bit too far. When debating someone who's bigoted and homophobic, should it not be okay to call them out on their bigotry and homophobia?

Often, amendment backers argue or imply that there is something wrong, deficient, or immoral about homosexuals. This assumption provides the foundation for their intellectualizations or rationalizations about enforcing a second-class citizenship. One of the anonymous bloggers that I most enjoy goes to a fundamentalist church that condemns the evils of the homosexual lifestyle. That religiosity underlies his views on the amendment, and, in my view, places him well across the line into bigotry and homophobia.

For reference, here are the definitions.

Bigotry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A bigot is a prejudiced person who is intolerant of opinions differing from his own. The origin of the word in English dates back to at least 1598, via Middle French, and started with the sense of religious hypocrite, especially a woman. Today, it is considered a synonym of closed-minded. Bigot is often used as a pejorative term against a person who is obstinately devoted to his or her prejudices even when these prejudices are challenged or proven to be false, often advocating and defending these prejudices in a rude and intolerant manner. Forms of bigotry may have a related ideology or worldview such as racism, religion, nationalism or homophobia.

Homophobia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term homophobia means a "fear of or contempt for homosexuality or homosexuals" or the fear of becoming homosexual. It is derivable from the words homosexual and (meaning "fear" or "panic" in Greek). The term itself is, however, often broadened to encompass other feelings such as aversion to, disagreement with, disapprobation of, disparagement of, or discrimination against homosexual people, their lifestyle, their sexual behavior, or culture [1] and is generally used to assert bigotry. Opposition to same-sex sex on religious, moral, or political grounds is also often labeled homophobic.

When people debate this constitutional amendment many advocates are, in fact, driven by bigotry and homophobia. The Glenn Grothmans and the Mark Gundrums have a deep-seated aversion to gay people. They are contemptuous of homosexual behavior, and unhappy with any societal acceptance of their lifestyle. Despite all the intellectualizing over this issue, why not just face facts? Bigotry and homophobia provide both the foundation for this amendment, and all arguments against equal rights for homosexual families.

Why shouldn't we call a spade a spade? No one likes being called a bigot or a homophobe, and I am not arguing for name-calling as a replacement for civil, honest debate. But it would be dishonest to pretend that these oft-condemned tendencies do not play a fundamental role in this discussion. Perhaps some of my more religious readers will step up and embrace their bigotry. Perhaps discriminating against people for their gayness is a justifiable bigotry in their minds. And perhaps legislators like Grothman will embrace their fearful homophobia as well. I don't know, I just think this reality should not be excised from the discussion.

Being bigoted and homophobic doesn't even mean that your position is wrong on the anti-gay amendment. It just means that you're bigoted and homophobic.

A Grand Canyon of a divide exists between the opposing forces in this debate. It's hard for us to engage each other or understand the other's perspective. We're like the Dr. Seuss characters who fight over butter side up or butter side down. Could it be that this divide is all about how each of us feels about gay people? And that the gay-haters and the gay-accepters will never be able to sit down amicably at the same table?

Consider the parallels to the civil rights movement and segregation. American society eventually turned away from the segregationists in revulsion. Bull Connor's dogs and water hoses, George Wallace at the schoolhouse door, and Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner all contributed to a governmental and societal shift in our views on Jim Crow and segregation. Was it wrong for the good guys to call out the segregationists and white supremacists as bigots? I would argue that calling them out for their bigotry was an important part of winning over the hearts and minds of middle Americans.

So, I'm all for civility, but let's not be afraid to confront the truths in this debate. The elephant in the room is indisputably there, and mustn't be ignored in our rush to civility.

INTERESTING LEGAL NEWS OUT OF MINNESOTA

2006-03-23T07:39:00.000-06:00

Maybe selective prosecution is only acceptable in the state of Wisconsin, or perhaps just in a Dane County Courthouse. I sure hope poor Daunte gets a fair deal, racial and political profiling are bad, bad things.

Culpepper seeks dismissal of boat party charges
UNION-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES
March 23, 2006

A judge agreed that Daunte Culpepper and a former Minnesota Vikings teammate had made a case that they were treated differently than two white men who were not charged as part of a boat party sex scandal.

Culpepper and running back Moe Williams are seeking dismissal of misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct. The players, both black, argue that prosecutor Steve Tallen passed up a chance to charge two white men, including the captain of one of two boats on the cruise.

At a hearing yesterday in Hennepin County District Court, Tallen said he declined to charge the men because the case against them was shaky. “It has nothing to do with the race of these defendants,” Tallen said. “It looks bad, though,” Judge Kevin Burke responded. “I am quite convinced that these two guys could have been charged.”

Happy Birthday William Shatner

2006-03-22T12:55:00.000-06:00

And thank you for James T. Kirk and Denny Crane.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU GUYS COME UP WITH NEXT.

2006-03-22T12:28:00.000-06:00

The liberals may be right -- Feingold could be the perfect choice.

Et Tu, Brute?

2006-03-22T12:01:00.000-06:00

One couldn't help but notice the most obtuse visitor to the Scott Jensen Farewell Pizza Party. Hopefully, she had the time to both eat the pizza and peruse the work on office desks.

Charlene Rodgriguez, a former Foti aide, testified that she would frequently participate in gatherings to assembly campaign mailings, and that Schultz was a frequent organizer of the activities. After the lunch break, Blanchard asked Rodriguez if she ever saw Carrie Richard's desk in Jensen's office. Rodriguez said it was covered with fundraising materials.

American Deaths Over The Last Three Years Put In Perspective

2006-03-22T11:14:00.000-06:00

URGENT: WISCONSIN BLOGGERS CAN HELP IN THE SEARCH FOR TWO MISSING CHILDREN

2006-03-22T08:22:00.000-06:00

Fellow Bloggers,
As you can see from the attached article, two young boys from Milwaukee, Quadrevian Henning and Purvis Parker, have been missing from their homes for nearly two days. I would encourage you to join me in immediately posting pictures of these two boys on your blogs to help increase both awareness and the chance of their safe recovery. Wisconsin bloggers have the power to bring many thousands of new eyes to the search. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Search for missing boys intensifies
Families plead for their safe return; Florida children's group joins effort
jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 21, 2006

Milwaukee police ramped up their search Tuesday for two boys who have been missing for more than two days, enlisting the help of other agencies and putting every available officer in the neighborhood where the pair was last seen.

Purvis Virginia Parker, 11, and Quadrevion Henning, 12, were last seen in the 4900 block of N. 53rd St., near their homes, at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to their families and police.
Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7401. The families are offering a $550 reward for information leading to the boys' return.

CAST NEARLY FINALIZED FOR MOVIE ON CAUCUS SCANDAL AND JENSEN TRIAL

2006-03-21T13:31:00.000-06:00

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
MARCH 21, 2006

Reports out of Hollywood suggest that the cast for the new political thriller -- Presumed Guilty -- has been nearly finalized. Parts cast to date reportedly include Scott Jensen, Sherry Schultz, Eric Grant, Judge Ebert, Brian Blanchard, Jason Kratowchill, Steve Baas, and Bill Cosh. Marlin Schneider will play himself, while casting directors are still screen-testing actors in the Prosser and Dake roles. The movie, which will be directed by Oliver Stone, is scheduled to begin filming in Toronto, Canada, in July of 2006.

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH BUTTER

2006-03-21T12:44:00.000-06:00

WHAT THE BUSH-HATERS THINK OF TWO MORE DEAD BODIES

2006-03-21T08:47:00.000-06:00

Journal Sentinel Editorial*
March 21, 2006

Bush Must Answer For These Deaths

Two more bodies have been found in New Orleans' hurricane-devastated Lower 9th Ward, a coroner said Monday. This is a sad exclamation point to the criminal failure of President George W. Bush to first save people from the hurricane and then recover their dead bodies. Democratic Mayor Ray Nagin is right to point fingers at Bush and fellow Washington Republicans for failing to protect poor, black people from Hurrican Katrina. Is that not, after all, the President's primary responsibility?

About 1,100 deaths have now been blamed on Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, said Melissa Walker, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Hospitals. The latest bodies were found Sunday in a collapsed house while rubble was being cleared, said Dr. Louis Cataldie, state medical examiner. Global warming and Republican neglect are thought to be the two main causes of death.

A good and caring President, like Bill Clinton for example, would have spent the money to strengthen the levees and done everything in his power to save New Orleans from bad weather conditions, had someone only given him a heads up. We agree with rap artist Kanye West who called out GW as a man who doesn't care about black people (unless they become Secretary of State.) After all, the white crackers of Crawford, Texas, would never have been treated as neglectfully as black citizens of the Lower 9th Ward.

Shame on you, Mr. President, you let them die and didn't even look for their bodies. It is indisputably and absolutely all your fault.

*This JS online editorial was probably written jointly by Editorial Page Editor Ricardo Pimintel and Race Columnist Eugene Kane. If this offends you, please see definition of satire available at Wilkipedia.

There are some men like some snakes; 'tis natural to them to be doing mischief

2006-03-20T18:49:00.000-06:00

A countryman happen'd in a hard winter to spy a snake under a hedge, that was half frozen to death. The man was good natur'd, and took it up, and kept it in his bosom, till warmth brought it to life again; and so soon as ever it was in condition to do mischief, it bit the very man that sav'd the life on't. Ah thou ungrateful wretch! says he, is that venomous ill nature of thine to be satisfi'd with nothing less than the ruine of thy preserver.

Moral

There are some men like some snakes; 'tis natural to them to be doing mischief; and the greater the benefit on the one side, the more implacable is the malice on the other.

Kreuser and Robson Cite Blanchard, Issue Joint Declaration On Reconstitution Of Caucuses

2006-03-20T14:55:00.000-06:00

JENSEN TRIAL REVIVES MINORITY CAUCUSES
March 20. 2006
(A.P.) Kreuser and Robson Cite Blanchard, Issue Joint Declaration On Reconstitution Of Caucuses

Assembly and Senate Minority Leaders Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) and Judy Robson (D-Beloit) issued a joint announcement today that will lead to the recreation of the Assembly and Senate Democratic Caucuses. "District Attorney Blanchard has made it quite clear that the Legislature's minority caucuses can safely do things that the majority cannot," said Kreuser during today's capitol press conference, "and we're going to take advantage of that finding to rehire Democratic caucus staff and utilize them to win back the majority." Robson went on to encourage disgraced former staffers like Rich Judge and George Twigg to send in their resumes as quickly as possible.

The Kreuser-Robson initiative occurs in the wake of the conviction of former Speaker Scott Jensen for three felonies related to the use of state employees for campaign purposes. In remarks after the trial, Blanchard stated that the majority has both greater power and a greater responsibility to follow the law. When asked directly about illegal campaigning by Assembly Democrats, Blanchard dismissively asserted that a prosecutor has the right to be selective about the use and misuse of D.A resources. "As I understand it, minority parties have very little power and therefore a negligible responsibility to follow the same laws as everyone else," said Blanchard, "I'm not going to waste my staff's time going after Democrats who've already suffered enough from Republican bullies like Jensen."

Robson -- who broke with Democratic tradition earlier today by coming out in favor of a healthy state business climate --went on to say, "Nothing could be more important than getting Democrats back in control of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Now that we have the official green light from District Attorney Blanchard and a confidential opinion from A.G. Lautenschlager's Public Integrity Unit, we're ready to begin hiring as early as next week." Both Kreuser and Robson noted that hiring preference would be given to those with prior caucus service, with extra points for those who have been fired from various places due to that association.

"I've read a great deal of the John Doe evidence that proves that my predecessor Shirley Krug cheated taxpayers to a much greater extent than Scott Jensen," continued Kreuser, "while I still hate that woman, the example of her non-prosecution would make my failure to act a dereliction of duty. Wisconsin deserves to have the good guys back in charge, and I will utilize every state resource at my disposal to make that happen." Robson has requested the complete records of the John Doe investigation into Mary Panzer's minority Republican caucus and Shirley Krug's minority Democratic caucus to use as a template for creating her new caucus campaign machine.

Krug and Panzer were scheduled to appear at today's Kreuser-Robson press conference, but backed out at the last minute for and AODA class and French class respectively. "I know Shirley and Mary are here with us in spirit," exclaimed Robson, "getting away with it is truly the best revenge against the evil corporations and nasty Republicans who rule this state. I'm glad Shirley and Mary got away with it, and I know Jim and I can do the same." When asked, both Kreuser and Robson pledged to re-eliminate the caucus staff within four years of regaining the majority, all things being equal.

Democratic Party Chair Joe Wineke also attended the press conference, but left without making a comment about the proposed change. A confidential source in Governor Doyle's office noted that the Governor was frustrated with the Republican majorities and had quietly encouraged Robson and Kreuser to move forward with their plan.

Anonymous Blogger Joins Kid Rock In Suing Over Sex Tapes

2006-03-20T08:10:00.002-06:00

Anonymous Blogger Joins Kid Rock In Suing Over Sex Tapes
March 20, 2006, 10:10 AM ET
Award-winning blogger Dennis York is suing in an effort to stop a California company from selling or promoting a sex video featuring himself, Kid Rock and four women.

The federal lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles yesterday (March 19) against World Wide Red Light District, is similar to one Kid Rock's lawyers brought in Detroit over a prior matter. Rock was in Madison this past weekend to visit his long-time political adviser and sometime Roadie, Dennis York. The "party" appears to have been filmed in a back room at Visions, after the conclusion of the more-staid WisPolitics blog summit at Waukesha’s Country Springs Hotel.

A U.S. District Court judge there has signed a temporary order barring the company from distributing or promoting any portion of the tape, including a 40-second preview clip that was previously displayed on Red Light District's Web sites. York argued that this was a private celebration that got out of hand, and blamed Recess Supervisor for filming and selling the X-rated images without his permission.

Dennis York's lawsuit alleges that two tapes, described as a "video diary" of his post-blog-summit party at Visions, are rightly his property. The suit states Red Light District violated his trademark and privacy rights, causing him embarrassment, pain, suffering and emotional distress. The action seeks a restraining order barring the company from distributing the video.

A call placed to Red Light attorney Ray Tamaddon after business hours rang unanswered. Red Light previously acknowledged the tape came from a third party, but Tamaddon declined to say how Red Light's source acquired the video. Neither York, York's estranged wife, or Recess Supervisor could be reached for comment.

WHAT DO WISCONSIN BLOGGERS AND ISLAMIC TERRORISTS HAVE IN COMMON?

2006-03-19T19:19:00.000-06:00

ALL POLITICS IS THYMOTIC
David Brooks, The New York Times
March 19, 2006

Let me tell you what men want. Let me tell you why some middle-age men wear the sports jerseys of semi-literate behemoths half their age while others customize their cars with so many speakers they sound like the hip-hop version of the San francisco earthquake as they roll down the street.

Recognition. Men want others to recognize their significance. They want to feel important and part of something important.

Some people believe men are motivated by greed for money or lust for power. But money and power are means to get recognition. They are markers of success, and success makes men feel important and causes others to pay attention when they walk in the room...
more at nytimes.com

Christina Ricci's Rich and Naughty Rice Pudding

2006-03-19T18:39:00.000-06:00

I love rice pudding. You probably don't care one way or the other, and I understand that. But let me encourage you to give this ultra-rich version a try. It is a recipe of exotic Norwegian origins, that in many ways is the ultimate in comfort food. Sometimes when you make pudding this good, it can replace all meals over a 24 hour period. After all, why eat a bowl of Fruit Loops or pasta when you can have warm rice pudding topped with cinnamon, sugar, and half and half. Truly, the ideal midnight snack. As always here at I AM THE FORCE, I encourage you to make this recipe and be forever changed.

Christina Ricci's Rich and Naughty Rice Pudding

1 cup water
1/2 cup rice
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milke
2 cups half and half
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raisins
-----------------------------------------

Boil water, salt and rice for 7 minutes, add milk, half and half and butter, bring to a boil then turn down and simmer for 1 hour. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla together then stir in to rice at end, then add raisins.

Playground Politics gets it right again.

2006-03-19T11:53:00.000-06:00

Playground Politics gets it right again.
Recess Supervisor on the Blog Conference

Becoming a Remove-Plastic-Bags-in-Trees Activist

2006-03-18T12:19:00.000-06:00

People of the earth, I think we might just have our environmental priorities wrong. Instead of wringing our hands about global warming, perhaps we should all get out there and pull plastic bags out of trees. I know you've seen them, and if you haven't, just look up in the next trees you see. These bags are everywhere. Very ugly, and probably not such a great thing for wildlife.

Global warming doesn't concern me because I'm not wealthy enough to live on either coast, or have an expensive Outer Banks condo. Warmer temperatures would be good for Wisconsin in general and me in particular. We've all seen enough snow in our lives, and far too much of Southeastern Wisconsin's parka culture. If we could cut down on the snow and the parkas, you have to admit that would be a good thing.

Becoming a remove-plastic-bags-in-trees activist would not make you all that unique. The trend reportedly started in New York City's Central Park, with individuals and their long-reach grabbers pulling down every plastic eyesore in reach. It's probably even good exercise, so you'll be able to make more of the yummy recipes from I AM THE FORCE. It's even a way to meet new people, as strangers will regularly yell at you to ask you what the hell you are doing.

Please stop worrying about whether Antarctica is losing some of its ice, and start acting to improve the livability of your neighborhood. Each plastic bag you pull out of a tree will give you immense satisfaction and the immediate knowledge that you have made a difference. Stop the hand-wringing, and get out there and do something!

Portman's Puffy Apple Pancakes.

2006-03-18T10:03:00.000-06:00

I just made these Portman's Puffy Apple Pancakes this morning. Doesn't it look good? Couldn't you just eat it right up? This is a breakfast that all your non-evil children will ask for and enjoy. I'm not sure, but I think the real secret of this recipe is the full stick of butter used in its preparation. But that's just me, it also includes other major food groups like flour, milk, fruit, and powdered sugar. I got the recipe from an extremely close -- but very confidential -- friend of mine. Enjoy!

Portman's Puffy Apple Pancakes

You'll need a 14 inch skillet with a heatproof handle for this recipe -- if you don't have one of these you should rush out and buy one. I heard Kohls might be having a sale.

2 peeled, cored and chopped Granny Smith Apples
1 stick unsalted butter
4 large eggs
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup flour
A pinch of salt
1/4 cup powdered sugar for sprinkling
3 tblsp fresh lemon juice for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Beat together the eggs, nutmeg and cinnamon in a small bowl. Lightly beat together the flour, milk, salt and egg mixture in a medium bowl, it's fine if a bit lumpy.
Melt the butter in the skillet, and saute the small chunks of apple until tender. Pour the batter mixture over the apples, and bake the pancake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until puffy and golden brown. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar and return to the oven for a minute or two. Then sprinkle with lemon juice and serve immediately, adding butter, syrup, and additional powdered sugar as desired.
You'll, of course, need to serve this with sausage or bacon.

WHAT THE VIKINGS DID FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

2006-03-17T21:53:00.000-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

The Vikings concentrated their attacks during the 830's and 840's on the Irish monastic communities. Due to the constant internecine warfare in Ireland, the Irish utilized the monasteries as sanctuaries for high ranking people, for wealth, and for livestock as well as ecclesiastical wealth and ornaments. The sacrosanct nature of the monastic communities was respected by the warring Irish factions, but seemed to the Vikings to be treasure houses of concentrated plunder. The usual Viking raid was a hit-and-run strike, designed to capture the maximum amount of valuable goods and then flee the vicinity before the Irish could mount an effective response.

HATING GEORGE W. BUSH AND WISHING FOR AMERICAN DEFEAT

2006-03-17T17:59:00.000-06:00

Some day, the terrorists will likely be successful exploding nuclear or chemical weapons on American soil. They've been working towards this goal for decades, and the technology and technical expertise exists to make it happen. A briefcase size device would be enough to destroy New York City, killing millions in one stroke and thrilling the America-haters around the world.

Could Russ Feingold and Joe Wineke possibly understand this? They visibly root for bad news from Iraq, and continually provide aid and comfort to the enemies in the hills of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. And Feingold keeps fighting to weaken our defenses, and prevent the monitoring of conversations with expected Al Quaeda terrorists. When the major attack one day arrives, how will Feingold, Wineke and any remaining Democrats defend their behavior?

I know you hate George W. Bush, but do you hate the people of New York City or Washington, D.C. as well? Perhaps Dem headquarters could join in a celebratory dance with Zarqawi, Mullah Omar, and Osama Bin Laden when the horrific day finally comes. After all, aren't you guys all rooting for the same thing? Face it, the Bush hatred and rooting-for-defeat leaves you with a lot in common with the murderous Islamist freaks.

One of the President's primary responsibilities is to protect the American people from attack. September 11 should have led politicians of all stripes to join the President in that commitment. If they were able to accomplish that work, then an even greater attack must be considered as a very real threat. Do Democrats still believe that the President should be focused on the common defense? Or do they prefer the limp-wristed squishiness of the Clinton years?

Why don't the American people trust the Democrats on the issue of national security? That should be obvious to everyone, as we read Joe Wineke's celebration of U.S. difficulties the 3rd anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. That should be obvious to everyone, as we listen to Neville Feingold call for our commander in chief to be censured for aggressively protecting American soil. That should be obvious to everyone who sees the We-Hate-Bush bumper stickers on the cars of failed Kerry supporters.

Republicans may have hated Franklin Roosevelt, but they never rooted for American defeat by Japan or Germany when he was President. At a time when Republicans are not right on all of the issues, Joe Wineke and Russ Feingold give me some reason to feel good about being in the Grand Old Party. I hope we never have to live with the consequences of the current Democratic irresponsibility.

DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT FOR MY POSITION ON THE NATURE OF RUSS FEINGOLD

2006-03-17T17:45:00.000-06:00

Perhaps these guys are starting to figure Russ out. Of course, being irresponsible and endangering national security is a deeply ingrained policy for Wisconsin Democrats. Maybe Russ can get Ralph Nader to join him as his running mate. I guarantee you that these two would carry the isthmus in 2008.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Sen. Mark Dayton on Thursday strongly criticized fellow Democrat Russ Feingold’s resolution to censure President Bush over domestic spying.

“It’s an overreaching step by someone who is grandstanding and running for president at the expense of his own party and his own country,” Dayton said of Feingold, a Wisconsin senator and potential 2008 presidential candidate.

“I think it’s a very dangerous territory for the democracy that we have in this country to be playing around with those kinds of resolutions, without any consultations from his colleagues. I think it was irresponsible.”

WISCONSIN LOBBYISTS SET TO AWARD ALICE CLAUSING AS LEAST-MISSED LEGISLATOR

2006-03-17T11:30:00.000-06:00

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 17, 2006

WISCONSIN LOBBYISTS SET TO AWARD ALICE CLAUSING AS LEAST-MISSED LEGISLATOR

Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists' President Patrick Schillinger will hold a press conference in the Assembly parlor at 3:00 pm this afternoon to formally announce this year's winner of the Lorge Award for Departed Legislators. The award announcement -- which has not been widely publicized in recent years -- will include music by the Hudson High School swing choir, and an hors d'oeuvres buffet from Madison's. "The Lorge Award for least-missed legislator is an AWL initiative to help clients understand how diffcult lobbying can actually be," said Schillinger, "Our panel of judges feels that nobody is more deserving than this year's honoree."

Feingold is extremely Stillsonian. It is all a trick. And it is a dangerous trick for Wisconsin and America.

2006-03-16T17:29:00.000-06:00

FYI to all the lefty Feingold groupies. I know Russ Feingold. I've worked with Russ Feingold. I've seen Russ Feingold going upstairs with pages at Dan Fields' parties. And Russ Feingold does not have a non-scheming idealistic bone in his body. His latest stunt calling for censure of the President is all about getting attention, and cynically trying to make himself look unique and important for pure self-promotional reasons. Fraley has been getting that right, as far as it goes.

Russ figured out a long time ago that being louder than others or standing alone on an issue, often held positive political benefits regardless of the matter under dispute. Regular people see him as a fighter and reward him. He thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, and nobody will ever figure out that this idealistic poser is actually a guy that doesn't really believe in anything other than himself. Every single thing he does, is about pursuing his own grasping push for power and importance.

You lefties are such a bunch of gullibly foolish maniacs. This guy is most definitely not your latest Paul Wellstone. Wellstone was actually a deeply-ingrained moonbat who believed all of the crazy stuff that he spouted on a daily basis. Feingold just has a formula. I've seen him wink at political opponents after railing passionately about an issue under dispute. It's just a game to him. Unlike George Bush, he has no principles and believes in nothing.

So flock to him, please. Support him for President, and help him achieve Deaniac status. You are so right! He is such a bold and idealistic leader. If only more Democrats could be like Russ Feingold. Keep talking that way, and volunteer for the guy all around the country. Eventually you will probably figure out, however, that Feingold is extremely Stillsonian. It is all a trick. And it is a dangerous trick for Wisconsin and America.

You people are so incredibly blind that I actually feel sorry for you. Maybe he actually is smarter than you. But he's definitely not good enough for rest of us.

FAIR NORWAY POT ROASTED SQUAB CHICKENS

2006-03-16T16:57:00.000-06:00

In an effort to continue non-dessert recipe diversification, I have to share this old Norwegian recipe by Suzanne Taylor. Even though it's not dessert, the payoff is similar. Make with squash or sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes.

FAIR NORWAY POT ROASTED SQUAB CHICKENS

2-3 cornish hens -- 1 cup chicken stock
salt and pepper -- 1/2 cup sour cream
butter -- 1/2 cup sweet cream
------------------------------------------------
Wash and dry the thawed cornish hens well, salt and pepper the insides, put a big lump of butter (size of walnut) in a Le Creuset pot, on top of the stove and put the trussed chicken in whole, browning them well on all sides. Add a scant cup of chicken stock, put the lid on the pot, and simmer over low heat for about forty-five minutes or until tender when pierced by fork. Remove the chickens to a platter, discard the string, and keep them warm. Reduce the stock in the pot by half, add half a cup of sour cream and half a cup of sweet cream, and let come to a boil. Serve with the birds separately. Cranberry or currant jelly goes well with this.

YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY, IN THE LAST ONE-HUNDRED YEARS

2006-03-16T15:48:00.000-06:00

Now, if we could just get Islam and the third world to go along.

STILL THINKING ABOUT IT?

2006-03-16T15:25:00.000-06:00

Fair Wisconsin

The ban will hurt real Wisconsin families

The denial of marriage hurts loving and committed lesbian and gay couples who live in every part of Wisconsin. These couples have taken on the responsibilities of marriage, yet they are denied the critical legal protections that marriage provides. The proposed constitutional ban on civil unions and marriage will make that denial of marriage permanent.

A marriage license extends over 1,000 rights, benefits, and responsibilities under federal law and nearly 200 more under Wisconsin law. These include basic things like being able to share health and retirement benefits and take bereavement leave in the case of a death in the family. Denying the important legal protections of marriage hurts real families who live in every part of the state.

Fair Wisconsin -- Why It's Wrong

LOOKS LIKE I WAS RIGHT IN MY EARLIER POSTING ABOUT THE COPS.

2006-03-16T14:10:00.000-06:00

LOOKS LIKE I WAS RIGHT IN MY EARLIER POSTING ABOUT THE COPS. Of course, there's always the "everybody was doing it" defense. Might be applicable here.

Officer's record has 27 complaints
He's accused of sexual assault of two women

By JOHN DIEDRICH
jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Mar. 15, 2006

A Milwaukee police officer charged with sexually assaulting two women has had 27 complaints filed against him in his 16-year career, according to the department.

Officer Steven J. Lelinski has asked a judge to block release of those complaints after the department found parts of 19 of them should be turned over to the Journal Sentinel under the state's open records law. The newspaper on Jan. 4 requested all complaints against Lelinski.

Lelinski, 42, a politically prominent officer who sat on several boards, has been charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor from two alleged sexual assaults, one from October, the other from 2002. If convicted on all counts, Lelinski faces up to 80 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty and is suspended with pay, per state law.In a Feb. 27 letter to the newspaper, the department said 27 complaints were filed against Lelinski, three of which resulted in criminal investigations. One remains open. No details of the complaints were released.

THE PAPARAZZI PHOTO OF THE WEEK AT THE WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL

2006-03-16T12:59:00.000-06:00

And the jackals Krug, Kunicki, Loftus, and Ellis are just outside the frame of the picture.

Would you rather live 74 years with pleasure in your life, or 75 years without anything good to eat?

2006-03-16T10:45:00.000-06:00

You people need to start enjoying life more. The anti-fat zealots have convinced all of you to drink skim milk and never eat desserts, cookies or rich, creamy butter again. I won't even get into the issue of how may of you won't even consider making rommegrot part of your regular diet. You're all letting "the man" bring you down. Please rethink this dogma!

Tasting good doesn't make something automatically bad for you. And eating a couple of brownies or a Krispy Kreme donut is not going to kill you. And even if life expectancy is actually reduced by this behavior, would you rather live 74 years with pleasure in your life, or 75 years without anything good to eat? You should avoid bad fat things like McDonald's, but that's no reason to deny yourself one of the fundamental pleasures of life.

Let's talk about butter for a moment. If you make peanut butter toast, it tastes much better to butter the toast before adding the peanut butter. If you have a muffin, it is infinitely tastier cut in half and slathered with butter. If you make a buttermilk biscuit, it tastes oh so much better covered with both real butter and gravy. So, why aren't you people following my lead? Take out butter from everything I just described and the experience will become very lackluster. Without the aggressive use of butter, your life pleasure quotient is reduced significantly.

On to the science for a moment. Studies seem to be coming out every day that low-fat diets do nothing to decrease your risks of cancer, heart disease or other bad things that can happen to you. So there, take that! Not to mention, that anti-cholesterol and other magical pills are now available to make the bad stuff go away. Cholesterol at 310? Just start taking Zocor and you'll be down to 180 in no time, all without ever having to change your diet. It's all mostly genetic anyway, as my low-fat eating, regular-exercising, high-cholesterol siblings have proven.

Think of this for a moment: you spend 30, 40, or 50 years of your life struggling daily to support the food police and remove all portions of fat, taste, or pleasure from your diet. Rice cakes, bran muffins, and garden salads. After all those years of self-denial, a study is probably going to come out that proves once and for all that comfort foods are good for you. The butter and cream you denied yourself, all actually very good for you. The foie gras you never tried, proven to be very beneficial. Breyers vanilla ice cream, both good and good for you. How will that make you feel?

This is, in fact, a very simple issue. It's all about how you want to live your life, and whether you want pleasure and satisfaction to be a significant part of the picture. You are scaring yourselves out of a pleasurable life, and it makes me sad for you. How can you keep saying no thanks to the creme brulee?

Just think of the infinite number of good experiences that you're missing on an every day basis. Cherry pie a la mode. Peanut butter cookies. Homemade ice cream. Beef stroganoff. Toblerone. Gelato. Fresh buttered bread right out of the oven. Chocolate eclairs. Chocolate malts. Cream and sugar on blackberries. Chocolate souffle. Coq au vin. Chicken and baking powder biscuits. French toast with butter, jam, syrup, bacon, sausage and ice cold 2% milk. Banana cream pie with meringue topping. Crepes with butter, jam, and powdered sugar. To name just a few.

I'm not arguing for you to turn yourself into a fat person. But if that starts to become a problem, I have no objection to you engaging in some kind of physical activity to lose the weight. Apparently, that is now as easy as walking around your block a couple times a day. Have an eclair and take the walk. Or don't take the walk, it will be fine either way. Also remember, that when you're young and in the dating world it's very difficult to gain weight. But when you get older and weight-gain becomes more likely, you should have found your life partner by that time and therefore should have less of a need to stay completely fit and trim. So, you can eat great food whether you're young or old. Isn't that exciting?

Think about making a change, and start living a pleasurable life today. Be assured that I'll keep the recipes coming as long as I'm able.

H.L. Mencken on the Issues of Yesterday and Today

2006-03-16T09:45:00.000-06:00

The practical politician, as every connoisseur of ochlocracy knows, is not a man who seeks to inoculate the innumerable caravan of voters with new ideas; he is a man who seeks to search out and prick into energy the basic ideas that are already in them, and to turn the resultant effervescence of emotion to his own uses.

Truth, indeed, is something that is believed in completely only by persons who have never tried personally to pursue it to its fastness and grab it by the tail. .... Nine times out of ten, in the arts as in life, there is no truth to be discovered; there is only error to be exposed.

...constructive criticism irritates me. I do not object to being denounced, but I can't abide being school-mastered, especially by men I regard as imbeciles.

Like most other professional writers I get a good many letters from my customers. Complaints, naturally, are far more numerous than compliments; it is only indignation that can induce the average man to brave the ardors of pen and ink.

Good government is that which delivers the citizen from the risk of being done out of his life and property too arbitrarily and violently - one that relieves him sufficiently from the barbaric business of guarding them to enable him to engage in gentler, more dignified and more agreeable undertakings...

For it is the natural tendency of the ignorant to believe what is not true. In order to overcome that tendency it is not sufficient to exhibit the true; it is also necessary to expose and denounce the false.

[Government] is apprehended, not as a committee of citizens chosen to carry on the communal business of the whole population, but as a separate and autonomous corporation, mainly devoted to exploiting the population for the benefit of its own members. .... When a private citizen is robbed, a worthy man is deprived of the fruits of his industry and thrift; when the government is robbed, the worst that happens is that certain rogues and loafers have less money to play with than they had before.

It seems to me that society usually wins. There are, to be sure, free spirits in the world, but their freedom, in the last analysis, is not much greater than that of a canary in a cage. They may leap from perch to perch; they may bathe and guzzle at their will; they may flap their wings and sing. But they are still in the cage, and soon or late it conquers them.

The natural tendency of every government is to grow steadily worse - that is, to grow more satisfactory to those who constitute it and less satisfactory to those who support it.

But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than to be ignorant.

A professional politician is a professionally dishonorable man. In order to get anywhere near high office he has to make so many compromises and submit to so many humiliations that he becomes indistinguishable from a streetwalker.

The volume of mail that comes in to a magazine or a newspaper or a radio station is no index of anything, except that you happen to attract a lot of idiots, because most people that write letters to newspapers are fools. Intelligent people seldom do it - they do it sometimes, but not often. I used to, in my days of running a column - I welcomed the letters that came in, and, in fact, edited them. I was in charge of the letter column, and always let anyone in who denounced me violently get in - because I believe that people like to read abuse.

We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.

I believe that the public likes criticism only in so far as it is a good show, which means only in so far as it is bellicose. The crowd is always with the prosecution. Hence, when I have to praise a writer, I usually do it by attacking his enemies. And when I say the crowd I mean all men. My own crowd is very small and probably somewhat superior, but it likes rough-house just as much as a crown around a bulletin-board.

H.L. Mencken

THE STATE OF WISCONSIN STATE GOVERNMENT

2006-03-16T09:31:00.000-06:00

Judge Memorial Hot Beefs

2006-03-15T18:38:00.000-06:00

I'm getting a little worried about you people. I give you the absolute best recipes that have ever reached your home, and I don't seem to be getting comments. If I'm too nice to Scott Jensen, I got a dozen screaming lunatics challenging me. Could this perhaps mean that you're not making these recipes? Because I think you'd be burying me with compliments and requests for additional recipes if you had. Stop worrying so much about politics and judicial misconduct, and make some brownies, Special K bars, and corn pudding.

Today, we have something a little different. Hot beefs that are easy to make, and exceptional in a way that the three ingredients could never be alone. Here's the recipe:

5 lb chuck roast
32 oz bottle of Ginger Ale
32 oz bottle of Heinz Ketchup
-----------------------------------
Pour it all together in a French or Dutch Oven, bake on middle oven rack at 300 degrees for 8 hours, Stirring often. Serve on buns, and eat them for days. Or have a bunch of people over and impress them.

SWEEPING THE CAPITOL

2006-03-15T15:14:00.000-06:00

ONE OF LIFE'S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

2006-03-15T13:02:00.000-06:00

Guys, this is starting to get embarrassing.

2006-03-15T10:56:00.000-06:00

Guys, this is starting to get embarrassing. The shift from TABOR to TPA, the general confusion over message and details, and now a continual drip-drip of problems with the proposal. Isn't this supposed to be the centerpiece of the GOP agenda? Senator Grothman had over one-year and ideological purity to work with, yet he seems to have midwifed something as strange and unexpected as Glenn himself.

How are you going to be able to sell something that few people like or understand? It may, in fact, be a great idea, but that does not appear to be the message that is filtering into the brains of the regular people. Who is behind your message campaign? Has a TPA Campaign Plan even been written? Maybe you could hire Scott Jensen to try and figure out a message and PR campaign to turn this thing around.

I'm afraid that Republicans are at risk of losing their hold on the Legislature. Not immediately, but inevitably, unless a savvy controlling authority again takes control of the Republican agenda and message campaigns. Is that going to happen? I'm not really saying any potential of that on the senate side, despite the coup rumors. And it remains to be seen who's actually in charge of the assembly.

I have just one request -- can someone please step up and stop the embarrassment?

3/15/2006
TPA Needs Fixing
By Frank Lasee

Thoughts on the TPA
When Senator Grothman introduced the Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA), I supported it. I want to be clear that I still do support it, and will continue to support it as long as it protects the taxpayers.

As with any first try, we can make improvements. Time and study of the TPA as it’s currently written have brought out a few details – things that need to be fixed before it comes to a vote.

First, the Rob Peter to Pay Paul scheme:
As it’s currently written, the TPA lets the state rob local government revenue streams to spend on other state priorities. It then leaves local governments to backfill with property tax increases – increases they can enact without asking their voters. And all the while, the state can brag about living within a limit, when in fact spending is growing twice that fast.

CALLING ALL POLITICAL CONSULTANTS -- IMPEACH OR DEFEAT JUDGE STEVEN EBERT

2006-03-15T09:27:00.000-06:00

"Ours is a sick profession. [A profession marked by] incompetence, lack of training, misconduct, and bad manners. Ineptness, bungling, malpractice, and bad ethics can be observed in court houses all over this country every day."
Justice Warren Burger

"Law is often the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual."
Thomas Jefferson

What's ironic about this box article by Steve Walters in today's MJS?
"Both Parties Blurred the Lines of Campaign Work"
NONE of the information in this article was permitted to be introduced in the trial by Judge Ebert - despite the fact that they (a) put the Jensen allegations in context, (b) spoke to the wholesale, bipartisan confusion (or disregard) over where the blurry line between campaign and legislative work fell, and (c) were at the crux of whether Jensen acted in a manner "INCONSISTENT with the duties of his office" as the criminal charge stated.
Savvy Emailer

"People who argue that "everybody does it" is not a defense miss the point. The issue is not whether the government must prosecute everybody who does something wrong. It is instead whether it is fundamentally fair to pick and choose certain individuals for felony prosecution while intentionally turning a blind eye to similar misconduct when committed by others? I honestly have serious doubts whether the Jensen convicton will stand up on appeal. At the very least, I fail to see how someone can be convicted of trying to intentionally obtain a dishonest advantage without being allowed to present evidence that everybody else was doing the same thing. I mean, how did Jensen get an advantage (dishonest or otherwise) if his opponents were engagaing in the same conduct?"
Jeff Wagner

"The discretion of a Judge is the law of tyrants: it is always unknown. It is different in different men. It is casual, and depends upon constitution, temper, passion. In the best it is oftentimes caprice; in the worst it is every vice, folly, and passion to which human nature is liable."
Lord Camden

Unessential workers, paid by taxpayers, and focused on re-election.

2006-03-14T19:34:00.000-06:00

Bruce Murphy points out in Milwaukee Magazine column that the caucuses cost taxpayers millions of dollars over the years. http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/murphyslaw/ He is absolutely right about that, but he's missing an important part of the picture. Personal staff numbers have exploded over the last 10-20 years, and the job of the typical staffer is to get his or her boss re-elected. Unessential workers, paid by taxpayers, and focused on re-election.

They create campaign literature that masquerades as an official "report from Madison" newsletter. They answer constituent mail so that their bosses look responsive. They help constituents with their government complaints because it creates friends and voters for their boss. They write press releases to get their bosses noticed and make them appear worthy of re-election. And they work with lobbyists so that their boss can raise money from the special interests come election time.

Everything these less-than-crucial state employees do is funded by the taxpayers, and designed to assure their boss's re-election. Why are intelligent observers like Murphy so unaware of this reality? Maybe it just doesn't fit with the evil-caucuses story line to have a more complete understanding of how the Wisconsin state capitol works. And might we perhaps have overlooked some of the most subtle tricks of the Wisconsin incumbent protection system? Most observers also seem to have forgotten that Wisconsin legislators used to be able to do all of their own work.

Virtually everything done by a Wisconsin state legislative office is meant to increase electoral support for their legislator. The trick has been in convincing the media and the public that the increase in staff has been all about improving service to constituents. That has to be legitimate, right? All legislative bodies, state and national, create a support structure advantageous to those in power. Not so hard to understand how the slippery slope could have resulted in a specialized caucus staff to supplement this conglomeration of tools for incumbent protection.

And, yes, I've been and aspired to be a capitol staffer. That's why I understand how the system works. It is, after all, a pretty cushy, well-paid position. And the nature of the capitol staff job is not the fault of the person doing the job, so don't get all defensive on me, people. They're just doing what their job requires them to do -- getting their bosses re-elected. Just like Rusty Feingold's press secretary. And... just like those evil and now departed partisan caucuses.

An Exclusive Look at State Senator Glenn Grothman's Innermost Fears About Civil Rights For Gays And Lesbians

2006-03-14T12:29:00.000-06:00

Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, biblical?
Ray: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor... real Wrath-of-God-type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies.
Venkman: Rivers and seas boiling!
Egon: 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanos.
Winston: The dead rising from the grave!
Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats, living together... mass hysteria!

GAY? FINE BY ME.

2006-03-13T14:37:00.000-06:00

I'm a supporter of gay rights. And not a closet supporter either. From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community. There are so many qualities that make up a human being... by the time I get through with all the things that I really admire about people, what they do with their private parts is probably so low on the list that it is irrelevant. ~Paul Newman

Homophobia is a social disease.

One should no more deplore homosexuality than left-handedness. ~Towards a Quaker View of Sex, 1964

Straight Americans need... an education of the heart and soul. They must understand - to begin with - how it can feel to spend years denying your own deepest truths, to sit silently through classes, meals, and church services while people you love toss off remarks that brutalize your soul. ~Bruce Bawer, The Advocate, 28 April 1998

As long as society is anti-gay, then it will seem like being gay is anti-social. ~Joseph Francis

WARNING: Xoff Substitute Week.

2006-03-13T09:42:00.000-06:00

Just a heads up out there to some of you who might be tempted to check out the Xoff Files sometime this week. Please be warned that Bill Christofferson will again be replaced for a few days -- while he's off working on some nefarious scheme -- by a rogues' gallery of lefty freaks designed to make Xoff himself look like a reasonable moderate. Please don't waste your time with them -- it will only make you wish for the return of Christofferson -- which also does not make a lot of sense.

His main contributor is pictured appropriately here on the left.

TONY SOPRANO'S BUTTER NUGGETS

2006-03-12T19:35:00.000-06:00

Just like the Soprano's, these cookies will change your life. It's all about getting what you want, when you want it. What's not to like about that? Enjoy tonight's show, but make these for next week.

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 sticks soft, unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
3 large egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract

1. Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together and set aside.

2. Put the butter in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer on low for 15 seconds. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until lightened in color and fluffy. Scrape the bowl, blend in the egg yolks, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth - 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl. On low speed add the flour mixture, mixing just until the flour is incorporated completely. The dough will be soft.

3. Form the dough into 3 rectangles 4 1/4 by 4 inches and 3/4 inch thick. Wrap each piece of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour or overnight, or the disks of dough can be frozen.

To bake, preheat oven to 300 degrees, line baking sheet with parchment paper or better yet, Silpat. Remove a disk of dough from the refrigerator and cut into 6 3/4 inch strips, cut each strip into four 1 inch pieces. Place 2 inches apart on sheet. Start checking at 19 minutes, and remove when getting golden but not brown - watch closely!

WHY JIM DOYLE SHOULDN'T BE CROWING OVER THE JENSEN CONVICTION

2006-03-12T12:24:00.000-06:00

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2002, 10:32 a.m.
JIM DOYLE'S WHISTLEBLOWER: EXCLUSIVE

By Charles J. Sykes

Don Fish is the witness who wasn’t called. Fish was a whistle-blower long before the caucus scandal was even a gleam in Brian Blanchard’s eye. In sworn affadavits, the former state Democratic Party staffer charges that prominent Democrats attended meetings where party officials discussed using state employees – including caucus staffers – to develop voter files for use in political campaigns. Fish, who worked for the state Democratic Party from 1998 to 2000, says that two-thirds of the voter information used by the party was created by caucus workers from the state senate and assembly. He provides documents; names names, dates, and places. Fish’s charges are so detailed and so credible that the state Elections Board voted unanimously in July to continue investigating them. But Don Fish was never called before the John Doe probe into the Capitol caucus scandal. Fish suspects Brian Blanchard didn’t want to call him because he had “named too many names.” While Fish can document the abuse of the Democratic caucus staff, he says, “I have even more evidence on how [Jim] Doyle, the state party, and the Democratic congressional delegation did the same thing.” Blanchard never gave him a chance to tell the John Doe what he knew. Fish finds much of the information in the criminal complaints fascinating. “It was particularly disheartening to read how [former senate caucus director and current Doyle aide] JoAnna Richard testified to actively participating in caucus scandal abuse,” he says, “but no charges were filed against her. Could this have something to do with the fact that Doyle ‘was the boss of the investigators’?” Fish was quite familiar with JoAnna Richard. “During 1999 and 2000, I attended at least a dozen meetings of the members of the [Democratic Party’s] coordinated committee, and I remember JoAnna was at most of them, representing Doyle.” Fish says that the current focus on whether Richard may have campaigned on state time for Doyle misses the point. “The real issue,” he says, “is that JoAnna, while representing Doyle on the [Democratic Party’ s] Coordinated Campaign, participated in plans to extensively use caucus and legislative staff in the development of the [the state party’s] voter database program. ” Under the standards set out by Blanchard in last week’s charges, this suggests that Fish has evidence of criminal misconduct, perhaps even felonies, involving some very prominent officials. A year ago, Fish says, he had three lengthy meetings with Blanchard and Milwaukee County prosecutor David Feiss. “I freely provided answers to all their questions, with no lawyer by my side, and provided over 500 pages of documents” including documents that the State Elections Board had not seen. But despite the prosecutors’ apparent initial interest, Fish was never asked to testify before the John Doe. “This seems particularly ironic…because I would probably have been one of the few who would not have brought along an attorney and who would have testified freely without a grant of immunity.” Why does Fish think that he wasn’t asked to testify? “This may sound cynical,” he says, “but I can only believe Brian Blanchard and E. Michael McCann are protecting Attorney General Doyle, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and other top Democrats; and that there was, indeed, selective prosecution; and that there are, indeed, some people immune from prosecution.” “I also believe Blanchard’s own involvement in caucus scandal abuses may have made it difficult for him to scrutinize others who were doing the same thing.” The failure to include Fish’s evidence in the John Doe investigation raises even more questions about the timing, fairness, and motivation of Blanchard’s election-eve felony charges. After 18 months of investigation and under intense pressure to produce charges, Blanchard was unable to come up with anything against Scott Jensen or Steve Foti that matched McCann’s charges against Chuck Chvala either in drama or seriousness. No pay for play, no shakedowns, no extortion. Blanchard was unable to come up with the staples of political corruption: no sexual misconduct, no million dollar cash grab like Milwaukee County’s pension scandal, no destruction of public records, no bribery, no perjury, no envelopes stuffed with cash. Just allegations that the Republicans had used legislative staffers for political purposes – precisely the charges that Fish had made about the Democrats. Fish says he still considers himself a Democrat, but the bottom-line of Blanchard’s investigation is that: “Most of the Democrats involved with the caucus scandal apparently will not be held accountable for their actions. They have gotten away with it, and they have no incentive to change. “My fear is the result of this investigation will be a continuation of politics as usual, which is tragic. Because so many got away with abuses of power, the caucus scandal is likely to be reduced to a footnote to reference in the next scandal.” Maybe that’s what Brian Blanchard didn’t want to hear.

Gov. Doyle:Statement of Governor Doyle Regarding Verdicts in Caucus Scandal Case
3/11/2006

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Contact: Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Governor Doyle made the following statement:

"When our elected officials misuse the public's trust, they should be held accountable. I am pleased the jury has done so. Their verdicts affirm the commonsense notion that everyone must follow the law, especially those charged with making them.

"These verdicts are a strong statement that Wisconsin government should be held to the highest standards, and that campaigning on state time is illegal and wrong.

"As Attorney General, I assigned investigators to this case, and I am pleased that their work has helped the prosecutor get the convictions he sought."

BRIAN BLANCHARD DECIDES WHO IS AND IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW

2006-03-12T11:58:00.000-06:00

The conviction of former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen - once one of the most powerful politicians in Wisconsin - shows "no one is above the law," Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard said Saturday.

Answering criticism about his decision not to charge any Assembly Democrats, Blanchard said he had to "set priorities . . . about what was really worth pursuing" given limited resources in his office and the court system. Blanchard, a Democrat, also didn't prosecute anyone from the Senate Republican Caucus, instead focusing on the leaders of the majority party caucuses in each house of the Legislature.

Wisconsin State Journal, 3/12/6

ONE REASON YOU SHOULD BE READING THE SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES INSTEAD OF GOING TO CHURCH

2006-03-12T11:21:00.000-06:00

Religious fundamentalism appears to be a burgeoning force crossing both the globe and differing religious traditions. One thing all fundamentalists seem to have in common is the God-given certainty of their positions. No matter that those views directly conflict with other crazies in other parts of the world. The following New York Times Op-Ed excerpt gives us one European's perspective on the dangers of those who "claim to act directly on behalf of God".

Defenders of the Faith
By SLAVOJ ZIZEK
Published: March 12, 2006

FOR centuries, we have been told that without religion we are no more than egotistic animals fighting for our share, our only morality that of a pack of wolves; only religion, it is said, can elevate us to a higher spiritual level. Today, when religion is emerging as the wellspring of murderous violence around the world, assurances that Christian or Muslim or Hindu fundamentalists are only abusing and perverting the noble spiritual messages of their creeds ring increasingly hollow. What about restoring the dignity of atheism, one of Europe's greatest legacies and perhaps our only chance for peace?

More than a century ago, in "The Brothers Karamazov" and other works, Dostoyevsky warned against the dangers of godless moral nihilism, arguing in essence that if God doesn't exist, then everything is permitted. The French philosopher André Glucksmann even applied Dostoyevsky's critique of godless nihilism to 9/11, as the title of his book, "Dostoyevsky in Manhattan," suggests.

This argument couldn't have been more wrong: the lesson of today's terrorism is that if God exists, then everything, including blowing up thousands of innocent bystanders, is permitted — at least to those who claim to act directly on behalf of God, since, clearly, a direct link to God justifies the violation of any merely human constraints and considerations. In short, fundamentalists have become no different than the "godless" Stalinist Communists, to whom everything was permitted since they perceived themselves as direct instruments of their divinity, the Historical Necessity of Progress Toward Communism...

Fundamentalists do what they perceive as good deeds in order to fulfill God's will and to earn salvation; atheists do them simply because it is the right thing to do. Is this also not our most elementary experience of morality? When I do a good deed, I do so not with an eye toward gaining God's favor; I do it because if I did not, I could not look at myself in the mirror. A moral deed is by definition its own reward. David Hume, a believer, made this point in a very poignant way, when he wrote that the only way to show true respect for God is to act morally while ignoring God's existence.

For the complete column, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/opinion/12zizek.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

His place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat

2006-03-11T20:07:00.000-06:00

What a body blow. Despite having very little hope that Jensen would receive a fair shake from this judge and jury, it was beyond depressing to hear today's Jensen verdict reported on the car radio. I wonder how it makes Ben Brancel, Tom Loftus, Mary Panzer, Wally Kunicki, Betty Jo Nelson, and Shirley Krug feel?

Makes me feel like crap, but apparently makes Joe Wineke and Jim Doyle very happy. If Doyle actually had any class, he would have issued a Jensen pardon today rather than a despicably hypocritical and unkind press release. Talk about kicking someone when they're down. These guys did the same things, yet are arrogant enough to continue throwing stones. Jim and Joe, mark me down as your permanent enemy.

We've already gone over and over the reasons this prosecution should never have happened, so I won't reiterate it here. My heart goes out to Jensen and his family during this difficult time. I hope that the strength and intelligence that made him such a successful politician will allow him to survive this ordeal. Scott Jensen is not dishonorable, and this kangaroo court verdict will never change that impression with the people that know him best.

I'm not entirely sure what to say to those of you who are happy this evening that Scott Jensen is going to prison. Politics is a rough business, but I never thought I'd experience this kind of a selective political prosecution in modern-day Wisconsin. For the record, I don't think any of the other former surviving leaders should be going to jail either. Hopefully, the prosecutors won't come for any of you next. Because if they did, this trial confirms, they could convict virtually every one who's done time in politics.

Scott Jensen will survive to do great things. Brian Blanchard will survive and continue to do bad things. This trial was indeed about the abuse of power, but Brian Blanchard proved himself the most guilty of that crime. In a fair world, what Scott Jensen did and didn't do should never have put him in this position. And courageous citizens would hot have allowed Blanchard to get away with it.

My best to Jensen and his family. If you'd like to add your kicks to the down man, please do it on a different blog. I really don't want to hear it.

A SAD DAY FOR JUSTICE AND WISCONSIN

2006-03-11T19:44:00.000-06:00

I can tell you with absolute truthfulness that I am very much uninterested in whether I am shot or not. It was just as when I was colonel of my regiment. I always felt that a private was to be excused for feeling at times some pangs of anxiety about his personal safety, but I cannot understand a man fit to be a colonel who can pay any heed to his personal safety when he is occupied as he ought to be with the absorbing desire to do his duty.
Theodore Roosevelt
"THE LEADER AND THE CAUSE"
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 14, 1912

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

Kudos to Charlie Sykes for starting the discussion on the we-hate-gays amendment.

2006-03-10T19:40:00.000-06:00

Kudos to Charlie Sykes for starting the discussion on the we-hate-gays amendment. I was hoping that someone else on the Lincoln-Roosevelt-Reagan team would step up to question the strategy and reasoning behind the amendment to ban civil unions. Dad29, Glenn Grothman and others are already screaming bloody murder about the usually worshipped Mr. Sykes. He's raising uncomfortable questions, and these guys really don't like to be challenged. After all, when you know yourself to be both right and righteous it is rather an affront to have one of your heroes question your God-given wisdom.

It was enlightening today to hear Glenn Grothman's "discussion" with Sykes where he explained that the real reason behind the amendment was that we don't want to signal approval of this lifestyle. I move from sad to furious when I hear this kind of, dare I say, bigotry? He expressed in his words and tone a disgust and hatred towards homosexuals and their lifestyle. Setting aside the provocative issue of whether Glenn's being a bit Roy Cohnish here, please think about what it is that he and the amendment backers really mean. Glenn is someone who tells it like it is, and he's telling gay people that there is something wrong with them and they do not deserve the equal protections of our society. Hutu's and Tutsi's anyone?

I try to steer away from Sykes sycophancy, because there is way too much of that going around the blogosphere. But his column on this issue is what separates him from the rest. He doesn't parrot the party line, he uses his mind and his principles to honestly analyze the issues of the day. While I don't always agree with him, I can always respect where he's coming from -- because it's based on a fundamental integrity and intelligence. We're lucky to have him on our very small stage, some day Roger Ailes will stumble on WTMJ and Charlie will ascend to a much higher level.

This amendment isn't about gay marriage, it's about condemning people for who they are and permanently excluding them from the club of good people in society. After all, Grothman sniffs, we can't endorse what these people do in the privacy of their bedrooms. IT'S NONE OF YOUR GODDAMN BUSINESS, GLENN! How dare you discriminate against my friends, or use your power as a legislator to try and hurt them. It's evil, in a way that Himmler could understand. Dad29 may consider that inflammatory, but good people cannot afford to stay silent when faced with this concentration camp mentality. If they're not quite human, what else would Glenn Grothman and Ralph Ovadal like to deny them. The pursuit of happiness? Liberty? Life?

I am convinced that the true conservative or libertarian will recoil from the antediluvian ramblings of Grothman or Dad29. As this discussion continues, on which side will you come down? For hatred and discrimination or for equal rights and protections? Are we the Republican Party or the Know-Nothings? Do we represent freedom and liberty or exclusion and prejudice? Please join in the discussion and think about the issues raised on both sides of the issue. Dad29 will follow the dogma he learned in his Wednesday night CCC class 35 years ago, will your thinking be equally hidebound?

Again, extending equal protection of the law to my gay neighbors will do nothing to threaten real marriage or the dark place in Glenn Grothman's head. It simply doesn't hurt any of you to leave people alone to live their lives as they wish. Don't be such a bunch of pricks. These are real people and real families that you're messing with. And Charlie Sykes will never be dumb enough to fall for your hateful line of reasoning.

"In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up."
-- Martin Niemoeller

BEST WISHES FOR SCOTT JENSEN AND GOOD JUDGMENT FOR THE JURY

2006-03-10T09:59:00.000-06:00

And the American public was able to make up their own mind whether this verdict was a just verdict or not. So I think there's a lot of value in the public being able to see how the system works or doesn't work, so I think there's a definite value there.
Lance Ito

It's not fair that the accused is not protected from adverse publicity whilst the accuser is guaranteed anonymity, whatever the verdict.
Jonathan King

It's not only ....(the juror's) right, but his duty, in that case, to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgement, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court.
JOHN ADAMS

Jurors should acquit even against the judge's instruction...."if exercising their judgement with discretion and honesty they have a clear conviction that the charge of the court is wrong."
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

The purpose of a jury is to guard against the exercise of arbitrary power--to make available the common sense judgement of the community as a hedge against the overzealous or mistaken prosecutor and in preference to the professional or perhaps over conditioned or biased response of a judge.
BYRON WHITE
"Those who wrote our constitutions knew from history and experience that it was necessary to protect against unfounded criminal charges brought to eliminate enemies and against judges too responsive to the voice of higher authority."
BYRON WHITE

"...it is presumed, that the juries are the best judges of facts; it is, on the other hand, presumed that the courts are the best judges of law. But still, both objects are within your power of decision. You have a right to take upon yourselves to judge of both, and to determine the law as well as the fact in controversy."
U.S. SUPREME COURT (State of Georgia v. Brailsford, 3 DALL. 1,4):

"That in criminal cases, nevertheless, the court are the constitutional advisors of the jury in matter of law; who may compromise their conscience by lightly or rashly disregarding that advice, but may still more compromise their consciences by following it, if exercising their judgments with discretion and honesty they have a clear conviction that the charge of the court is wrong."
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Measure for Measure, 17)

PLOMBON AND MEYERHOFER EXPOSED AS SAME PERSON

2006-03-09T11:25:00.000-06:00

MARCH 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ETHICS BOARD ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT OVER PLOMBON/MEYERHOFER FRAUD

Roth Judd, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Ethics Board, announced a settlement today with a former state representative known as both David Plombon and Lee Meyerhofer. "Although neither Plombon or Meyerhofer remain in the Legislature," announced Judd, "our investigators have discovered that they are, in fact, the same person." The Ethics Board assessed a $1,000 fine against Plombon/Meyerhofer, and suggested that he never again run for the Legislature under any identity.

The crack investigative staff at the Ethics Board had always been suspicious of these characters, but reopened their investigation after an anonymous complaint from a former Assembly Republican Caucus staffer. The two-year investigation concluded that Plombon became Meyerhofer in a desperate attempt to return as a member of the Legislature after his 1996 defeat. Contacts within the funeral industry apparently aided Plombon with plastic surgery, and a network of safehouses across Wisconsin. "The guys had a lot of similarities," said lead investigator Jonathan Becker, "but we always assumed they were a similar "type" rather than the same person. But their joint behaviors were a red flag that we never should have ignored."

Meyerhofer was elected to a northeastern Wisconsin Assembly district in 1998, only two years removed from Plombon's 1996 defeat.

Former colleagues of the men or man were shocked that they could have been duped by someone that at least three of them considered a friend. Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Madison) said the guy had always been fair with him, and screamed at this reporter to stop the smearing and muckraking. "PlombonMeyerhofer was always someone I could rely on to join me for a drink over breakfast," said Representative Frank Boyle (D-Tavern), "as a matter of fact, I'd still be willing to have a drink with him any time any place." Senator Glenn Grothman was not so forgiving in his comments, "I find the way he tricked the voters of Wisconsin to be despicable," said Grothman, "and it just shows that Democrats are fundamentally bad people."

In a statement released late this morning, Assembly Speaker John Gard called for a retroactive reconsideration of any close votes that occurred during the Meyerhofer/Plombon tenure. "Democrats have escaped prosecution for voter fraud and the caucus scandal," said Gard, "But I will not let them get away with faking identities in order to bolster their numbers in the Wisconsin Legislature. Thank goodness we were able to use similar issues and defeat this guy twice at the polls. I just hope and pray this snake hasn't come back again as someone new."

Plombon/Meyerhofer was apparently unapologetic about his fraudulent behavior, even bragging to investigators that he'd really pulled one over on his former colleagues and the people of Wisconsin. Although he was unavailable for comment, Plombon/Meyerhofer did release a statement from an undisclosed location which said, in part, "I always knew I was smarter than you guys down there, and now I've proven it. Na na na na na. Hey, hey, goodbye!"

Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard announced that the misconduct in public office statute was not broad enough to allow him to prosecute Democrat Plombon/Meyerhofer for what Blanchard termed, "this little prank."

FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED IN A QUEST FOR GUARANTEED SECURITY

2006-03-09T09:29:00.000-06:00

Probably not. Let's hope the rumors are correct and this pig is referred indefinitely to Kedzie's committee. Everyone wants to make the Farm Bureau and Goofy Gronemus happy, and Steve Freese is a nice guy, but this initiative is a bad idea for more than just southeastern Wisconsin. People are tired of the Party of Government forcing unwanted and unnecessary mandates down our throats. To be fair, the ethanol mandate would benefit some people and a narrow band of one industry, but that does little to overcome the fundamental phoniness and overhyping of this issue. Does anyone honestly believe that this is the answer to reducing our overreliance on foreign oil. Or that this will significantly boost the state's economy? If you believe that, then you must still think that passage of the state lottery was all about property tax relief. Today's final session day should help us determine if any common-sense actually remains alive in the Wisconsin Legislature.