Hey! I'm not here any more. Go here.

A new day

And by "new day," they apparently mean January 20, 1993.

Photo Rehab

Moving sucks.

I lived in the same apartment building for all four years of undergrad because I hate moving so much.

But this time, it has a silver lining. I was recently picking through a closet and I found an old box of negatives from when I took pictures in high school. They were in pretty bad shape, but I had them all developed and put on a CD. Fortuitously enough, it contained some of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. I'm pretty pumped about this discovery. These pictures remind me of home and can almost always make me feel a peace. See some of them here, and also some more recent shots from Madison.

I owe C-SPAN so much...

for bringing the Libertarian Party Convention into my life.

Regardless of the issues, the candidates are just so damn funny--some without trying.

No friggin' way!

I'm number "{Top_blog_ranking_by_category}" in Europe!! Imagine how pumped I was to open my email and see this:

Hi {First_name},

I work for Wikio and I'm writing to you because {Site_title} is number {Top_blog_ranking_by_category} in our Politics rankings.

Wikio is the number 1 news aggregator in Europe, indexing over 55,000 English-language sources. We have only recently launched our Top Blog rankings, and many blogs are adding their badges. We have designed our rankings so as to make them the most comprehensive on the Internet - you can check them out in full and get more details on how they are compiled at http://www.wikio.com/blogs/top/politics

Would you be interested in the badge for your site?

Kind Regards,

Lisa Craig

I would be, Lisa, and expect "First Name's" acceptance speech shortly. Gosh, I'm a lucky gal.

Hook 'em

Thought I'd update y'all subjected to my past incessant harping about law school.

I'm gonna be a Longhorn next year.

At the beginning of the year I thought I'd take the highest ranked school I could get into, or the best offer. But I ended up doing neither, and instead taking the offer in the warmest climate. (Maybe I shouldn't have made the decision after a winter w/ 100+ inches of snow.)

But I'm a little freaked about law school (I imagine it'll be a bit more taxing than a Poli Sci degree from UW-Madison), as well as the 1300 mile move that is coming up shortly. So I'd appreciate good thoughts from everyone.

"What's my name again"

Obama and his rival for the Democratic nomination, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, have accused McCain of being economically illiterate and out of touch with ordinary Americans' pocketbook concerns.

Can you imagine if Hillary called Barack "economically illiterate"? She'd be called a racist from Plaisted to Arianna.

But because she called John McCain that name, she's not getting any flak, based on the color of his skin.

And that's not racism, we're told.

Success!

In this story about surrogate mothers, intrepid Newsweek reporters have finally figured out what Communication Arts majors can do with their degrees:

That sense of empowerment and self-worth is one of the greatest rewards surrogate mothers experience. "I felt like, 'What else am I going to do with my life that means so much?' " says Amber Boersma, 30, of Wausau, Wis. She is blond, outgoing and six months pregnant with twins for a couple on the East Coast who could not bear children on their own due to a hysterectomy. Boersma, married to a pharmaceutical rep, is a stay-at-home mom with a 6-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy, and a college graduate with a communications degree.

I foresee a panel convened in the CA department immediately.

Of course, I'm kidding. There is nothing wrong with being a surrogate mother (provided all ethical tightropes are walked, if one is concerned with such things), and I'm sure Amber is going to bring great joy into that couple's life. Further, I'm sure CA majors are only the best and brightest young people, all intent on making the world a better place than when their wonderful lives began.

No really, CA degrees are just as demanding as any other degree in any other school or college at UW.

Dammit...there really is no way to praise CA majors without tinges of sarcasm seeping through, I think.

In other news, I've finally decided which law school I'll be attending next fall, lifting a huge weight from my shoulders.

I'm Confused

So there's a new remark made by another one of the campaigns that everyone is all hemorrhoidal about, and that doesn't really interest me. But this does:

Obama aide Susan Rice called for Clinton to fire Geraldine Ferraro, the only woman yet to run on a major party's presidential ticket, after her comments Friday to a Los Angeles newspaper.

"That's a really outrageous and offensive comment," Rice said on MSNBC television after Ferraro, who sits on Clinton's finance committee, had said: "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position."

[...]

"And if he was a woman -- of any color -- he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept," Ferraro said.

The Clinton campaign had no immediate comment. Late last year, the New York senator fired two junior aides for spreading emails claiming falsely that Obama is secretly a Muslim.

Isn't the person Ferraro is working for, Hillary Clinton, a woman in exactly that position? That position being a viable, if not likely, presidential candidate? Momentum, etc., aside, the two of them are in exactly the same position. Am I missing something?

So either Ferraro is that stupid, and that incapable of making logical, consistent arguments, or she has accidentally let it slip that Clinton is not actually female.

Boo to you, Ted Thompson

This made me smile for the first time since I heard the news. Thanks, Jib.

Not the sensory experience they were hoping for

Is it just me, or does the chant in this:



....remind anyone else of this from the Wizard of Oz?

When will we be issued our monkey suits?

Hey, UW:

Do me a favor. At least allow me to graduate before trying to hit me up for money.

I tell ya what--May 19th, I'll take every call you want to throw my way. But just hold off 'till then, mkay?

What am I, chopped liver?

There's something to be said for the clean break...

Dear Wisconsin,

It's not you, it's me.

Sure, we had some good times together. I mean, I've been here for almost 22 years. 22 l-o-o-ong years. When we first started out, I loved your winters. I loved the snowfights, snowballs, all of it. I remember taking snowmobile trips until my knees got frostbite. I remember waking up and seeing freshly fallen snow weighing down the pine tree branches. There were some good times in there, somewhere.

You didn't do anything differently, but I need to move on.

I'm sorry, I've just seen that it can be better. You have kept me so sheltered I didn't even know there were places on Earth where the sun emerged from October through April.

I had really hoped you could handle this in a mature, adult fashion.

But you just had to throw me out with one last "fuck you," didn't you.

Well, fine. I guess I'll just leave (in June) with only my memories of the never-ending winter.

I hope you're happy.

Hugs and kisses,

Jenna

Damn, it's cold

I saw a Weather Channel remote feed van parked on the Capitol square this evening.

It's kinda like sending bomb-sniffing dogs to Baghdad.

Pointing out the horrible, but obvious.

It just doesn't relate...

I love this line:

Complaining about smoke in bars is like complaining that Old Country Buffet doesn’t utilize enough organic ingredients — it’s just not the right complaint for the forum.

Coddling Students at UW

Ok, now they're just taunting helicopter parents.

University of Wisconsin System graduates might soon have two transcripts to show potential employers.

The traditional one would still list classes taken and grades earned. But a second would describe the student 's personal development during college, such as whether the student interned for a company, directed a play, or edited the student newspaper.

President Kevin Reilly said the System would be the nation 's first to use a second transcript on all campuses. Reilly will propose the idea to the Board of Regents on Thursday and is forming a task force to hammer out details.

The idea comes as colleges and universities search for ways to better assess students ' learning. Employers are increasingly complaining that universities don 't do enough to tell them whether applicants have the skills they need.

This might be a stupid question, but why isn't that information ON STUDENTS' RESUMES. Perhaps I was naive, but I had assumed employers would prefer students who are enterprising enough (I can't believe I'm saying this) to describe relevant work and extracurricular experience on their résumé or even in the interview.

This just seems like the perfect opportunity for, Option A, the UW administration to waste millions of dollars and countless man hours on another project with no beneficial conclusion, or, Option B, the UW to give helicopter parents even more things to call their kids' Chancellors about. Either way, it doesn't reflect well on students.

Speaking of helicopter parents, at the LSAT administration last June, I was amazed how many students showed up with their parents. For the love of God, these people were all 21, 22, 23 years old or older. Do you really need your mommy and daddy there to hold your hand before a test? Those people are going to make GREAT lawyers.

Really, NOW? Wow

Folks, if you're one of those people who has a problem with how much I swear, this is not the post for you. So go away.

Everyone else, go here. (Via MM, via Charlie) You don't have to read the whole thing, just the last sentence of the first paragraph.

That is fucking disgusting. What in God's name is NOW's problem? How dare they compare a horrific, traumatic, criminal event to their candidate losing a meaningless political endorsement?

I think most people knew NOW had no real interest in women, neither supporting nor advancing them, but this should convince everyone else. It is unbelievable for them to be so glib with such a serious matter as fucking rape.

It is not a "betrayal" for Teddy Kennedy to endorse someone other than Hillary Clinton. It's a political choice, nothing more, nothing less. And for NOW to draw an analogy to rape is pretty damned repulsive.

This is the fucking president of the statewide organization for New York. It wasn't just an offhanded reference, but an entire press release arguing this endorsement was like a "gang rape" of Clinton. I understand she's bitter because her girl is going down in flames. But to trivialize something as disgusting as rape is taking that bitterness to its lowest level.

My Lord.

A little ray of sunshine

As I'm trying to block out the last 24 hours or so, this cheered me up.

Doesn't that about sum up Kevin Barrett in his entirety?

Trying to get attention for a discrimination complaint he claimed to file--but he didn't, actually--to an agency with no jurisdiction. Oh, and one more thing--the discrimination he alleges is over his well-documented academic (and apolitical) insanity.

Top notch job, per usual, Kev.

Lombardi is rollin' in his grave

While watching that little 'ol game yesterday, I happened to see a commercial for Fox's coverage of the Super Bowl.

I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was a joke.

Boy, was I wrong.

Fox is doing a red carpet for the Super Bowl, manned by none other than Ryan Seacrest.

Is nothing sacred? Do they have to pussify the freaking Super Bowl too?

Burning down the house

This is the worst idea ever. I hate those people that say, "If Candidate X wins, I'm moving to Canada" or something equally silly.

But if the government ever comes in and tries to control my thermostat, that really will push me to give up my citizenship. Sitting here, watching the BCS Championship (which somehow ended up being the least exciting bowl game this year) I have my thermostat set at 84 degrees and I'm still huddled under two blankets. And today's a (relatively) warm day in Madison.

In my old age, I've come to not handle the cold well, which explains the locales of my potential law schools later this year, and I greatly value the ability to keep my apartment as warm as humanly possible. When they come to install a "programmable communicating thermostat" in my house, they'll have to pry my heat control out of my cold, dead hands.

This...

...is heartbreaking.

In which I provide unsolicited advice to the City of Madison

From a Daily Page article on a proposal to change snow removal tactics in Madison, part of which includes:

Expand notification efforts when a snow emergency is called. Work with the University, downtown neighborhood associations, business organizations and others to help notify downtown on street parkers when a snow emergency has been called. Other notification options will be explored as well (e.g., text messaging, etc.)

I have an alternate proposal. Instead of spending taxpayer dollars on unnecessary collaboration or a text messaging notification system, the logistics of which would be, to put it mildly, interesting, let's try this four-step notification system:

1. Pull head out of one's arse, and look out the window.

2. See if it is snowing, and if snowing, if accumulating.

3. If it is accumulating, they're probably going to have to, um, plow the freaking roads.

4. Move your damn car.

I really cannot believe that in an area with such a high density of citizens with higher degrees that we are unable to collectively figure this out. It's pretty obvious when the city will have to plow. It's pretty obvious that if your car is parked on the street, that might cause a problem for the plows. C'mon, do we really need a multi-level, taxpayer-funded notification system to alert us to this?

Unbelievably...

...disingenuous.

This race is going to kill me

I swear, I'm going to poke my eyes out.

As Huckabee made stops Monday, it was clear that while he has momentum, voters are also hearing the attacks on him. At a speech at Principal Financial Group in downtown Des Moines, a man asked Huckabee if he was a "tax raiser" and "soft on immigration." Huckabee backed some tax increases while in Arkansas and supported a bill that would have allowed the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition, something Romney and other GOP candidates have lambasted.

He faced questions about taxes throughout the day, and he noted frequently that a conservative named Ronald Reagan had supported tax increases both as governor of California and later as president. "Does anyone in the Republican Party call Ronald Reagan a liberal?" Huckabee said.

Just because "Ronald Reagan did it" is not a $*#@ing justification for raising taxes. If he is so proud of his record, he should give us the reasons he supported higher taxes without mentioning the name of a former president. I'm sure he can think of several perfectly good justifications (at least in his mind) for raising taxes.

But for the love of God, because a governor from California did it decades ago is not one of them.

Ambush!

Wow. Major kudos to the Governor's staff for failing to do even the slightest checking into the students invited to today's bill signing. I bet your boss loved being put in that position. Congrats all around.

From the inbox:

I'm really getting sick of this cutesy crap:


Might I suggest Governor Romney's team help him find his balls and re-enter this race like a man. And heck, while I'm suggesting things, y'all might want to take another look at that "Wisconsin statewide finance steering committee."

Stop pointing fingers and start fixing the problem

Ick.

The national debt has hit $9 trillion for the first time.

The Treasury Department, which issues a daily accounting of the debt, said Wednesday that the debt subject to limit was at $9 trillion on Tuesday. It was $8.996 trillion on Monday.

Last month, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law an increase in the government's borrowing ceiling to $9.815 trillion. It was the fifth debt limit increase since Bush took office in January 2001. Those increases have totaled $3.865 trillion.

Given that every single candidate for President is hardly qualified to be a burger flipper, let alone the leader of the free world, I've completely erased my entire slate of expectations, and only want one thing from them: do something about the debt. This is an issue that will have a real effect on my life for the next 40 years. The candidate who seems most likely or most able to do this will earn my vote.

November 4th...be there

'Nuff said.

From me to you, Professor

I find it absolutely amazing that in a span of five minutes, a literature professor can state that Ronald Reagan was a "vicious, vile racist," that the Republican party has its entire roots based in racism, that states' rights is solely about segregation, and then giggle manically about U.S. military "losses in Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq."

Excuse my language, but stick to literature, asshole. Your complete idiocy when it comes to politics and history precludes you from ever speaking on those matters. If only your grades were not so subjective...

For relocation purposes...

In the future, if Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the Madison city government could let us all know which neighborhoods will be tolerant of crime and which will not a bit sooner, that would be peachy.

Quote of the Day

“Honestly, I don’t really buy into the American ideals that the more money we have the better."

Alyse Pfeil, UW-Madison freshman.

Then really, Alyse, you must immediately withdraw from school. I guarantee you, the only thing a college degree will do for you is ensure you make more money throughout your lifetime. As that clearly disgusts you, you have no place here. You are simply wasting your, and/or your parent's, and taxpayers' money being here.

Gym Etiquette

Super Secret Message to the two men in the sauna at the Princeton Club this afternoon talking about how "fluent" the male dancers on "Dancing with the Stars" were: shut the hell up.

I really don't understand this

I know there's so few people left at the McCain camp that John himself is probably sending out these emails to his list serv, but even so, is this really the best message to have your campaign?

"Sustain McCain?" Why not just release a picture of him literally on life support?

SCOTUS peeves off WaPo Columnists

E.J. Dionne thinks the Senate should refuse to give consent to another one of Bush's nominees.

The sins of the previously accepted nominees on the Supreme Court? Increasing free speech rights. Breaking down racial barriers. And, most shockinglyrightwingcrazynutjob conservative decision of them all: blocking the execution of a mentally ill prisoner.

Madmen. They must be stopped.

Sarcasm aside, this brings up the age-old question of exactly to what extent the Framers meant "consent" in terms of presidential nominees. I tend to think that nominees are one of the spoils of winning the presidency, and the Senate must only debate the most minimal of background and qualification questions. No litmus tests, no blocking of candidates based on ideologies. Dionne clearly disagrees...until the next president comes along.

Well, since it's for local government...

I guess even libertarians have to get re-elected.

Life isn't always about "group-modified consensus"

My God, are these kids in for a rude awakening when they enter the real world.

Except for, of course, the dude who is 33 and still living in the co-op with a bunch of college kids. I have a feeling he'll go from the co-op straight back to his mother's house.

Not one tax left unlevied

Crap.

There's a commodity we've forgotten to tax.

We must remedy this immediately.

Overheard in class today...

(Not so much overheard, but stated as fact by the professor.)

Christians who advocate for using torture during interrogation procedures (she was referring to Don Rumsfeld) are just like 'pro-lifers' who also support the death penalty.

A girl without a candidate

I'm so not on the Fred bandwagon yet. (via LMS)

There's nothing that he brings to the table that's not already there, in some form or another. People like him just for the sake of liking someone different, I think. That, plus I'm opposed to John McCain because of BCRA--which Fred voted for, so it'd be a tad hypocritical to forget about that.

I'm still hoping a darkhorse will come around with the business sense of Mitt Romney, the likeability of Rudy Giuliani, and the stones of Ron Paul.

I'm Back

Maybe...I think so.

I had to step away from a little while as I studied for the LSAT. Every spare moment went into it, including my moments I used to read the news in the morning and enthrall y'all here. But now, (thank God) that's over.

Where's the quote saying fundraising is despicable?

Gosh, I just don't know how to handle a campaign finance news article without a quote from Mike McCabe. He analyzes everything and puts it into perspective for me so well. I think I'll wait to see what he has to say about it before I make up my mind.

More speech supression proposed

Owen (and others, I'm sure) is pretty concerned about the latest incumbent-protection legislation proposed in Wisconsin.

I always think of A. Scalia whenever "campaign finance reform" gets mentioned:

The first instinct of power is the retention of power, and, under a Constitution that requires periodic elections, that is best achieved by the suppression of election-time speech.

What a loss

Stupid, stupid man.

Let me get this straight...

So this guy "retires" and then comes back with two blogs? I think the Glamour Shots (and Melanie Conklin) have gone to his head.

It's time to take action

As the sexual assaults and crime in Madison seem to reach an ever-increasing intensity, one candidate for mayor is trying to do something about it, and one is sitting on his hands.

Women afraid to be on Madison's streets after dark have a pretty easy choice this April.

Doing the people's business

Real big things happening downtown, you know.

This is his inspiration?

C'mon, Mayor Dave, you can do better than this:

Edward Uhlir and Mayor Dave on Millennium Park and ideas for Madison, Academy Evening free talk, Tues., March 13, 7 pm, Promenade Hall, Overture

Chicago’s new Millennium Park transformed 24 acres of commuter rail lines, neglected parkland, and a parking lot into a vibrant cultural showcase on the lakefront. Edward Uhlir, Millennium Park’s director of design, architecture and landscape, describes how they did it, and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz responds with ideas for Madison in “Millennium Park: A Triumph for Chicago, an Inspiration for Madison—Edward Uhlir and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz” at 7 pm Tuesday, March 13 at Promenade Hall, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State Street in Madison. We welcome a lively discussion with all who care about parks, urban design, and sustainable growth in our city. The discussion will be moderated by Susan B. King.

Really? $350 million over budget (three times its original projected cost) and four years late? A project wrought with charges of cronyism? That is their "triumph" and our "inspiration?" I don't think so.

Chicago's Mayor Daley was desperate to have a legacy in Chicago that would "live on for a millennium," no matter what the costs. Is Mayor Dave heading down the same egotistical path?

Giuliani and his judges

While Rudy Giuliani is getting a lot of attention as the "new front runner," the Politico digs up this gem:

"I would want judges who are strict constructionists because I am," he told South Carolina Republicans last month. "Those are the kinds of justices I would appoint -- Scalia, Alito and Roberts."

But most of Giuliani's judicial appointments during his eight years as mayor of New York were hardly in the model of Chief Justice John Roberts or Samuel Alito -- much less aggressive conservatives in the mold of Antonin Scalia.

A Politico review of the 75 judges Giuliani appointed to three of New York state's lower courts found that Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than 8 to 1.

Now, that being said, I care very little about party ideology of judges if it were strictly that. But party ideology often correlates with one's adherence to orginialism, or the lack thereof. And that ratio is worrisome.

He's been trying to make social conservatives forget about his ideological stances, and making these judicial promises for some time now. It still bothers me, it is still disgustingly transparent, and now seems to be completely baseless.

Blanchard changes state penalties

I'm glad to see Blanchard takes the penal code so seriously.

"There's been some adjustment in our policies." Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard knows the state defines possession of marijuana as a crime. But from now on his office won't be treating it like one. "We're simply going more wholesale to saying 25 grams or less of possession of marijuana-not a crime."

Blanchard isn't trying to decriminalize marijuana. He simply doesn't have the staff to prosecute minor possession cases. "We're about to have the same number of prosecutors in this office that we had in 1988."

A recent analysis by the state says Dane County needs eight more prosecutors to keep up with a growing caseload.

Blanchard says he has to prioritize. "We struggle to staff child abuse cases, when it comes to something like marijuana possession we are not going to be handling it as aggressively as we could."

This doesn't mean marijuana possession is legal in Dane County. But instead of facing 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine, criminals are looking at a citation.

"I don't like it. I'll be honest, I don't like it," says Town of Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory. He says he won't have his officers change anything. "Our job as a law enforcement agency is to make those arrests when we have probable cause and let the District Attorney's Office do what they believe is best."

Brian Blanchard is king, at least in Dane County. He can do whatever he wants, regardless of legal ethics or state statutes, and has apparently lost all respect for what the law means. I wonder if he caught Scott Jensen with marijuana, he would charge him with a municipal citation.

Juicy narcissism

Wow. In an article to try to refute the point that college kids are self-centered, this guy proves it unequivocally.

Sex offender license plates

As much as these criminals revolt me, I just don't know about this:

Lawmakers in Ohio said on Wednesday they want to force convicted sex offenders to use a fluorescent-green license plate on their cars so they can be easily identified.

A Republican and a Democrat in the state legislature in Columbus have joined forces to propose the law, which echoes measures in several U.S. states that require convicted drunken drivers to use a yellow, pink or red plate on their cars.

"The fluorescent-green license plate will make the most egregious sex offenders easily identifiable," state Democratic Rep. Michael DeBose said in a statement.

Police said the green plates would allow them to track sex offenders, who are already required to register with the local sheriff's office and are prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school.

They are the most disgusting people within our society, and in some ways, I like the fact that the public at large would be aware of who and where they are...but this seems like it would be an invitation to violence. Most folks have a visceral reaction to sex offenders. We can track sex offenders using GPS devices, and there isn't so much of a Scarlet Letter significance. And it is not like these license plates would prevent them from committing additional offenses.

And if these folks are the "most egregious sex offenders," perhaps they should just stay in jail.

Latest Podcast

Aaron and I recorded a podcast with that profit-lovin' freshman Representative, Bill Kramer.

Listen here.

Giuliani extends his lead

I know, I know, polls at this point don't matter...but I just can't help myself:

In the Republican race, former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who recently made clear his intentions to seek the presidency, has expanded his lead over Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Giuliani holds a 2 to 1 advantage over McCain among Republicans, according to the poll, more than tripling his margin of a month ago.

The principal reason was a shift among white evangelical Protestants, who now clearly favor Giuliani over McCain. Giuliani is doing well among this group of Americans despite his support of abortion rights and gay rights, two issues of great importance to religious conservatives. McCain opposes abortion rights.

I think Sean spoke for quite a few demographics when he said,

Since the Sep. 11 attacks Rudy and constantly stood with President Bush in destroying America’s enemies. He hasn’t relented. The passion he felt in defending New York has been transfered to the nation.

Because of his leadership the GOP base has embraced Rudy. He’s a popular speaker wherever he goes. This despite his pro-abortion, anti-gun views that set him apart from most Republicans.

With the war as my most pressing issue I could vote for Rudy Giuliani for President. Worry about abortion and gun control can wait until the Islamist threat is diminished. I don’t think I’m the only pro-lifer who feels that way either.

But, as we all know, barring a major change in Iraq, a proudly pro-war Republican will have a pretty tough time at the polls.

But still, nothing here has lifted my complete apathy about this race.

Protesting Snow

Listen, I know the protest gene runs rampant in Madison, but don't you think this is taking it just a skosh too far?

Tuesday Quick Hits

A study has come to the absolutely ground-breaking conclusion that college kids are self-centered and narcissistic. I'll give you all a moment to pick up your jaws off the ground.

George Will has a great piece on the new, oppressive union law they are pushing through Congress.

The Mendota Beacon's new issue is out today.

Public financing in Madison

Even on his way out, Austin King still finds away to come up with really bad, costly ideas:

Madison – Ald. Austin King, District 8, will introduce a resolution from the floor at the Common Council meeting of February 27 that calls for full public financing of municipal elections for mayor, alderperson, and municipal judge to be established as city policy. The resolution further creates a Blue Ribbon Committee on Clean Elections with representatives of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Common Cause in Wisconsin, and the League of Women Voters to study the issue and make detailed recommendations for an ordinance.

“As someone not seeking re-election, it’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever see a nickel of public financing for a campaign,” said King, “but establishing clean elections is the right thing to do. It guarantees that our local democracy will avoid the plague of corruption that has afflicted the state Legislature, Governor, and our counterparts in Milwaukee by ensuring the public interest is never trumped by special interest campaign cash.”

I'm not really sure why people are convinced that using tax dollars to fund elections is such a great idea. People will still fund "negative" ads, or say things that King disagrees with, just on our dime. It will do nothing to "clean up elections," as he and the goo-goos like to perpetuate. It will do nothing to stop "corrupt" elections (unless he is intending to propose a ban on all independent expenditures, which would be pretty unconstitutional--also, money does not equal corruption). It will just cost taxpayers money. Period.

Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, noted the positive impacts that clean elections have not just on reducing corruption but on increasing democracy. “In other cities and states that have moved toward clean elections, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of contested elections, as well as the number of competitive candidates who are women or people of color. With Madison facing the prospect of an all-white City Council for the first time since the 60s, clean elections are an important safeguard to keep our democracy inclusive of all of Madison,” said McCabe.

What the hell does this even mean? Does McCabe somehow think that public financing will encourage more minority candidates to run? It's not like there is a high funding barrier to running for City Council in Madison. Most folks do it with very, very little money. Is McCabe insinuating that minority candidates cannot run without public financing? That's a bit racist. And, you know, wrong.

It seems so contrary to me to force people to fund elections, to finance candidates they may be wholly opposed to. For King to support increasing public financing to primary and general races, to all candidates, to increase government control over elections, is pretty ridiculous--but, unfortunately, par for the course.

ADDED: Brad beat me to it...

Voting during spring break

I don't know if this is such a good idea.

UW-Madison officials plan to hold a special meeting this week to collect student input on how to make it easier to vote. Officials have yet to announce the time and place of the meeting.

The extra attention is the result of the first spring break to conflict with an election in 17 years, said LaMarr Billups, special assistant to the chancellor.

"Our goal here is to encourage their civic engagement and follow through with their obligation to vote," Billups said.

In addition to setting up a Web site with voting information at www.uc.wisc.edu/vote, the university is considering providing a shuttle from campus to the Madison city clerk's office, on the first floor of the City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Should tax dollars pay for that? Voting is a responsibility. Even if the election falls during spring break, it is still the voter's responsibility to get to the polls, or get an absentee ballot. Especially for a system that claims to be so cash strapped and desperate funding, is this where our tax and tuition dollars should go?

Economics, schmeconomics

Now I myself was almost an economics major back in college. Three classes shy of the major, I realized that the major was largely theoretical, rarely practical and most importantly, nearly impossible to get a real job in a real world (ie Wisconsin) with it. So I switched majors.

You have no idea how overjoyed I am that one of the members of Joint Finance, who largely control the legislature's response to the budget, thinks that economics is "rarely practical." It is reassuring, really.

Please do read this entire post. It is incredibly eye-opening.

It's fashionable to hate him, but...

George Will makes a good point in the first paragraph of this article:

Indiscriminate criticism of President George W. Bush is an infectious disease. Some conservatives seem to have caught it, but congressional Democrats might be crippled by it.

Putting aside the rest of his article, a wave of anti-Bush fervor may have swept some new Congressmen into office, but it certainly won't keep them there. The American people will want to see some action, not just endless, knee-jerk criticism.

Meanwhile, his colleague despises the semi-nouveau election cycle.

This is madness. There is no way that candidates can really communicate their qualifications, their aspirations and their policies to millions of people in widely scattered locales in a week's time or less. The campaign will be reduced to 30-second TV spots, sound-bite debates and airport tarmac rallies.

I hate to break it to Broder, but "the campaign" was reduced to that a long time ago. And blame should not be placed on the candidates nor the parties: it is our short-attention-span, ceaseless-entertainment, totally-uninvolved society's fault.

"Calibrated and inconclusive"

I think that is a very good way to describe Mitt Romney in general, not just his stance on abortion.

By the way, do you like his commercial?

Ziegler takes a wide majority

Wow. That's one incredible margin.

Washington County Circuit Judge Annette Ziegler locked up more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday's primary for a state Supreme Court seat, positioning herself as the front-runner for the April 3 general election.

Tuesday's primary knocked Oregon attorney Joseph Sommers, 45, out of the race. Ziegler, 42, will face Madison lawyer Linda Clifford, 58, in the April election.

Ziegler - the only candidate to run radio or TV ads so far - received twice the votes Clifford did.

The winner of the April race will replace Justice Jon P. Wilcox, who is retiring.

"I'm just proud to have the support of Wisconsin's citizens," Ziegler said Tuesday night. "Honestly, I'm honored and humbled by tonight's results."

The rest of the article goes on to describe how Clifford thinks it is all about the Club for Growth ads. (I'm sure she will continue to decry independent expenditures until some group starts spending on her.) But, as Owen points out, that can't really explain away the Madison vote.

Obstructionist

cowards.

ADDED: More...

I voted today

Did you?

Mass grave found near hospital

Jesus.

Police were investigating a hospital's involvement in illegal female feticide after 437 baby bones were dug up close by the complex, a state government said.

Police began unearthing the bones on Saturday from Christian Medical Hospital, in central Madhya Pradesh state, after a tip-off that medical staff were carrying out illegal abortions.

"Initial reports indicate feticide or infanticide," said state health minister Ajay Vishnoi.

"The bones and skulls were of fetuses or of very young children," the minister said.

A hospital superintendent and a cleaner were being questioned, said police superintendent Satish Saxena.

In August, police in northern Punjab state found 25 fetuses dumped in a well at a private medical clinic. Punjab has the worst gender ratio in India, with 798 girls for every thousand boys under the age of six.

Hundreds of thousands of unborn girls are killed each year in India, where families prize sons who are seen as breadwinners and required to light their parents' funeral pyres, according to Hindu practice.

A study by The Lancet, a British medical journal, said last year that India may have lost 10 million unborn girls in the past 20 years. Indian experts put the figure at about five million.

I suppose our nation can't really pass judgment. After all, our abortions are simply equal opportunity. How incredibly sad.

Zealous Reporting

Previously unreleased footage of John F. Kennedy's fateful motorcade in Dallas moments before he was gunned down was released on Monday, a surprising new detail in a saga that has gripped the United States for four decades.

Really? It's "gripped" our nation for forty years? I think he overstates his case, a bit. I really don't think the tiny minority of conspiracy theorists deserve this kind of designation.

Perhaps I should head this one up with a 'stardate'

I'm an "Enterpriser."

Even though it is way off on the stats (the vast majority of this group are white males over 30) and media use (I haven't watched Fox News for months) the rest of it is generally precise.

(h/t, Owen)

McCain and 2008

McCain and co. are in a tizzy over his "performance" in Iowa.

I, on the other hand, like him less and less the more I see of him. C-SPAN's broadcast of his Iowa Townhall meeting featured him suggesting that the government should make up the difference in wages when someone is laid off and working a lower-paying job. He flubbed several easy answers, and frankly, he looks worn out already.

ADDED: And this, from Nick.

"War against Milwaukee"

I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt, and all, but it seems like Mike McGee is trying to incite some type of uprising here:

McGee was backed by about a dozen supporters at the news conferences, several of whom claimed "puppet masters" were directing the process. Dozens of other people gathered to listen, with several members of the Election Commission staff joining those on the second-floor balcony.

"The principalities of darkness are right above us," he said, noting the election staffers. "It reeks of fraud." After listing a series of complaints, McGee said: "Those are not gripes. I don't have sour grapes. I'm not crying over spilled milk."

He then pledged to win the recall election, saying: "This is a war without bloodshed. We're at war with the City of Milwaukee."

What a pleasant, peaceful man. I'm so glad he is taking the recall efforts against him in stride, with overwhelming maturity and dignity.

Jefferson gets Homeland Security

This makes sense.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who yanked embattled Rep. William J. Jefferson off a powerful tax committee last year, has decided to put him on the Homeland Security panel, aides to the Louisiana Democrat confirmed yesterday.

Jefferson has been the subject of an ongoing federal bribery investigation related to a telecommunications deal in Africa. His Capitol Hill office and his homes in Washington and New Orleans have been raided by the FBI, and he was kicked off the Ways and Means Committee last June after affidavits and evidence seized in the raids became public.

Let's put a man who is beyond just being susceptible to being bribed, but one who actually has taken bribes on an incredibly sensitive committee. Pelosi is just blowing me away with her competent leadership.

Working on the weekends

Heh.

Now this is war.

After four years of fighting in Iraq, and two weeks of trying to force senators to debate the conflict, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yesterday wheeled out the ultimate weapon.

He ordered his colleagues to work on Saturday.

To the average American, this would be an inconvenience. To a senator, a Saturday vote is a hardship reserved for national crises such as impeachment or Terri Schiavo. Votes have been held on Saturday only five times in the past 10 years.

"Time is of the essence," Reid told a rapt audience in the Senate television studio yesterday afternoon. "That's why the Senate will have another Iraq vote on Saturday."

The "vote on Saturday is a crucial vote not just for the moment or for the week, but for the history of America," added an overwrought Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "We're calling their bluff. We're staying here. Now vote yes or no."

But in trying to force Republicans to debate Iraq, Reid caused untold pain and suffering for his Democratic colleagues, many of whom prefer to spend their weekends running for president. Hillary Clinton was supposed to be campaigning in New Hampshire on Saturday. Barack Obama had plans to be in South Carolina and Virginia. Joe Biden had an Iowa trip scheduled. Chris Dodd had events scheduled in South Carolina.

And then there was Republican John McCain, who had an Iowa engagement, and all those senators on both sides planning to leave on trips for the Presidents' Day recess.

I kind of hope Reid did this is some little, minuscule way just to screw with them.

Snowstorm? It's the state's fault

It's reactions like this that get us $1.7 billion tax increases:

National Guardsmen in Humvees ferried food, fuel and baby supplies Thursday to hundreds of motorists stranded on a 50-mile stretch of highway for nearly a day by a monster storm blamed for 15 deaths.

The traffic jam on the icy, hilly section of Interstate 78 in eastern Pennsylvania started to ease by the afternoon, but drivers were still seething.

"How could you operate a state like this? It's totally disgusting," said Eugene Coleman, of Hartford, Conn.

Either folks from Connecticut are extremely elitist, or Pennsylvania somehow is to blame for the "monster storm." Obviously, being stranded for a day gives some credence to the claim that something went wrong with municipal or state snow removal services, but that kind of gut reaction is a bit overreaching.

Lighting it up

I wonder how much something like this costs. The Capitol and/or the Department of Administration is doing it for, essentially, a lobby group. Is it okay to spend tax dollars for the promotion of a lobbying organization, as long as most people support their causes? Or do ethics rules apply to only some lobbying activity?

Then again, there is Jib's take.

Violent, habitual sex offender on our streets

This is absolutely horrifying:

Madison police issued a rare citywide bulletin about the release of a sex offender into the community.

Authorities said that Lindon Knutson, 58, told them he has attacked more than 10 women, most of them juveniles and most of them complete strangers.

Typically when a sex offender is released to the fairly secure Wisconsin Department of Correction's Foster Center on Odana Road, police don't notify the public.

But Capt. Tom Snyder, head of the department's Criminal Intelligence Section, said the 6-foot-1, 250 pound Knutson is an exception.

"This is a situation where we think it's important enough to let the whole community know," Snyder said.

No. This is a situation where he should stay in jail. A man who has raped ten women will be walking the streets, being employed, finding an apartment. He will rape again. When you have a person who is so pathologically intent on violence towards women, it is a guarantee that he will act on it again. And they're doing us a "favor" by issuing a citywide bulletin.

Giuliani vulnerability memo

I had no idea that Rudy Giuliani's first marriage was to his second cousin.

Given what's in that memo, he had better get his story straight. Fast.

How Democrats act in the majority

This is ridiculous:

Republicans knew they had a weak hand to play as the House began its three-day debate on Iraq and whether to support Bush's 20,000-troop "surge." "The debate should not be about the surge or its details," Republican Reps. Peter Hoekstra (Mich.) and John Shadegg (Ariz.) wrote to colleagues in a letter intercepted by Democrats. "This debate should not even be about the Iraq war to date, mistakes that have been made, or whether we can, or cannot, win militarily. If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose."

So, what, are they opening inter-departmental mail now? Are they bugging minority members' offices? Did Dana Milbank even think to ask how this letter was "intercepted"?

But I guess I shouldn't expect the WaPo to dig, because it seems like they do it themselves:

But when two reporters arrived at the war room yesterday afternoon, the occupants were deep in a bunker. "I apologize," the receptionist announced after checking with the war room. "They just started a meeting."

Ah, a "meeting." The reporters found a back door to the war room that was open. Inside, four men sat quietly at their desks, watching the debate on TV.

Seems like a good idea to me. In a meeting? Reporters should just sneak in. Good Lord.

1,750,000,000 in new taxes

I really don't even have the energy to talk about our good Governor's budget.

I'll just say that first, I really missed Mark Green last night. Second, I'm glad that I only have about 17 months left in this state. I can't afford to stay any longer, with that kind of tax burden.

Running for mayor of America

I'm going to miss Will Sandstrom after the February 20th primary, because of fun things like this. He was asked about creating a regional transit authority, and instead of responding about anything regarding transportation, he goes into an income tax diatribe:

This week, Isthmus asked the mayoral candidates: Do you support creating a Regional Transit Authority, with its own power of taxation?

Will Sandstrom: No, not until both Washington's and Wisconsin's politicians have re-enacted the Franklin Roosevelt human progressive tax, of up to 94%. It was a humane tax act of 1944-1961. It paid for the cost of World War II and got America out of debt and out of running yearly deficits.

So today, under humane progressive taxation -- and adjusted for inflation -- those earning over $200 million would participate in keeping America strong, and humane, by gladly paying at a 94% tax rate. And the trillions of dollars in added revenues Washington would get would be sent back to the states and cities, as occurred in 1944-1961. These monies would help states, counties, and cities pay for decent schools, medical care, and transportation, as occurred in 1944-1961.

Now under Bush there is no progressive tax system. The upper middle class and rich pay at rates as low as 1%. They are not [paying] their responsible share in supporting the greatest nation on earth, America, a nation that gives everyone with drive the opportunity to get rich.

Yes. I'm sure they would all "gladly" pay $188 million in income taxes. I wish I could write him off as delusional, but in Madison, he's almost mainstream.

Darfur and University morals

A Chicago law prof, Geof Stone, has a fascinating but long-winded post about the latest "Darfur divestment" fad:

What the Kalven Report forbids, however, are decisions of the University designed expressly or symbolically to proclaim “right” moral, political, or social positions. That is the issue presented by those who insist that the University should divest from Darfur. The University’s investments in corporations that may do business in Darfur cannot in any meaningful sense be said directly and materially to have caused the tragedy in Darfur. Those who demand divestment want the University to make a statement about what is morally, politically, and socially “right.” And that is precisely what the University should not do.

Remember this? More here.

Will the BCRA bite McCain back?

This just shows the inherent hypocrisy of the campaign finance reformers.

Just about a year and a half ago, Sen. John McCain went to court to try to curtail the influence of a group to which A. Jerrold Perenchio gave $9 million, saying it was trying to "evade and violate" new campaign laws with voter ads ahead of the midterm elections.

As McCain launches his own presidential campaign, however, he is counting on Perenchio, the founder of the Univision Spanish-language media empire, to raise millions of dollars as co-chairman of the Arizona Republican's national finance committee.

In his early efforts to secure the support of the Republican establishment he has frequently bucked, McCain has embraced some of the same political-money figures, forces and tactics he pilloried during a 15-year crusade to reduce the influence of big donors, fundraisers and lobbyists in elections. That includes enlisting the support of Washington lobbyists as well as key players in the fundraising machine that helped President Bush defeat McCain in the 2000 Republican primaries.

Of course, no one expects him to try to run for president without extensive campaign funding and begging for money from those he has tried to pass laws against. It just seems more than a little deceitful for him to rail against them in the Senate, and extend an open hand to them outside. It's what all "reformers" do.

Giuliani heads out

"Rudolph W. Giuliani came west to learn whether his brand of Republican politics has a chance among party members significantly more conservative than himself."

He went to California. It's not exactly a bastion of conservatism.

Attention off Bush

You'd think they'd be relieved to be out of the spotlight.

What makes him so amazing?

A pretty liberal friend of mine recently noted that he felt like Barack Obama had been shoved down his throat, and that he feels like all the excitement is just a glossy cover.

This story proves that, to a degree.

A WaPo reporter went digging in his Illinois past, looking for something, anything, to make news. This is what he came up with.

"He wasn't a maverick," said Cynthia Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "There were other legislators I would turn to if I just wanted to make a lot of noise. That wasn't his style."

Um, okay. He's already got a reputation for making noise. And just previous to this section of the story, it was discussed how he 'shook things up' with ethics reform.

He made the social rounds at Springfield cocktail parties. He joined a weekly poker game with legislators and lobbyists in which the ante was a dollar or two.

I think Mike McCabe just had an aneurysm.

"He was very aggressive when he first came to the Senate," said Jones, now president of the state Senate. "We were in the minority, but he said, 'I'd like to work hard. Any tough assignments or things you'd like me to be involved in, don't hesitate to give it to me.' "

He wanted attention. Like any other politician out there. This is supposed to be surprising?

"What impressed me about him was his ability in working with people of the opposite party," said Mike Lawrence, director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. "He had definite ideas about what ought to be contained in a campaign finance reform measure, but he also was willing to recognize that he was probably not going to get everything he wanted."

Six-year-olds also understand they won't always get their way. I really don't understand why we're supposed to be impressed that he compromised on legislation.

"When he spoke on the floor of the Senate, he spoke out of conviction. You knew that, whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him."

Okay, like any other politico, but:

The reason was a series of votes on such issues as late-term abortion and parental notification when Obama voted "present" instead of yea or nay. He said he was not tacking toward the center, but an opponent in the Democratic primary sent mailers portraying a rubber duck and proclaiming, "He ducked!"

Obama said his votes helped provide cover for other legislators. Sutherland said the votes were part of a strategy designed with Obama's help to deny Republicans easy campaign sound bites.

Now I'm confused. I thought he "spoke out of conviction" and "voted his conscience." Now he's just providing cover?

Putting aside ideological differences, putting aside the media's frothy, breathless, school girl excitement over him, what makes him so amazing? What makes Obama stand out? I just don't see any strong substance underneath the glossy exterior.

17 and voting

Brad has some interesting thoughts on the suffrage for some 17-year-olds proposal. I agree, more or less, with this sentiment:

I don't see a problem with it - sure, statistically it may be a slight boon to certain interests, but I remember being 16 in 2000 and unable to vote - despite the fact that I was probably more informed about most facets of the election than the majority of adults I knew.

I had also paid taxes for several years of part-time work at that point - in addition to all of the sales tax I had paid in my lifetime. Pinning the age of reason for voting just above my head at 18 got me pretty fired up.

It killed me when my of-age friends and co-workers didn't vote. Even though we may have disagreed on whom to vote for, I felt, as a taxpaying member of the workforce and a politically aware citizen, that it was pretty unfair. 18 is such an arbitrary age anyway, so I don't think it really matters. What percentage of eligible 17-year-olds would vote, anyway? Less than 25%?

Dems poll find Clinton 'competent' but unlikeable

If this poll is accurate, Obama has a lot of ground to cover:

First, the format. Gallup posed a series of 15 statements and asked the sample to decide which best fit Obama, Clinton or Edwards. Trends are obvious. Clinton led on nine issues, Obama on six, Edwards on none.

The statements on which Clinton was the first choice of the sample can be generalized as dealing with competency. On the statement "is most qualified to be president," Clinton took 61 percent to 21 percent for Edwards and just 13 percent for Obama. Fifty seven percent of the sample said Clinton "would perform the best in debate," while 29 percent chose Obama and 10 percent chose Edwards. On the question of which candidate is the strongest leader, Clinton was the choice of nearly six in ten (59 percent), while 22 percent opted for Obama and 15 percent named Edwards.

But, as good of a leader they might think she is, they don't like her that much:

The statements on which Obama shined measure personal qualities. Forty one percent said Obama "is the most likeable," as compared to 31 percent who chose Clinton and 24 percent who liked Edwards best. Voters also chose Obama as the candidate who would run the most positive campaign (39 percent for Obama, 36 percent for Clinton) and "has the highest ethical standards" (39 percent Obama, 28 percent Clinton) -- suggesting that he is well-positioned to run as a reform-minded outsider.

Even though she sees it coming, her opponents will do anything and everything possible to play up her lack of likeability. Her supporters will then charge sexism, and it'll be one big circus.

$258 million for parks

How about a private-private funding boost?

President Bush traveled to Shenandoah National Park yesterday to tout his proposal to increase funding for national parks by $258 million next year, the first step in a plan to spend as much as $3 billion in public and private money on the popular attractions over the coming decade.

Bush's proposal, which critics called a sharp turn for a president whose previous budgets did not address maintenance and staffing problems at parks across the country, targets one of the few domestic areas where he has called for funding significant new initiatives in his fiscal 2008 spending plan.

The plan would pump $1 billion into the nation's 390 national parks and monuments by 2016, the park system's centennial. The proposal, which must be approved by Congress, would also call on private donors and philanthropies to donate as much as an additional $1 billion. The donated funds would be matched by the federal government.

It's all about priorities...and in this day in age, we should be questioning whether we should spend that amount of taxpayer dollars on parks.

Standing in the way of progress

I can't stand this.

"Frankenstein" will live for another budget.

Key Senate lawmakers said Tuesday the chamber won't vote on a resolution asking voters in April to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to curtail the partial-veto ability of Gov. Jim Doyle and his successors.

Opponents of the Wisconsin's governor's ability to use the veto pen to carve up legislation and create new law have derisively dubbed it the "Frankenstein veto."

"It's not going to be on the ballot this April," said Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, of Senate Joint Resolution 5.

Risser, who chairs the Senate Ethics Reform and Government Operations Committee, said his panel will take up the resolution - including possibly amending it to take effect in 2011 after Doyle completes his second term.

Just because Doyle's had the power in years past doesn't make it appropriate for him to continue to have that kind of power. This power is inappropriate and should be rescinded, no matter who is governor. But, even though Robson and co. disagree, you won't hear of a single Democrat being accused of partisanship in regards to this bill.

Sommers gets some attention

This threw me for a loop:

The Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund political action committee (PAC) has endorsed Joe Sommers for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Joe Sommers, a criminal defense attorney practicing in Dane County, proudly supports the 'no exceptions'’ pro-life philosophy and lives it in his daily life as a husband and father of 11 children. The Sommers family has been residing in Oregon (ten miles south of Madison) since 1999.

Check out the picture. I thought Sommers was just some crazy guy running a protest campaign. Pro-Life Wisconsin has decided he's a crazy guy worthy of their crazy endorsement. I wonder if it was more contingent on the number of children he has or his "no exceptions" pro-life stance.

A tad adolescent

Um, is that really the best photo for the front page?

Rudy and the SCOTUS

John Podhoretz makes a promise for Giuliani:

And while his personal views on some issues may differ from theirs, he'll appoint judges in the manner of Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts and Samuel Alito - which is, in the end, most of what a president can do to support the ideas in which social conservatives deeply believe.

So many social conservatives voted for GWB, the "compassionate conservative" in 2000, because they thought he'd do just that. Giuliani is clearly trying to play on that same movement. That's a pretty dangerous promise to make, and he's betting a lot on social conservatives.

This bothers me. I can't quite put my finger on why exactly it bothers me, but I don't like it.

It's more than trying to appease social conservatives by dangling a judicial appointment over their heads. It's more than appointing people based on their ideology, which Podhoretz implicitly guarantees. There's something very odd about that entire disingenuous paragraph, that promise from within the campaign, through the mouth piece of Podhoretz, that really unnerves me.

Economic growth? Not in our part of the state

Selective city ordinances?

Stoughton is waiving its big-box planning requirements for a proposed fitness center, prompting the city to review its law regulating mega-stores and drawing complaints the project is receiving special treatment.

Initial plans for the proposed 61,000-square-foot wellness and athletic center were approved by the City Council Tuesday without requiring an economic impact analysis, a traffic study and certain architectural standards, Mayor Helen Johnson said.

Such measures are required under the city's big-box law, which imposes building and development limits on retail and commercial service buildings of more than 20,000 square feet.

Instead, the city will conduct the traffic study and the developer will pay for a portion of any road or traffic improvements that are needed, she said. Other details such as lighting, parking and aesthetics still will be scrutinized, she said.

[...]

Johnson said the law was written for a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter and the council didn't fully anticipate how other facilities would fall under the requirements.

Tom Weigand, president of TFW Ventures, which would develop the health and wellness center, said he was surprised his building fell under the law.

"We got caught in a net that I'm not sure ever intended to catch us," Weigand said.

This just bugs me. Taking a completely neutral look at their "big-box" ordinance, it looks like it was created to ensure traffic and transportation concerns are taken care of before large structures are initiated. Why should a fitness center be exempt from this? With a more realistic look at this ordinance, it was created solely to keep out the big Wal-Marts and Targets, with some sort of punitive nature towards these successful retailers. God forbid we actually grow and progress.

The "cost" of lower taxes

This drives me nuts.

The lion's share of the president's proposed tax reductions would come from making permanent his signature cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003, at a cost of $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years. Those cuts would otherwise evaporate at the end of 2010.

Tax cuts don't "cost" anything. This comes from a mindset of government entitlement to our money, our tax dollars. Sure, revenue is decreased, but they don't cost the government a dime.

Post-court, still keeps quiet

Sandra Day O'Connor is ever the diplomat:

As a retired judge, O'Connor maintains an office at the Supreme Court, still draws a salary and occasionally sits as a judge on the federal appeals courts.

O'Connor also recently served on the 10-member bipartisan Iraq Study Group. She said she was surprised when the GOP leader of the panel, former secretary of state James A. Baker III, asked her to serve.

"I wasn't sure I should do it," she said. "It was so out of my field of judging. I don't know anything about the military."

Though O'Connor called the assignment fascinating, she declined to say how she felt after President Bush didn't embrace the group's call for a gradual troop pullout and more aggressive regional diplomacy.

"There are probably no perfect answers," she said.

There are some people, like O'Connor, that want to stay out of politics, and just do it. There are other people, like Gerald Ford, that wanted to make his opinion known, but cowardly ordered it all to be published after his death.

"Grateful" for our support

I really didn't think that we were doing the troops a favor by supporting them, but Bill Arkin seems to disagree:

These soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President's handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect.

Wow. That's pretty ballsy. He went on to call them "mercenaries," for which he later (kind of) apologized, but the harm he did can't really be undone. Considering that this was published on the Washington Post website, not some fringe group, this is a pretty dismal place we're heading. Will people actually start spitting on soldiers again?

A balmy high of -4 today

You know, I had really high hopes for this whole global warming fad. I thought that it might just make Wisconsin a somewhat habitable state between November and February.

But I was wrong.

Only one more winter (after this one) to survive.

An ode...

...to the floppy disk.

I still have about 25 of them (I'm not sure why, because my computer doesn't even have a floppy drive). I feel old.

Let's get him a megaphone

This makes me just sick:

Pollster Frank Luntz for the past decade has issued warnings to his fellow Republicans that they did not want to hear, but never has he been so out of touch with them as he is today. "The Republican message machine is a skeleton of its former self," Luntz told me. "These people have no idea how the American people react to them."

[...]

Boehner, elected chairman of the House Republican Conference when the party took control in 1995, tried then to keep Luntz from addressing closed-door meetings but was overruled by Speaker Gingrich. When Luntz warned publicly in October 2005 of rejection by voters in 2006, he was forced to deliver an abject apology before he could speak at a retreat of House Republicans held at the Library of Congress. After seven straight years on the program, Luntz was kept off last week's 2007 session at Cambridge, Md., by Boehner.

In keeping with his belief that words work, Luntz deplores the language Boehner used publicly shortly after his election as majority leader last February: "While I would hope that we could agree on one big issue that we would fight for, you know, it is really for the members to decide. What I have got to do is provide the process to see if we can get ourselves there."

In fact, there was no Republican theme for 2006, as individual members of Congress make clear in private sessions with Luntz. Yet, the Republican minority overwhelmingly reelected Boehner as leader against the reform candidate, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. Immediately after the 2006 election returns were accompanied by exit polls indicating voter concern with scandals, Pence said: "The greatest scandal in Washington, D.C., is runaway federal spending." Luntz agrees, and so do McCain and a few other members of Congress.

My God...listen to the man. After an election like we had last year, can we afford to ignore his warnings? If we start acting like the Democrats did after 1994, if we become the quintessential minority party, we'll lose any hope of rebounding in two or four years. And when Luntz tries to drill this into their thick heads, if they shut him out, we'll lose even more seats.

Speech Codes and Faculty Freedom

John Leo has an interesting article on campus free speech, and Wisconsin gets a few mentions.

UW-Madison...making the state proud since 1969. It's not just a thing of the past, either. We've got our own little speech code now.

Farmers' sweet, never-ending deal

If only...

The Bush administration yesterday proposed ending farm subsidies for an estimated 80,000 wealthy individuals as part of a broad plan that would close loopholes and cut traditional farm programs by $4.5 billion over the next 10 years.

The proposal unveiled by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns was the administration's opening move in what will be a lengthy tug of war with Congress over a new multi-year farm bill. The current bill, one of the most generous to farmers in history, expires Sept. 30.

Unfortunately, very few have the balls to vote against farm subsidies. It's not really recommended, by either party, if one wants to keep his or her job.

"Boston officials livid over ad stunt"

I would be too:

Boston officials, livid about a publicity campaign that had disrupted the city by stirring fears of terrorism, vowed to prosecute those responsible and seek restitution.

Officials found a slew of blinking electronic signs adorning bridges and other high-profile spots across the city Wednesday, prompting the closing of a highway and the deployment of bomb squads.

The 38 signs were part of a promotion for Cartoon Network TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a surreal series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball. The network is a parent of Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc.

"It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this type of marketing scheme," Mayor Thomas Menino said. "I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the response to today's incidents."

The 1-foot tall signs resembled a circuit board, with protruding wires and batteries. Most depicted a boxy, cartoon character giving passersby the finger-- a more obvious sight when darkness fell.

Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner Inc., apologized, but Boston authorities are still angry.

They arrested two men who put up the electronic promotions and vowed to hold Turner accountable for what Menino said was "corporate greed," that led to at least $500,000 in police costs.

Turner said the devices have been in place for two to three weeks in 10 cities: Boston; New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Atlanta; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; San Francisco; and Philadelphia. As soon as the company realized the Boston problem, it said, law enforcement officials were told of their locations in all 10 cities.

This story is so odd...I don't see how these "signs" help sell this show. I don't understand why signs of a kid flipping the bird weren't noticed for "two to three weeks," and I don't get why this company has so little decorum, or tact, or respect.