October 2008
FightingBob.com readers talk back
Letter on: An easy throw
“WOW--a fellow atheist in Middleton! And not just an atheist, one who also (apparently) disagrees with the war-mongering conclusions reached by high profile atheists Hitchens and Harris. I agree with your perspective Robert, and nothing would make me happier than to see Nader or McKinney challenge the two-party system by obtaining 15 percent of the vote. Personally, I am for proportional representation, and would like to see any party that receives 5 percent of the vote gain representation.
Obama will do nothing to stop U.S. expansion overseas, nor will he curb the corporate abuse of citizens. That being said, I am looking forward to some important pragmatic changes that an Obama White House will usher in: Adjustments to the tax code and refinancing of crucial service programs that millions of Americans depend on, as well as favorable judicial appointments that will go a long way to protect civil rights.
For me, what makes the most sense is a radical approach to changing society, but not at the expense of the millions who will be affected by the results of this election.”
-Steven M. Blank | Middleton, WI | October 31, 2008
Letter on: Keeping up with the Sixpacks
“I think we do ourselves a disservice when we ignore the honest and very real frustrations of people who disagree with us.
Don't you think McCain and Palin are tapping into a very reasonable thought pattern concerning so called income redistribution? It's one thing to take taxes to support schools, build roads, run police, fire, EMS departments, public libraries, public transportation and such things.
It's quite another to take money away from people and just plain give it to people who aren't paying income taxes at all. If we want to say that we're just not going to tax people's income under 30K or so, I can deal with that, but taking money from income tax receipts and giving it to people who aren't paying in at all?
Isn't it at least understandable that some folks aren't happy with that idea?
Somewhere along the way, we made greed a national ethos. It's not exactly shocking that the cream rose to the top and used that position to line their pockets and create a huge wealth disparity. Amazing. People acted in their own self-interests. Now where would anybody get an idea like that?
McCain wants to decry class warfare, but the war is over. Like Warren Buffet said, it is class warfare, and his class is winning. Personally, I'd say they won.
So how do we reverse this trend? The answer from the Democratic Party seems to be Robin Hood taxes and government programs. Maybe Paul Newman was on the trail of a better answer. Take to the field and beat them at their own game.
A plan forms.”
-Jeff | Madison, WI | October 30, 2008
Letter on: Speaking of rogues
“Five days then good riddance? I can't wait. Maybe then we can get back to real news and away from this megabilliondollar media circus and distraction from real issues.”
-Marco Kjar | Ashland, WI | October 30, 2008
Letter on: Keeping up with the Sixpacks
“I guess I must be Joe Twopack. $1800 a year on clothes? Last thing I spent $1800 on...I don't remember. Rent maybe.
I don't see how you can claim or imply that the Democrats are more in touch with working people. The party of Soros and Huffington has abandoned poor people. Let's face it, politics is all about money and those who have it. The GOP tapped into poor Republican voters as a demographic to sell their product. GOP manipulated these sods into thinking they were being heard. Democrats do the same. They're selling the same product: plutocracy.
I'm still voting Republican. I'm writing in. No, not Ron Paul, and never, till he stands up for free abortion on demand for all women who feel that is the appropriate choice. I'm writing in Olympia Snowe, despite her need for education on the Second Amendment and assisted suicide. John McCain does not represent my GOP. Sarah Palin isn't a candidate she's a voodoo doll beauty queen.”
-Marco Kjar | Ashland, WI | October 30, 2008
Letter on: A quick review
“I am more pleased than it is possible to convey to see that former boss/colleague Kraus is still at the task of addressing the corrosive role in politics (at all levels) of money and lack of disclosure. The goal is admirable -- although the path to achievement is difficult to discern. Bill, keep at it!”
-Mark Popovich | Washington, DC (not a state) | October 29, 2008
Letter on: Into the woods
“Thank you, Bill Berry, for your excellent and moving tribute to Martin. He was an original, and that is an understatement. I only came to know him in the past eight years or so, but considered him a cherished friend. He will be missed - but not forgotten.”
-John Smart | Park Falls, WI | October 28, 2008
Letter on: Into the woods
“I just wanted to say I thought this was beautifully written...inspiring and touching. Thank you. :)”
-Nomi | Madison, WI | October 28, 2008
Letter on: So wrong--so certain!
“Some folks excuse corporate greed and CEO compensation by saying that it is the wealthy who create jobs and make this country great.
As the rest of us know, it is the lowly paid worker struggling to make ends meet who is the key to this nation's wealth and growth, yet we are not allowed to participate as fully as those with wallets as fat as their egos.
Figure out, please, the basics: modest rent, utilities, car expense, car insurance, groceries. Does minimum cover this?
Oops, forgot to include health care, renters insurance, clothes, personal hygiene items, haircuts. Minimum certainly doesn't cover these.
Then there's those few extras to give live meaning: maybe a movie or some music or a jaunt to Devils Lake. Maybe we should leave out Devils Lake because that's a seasonal pass or 4 hours at minimum wage.
Caught a story of Yellowstone National Park the other day on NPR all about the congestion and million+ visitors each year. There's admission there as well. Saw the place as a kid and it is a treasure, yet most Americans will never see it because of the cost of getting and being there.
The fat cats count their millions while most Americans count only dreams.
Time for the country to be taken back by the ordinary citizen.”
-Charles McEniry | Stoughton, WI | October 27, 2008
Letter on: Fool me thrice
“You are a real hero. If every state has lawyers like you fighting against voter supression, it will be harder for them to steal it. Since I think you caught on to one of their main strategies this election.
You did a really, really important thing, I only wish more people in our state could know and appreciate what you have done to protect our right to vote.”
-anonymous | Wisconsin | October 23, 2008
Letter on: Fool me thrice
“Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice shame on me.
Fool me three times, Hey, I must be a RepubliCon.”
-Mike Mertes | Iola, WI | October 23, 2008
Letter on: Official Family
“And in today's mail arrived a flyer from the Republican Party of Wisconsin telling me everything skewed truth I always wanted to know about Ayres the terrorist and his ties to an 8-yr old kid in Chicago who would one day aspire to be president.
I feel more fulfilled now.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | October 22, 2008
Letter on: The exceptions prove the rule
“The lack of reporting of the Marshfield event is all the more scary because of the Tribune Company's undermining of Associated Press. Maybe we won't even have wire services!”
-Bruce Fetter | Milwaukee, WI | October 21, 2008
Letter on: Huzzah!
“Hey! Don't you be messing with my Voting Rights!
I know we can't legally impeach campaign chairs for Presidential Candidates, but we certainly expect more from our elected officials - especially those elected as Attorneys General to enforce our laws and protect our rights.
And so it is that we perhaps now need an additional exercise of our Voting Rights by demanding a special election for purpose of recalling WI Attorney General Van Hollen. It's time to show him and his partisan buddies just who is boss, namely the very people whom they wish to disenfranchise through their ignoble efforts.”
-Jeff Pieterick | Waterloo, WI | October 18, 2008
Letter on: Their Vietnam, our Afghanistan
“Unfortunately, as the war continues in Afghanistan it will lead to the further destabilization of Pakistan and pave the way for a Taliban/AQ takeover of a country armed with nuclear weapons. The Taliban/AQ will have a lot of help from Pakistan's intelligence agencies and elements of the armed forces. At that point, your contention that foreign policy mistakes are being repeated will not be relevant, because it will be too late.”
-Randy | Lake Mills, Wisconsin | October 18, 2008
Letter on: Joe the what?
“The last debate showed us two people: an old, fatherly, cantankerous sort unwilling to let go or knowing when to quit and a younger fellow with ideas to implement and places to go.
The generation gap was more than obvious between McCain and Obama.”
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | October 16, 2008
Letter on: Their Vietnam, our Afghanistan
“Agree.
Please add your voice/prestige to REDUCING the "Defense"/"Security" budget.
They want $450b MORE over the next five years?
Please advocate that they have to "get by" with, say, $450b LESS.”
-Ralph Novy | Hillsboro, Wisconsin | October 16, 2008
Letter on: Thank goodness!
“As I wait for the debate tonight, I find myself praying that Barack Obama will somehow manage to take the "high road" and avoid rolling in the mud with McCain. I also find myself wondering how the Republicans can actually get away with the attack ads that present a litany of lies and distortions as facts.
I expected them to fight dirty, but what I've been seeing on television and recently heard on a recorded campaign call I received have just blown me away. While I'd like to think that a discerning public would see through these ploys, feel justifiably disgusted and vote against McCain, I know from listening to the public in my neck of the woods that people are willing to believe just about anything they read in emails or in print, or anything they see on television.
What is it that makes so many people eager to believe the worst about someone and to grab onto any little piece of potential dirt and blow it up into a mountain? I can't believe that candidates have so little good to say about themselves that they must resort to tearing down opponents. I find myself searching the media for a little dignity, a little mutual respect and a lot less negativity.”
-T.M. Warren | Chetek, WI | October 15, 2008
Letter on: Tina Fey 3 Palin 0
“Hi Ed,
Thank you for being a voice of reason!
There's no doubt that the Ayers issue is one Mccain and Palin, not to mention Fox News, are going to be pushing for the next month. More of the same fear mongering we've been getting for the last 8 years.
Why hasn't the Obama/Biden ticket said anything about Todd Palin and his pals? Such as:
"There's been a lot of talk about Sarah Palin's ties to the Alaskan Independence Party which the McCain campaign has been trying to minimize. In fact, for seven years, her husband, Todd, was a member of the fringe political party that advocates secession (he left in 2002, which happens to be the year his wife ran for lieutenant governor). But during a recent interview with Greta Van Susteren, Palin's husband Todd explicitly distinguished "Alaskan families"쳌from "American families".쳌 It was a jarring suggestion that they're not all part of the same country."
Do we really want someone a heartbeat away from the presidency with secessionist leanings? Isn't that what we fought the civil war over?
Keep fighting the good fight! ”
-Laura Mishefske | Muskego, WI | October 8, 2008
Letter on: Who won?
“During Friday’s debate, McCain complained loudly that Obama's "initial" response to the Georgian crisis was to urge restraint on both sides. McCain apparently thought that urging restraint meant Obama was weak. Note that McCain never said that Obama continued to peddle softly after we learned the severity of what Russia did in Georgia. He didn't accuse Obama of being restrained as Russian atrocities became evident. But the mere fact that Obama didn't come out swinging that first morning, and wasn't bruising for a fight right out of the gate, is bad in McCain's book. For McCain, it seems the only appropriate response to a crisis with Russia is immediate belligerency. McCain didn't explain to us why restraint was bad, because in the mind of John McCain, it should be obvious: You show strength by running off at the mouth. You bully and berate, loud, early and often. That's how John McCain lets us know he's boss, don't'cha know? So now we've been warned. A President McCain would respond to a crisis with Russia by going ballistic. Literally.
What’s more, McCain's constant name-dropping during the foreign policy portion of the debate, his need to repeatedly remind us how familiar he is with world leaders, is more of the same. It isn't confidence on display, it's ego on display. McCain's were the words of a gunslinger who thinks he knows everything, a man who feels no need to check himself, who sees no wisdom in gradual steps, allowing facts to declare themselves, before charging into battle. I would much rather be guided by Obama's thoughtful and thorough assessment of a crisis, rather than by a hothead. McCain is truly a scary, scary man.
”
-Chris Bettles | City/State Unknown | October 8, 2008
Letter on: Democracy lessons
“I wish to add my voice to Bill Kraus's "Democracy lessons." I too lament the loss of the "citizen politicians" of times past, and am saddened by the direction that our political candidates and their campaigns are taking. Increasingly expensive television advertising dogmatically ordered by increasingly expensive political consultants is taking the personhood out of our form of governance.
As an example, it has become difficult to get campaign yard signs these days. All the money is going into expensive television or expensive mailings, and "signs don't vote" - as I was told recently by a campaign worker. If we want signs, we're expected to pay for them ourselves.
Well, our county Democratic Party did buy a bunch of Obama yard signs and I have some of them in my garage. A man stopped this afternoon and asked if he could have a sign [he'd heard from someone that I had them]. He said that he'd never put up a sign in his yard before, but he decided that this time it was important for him to publicly endorse Barack Obama's candidacy.
That man was expressing ownership in the Obama campaign, he was speaking to his friends and neighbors in a way they would understand. Maybe he wouldn't go over and knock on their door and tell them that he supported Barack Obama, but he did want to put a sign in his yard.
I don't know - maybe I'm just old-fashioned - but I think that man was speaking louder than an expensive television commercial!”
-John Smart | Park Falls, WI | October 8, 2008
Letter on: Deregulating ourselves to death
“If the truth on the effects of legislation are different then claimed by lobbyists, just repeal the legislation. After all it was based on lies.”
-Geo P. | Oconomowoc, WI | October 5, 2008
Letter on: Home grown
“WOW!! Does this ever hit home!! Thank You for a large dose of reality.”
-Jeff Erbs | Chippewa Falls, WI | October 2, 2008
Letter on: To spite your face
“Thank you, Senator Robson, for saying what needs to be said - and publicized.
The connection with education is especially timely. As a school board member, I am sadly aware that the efforts of WMC and its supporters to reduce their tax load have meant that our schools are increasingly paid for through local property taxes, and that is reaching a limit.
I have been systematically going after WMC on a personal basis, and I encourage others to do likewise. For example, you will find no Johnsonville brats on my grill!
Check out the WMC website membership list and boycott their businesses - and make sure you let them know why you are doing so.”
-John Smart | Park Falls, WI | October 1, 2008
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